Convivo Restaurant and Bar
Santa Barbara, California
(207)
Santa Barbara, California
(207)
207 customer reviews
Eyal B.
Great dinner w the family today, we took:Burrata salad- comes with beat but no bread so need to order bread with it, which they don't have regular one Bucatini - spicy interring pasta which I took from my daughter as it was too spicy for her My son took the veal bolognese course, that was probably the highlight, We also took margarita pitta - awesome crispy one,And the Zuppa squash and ginger soup, spicy but very good Overall good atmosphere, good food and  service, recommend coming by!
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Hector G.
I had originally came to Convivo with a friend for Happy Hour right after it had opened. I liked the place and we continued to go to happy hour. When my niece got married couple of months later, I recommended that the wedding party go to Convivo for dinner before we painted the town red. Time passed and I went back couple of times, but it had been a long while that I hadn't gone back until this past weekend.Last Sunday it was a beautiful day in Santa Barbara (gorgeous, I should say). So me and some friends were looking for a place to have mimosas and we couldn't decide where to go. Until one of them, said let's go to Convivo. So we went and got a table in the patio overlooking the palm trees and the ocean. There was a cruise ship that was anchored on the beach. The waiter, Juan, came over with some menus and asked if we were there for brunch, but we already had breakfast. We just wanted mimosas. Â Juan suggested the Bottomless Mimosas. So we did! The price for the Bottomless Mimosas was something that caught our attention, it's only $15 per person!!! AND they are made with freshly pressed orange juice. We were taking pictures and he asked if we were from out of town. Â Well, it felt like we were somewhere else. Juan, told us that the Bottomless Mimosas is only offered on the weekends during brunch on Saturdays and Sundays from 11am - 3pm. Â We were in HEAVEN enjoying the view and the sun!He came around, brought us water and asked if we wanted to get the last Granseola plate. And the vibe that me and my friends had for that Sunday was "go with the flow". So we said yes and we were not disappointed. The plate consists of two Santa Barbara stone crab cakes, two poached eggs and brussel sprouts. Decorated with micro greens. The crab cakes were so delicious and the brussel sprouts had a zesty taste. I am definitely going back on a weekend and having those bottomless mimosas! More...
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Julia C.
Came to Convivo to celebrate my birthday with some friends, after reading awesome reviews about the great happy hour here. Was left a bit disappointed with the service, but overall enjoyed the food and atmosphere. This review is mainly about my experience at the happy hour. Atmosphere: arrived around 4:30pm on a Friday and opted for seating outside since they have heaters. We caught the most beautiful sunset with a view of the ocean (in November, so the sun sets around 5pm). The place was packed by 5pm with people trying to catch the tail end of happy hour which ends at 6pm. I recommend this place for a date or to grab a nice dinner and drinks with some friends. Seating is beautiful both inside and outside. It looks like they offer blankets for outside seating if it gets too chilly. Food/drinks: I got the Convivo Spritz and the Fiano wine, both equally delightful. I tried the Jamón croquette - great bites to share, fennel sausage pizza - decent sausage pizza, and spicy soppressata salame pizza - so delicious! The salame pizza is a bit reminiscent of the OG at Lucky Penny (which is also my favorite there). Service: our server didn't really check up on us and I had to actively seek him out or make eye contact. What bothered me the most was that we wanted to order second round of drinks but he was nowhere to be seen during the last 30 mins of happy hour. We had to ask another server to get our sever so we could get more orders in. More...
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Erica T.
Delectable! From beginning to end. Highest of compliments to the Chef. And all the waiters are gorgeous hahahahaha
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Patrick H.
I give this a 5 star based on:Location,creativity,flavors and staffLocation: East Beach,facing the ocean.Creativity: Happy Hour offerings. . really good prices for what U get. Local Craft brews etcThe luscious - gooey dish :Jamon Crocette= divineFennel sausage pizza was large by wood fired pizzeria standards.. great crust... sorta Napoli"Flavors : see above,add the little desert cup yumStaff:The 2 servers were attentive without overdoing it" Especially professional and competent was Matty..she looked like "Big Little Lies"JaneWill definitely return.. just to sit by the huge fire pit that faces the SunsetsThe American Riviera at its best More...
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John L.
