Arnoldi’s is my kind of “sports bar,” meaning its patrons are the ones making the sport – with bocce ball! I love coming here after work in the spring and summertime. The back garden has linen covered tables under a wood arbor, there’s a firepit and the bocce ball area.
They serve up tasty mojitos and dirty martinis, and their calamari appetizer is a fabulous deal to share with 1 to 2 other friends for about $11.
The atmosphere is both casual and dressy, I feel comfortable in either situation. Some would call their wooden booths quaint, and while they are picturesque, it can be slightly incomfortable if you or any of your group are tall. In all honestly, I have had one poor experience with a reservation, but the staff bent over backwards to accommodate for the misunderstanding. Mistakes happen, that’s a fact of life, and I respect how they dealt with it.
I really like that Arnoldi’s is set off the beaten path and has a very inviting family-owned atmosphere, yet is still very classy.
Arnoldi’s Cafe
600 Olive St.
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
www.arnoldis.com
