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    Aegean

    4.7 (19 reviews)

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    Lamb Köfte
    Angela R.

    Nothing brings me more joy than seeing a chef go from weekly pop-ups and special events, to opening a restaurant. Congratulations Chef Efe Onoglu! I already knew the food would be good here after trying Chef Efe's cooking at a pop-up event. After my recent visit at the restaurant, I'm already anticipating my next visit! We started with crispy falafel. They were perfect little balls bursting with flavor. Presentation on point. We also enjoyed the farmers market tzatziki. Totally different from the typical Tzatziki I'm used to but honestly way better! Made with fresh veggies, garlic yogurt and fresh herbs. Make sure you order the bread basket to go along with this. The Aegean fries are also a must! They are more than just fries, they were next level. Seasoned with Greek oregano and lemon zest, finished with feta and dipped in creamy Greek yogurt. Zesty, lemony and so addictive! For the mains, my son ordered the Chermoula salmon which was perfectly cooked. It was bright, herby, and layered with preserved lemon over creamy garlic couscous. I ordered the lamb kofte which is made with lamb belly and American Wagyu. The mini kebabs are juicy tender bites, balanced by sumac onions, blistered shishitos, and cool tzatziki. And the Tavuk chicken kebab? So juicy and full of warmth from the harissa and yogurt marinade, paired with roasted peppers, tomatoes, and garlicky toum. The presentation of each dish was incredible. The colors were vibrant and clearly fresh from the farmers market. Every bite felt vibrant, comforting, and delicious. To end the night in celebration of my sons birthday we ordered two desserts. A baked Mastic rice pudding and the flourless chocolate cake. The rice pudding was creamy and delicious. It reminded me of arroz con leche, but better. The flourless Varlhona cake was dense, fudgy and not too sweet. Such a lovely presentation. Overall, a wonderful experience. The staff here was attentive and friendly. Be sure to make reservations in advance.

    Outdoor patio.
    Desiree P.

    Aegean SB (also known as Aegean Neotaverna) is a highly-rated Mediterranean "hidden gem" in downtown Santa Barbara that focuses on fresh, seasonal Greek and Turkish cuisine. Opened as a permanent location in late 2025 by Chef Efe Onoglu, it has quickly gained a reputation for its authentic, flavor-packed dishes and welcoming "local hideaway" vibe.

    From left to right: Levrek, Aegean Fries, Vegetarian Pilaf Rice, and Sac Kavurma

    This restaurant is by far the best food I have ever had in my life! Not only was the food great but the service was excellent as well. The servers were so friendly and knowledgeable! We were also lucky enough to meet the chef who was such a nice person and shared with us how the restaurant came to be and how his staff is all like family to him. It was very heartwarming to hear. For appetizers we had: Hummus with Zhoug - the freshness and flavor of the herbs in the Zhoug mixed with the hummus and olive oil was incredible! Karnabahar - the cauliflower was perfect with the sauce. The raisins gave it the perfect amount of sweetness while the lemon tahini added the perfect amount of tang. Incredible flavors! Halloumi - the different textures and flavors were perfect! For main courses both recommended by our amazing waiter: Sac Kavurma - the perfect amount of spice and sauciness with the tender brisket and vegetables was so great with pita bread! Levrek- hands down the best sea bass I have ever had! It was like melt in your mouth delicious! Sides: Vegetarian Rice Pilaf - again the flavor! Aegean Fries - delicious and went so well with the garlic yogurt! Dessert: Flourless Varlhona Chocolate Cake - decadent cake with all the other flavors added was amazing. I am so happy to have found this restaurant! I highly suggest it!!! I can't wait to go back!

    Levrek
    Jessica C.

