My friend and I haven't been back to this restaurant since 2018 and I have to say it was as good as it was back in 2018. I had made Monday 7:00PM dinner reservations on Open Table. We were greeted and seated upon arrival. Alvaro our server introduced himself, very pleasant and attentive. We ordered beers to accompany our meal this time around. We decided to share The Ahi Crudo, Hope Ranch Mussels and 1/2 a Fried Chicken Platter. All the dishes were presented well and tasted fantastic. The Crudo was the weakest but still good, Mussels excellent and the Fried Chicken was the best Fried Chicken I've ever had OMG! Loved that there was a 1/2 portion size on the platter option, since it was only the 2 of us. Atmosphere: laid back rustic vibe. Service: excellent. Food: excellent. read more

Barbareño was such a great overall experience. The service was great, everyone was friendly, attentive. The outdoor patio was also really nice and peaceful, with an intimate atmosphere. We ordered the: Beet Salad Hope ranch mussels Especial Santa Maria bbq Market fish The Hope Ranch mussels were amazing with such a flavorful broth, and the smoked tri tip/Santa Maria BBQ was cooked with a great sauce (very tender). The beet salad was fresh and refreshing, and the market fish was tender and flavorful. The only dish I wouldn't recommend was the especial. Overall the food, service, and atmosphere made this such a solid date night spot. Definitely on the pricier side, but worth it for the experience. read more

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We had dinner here at Barbareno tonight. The wait staff and support were on point. However, we weren't impressed with the food nor its presentation/plating. Food: we started with the bread service (4/5) and the Scotch eggs (4/5). Both were good. We then had the mussels (4/5). Although I'm not a fan, my buddy powered through the entire bowl...so obviously he liked them. The sauce was spicy and flavorful, which I appreciated. I used the bread to soak up that flavorful sauce. Then we had the Santa Maria grill (3/5) and the pork rib plate(4/5). The presentation and seasoning for the Santa Maria plate was just boring and lacking. We chose not to finish that plate as it was not real flavorful, nor interesting. The pork ribs (3/5) on the 2nd plate had really good seasoning and flavor, but should have been cooked longer. This was a pretty significant miss, as the ribs needed to cook at least another hour. The meat was pink??? This is an oversight for cooking ribs. Dessert: we ordered all 3 desserts and they were all just okay. Nothing craveable or exciting. The service team was a strong 4 stars all night. The kitchen was maybe 3.5 stars. I was surprised that our party of 6 didn't enjoy the meal more based upon the reviews and previous restaurant recognition. Maybe the kitchen had an off night and we need to give it another try. There are so many great restaurants in SB, we may or may not make our way back to Barbareno. read more

One of the BEST service experience I've ever had. All the staff were so friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive. Outdoor patio seating is also a very nice and you can hear the other person talking vs other restaurants where it's super loud. The menu has a lot of local items & everything was delicious. I think out of the few items we ordered, we liked the smoked tri tip and the mussels the most. The mussel soup was SO good and we needed more bread to eat it all up. The tri tip was also cooked perfectly and I loved the sauce that came with it. This is certainly a great date night spot and also bit pricier than I usually go for. The food might not have been what I crave but it was a great experience. read more

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Great food and service!! Great vibe! Loved the homemade bread, herb butter, date jam. The mussels were divine! Little gem salad, delicious!

