Carlitos Café y Cantina

Carlitos Café y Cantina is hands down one of the best spots in Santa Barbara! 🌟 The patio is absolutely beautiful colorful, lively, and right across from the historic Arlington Theatre, making it the perfect place to relax and people-watch. The margaritas are some of the best in town, strong, fresh, and delicious. The food never disappoints either flavorful Mexican classics with great portions. Combine that with friendly service and a vibrant atmosphere, and you’ve got the perfect dining experience. Definitely a must-visit if you’re in Santa Barbara!

Great food. Large servings. You will go home satisfied, full and with leftovers. Was with a large group and all the servers were very nice and quick with getting us our drinks.

This was a really cute little place to eat. We had just arrived into Santa Barbara looking for lunch. My husband loves Mexican food. Seated outdoors which was nice. Service was quick and the food was hot and delicious. The chips and salsa also came with a little bean salsa type thing that added something special to the regular chips and salsa.

Fantastic atmosphere, right across from the Arlington. A real treat of outside dining, especially at night. I've been going here for decades. Food is lovely, if not a bit underseasoned for my taste. I have a hunch they're looking for broader appeal than your authentic, hole-in-the-wall Mexican joint. Still worth a visit if you've never been!

Carlitos Cafe y Cantina offers a lively and welcoming atmosphere with tasty Mexican dishes and friendly service. The outdoor seating area feels especially enjoyable and the location on State Street makes it perfect for people watching. The food is flavorful and the portions are generous. The whole place has a warm casual vibe that makes it easy to relax and enjoy a good meal.

The beautiful restaurant served excellent authentic Mexican food. I highly suggest the Sizzling Chicken Fajita platter. My girlfriend got the Carne Asada Tacos.

My favorite place to get dinner on State Street. They just know how to make the BEST food. As long as I can remember, my grandma was the first person to take me here so it's very special to me in many ways. Staff is always wonderful, thank you to the Carlitos staff!!

I rarely leave bad reviews, but this place absolutely earned it. From the moment I walked in, the woman working the front made the whole experience uncomfortable. She acted like taking my order was an inconvenience, didn’t greet me, rolled her eyes when I asked a simple question, and just overall had the worst attitude I’ve ever seen in a restaurant. The food didn’t make up for it either — everything was bland, lukewarm, and honestly felt like it had been sitting out way too long. For the price, it was definitely not worth it. Between the rude service and disappointing meal, I won’t be coming back. There are way better places that actually treat customers with respect. Avoid if you can.

After quietly mourning the loss for the past two years of Carlitos Cafe's sister restaurant in Montecito, CAVA, we fiiiiinally made our way to Carlitos Cafe to see if we could resurrect the same great food since they are owned by the same person/company. Let me just say that CAVA was our absolute favorite Mexican restaurant ANYWHERE, and we would travel from Los Angeles up to Montecito frequently to eat there. When we learned of their closing about two years ago, we never got over the loss. I'm not kidding. It was bad, and we still don't understand why it closed. Anyway, I found out the owner of CAVA maintained his OTHER restaurant, Carlitos Cafe, so we decided to give them a try. It just took us two years to do it. So the bottom line is that it was really good. Perfect like CAVA? No... but it was pretty darn good. My husband and I decided we'd definitely return because there was a lot that we really liked. The chips, salsa and guac were right on par with CAVA. The salsa had great flavor and was ultra thick... just how we like it. The guac was fresh and flavorful and again, just how I like it. (Hubby doesn't like guac.) Great start. BUT.... the entrees, which were the mariscos enchiladas for both of us, were not on par. They were good, but they were definitely missing something in the spices. I'm not exactly sure what it was, but it was not what I remembered. They were packed full of shrimp and scallops just like I remember, but something was not quite right with the flavors. My husband said the same thing, soooooo I don't know. It wasn't bad; it just wasn't amazing, knock our socks off great. As an aside, they have a lovely patio area for dining outdoors. The restaurant itself is on the smallish side, but still attractive, and at least when we went on a Saturday for lunch, we had an easy time choosing if we wanted to dine indoors or out. The next time we return, and we will... we won't be ordering the mariscos enchiladas as our entree. We'll definitely try something else, but at least we found a suitable alternative to our Mexican food cravings in Santa Barbara. And yes, I still wish CAVA didn't close.

