Santa Barbara’s pizza scene has an enticing newcomer that decided the city’s downtown needed a classic New York slice. On Friday, August 14, Milio’s Pizza debuted on the edge of Paseo Nuevo retail mall, one block away from City Hall on State and De La Guerra Streets. Milio’s is a beacon for those who want to go beyond Santa Barbara’s core pizzerias, featuring simple slices or whole pies made with ingredients procured from the superlative twice-weekly farmers market on the same car-restricted portion of State Street.
Founders chef Miles Robbins and London-born Kamil Jumale established firm roots in Santa Barbara over the last five years. They first met pre-pandemic in London at Iyoki (the Michelin-starred West African restaurant), then established FourFortyFour Catering out of Southern California, where Robbins grew up. The duo expanded into the Central Coast for catering and more recently developed the culinary program in Summerland at Godmothers Graze bookstore, slightly south of Montecito.
Jumale and Robbins also tapped famed pizza consultant (and original Roberta’s pizzaiolo) Anthony Falco during the research and development phase to perfect the dough, which ferments over 72 hours with organic flour. The firm sourdough crust gets topped with standards like cheese and pepperoni, or ingredients on specialty pies, like the namesake Milio pizza that uses vodka sauce, Pecorino Romano, mozzarella, and chives. There’s also a requisite square pie and Robbins will play with seasonal ingredients for limited-edition pizzas. Soft serve vanilla or chocolate ice cream is available, with experimentation to follow as the restaurant gets its footing. For an entire pizza, expect to pay anywhere from $23 to $30, with slices for $4.50 to $6. Sicilian squares will start at $6, while a cone or cup of vanilla or chocolate soft serve is $5.50; swirl away for $.50 more.
Milio’s takes residence in a long-empty space: Hoffmann Brat Haus closed in 2019 with no tenant until the pizzeria signed on. After Robbins and Jumale leased the space for their restaurant, they reworked the room to have a long preparation counter visible to those in search of a slice, a check-out area, and stations to stand and eat, as well as outdoor tables along the side alley away from State Street. Milio’s is still awaiting its liquor license for beer and wine.
Though Bettina holds Santa Barbara County’s torch for most beloved Central Coast pizza destination, Third Window Brewing, Lucky Penny in the Funk Zone, and Revolver Pizza remain reliable gets for great pies. Longtime pizza chain Rusty’s has 10 Central Coast locations, but Jumale isn’t deterred. “We’ve already built a community here, plus people are always looking for something new. With Milio’s, we’re hoping to make an impact in Santa Barbara,” he says.
Milio’s Pizza is open Tuesday through Thursday (and Sundays) from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and until 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday at 801 State Street, Santa Barbara, CA, 93101.
