Arnoldi's Cafe Reviews

We held our wedding rehearsal dinner at Arnoldi's Cafe and it was a big hit! We rented out the entire back patio for our group of around 75 people. This allowed for us to enjoy some privacy and we had full access to their two bocce ball courts - the kids loved this! They had heaters placed around the tables which was needed on the unexpectedly chilly evening we had. Food and beverages were great. Highly recommend this spot if you're considering it for an event!

I can’t say enough good things about my experience working with Sara and Arnoldi’s! I work in the wedding industry, and sought out Arnoldi’s because I knew how much money you can save by working with a venue with a reasonable venue fee, catering costs, and in house rentals. On top of their reasonable costs, they also were super responsive, helpful, flexible, and served my guests delicious food and drinks day of. Would recommend to anyone looking for a laid back venue in SB!

We had a rehearsal dinner at Arnoldi's on their back patio and were very happy with the venue, food and service. Sara went out of her way to accommodate our food allergies and restrictions. The patio was separated by curtains from the rest of the outdoor area which gave us some privacy and the ability to move around within our space. The food was very good ad the service was excellent. I would highly recommend this restaurant for your next large party!

We hosted our Wedding Rehearsal Dinner at Arnoldi's on a Thursday evening and everything was absolutely amazing! From the planning process with Sara to the food and service the day of, everything was stellar and flowed smoothly. We had a space reserved in the back patio under the shade awning, which was so cute, as the area is adorned by twinkle lights and next to a bocce court.

We did a 2 course buffet with the calamari and margherita pizza to start, the spring mix as our salad, and rotolo, lasanga, and chicken marsala as the mains - and EVERYTHING was so delicious. Our guests were raving about how yummy the food was and there was a lot to spare for guests to take home at the end of the night. Guillermo (I believe this is his name), the man who was assisting us the day of, was the BEST! He was frequently checking in to make sure everything was flowing well. The staff even allowed some of our bridal party to stay around the fire pit later into the evening as they were cleaning up for closure, which was so kind of them! This space is so cute, staff is awesome, and food is exceptional! Highly recommend for any wedding festivities.

How do I even begin to say how amazing Arnoldi’s made my wedding night. Serving and catering to 39 people is never easy but the team made us feel so welcome and gave us an experience I’ll remember for the rest of my life. Sara the event manager was so down to earth, a joy to talk to, and made the whole planning process easy. The prices are reasonable, especially for Santa Barbara.

My guests are still raving about the food. And the family style we had at our tables was so fun, everyone loved being able to try each entree. They put a curtain up for privacy and it felt like we had the whole restaurant to ourselves.

I’ve also never received such amazing service anywhere ever. I’m easy to please but the servers and bussers were so on it, helpful, attentive, every good word in the book. Especially the head waiter (kicking myself for not getting his name) but I’ve seen him there in the past. His personality was so warm and fun. He immediately greeted my husband and I to champagne just for us. Then throughout the night made sure my wine glass was never empty. He and the team helped us cut and serve the cake, he had a rag ready for our faces for the inevitable cake smash haha.

My nieces and family got to enjoy some bocce ball after dinner. Nobody ever made us feel rushed when the food was done (which honestly if I was still working in a restaurant I’d be so ready for us to leave haha). I could seriously go on and on.

Long review short: Arnoldi’s Cafe checks all the boxes you could want. Whether it be for a romantic dinner, a casual hang out and drinks, or an event like a wedding. It’s the perfect local restaurant and event space for all occasions with amazing food and even more outstanding service. Thank you Arnoldi’s crew for making my wedding so special!

