really gorgeous spot. clean, crisp vibes. beers are decent. i got the beat salad, a half portion, i was charged $8 for four slivers of chicken breast. literally insane. the salad was good, the chicken is that typical cooked ahead of time then refrigerated. not worth $8. the street corn is fire, we loved it, but strictly put of principle we won't go back. i feel so taken advantage of. read more

Great new location! Definitely fills a gap in uptown where there are not a lot of spots to hang out. Be forewarned that it is extremely busy, but is worth the wait. Delicious meatballs and the most amazing fries! Beer, wine and cocktails! My mojito was delish! Great outdoor seating and a kids play area. Plus views of the mountains!! Welcome to the neighborhood Brass Bear!! read more

First time going here since it changed hands from Stella mares. It was excellent! Service was fabulous! Where we got enough attention and recommendations but not too bothersome. The outside patio was so open and inviting and beautiful sunset, thanks Mother Nature! Food was just as delicious. Drinks were yummy, I had the passion fruit mojito. Equally balanced with fruitiness, sweeetness and sournesss. See pics... Definitely will Go back! read more

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Food was terrible and way overpriced. We went out for a family dinner during the holidays and were very disappointed. I have given this place a fair chance, been there for happy hour, dinner, drinks, lunch and been disappointed every time. Get it together people. Never again! read more

Great outdoor view, beer selection and French fries. Perfect family atmosphere. Easy parking.

I used to love coming to this spot when it was Café Stella and was bummed when I heard it was gone, but Brass Bear is a great replacement! It's a perfect place to meet friends between Goleta and downtown. They have a huge patio, lots of indoor seating and a large room that can be rented out for private events. There was an engagement party in the private room when we were there and I saw a huge, gorgeous Charcuterie board being delivered to the event. My husband ordered a beer and I was so happy that they serve wine too, especially rosé! The rosé is crisp and delightful. The Charcuterie was a great snack for two people. Our friends ordered sandwiches that looked tasty as well. All of the servers were super friendly and the owner was walking around checking on everyone. I also noticed they're dog and kid friendly so we'll be back soon with our pup! read more

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This alfredo and the garlic bread is SOO flavorful and delicious! Highly recommend this dish and will likely order it again when I visit Santa Barbara next. Their beer matched perfectly with the food, and it's a plus that their glasses are cute. Our party sat outside on the patio, and I enjoyed the breeze with a view. Our server was quick and attentive to our large party, so I think this would be a great place for events ranging from after-work parties to hangouts with your friends. There was also a lot of parking in the lot at around 5pm/5:30pm on a weekday, but by the time we left, it did seem like the parking lot was filling up. I'm sure there's lots of parking on the street though! read more

Brass Bear Brewing - Veggie Fettuccine Alfredo 1000/10 - Breweries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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our Macy was fabulous. very attentive and split the check for six old high school friends

Love the Happy Hour for a bottle of wine. Beer was good. Thought the food was OK. Nice to have a place to go in that area with a view albeit with phone lines. Our favorite aspect was the Wii fi that we used regularly. The place is quite large so it looks ideal for parties. read more

This is the best place to just hang out with friends or family and enjoy the excellent food and service. Employee go above and beyond to make you feel welcomed. The manager is always greeting and asking if we need anything else. I highly recommend this place. read more

Hosted a holiday office party in the back room + patio for ~30 people, and it was perfect. Plenty of space to mingle and dine, delicious food --from charcuterie apps to main options of chicken, beef, and mushrooms to cookies for dessert -- and our own bartender with specialty drink offering. Emily was easy to communicate with, and she took care of table arrangements, tablecloths, candle centerpieces, and heaters on the patio. The party was very well received, and we would celebrate at Brass Bear Uptown again. Easy, elegant, great location! read more

Full disclosure: several years ago I had a bad experience here. They were new, heady, blithe and taken with their self importance. Food was fine. I'm from here, born and raised. Ignore me at your peril. Now? I might have fallen in love again. My sister was craving fish and chips, and I had been back and had a memory of greatness of light crispy fish being delivered here. So we went and boom, the memories returned. Awesome fish and chips unless your memories of having your arteries clogged in London are what you remember. The best part? The people who work here are smiling. The Charity and Joy of the place are right there and available if you can put down the dopamine control system and just look at the world class views from the outdoor patio. Thanks BB. And the beer ain't bad either but you know, I'm sorta snooty and hard to please. Cheers! read more