My wife and I came to SB for the weekend and stayed at the SB inn. The hotel had just went through a complete remodel and I have to say it's perfect. Everything I saw was classy and comfortable. Convivo is a restaurant in the hotel. We had dinner there Saturday night, our server was great very attentive. The food was also so very good. We had the lamb meatballs and the octopus as an appetizer. The lamb meatballs were perfect. The octopus needed some salt but was cook perfectly. For dinner we shared a seafood risotto with uni butter, which I felt was the highlight of the meal. For dessert we had the vanilla gelato with espresso and that was also very delicious. The dinner was so good that we ended up having dinner there Sunday night too. Nick, the general manager helped us make a reservation. I have to give him a shout-out because he runs a tight ship. I can see him making sure every dish that comes out of the kitchen is perfect and his whole staff is great. On Sunday we had the whole fish which was cooked in the clay oven and the 40oz porterhouse. There were four of us who shared this and we weren't capable of finishing it. Sunday's dinner was also very good. I recommend this restaurant and hotel. My wife and I plan to come visit again real soon. More...
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Joyce T.
Amazing lunch! Â I had the beet salad -best I ever had. Â Chicken sandwich very good and chorizo frittata was good. Â Such a nice view outside and relaxing music -worth giving a try!
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Bob W.
My Wife Julie and I had dinner at Convivo again last evening. It was, as always, a wonderful dining experience. We always try to sit outside, specifically at Table #30, and enjoying the beautiful ocean across the street. We always get the same thing for dinner as well, their delicious Guinzaglio. It is house made pasta with seven hour Veal Bolognese and fresh Parmigiano cheese. We pair that with their home made Focaccia bread. A great combination! Our wine for the evening was a bottle of Grassini Family Vineyards Equipo, which was perfect with our meal. Our server last night, Lauren, was delightful, friendly and very professional. If you are looking for a nice dining experience, with great food, great ambiance and great service, you really should go to Convivo! More...
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Daniel Alan G.
Wow, such a pleasant surprise; everything from the Lamb meatballs | chickpea, rhubarb agrodolce, tapenade appetizer to our main entrees were fantastic!  Highly recommend, my wife thoroughly enjoyed her Guinzaglio - 7 hour veal bolognese & Parmigiano  and I enjoyed my Cappelletti More...
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Jennifer R.
What an incredible restaurant! Went here for dinner with some friends while we were in town visiting. We sat outside and had a beautiful view of the ocean. We ordered so much food! Brussel sprouts, yellow potatoes, margarita pizza, grilled avocado (AMAZING), Bucatini and Vermillion (INCREDIBLE)! Service was phenomenal. Wine was spectacular! If we are back in Santa Barbara, we wouldn't hesitate to go back. Thank you, Convivo for a memorable evening. More...
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Ali B.
This was my first time visiting this restaurant but my daughter and son in law have been here several times. It has an elegant casual atmosphere, neat clean and nicely decorated. Â We had wanted to sit in the patio dining area to enjoy the beautiful views of the ocean and scenery but settled for a nice table inside that had a huge window with the outside views.Our waiter Billy was amazing. Â He was kind, helpful, friendly and made you feel welcomed. Â We started the Happy Hour with drinks, Lamb Meatballs and Jamon Crocchette. Â Next we ordered three of the HH pizzas each was more tastier than the others my favorite was the Fennel sausage pizza. Â The crust on the pizza was thin and crunchy it was yummy by itself the cheese, sausage and other seasoning added another layer of goodness. Â The Lamb Meatballs were tender and very tasty I didn't want to stop eating them. Overall, great experience, awesome service, delicious food. More...
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Anna B.
Food, service and atmosphere were all great! Â Great experience different from the overcrowded eateries on the main strip that allows reservations to have a stress less and pleasurable experience.
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Ivonne U.
We recently had an engagement dinner for our son and his fiancé at Convivo, from the first contact I had with the restaurant to the day we had the dinner it was an excellent service. They are very good at details, like having the announcement of the engagement by the entrance of the restaurant to the efficiency, politeness and courtesy during the dinner. The flavor of each plate was exquisite! the presentation was amazing! We reserved the small patio, it was cozy, had an amazing view and just prefect for our group of 20 people. We definitely will return to eat at this restaurant. Convivo Restaurant was the best ending for a marvelous engagement day! More...
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Jill T.
I've been a big fan of Convivo since they opened, but unlike many restaurants that can disappoint after the glow wears off, I'm an even a bigger fan now. They have all the elements - ocean-front setting, comfortable inside and out (we particularly like sitting at the bar), friendly and attentive service, great local beer selection and always fresh, beautiful and tasty food at a good value. Our go-to is the NY steak that's on the lunch menu (but you can have for dinner), the half chicken, or the newly introduced (and our new favorite) pork chop. We usually split a mercado salad and an entree and usually have left-overs since the portions are huge. Â Also of note is their extensive and reasonably-priced lunch (the chicken or turkey sandwich comes with a side salad and is also plenty for two). Also appreciate the free valet parking and it's never too busy, even on the weekends. More...