Great location. Extensive menu. Good bar menu and proven margaritas and mojito's. Large portion and reasonable prices. The service is 5*'s alone. The outdoor and indoor dining is fitting and comfortable. Consider splitting as portions are not only good but huge. The spicy bbq ribs are amazing. The guacamole is the best! Ask for spicy salsa is the table versus is not hot enough.

Love this Carlitos . Excellent Food served by Marco . Good Ambience and nice place area in Santabarbara 5star

Walking in Santa Barbara we decided to give Carlito's a try for a late lunch. Nice dining area and pleasant attentive servers. We were presented with chips and salsa, along with a corn salsa, prior to our meal arriving. The chips were fresh, crisp and tasty. The salsa's were passe. Really nothing special. Our meals were both nice. The presentation was very good in both dishes. Both of our dishes included grilled chicken and, in both cases, had good flavor but was a little dry. I'd like to believe that the quality of our meals was impacted by the fact that we were a very late lunch and before the dinner crew had arrived. We'll give it another try on our next trip.

Excellent service, great ambience with views of the night sky and the famous Arlington theater! We come here by weekly for our favorite Albondigas soup and Pork Pozole. The margaritas are perfection, and the food is wonderful. Some additional favorites- Gambas Al Ajillo, Grilled Chicken Quesadilla, Wild Salmon w/ Papaya, Chile Relleno, The Paloma cocktail, Carlitos Cadillac, Blackberry Jalapeño Margarita and on. You can't go wrong with anything you order. Enjoy!

The food was excellent and the ambiance also great as we sat outside on a beautiful evening. Our waitress did mess up our order in three ways, however. Nothing earth shattering but nonetheless we didn't get what we asked for: 1) no tomatoes on top of our guac and we got tomatoes, 2) spicy margaritas (they came regular), and 3) pinto beans - I got refried black beans. Since she didn't come around much to check on us, the issues didn't really get remedied. I'd give the food a 5 and the service a 2.5.

This is the second time we've come to Carlito's Cafe y Cantina. The first time we came was the last time we visited Santa Barbara and we liked it so much we wanted to come back. Well this time didn't disappoint either! It's a short walk from the public parking structure. We were greeted right away and chose to sit inside even though the outside set up is beautiful. We ordered Jamaicas to drink cause they make it so good here! Their chips and salsa are top notch and they ended up offering to bring us seconds since me and my family devoured the first batch haha. The chips are warm and crispy and salted perfectly. This is the only place I've been to where they bring out a variety of dipping items (two salsa and some corn and beans). One salsa was spicy (my favorite), the other salsa was fresh and mild, and the corn and beans had a sweetness to it. All three items were delicious! For the entree we ordered the Bohemia Fish Tacos, Carne Asada A LA Tampiqueña (comes with homemade corn tortillas+++), Carlito's Combo (with rice and black beans, cheese enchilada, and crispy chicken taco), and a Huarache with Steak (mine). My huarache put a smile on my face; the tortilla part was thick yet crispy and tender, the meat tasted like the good meat if you know what I mean, and all the extras on it added so much flavor including the touch of chipotle in the beans. We all really enjoyed our plates. We finished off our meal with an order of freshly made churros to share. It had 6 pieces, a chocolate dipping sauce, and caramel dipping sauce which also tasted homemade. Our server/ waiter was fantastic, friendly, and made sure we were taken care of. This place is a gem and we look forward to coming back!

Nice dining area. 3 of us ordered the Carlitos combination was alright, nothing special. My taco was beef and I couldn't chew the beef so tough. Food wasn't hot. Did even melt the cheese. Plus it was burnt. Salad nothing special. Our group won't go back.

The food, service, and ambiance at this restaurant are always consistently excellent. This time, however, I had an experience that truly demonstrated their integrity. I accidentally left my Yves Saint Laurent purse--with a Gucci wallet inside containing credit cards and cash--on the back of my chair. We had already driven back to L.A. and I didn't realize it was missing for two days. When I called the restaurant, the manager confirmed they had found it and kept it safely locked away. When I returned, he handed me my purse--wallet, credit cards, and all the cash still inside. Truly outstanding honesty and service!

