Bettina Celebrates 1st Anniversary

Last week marked the first anniversary in business in Montecito for husband and wife team Brendan Smith and Rachel Greenspan, owners of Bettina in Montecito Country Mart. “It’s been a lot of work, but an overwhelmingly positive experience,” Greenspan told us earlier this week. 

Riding on the coattails of the success of their mobile pizza catering concept, Autostrada, Smith and Greenspan wanted to open a brick and mortar space in order to bring their pizza and other offerings to the greater community. Bettina features the duo’s naturally leavened and wood-fired pizzas, as well as an array of salads, sandwiches (during lunch), entrees, and small plates. The menu reflects the couple’s longstanding passion for traditional, Neapolitan-style pizza and farmers’ market produce, served in a comfortable, neighborhood restaurant featuring a mix of leather booths, tables, and bar seating for 40 patrons.

Since opening, the menu has changed often, incorporating seasonally available produce and offerings from the local farmers’ markets. “We’ve also added more entrees, as we know that not everybody wants to eat pizza all the time!” Greenspan said. On the menu now: a roasted half chicken with Fall vegetables, as well as a shrimp scampi risotto. Bettina also has a full liquor license, serving a mix of new and old-world wines, and a unique and well-crafted selection of spritzes, amari, digestifs, and vermouths. 

The popular eatery is now open every day for lunch and dinner, without closing in between. “We invite people to come in and enjoy a true European-style cocktail hour, relaxing in the late afternoon after lunch but before dinner,” Greenspan said. The couple and their team have enjoyed an outpouring of community support, with locals booking tables to celebrate special occasions like birthdays and date nights, as well as everyday meals such as lunch with co-workers or family dinners. “Because we are open so often, it gives people the opportunity to come in for lots of different occasions, and we’ve truly gotten to know the community,” she said. 

This Saturday, November 9, Bettina is co-hosting a block party of sorts at Montecito Country Mart, featuring pop-ups by several brands including Kule, Jake & Jones, Draughtsmen Aleworks, Lepiane Wines, Seavees Kids Shoes, and more. There will also be bites by Bettina and a donation-based spritz bar by T.W. Hollister; donations raised will be gifted to the Santa Barbara Culinary Experience, which partners with the Julia Child Foundation to promote Child’s joy of the culinary arts. Stores in the Mart will have specials as well, and there will be a raffle for an array of local items. 

The event is noon to 6 pm Saturday November 9. Bettina is located at 1014 Coast Village Road, in Montecito Country Mart. For more information visit www.bettinapizzeria.com.