Marisella — Restaurant in Goleta

I was really looking forward to dining here, but the experience left quite a bit to be desired.

The food had its highs and lows. I ordered the tomato martini--unfortunately, it was undrinkable. Harsh, odd flavor and not at all balanced. The kids' meals came out far before ours, which meant they were done long before our entrées even arrived. Also, there were no protein options available to add to pasta dishes--not even something basic like chicken or shrimp, which felt surprisingly limiting.

What truly soured the evening was the unwelcoming attitude from the manager on duty. My 12 month old dropped a few puff crackers on the floor, and we were met with repeated dirty looks throughout dinner. We were mindful of the mess and even cleaned up after ourselves, but still felt judged the entire time.

At checkout, I said to our server, "I'm sorry--I know your manager seemed very angry," and she quietly responded, "Yeah, I'm sorry about that," clearly acknowledging the tension.

As we walked out, the manager--a woman named Bella, lighter complexion, shoulder-length curly/wavy hair--was near the exit. I said, "Sorry about the floor--you must not have children." She replied, "Oh no, I do--I just want them to clean it fast." It felt defensive and insincere, not the kind of understanding you'd expect from someone who claims to be a parent.

Our server was kind, and the restaurant itself is lovely--but between the lackluster food experience and the discomfort caused by management's attitude, I wouldn't return. Expected better at the Ritz, a family...

I love discovering new Italian restaurants and Marisella truly exceeded expectations. Every dish was crafted with care and presented beautifully. It’s clear the kitchen puts heart into everything they serve. We had an exceptional service experience thanks to Milo and Korin.

The standout of the night was the branzino. I hadn’t had fish in nearly two years and this was absolutely worth the wait. Baked in salt and finished with olive oil and herbs, it was light, tender, and incredibly flavorful. Easily one of the best I’ve had.

We also ordered the glazed green beans, which were fine but not something I’d reorder. The grilled summer peppers were packed with flavor and a definite highlight. The spicy rigatoni alla vodka, a house favorite, was rich, bold, and perfectly spicy. A solid 10 out of 10.

The caprese salad was as fresh as it gets with heirloom tomatoes, creamy mozzarella, and a touch of olive oil that brought everything together. The warm focaccia served with tomato sauce was simple, nostalgic, and flawlessly executed.

The ambiance strikes a beautiful balance between cozy and refined with just the right romantic touch. Service was warm, attentive, and professional throughout.

If you’re in search of an elevated Italian dining experience that still feels approachable and genuine, Marisella is not to be missed. I’ll absolutely...

Me and my girlfriend visited Marisella restaurant for our anniversary dinner yesterday.

We did our booking online and noted our request for special occasion we was hoping from pictures we would celebrate our special moment with a sea view outdoor seating and a picture together.

Instead we werent given any option on seating upon arrival the seating provided was in a more noisy part of the restaurant not ideal for a couple date night.

We observed some guests had nice seating outside with a sea view ideal for sunset romantic moment and this would have been more ideal for a dinner date.

We didnt make a big deal as thought it’s best to check with the front desk in future as wasnt too sure how others are getting these seating arrangements.

We were directed to book in future by calling and making a request over the telephone but not guaranteed as mentioned by front desk restaurant.

Recommendation to all to grab the sea view facing seating if possible.

The food was fresh and flavourful. Recommendation to all to try the free local tomatos with olive oil and garlic offered as a small starters.

Restaurant staff was friendly and provided good choice recommendations for dinner.

A let down with the sea view seating this time for our occasion but we will try one day to visit again hopefully others will have...