We ate at a table by the sidewalk. Got sun, air. Just a short way off state street. NICE bathrooms. Likeable staff.Wheelchair accessibility: Pulled up there in a scooter, lots of room.
daren green
Newly moved into their new spot Fresco Cafe delivers the same great food as always. The new location is just off state St and nextdoor to the Lobero theater and in the heart of downtown Santa Barbara. Great food, great pricing, and great service
Dave Welch
Food was great, I had the goat cheese salad.Atmosphere was noisy they need someway to dampen the noise of people talking.Service was great (you order and pay at the register) everyone was helpful and the manager was very attentive and nice.
Muriel Slevin
New location on Canon Perdido works, as parking lot is adjacent. Food is good and half portions work very well. Please bring back the really good French bread which made the restaurant outstanding!
David Gee
The new location for Fresco is outstanding and close to many places of interest in downtown Santa Barbara. Order at the counter and take a seat and they will bring it to you. Good service ??
Richard L
One of the best restaurants in Santa Barbara. Always delicious! I’ve never had a bad or mediocre meal here, ever! Everything is prepared with fresh ingredients and just the right amount of seasoning. Great soups and chowder to die for. Love this restaurant!
Curtis M.
So glad you guys reopened! Last time we visited Santa Barbara was before you closed the old location on State Street (end of August 2022), so when we drove up on this visit we saw the empty storefront and our hearts sank! Your new location is great, with lots of parking and lots of indoor and outdoor seating. Fresco is our favorite place in SB for a casual meal, and as usual it did not disappoint. We normally order off the specials menu--today it was a spinach and red onion quiche and an eggplant parmesan calzone, both with a salad (the Gorgonzola Walnut salad, of course!). Food was excellent and portions were generous. We've eaten at Fresco many times over the years and have never encountered any problems with the food. Our only disappointment this trip was that the case full of baked goods that was one of the highlights of the old location didn't get moved to the new location...at least not yet. We hope you'll be successful in your new location--we'll be back the next time we are in SB.
Sirap S.
This place is no longer any good. It must have changed ownership because the food is trash. Frozen chicken that was pre-cooked?! What in the world is going on. If your visiting go to South Coast Deli instead. South Coast has great Soups, salads and sandwiches all made fresh everyday.
M T.
GARBAGE! Too much salt and oil. All the food has the same flavor. Amateur cooking. Don't waste your money.
Heauxbo
This place, like most Santa Barbara restaurants is clueless about good food. They almost always use too much oil or over salt. What’s worse is that everything tastes the same. Whenever I have eaten here I get the sense that they’re just trying to cut corners and save money by using cheap, low quality ingredients. The desserts always look better than they taste. The staff seem friendly but spaced out. Lots of students who just don’t care about the job. I don’t know how they’ve been in business for as long as they have.
Love the food here, usually. Called tonight (a few times) to order take out, no answer. Going elsewhere. Not good for business
Shelly C.
Beyond the best! My all time favorite every day restaurant in Santa Barbara, consistently delicious food and healthy too. I am a regular fan girl, can you tell! The special salads are always great, the quiche and soups are always great too. The flourless chocolate cake with whipped cream is out of this world. I always load up a Fresco's card which gets you $110 credit for $100. I will miss having them nearby at the Five Points shopping center SO much. I'll still go but not as often and parking will not be fun. I'll miss the big outdoor patio. You guys are the best!
Kendra O.
One of my all time staples. You can always count on fresco for good quality food at an affordable price. Mark has worked so hard to build a SB staple. I am sad they are leaving 5 points, but I very excited for their new journey downtown. Come check out the new location at 23 E. Canon Perdido St. in the historic El Centro Building.
Sarah N.
Had a lunch date with the Mr. We ordered two 1/2 & 1/2 options with 1/2 sandwiches and 1/2 salads. I had mushroom sandwich (hot mushroom combo) with chinese chicken salad sans chicken (we don't eat non halal meat). He had tuna salad sandwich with gorgonzola walnut salad. Both of the salads were ethereal- light, fresh and full of flavor! Mine had some green beans as well. My hot mushroom combo went really well with the salad. The melt of mushroom into the cheese with sautéed onions inside a pair of crispy bread slices did not leave me missing meat. (I am a hardcore carnivore). I didn't try the tuna sandwich but my husband said it was good. Definitely recommend this place, specially their salad!!!