Really great service and great food! Did a bunch of research before on what people liked and felt like our order had no misses. We got the bread and spread to start. Highly recommend doing the butter, olive oil, and jam all at once. It's better than divvying things up. This is no time for dieting. If I weren't pregnant we definitely would've wanted to try the ahí crudo but had to skip this time. We were also tempted by the Hope Ranch Mussels but it's just out of season for mussels so decided to skip those as well. We landed on the beet salad and even though I'm not the biggest beet fan, I really enjoyed it! Nice crunch. I always prefer a pungent goat cheese whereas this one was more subtle but still a great compliment to the salad. We got the Ricotta Dumplings. I was a little hesitant to get these but there were so many positive reviews for them we thought we had to give them a go. We were so glad we did! I expected a more Asian-inspired "dumpling" but they're honestly more like an arancini minus the rice. Such an interesting flavor in the sauce. Couldn't tell you what the flavor is, just that it's good! For our entree, we got a half order of the Santa Maria BBQ. Coming from Texas, we felt that "BBQ" is a bit of a stretch but it was tender and delicious steak. Finished off the meal with the Baked California. Kind of seems like you can't come here and not get it. We've felt wronged by desserts at upscale restaurants in the past so it was a pleasant surprise when this one seemed to live up to the hype! Not huge on sweet desserts (I prefer chocolate or something tart) so I think this would be a one-time order for me but glad I gave it a try. My husband said he'd get again. read more

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Awesome dining experience! Ivanne was wonderful and thoughtful and knew the menu and made great recommendations. This was our first visit to Santa Barbara and Barbareno was top of the restaurant list in our research and it exceeded expectations. Cozy casual rustic Cali feel - added to the evening. The dishes were each unique and perfectly done. Top notch quality and creativity. Tried the grilled avocado, beet salad, ricotta dumplings, acorn pasta, and mushroom al pastor, and baked California. All outstanding and memorable. We would have gone back during the week and did the same meal again if we had time! read more

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Barbareno does a great job of capturing Santa Barbara's food in a setting that might be someone's home. The outdoor seating feels like you're in someone's backyard downtown, and each of the dishes is uniquely Santa Barbara. Service is kind and caring - we showed up with 5 people when we had a reservation for 4, and they took care of us! My favorite dish bar none were the Ricotta Dumplings - I don't know why something like this hasn't taken off everywhere but the sauce, the cheesiness, the crisp first bite, omg it is soooooooo good. My second favorite dish had to be the Santa Maria Tri Tip. I'm originally from Santa Barbara and living in NYC makes it hard to get good Tri Tip or beans similar to what were served. This meat was beautifully seasoned and cooked, the beans were what I remember eating as a child, and the garlic bread divine! The inclusion of so many Santa Barbara wines is lovely, and the list of dishes that are reminiscent of what Santa Barbara is is also lovely! I'll definitely be coming back and enjoying some outdoor dining at Barbareno! read more

Barbareño - mcmuffin things - New American Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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tl;dr the unapologetically Californian farm-to-table fare is equal parts whimsical and delicious; order a wide assortment of appetizers, but don't miss out on the signature BBQ platter Barbareño is a specialist in "Central Coast cuisine", a self-coined term referring to the use of hyper-local ingredients in whimsical ways. The restaurant has been a stalwart in the Santa Barbara fine dining scene since 2014, but the menu remains refreshingly fun. It's no wonder, then, that Barbareño remains routinely ranked among the upper echelon of Santa Barbara restaurants and has even received recognition from the Michelin Guide. Even though it's just a few blocks from the bustling State St, Barbareño's low-key exterior and fenced-off patio feel quiet and secluded. The canopied outdoor space is enclosed by succulents, planters, a short plaster wall, and a lattice fence. With shade aplenty, a light breeze, and optional space heaters, the temperature is surprisingly more comfortable than the balmy indoor seating. Woven chairs are pressed up to lacquered-wood tables. Neo-techno plays unobtrusively below the din of chatter. My partner and I booked a reservation for an early weekend dinner, and the patio filled up shortly after our seating. Our server masterfully curated a tour through the menu. To begin, the Eggamuffins blini bites were effortlessly light, with a punch of salt to cut the smooth creaminess. Meanwhile, the crispy, falafel-esque battering on the Ranchero Scotch Eggs was well complemented by a smoky southwestern chipotle aioli and perfectly runny egg. The Grilled Avocado struck me as a "vegan sushi", combining buttery avocado with rich garlic ponzu reduction and fresh cucumber-yuzu puree. The pinnacle of our meal was the Santa Maria BBQ (Barbareño's only dish that has been around since the original menu). Melt-in-your-mouth steak and a tangy deconstructed pico de gallo overshadowed the standard side of pinquito beans and crispy-but-bitter garlic toast. The only "dud" across our order was the Acorn Pappardelle; the dish was warm rather than hot, and the noodles were unpleasantly gummy. Further, the gritty mushroom sauce was far too tame in flavor. The service was a team effort, and the staff even offered us complimentary bubbly to celebrate our special occasion. Our total came to $150 (after tax and tip), and we left feeling pleasantly full. Most of our dishes were eyebrow-raisingly good, and we were pleased to order a la carte instead of opting for the tasting menu. Notably, Barbareño offers half-portions (and scaled-down prices) for the entree platters. I strongly recommend this spot for a fun, fancy dinner that won't break the bank. read more

