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Pascucci
729 State St, Santa Barbara
Phone: (805) 963-8123
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Reviews by the General Public
SALT. USE IT., 7/27/2010
Reviewer: a p c
from Santa Barbara, CA
The soup and the bread are always awesome, the pasta dishes (even though they are from frozen pre-cooked pasta) tend to be good, the risotto is yummy, but daaaaaamn the macadamia halibut salad was worth a review. Criminally underseasoned. The orange segments were dry and crunchy (update your menu with the seasons and throw some peaches in there or something; that'd be rad!, the simple dressing had noooo flavor, nor did the dry overcooked (and then sitting getting cold in the window for a while) halibut. Salt! Use it!
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Awful service!!!!, 7/18/2010
Reviewer: Jessie
from Santa Barbara, CA
I've been here plenty of times! I'm a local. Great food, but the service is hit or miss. I just tried to place a "to go" order. Wow... Was that a mistake! I've never in my life recieved such HORRIBLE service... And over the phone! Not only was the man who was trying to take my order completely RUDE, he even insulted me! I've never in my life had an experience like that. I used to order from here "to go" plenty of times. I will NEVER go to this resturant again. It's unfortuante, that some untrianed arrogant employee gave this place a bad taste forever in my eyes! I will be sharing my experience with others.
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Some people are just SNOBS!, 6/10/2010
Reviewer: A. Ambrosini
from Bakersfield, CA
Absolutely great food! We are here every month! Sometimes twice a month! My husband, parents, in-laws, friends, and myself, are always trying different meals here. THE MEALS ARE ALWAYS GREAT!!! I think too many people are picky. Once we did have a waitress who could have had an attitude adjustment, but that doesn't make me want to stay away from the restaurant. For the price (and the AMOUNT of food you receive) it is definately worth it all! And to the woman with a lot of "oil"...it's olive oil...IT ISN'T GOING TO KILL YOU! We're Italian, and it makes us feel like we are back in Rome!
LOVE LOVE LOVE Pascucci!!!
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Staff requires training in etiquette, 6/9/2010
Reviewer: Eric
from Santa Barbara, CA
It was busy, so I sat down at the counter, where seating is first-come, first-served. A minute later, a middle-aged waitress told me she was saving that area for a party of four. No "excuse me, sir", no attempt to appease, just plain regard for her intentions. Management, you do know that it considered bad etiquette for staff to ask a customer to move at the counter, right? And that all they should be doing is asking the other concerned customers to ask me if I could kindly move for them, right? I am happy to do so when approached with the right attitude and persons, but I wasn't, so I didn't. When my friend finally arrived to meet me, we decided to leave, because service was not going to be forthcoming at that point. As we stood up, some younger waitress snarled that I was now deciding to leave. I replied yes, because of their rudeness. She nastily told me to leave, tagging an epithet at the end. These comments were unnecessary, especially given I was already leaving, so I responded with an epithet of my own. She continued to yell at us to leave and never come back until we were out the door. Is this how you train your staff to behave?
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Never Going Back, 5/21/2010
Reviewer: Ixchelle
from Santa Barbara, CA
I used to like this place despite people who voted otherwise. The service has always been bad but then again so is most of Santa Barbara. The food used to be mostly good and was decently priced. Yes it was hit and miss but it was mostly hit. Not anymore! To put it eloquently...Pascucci sucks! We came midweek during their slow time (in between lunch and dinner). The waitress seemed better suited to a truck stop diner (messy, rushed, uninterested, a bit rude) but that wasn't new for Pascucci. However when we got our food my order was wrong, not made incorrectly but completely wrong...I ordered chicken and I got swordfish. Then not so much as an apology as the waitress suggested I eat fettuccine while I wait for the chicken. Great just what I wanted a bowl of fettuccine followed by my original order while I watch my husband eat. I agreed because we were on a time limit and my husband already had his food. However his halibut was the mushiest fish I have ever seen served. It actually fell apart in to a pile that resembled mashed potatoes. When we told the waitress she said that's how it was supposed to be. Convincing us that this was how halibut should be was the last straw. For the record if you get a firm fish like halibut that looks like porridge don't eat it. We asked her to cancel my food, take his back and bring us the check. No apology came just more attitude. The last slap in the face came when we saw she charged us for 2 full priced salads instead of our original salad add-on to the entree that was about half the price. I guess it was our fault their food was inedible. I hope the extra $5 they made off of us was worth the bad review.