I came as a walk-in today to place a to-go order and was greeted by the friendliest staff even as I realized I came on a super busy game day. I got home with my order and realized there was one item missing. When I called to just have that one item taken off my bill Jolene was super apologetic, kind, and professional. She went above and beyond to make it right, apologized again and said she hopes we do come back and we definitely will! The fact that we were disappointed our protein was left out was completely mitigated by Jolene's exceptional service; great customer service always wins. Side note-their Caesar salad has the best dressing, my partner is obsessed. read more

We had our wedding reception at Brass Bear Uptown & it couldn't have been more perfect! Emily was absolutely amazing & helped bring our vision to life. From the beginning she maintained consistent communication and provided us with all our options which helped us decide what we wanted our day to look like. The entire Brass Bear team went above and beyond day of as well. The food and drinks were amazing, and the ambiance was exactly what we envisioned. We had an amazing time and so did our guests. We will definitely visit again! read more

Best Place in SB if you have young kids!! Amazing food at atmosphere, and the outdoor space has a kids play area that will keep your kids entertained. If you have kids and struggle to go out to eat you need to come here, this is our favorite new spot. read more

great environment I really enjoyed the service especially my server Immanuel such a upstanding gentleman food was a plus too

I have heard mixed reviews about the Uptown Brass Bear location, but we love the funk zone spot so I was excited to try it. It was great! The ambience is beautiful with a great view of the mountains, pretty furniture and backyard, and a fun little toy roller coaster for the kiddos. I was under the impression that there was more of a kids play area but maybe that's since been removed? The service was wonderful and our waiter was attentive (but not overbearing) and a nice guy with quick service. The food was delicious! A bigger and different menu from funk zone and everything at our table was yummy and there were no complaints. Kids' meal prices were a little high for kids, but the meals came out and were huge, so our little kids could for sure split one next time. The fries were delish and the portions were generous. There was also a private event going on on the inside/half of the backyard and it looked fun and packed! Overall a great spot and we'll be back!!! read more

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Note: This review is for Brass Bear Uptown as a private event venue! We hosted both our rehearsal dinner and welcome party here, and it was the perfect choice. Having both events in one location kept everything seamless and stress-free. The private dining room was spacious for our buffet, included tables and chairs, and had its own bar, which gave the night an exclusive feel without needing the whole restaurant. Guests loved the natural flow between patio and indoors, and drinks (including signature cocktails and a mocktail) were a big hit. With about 125 guests, we added valet - affordable and it made arrival smooth. The staff was fantastic: Emily made planning easy, and Kenzie kept the night running flawlessly. Everything exceeded expectations, the value was great, and they worked with our budget. Highly recommend Brass Bear for couples looking for a welcoming and memorable space for pre-wedding celebrations. read more

Wonderful experience; so unexpected. Menu is small and basic. Ordered the burger and it was one of the tastiest I've ever had. Tried my friend's truffle-Parmesan fries. Loved them. I had the street corn side... food but not great, some odd taste in there! Our waitress was wonderful! read more

We gathered to celebrate a birthday on a warm, sunny afternoon. I immediately noticed the huge parking lot and plenty of outdoor seating for all the large groups. The patio had a lovely view and felt so spacious. I ordered the burger with a side of fries, there were other sides to choose from including street corn and salad for two dollars extra. I ordered a side of Mac & cheese with bacon- the highlight of my meal! The Mac & cheese was so light and cheesy, the pasta cooked to perfection. One of the waiters, Christian served our table and attended us with great customer service. They had QR codes on the table and I appreciated being able to use Apple Cash right from my phone to pay. It made it easy to order, though I appreciate a physical menu too. Overall, we had a wonderful time and enjoyed the evening! read more

If this place didn't have a nice view I would give it 1 star. There's no ambiance inside. It's loud and cold and the floor looks cheap and dirty. The prices are really high for what you get. My friend had the special Reuben sandwich for $19 and it had one to two thin slices of meat, usually a Reuben is stacked with corn beef. My Ceasar salad was bagged lettuce with ? bottled dressing. The fries were good and the staff was pleasant. But I won't be going back here again! read more

We booked a reservation for a group of 30+ on Saturday. It's a nice little place with outdoor seating, games, as well as some separate rooms for larger parties. The service was excellent! The food came out pretty quickly and it was really good. The GM did a great job of making our team feel welcome and taken care of. Thank you, Brass Bear! read more

Nice new spot to relax, watch the sunset, and laugh with friends. Decent selection of beers along with great appetizers and salad options to share. The beet salad and truffle fries were the hit tonight. The cocktails were great, go with the lollipop! Service is quick and seating on a weeknight had no wait. Plus parking easy and free! read more

