If I could get more stars I would. Accommodating staff, unique and delicious food, and a really wonderful experience.

This place is tucked away in a great location with a lively atmosphere and a really welcoming vibe. From the moment we arrived, the service was top notch, friendly, attentive, and incredibly helpful throughout the evening. We started with the Kalamari, crispy U.S.-caught calamari with fried herbs and a spicy aioli. We also went with the sangria, which I highly recommend! For dinner, we ordered the Tomato & Artichoke Pasta with Spanish artichokes, cherry tomatoes, fettuccine, Basque cheese, garlic, shallot, and herbs. This was so much more than your typical pasta dish. It was incredibly flavorful, with the Basque cheese, garlic, herbs, and roasted vegetables all working together beautifully. Every bite had something going on, and it was easily one of the highlights of the meal. We also went with the Charcoal Chicken, which comes with roasted vegetables, half a Jidori chicken from the Josper, chicken jus, and chimichurri. As a fan of Jidori chicken, I have to say this was, in my opinion, hands down the best I've ever had. The flavors were incredible, and the chicken was cooked to perfection. The vegetables appeared to be farm-to-table and were equally impressive. For dessert, we went with the Goxo Itota "Drowned Sweet," made with McConnell's vanilla, espresso, and a Spanish anise cookie. So good! We also ordered the Basque cheesecake, and I highly recommend adding that to your order as well. :) Everything was great from beginning to end, and there wasn't a weak spot anywhere. I couldn't think of a better place to have spent our anniversary or a better restaurant for my 100th review. Thanks again for such a memorable evening--we look forward to coming back the next time we're in town! read more

See all

Unfortunately, this restaurant missed the mark when it came to both food and service. Being gluten free, one of my biggest pet peeves is when restaurants label items as gluten-free when they aren't truly gluten-free due to shared fryers or cross-contamination. That was the case here, which was disappointing. Our waitress went to check with the kitchen regarding our questions but never returned with an answer, leaving us having to wave her down multiple times to get clarification. Another odd interaction was when my husband asked to see a spirits list. The bar manager came over with the list but questioned why he wanted to see it and never actually handed it to him. My husband is a bartender himself and simply enjoys knowing what options are available, so the interaction felt unnecessary and uncomfortable. As for the food, it was just okay. The shrimp had good flavor, but was extremely overcooked. Overall, the experience was underwhelming, especially given the expectations set by the menu. read more

We had a Monday dinner at Dom's Taverna last month, a quiet night for the restaurant and a lovely date night for us, with cocktails and wine and wonderful Basque cooking. We were able to book a 7:00 table the same day, and might have been able to walk in, though the place was far from empty. I do think we were the last customers left when we wrapped up around 9:00, but that's Santa Barbara for you. The space was nice, attractively built out with chevroned floors and colorful tile, a long, central bar and an open kitchen. The vibe was fun and comfortable, and we got A+ service. Our waiter Arturo was warm and super helpful. He took good care of us throughout our meal. We started with a round of cocktails, both fantastic. I loved my Zlata Paloma, a zippy margarita with tequila, spicy house pickle brine, grapefruit, Ancho Reyes, green chili bitters, and makrut lime powder. Matt B.'s Night Vision was also fantastic, with mint-washed gin, lime, sherry, pomelo, and mint oil. We switched to wine for the rest of our meal. Arturo let us taste a couple of the house reds, and we ended up getting a bottle of the Cume do Avia "Arraiano" Tinto, a chilled red that worked well with our food. We ordered several things to share and they were delicious across the board. We started with a half-dozen oysters, served with cocktail sauce, horseradish, and mignonette, and the daily crudo, a tuna tostada with passionfruit and I think pine nuts and chili crunch. Light, fresh, and very tasty. Then we had ganbak and Chef Andrew's corn bread, both served piping hot in their skillets. The ganbak was a dish of grilled Pacific prawns with Espelette butter, served with toast--basically Basque for gambas al ajillo, with plenty of garlic. The corn bread was golden and decadent, served with chestnut butter and Santa Barbara hot honey (you can also get it with anchovy butter, which I suspect is even better). The trumpet pasta was a surprisingly large dish, and I was glad Arturo brought it out before the steak frites, our other entrée. The pasta was great, with artichoke, cherry tomatoes, Basque cheese, garlic, shallot, and plenty of herbs. The steak, too, a big portion of charred Australian Wagyu with Ancho Reyes demi-glace and crispy fries. We didn't have much room for dessert, but we shared the Goxo Itota "Drowned Sweet," basically a Spanish/Basque/Santa Barbara affogato, with McConnell's vanilla ice cream, espresso, and Spanish anise cookie. An ideal way to end this excellent dinner. read more