    Visiting family in town and we loved it here so much we had to come back twice! The levrek was my favorite and I had it both nights! Though I did pick off my families plates as well; they all chose wonderful dishes like the wagyu meatballs, chicken kebab, and the crudo! I was able to try other options the next day as well, like the hummus, goddess salad, tzatziki, falafel, and marinated olives. I could only wish for a location to come down to San Diego! For dessert of course, I had the flourless chocolate cake both nights and it is to die for! I wish I could've taken a tray of it home with me! The atmosphere is very nice as well, it feels like you're eating at home with family and the service was fantastic as well. You won't find another place like this and I can't wait to come back.

    Hummus.  Really healthy size portion.
    Ellen D.

    The menu selection was one page and a list of specials. It's focused on complimentary dishes that can all be mixed and matched with one another. The restaurant was nearly fully when we arrived- we wanted a bit of a sampling so we ordered mostly appetizers to split. The falafels were a classic choice, tender inside and crunchy outside- with good fresh flavor - we could taste the different fresh herbs used! Nice. The hummus was a favorite and we ended up getting extra bread - loved the zhoug in the center and again, fresh ingredients and able to taste all the herbs and spices. We then had the prawn special.. oMG.. that radish salsa that the prawns rest on was divine and the prawns were perfectly cooked. A tiny bit messy but using your hands was sort of the point of most of the food we had ordered- and they brought wet cloths to wash up! Wine was delicious and brands were not familiar with.. and are now searching where we can buy locally because it was sooo good. The service was good- they were packed and only had 2 service staff, but they navigated the room well and brought us everything. They were exceptionally welcoming and took extra time to chat and share their favorites with us. And the chef stopped in to check on his each of guests as well. His care and passion for food are articulated in his communications well as his cooking and you can tell he loves what he does- and to cook for people. The location was in De La Guerra Circle, it was quiet from the noise of State street, well located for parking. The seats at the table are comfortable and we were not rushed out of the restaurant -highly recommended and I didn't get but one photo because we are everything too fast.

    Kombucha Iced Tea Lemonade
    Ann D.

    The hummus and the meatballs were amazing. The yellow fish was also good but not very filling.i really enjoyed the freshness of the taziki that came with the meatballs and how warm the pita bread was. The meatballs were seasoned very well. I would definitely come back and order the meatballs and the hummus. The Kombucha was refreshing and had a great taste as it wasn't too sweet.

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    Zaytoon - Halloumi & Watermelon, Tzatziki, Hummus, Pita, Tabouli and Batata Harra (the best!)

    Zaytoon

    4.2(1.5k reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$

    What can I say about this restaurant. Five star in my opinion…read more First time visiting this place and it was exquisite. We arrived on a Friday night and they were kind enough to find us a table without reservation (I would still recommend reserving for the weekend). Customer service A plus. Ambiance was so beautiful, we felt we entered another dimension with the patio seating. We ordered Falafel, Baba Ghannouj Chicken Kabobs and Pita Bread. For a cocktail I had a tequila based one called Standard. Everything was made to perfection and fresh. Timing between entrees was perfectly calculated. We were seated like in a private terrace which we loved.

    The ambiance here is absolutely stunning, and the service was decent--the manager was friendly and…read moreattentive throughout our meal. However, the experience felt a bit underwhelming for such a very expensive price tag. The Food & Drinks: Pita Bread: A disappointment; it lacked the soft, hot moist texture you expect and honestly felt like it came out of a bag. Hummus: Just okay--nothing to write home about. Beef Shawarma: This was the highlight of the meal; it was actually good. Alcohol: Be warned--the markups are intense. They really gouge you on drink prices, so you might want to skip the cocktails. The Experience: The "cool factor" has dipped a bit since they stopped offering hookahs, and since there were no belly dancers during our visit (maybe we were just too early?), the entertainment was lacking. Also, keep in mind that you must be in a large group if you want to snag one of those coveted fire pit tables. The Verdict: Go for the views and the relaxed vibe, but manage your expectations on the value for the price.

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    Zaytoon
    Zaytoon - Kabob platter

    Kabob platter

    Zaytoon - Outdoor dining!!