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Brass Bear Brewing Company Uptown is the perfect location to have a wedding reception. We had originally booked Funk Zone but wanted a more private setting and that's where the lovely Emily came in and walked us through many options. They had a banquet room which we booked along with the private patio area so our guests could also sit outside and enjoy the gorgeous views of the mountains. It was a vibe! There was a play area for the kids that kept them busy all day. It was all so beautiful and the staff was amazing. The staff made sure each guest felt welcome and attended to all our needs. The food was top notch and so delicious. We were so happy with our decision to have it at Brass Bear, it was a wonderful experience for a beautiful wedding. You can't go wrong with the ambiance, decor of the beautiful room, food and service. read more

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We celebrated a group birthday party. Everything from setting it up with Emily, the room, service and the food was wonderful. The manager,Charity made sure we had everything we needed. Our server Louis was so kind and helpful. read more

Overall, the ambience is beautiful. The setting is nice. The patio has a beautiful view of the mountains especially at sunset. I liked my guava Mojito, which they made virgin for me and it was delicious. Service was excellent. My beef/steak sandwich was not good. Flavor was not good and the texture of the meat was not good. I did enjoy the Caesar salad and the butternut squash soup and although I don't like cheeseburgers I tried one and it was delicious. The fries were on point. Fun place to gather with friends. read more

Brass Bear Brewing - Cheesesteak... not so good. - Breweries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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I love Brass Bear downtown and the chill, laid-back vibe. I wasn't prepared for Brass Bear Uptown to be so very aesthetically different. If the downtown vibe is for the surfers and beach bums, the Uptown location is for the rich folks who don't want to get their feet dirty. I'd actually tried to go here before with a large group to just chill one evening and was told even their outside area is table service and therefore needed to be reserved. Not that this is a bad thing (and I'm glad I ended up calling ahead!) but definitely different than downtown where you can come and go as you please from the tables. The more upscale vibe is confusing when you realize the menu is only slightly extended. A few more appetizers and a few more mains. I was excited for more options, but the portions were rather small and flavor was not the strong suit. The fries were excellent, as was the butternut squash soup, but the mac and cheese was small for the price and had no flavor. Our server was fantastic, despite seemingly needing to cover the whole floor herself. Friendly, helpful, and attentive. Gold star! I will say that the Wine deal on Wednesdays is perfection--I just wish it went later than 5! My friends and I arrived at 4:30 to snag a good table and were told about the deal. Thankfully we got through one bottle and were able to order another with just minutes to spare. Even just extending to 5:30 to be able to accommodate us 9-to-5ers would be great. I think Uptown is still figuring things out. I hope that as it grows as a restaurant it will get even better. read more

I always try to give the benefit of the doubt to a newer establishment (even though the owners already have one location in the Funk Zone). Yet, the bar and the kitchen do have some improvements to be made. Occasion: Came here with a small group for a friend's birthday gathering. Ambiance: They provided a pleasant beach-themed living room feel with the dining room. Quite welcoming and cozy. Loved the layered mountain wall coverings as you walk in, plus the funky, studious jungle creatures on the bathroom walls. While we sat inside, the large outdoor patio looked gorgeous--even on this rainy evening. Food: While their French Fries are delicious, that's sadly where it ends. I had the Shrimp Fettuccine Alfredo which was basic and had toasted bread with a hint of garlic. The birthday girl ordered her food (Chicken Cordon Bleu) first yet after more folks arrived and ate their meals her food still did not arrive. 1.5 hours later, and several reminders to the staff, it was served. We joked that either they had to go fetch a chicken or order it from Gelson's down the hill. Drinks: While they were tasty, for the price tag I'd expect them to actually have a hint of booze--or even be strong like Harry's. I had their guava mojito, Cosmo and Old Fashioned and they all seemed watered down. Service: Our waitress was very friendly and provided good feedback regarding items on the menu. She was very attentive and happy to do separate checks. Given the birthday girls meal ordeal she did give two complimentary desserts for the table to share. She honestly felt bad and we were clear that it was most likely the kitchen's fault, not hers. All in all, they have some kinks to work out. It does have potential yet to take over a stellar estamblishment like Stella Mare's and be disappointing is hard to accept. read more

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This was a super disappointing dining experience, I think the only reason this place has over 3 stars is the "kids" area. We had a Thai steak salad, which included half cooked spaghetti noodles and was very "meh" overall. The 1/2 grilled cheese and tomato soup was not hot and laughable quality for over $20. We all felt the beer was the highlight of our meal. We ordered via QR code and had zero interaction with servers beyond them delivering our luke-warm, super mediocre food. When tabbing out, the restaurant prompts you with a 22% tip. Right... read more