Barbareño - Santa Maria BBQ - New American Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

My absolute favorite restaurant in Santa Barbara, fantastic elevated food and wine, but relaxed feel. Staff is extraordinary. Much thanks again, and I can't wait for my next visit! read more

This was my first time at Barbareno and I can't say good enough things! We went with a group and shared multiple plates. All of the food was great - get the Quail eggs, you won't be disappointed. Cute spot with great service. Sierra and Mitchell made us feel like family. We can't wait to come back! read more

Barbareño - New American Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

I normally don't write reviews unless I've had a bad dining experience, but this restaurant absolutely blew my mind. It was so good that I felt compelled to write this review. This by far, has been the best restaurant I have ever been to. A large group of us made dinner reservations here while celebrating a bachelorette party, and the experience exceeded every expectation. We opted for the 7-course menu, and every single course was outstanding. Our menu included: -Grilled avocado -Ranchero scotch eggs -Buckhorn Canyon citrus -Local bluefin crudo -Citrus miso black cod -Santa Maria BBQ -Baked California Honestly, every dish was delicious, but the standouts for me were the local bluefin crudo, Santa Maria BBQ, and Baked California. The flavors were incredibly well balanced and each course felt thoughtfully prepared. I didn't realize the restaurant is Michelin Guided--and it absolutely lives up to that recognition. The ambiance was also wonderful, with a warm atmosphere and an open kitchen that made the experience feel even more special. Watching the team work while enjoying such an incredible meal added to the overall vibe. Highly recommend for a special occasion or if you're simply looking for an unforgettable dining experience. read more

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My friend and I tried their tasting menu over the weekend. While it was fun to try different dishes, I prefer ordering my favorites on the regular menu. The first course was a plate of three amuse bouche. The egg mcmuffin 0/5 was not a favorite. I also did not care for the strawberry gazpacho 1/5. However, I enjoyed the ranchero scotch eggs 3/5. The second course was a salad with ranch dressing -5/5. The bacon bits were good. But other than that, this was salad greens drowned in ranch dressing. Definitely not fine dining. A tasty dish was the halibut crudo 4/5. It was delicious. I just wish it was a little bigger. It was tiny. Our next course consisted of the sweet corn tagliatelle 3/5. The dish was cold. It was also a bit plain for my taste. However, my friend enjoyed it, other than the temperature. Things started to improve when the especial came out with delicious morsels of lamb and this yummy masa flatbread 4/5. I think it could have had more meat to flatbread ratio. However, the dish was very tasty. My favorite dish came out next, the santa maria bbq. This was tender and yummy 4.5/5. The portion size was also decent. This was definitely the star of the evening. I took half a point because they were served at room temperature. The staff was gracious and brought out the ricotta dumplings 4/5 due to the cold steak. It was very gracious of them. Finally, we had dessert, the baked California 4/5. The staff was very nice. I believe one person was getting trained who would absolutely not smile. I tried to make conversation but nope. Lol. They may have been nervous on their first day. All in all, I HIGHLY recommend this restaurant. Order the Especial and the tri-tip. The steak is to die for. read more