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Will definitely eat here again, 2/24/2010
Reviewer: Pamela H
from Garden Grove, CA
We thoroughly our anniversary dinner at Pascucci's on 2/20/10. The wait staff was fast, efficient and really friendly. I forget the girl's name, but she was awesome. And the food~WOW!!! We loved the swordfish steak with mango salsa~scrumptious! Not only that, but the bill was so inexpensive! We will definitely come back from the OC and eat here again!
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DID THEY CHANGE OWNERS? Taste like they did..... , 2/22/2010
Reviewer: Tiffany
from Santa Barbara, CA
I've been coming to Pascucci's for close to 10 years. It WAS one of my favorite places to eat... I moved away and just recently moved back. After tonight's dinner service I doubt we will ever go back! My Husband being a HUGE hells kitchen fan said Chef Ramses would of laughed this place closed. I'll start with the table... It had a huge amount of oil all over it... Covered everything! Once I cleaned our table, the waitress took our order. My husband had the Steak, with a salad. The Salad showed up AFTER the steak. My order of pasta was the equivalent to a child's order at Presto Pasta with a nice oil sauce diluting the flavor of my actual order.... When I was finished I had a bowl of oil left on my plate. GROSS! My husbands steak was long, round and phallic shaped, it looked like a giant hot dog. He ordered the steak Medium, but it came very rare. Blood poured out of the steak from second bite. We actually got to watch the oil separate from the mushroom sauce on his steak... Before dinner came we where excited about desert, but the quickly vanished as did the money in our wallets. It's sad when a Chain next door has higher quality food for a cheaper price. May never eat their again.
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We'll be back!, 1/31/2010
Reviewer: Jon & Arisa
from Tulare, CA
Very nice restaurant atmosphere! The garlic bread is unbelievable. We ate too much of it before our meal came! Our server had great knowledge of the menu, and we didn't wait long for anything. The food was well priced and very tasty. I would say it didn't wow us, but it was much better than our more expensive meal the night before at another "Italian" restaurant. We will make Pascucci a regular!
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What has happened to you guys?, 1/25/2010
Reviewer: Sarah
from Santa Barbara, CA
Just reviewing hoping owner will see it .... You cant really expect more than a good commercial meal here no, I mean it is no Ca Dario, but Ive always enjoyed a mid priced tasty meal here with my daughter or my boyfriend .... business lunch etc. Now weve had our second bad meal in a row, I felt the desire to comment. We kind of always go here to have our faves, mine the sampler raviolis, my boyfriend the Bilagio. A few weeks ago we went in the evening on the weekend and he sent his back after a couple of bites because it didnt taste right. Then again last weekend 1/15 we went again, he said he would give it one more try, and again, it wasnt real tasty, not like it usually is, I tasted his and yes, it was definitley not the same, didnt taste good at all, just "bland". My raviolies were luke warm, almost room temp, the food came out fairly quickly which is good, but for gosh sakes, at least cook it!! We will wait for a bit to spend our hard earned money in this establishment again, but when we do I am hoping you please take heed to this review.
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Wedding Anniversary Dinner disappointment, 12/7/2009
Reviewer: Sergio T.
from Covina, CA.
Take heed to the reviews, I didn't and I should have. We arrived on Saturday evening around 6:30pm and found the restaurant busy as expected. We stood outside waiting for our name to be called. during our wait, one of the restaurant employees came outside to light the lamp-gas heater, I knew that he was a Spanish speaker so I made a light hearted joke in Spanish about being careful not to light my hair on fire. He acted like he didn't hear me and motioned me to get out of his way. That was a sign of what was to come. We were seated at the back of the room in front of a fireplace that was not lit. Our server was Sandy, she smiled. Our food was tasty, but not memorable. My wife had the spaghetti and it was warm, I had the Steak and It was cold. I told the waitress that we had driven from L.A. and that we decided to celebrate our anniversary dinner here. I think it was a mistake, I felt neglected and we had to wait a long time for our food, drinks, and our check. I don't complain very often, but I have to. I will not return.
