We were a little concerned walking into an empty restaurant at 5:30 on a weekend. Guess it was on the early side as the restaurant was packed by the time we were done. The menu selection is limited but the dishes are interesting. The service was very attentive and prompt. We started with the pork belly and the octopus. The octopus is a better dish, a little charred and very tender. The pork belly only had 2 cubes of the belly so you will get a nibble if shared as an appetizer. The ribeye was the priciest item on the menu (they offered a tomahawk steak for $120 that was off-menu). It was tender and prepared perfectly. The branzino was good, served whole. I'm not a big fan of this fish and this dish didn't do anything to change that. While served whole, the bones were not really a factor though. My least favorite was the pappardelle with venison. It was on the saltier side and the venison was not very tender (maybe that's how venison is). We also had to try the black swan dessert. The presentation was stunning, and with taste to match (almost). If you like black sesame, the black sesame ice cream is pretty awesome. Blackbird is great for a nice dinner. Given the limited options, check the menu to make sure there is something for everyone. read more

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My girlfriend and I went their for our Valentines Day dinner. She had the halibut, and I had the filet mignon. Nice presentation, and reasonable sized portions, but very over seasoned-which is particularly inappropriate for something more delicate, such as fish. We shared some Brussels sprouts, which were fresh, and well prepared. Service was okay, and I resented the 20% tip automatically added to the bill (with no obvious way to adjust it). This was compounded by the inclusion of a line on the bill for a tip-not everyone will notice that they have already tipped 20%. read more

The food was excellent. The duck was super tender and moist. The steak was like butter and absolutely delicious. Kudos to the chef and the bartender for the delicious cocktail drinks read more

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My mother and I came in to have coffee and dessert. We waited a while for a server to come greet us. We informed the server that we came in for dessert and coffee. She informed my mother and I that they don't have coffee and they only have one dessert, an apple tart. How does a restaurant not have coffee? So my mother and I got up and left. We are visiting Santa Barbara for Mother's Day weekend, and it upset me that the server lied to us. I reviewed their menu, and they have more than just one dessert. I can say I couldn't find coffee on the menu, but the host informed us they do offer coffee and dessert I just felt as though the server did not want to serve us because we were not ordering dinner. Didn't have a great experience and will not recommend this restaurant to anyone. read more

Dropped by here on a whim after walking down the wharf and I'm really glad we decided to stop by. Cocktails are absolutely amazing and their bartenders are very knowledgeable and happy to help. We have definitely added a new favorite cocktail to our growing list of cocktails we've discovered while exploring bars - Chareau Me The Money! We also tried Figgy Smalls and another drink (completely forgot what it was called), but we loved Chareau so much we had to do another round. Amazing interior - very old Hollywood / Hitchcock-esque read more

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Really, extremely disappointing - but saved by the good steak and incredible dessert. We came to Blackbird for dinner for NYE. First of all, even though we had a reservation, we had to wait more than 40 minutes for our table. So we decided to have drinks while we waited. It took more than 15 minutes to get our drinks - so clearly they were severely understaffed. Then, dinner. 1. There was no indication on the website or on the phone when I made the reservation that it would be a prix fixe menu. However, the menu looked pretty tasty so we went with it for 5 courses at $150/person. 2. 3/5 courses were moderate in taste. The amuse was a bit bland - not amuse at all. The carpaccio was said to be served with caviar. It was not. The risotto needed more salt to balance the (very good) sweet port wine. 3. Aside from the clear lack of staff, our server/the kitchen could not figure out timing. When our first three plates arrived within 10 minutes of sitting down, I asked if we could please slow down a bit because I was still eating soup when they took my plate away to bring the next. Well - that caused a domino effect of the server not bringing our paired wines with our food, and the remainder of the meal we received cold plates. Cold udon, cold risotto, cold vegetables. When we left, we agreed that it was amongst the most disappointing experiences we've ever paid that much money for. At $600 for the 2 of us, I would have really expected better management of the place. The mismanagement definitely hurt the experience of the food. But I will say it again - credit to the chef that cooked the steak, and whomever made the chocolate gallette. Delicious. read more

