The heavens opened just for us. After a gloomy day in Santa Barbara, the sun burst through the clouds, casting thousands of glowing spotlights on the glistening sea. As we sat down for dinner at Caruso’s, the Michelin-starred restaurant on Rosewood’s Miramar property, it was immediately apparent we were in for a treat. The ocean swayed in the sun, the piano swelled to the lapping tides, and the salty breeze was fragrant as a bite of caviar, featured on multiple of the restaurant’s wonderful dishes.

Set on a terrace above the sands, with sweeping views of the sea yawning out to the Channel Islands, this elegant restaurant has become Montecito’s go-to dinner spot. Hosting more stars than a starry night, with everyone from Gwyneth Paltrow to Leonardo DiCaprio making a celeb appearance, the restaurant delivers on chic atmosphere, delectable dishes and desirable farm-to-table ingredients that smell as fresh as wild Gaviota flowers. A bouquet of aromas wafted off our introductory plate, which set the scene for the four-course dinner ahead of us, each plate offering a taste of what makes Santa Barbara so unique. As the elderly waiter explained, “Massimo Falsino aims to give Santa Barbara ingredients an Italian spin,” taking us on a journey through the local countryside while staying true to his Roma heritage. I decided to take the Italian inspo to heart, ordering an Aperol Spritz and giving the starters a very Italian chef’s kiss, which got an eye roll from my date. To be fair, it really does feel like you’re dining seaside in Capri, especially when my plate of burrata hit the table, accompanied by a 25-year-aged balsamic and peppered with hand-picked berries from the sun-dappled cliffs of Gaviota. “Perfecto!” I exclaimed, with an American accent that could have been mistaken for Brad Pitt in In Glorious Bastards. Again, more eye-rolls.

Each ensuing dish proved why Caruso’s has both a Michelin star and a Michelin Green Star, serving the highest quality of ingredients paired with the highest quality of plate presentation, concept and taste, all paired exquisitely with local wines by the on-site sommelier, whose Pinot Noir pairing with dry-aged duck should be studied in history books. In our second course, we savoured gnoccetti topped with caviar, abalone and uni that tasted so fresh it could have been caught while we were enjoying our spritzes. The soft texture of the gnocceti, paired with the squishy, tender uni, made for a ripe balance that melted on the tongue like butter, yet showcased a layer of flavours that could only come from a master chef who can balance brininess with acids and herbs in a relaxed, artful measure. It’s no wonder this dish is a fan favourite. While menus change every week, you can always expect to find Falsani’s gnoccetti on the menu.

Having started cooking at age 15, Falsini’s culinary talents have taken him to luxury hotels in Abu Dhabi and Napa Valley, but his style remains rooted in authentic Italian cuisine. As the sun dipped below crashing waves, and cotton candy glass morphed into sheets of cobalt sea at crepuscle, Falsini brought out another Californian staple, salty halibut, cooked tenderly to perfection over white wine sauce. With each passing bite, washed down by a peppery neutral oak Chardonnay, I found myself astounded by the flavours Fassini was able to conjure. Halibut can easily be served dry, underseasoned, but this halibut was prepared with the vivid complexity of a Renaissance painting.

As for dessert? For you, sweet treat fans, it’s my pleasure to report that Caruso’s dolci options are playful, precisely arranged museum-pieces that look as immaculate as they taste. Il Mandarino was an olive cake resting under yoghurt gelato that had subtle hints of tangerine and profuse explosions of mint that would make for the world’s greatest toothpaste. Could you trap this Genie in a toothpaste bottle? Washed down with local desert wines, I have to say there isn’t a more opulent desert in Santa Barbara. In fact, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better restaurant in Santa Barbara, period. From the moment the sun peeked through the clouds, Caruso’s offered a heavenly display of Italian cuisine that shined ethereally like a Santa Barbara sunset.

W: Rosewood Hotels Miramar Beach Montecito
W: Caruso’s
A: Rosewood Miramar Beach, 1759 South Jameson Lane, Montecito CA 93108

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Written by Asher Luberto for Luxuria Lifestyle International