Visited before leaving Santa Barbara. Got there right when they opened for lunch. Our server was nice and the soups were delicious. I just have a problem with a server not being transparent about how much sides are going to cost. I requested a small side of shredded cheese and was charged $4. $5 for three tortillas? $10 for a very small side of rice and beans?? I find that to be unreasonable. At least list the prices on the menu.

We had drinks and dinner. Margaritas were good but some used mix which we didn't love. I had mango and it was good but felt light handed in tequila. Next got a chilada which I had never heard of and loved. To eat got the Bohemia fish tacos which were fabulous! Loved it. The mole chicken tacos were not as good just chicken and mole on a tortilla. The sauce was good but the taco itself could have used some more stuff to it. Overalll enjoyed the meal and they fit a large group of 15 of us.

I have gone to this restaurant many times, and every time is exceptional! It's my favorite restaurant in Santa Barbara, I recommend getting the steak nachos, the grilled chicken quesadilla, and the grilled Anaheim chiles. The flavors are incredible and the portions are perfect. I dined here this afternoon around 1pm, and our server was so incredibly sweet and happy to help us. If I were to be picky about our lunch today, the black beans in the salsa and nachos were hard and crunchy, almost as if they weren't cooked all the way through. The cheese in our quesadilla and on our nachos was not very melted, could definitely have spent a little more time under some heat! Regardless of the little hiccups, we had a very awesome, filling and delicious lunch. Can not wait to come back!

Beware of this Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde syndrome at this restaurant. The baby back ribs featured an excellent sweet-sour sauce with meat so tender that it fell from the bone. Yum! BUT then, after finishing for not more than ten minutes, the personification of rudeness, Esteban, the General Manager, informed us that we "had been there for a while and there was a reservation waiting for the table." It was hard to believe that Carlitos' manager would participate in such inconsiderate behavior. Our meal was ruined, and our digestion turned to indigestion. Upon discussing the situation further the next day with Esteban, he said he was under pressure to give a table to someone who had a reservation. We did not. Therefore, unbeknownst to us, we had a 1-hour 30-minute limit at our table. Esteban was conciliatory and apologized, as do I for my unsavory language at the time. He concluded the conversation with an offer of a complementary meal on him. I agreed. Such drama and passion over a meal. This is serious stuff.

Great food and very nice courtyard dinning. We always stop for their seafood burritos when going through Santa Barbara. Staff is always nice.

We had my birthday dinner at Carlitos and it was awesome. The atmosphere out on the patio was great, the servers were friendly and attentive and the food was delicious. Get the guacamole - it is AMAZING!

Always amazing! Great food drinks and service! Outdoor patio is pet friendly! Always a must visit when in Santa Barbara!

Steer clear!!!! The worst of the worst and is a tourist trap. This is not authentic Mexican food and if it was you would see Mexican people eating there. This is a gringo establishment that serves old dry chicken tacos, unseasoned guac and an over lack of flavor or seasoning. Eat here at your own risk. The service is basic but the patio is nice on a sunny day. I don't even know why thus place is even open anymore. I heard they treat their employees bad too.

Carlitos! Says it all. One of Santa Barbara's premier restaurants, such great food drinks, and awesome service. Our server has worked there for 27 years. He remembered me from my days driving the MTD State Street shuttle back in the day. I would get ice tea and use the bathroom. They were so kind and generous. Today I met my friend Lisa Jean for lunch. We started out with Margaretas guacamole and chips. My Combo of Taco Chili Regenio was amazing. What a Wonderful day with my dear Friend. The Ambience was perfect for having a beautiful conversation. They gave me a sample of the Albondigas soup, which made my day. Thanks Carlitos for the wonderful experience. Ronnie S

We always come to Carlitos when we are in the area. They have very good margaritas, the chips and salsa are very good and the best Sopes I have ever had.

Just what the Dr. Ordered! I ordered the Pozole.. which is the bomb! Top it off with the blended margaritas! Best Stop to cool off during the Summer Solstice! Enjoy!

