With its casual setting the Montecito Wine Bistro offers a relaxed, yet elegant atmosphere. A neighborhood favorite the restaurant features 2 cozy fireplaces as well as outdoor patio seating. Friendly attentive service. Serving California Bistro cuisine the seasonal menu offers dishes prepared with the freshest ingredients. The menu is split between appetizers, salads and entrees, including vegetarian dishes and fresh fish.Wood-burning oven. Share one of the flatbreads Sausage Piperade or Rosted Potato & Marinated Anchovy. Entree high-lights include Grilled Duck Breast & Confit Duck, Seared Scallops w Lobster Sauce and Dry Aged New York Steak Frites. Desserts are a must - Salted Caramel Bittersweet Tart. The wine list offers selections from SB Winery & Lafond Winery and around the world. Wines by the glass/create your own wine flight. An intimate bar serves classic & speciality cocktails. Menu available in the bar.

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24 Current Reviews

Summary of Diner Ratings & Reviews

Overall

(Very Good) 4 / 5

(24 Reviews)

Rating Breakdown 24 reviews

5 stars

(9)

4 stars

(6)

3 stars

(9)

2 stars

(0)

1 star

(0)

Food

(Outstanding) 4 / 5

Service

(Outstanding) 4.2 / 5

Ambiance

(Very Good) 3.8 / 5

Noise Level

Moderate

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Diners classify this restaurant as:

neighborhood gem(15)
great for outdoor dining(10)
fit for foodies(7)

kid-friendly(5)
good for groups(4)
great for lunch(4)

Montecito Wine Bistro Reviews List

Review 1 for Montecito Wine Bistro

Overall rating

(Outstanding) 5 / 5

Great!

OpenTable Diner

Dined on 5/09/2013

Food

(Outstanding) 5 / 5

Service

(Outstanding) 5 / 5

Ambiance

(Very Good) 4 / 5

Noise Level

Quiet

"This was a true surprise. Picked it because of the Pierre LaFond Bakery and the store. What a marvelous find! The food was outstanding!! Unique items on the menu and my friend and I picked 4 items to share. We did not want the Blue Cheese on the salad and our waiter suggested he change to "cherry vinegrette' and Parmesan Regianno.....which was wonderful...so fresh and light and tasty....then Kobe Meanloaf Sliders...absolutely wonderful, so delicious.....Pork Bolognese with homemade Rigotoni...superb and a light and so smooth Spinach and Ricotta Ravioli in a Creamy Lemon Sauce.....all was FABULOUS!... My compliments to the chef....could not have been better. I have already told several people how lovely it was!"

Dined on 5/09/2013

Special Features: fit for foodies, great for outdoor dining, romantic, neighborhood gem, special occasion

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Review 2 for Montecito Wine Bistro

Overall rating

(Good) 3 / 5

Very good food, but the service

OpenTable Diner Since

Dined on 04/27/2013

2000

Dined on 04/27/2013

2000

Food

(Very Good) 4 / 5

Service

(Poor) 1 / 5

Ambiance

(Good) 3 / 5

Noise Level

Quiet

"Very good food, but the service really lets you down. Only the bar had good service, but the dining room was almost awful. Wait staff yells at each other. Our waiter took our orders, then was not seen until the time for the check and of course - his tip. It was appropriate for the service he gave. As always, we tip and cash out at the bar and tipped well for the good service there. This place needs help with it's dinind room staff."

Dined on 04/27/2013

2000

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Review 3 for Montecito Wine Bistro

Overall rating

(Very Good) 4 / 5

Had an early dinner here.

OpenTable Diner Since

Dined on 04/19/2013

2010

Dined on 04/19/2013

2010

Food

(Very Good) 4 / 5

Service

(Very Good) 4 / 5

Ambiance

(Very Good) 4 / 5

Noise Level

Quiet

"Had an early dinner here. Enjoyed the pasta and shrimp and my friend loved the lamb burger. Very enjoyable dinner."

Dined on 04/19/2013

2010

Special Features: neighborhood gem

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Review 4 for Montecito Wine Bistro

Overall rating

(Good) 3 / 5

Nothing special

OpenTable Diner Since

Dined on 04/15/2013

2007

Dined on 04/15/2013

2007

Food

(Good) 3 / 5

Service

(Very Good) 4 / 5

Ambiance

(Good) 3 / 5

Noise Level

Moderate

"This was our first visit to this restaurant under this name, but had previous dinners under the previous name Piatti. Same chef, similar food. I would give this more stars, but there were three problems. First, prices were too high for what was served. Second, the food was really under seasoned. Third, we did not care for the owner's wine. It is not that anything was bad, just nothing special. There are just much better places close by for the same price. Our server was very attentive, as we would expect on a night that was not busy."