Lovely dinner dining outside. The server was nice enough to share stories of influence on the dishes. Water was diligently refilled, ambiance was perfect, courses were perfectly spaced, and food was plated to perfection. Highly recommend the baked California dessert! The pork belly was great as it was not too fatty - more like a fatty pork chop and while the named because it was not crispy at all, the sauce made up for it. It was walking distance from our hotel on state street. I will definitely but it on the return list should I visit Santa Barbara again. read more

Next-level food -- absolutely outstanding My wife and I ate at Barbareño, and the bottom line is simple: the food is out of this world. We knew it would be good, but this was on a completely different level. We shared: Bread & Spread (house sourdough, cultured butter, local olive oil, bacon-date jam) Ricotta Dumplings with strawberry masala, pine nuts, rosemary, nigella seed, and basil Santa Maria BBQ Brandt Tri-Tip with pinquito beans, pico de gallo, and garlic bread Everything was incredibly flavorful, but the tri-tip was mind-blowing. I've never had beef that tender -- it was almost pork-tender, yet still clearly tri-tip. Truly impressive. The staff was great, service was smooth, and the mead was excellent. Portion sizes were generous -- plenty of food without feeling skimpy. This place instantly became a favorite of ours, which is unfortunate only because we live a couple hours south. If you love bold, well-executed flavors and food cooked to perfection, go here. It's not even that expensive for the quality you're getting. A must-visit in Santa Barbara. read more

I was in the area looking for restaurants to try and I stumbled upon this one and I'm so glad I did! This place did not disappoint the food is amazing with great flavor combinations and options of food choices. I really enjoyed the food so much it might be one of my new favorite restaurants now. Bummed it's not closer to me. I had the sourdough bread starter, with the beet salad and Santa Maria BBQ. Vianne was so knowledgeable and super friendly. Highly recommend coming here. read more

Barbareño - Santa Maria BBQ - New American Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Was so excited to try this spot after so many recs but sadly left disappointed. Eggamuffins were avg, bland. Don't get the hype. Ricotta dumplings didn't have any wow factor either. Both were priced way too high for what you get. The blackberry hoisin pork belly was the star of the night. Rich, fruity, savory, amazing texture combination. Opted for the half portion of the santa maria bbq. Great cook on the meat but the dish overall felt bland as well. Wasn't a fan of the beans as the main starch Baked California was tasty. Great texture bomb as well with a nice mixture of salty, caramel sweet, nutty, & fruity pineapple flavors. Just smaller than I expected Overall happy that I tried this spot once but don't think I'll be back. My birthday didn't really feel acknowledged either. Way too overpriced for what's put on the plate. The upscale bbq just didn't work for me read more

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Believe the reviews! Excellent service. Trendy yet chill vibes. Unique (but delicious) menu. Good wine selection. I had been meaning to come here cuz the reviews peaked my interest, but from photos I wasn't sure the patio or interior was my vibe. Looked a little lackluster. Now I know the photos don't do it justice. Can't say enough good things about the staff and excellent service. Love that the chef owner is a local. My foodie family and I thoroughly enjoyed exploring this menu. Not a bad bite. read more

Barbareño - You can watch the amazing bread being made from your table. Halibut crudo and their take on a Scotch Egg, inspired by huevos rancheros. - New American Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Good was amazing, we had the tri-tip and the chicken plate. Service was excellent and the atmosphere was really pleasant. read more

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What a fabulous restaurant. Beautiful setting, wonderful servers and absolutely delicious food. Would definitely return!!!!