This place is old school vibes with classic elegance. It is based off of BIRDS movie by Alfred Hitchcock. The drinks are so creative and delicious. I highly recommend this as a chill place for friends, family or just a date. Grab a small bite and enjoy delicious unique drinks! read more

Blackbird - New American Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

We went there just for a cocktail, so we didn't have dinner there i.e. I can't comment on the food. The bar staff had no clue what they were doing. I ordered a drink that was supposed to be a variation on an old fashioned, but both the way it was made and how it was presented was terrible. Also, both guys working the bar were constantly looking for stuff and seemed that it was their first time working a bar. Not something you'd expect on a Saturday night. read more

The restaurant looked great and is in a great location. The dishes were well imagined, but everything could have used a touch more salt. We got the filet and lamb tataki. The dishes came out beautifully presented. It was well balanced with grains/starches, vegetables, and protein. Both of us felt like both of our dishes needed salt. read more

This place rocks. We came in on a Saturday night, and got a table right away! We were greeted by Kaija who was the kindest, and most hardworking host I've seen here in Santa Barbara. The manager, V was so kind, and gave us several amazing recommendations, and even comped one of our apps! Thank you also to Carrie for the drinks. Overall, we walked away obsessed with Blackbird. Thanks guys!! read more

Blackbird - New American Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Absolutely amazing!!! Kaija, Axel, and Kerrie gave us the BEST experience we have ever had at a restaurant! Food is outstanding, prices are great, the ambiance is amazing and the drinks are well poured and well priced. read more

Blackbird - New American Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

A hidden gem in the heart of Santa Barbara. Best sazerac cocktail I've ever had! Hardworking staff always makes the experience enjoyable. Highly recommend it you're looking for food, a glass of wine, or night cap. Ambience and service is 5 stars. A big thanks to Ray and the entire bar staff for accommodating us late night. read more

We are in for the weekend from LA. Blackbird is the best restaurant we found. The drinks were amazing. Ceviche with salmon skin crisp was a work of art. Incredible food. Amazing location, perfect outdoor dining. Fantastic and friendly service. And apparently a hidden gem that even locals aren't yet familiar with. 100% recommend. read more

Very underwhelming experience. Food was wildly overpriced. Burrata salad, lobster ravioli, truffle risotto and duck all sound amazing! However, burrata was astonishingly bland, lobster ravioli barely had any lobster, risotto looked like a pile of mush but was the only dish that actually tasted good and the duck was over cooked and under seasoned. I get the location being the draw, but everything else about the restaurant was pretty much terrible. Service was about as bad as you could get. Made a reservation for inside, but they insisted we sit on the patio. Finally sat us inside, but Service was rushed...only after they waited 15 min to even serve us our non-tap water drinks. Don't come here if you care at all about quality of service of food. Good tourist trap restaurant with great branding and heavily curated online presence. read more

Was my last stop of my day trip in SB. Got seated and given the menu right away but that was the only good part. Was not busy at all. No one came by to take my order even give me water. I waited and was very patient. I ended up waiting at least 15-20 mins. A party comes 10 minutes after me and the waiter is pouring water and already ready to take their order. I mean come on. The food on the menu wasn't even available so they had a separate menu from a different restaurant that was available. I will never bother even trying this place. Ignoring a customer is big no no and does not deserve a second chance. read more

Very nice ambiance, perfect location in the heart of funk zone. The service was great, Bobby was my server. He was super sweet and attentive. The food was incredible and genius. I ordered Grilled Octopus, which was the best octopus I have ever had. The Padrón peppers was perfectly grilled, and the sauce came with it was so beautiful. I also had the Scallops, along with pork belly lentils, fennels and grilled apples. They were fresh, perfectly seasoned. Every ingredients spoke for itself and I enjoyed every single bites. The cocktails were amazing. I had Rosemary's Baby (mezcal) and State St. Sour (tequila). I forgot the bartender's name but she was talented and it was great watching her making drinks. I enjoyed my time at Black Bird and will continue to support their business. See you soon! read more