Walking on State Street on a hot summer day looking for a spot for a quick lunch and a beer. Carlitos had been recommended to us by a local. Patio seemed inviting so we gave it a try. Marco, our server, came by right away and brought us some ice water, chips and dips. Disappointed that they had no beers on tap, only some bottled Mexican brands. For lunch we shared a quesadilla ($18). Toppings included quac, pico de gallo, sour cream, and a very spicy sauce. Lovely patio, good service, and tasty quesadilla at a fair price.

This is the sister restaurant to Dos Carlitos in Santa Inez. The menu is the same. But, the interior of the other location is triple the size. The patio is pretty large at this location. I don't know if they both changed. But, this locations salsa was much spicier. So was the crispy taco. I wasn't happy with the unexpected heat. I can't handle spicy foods. The service was great. The staff was very friendly. The bathroom is comically small. You are head against the wall on the toilet. I was afraid I would get a concussion if I bent over to pull up the clothes!

Food was 10/10. Salsa was 10/10. Service was 10/10. Karynne provided excellent service and explained all the dishes in a way that made us feel like we had a true culinary experience

Everything...food and service was excellent! Our server gave us good recommendations to suit a non-spicy and spicy palate. Served quickly and ambiance was lively.

The food here was almost as bad as the service. The servers were so rude. I will not be back. The food was also mid. Los agaves is way better than this place. They prefer white people and were very racist considering we were the same race (hispanic).

Yummy authentic Mexican food ,Margaritas and great service. Right in the center of town

Came here for an early-ish dinner during the weekend. Got a table fast and the service was even faster. I ordered the enchiladas verdes vegetarian). The enchiladas were great. I strategically went through the enchiladas first and working on the beans and rice afterwards. That was a wise decision as the serving size was huge. Got through the enchiladas and some of the beans, though I had to let the rice go for waste. Solid option nonetheless.

Service, staff, and seating were excellent Burrito was not. WAY TOO MUCH salsa or whatever liquid they use. Turned into a burrito soup. Filling was good, guacamole was good, rice ended up absorbing much of the liquid, sooo...no. tortilla disintegrated because of soaking.

Another amazing dinner at Carlitos. It's been a while, brought the whole family to dinner, 12 of us I made reservations ahead, there was a misunderstanding, but still the management team made it happen. They set up a table foe 12 within 20 minutes. Love the amazing service. Our waiter was very attentive, didn't mess up anything, we all got our orders right and in a timely matter. The food was delicious and the Blood Orange Margarita was amazing as always. Iced cold drink on a hot summer evening is what I needed. Thank you team Carlitos for the wonderful dinner .

If you are in the mood for Mexican food, you won't be disappointed with Carlitos. Worth the walk up State Street. Great food with friendly and attentive staff in a fresh and welcoming atmosphere. Try the rock shrimp tacos

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 delicious. The shrimp empanadas are tapas and it's two large pieces very delicious too. The halibut ceviche is chunky and it's served well. The guacamole has great flavor too. Usually Mexican restaurants can be a hit and miss. This is defiantly a good hit. The food is actually authentic here. Shout out to the increíble staff the cooks and waiters.

This place is the bomb! We got there on a Sunday afternoon and it was packed, the hostess was able to find us a great table off to the side of the building and still be able to people watch. It was in an alcove with our own private space. I had the Paloma margarita (yum) and tacos. The ambiance was great, how can it not be - you're in Santa Barbara!! The service was best I've ever had, our waiter was always checking in on us, and as the restaurant was getting more crowded, he told us that where we were sitting that wasn't a rush for this particular table, take your time. Which we did. We definitely will be back!

Lunchtime on a Monday,we just happened to come across this place because the restaurant I wanted to try was closed on Mondays. I'm glad we gave it a try. Nice patio seating, good service from Marco along with good food. We started off with Carlitos Traditional Margaritas while perusing the menu and enjoying the chips and salsa. We asked for a spicier salsa which they had and was so good. Food ordered were the Carlitos Tostada and Burrito Asada. All the food came out hot, fresh and tasting delicious I would definitely come back again!