Last weekend we threw a wedding rehearsal dinner party for 50 on the back patio and it was absolutely amazing!! We had dedicated bartenders and servers who spoiled us. Everyone was so impressed by the food which was delicious and so plentiful. The fried calamari appetizer was amazing and we got many full platers of it. The lasagna was a stand out, but actually everything was excellent! Pana Cota for desert knocked it out of the park. We hung out around the fire pit for hours and they didn't try and rush us out and kept serving the wine and beer. Our guests were all so impressed and commented on the excellent food. Best of all was the general good feeling that was created by the beautiful setting and very friendly staff. I would highly recommend having an event at Arnoldi's Cafe.

We hosted the rehearsal dinner for our Son at Arnoldi's Cafe. We had family visiting from NY and we were looking for a venue unique to Santa Barbara. Arnoldi's historical building and the 80 year tradition of serving great Italian food, was every thing we hoped and more. The event coordinator Sara was very helpful and the service the night of the event was exceptional. The food was delicious and the servings were plentiful. We booked the outdoor venue and following our dinner service, we stayed until after dusk drinking wine, laughing and playing Bocce Ball.

Thank you Arnoldi's Cafe for making this night for our Family a truly unforgettable evening!

We had the wedding of our dreams at Arnoldi’s. Everything from the venue, to the food, and the staff were excellent. Our guests all raved about how good everything tasted. They happily accommodated those with special diet needs and were particularly attentive to both my husband and I, setting food aside for us as we socialized with our 100 guests. Their patio is romantic and simple, making it a versatile space for any wedding type, especially with flowers and decor provided by Ruben Pedregon who was a pleasure to work with and styled my “literary dreams” theme perfectly in the outdoor venue. Event planner Sara went above and beyond helping us plan our day, and was always courteous and professional through our many months of correspondence. Our wedding reception at Arnoldi’s was intimate, yet elegant and we will always be grateful for the amazing evening we had at this wonderful restaurant.

This Venue met and exceeded every expectation we had for our big day. They made sure every detail was perfect, memorable and DELICIOUS. Sara was fantastic to work with, bending over backwards to make sure we had everything we needed. The staff was professional, personable and friendly... and our guests raved about our food. The 5 cheese rigatoni is to die for, and if we HAD to pick a favorite- that would be it. Everything was amazing and we had so many people comment that this was the best wedding and venue they had ever attended. Thank you Arnoldis for the service, and the memories. I think we will do an anniversary party there every year!

We spoke with Sara several months leading up to our wedding and she helped us plan my wedding reception here at Arnoldi's. It was a small wedding (30 people total) and she gave us the back patio terrace with curtains. It was the PERFECT size for the entire group! We were blocked off from the rest of the restraurant and it felt very private. She helped me create and customize our menu for the wedding which was family style catering and the food tasted absolutely amazing. (our guests are still telling us how fantastic the food was!!) She even created special plates for family members with food allergies. They allowed us to have a microphone for speeches and other music, even though the patio wasn't closed off to other people. The small wedding was treated as if we had 500 people there and we felt incredibly special and important. We had servers coming in and out constantly asking what we needed, help clear our plates and never complained (and I know how these large groups can be!) The server attending our alcohol table was also doing a fantastic job at helping our guests keep their glasses full. Before the wedding I gave Sara all of our table decorations to set up with my ideas in mind, and when we walked in to the reception, I was completely stunned and amazed at what she did with our decorations!!! I was BEYOND impressed, it was more than I ever imagined it to be. I was honestly expecting some average looking table but nope, Sara made it spectacular and made my wedding feel like a huge expensive wedding, even though it was so small. I would recommend this business to anyone with a wedding, large or small because they truly go above and beyond, treat you like royality, and make your day all about you.

We had our wedding at Arnoldis back area this November, and it was amazing. Sara from Arnoldi's was a pleasure to work with, and she helped make our big day easy and stress free. Arnoldi's was very flexible with our changing guest total, and the food was excellent. I highly recommend!!

I had a very memorable wedding reception at Arnoldi's this weekend. Sara was super helpful from the beginning of this process - quickly responded to all of my questions and helped considerable in accommodating guests with food allergies, setting up music for the night as well and helping coordinating with flower drop off. The staff was also awesome, friendly and prompt with service. The food was great, the choices for wine and beer were ample and the desert choices were awesome. I loved this restaurant as a choice for a most special weekend.