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Amazing!!, 11/17/2009
Reviewer: Myrna
from Escondido, CA
Honestly one of the best meals of my life...and I am picky! The food was only surpassed by the service! Will go every time I visit Santa Barbara (which is quite often) I HIGHLY recommend this restaurant!
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a big bunch o' deliciousness, 11/7/2009
Reviewer: elia
from Santa Barbara, CA
the bread is yummy!!! pasta good to tummy!!!! soda bad 4 u but so yummy to me tummy! salad makes my tummy want to dance da pretty music.......service is wonderfully delicious!!!;> ;>mwahahahahaha!!!!!!
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De-lish!
Reviewer: Stacy
from Santa Barbara, CA
The food here is absolutely fabulous! However, the service is hit or miss depending on company it seems. Looking cute, great service - looking like a poor student/lousy tipper.. well, I've actually waited 45 minutes before ANYONE came by before. All we wanted was to order dessert and a coffee after our entree.. but by the time the waiter actually came back, we just wanted to leave. Funny part is, we always tip 25%. Hmm.
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Great place
Reviewer: fletch
from Santa Barbara, CA
The Food was great.I had ravioli sampler, the wife had Ahi salad.The service was also great.I never order for my two year old because she never eats it,she ate half of my raviolis.Thanks guys we had a great time.
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Mediocre service with AMAZING food!
Reviewer: Denise K.
from Santa Barbara, CA
We were not the least bit impressed with the service, but not really disappointed either. No one was that friendly, but they weren't rude, either, and the server gave us just the right amount of attention - wasn't overbearing, but never let our water glasses get empty either. And the hostess made sure to honor our request to sit outside. It was great, but for a truly exquisite dining experience, I would have expected supremely friendly staff.
Our food, however, I have been talking about for the last 2 days since we ate there. DELICIOUS!! My boyfriend had the Portofino, which was delicious, but was a very flavorful dish - it's something that, well, at least we couldn't eat a ton of in one sitting. Leftovers on day 2 were even better. I can't remember the name of my dish, but it was smoked chicken with onions, mushrooms, and sun-dried tomatoes in a garlic-parmesan sauce (my favorite type, and I'm pretty picky). My dish was excellent, too, very flavorful. But the best part was our appetizer, something we'd never heard of and wanted to try just for the fun of it (and it was a date, so we deserved the appetizer, hehehe). We got the melted brie and roasted garlic on toasted baguette with a slice of pear and candied walnuts. DELICIOUS! I'm planning to attempt to make this at home. I would suggest that the servers sell-sell-sell this, because customers will NOT be sorry!!
If you're looking for a perfect evening with great service, I'm not sure I'd recommend Pascucci, but if you're just flat out looking for AMAZING FOOD, then DO IT UP!! This is definitely the place to go for great Italian food!!!!!!
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worse and worse everytime i go
Reviewer: Sid
from Goleta, CA
When I first came here, it was admittedly not bad. However, every time I have returned, I have been met with mediocre service and subpar food. Getting the attention of the waiter was damn near impossible. The last time I went, I must have been waiting for the check for at least 15 minutes. The bread is probably the only good part of the meal (hence, the one star). The pasta is bland and lukewarm, and the portion size is mediocre. I strongly suspect the pasta is not fresh, but reheated as stated by a previous review. Honestly, if the food had come out of a Swanson TV dinner, I would not have been surprised. Just don't go. I know it is conveniently placed in the Mall, but save your money. Just go anywhere else. Chipotle is only a couple feet away, if you're desperately hungry, just eat there and pat yourself on the back on making a smart choice.
