The story
Bettina is a neighborhood restaurant that honors the convivial spirit of Italian food while drawing on the abundant produce and coastal ease of Southern California. The menu revolves around naturally leavened, wood-fired pizzas and straightforward dishes shaped by the owners’ travels through Italy. It’s a place for any occasion—a celebratory dinner or a casual spritz at the bar.
Rachel Greenspan and Brendan Smith first connected over a shared obsession with carbohydrates while Brendan was head baker at Roberta’s Pizzeria in Brooklyn. When he was offered a job in California just months after they met, Rachel joined him. Today, they’re on a mission to bring the finest pizza and naturally leavened breads to Santa Barbara County. They spend their days at the Santa Barbara Certified Farmer’s Market, hand-pulling mozzarella, and sourcing ingredients from local farms like Roots Farm, Casitas Valley Pastures, and Earthrine Farm. The result is honest, everyday cooking that doesn’t require a glossary.
The dough is made with organic, sustainably milled flour and fermented for a minimum of 48 hours. The pies emerge from a wood-fired oven with a blistered, airy crust. The Margherita is a classic: mozzarella, crushed tomato, basil, and olive oil. The Pepperoni adds chili oil and Fillmore wildflower honey. There’s also a Maitake Trumpet pizza with mushrooms, and a Root’s Spinach version with Casitas Valley sausage and preserved Meyer lemon. For those who prefer cheese-free, the Rosso is a simple tomato sauce with garlic and oregano.
The menu changes frequently, based on what’s fresh at the market. Starters include wood-fired bread with house cultured butter, cacio e pepe arancini with Calabrian chile aioli, and a whipped ricotta with mortadella, Santa Barbara honey, and pistachios. Pastas rotate; a recent menu featured mafaldine alla gricia with guanciale and pecorino, and tagliolini puttanesca. The wine list is a thoughtful mix of classic and natural bottles, and the cocktails use small-batch liquors and amaros.
Bettina has been awarded a Michelin Bib Gourmand every year since 2021, a nod to its good quality and good value cooking. The restaurant’s commitment to community extends beyond the plate: each month, the proceeds from one pizza go to a charitable partner, from World Central Kitchen to the Santa Barbara Food Bank.
Located in the Montecito Country Mart, Bettina offers indoor dining, an outdoor courtyard, and a bar that’s first-come, first-served. Reservations are recommended but walk-ins are welcome. The design, by Bestor Architecture, complements the relaxed, welcoming atmosphere. For a quick bite, the owners’ second spot, Tina’s Pizza in Carpinteria, serves a different lineup of pies daily.
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