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Michaelangelo A.
I highly recommend this restaurant. From the apps to the main course meals to share were very flavorful. The ambiance is beautiful and the service was excellent. The Carpaccio is a must App to get and don't forget to order the whole fish early as it takes 25mins to prepare. Everyone also loved the 7hr. Veal Bolognese(so freaking delish) plus the fennel and sausage pizza. More...
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Maegan A.
The staff here was absolutely amazing and so accommodating. Nicole was our server and she was great!! The food was amazing and our servers recommendations were the best! ! Loved this place!! Highly recommend ! More...
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Joaquin G.
Beautiful place really nice host and servers a great place to eat if you have a date or simply want to get a bite to eat and enjoy the beach view I love the spritz and margarita pizza during happy hour you really can't beat the prices
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Rob R.
We loved Convivo so much that we dined several times at the restaurant during our vacation. Â You can dine very reasonably $20 per person for chicken and salad or spend more, $70 for whole fish for 2 or porterhouse steak for two depending on what you order. Â The openness of the restaurant is Architecturally charming, the food is delicious and the waiters are efficient. Â One of the best places I found while in California and the setting is lovely, I highly recommend Convivo and hope you like it as much as we did. More...
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Jerzy M.
The service was amazing! Our waiter was so friendly, and was genuinely happy to help with anything we needed.
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Marilyn N.
Great outdoor patio dining! Â Nice dinner with a nice view on the heated patio looking out at the ocean on a cool night. Enjoyed our rib appetizer, awesome guinzaglio pasta n focaccia with extras. No tiramisu for dessert but the chocolate plate was excellent! Â Can't wait to return for happy hour and to try the great looking wood fired pizza our neighbors were having. More...
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J C.
Love eating here! The food is great. I love the charcoal prawns, the octopus, the pesce crudo. The pizzas are great. Everything is delicious. The staff is courteous & professional. The atmosphere is open, upscale and so Santa Barbara. The view is beautiful and relaxing. It's always a great experience. More...
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Andy L.
Went for Sunday Brunch with friends. Â Lovely to sit, very good service, reasonably priced wine, and fantastic food. Â All three of us were happy with what we ordered - the Ahi tuna, Fattoush flatbread, and 5 hour Brisket. Â All three were generous, perfectly seasoned, well presented, and delicious. Â The Brisket came with eggs, a scrumptious biscuit, potato and veggie mix, and was large, filling, and perfect. Â Will for sure be back to Convivo! More...
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Diego R.
Located inside the Santa Barbara Inn, Convivo Restaurant was a Incredible dining experience!We made reservations for outside but it was too chilly, even with heaters. We asked to sit inside and they accommodated us within minutes.The restaurant has a wonderful view of the beach due to the large glass patio doors and  entry way next to the bar.The table service was quick and the food was delicious. We had the seafood pasta, breaded pork chop and  margherita  pizzas.Next time we're in SB, we'll definitely be returning! More...
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M D.
Nice place, friendly and a great spit roasted chicken. Restaurant is connected to a hotel. Had a good experience, they have a nice outside dining area too.
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Isabella S.
This place is insanely bomb. If you are in Santa Barbara you HAVE to come here. I went with a group a friends and they were able to seat us on the patio and it was absolutely beautiful. We ordered the focaccia bread and it was hands down some of the best bread i've EVER had... and i've been to both Italy and France. We also ordered margarita pizzas (which were amazing) and the bucatini. GO FOR THE BUCATINI. you won't regret it! for 5 of us to eat some high quality food it was barely over $100. We would definitely come back! More...
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Sofia Z.
Such a great restaurant the food is amazing and super creative I had the summer peach pizza w and fattoush so amazing and not expensive
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Gary H.
We hosted a happy hour gathering for 10 great friends with the help of convivial great staff! Wonderful experience, solid choices of reasonably priced happy hour foods and drink selection very satisfactory- the sparkling rose was a particular hit! Â Our server, Juan, hit the perfect balance of being solicitous without intrusiveness, so overall very pleased & can't recommend more highly! Thank you! More...
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Brittany H.