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Three strikes and they're out
Reviewer: Eliana
from Santa Barbara, CA
So I've been here on three seperate occasions and everytime I leave saying I will never go back. I think the only thing that kept me coming back was their DIVINE garlic cheese bread. Every time I go the food is less than satisfactory (pasta that is obviously reheated...badly, créme brulee that tasted more like oatmeal, this time my coffee tasted slightly acidic) and the service is either a mere annoyance or downright rude (the first time I went I just remember the waitress being very "head in the cloudsy") but this time was the last straw with service. I arrived at 8:10 on a Monday night and three of my other friends were there already. I went up to the podium to put my name in for table for eight (the other four were due to show up any time) and was left waiting for at least five minutes when, finally, the host showed up. Or more sauntered up. Like I was ruining his day. He disinterestedly looked at us which is when I asked to put my name in for a table for eight (awknowledging that I would probably have to wait for such a large group) and he looked down at the list of names, then back up at us and mumbled "will the rest of you be here by nine, we close then, so your whole group has to be here by nine" and I explained that they would be there shortly (...this was 50 minutes before nine). He gave us a look that can only be described as smug disbelief and hesitated, sighed and then wrote our name down. Now forty minutes later, the rest of our party having showed up a good twenty minutes earlier and a glass of wine later for our host (who was no where to be seen at his podium unless he was sipping his wine), mr. bored saunters up to us again and tells us that "he is sorry"(he could have at least acted like he meant it) and that "they only have two tables apart from each other of four each and well, they close at nine like he told us so...well". At this point I am very annoyed, we put in our name forty minutes in advance to avoid this, and if it wasn't going to be possible he could have told us at the beginning so we could, before everywhere else closed, find another place, but accepted anyway. What ensued was alright service with alright food. My advice is to stop hiring what seems like they could only have been friends of the owner to be hosts and get some well trained people who will actually seem like they care that the customers are patronizing their restaurant without being patronized!
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I love this place!
Reviewer: Nikki Jade Lagerquist
from Santa Barbara, CA
I have gone here many times in the past year, at least three times a month, and have never been disappointed.It is always busy out front and I understand why. Good pasta!!!
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Get the Mozzarella
Reviewer: Three Amigos
from Santa Barbara, CA
Love this place. One of the best risottos I have ever had. Try it with the shrimp. Service was great friendly and quick. I’m originally from back east and it’s the closest to a New York Italian neighbourhood restraint. Our place (Three Amigos) for a good quick lunch.
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I'd rather eat microwaveable pasta then go here.
Reviewer: Alaina
from Santa Barbara, CA
I have been here several times and I have never been impressed. Each time I thought I would give it another shot but I’ve never left thinking “wow that was good”. The pasta tasted horrible, I have had better microwaveable pasta! The service was decent.
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Not impressed!
Reviewer: Brenda
from Santa Barbara, CA
I have asked my son not to give us gift certificates for Pascucci's ever again. I'm sorry to say that our recent meal there was one of the worst I've ever eaten. My spring lettuce salad was slimy and gritty - needless to say I couldn't eat it. My pesto shrimp wrapped with prosciutto was overcooked, dried out and tasted like overcooked ham. My pasta side dish was cold and tasteless. What a waste! The waiter was very mechanical, impersonal and never bothered to crack a smile. I've worked in the restaurant business for decades and just don't understand the appeal of this restaurant.
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Food Mediocre Servers/Bussers saved the day!
Reviewer: Carmen
from Santa Barbara, CA
We went in on Friday the 13th for my son's birthday @ 6:30 PM. We called while on our way to the restaurant (10 minutes away) to be put on the wait list since they didn't take reservations. As soon as we walked in, we were seated (AWESOME). We ordered our drinks, good, and then food. Good so far. Ambiance great, very lively and busy. Food arrived; my Chicken Picatta tasted like it had been sitting for awhile (dry and oily-not creamy) whereas my son, who is a picky eater, thoroughly enjoyed his Napoli, as well as my daughter who ordered the Pizza di Corsica. Will we go again? Hmmm...If it wasn't for the food servers and bussers who were above and beyond friendly, I don't think I ever will.
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Not worth the money or your time
Reviewer: Nicole
from Santa Barbara, CA
I've been to Pascucci 3 times and I can't believe, as I'm writing this, I've been that many. I keep hearing great things so my friends talk me into going back and each time I'm disappointed, even when I go with low expectations. Their service is hit and miss, I've been there on a date and also with a large group (8 people) and both times service was terrible. When we asked about the dishes (my companions had food allergies) the waiter or waitress seemed confused or irritated they had to go back and forth. The bread there is pretty good but the bread at Jill's Place is much better. The pasta dishes are overcooked and the risotto I had there was a little mushy. Not that great! No matter how much my friends want to go I will not be back.
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Best Overall Value on State St.
Reviewer: Sunny
from Palm Springs, CA
Every time we're in town, we go to Pascucci. We were lead there by the smell of garlic - YUM - drifting all the way down to Macy's. I could go there just for the garlic cheese bread alone. It is always packed there and for good reason: great food, great prices, great atmosphere, and a host staff that couldn't get it done if their overinflated egos depended on it. But that's okay, you can sip delicious red wine (Ravenswood Zin)for only $4.25 a glass while you wait!
