What better way to kick off Central Coast week on my blog than to talk about the restaurant that I visited on three separate occasions during my week’s vacation? My goal while on vacation is generally to try as much in a given city as I possibly can, so multiple visits to the same restaurant are a rarity. And then there was Bettina.
After a long day of driving all I could think about was pizza, and after a quick Yelp search I discovered that not only was Bettina close to my hotel, but the menu looked particularly delightful. From wood-fired bread and pepperoni pizza drizzled in local California honey to the truly spectacular carbonara pizza, every dish had an interesting twist.
Appetizers
Try the wood-fired bread. This was one of two repeat orders and it is one that you won’t regret. Warm and tangy with a side of house cultured butter that melts into the open crumb. It’s pure bliss. For something a little more substantial the fried cauliflower was also a hit, not least because the ranch dipping sauce on the side was heavenly.
Pizza
One of the things that caught my eye from the beginning was the seasonal menu of pizza options utilizing fresh (and often local) ingredients. The pepperoni pizza is generously sprinkled with the spicy disks and drizzled with a local California honey. The combination of sweet and spicy was well balanced (though the heat was a little much for me). The real shining star of the current menu is the carbonara pizza. Ricotta, mozzarella, and provolone piccante paired with melt in your mouth bites of pancetta and topped with an egg for good measure. The combination is the perfect savory mix of sharp and creamy with an added layer of richness from the pancetta and egg yolk. This was the dish that brought me back for a third visit.
Dessert
With an in-house pastry chef, the dessert menu should be given consideration. With the traditional Italian restaurant offerings of tiramisu to olive oil cake the menu is brief, but varied enough to suit both the traditionalist as well as the culinary adventurer. I couldn’t resist the call of the chocolate hazelnut cake and I wasn’t disappointed. Incredibly moist layers of chocolate cake sandwiched between buttercream and topped with roasted hazelnuts are served chilled. Sweet without being too much after a full meal, it’s a cake worth sharing.
I’m already plotting my next trip back when I’m in the area later this year (their winter menu has a potato pizza that looks divine) and adding a few flavor profiles to my everyday arsenal. Pepperoni drizzled with honey is a must, and I will be trying out adding some homemade ricotta to my next batch of carbonara. What is your favorite pizza pairing?
Bettina
1014 Coast Village Road
Santa Barbara, CA 93108
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