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    Outdoor dining!!

    Mezza Thyme - Inside of the beef sambosik

    Mezza Thyme

    4.8(104 reviews)
    0.2 mi

    We hosted a 20-person outdoor wedding reception at our home, and Mezza Thyme catered the event. The…read morefood was outstanding. Throughout the meal, I kept hearing the same comment from different tables: "This is really, really good food." And it was. The Mediterranean dishes were vibrant and fresh -- not generic or middle-of-the-road, but thoughtfully prepared with balanced flavors and ultra-fresh ingredients. Even our most restrained eaters went back for seconds. Delivery was on time as scheduled. The general manager personally supervised the transfer of the food from transport containers into our serving dishes and offered helpful suggestions on serving layout to improve flow. Presentation and execution were handled professionally, which matters when hosting an event at home. Prior to placing the final order, I studied the menu and placed a preliminary order online to establish a starting point. I reviewed it with my daughter and wife and received their approvals before finalizing. I did have a few questions about overlap among side dishes, spoke with the general manager about it, and finalized the order 30 days before the event with no subsequent changes. That clarity made the rest of the planning straightforward. Their menu reflects flavors and traditions rooted in the Levant region. Mediterranean cuisine lends itself well to buffet service within a defined service window. We would be happy to use Mezza Thyme again for any larger-scale gathering -- or for a great meal at home or in their restaurant on Cota Street downtown. I highly recommend them.

    The food is delicious! I came on Friday for lunch and immediately changed my Saturday plans so I…read morecould return. 10/10 all around. The beef samosas or sambusa were perfectly seasoned, crispy, and flakey.

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    Mezza Thyme
    Mezza Thyme - Eggplant Falafel Plate 9/10

    Eggplant Falafel Plate 9/10

    Mezza Thyme - The entrance

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    The entrance

    Petra Cafe - Mezza Sampler

    Petra Cafe

    4.1(319 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$

    Hi i needspeak about this resturant…read more The people work there very nice and the food very good and the hookah bar is very clean and the food is very good i take all my freind there i wish every one go there and try foxthill is the best hookah in state street

    Honestly... save your money…read more I dropped by this Jordanian restaurant /hookah lounge to chill for a bit, have a beer, and enjoy some hookah. It looked like a cool vibe from the outside, but the whole experience left me super disappointed. When I walked in, the place was empty--just the owner and two staff. No greeting, no welcome, just awkward silence while the owner stayed on the phone trying to fix what sounded like a billing issue. The staff didn't speak much English (which is fine), but there was no real effort to help or explain anything either. Eventually, I got a hookah and a beer--$48.50 for one hookah and one beer. Yeah... nearly $50. No food, no extras. That's wild. Then I was told I had to smoke outside on the back patio, which turned out to be a tiny little corner--maybe 6 by 10 feet--with uncomfortable chairs and a random wood bench. It took 15 minutes to even get the hookah (remember, no one else was there), and when it arrived, it was totally burnt. Overpacked, harsh hits, and I ended up having to scrape it and fix it myself just to get it to smoke right. Wanna know the kicker? You only get three coals. That's it. No refills unless you pay for more. No one checked on us for almost an hour, and when I finally asked for more coals, they said (in broken English and mostly Spanish) that that's all you get unless you pay extra. I've smoked hookah all over the place--three coals is nothing, especially when you're charging $35+. No one came around, no vibe, no music, no nothing. Just me, my burnt hookah, and a beer that wasn't even cold. I really tried to find something redeeming about this place, but nothing hit. The service wasn't there, the product wasn't good, and it honestly felt like I was bothering them just by being there. Bottom line: for $50, you can do way better just about anywhere else--or even at home. Hope they turn it around, but for now, I wouldn't recommend it.

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    Petra Cafe - Interior

    Interior

    Petra Cafe
    Petra Cafe - Guava margarita

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    Guava margarita

    Aegean - mediterranean - Updated May 2026

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