From start to finish Arnoldi’s was an amazing experience. Sara started helping me plan our dinner for 50 guests several months ago and was also prompt in responding to all my questions. Tery and all the other staff were so accommodating throughout the entire evening. The food was also AMAZING. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone planning a large event. Everything flowed seamlessly!

My husband and I had our wedding reception at Arnoldi's late August 2017. I was expecting to be stressed out on our wedding day but I was not at all. The venue is really pretty so I did not feel the need to over-decorate. Arnold's took care of EVERYTHING! Our photographer & DJ coordinated really well with Arnoldi's as well. Sara, the event coordinator was extremely nice, professional, and very helpful! The staff at Arnoldi's are seasoned pros.

I am currently looking for an excuse to throw another party there!

Absolutely loved Arnoldi's! We used this cafe for our rehearsal dinner and were so pleased with our choice! They set up several long tables for us outside under the pergola such that we could feel a bit secluded from the rest of the guests. The lighting was romantic, the food delicious (my husband and I took home leftovers to put in our freezer and use later!), the service staff so pleasant. And we enjoyed having the bocce ball court as a fun activity that guests could partake in! We would highly recommend this cafe to anybody. We've already had a relative tell us that they returned several weeks later because the food was so delicious!

We had our daughter's wedding reception at Arnoldi's Cafe in Santa Barbara. The entire experience was positive! Booking was easy, communication was excellent and the actual reception was perfect! The staff was attentive and friendly, the food was delicious and the venue was festive (all for a reasonable price). Everyone had a wonderful time!

Wow!! My wife and I could not be more grateful for everyone at Arnoldi's Cafe. They helped us create a magical experience for our guests. The communication between Sara and us was very timely. She helped with all the details and allowed us to create the perfect menu. Their staff provided top notch service and the kitchen produced incredible food. We love Arnoldi's Cafe for the warm and friendly atmosphere. There is a unique old Spanish California vibe at Arnoldi's. It is a true Santa Barbara Gem. Our guest were blown away by there overall experience. We would highly recommend Arnoldi's Cafe for any wedding or event!! Our wedding was featured on Style Me Pretty. Please check out the link below
http://www.stylemepretty.com/california-weddings/santa-barbara/2016/01/15/classic-elegant-santa-barbara-wedding/

My husband and I knew from the beginning that Arnoldis Cafe was the perfect place for our reception dinner. Sara and the staff were so helpful and made the event so easy to plan. We rented out the whole back patio and when we arrived after the ceremony it was perfect! The stringed cafe lights, music and all our friends and family all having a blast! Just what we wanted! My husband and I are foodies and this is the best Italian restaurant in Santa Barbara. They did an amazing job with everything!!!

**Please note this review is coming from someone who works at a 5 diamond resort and has been an event coordinator for over a decade. I have seen hundreds of venues and this place exceeded all of my expectations** We have so many amazing things to say about Arnoldi's (especially Sara the event coordinator). We booked our reception with Sara, from day one she was just an absolute delight to work with. VERY nice, very accommodating and just absolutely amazing. Through the whole process, she was just beyond excellent, returned my emails and calls promptly and took care of EVERYTHING we asked (seriously went above and beyond). We had a reception of about 85 guests, the appetizers, the entree and the desserts all came out on time, perfect temperature and most importantly everything tasted fantastic (we are still getting emails and texts from our guests about how amazing the food was!). Believe me, it is extremely difficult to offer high quality food when serving a large volume of guests and Arnoldi's catering team is able to achieve this. Each meal tasted like it was plated and made just for that person, we couldn't have been happier! Additionally, the staff was on top of everything, they attended to each table seamlessly and were very helpful throughout the night. I didn't see a dirty plate or an empty glass the entire evening. Our guests enjoyed the fun atmosphere and even participated in a mini bocce ball tournament during our cocktail hour (which was so fun!). Arnoldi's even did our wedding cake as well, it tasted and looked just like the high end bakeries I have worked with in Beverly Hills. I cannot say enough good things about Arnoldi's and Sara. We will be lifetime patrons of this lovely establishment and hope to celebrate our anniversaries here every year. Our guests raved about the food, the atmosphere, the bar, the service and the decor... we had the best night of our life.. and coming from someone who has planned and attended thousands of weddings this was the best wedding I have EVER been to (and I'm not just saying that just because it was our own)... truly the most amazing day ever and we cannot thank Arnoldi's and Sara enough. We are happy to be a reference and share photos if anyone ever needs!