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Wish the server was a lil more attentive and we probably would come back again. But funk zone does not lack nice restaurants so this is a no go for the next night out. read more

Located on the State Street side of the Hotel Californian, this is a "slice of heaven" in the world of cocktails, wine, and fine dining. Started out with West Coast Oysters, Grilled Flat Bread, Tempura Broccoli with Mushrooms, and moved on to quite possibly the best burger in town, Wagyu Beef with Raclette Cheese and Kennebec French Fries. Earlier visits we had enjoyed the Spaghetti, Rib Eye, and Faroe Island Salmon (all delicious). Sommelier Andrew, Blake in the kitchen, and the restaurant staff are always there to make sure we get the best possible dishes and wine pairings. And at the bar, Natalia, Michael and Lazer are always making and creating amazingly delicious cocktails. read more

Here for dinner, not too busy at 6pm, but decent amount of couples at the bar. Server was great, very helpful and did not hover. Cervichie with salmon chicharrones was delicious, scallops for my date, cooked to perfection and giant. Rack of lamb for and it was delicious as well. Citrus salad was prepared very good, nice wine and drink menu, only let down was the beer menu, it was only ok with brewery list, mixed, just needed a few more. Enjoyed and will be back to see what's next on the menu. read more

This is a tough restaurant to review - I have had amazing experiences here with attentive service, delicious food, and great ambience as well as nights where I couldn't wait for the meal to end with servers that never came to take our order, undercooked dishes, incorrect drinks, and charges on the bill for food we never ordered or received. The location is incredible - Hotel Californian is a beautiful spot of greenery on State Street, close to the beach, bars, and shopping, and the outdoor seating at Blackbird is a great place to relax after a full day of activity in Downtown Santa Barbara. Their specialty cocktails are great and they have an extensive wine list - you can't go wrong with anything you pick! For food, favorites include the octopus and cheese and meat platters for starters, as well as the chicken for the entree. They used to have an incredible cinnamon chicken with lentils on their menu but I believe it is no longer available. The problem with Blackbird is a lack of consistency and quality. I have ordered scallops to receive them almost completely raw, and while I have the octopus several times and been impressed with the dish, I have also gotten it drastically overcooked, making it rubbery and inedible. This place is a hit or a miss and I don't know if I would come back. read more

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We literally just left, and it was amazing. I got the quail, my mom got the mussels, my aunt got the broccolini, and my dad got the ceviche. Everything was so good! Honestly, really was pleasantly surprised. Not that I thought it would be bad or mediocre, I was just really delightfully surprised by how good it was. The server was a young girl and she did great. To top it off, the chef was so cute ;) Can't wait to come back next time! read more