I love love love Convivo. Across from the beach, outdoor seating. Terrific bar! I love all the appetizers. The menu is very gourmet. The peach pizza was mouth watering. Dishes are well executed, and constructed. Beside cocktails, I had to try it a few times to understand the menu and chefs cooking styles. Very good modern Italian cuisine. Love the location. Wonderful outdoor seating with heaters and great view of the beach. Perfect for a lunch and a glass of vino. Or a romantic dinner and drinks. More...
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T D.
Lovely place located at the Santa Barbara Inn. The service is excellent. Food is well crafted and reasonably priced. Â Ambience is relaxing and elegant. Decor is tasteful and classy. Overall, a lovely gem in Santa Barbara. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a relaxing evening. More...
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John K.
Other than having one or two doubting dishes, they serve awesome food! Make sure you get charcoal shrimp, grilled octopus, and any of their pasta - all pasta dishes are exceptional!!
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Vin R.
Very fancy atmosphere, yet we still felt welcomed with our 4 year old. Great food. We will be back.
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Kelley C.
Came for happy hour and ordered a flatbread with fennel sausage and green olives. Pretty salty...like too salty...but a lot of food. The cab  wine  is delicious. The waiter was attentive and efficient. More...
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Tamara R.
A big shout out to Stephanie who went the extra mile to make my mothers 85th birthday a knockout. Â Her customer service was beyond wonderful. Â Nice to see a human element in the middle of hustle and bustle. Â Best lemon meringue pie ever! Â Thank you! More...
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Michelle G.
I love Convivo! Its described as Nomad Italian. The food is definitely rebellious, out of the ordinary and delicious! Everything I have eaten here has been amazing. Sometimes I'm not sure what I've ordered, but it always delicious. The staff truly enjoy what they do, they are welcoming and friendly.You all made my brunch with Mom for mother's day perfect! Thank you!! More...
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Mark S.
The lamb meatballs melt in your mouth. Stopped by for a quick lunch and ordered the lamb meatballs and marinated beets. Both so delicious but the lamb meatballs made me pause and just enjoy. So good. So so good. Great service also. And nice atmosphere. More...
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Simone T.
Convivo is right across the street from East Beach downtown sb. It is a lovely restaurant that is perfect for special occasions such as birthdays anniversaries, or a night out. Their selection of food will not disappoint and they have a refined selection of wine and beverages. They also have a happy hour that has a small selection of food, wine, beer, drinks and the focaccia is wonderful! More...
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Macy W.
Perfect location and great ambience (we sat outside with our dog on the patio). Service was pretty good, and food was delicious. We had the porterhouse steak meal with amazing potatoes, the focaccia bread, and some Brussels sprouts, with the Carmel cookie bar and ice cream for dessert! So so good! The only downside is I sort of think the menu is slightly limited, but it is intended to be a family style menu so I think that it's okay. More...
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Donna L.
Sexy Dining Room & Best Risotto EverThree of us for dinner and I must say the dining room was so welcoming, and especially when I had my desire to dine on the patio. The room is sexy, but the food?! The seafood risotto was the best risotto my friend and I have ever had. The layers of flavor were decadent and complimentary. The shellfish fabulously rich. We began with the charcoal avocado salad and not to be missed. My friends had never had grilled avocado and they went nuts over it as well. This night they included kumquats in the salad that were a bit sour for my liking, but could be eaten around. We also had a wonderful margherita pizza. Drinks and wine were fabulous. More...
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Melissa M.
Best Happy Hour in Santa Barbara!!! Beautiful views, great food and drinks.
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M. S.
Fantastic food and service. Fresh, in season and really uniquely and exquisitely done menu items. I especially loved the chicken liver, the nettle gnudi, and the SB insalada. Can't wait to come back.
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Lindse C.
Excellent! Great food and ambiance! We split the roasted chicken--great flavor; delicious! Also had the bucatini pasta which was very good! Dishes looked amazing at all tables so we decided to get dessert. Fully enjoyed the strawberry sorbet and chocolate caramel bar! More...
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Bob K.
Wow. Â My wife and I ate there this last Friday night for Santa Barbara Food Week. Â I am so impressed by this restaurant. Â The food was so utterly fantastic (lamb meatballs, a pasta dish, and the dessert of expresso poured over vanilla ice cream with candied nuts). Â Pricing reasonable for the quality and quantity and service. Â Speaking of service, this place is a well oil-machine. Â They all work their tail off, and are friendly. Â Good staff. Â We will be back. Â Many times. Â So impressed. More...
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Chris H.
