Neapolitan Pizzeria Made Famous From ‘Eat Pray Love’ Opens in Santa Barbara | Eater LA

"Located in Santa Barbara’s historic Ember Mill building (which formerly housed the Copper Coffee Pot from 1927 to 1982), this second Southern California outpost of the 152-year-old Naples institution opened on November 9 and leans into the chain’s wide recognition from Eat Pray Love and its film adaptation. Owner Francesco Zimone redesigned the space to mirror the Hollywood location with an open kitchen showcasing pizza production, a smaller indoor seating area, a bar, a courtyard that seats 60, and tables that spill onto busy State Street; staff shift from lunch counter service to takeout in the late afternoon and full dinner service in the evening. Head pizzaiolo Michele Rubini upholds the original Naples restaurant’s strict pizza-making criteria, while Chef Rick Frame developed the Santa Barbara menu—which offers fresh pastas sauced with pomodoro, nerano, and cacio e pepe, a salumi and deli counter, mains like branzino and a 16-ounce Tasmanian steak, and Neapolitan-style pizzas from a customized wood-fired oven; West Hollywood’s Gelato Festival will source the dessert starting in winter, and beers and wines come from California and Italy. Service hours are 11 a.m.–4 p.m. for lunch counter service, 4 p.m.–6 p.m. for takeout only, and 6 p.m.–9 p.m. for full service, with reservations available via OpenTable." - Mona Holmes