We went here for my husband's birthday and the food, service and ambiance were great! Our server Mitchell was attentive, kind and knowledgeable about the menu. We appreciated when he showed us the half portion of the chicken so we could change our order size. I could have easily made a meal out of their sourdough bread + butter and the ricotta dumplings. The ricotta dumplings are a must order and unlike anything I've had before! Paired with the strawberries and sauce it comes with - divine. We also ordered the half plate fried chicken. It was good but just a tad peppery for my liking. Overall great experience and awesomeness restaurant just off State Street! read more

What a cute spot! We used to live in Santa Barbara but had never been here. Funny enough, we were actually recommended this place by our bartender in Miami! Back for a visit, we made a reservation for a group of 5. The atmosphere was so cozy, especially during the holidays. It kind of felt like being in someone's cabin, with chefs bringing out the best meals. The service was amazing! We ordered food to share, and each dish just got better and better. The wine recommendation was spot on and paired perfectly with our meal. Excellent flavors, great portion sizes to share with our group, and just an overall incredible experience. Definitely a special place during the holiday season--amazing food, great service, and such a lovely spot to dine. Would absolutely go back; still thinking about how juicy the lamb was! read more

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My husband and I came here for dinner on a Saturday night over Labor Day weekend. I'd only made reservations a few days prior, and they were easy to make online. Street parking in the area is easy to find. We got here right at our reservation time and were seated immediately. There is both indoor and outdoor seating available, but all of the outdoor seating that night was reserved for a function. Indoor seating was bright, airy and chic. We had a good amount of space between tables. Service here was efficient and friendly. Our waiter also gave us great recommendations. We got a mixture of dishes, including the mussels, ricotta dumplings, market tomatoes, lamb al pastor, and also couldn't go past dessert. As with all our meals in Santa Barbara, Barbareño was spectacular. Would highly recommend trying this restaurant and will return. read more

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Server was very nice. Explained the menu well and knew everything about every item. One thing I hated was that they had the suggested tip based on the price plus tax, which you aren't really supposed to do. Feels like they should correct that. What I got: Especial- when I first tried it, I thought it was missing a little flavor, but as I sat with it, I really enjoyed the taste. It got better as I ate. Santa Maria BBQ- the tri-tip was perfect. Melted in my mouth. Would absolutely recommend and suggest that if you go there, you get it. The bean were solid and made better by the pico. Garlic bread would be amazing on its own as an appetizer. Loved the atmosphere. Staff was great. Food was great. Wish I went with more people so I could have tried more. read more

Barbareño - Especial -lamb al pastor, fermented corn flatbread, pickled red onion, goat gouda, salsa verde. - New American Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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We had a fun and very delicious dinner here the night before a family wedding. Lovely ambience, very nice staff, and delicious food. We shared everything family style. Especially liked their unique Caesar salad, but everything was great. read more

Food is amazing, staff is ready and friendly without being too in your face. You can't go wrong here. Plenty of vegetarian options for us. Barbara is a well run place that executes at a high lever read more

5/5 ambiance 5/5 service 1/5 eggamuffins. "Tastes like nothing" - my husband 5/5 beet salad with pistachio. yes. 4/5 Santa Maria BBQ. Supposed to feed 2-3, my husband could have enjoyed this on his own* After this $175 meal, we bought a $20 pizza. *We are two average to petite sized humans with outsized appetites. read more

This is a bougie restaurant with small portion sizes and large prices structured so that you buy a lot of food and spend a lot of money and walk away with less money and still incredibly hungry. The food itself is very experimental- and not in a good way. The one star is solely for the sourdough bread, which is the only thing I ate and actually enjoyed. Everything else was not good. Our server was super rude- she started with a faux friendliness and ended by neglecting us and being rude when she actually spoke to us. I don't remember her name but she had curly hair. The decorations are nice and the place has a very bougie ambiance. Also, all they could muster to give my mom for her birthday was a tiny frozen yogurt. Overall, definitely would not recommend. Will not come back. Going now to get actual food for a portion of the price. McDonalds is a better alternative to this. read more

Barbareño - Ranchero Scotch Eggs - New American Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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By far the best meal we have had in central coast. Every single dish was uniquely prepared and the service was spectacular. Don't miss the eggamuffin or the noodles. Literally everything was great. read more

Barbareño - Eggamuffin - New American Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Food-5 star Service-5 star plus Ambiance-4.5 star Incredible evening and recommend highly. read more