The food and service here was amazing! I always wonder why, when I see such a mix of reviews on a place and then have amazing food, how there can be so much variance in reviews?! We each ordered a different dish out of the four of us and all four dishes were fabulous! The outside seating was perfect. We were catching up after a long time apart and we're not rushed at all. Great place for lunch!

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 starter and it was heavenly. We got numerous refills which is a testament to how great they were. I got the steak enchiladas as a main course and it was a solid 8/10. Not the best I've ever had but for Santa Barbara standards, pretty yummy. Don't get me started on the dessert. We got churros with the dulce de leche and chocolate sauce and they were out of this world good. I would go back to Carlito's JUST for the churros. Perfectly fried and crunchy with a soft interior. Overall, I would recommend Carlito's for anyone craving some good Mexican food in the Santa Barbara area. I will be back soon!

We were famished after going to the Green Car Show at the Arlington Theater, and stumbled across the street to Carlitos Cafe! We lined up and put our name on a list on the patio, and were seated almost immediately at a small table we liked in a sheltered corner! The sign "Award Winning Margaritas" had caught my eye, so I perused the Wine List and found a Cadillac Margarita, very appropriate after going to a car show! The friendly waiter also brought chips and dips, and we dug in right away, munching on the light tortilla chips and the hearty black bean and corn salsa. The cafe was vibrant and humming with parties of all sizes, spilling over onto the street with additional eating space. Bright umbrellas sheltered us from the sun, and waiters darted to and fro bearing large platters of food. My tall Cadillac Margarita appeared soon, and I sipped it while perusing the menu. We chose Chicken enchiladas and the Rock Shrimp Soft Tacos, which made their appearance on large plates in a few minutes. I enjoyed some of the best shrimp tacos I have had in quite a while, topped with purple cabbage and thin strips of tortilla, and a great sweet salsa with bits of melon in it! The shrimp were just dusted with flour, then sauteed, and there were plenty of them! The soft flour tortillas were home made, just crisped a bit. My husband's enchiladas were spicy enough, and the black beans and rice a rich accompaniment. Very good value here, with epic servings, quick courteous service, and a fun atmosphere on the patio make this a must come back spot!

I was in Santa Barbara in December and had to go back to Carlitos. It has the best fajitas I've ever had. My friend is vegetarian so we ordered vegetarian fajitas. They did not disappoint!! They were served sizzling and were delicious! It was just the right meal on a cold night with the heaters keeping us warm outside. Our waitress was very attentive and it was very good service!

Pozele - first time eating this and it was fabulous! The Carlitos combo was soo good (enough for 2 ppl btw!) The complimentary chips and salsa was a lovely touch! Plus whoever is DJing the restaurant deserves a medal. They have excellent music! Also parking is available! Will be back with the homies! Also the hostess with long black hair is super kind and helpful! =)

We had a large group dinner reservation for a Friday night. Service was prompt and friendly! We began by splitting 2 portions of the guacamole, which was super fresh and flavorful, which also came with a few salsas (black bean, red salsa, and spicy) that they refilled for us. I ordered the tostado with steak - for $20 it was a big portion and tasted great! The atmosphere of the restaurant is vibrant, I'd recommend to snag a table outside!

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 and their fan favorite blackberry jalapeño margarita.. The mango margarita was one of the best I've ever had.. however the blackberry in the blackberry jalapeño margarita had mold on it!!! I waived the host over since our server wasn't around and I told her I don't want to drink this because there is mold on the blackberry and she agreed and said she wouldn't drink it either and she would get the server.. She explained it to the server and he took it back to the bartender. He came back with a new one (?) and instead of apologizing.. dare I say he said "it wasn't mold but it rolled around in sugar!!" Luckily I take pictures of my food and drink to post it on other platforms so I have evidence that it's not sugar!!! ( sugar was on the rim so if you compare it to what was on the blackberry- you know it isn't "rolled" in sugar! In addition we all know what mold on fruit looks like so don't think a lie will fix the problem or that I am mistaken :() What would have been a great first experience turned as moldy as the blackberry! Didn't order anything else because who knows what else is rotten... it is crazy to charge high prices to get mold and inedible drinks..

