Alma Fonda Fina — Restaurant in Santa Barbara

Several weeks ago, I ordered takeout from Alma and was highly disappointed. I reached out to them privately to explain the situation, but they have not responded to my message; hence, I am writing this here.

I ordered veggie tacos and a side of beans. It was $37 (food plus an 18% tip), and I ordered at around 5:00 pm. It said 40-50 minutes. I arrived a little after 6 to pick up my food. The food wasn’t ready, so I waited.

I went back in to ask to add some guacamole and salsa to my order. The person working at the time was dismissive and immediately thought I was coming in to ask about my order timing. Then I paid another $19 for guacamole and salsa, plus a tip. It took another 20 minutes to get my food. At this point, I had waited about an hour and a half. There were about 4-5 other parties there when I arrived and left.

I was severely disappointed by the tacos when I opened them at my house. The “veggie” tacos were two tortillas with little more three potatoes on each. As someone who doesn’t eat meat and paid $50+ for a vegetarian meal, this is quite sad.

I have eaten at Alma before, and they have always provided great service and delicious food. This is my first time ordering takeout. I have never contacted a restaurant for service, questioned the quality of food, or left a negative Yelp review because I understand that the restaurant industry and work can be very challenging, especially in Montecito with demanding clients. Yet, this is unfortunate, and I hope they can do better for...

Alma Fonda Fina is something special. Montecito can be a tough crowd- fussy people with more basic tastes. This is not your typical restaurant and I don’t think the neighborhood truly grasps how lucky they are to have it. The dishes here are so creative and really pack a punch- we got nearly everything on the dinner menu with our larger group, and the variety was incredible. Their halibut ceviche with passion fruit and grapefruit wasn’t like anything I’d ever had before. The Baja-style fish tacos were another favorite of ours, and so was the ribeye chicharron (our second time getting it, it doesn’t disappoint). And their house made tortillas just melted in our mouths - it was all truly authentic and presented beautifully. The service was solid and consistent, great recommendations and evenly paced.

This is probably one the best restaurants in the Santa Barbara area at the moment. There is magic happening in this kitchen, it’s not...

Alma Fonda Fina is my favorite restaurant in the Montecito area. This restaurant is brought to you by Chef Ramon Velazquez, who also holds a Michelin Bib Award for Corazon Cocina. You can expect the same quality but with a different menu of offerings. I’ve tried numerous dishes here, but my favorite is the branzino, Tuna Tartar, tacos Suadero and Camarones A La Diabla. Prepared by chef Alan, who executes each dish with a beautiful presentation! I could eat here everyday and never get tired of the food. Everything is so flavorful and prepared with spices unlike anything I’ve ever had. For drinks, I really enjoy the pineapple ginger margarita. The atmosphere is small and intimate if dining inside, but there is also patios dining available. Overall, I highly recommend checking out Alma and making a reservation ahead of time if...