Aperitivo - Santa Barbara

Stopped by at 5pm on a Wednesday evening, and was seated outside.They have daily rotating menus, including 2 garden items, 1 crudo, 2 bruschettas, 2 house-made pastas, along w 2 snack and 2 dessert selections. The type of house-made pasta will differ between the two dishes, and there is typically a meat and no meat pasta dish. Check their website for daily offerings.I started off with an Aperitivo Negroni, sipping until the hamachi crudo came out shortly after. The crudo was magnificently presented, a piece of art in itself, with curled cucumber slices, bisected berries and golden tomatoes, sprigs of green/purple basil, all in a delightful pear sauce. Light, refreshing, and a feast for the eyes.The gnocchi and sausage dish came out 40 minutes later, which took a bit longer than I expected. The sauce was minimal but rich, scattered with a layer of crispy ground sausage. The gnocchi definitely had a bite to it, perhaps a teeny bit undercooked to my liking.This is a great place to unwind with friends, as well as split plates to maximize trying those rotating dishes. The owner is very gregarious, helpful w the menu, and seems passionate about his brainchild. I applaud the daily rotating menus, which is no small feat!

Europeans living in Santa Barbara since 30 years and having been to Italy many dozens of times since childhood: This is the only „Italian“ place in Santa Barbara that gives you the real „Italy“ feeling all the others are „pseudo Italian“. Recently we had the „Tonnarelli Cacio e Pepe“ one night, then „Campanelle Pomodoro Salsiccia“ the other night, always followed by a wonderful affogato ristretto of course and not soaked. Truly authentic. The menu is limited, the ambiance minimalistic as you might find it in a hole in the wall in Milan, Rome, Siena, or Orvieto. So if you’re looking for an American Italian dinner: wrong place. If you’re looking for something authentic with very personal sercice: right place!

Completely blown away. Total must-go. We had the following, all excellent:-burrata w/ figs;-panzanella;-tuna crudo;-cacio e pepe; -spinach creste w/ chickpeasAte a ton but didn't feel grossly full because the pasta was handmade, which makes a huge difference in quality. The spinach creste was especially unique, and the cacio e pepe was perfect.

An absolutely delightful gem of a restaurant. The cuisine and beverages are simply exceptional, all expertly crafted by a dedicated and efficient small team. They offer exquisite vermouth-based cocktails that perfectly complement their delectable Italian dishes. The food here is truly outstanding! Aperitivo has become our new go-to spot for fantastic food and drinks! We've been loyal patrons for some time, and every visit has consistently exceeded our expectations. While their menu may be small since the don't have the largest of kitchens, rest assured it's full of delightful surprises that will leave you thoroughly satisfied.

Incredible new restaurant in Santa Barbara. The owner and staff were so friendly. We had the eggplant and Burrata appetizer which were both delicious. The bread was toasted to perfection and the Burrata was paired with fig and honey which flavors came through nicely. We also ordered the black pasta which I forgot to take a photo of. It had sausage and clams I believe which was to die for. I would definitely recommend checking out this place and trying a variety of their appetizers and pastas. By the way, they don't take reservations but were still able to seat us quickly.