Dined on 04/15/2013

2007

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Review 5 for Montecito Wine Bistro

Overall rating

(Outstanding) 5 / 5

A new favorite for us

OpenTable Diner Since

Dined on 04/12/2013

2010

Dined on 04/12/2013

2010

Food

(Outstanding) 5 / 5

Service

(Outstanding) 5 / 5

Ambiance

(Outstanding) 5 / 5

Noise Level

Moderate

"My wife and I have been to the Montecito Wine Bistro several times now, and each time we find that our opinion of it rises. The food and wine list have always been great. However, the service and the "swank" of the place seems to be on the rise (especially the front patio and the dining room). Santa Barbara area has an unspoken-of shortcoming of quality dining service; probably due to it being such a casual community. As the Wine Bistro upgraded their service quality, the overall experience really stands head-and-shoulders above other "fine" restaurants. We enjoyed a great evening, not just a great meal. Well done, Mr. Lafond and Ms. Foster - your Montecito Wine Bistro is a great restaurant and our new fav in 93108!"

Dined on 04/12/2013

2010

Special Features: fit for foodies, great for outdoor dining, neighborhood gem, notable wine list, special occasion

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Review 6 for Montecito Wine Bistro

Overall rating

(Good) 3 / 5

Very good place. I was not

OpenTable Diner Since

Dined on 02/17/2013

2006

Dined on 02/17/2013

2006

Food

(Good) 3 / 5

Service

(Very Good) 4 / 5

Ambiance

(Good) 3 / 5

Noise Level

Moderate

"Very good place. I was not blown away but definitely would make a return visit."

Dined on 02/17/2013

2006

Special Features: kid-friendly, neighborhood gem

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Review 7 for Montecito Wine Bistro

Overall rating

(Good) 3 / 5

I'd have given the Food a

OpenTable Diner Since

Dined on 02/14/2013

2013

Dined on 02/14/2013

2013

Food

(Very Good) 4 / 5

Service

(Very Good) 4 / 5

Ambiance

(Good) 3 / 5

Noise Level

Moderate

"I'd have given the Food a 'Very Good' if I didn't have to send my steak back overcooked. The replacement was very good."

Dined on 02/14/2013

2013

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Review 8 for Montecito Wine Bistro

Overall rating

(Very Good) 4 / 5

Extremely friendly and thoughtful

OpenTable Diner Since

Dined on 02/14/2013

2008

Dined on 02/14/2013

2008

Food

(Very Good) 4 / 5

Service

(Outstanding) 5 / 5

Ambiance

(Good) 3 / 5

Noise Level

Moderate

"Extremely friendly and thoughtful service. Friendly crowd in a casual atmosphere. Nice varied menu. Reasonable prices. Excellent value all the way around."

Dined on 02/14/2013

2008

Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, great for outdoor dining, neighborhood gem, special occasion, hot spot

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Review 9 for Montecito Wine Bistro

Overall rating

(Very Good) 4 / 5

A group of 6 friends met at

OpenTable Diner Since

Dined on 02/01/2013

2012

Dined on 02/01/2013

2012

Food

(Outstanding) 5 / 5

Service

(Very Good) 4 / 5

Ambiance

(Outstanding) 5 / 5

Noise Level

Moderate

"A group of 6 friends met at the Bistro. We were all very sad when Piatti's went out because it was a favorite gathering place. When it first started up as the Bistro it was O.K. but not enticing, but we were all impressed with the food this time. Didn't try dessert as I was too full (chicken tostadas). One reason we all are drawn to it is it's not noisy and that's a gift in a restaurant these days. Now we can be drawn by the food as well as the ambience. It was very tasty!"

Dined on 02/01/2013

2012

Special Features: good for groups, neighborhood gem, great for lunch

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Review 10 for Montecito Wine Bistro

Overall rating

(Very Good) 4 / 5

We've always ended up on the

OpenTable Diner Since

Dined on 01/19/2013

2010

Dined on 01/19/2013

2010

Food

(Very Good) 4 / 5

Service

(Very Good) 4 / 5

Ambiance

(Very Good) 4 / 5

Noise Level

Moderate

"We've always ended up on the back patio here, but have to say that it's very pleasant and cozy - perhaps it's the fireplace. The food is very good. The pumpkin soup was amazing, to be honest. The family at the next table had a nice young boy who really enjoyed the pizza. Parking is plentiful (rare in Montecito) and the wine list was very nice. We'll be back!"

Dined on 01/19/2013

2010

Special Features: kid-friendly, neighborhood gem, notable wine list, romantic

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Review 11 for Montecito Wine Bistro

Overall rating

(Outstanding) 5 / 5