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I am a local who doesn't waste my money here
Reviewer: Eric
from Montecito
I am always confused by the crowds in front of this place - The food has perhaps slightly less quality than Olive Garden. Pasta made in bulk, well in advance of ordering - sauces that taste like they came straight from a can. Nothing unique about this place except the location - right on the border between weary shoppers and drunken college students. I guess they found a niche here but I would rather go to Presto Pasta than this pretentious Pasta wannabe.
EMI
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horrible hostess
Reviewer: rachel
from Santa Barbara, CA
This was my first time at Pascucci's and I went because every time I passed by, it was crowded. We walked up to the hostess who acted like she didn't see us. I was standing directly in front of her and she blatantly looked directly past me. I stood there for a minute to see if she'd respond, but I got nothing. When I finally said "excuse me", she looked at me as if I had bothered her even though all she was doing was standing there. Aside from that, the food was pretty average, and our waitress was amazing. That hostess really needs to get a lesson or two in basic customer service.
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Why do locals love this place?!
Reviewer: Angie
from Santa Barbara, CA
Everytime I walk past this restaurant, it is always busy, and I just can't understand why. I moved to Santa Barbara 2 years ago from Vancouver, and yes I believe I was spoiled having lived in a city where there were countless great restaurants, in fact it was sometimes very hard to even find a bad one. Having said that, I also know that Santa Barbara is a small town compared to Vancouver and there is less of a selection of places to dine but that is no excuse for people believeing that Pascucci's is a good place to eat.
I dined at Pascucci's shortly after moving here with my boyfriend, and the evening went like this.. When we were brought to our table - I immediatley asked if we could have a booth, and the hostess said, "wait here and I'll check." She left us standing there for a couple of minutes and I wasn't sure if she was coming back, so we sat down. When she finally came back she said, "we usually reserve the booths for larger parties, but we'll make an exception." That set the tone for the evening. The rest of the service was mediocre, not worth mentioning either way - but the food was another story. I ordered a Tricolore Pasta dish, and my boyfriend ordered a Baked Pasta dish. Mine was mushy, all the sauces were running together, and it was probably the worst pasta I've had. My boyfriend's pasta was burnt on the outside and cold on the inside. Overall - terrible.
Needless to say, I tried going back, and it was even worse the second time. I'll just mention the dessert this time - I ordered a chocolate cake and what they brought me was awful. It tasted like it was frozen, thrown into a microwave and then drenched with Hershey's Chocolate Sauce.
One last thing - our server - well her hygiene was less than good. Not something you want to experience in a restaurant.
Will I go back and try for a third time? Absolutely NOT.
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Return visit assured
Reviewer: Dorris
from Santa Barbara, CA
This was our first time at the resturant but it won't be the last.
From the time we sat down the service was great.
There were five of us and everyone said the food was delicious and the servings were generous.
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Great food, great prices, service low
Reviewer: Amanda
from Santa Barbara, CA
The food and the prices are great, especially for Santa Barbara. The service is something to be desired for though. Work on the service and it would be a great place. No reservations though....
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PLEASE owners/management pay attention to the service here!
Reviewer: Miss S
from Santa Barbara, CA
I would go so far as to call myself a Pascucci's regular. I am hooked on a couple of their dishes to the point of craving them. I go there often with family and friends, but I must say, the service is awful. I have been treated rudely SO many times there, and yet I keep going back for the food. It's actually a big bummer. I wish the owners would DO SOMETHING about this. If you are a party of two, they WILL NOT seat you in a comfortable booth, (they save these for parties of 3 or more). The metal chairs are cold and VERY uncomfortable. Maybe they get away with this because it's always so busy?
A lot of the staff can barely speak English and don't even try. The other ones just act like they are better than the customer and don't care about pleasing them. Service is slow and impersonal. It's a huge drawback, but I keep going back. I only tip 15% here, never 20% or more, which is my usual for good service. Maybe I'll start ordering my food to go and just not tip at all! I really do love the food here. It's fresh, delicious and reasonably priced. My drastic suggestion: Make SERVICE a priority!
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