Brass bear on McCaw is such an underrated spot in SB!! I have been wanting to try it for so long and I'm sad it took this long to go here. Greeted by a lovely hostess who showed us to our outside table. I love that they have TVs outside with propane heaters. Huge plus to the outside dining. Casual yes upscale, they have great service thru and thru. Our server Junior has amazing recommendations!! He's great at listening to what you like and giving his best recommendation for you. He also makes sure to check in with you while handling other tables as well. I also enjoyed how they have multiple people interact with each table. Makes the environment very chill and friendly. Will definitely be back soon! read more

Brass Bear Brewing - Breweries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Okay is my reaction. Fun to meet with friends and they have lots of space which is great. Loved the patio area and the view. Our sever was friendly and just enough attentive. Food delivery in timely order and was tasty but as any new restaurant it needs some tweaking. The appetizer meatballs claimed to be in house made but were very processed looking, maybe heating them on stove counts for house made. Sauce on meatballs very tasty but they were served with one sad piece of toast? This is a appetizer, usually shared, how do you share one small piece of toast? When asked for more we were charged $2.00 for two more small pieces. Our friends ordered cheesesteak sandwich and did enjoy it but came with a side and they were listed the sides but not told small Caesar salad was a $2.00 up charge. Now for drinks. Good selection of beers and decent wine offerings but my partner choose $16.00 old fashioned which had very little to no alcohol. This was a deal breaker for him. Would not recommend. My fire Margarita was not spicy as promised and weak on alcohol. Will stick with wine or beer if I visit again. Original wings tasty, would recommend. Now I need to mention the parking. They have decided that the parking lot should be all valet. Not sure why? It was a little confusing so we just backed out of the lot and parked on street. Enter at your own risk :) read more

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The service was great! Young servers learning the ropes , nice! But The Beets salad - well well... I make a really mean beet salad- which doesn't need 90% green - It's a beet salad ! Not a salad with some beets - and please make a good vinaigrette - and make it taste good - that's it- I come from a Mom in the old country who said - the spicing your food is the whole magic. The taste makes the meal , not the amount or the funny mixes ... just saying .. read more

We terrible experience at Brass Bear Uptown. There's zero service since you have to order online, but the internet is awful with just one bar of signal, making it nearly impossible to place an order. The kids' area is a hazard, my 2-year-old hurt her leg on a broken trampoline. The water dispenser was empty, and the tables were filthy. Skip this location and go to the downtown one instead! read more

Brass Bear never disappoints and is my go to spot for happy hour with friends and family. Always amazing service, beer, drinks and food. Not to mention they hosted my bestie's wedding reception the day there was a hurricane warning (and weather), as well as an earthquake! They did an amazing job and made sure that her reception went off without a hitch! If you have an event, trust this team to make it special. read more

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We had a large group of 5 adults and 6 kids so Brass Bear and its play zone was perfect. We came after a hike and the food was beyond what we expected! Ample space for your kids to roam around and enough to keep them entertained so you can enjoy your meal and drinks in peace. The entire aesthetic and decor was SO vibey - loved it. The fries were probably some of the best I've had! Must try the spicy zucchini fries and the butter cake (wow!) read more

What a big hidden gem! Beautiful decor inside bit the real treat is the huge patio overlooking the mountains. The servers were so friendly and helpful since part of the patio was order by smartphone. For a place more known for beer, they have a great wine list and even half off bottles for happy hour! The manager, Romy was even kind and friendly enough to come by and chat with us. We didn't get try the food but will definitely be back! read more

During a recent weekend retreat to Santa Barbara, my colleagues and I had the opportunity to dine at an exceptional restaurant on two of our three evenings. We experienced exemplary service from Emma on both occasions, complemented by the attentive hospitality provided by both Emma and the manager, Charity. The culinary offerings were of outstanding quality and flavor, which motivated our decision to return, particularly for their exquisite desserts. Consequently, we spent our evenings on the couch, engaging in artistic activities within a warm atmosphere accompanied by contemporary music, resulting in a highly enjoyable experience. P.S. Our work mom loved it, especially so that we are planning on making a trip back in the spring. read more

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Food was good but ambience was better. Had a great time with our friends and kids there. Something for everyone to do.

Great for kids and adults, awesome outside space with multiple fire pits and separate kids play area. Full bar Food is great Plenty of parking Glad to finally have something in the upper area like this! read more

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I had such a great experience planning my rehearsal with Brass Bear! The space is beautiful and exactly the vibe we were looking for, but what really made the process so easy and enjoyable was working with Emily. She was so helpful, organized, and genuinely kind... just a total gem. She made everything feel really smooth and stress-free, which is such a gift during wedding planning. Can't recommend this place (and Emily!) enough. read more