The story
Caruso's is a Californian and Italian restaurant at 1773 South Jameson Lane in Montecito, Santa Barbara, on the grounds of Rosewood Miramar Beach. The Italian kitchen earned a Michelin One Star in 2026, and it cooks on the Pacific coast with produce from the Central Coast.
The kitchen works with premium, locally sourced ingredients, including farmer's market produce and honey from the onsite beehive. Forbes Travel Guide awarded the restaurant Five-Star status in 2026, and the menu reflects the same focus on what grows nearby. A dedicated plant-based menu sits alongside the rest of the list, which is less common in an Italian kitchen.
An eight-course tasting menu lets the culinary team show its range in one sitting. FronteMare, a semi-private outdoor space, brings the cooking closer to the water: dishes are prepared live along the coastline and served family style at a shared table. The cocktail list draws on spirits from locally sourced distilleries.
Recognition
Details
History
You can’t beat Caruso’s location. Enjoying a meal alfresco with crashing waves as your scenery and soundtrack cannot be topped.Premium and locally sourced ingredients are a priority here, from the farmer’s-market-fresh produce to the honey from the onsite beehive.Unexpected for an Italian restaurant, Caruso’s takes care of its vegan and vegetarian patrons. There’s an entire menu dedicated to plant-based dishes.For an elevated dining experience, Caruso’s offers an eight-course tasting menu highlighting the best of the culinary team.The impressive cocktail list uses quality ingredients from locally sourced distilleries.
High quality cooking
Location
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