our reception went off EXCELLENTLY! sara peri was fantastic to work with and very, very helpful and understanding. arnoldi's has several menus to choose from, whether you want to do a full sit down dinner or rounds of heavy appetizers (what we did). our reception was underneath the arbor/trellis outside and was totally beautiful. they supply all the linens, plates, you name it... less for you to have to deal with before (and after!).

We had our rehearsal dinner at the restaurant a couple of weeks ago, and the night went beyond our expectations of perfection. The wait staff handled 69 people, which is quite a large crowd for a dinner party. From the beginning, the service of the staff and event team has been impeccable, and we extend our best gratitude. We had more compliments than we could count, and the Lasagna was the crowd pleaser by far! We had such great help from the wait staff with the bar service, and the guests left full and happy. The buffeet and appetizer set up was perfect, and it accomodated the large crowd no problem.This will not be the last event we have there, and as a local in SB, i enjoy eating dinner there all the time.

Thank you Arnoldis!!!

xoxo
Jamie and Lucas

We had an amazing time and the restaurant accommodated all 40 of us and it turned out beautiful and the food was great! The service was out of this world and they were so attentive and sweet. Thank you for everything!

My husband and I had dinner at Arnoldi's a couple of times and knew we wanted to have our wedding reception there and then Covid happened. We had already put a deposit down and were working with Arnoldi's event planner Sara, who was very helpful and accommodating during this time. We ended up having a small dinner with socially distanced tables the night we got married and it was perfect. Everything from the food and drinks to the beautiful setting of their outside patio area. The few guests that were there raved about how amazing it was.
The only suggestion I would have for the restaurant is to remove the "recommended florist" you have listed on your website. Ruben from Elevate Floral is a crook, who stole our money and left town without ever providing flowers for our wedding day.
Arnoldi's cafe is a restaurant I would recommend for a date night, a family dinner or when wedding receptions are happening again, a beautiful reception! Great food and great service and we will definitely be coming back for years to come!

Overall great experience at our wedding reception at Arnoldi’s. We wanted a casual dinner with friends with ample food and drinks. The setting was perfect. The back patio cleans up really nicely and lots of cafe lighting makes it festive. They are very easygoing about the decor, and we kept it simple with greenery and a garland over the fireplace. Bocce was a huge hit. Food was delicious, and we had no issue serving our fave beers by ordering ahead. The chef was just charming and did a ton to help those with dietary restrictions have a delicious meal.

A few notes: (1) email wasn’t the best way to communicate. Calling and dropping by would have been much better, but we live on the East Coast. (2) you’ll have to rent full length linens if you’d like them. (3) they are an older place, so have limited to no storage space, so although they take a “do what you want” approach, it’s actually limited to some extent by the fact that they can’t store much of their existing furniture away. (4) Wedding Wire is incorrect that parking is included — there is zero parking. Consider a shuttle.

Overall, we would recommend! We had a truly wonderful evening with our closest friends and family.

Server ignored us took 20 minutes for a drink order food was cold and reserved cold. Rude staff and horrible experience. I would avoid this place if you want a hot meal served with a smile