Santa Barbara Italian Restaurant: Olio e Limone

The Santa Barbara Italian restaurant Olio e Limone serves some of the best Sicilian-Italian food in California, and is well-located downtown.

Olio e Limone Italian Restaurant Santa Barbara

Olio e Limone Italian Restaurant in Santa Barbara

Is Olio e Limone the best Italian restaurant in Santa Barbara? Well, we were sent there by a local friend who knows pretty well everywhere in town, and the whole experience was a knock-out. We loved it!

Sometimes you look through the window of a restaurant and you wish you were in there because everyone is clearly having a great time. That was us when we arrived at Olio e Limone, except we had (wisely, as it turned out) booked a table, even though it was a quiet Thursday night in early March.

Inside it was definitely not quiet. People were chatting and laughing, and there was a great sense of that Italian fun you get when food is involved. It was still quite a smart place, though, with thick white tablecloths, immaculate table settings, a lovely tiled floor, walls in relaxing shades of sage and ivory, and one striking feature – the wine cellar behind one large glass wall.

Our Pick of the Guides

Even though the room was full and buzzing, you could still have a romantic dinner here as the tables aren't crammed too close together. The service was perfect – attentive without being over-bearing. We never once had to ask for anything: our waiters certainly knew their job. When we sat down there was already a plate of delicious marinated olives on the table, some fiery with chili pepper and lemon juice. The waiter quickly brought us some bread, with a bottle of their own olive oil for dipping.

The food here is Italian, with a strong emphasis on Sicily. The daily specials were tempting: pumpkin ravioli, and several fish specials such as sea bass, swordfish, and salmon over ratatouille. In the end we opted for one special (sea bass) and one of their signature dishes. My eggplant soufflé was superb, with a hot goats cheese in the center and a terrific tomato and basil sauce. The whole dish was topped with a huge and very tasty basil leaf. Definitely 10/10 for presentation.

It was hard to choose a wine as the wine list is so long, and its mix of Italian and Californian wines has won it the sought-after Award for Excellence from Wine Spectator magazine every year since 2002. With the waiter's help, though, we settled on a light and refreshing pinot grigio, and although the list is impressive it is not expensive. Several wines are available by the glass, too.

Olio e Limone Italian Restaurant Santa Barbara Bread and Butter Pudding

Chocolate and Banana Bread and Butter Pudding

The star turn was undeniably dessert – not a surprise for an Italian place. Donna's tiramisu was the best we've ever tasted outside of Italy, and Mike, an aficionado of bread and butter pudding, thought he'd died and gone to heaven with the first mouthful of their signature dessert: chocolate and banana bread and butter pudding.

So is Olio e Limone the best Italian restaurant in Santa Barbara? Well, we haven't eaten in them all so we can't say for sure, but if there's a better one, please let us know.

More Information

Olio e Limone
11 West Victoria Suite 17
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Tel: (805) 899 2699
Fax: (866) 615 3102

Other Santa Barbara pages

Ravens' Restaurant Mendocino
Ravens' Restaurant in Mendocino at the Stanford Inn by the Sea is one of the top dining experiences in California with gourmet vegan and vegetarian cuisine.
San Francisco Best Chinatown Restaurants
San Francisco has some of the best Chinatown restaurants in the USA, and its Chinese restaurants provide superb dining. Here are our top eating places.
Best Restaurants in Santa Barbara
Pacific Coast Highway Travel visits the best restaurants in Santa Barbara and recommends where to eat for the finest food and top local wines.
Road Food Guide
West Coast Road Eats is a road food guide covering the Pacific Coast from California through Oregon to Washington, giving the best road trip food stops.
Paso Robles Accommodation
If looking for Paso Robles accommodation you could stay on a vineyard at the luxury JUST Inn Bed and Breakfast, in the grounds of the JUSTIN winery.
Wineries and Vineyards on the Pacific Coast Highway
The wineries and vineyards along the Pacific Coast Highway make some of the best wine in the world, from Oregon and Washington to California's Sonoma and Napa.
Santa Barbara Guidebook
The Santa Barbara Guidebook from Moon Handbooks also covers California’s Central Coast with Ventura, San Luis Obispo, wine country, and Hearst Castle.
Sonoma County Distilleries
Sonoma County is so associated with wine that it's easy to overlook the fact that it's also home to distilleries and here's a list of the main distillers.
Santa Barbara
Standing on the Pacific Coast Highway in California, Santa Barbara is an attractive resort with a historic downtown, sandy beaches, a mission, and good museums.
Where to Eat and Stay on the Pacific Coast Highway
Expert advice and personal recommendations on where to eat and where to stay along the Pacific Coast Highway, including a guide to PCH Hotels that you can buy.
Santa Barbara Beachfront Hotel
The Oceana Santa Barbara beachfront hotel has a perfect seafront location, close to Stearns Wharf and State Street, and whale watching cruises.
Best Time to Visit Santa Barbara
PCH Travel picks the best time to visit Santa Barbara, with a monthly summary of the weather, plus hotel prices and special events to help plan a visit.
Santa Barbara Wine Country
Santa Barbara Wine Country is one of the top wine destinations says Wine Enthusiast, alongside Napa Valley, rating California vineyards alongside Champagne.
Best Museums in Santa Barbara
Pacific Coast Highway Travel's guide to the best museums in Santa Barbara, which include art, history, natural history, and science museums.
Where to Eat on the Pacific Coast Highway
Where to eat on the Pacific Coast Highway: advice on the best fine dining options, budget restaurants, romantic locations in Oregon, Washington and California.
Ventura Bars, Breweries, and Beer Festivals
There are plenty of Ventura bars, breweries, brewpubs and pubs to enjoy, not to mention one of the biggest beer festivals in California.
Santa Cruz Downtown Wine Tastings
There are plenty of Santa Cruz downtown wine tastings including Beauregard Vineyards,Storrs Winery and Pelican Ranch Winery,all with tasting rooms.
Franciscan Inn Santa Barbara
The historic Franciscan Inn in Santa Barbara, California, near the Pacific Coast Highway, is in a quiet location near the beach ideal for those driving PCH.
Santa Barbara Whale Watching
Santa Barbara whale watching cruises in southern California can be booked through Condor Express, with whale watching trips leaving from the harbor.
Deborah's Room Review, Paso Robles Restaurant
Pacific Coast Highway Travel reviews Deborah’s Room, the fine dining restaurant at the JUST Inn Bed and Breakfast, one of the best restaurants in Paso Robles.
The Miramar Santa Monica Restaurant
The Miramar Santa Monica's restaurant, FIG, had a rave review from the Los Angeles Times for its romantic dining and tasty food.
Santa Barbara Historical Museum
The Santa Barbara Historical Museum is one of the best things to do in Santa Barbara, California, on the Pacific Coast Highway.