Matt B. and I had a lovely dinner at Blackbird a couple months back, during an overnight visit to Santa Barbara. We were able to make a last-minute reservation for 8:00 on a Saturday night. It ended up being kind of a fancy date--the place was ritzy, an attractive hotel restaurant with modern decor and an upscale ambiance. The dining room was pretty calm the whole time we were there, and we had a leisurely two-and-a-half-hour meal. Service was excellent. Our waiter Kelly was extremely on top of things. He was helpful and attentive and very hospitable, one of those servers who makes being friendly to strangers seem fun and natural. We were well taken care of throughout our dinner. We started with a round of cocktails. I had the Fit For Battle, a smooth, boozy drink with a bit of heat, made with lapsang souchong-infused Rittenhouse rye, Cardamaro, Cocchi Americano, and Hella smoked chili bitters. Matt had the Uncommon Cargo, a nice Old Fashioned variation with Rittenhouse rye, Santa Teresa 1796 rum, Speedway Stout syrup, and orange and Angostura bitters. We switched to wine for the rest of our meal, ordering red wines by the glass--I think Matt got a pinot and I got a blend. The food was great. We started with the kampachi crudo and the meat and cheese platter. The kampachi was fresh and silky, served with pepitas, blood orange, crème fraîche, spaghetti squash, and salmon roe. The meat and cheese spread was bountiful, featuring chorizo, soppressata, and prosciutto and a variety of cheeses from Bohemian Creamery in Sebastopol: the BoDacious, the Bo Peep, and the Boho Belle. These were all good, and they came with a variety of accompaniments--parsnip, bell pepper, spaghetti squash, cauliflower, frisée, blackberry, smoked crème fraîche, and little sticks of toast. I also got an order of the avocado uni toast, which was very good, if not the best use of uni. For our entrées, we shared the scallops and the wagyu burger. The scallops weren't bad, but they weren't my favorite, maybe a touch more cooked than I prefer. They came with pork belly, lentils, confit fennel, and grilled apple. The burger was delicious, though, a juicy wagyu beef patty with raclette cheese and pickled tomato on a brown butter bun, served with fantastic crispy Kennebec french fries. (There were also caramelized onions and duck fat aioli, which we got on the side so my picky husband didn't have to touch them.) We shared the espresso dessert, and this was pretty wonderful, a rich, spongey little flourless chocolate cake with espresso, hazelnut praline, buckwheat, and chocolate sorbet. Dinner ended with a couple last sweet bites--dainty prickly pear and blackberry pate fruit jellies rolled in sugar. We really enjoyed our night out at Blackbird. It was a great place for an impromptu date. I'd recommend it if you're looking for a nice restaurant in Santa Barbara. read more

Prime rib was like chewing a rubber. I will not recommend to any one. House made focaccia was tasting like burned oil on top.

Unusual and beautiful. Drinks you've never had the usual changed with a delicious twist. A must for the adventurous. read more

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I came here for Santa Barbara restaurant week this past February with a friend and WOW I was very impressed with this place. First of all when we first came in we were greeted by the friendly host and taken to our table right away. I love the atmosphere of this place. It reminds me of a restaurant in NYC or LA and not your typically SB place. During SB Restaurant Week they had a special prefix menu that they were doing. My friend and I decided to do the menu so we could each try the different things on the restaurant week menu. There were 3 courses on this menu that we decided to try. During our meal we each got two cocktails and a glass of wine too! They have such a great wine and cocktail selection here too! :) I had the Purple Rain cocktail and my friend had the Rosemary's Baby both were so delicious! During the appetizer portion we tried the beet salad and the sweet potato soup. Both were incredible! The beet salad was so fresh and light with a very tasty olive oil dressing. The soup was creamy but not too heavy and tasted amazing as well. During the entree portion we tried both the Faroe Island Salmon and the Sonoma Red Chicken. The salmon was not over cooked at all and was moist. I loved the cous cous on the side and the yogurt sauce was tasty too. The chicken dish was my favorite out of the two! It just had this leek onion taste to it which is one of my favorite flavors! I loved it! :) During the dessert portion of the meal we got both desserts to try. They had a milk & cookies dessert and roasted apple. Both were the perfect thing to finish off this amazing meal! The roasted apple was my favorite since apple pie is my favorite dessert ever! Overall we had such an amazing time during my first experience here. We had great food, incredible service, and delicious cocktails. I can't wait to come back here soon to try their regular menu. Thanks for the awesome first experience Blackbird! :) read more

The restaurant is located on the ground floor of the hotel Californian. The decor is modern but not very intimate. Definitely not the right place for a date night. Maybe some white napkins or candles could improve the setting. The servers on the other hand are extremely friendly and helpful. The food in a nutshell is very good: unique presentations and great flavors. We had several appetizers: -The dungeness crab puffs were pillowy and flavorful. -The octopus was tender and the cavatelli with santa barbara spiny lobster while cooked perfectly al dente could have benefited from more kick. -The whole branzino was moist but the scallops were OK, not great. The ora king salmon was the best dish of the evening and the ribeye while flavorful and perfectly cooked medium rare was served lukewarm: too bad ! The deserts were spectacular in taste and presentation: I would leave room to try the pumpkin brûlée and the black swan with its unusual but tasty black sesame ice cream. read more