Really fun restaurant. Wood fire pizza oven, great tapas style apps. Beautiful wines and great service. Absolutely enjoyed the lamb chops and the super Tuscan was fantastic. Definitely a great spot to hit when in SB More...
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PG R.
We had an incredible meal. The service was fabulous, and the pacing was flawless. Our server, Tony, was knowledgeable and helpful. We started with potatoes bravas and a beet and burrata salad. For entrees, we had the stinging nettle gnudi, which was brilliant, the francobolli with crab, and the roasted chicken. We finished with the lemon tart and cappuccino. Absolutely excellent. More...
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D K.
I had an AMAZING meal at Convivo this past Saturday my boyfriend and I went together it was really quaint and romantic inside. The staff was friendly. And the food was perfect. Everything I had was delicious. The Lamb meatballs with the pomegranate seed garnish was new and delicious, I loved the crudo, the lamb bolognese, the octopus with pork belly just to name a few. I left full, with happy taste buds. and you get plenty of food for the price. Definitely made our Date night. I will be back. More...
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Harriet E.
We dined here with my son, his gf, and her parents. It was the almost perfect place to accommodate our varied dietary requirements. The patio was lovely at night, the seating was super comfy, and the location lent itself to a moonlit walk by the ocean afterwards.We got a wide variety of dishes, including the fig pizza, the pig head tagliatelle, the octopus, marinated beets, and heirloom tomato. The food was worthy of all the high praise it gets. I'm taking away one star because, according to our waitress, the chef will not make any substitutions. If memory serves me, several in our party didn't  eat red meat and we had asked for any protein to be substituted in one of the pizzas we ordered that came with beef. We even asked to have the beef omitted and were told accommodations to dietary requests are not made at Convivo. You either order it the way it's made or you don't order it. I think SB is too small of a town to get away with doing that for long. Maybe most of their customers are tourists, since they're at the beach, and they don't care about repeat biz. I guess we got the tourist treatment, but I have encountered no other local chefs that are that unyielding.Anyway, I'll definitely be back, but not with any guests who have dietary restrictions. More...
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Jim H.
What a pleasure. Â Convivo was featured on the local news and prompted us to eat there for dinner. They also have a local Axxess deal which made Convivo a no brainer The outside was open but not being used due to rain and wind so the inside was lively and right next to us was a table of about twenty. Â It usually slows things down but not at all. It was perfect We had four small plates ( all completely unique and fantastic) and shared a Za'aar flatbread. Delicious The best part of the meal was the waiter Hunter. Â He was friendly and extremely knowledgeable without being intrusive. Â By the end of the meal we were asking for his opinion since he had such a thorough knowledge of the menu and great taste We will be going back soon and can't wait to sit out on the patio. Thanks Hunter for a great experience More...
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Richie D.
Personally, I like Convivo because their menu consistently offers something different than everyone else in town. Chef Peter McNee considers it a blend of "nomad" Italian with its Mediterranean influences and local California 'farm to table' ingredients. While I don't fully understand what all this means, everything is simply delicious. So delicious that it is always winning an award or being mentioned in the press (SB Independent Foodie Award, New York Times Places to Go, Zagat, to name a few). Don't get me wrong, the service, atmosphere, setting, and service are all spectacular. You're practically on East Beach for gosh sake!Yet, they have one of the best Happy Hours in Santa Barbara daily 3:00-6:00 PM that features how it stands out from its competition. Between the Yellow Potatoes with Za'atar and Romesco sauce, tender Polpette lamb meatballs with tapenade and chickpeas, and Wood-fired za'atar flatbread with fresh accompaniments, I don't know which item tops the list. All of the Happy Hour items are tapas-style, or meant to be shared. Since Convivo is the restaurant for the Santa Barbara Inn, it's hours are extensive. P/S: Don't get tripped up by staring at the bar which has one side all windows and the other all mirrors. It becomes even more confusing with each glass of wine (worth mentioning, they have a great selection of wines available). More...
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Erin H.
The chicken and cauliflower is one of my all time favorite meals ever and certainly the best chicken dish I've ever had. Wow! Lovely ambiance and great service too. I will dream of eating here again soon! More...
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Rosie O.
Wow, want a relaxing, quiet lunch where you can have excellent food and a great conversation, this is it. My husband and I needed this. We tried this; using our SB axxess deal. What a wonderful experience and a great view to boot. Â Food is interesting, delicious and plated attractively. We will be back for lunchtime and also try the Happy Hour sometime. More...
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