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Tri tip sandwich- I absolutely loved this sandwich. The tri tip was grilled to perfection and I enjoyed how the sides were also charred. The aioli also went perfectly with the tri tip meat and the ciabatta bread was fresh. The perfect pick me up during the lovely Sunsender festival in Santa Barbara I didn't try the food at the actual restaurant however they had a vendor stand at the Sunsender festival! Instagram: @hungrytamale read more

Barbareño - Tri tip sandwich Instagram: @hungrytamale - New American Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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I just didn't like the food Idk The pattern ive found is that I just don't like fancy food all that much Like sometimes restaurants do too much But that's just my opinion Yours is yours Brownie is pretty good tho read more

Barbareño - Brownie - New American Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Outstanding meal, wine list and service. We had the halibut crudo and shared the Santa Maria tri-tip platter. Charming and skilled wait staff. Loved it! Will definitely be back! read more

I don't like zucchini and the zucchini here tastes like candy. They have burgers, salad, potato crisps, and so much more! I love zucchini now! read more

Barbareño - A burger and me - New American Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Amazing ,Amazing, Amazing! I have eaten all over the world and this is one of the best dining experiences I have ever had. My only regret is not ordering one of everything ! Service was warm, friendly and knowledgeable and the ambiance was perfect for a casual but exhilarating meal. We will come back again , again and again. read more

Barbareño - New American Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

The food was fresh and so tasty! The crudo was by far our favorite. The inside is quaint but loud and very dim, if it wasn't raining we'd sit outdoors. We also got the animal potatoes which we did not like. I'd stick to in-n-out animal fries ‍ read more

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I'm already planning my next trip back. We went and split 5 plates and the best dessert ever. Everyone had a little bit of what they love and tried something new, like rabbit. My favs were the burger and the ricotta dumplings. Yet, dessert was hands down worth the trip. It melted in my mouth and each flavor was so u expected. Don't leave without ordering the "Baked California." Let's just say the pine cone, lavender, and fermented berries all together was a flavor burst of love. We sat under the lights and heater outside and enjoyed a great service. Don't forget to get reservations! read more

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Amazing food. We had the gnocchi (it was good but the least amazing); ricotta balls (delicious); mussels (fabulous); and the tri-tip which was so delicious. The waitstaff was so friendly and helpful read more

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My first I impression was it's not as stylish as self-proclaimed ... With more spartan wooden chairs, no table clothes, and quite bright lighting it lacked that cozy atmosphere I was hoping for. Among ourselves we also commented on the stern demeanor of the server . But onto the food.... Appetizers were the grilled avocado and a dish called Especial ...neither one was enjoyable; the avocado overpowered by some kind of overly salty Mole-bbq sauce hybrid, and the lamb al pastor just acidic and overly spicy. At this point our spirits had come a low point and the verdict here was that those appetizers should simply be taken off the menu. The main dishes fared better. There was a fried chicken dish and the black cod. The fried chicken was fine, but the black cod a true masterpiece - better than any black cod I've had in Seattle and that's saying a lot. I won't be back soon however, after such an inconsistent experience and challenging atmosphere. Of note, they do not have a bar and serve wine and beer only. Of two beers, I sent one back; the second one, the IPA was middle of the road and the wine by the glass came as an anemic pour. The bread was served as half a slice per person. At $5 bucks per person, and as some others here remarked, this adds up to about $80 of profit per loaf of bread for the restaurant - I wanted to add a comment here unfit for printing and leave it to everyone's imagination. read more

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We brought a group of 6 to Barbareno - for my husband and me, it was our first time, having tried a handful of other restaurants in SB while visiting our son here. Barbareno was by far the most stellar experience we've had in SB, the food was incredible - very fresh and so well-balanced and innovative in flavor - and the service could not have been friendlier or more welcoming. Our table was on the patio and it is a lovely enclosed area, very festive and cozy-feeling. Highly recommend!!!! read more