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Exhausted after a long day. It's hot outside. I'm wandering down State St looking for somewhere to relax for my last hour or two before my train home. I'm sure I sounded mildly incoherent, but the greeting staff out front welcomed me in without hesitation. I had a seat at the bar and felt I could finally unwind in the very comfortable atmosphere. The bartender working when I came in was incredibly friendly, and made sure I wasn't neglected when a wedding party pre or post gaming came in a bit rambunctiously. The cocktails I had were all well made and incredibly tasty. This is definitely a place I'd recommend and visit again. read more

This is a tourist trap for guests at the adjacent hotel. The ambiance and vibe does not correlate to the website at all. If you are traveling for work with a per diem then why not but otherwise definitely do not come here for a special celebration or you will be very disappointed. The service was mediocre and the menu a bit strange. The bread, risotto, and fish were good but not at the price they charge. We will not return. read more

God Bless Mitch!!! After a long drive from Big Sur, thanks to Yelpers I saw that this restaurant has a pretty good review and also it is opened until "late" (10pm). Food was outstanding, ambience very mellow... our server Mitch made our night. He knew how to guide us through the wine list, recommended apps and main course... it was just a pleasure that he was taking care of us. He made us feel at home. I will come back for sure and I highly recommend it. read more

Blackbird - Whole Branzino, padrón peppers, special of the night - New American Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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A great spot to stop for a glass of wine on the patio with a beautiful view of lower state street and the wharf. Elizabeth offered fabulous and attentive service! Would definitely come back and try their food. read more

Blackbird - New American Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

With a solid bar program, interactive chefs and some of the best real estate in Santa Barbara...this is a win (If you are up to this kind of fare). This is a unique review because it is during Restaurant Week. Normally, the check would be around $100 per person absent spirits. I'm not saying I didn't succumb to that amount but with a prefix menu of $40 this is easily the best choice for any option that restaurant week offers. Ever. View the menu. I chose the beet salad. Ever so subtle by leaving the fontina at the bottom (side story. Pm me for details) lovely olive oil dressing the frisée and the radicchio. This was a very generous salad for a 3 course tasting. I couldn't finish it. Next, the Faroe Island Salmon (between Scotland and Ireland). Perfectly seared on both sides skin off. A gin yogurt helps to elevate flavors through natural evaporating of the alcohol. Combined with a cous cous that absorbs the yogurt and assists the heirloom cauliflower, this dish is a winner. Dessert finished with "Milk & Cookies" which delivered. "Cookie dough" was made with cream cheese in place of egg yoke. A panna cotta, surrounded by a lake of sweetened condensed milk and cream, was layered with chocolate chip cookie crumbles. The most notable tidbit is that the restaurant currently has no head chef...leaving the very capable sous chefs (the one tonight having staged at the three Michelin starred Per Se in NY) to curate the menu. It's your best bet for a great experience. Restaurant week goes until Sunday, March 3rd. read more

Blackbird - SB Restaurant Week 2019, $40 pre fix menu - New American Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

For all the hype, Blackbird is more of a disappointment than anything else. We started with the avocado Uni toast so popular now everywhere it almost feels like pb&j. Well, this one had a thicker bread that was nice but with minimal avocado and one slice of Uni, all we tasted was this salty, buttered toast. The grilled octopus was perhaps the best dish of the night having a nice smooth texture and good flavors although overall it could use some punch or spice. The clam spaghetti had a good flavor although overly salted as well. The scallops at $38 contained 3 over cooked over salted diver scallops over a cauliflower purée and some shaved asparagus and burnt broccolini. Sadly to say, I almost dreaded to eat the texture of the scallops and perhaps enjoyed the shaved asparagus the most. And of course the Salt! On a brighter note. The coffee and doughnut dessert was nice. On the service side the wait staff is nice and genial. Then again, I think training and diligence would help as we were ignored for the first 15-20 mins because of waitstaff confusion and later when we were having drinks and dessert, a different waiter completely forgot our order for 20-25 mins and we had to flag him down. He comped three of our drinks but it has to be reflected in the overall experience. read more

