Caruso's

The dining experience is wonderful. We had the chef's tasting menu and were impressed from start to finish. In fact, as each course arrived, it was able to build on the previous course and make you believe the next course wouldn't top the one you just consumed. But the next course did and the entire dining experience was like that from start to finish. The service was crazy good, with the staff very attentive, friendly, and able to answer questions about the menu options in great detail. Of course, the location of the restaurant, with commanding views of the Channel Islands and beach is a bonus. Pick a reason to go - date night, special occasion, or just because you enjoy great food, great service, and great ambiance. The executive chef and team deserve a star, or two.

It was our wedding anniversary. Our waiter Christian was wonderful, aware of our special occasion and remarking about it on several occasions. He even took a moment before dessert to chat with us personally. He was patient with me pondering which dessert to order. He patiently and with good cheer accommodated our special requests for additional explanation and items for the table. The food was amazing. My first course was a scallop dish with sliced mushrooms and wheat grass foam. The whole dish was like nothing I'd ever tasted. The combination of sweet and salty, crunchy and soft, with such a wide variety of flavors some of which I couldn't even identify made it literally unique in my experience. My second course was the squash ravioli which hardly does justice to this amazing dish. Again it had flavors mixed together that I have never tasted together. It had crunch and softness, the pasta was perfectly done, the cheese was distinctively balanced, there was a hint of citrus and perhaps even a small flavor of meatiness mixed with the wonderful squash. My main course was good but my least favorite. The black cod was a bit too soft for my palate, but the garnish sauce with lemongrass and I think turmeric was tasty. Finally the dessert was again like nothing I'd ever eaten. I ordered the white chocolate ganache lemon which you would swear was a real lemon until you cracked it with your fork and discovered the wonderful internal creamy filling that was both sweet and sour. The cookie crumble under it added just the right amount of crunch. Even the espresso was flavorful and distinctive. The amuse-bouche was mostly amusing, hardly enough to even get a flavor, and I didn't detect any. But it was one of the best meals I've ever had, and the pasta dish was probably the best pasta I've ever eaten.

We enjoyed our 33rd wedding anniversary dinner at Caruso's on July 1. It was a great experience from start to finish. I asked that a special flower arrangement be added to our table and the suggested florist and the restaurant executed the request flawlessly. They have raised their service game substantially since our first visit. The staff acknowledged our special event with vigor. And our service from start to finish was nearly perfect. Perhaps just a tiny bit rushed at the start. Our 4 course meal was a delight. My wife loved her scallops and my sea-bass was a treat. And of course, the ocean front room never fails to impress. Is Caruso's the finest waterfront dining in Southern California? Prove me wrong :). We loved our special meal at Caruso's. It was not cheap with two cocktails and a nice bottle of wine on the tab. That said, we will return, and recommend, without qualification.

Our dinner experience at Caruso’s is one of the top 5 experiences we’ve had in California. We’ve been to many Michelin star restaurants in Manhattan and the service and food is on par if not better than some of those places. Our server Julian was exceptional. He provided us with perfect service on our first minimoon night in Santa Barbara. Bubbles to start and chocolate mousse to finish. From his on spot recommendations of yellowtail tuna tartare with almond sorbet to the cappellaci with chanterelle mushrooms and sweet squash to the delectable Wagyu beef from Japan. Every dish was delicious. We look forward to coming back and seeing the Chef creations. Bravo