Reviews

Overall Total Score
4.2 out of 5
Impressive | 7542 reviews

What Vivian Fotos Rose likes about Carlitos Cafe Y Cantina:
My husband I had a delightful evening at Carlitos Café y Cantina. It was our first night in Santa Barbara we couldn't have asked for a better kick-off than to have really good Mexican food along with a festive atmosphere wonderful live music. The guacamole chips were delicious, as was my Blood Orange margarita. Our main courses were attractively presented exceptional in taste. I like, too, that you could have a Caesa... View all feedback. What Angel Cristobalb doesn't like about Carlitos Cafe Y Cantina:
I remember the food was different. I asked the waiter if the chef is new because I saw a big difference in the food and presentation, and I was definitely right. They changed the chef. The flavor is totally different. View all feedback.

Reviews from various websites

Menu
4.4 ★ from 35 reviews
Hyman
05.05.2023 - 14:12

Love the atmosphere. Drinks are great and food is a little pricier for Mexican food, but it is worth every penny for the atmosphere and location. Fajitas are gr...

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Carolanne
05.05.2023 - 14:12

The staff here is at the top. Absolutely conscious and fast. The food is really nice and the prices are good. Would definitely come back. Recommend to go aswell...

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Glenna
05.05.2023 - 14:12

I really wanted to like Carlitos. We've visited before and didn't love it. But we wanted to give him a second chance. Oh, good! The service was good. Super prof...

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Bernhard
05.05.2023 - 14:12

I enjoyed my time in this restaurant. The staff was very friendly and our waitress Carlita was so The Guacamole was so good, had a nice heat. The steak was good...

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Carolanne
05.05.2023 - 14:12

Awesome place to dine at. I absolutely enjoyed the Chicken Fajitas, salsas, guacamole appetizer, tortillas, mango margarita, and vegetables. A must try place, I...

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Carlitos Café y Cantina offers a vibrant atmosphere complemented by delicious food and drinks, notably the guacamole and margaritas, which receive high praise. However, recent changes in kitchen staff may have impacted food quality, leading to inconsistent flavors and dissatisfaction regarding portion sizes. While some diners enjoy the restaurant's lively ambiance, others find the noise levels excessive, complicating conversation. Service experiences vary greatly, with both attentive and disappointing interactions reported. Despite the drawbacks, many visitors appreciate the restaurant's location and extensive gluten-free options, making it a popular choice for a festive meal in Santa Barbara.

Google
4.4 ★ from 1119 reviews
Kayla
06.02.2024 - 11:54

Wonderful margaritas, really enjoyed the Winter Special Paloma as well as their shrimp tapas, Gambas Al Ajillo. Excellent chips and salsa with a side of black b...

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T
06.02.2024 - 11:54

A consistent Mexican restaurant in a superb location

Jacquelyn
06.02.2024 - 11:54

I had an amazing experience at Carlitos! I was visiting from out of town and was absolutely impressed by the delicious food and the cozy atmosphere. The service...

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Joseph
06.02.2024 - 11:54

Loved it. Showed up just in time before rush.great food, great service, great place.you can smell the food from outside

Elvira
06.02.2024 - 11:54

Had the chile relleno which is usually great! But it was cold cheese not melted!

Int Restaurants
4.3 ★ from 2406 reviews
Vivian
23.08.2023 - 08:37

My husband I had a delightful evening at Carlitos Café y Cantina. It was our first night in Santa Barbara we couldn't have asked for a better kick-off than to h...

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Joseph
23.08.2023 - 08:37

Love this place...we drive 3hr round trip to have lunch/dinner here.. Love the ceviche....seafood burrito Mojitos...are super good...

Christina
23.08.2023 - 08:37

The food was amazing, great margaritas! I don't remember the name if the singers the night we were there but they were playing great music. We will definitely b...

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Salli
23.08.2023 - 08:37

Best food in town,Love this place use to come here all the time.

Niu
23.08.2023 - 08:37

I live in Oxnard and wanted to celebrate our business anniversary so we drove to State St. In Santa Barbara and saw this place! For our first time experience, c...

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Yelp
3.5 ★ from 826 reviews
Annalise
02.10.2023 - 14:48

Food: 10/10 really good service food and prices. The quality of the food is definitely a 10. The enchiladas are delicious and the rice and beans are...

Eileen
02.10.2023 - 14:48

Can I be candid? not very good! We finally made it to this place after moving here... We ordered guacamole for the last day of fiesta, mango margarita...

Kristofer
02.10.2023 - 14:48

Fantastic brunch! Carilito's hosted a group of 30+ of us for a senior brunch and it was delicious from start to finish. We got the chips and guacamole as a...

Opentable
4.5 ★ from 212 reviews
Doordash
4.5 ★ from 225 reviews
Sirved
4.3 ★ from 1299 reviews
Gastroranking-us
3.7 ★ from 593 reviews

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