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Fool me once... shame on you. Fool me twice... shame on me. SHAME ON ME INDEED! During our 1st stay at Hotel Californian, our experience at Blackbird was totally underwhelming. The bartenders were lazy and sloppy and couldn't be bothered to provide "service." My wife and I decided then to never return. However, on a more recent trip to Hotel Californian, in a moment of forgiveness/weakness, we attempted Blackbird again. ( Can you sense where this going?...) Blackbird is certainly CONSISTENT - again, the service was slow and disinterested. These guys cannot be bothered! They were primarily concerned about (openly) discussing their after-work plans, then they were serving the hotel guests that were there. TOO BAD. I like this hotel. And I love the neighborhood. But... With so many other great eating/drinking options nearby, I have no desire or intent to EVER RETURN TO BLACKBIRD AGAIN. Bye bye Blackbird. read more

Couldn't decide between Blackbird and Djinn. Ended up going to Blackbird for drinks before dinner, had the Rum Diaries. It was tasty and made sweeter, but still a strong drink. So, I would say if you are not one for mixed drinks then this place isn't for you. But it was still fun getting to sit out in the sun and have a nice drink before grabbing some dinner at the Hotel Californian. Such a cute spot, so glad to have checked it out. read more

Blackbird - New American Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Dropped by after a stop over at Solvang, came for a break and dinner before heading home to LA. It was quiet for a Monday night, not as busy as the restaurant across the street which drew us to come in to avoid a wait. Attached to the Hotel Californian it was very cozy and had a relaxing atmosphere. Ordered a couple cocktails, Veuve Clicquot Rose with luxardo cherries, Charcuterie meat and cheese platter, very delicious having a variety of meats, cheeses, jam, sauces and pickled veggies ... we ordered the Wagyu burger with pork belly, and pappardelle with veal which was amazing. Service was great and ambiance very romantic. Glad we came in and tried their delicious entrees. read more

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Worth the $$$$ The ambiance, food, and staff made the experience 5 stars. The restaurant is small enough to ensure a quality meal and a quiet, relaxing time. I started with the drink, purple rain. The fresh basil perfumes the drink beautifully every time I took a sip. The bartenders Thai and mike or Matt (can't remember his name unfortunately), made us feel like royalty while simultaneously feeling like one of their good friends. They educated us throughout the meal and shared some good laughs with us as well. We ordered the scallop crudo which was extremely fresh. The uni toast which has become an off the menu verbal special due to its popularity. The unit toast was one of my favorite things of the night, it had all the textures you would want and was very creatively put together. The grilled octopus was one of the most tender octopus dishes I've ever had. Lastly we had the banzino which is served whole, and cut in a way where the filets flake off delicately as you eat. When the barramundi came I decided to switch to a glass of white. The bartender was kind enough to suggest using the in house sommelier. He paired the fish with a light, crisp white with hints of grapefruit. When I go out to eat to a nice place I've been known to be critical, because for the amount of money I want the best. I didn't have a single complaint the entire night. read more

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Extremely overpriced for tiny portions. Everyone at our table thought it was a tapas restaurant when our food came out.

Bartender Johnny always takes excellent care of me and my boyfriend when we come in. When we sit down we have waters and menus and plates before I can even blink. He's super friendly and funny and really works hard to make sure everyone is having a good time. The cocktails here are really delicious, on par with good lion. The food is outstanding too, perhaps the best in SB at this price point. We're in love with the truffle risotto, quail, and steak. I love that you get to pick your knife when you order the steak! I'm gluten free and I always get the panna cotta for dessert. Everyone here is so friendly and welcoming - it's the perfect place for a date night if you're trying to feel a little fancy. read more

Blackbird - New American Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

We liked the restaurant but we ended up paying the tip twice because no one told us it was already included. This does not go well with the high end profile the place wants to claim. I feel cheated. read more

Beautiful decoration, beautiful setup, tasty food, & super friendly & knowledgeable waiters...We enjoyed our day in Californian Hotel & this beautiful restaurant. The food was super tasty & well presented. read more

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