Mariana Montes
It was first time visiting this peaceful and beautiful place with a nice ambiance. I enjoyed the service , quality and the price.
We ate at a table by the sidewalk. Got sun, air. Just a short way off state street. NICE bathrooms. Likeable staff.Wheelchair accessibility: Pulled up there in a scooter, lots of room.
Newly moved into their new spot Fresco Cafe delivers the same great food as always. The new location is just off state St and nextdoor to the Lobero theater and in the heart of downtown Santa Barbara. Great food, great pricing, and great service
Food was great, I had the goat cheese salad.Atmosphere was noisy they need someway to dampen the noise of people talking.Service was great (you order and pay at the register) everyone was helpful and the manager was very attentive and nice.
New location on Canon Perdido works, as parking lot is adjacent. Food is good and half portions work very well. Please bring back the really good French bread which made the restaurant outstanding!
The new location for Fresco is outstanding and close to many places of interest in downtown Santa Barbara. Order at the counter and take a seat and they will bring it to you. Good service ??
One of the best restaurants in Santa Barbara. Always delicious! I’ve never had a bad or mediocre meal here, ever! Everything is prepared with fresh ingredients and just the right amount of seasoning. Great soups and chowder to die for. Love this restaurant!
So glad you guys reopened! Last time we visited Santa Barbara was before you closed the old location on State Street (end of August 2022), so when we drove up on this visit we saw the empty storefront and our hearts sank! Your new location is great, with lots of parking and lots of indoor and outdoor seating. Fresco is our favorite place in SB for a casual meal, and as usual it did not disappoint. We normally order off the specials menu--today it was a spinach and red onion quiche and an eggplant parmesan calzone, both with a salad (the Gorgonzola Walnut salad, of course!). Food was excellent and portions were generous. We've eaten at Fresco many times over the years and have never encountered any problems with the food. Our only disappointment this trip was that the case full of baked goods that was one of the highlights of the old location didn't get moved to the new location...at least not yet. We hope you'll be successful in your new location--we'll be back the next time we are in SB.
This place is no longer any good. It must have changed ownership because the food is trash. Frozen chicken that was pre-cooked?! What in the world is going on. If your visiting go to South Coast Deli instead. South Coast has great Soups, salads and sandwiches all made fresh everyday.
GARBAGE! Too much salt and oil. All the food has the same flavor. Amateur cooking. Don't waste your money.
This place, like most Santa Barbara restaurants is clueless about good food. They almost always use too much oil or over salt. What’s worse is that everything tastes the same. Whenever I have eaten here I get the sense that they’re just trying to cut corners and save money by using cheap, low quality ingredients. The desserts always look better than they taste. The staff seem friendly but spaced out. Lots of students who just don’t care about the job. I don’t know how they’ve been in business for as long as they have.
Restaurantji Recommends
Love the food here, usually. Called tonight (a few times) to order take out, no answer. Going elsewhere. Not good for business
Beyond the best! My all time favorite every day restaurant in Santa Barbara, consistently delicious food and healthy too. I am a regular fan girl, can you tell! The special salads are always great, the quiche and soups are always great too. The flourless chocolate cake with whipped cream is out of this world. I always load up a Fresco's card which gets you $110 credit for $100. I will miss having them nearby at the Five Points shopping center SO much. I'll still go but not as often and parking will not be fun. I'll miss the big outdoor patio. You guys are the best!
One of my all time staples. You can always count on fresco for good quality food at an affordable price. Mark has worked so hard to build a SB staple. I am sad they are leaving 5 points, but I very excited for their new journey downtown. Come check out the new location at 23 E. Canon Perdido St. in the historic El Centro Building.
Had a lunch date with the Mr. We ordered two 1/2 & 1/2 options with 1/2 sandwiches and 1/2 salads. I had mushroom sandwich (hot mushroom combo) with chinese chicken salad sans chicken (we don't eat non halal meat). He had tuna salad sandwich with gorgonzola walnut salad. Both of the salads were ethereal- light, fresh and full of flavor! Mine had some green beans as well. My hot mushroom combo went really well with the salad. The melt of mushroom into the cheese with sautéed onions inside a pair of crispy bread slices did not leave me missing meat. (I am a hardcore carnivore). I didn't try the tuna sandwich but my husband said it was good. Definitely recommend this place, specially their salad!!!
It was first time visiting this peaceful and beautiful place with a nice ambiance. I enjoyed the service , quality and the price.