Diners' Choice: Italian restaurants in California Central Coast

OpenTable

Updated June 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants with the best overall Italian cuisine in California Central Coast? You’re in the right place. Each month OpenTable analyzes more than 400,000 new diner reviews. We sort the results by category to help you discover new favorites. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Mezzaluna Pasteria & Mozzarella Bar - Pacific Grove

4.8

4.8 (1427)

$30 and under

Italian

Pacific Grove

About the restaurant

We are currently open for dine-in and outdoor heated sidewalk/patio.
We are always available for curbside pickup.
Welcome to Mezzaluna Pasteria and Mozzarella Bar. Chef Soerke and Amy invite you in to enjoy daily house made Pasta, Mozzarella and Gelato.
We offer a full bar with specialty cocktails.
Chef’s Specialties include
Buccatini Al’Amatriciana
Linguini alla Vongole
Chicken Sausage Lasagne
Spaghetti Carbonara
Grilled Octopus
Lamb Meatballs
House-made Charcuterie
Gnocchi with Gorgonzola Dolce Sauce & Black Truffle Oil
Little Gem Caesar Salad with Parmigiano Reggiano
Raviloi di Manzo
Pate di Anatra

Top review

DanVIP

Dined 3 days ago

Mezzaluna Continues to be a high quality dining experience!

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Popular dish

Rigatoni alla Buttera

Popular dish

Spaghetti alla Carbonara

Popular dish

Ravioli di Spinaci

SY Kitchen

4.9

4.9 (4005)

$31 to $50

Italian

Santa Ynez Valley

About the restaurant

RESERVATIONS

Reservations for parties of 5 or more please call restaurant directly.

S. Y. Kitchen requests a credit card to hold a reservation of 6 or more. You may cancel by calling the restaurant by 5 PM two days prior to the reservation. After that cancellation is subject to our policy and fees may be incurred. All credit card information will be processed securely.

Top review

AndranikVIP

Dined 2 days ago

Great food, great service, great atmosphere and Matthew is the best 👍😊

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Popular dish

Margherita

Popular dish

T-Bone Truffle Sliders

Popular dish

Wild Mushroom Pappardelle

La Mia Cucina

4.9

4.9 (1063)

$31 to $50

Italian

Pacific Grove

About the restaurant

Stroll along 17th St., between Lighthouse and Laurel and you will find one of the Peninsula’s favorite spots, La Mia Cucina. This little jewel, with its fresh ambiance and tantalizing menu, is popular with everyone. The colorful European advertising posters that enliven the walls, are “originals, not reproductions.” That phrase is accurate in describing La Mia Cucina itself. From the comfortable linen white decor, accented beautifully by those turn-of-the-century posters, to the hand-crafted entrees and desserts, everything about La Mia Cucina says fresh and original. Owner Michael’s specialty, his ravioli dishes, are a renowned local favorite, and for good reason. They are hand made, with all the care that only a lifetime of creative food combining can bring. In addition to pasta, La Mia Cucina is known for it's fresh fish and meat specials. The desserts are made in-house by his wife Paula and daughter Michaela, and the service is personal and inviting.

Top review

RonVIP

Dined 6 days ago

A wonderful restaurant with gracious hosts and staff.

Il Cortile Ristorante

4.9

4.9 (4300)

$50 and over

Italian

Paso Robles

About the restaurant

Welcome to Il Cortile Ristorante, Downtown Paso Robles' newest fine dining Italian restaurant. We invite you to join us to enjoy our seasonal menus created with the freshest ingredients available sourced by our surrounding local and regional landscapes by Executive Chef Santos MacDonal, providing a melody of exceptional homemade pastas, fresh seafood, top quality meats and antipasti. A top destination for exquisite wines, picturesque landscapes and beautiful weather, Paso Robles provides the perfect pairing for Il Cortile's rustic Italian fine dining.

Top review

MICHAELVIP

Dined 6 days ago

Outstanding experience with great food and tremendous care from all the staff. Thanks again to the Il Cortile crew👍🎉🙏

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Pappardelle al Cinghiale

Tre Lune

4.8

4.8 (2122)

$50 and over

Italian

Montecito

About the restaurant

"Upbeat and comfortable, serving real-deal pastas and pizzas that make you feel like you're in Italy again." - ZAGAT 2010

Fresh fish, veal scaloppini, osso buco, prime steaks, Kobe-beef burgers, organic salads, and house-made desserts.

Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner-Cocktails.

Award Winner of Italian wines list.

Please call to make reservations.

Top review

JanisVIP

Dined 1 day ago

Our party of 6 all enjoyed their meals, some of the best Italian food we've had. Will definitely return!

Leonardo Ristorante & Pizzeria

4.8

4.8 (1439)

$31 to $50

Italian

Solvang

About the restaurant

Highly anticipated opening by Chef Leonardi Curti.

Top review

Alicia

Dined on Jun 25, 2025

The food was delicious and our waiter was so kind and helpful. Great service!

Ca' Dario Cucina Italiana

4.8

4.8 (634)

$31 to $50

Italian

Goleta

About the restaurant

Anything grilled is "divine" and the rest of the menu is "delectable" at the "charming" Italian in Santa Barbara known for its "excellent" execution of "simple" pasta, meats and other classics plus a "fantastic" wine list with many available by the glass; it's a local "favorite", so reservations are a must.

Top review

Amy

Dined on Jun 15, 2025

Our family had a wonderful celebratory dinner here to honor my daughter's UCSB graduation! We took her here the night we moved her in to her dorm and so it was fitting to end her time at UCSB back in the same place! Thank you for being a memory we will never forget! (Food and service were outstanding!)

Toma Restaurant & Bar

4.8

4.8 (5663)

$31 to $50

Italian

Santa Barbara

About the restaurant

Toma Restaurant and Bar a waterfront bistro, located along Santa Barbara's picturesque Cabrillo Blvd. Experience Santa Barbara waterfront's most romantic restaurant. Savor exquisite Italian and Mediterranean inspired dishes from Santa Barbara's seasonal bounty, supporting our local fisherman, farmers, foragers and food artisans. Pour over local and Italian wines along with a full bar of handcrafted cocktails and spirits. Enjoy warm and attentive service while dining window side with a view of the enchanting Santa Barbara harbor.

Top review

Karen

Dined 2 days ago

This is our go to Restaurant. Always perfect service, food and drinks. The pasta was outstanding, also the stuffed green olives with blue cheese and deep fried. So delicious !! Parking is some what difficult but it is a beautiful walk if you have to park far away. I can’t wait to go back.

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Olio e Limone Ristorante

4.7

4.7 (2625)

$50 and over

Italian

Santa Barbara

About the restaurant

Olio e Limone Ristorante, located in downtown Santa Barbara's ARTS District, serves artisanal Italian cuisine. Meaning “oil and lemon” in Italian, their restaurant’s name reflects husband-wife team Alberto and Elaine Morello’s philosophy: rely on the integrity of the ingredients and quality of the preparation to provide Santa Barbara diners “simply sophisticated” Italian cuisine served in an inviting atmosphere with European hospitality. Start with eggplant souffle, then tuck into a plate of house made duck ravioli or Sicilian spaghetti with bottarga. And be sure to take home a bottle of their own olio, an organic extra-virgin olive oil made from Sicilian olive varieties.
Bonus: their contemporary Italian breakfast, lunch & retail spot Olio Bottega, and authentic pizzeria next door at Olio Pizzeria. Private dining in the Cucina Room for up to 40 guests.

Top review

ElaineVIP

Dined 4 days ago

Our first time to try it. Pasta is delicious. Very authentic. Wait staff is friendly and attentive. Definitely will return as the ingredients are fresh, flavorful and portions plentiful. Will go back to visit the store with all of the lovely Italian products.

Ca Dario Montecito

4.8

4.8 (953)

$50 and over

Italian

Montecito

About the restaurant

Ca' 'Dario's newest restaurant on Coast Village Road promises the same authentic and fresh Italian cuisine as our other locations, now easily accessible for residents of Montecito!
Enjoy outdoor dining on our covered patio, or indoor in our elegant dining room.
We feature an adjustable roof that keeps out the rain and allows in the sun.
Dogs are welcome (we ask that you limit the number to one per guest)

Top review

BethVIP

Dined 5 days ago

Fantastic service and outstanding good. Lovely vibe and everyone had a great time.

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