This place is awesome comfort food for sure . You want Mexican this is authentic food. I need to go back and try the rest of their menu. Ambience service was great. The chips and salsa were fresh I could have eaten that as a meal :). Chicken Tacos

This is a sit down, hopping Mexican food restaurant. There's both inside & a large outdoor patio seating; we opted for inside. Our waitress was on it, starting us off with drinks, chips & 2 types of salsas. We tried the blood orange margarita, a regular margarita & a red sangria; all relatively tasty. For the mains there was a serving of chicken mole, red chicken enchiladas & chicken tacos. The overall chicken was lack luster in all 3 dishes; i.e., the chicken mole is best explained as 'airline cut' both the tacos & enchiladas had chunks of chicken not shredded; not authentic. The red enchiladas sauce was flavorless. In short, very Americanized Mexican food for the every day gringo. We did try the churros served with caramel & chocolate sauces; the churros were a tad tough due to being over fried or ? Kudos to our waitress, up beat & on top of her tables. The overall ambiance - loud & busy.

Ambiance - 10/10 beautiful brunch/lunch spot with indoor and outdoor patio. Sit by the water fountain and let the sun soak you while you sip on delicious hibiscus margaritas. Service - 10/10 everyone was very friendly and accommodating Food - 7/10 so this why I took one star off. I ordered vegetarian enchiladas and they were absolutely delicious. But my friends ordered chicken taquitos and cheese eggplant basil quesadilla and it was just ok. Lacked a bit of flavor. We had to ask for their green salsa which was pretty good but very spicy. They offer complimentary salsa and chips but the salsa was not even close to being good. I would recommend this place for a brunch or light lunch with your friends or family. We did not have reservations and we're seated within 5 minutes on a Friday afternoon.

We love taking out-of-towners here for dinner. Good Mexican food is everywhere in Santa Barbara; but if you want to take visitors to a higher caliber and less of a "hole in the wall" (don't get me wrong - those have their place, too!!!), then Carlito's is where to go. The patio seating is beautiful. There is sometimes live music. The blood orange margarita is fabulous. And I always splurge for the chicken fajitas! Warning: don't get the guacamole that they offer for purchase at the beginning - you'll likely receive plenty included with your entree AND you don't want to fill up on the chips beforehand AND you don't want to walk away from a half-full bowl of guacamole. Carlito's has been a standard in Santa Barbara for so long, and we hope they continue to be!! It's the "cut above" Mexican restaurant. Not the cheapest, but the best.

I have been dining here now for over 10 years. It's nice to see great improvements in food, service, and quality at one of my favorite Cantinas in SB. Nice to see the owner cares about what customers say.

It's been a few years since I've dined here, and that's mainly because I consider this restaurant to be on the touristy side. It's no coincidence that my family visiting from out of town chose this place to dine at ha ha! Nevertheless we had a great time! Service was good and they were kind enough to comp my cousins drink, that he accidentally tipped over. If you're planning to come here for brunch, the only two options they have for breakfast are chilaquiles and huevos rancheros. Unfortunately, they do not serve Mimosa's either. For starters we ordered the halibut ceviche and Guac. The ceviche was very fresh and flavorful. The guac on the other hand tasted like it was made with old avocados. For my main meal, I ordered the grilled chicken tacos with mole poblano. The tacos are generously filled with chopped up chicken and topped with mole. One taco was more than enough to fill me up. My family seemed to enjoy their drinks and meals, so no complaints there. Overall, it was nice to dine here and we were very pleased with the service and food.

I cannot think if anything negative. Their Pozole was super flavorful with epic carnitas. My wife had the sopes and there was a positive review. Come during a beautiful sunny day and eat outside. Nothing like sharing memories with family and watching the sights of state st.

Location and outdoor seating ambiance is great. Service was very nice and attentive. The food was ok, nothing spectacular. I ate about half my meal and didn't take the leftovers back with me. The guac needed salt or lime juice, it was a tiny bit bland. The drinks were great though. A nice strong margarita.

Not our first time. Been coming here for years. But the food , service and atmosphere is reliably outstanding. The margaritas, chips , salsas, mole tacos were the best I've had. Don't ignore this place. You won't be sorry z