Definitely a new favorite of ours! We came for an early dinner on a Friday before a concert at the bowl. Love that there's a parking lot nearby. Our server was attentive and gave wonderful drink and food recommendations! The drinks were all INCREDIBLE - the La Pluma was my favorite. We also enjoyed a bottle of wine and loved how our sever let us try a few different reds before making our choice. Food favorites were the crudo, steak bites and GGGG salad. The basque cheesecake is t die for! All around great experience and the restaurant is beautiful! Can't wait to come back! read more

Dom's Taverna - La Pluma - Basque Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Amazing food Outstanding service Beautiful, classy, clean environment The menu is craveable, for a party of two is going to take us a few visits to try everything because it all looks just that good and that's ok for us . I definitely recommend it and we shall be back read more

See all

This off State Street slice of heaven is my new obsession. I have been looking for a fine dining seafood place in the heart of Santa Barbara since my favorite closed about seven years ago. In comes, Dom's. Well worth the wait! Inside beyond the wood floor minimalist design is an amazing culinary experience. I ordered the seafood salad. I was like -- is there any seafood left in the city? Wow. $33 for more seafood than your heart can desire. My spouse got the 1/2 chicken and it was more like 2 chickens! But the star -- the cornbread. Order it for dessert and pull the butter off and dip your fork for honey bites in it with each bite. Like nothing you've ever eaten before. Truly memorable. The cocktails and drink program is solid too. I had the happy hour sangria. Perfectly tart and refreshing. So many top shelf options! Run, do not walk to Open Table to reserve a table. You don't want to miss this on your next dining out night in Santa Barbara. The staff will treat you well, you may never leave! read more

See all

Went here during a World Cup game. Such a fun vibe. Fresh seafood, good wine, great service! Their sourdough was delicious, and calamari light and crisp with a fun house sauce read more

So I will say Dom's was very good overall, but a bit over the top on the pricey side for the amount of food you get... so hold your pants on and be prepared. So my friend and I came to dine on a Tuesday night at 7:00PM. Upon arrive we were greeted and seated. The atmosphere is bright, fresh, and very open. Our server Brissa introduced herself, she was a bit cold in the beginning, but warmed up to us throughout the evening. We ordered Cocktails while looking over the menu. We ordered the Lamb Croketas, Ganbak, Steak Bites and a Crab Claw. The dishes were delicious but as I said it's a bit pricey for the amount of food you receive. Thank goodness we had a big lunch or we would of still been hungry. Definitely delicious! Atmosphere: is bright, fresh, and very open. Service: good. Food: excellent. read more

See all

I got looped into trying this new SB restaurant through a $75 off coupon this week. I went but I regret it, don't fall for it like I did. We had a 5pm reservation. The bad experience started when we arrived 5 minutes early and the door was open but they did not allow us in. They made us wait outside in the hot sun, looking at their inappropriate political posters taped to the windows. Don't we get enough politics on the news? Is that what people want to look at when they dine out?? No. The host then seated us in the hot sunny window in the front. The window shade wasn't strong enough, my dining partner had to squint for the first 30 minutes or more, he literally got semi-sunburned. We started with the smoked fish appetizer and drinks. We ordered the crudo to follow, but they brought both out at the same time. For drinks, I started with a Paloma cocktail. It was bland and watery, not nearly as good as the fresh-squeezed grapefruit Paloma I had at Loquito the other day. The smoked fish appetizer was good. The crudo had raw scallops and white fish with watermelon in olive oil. The scallops were sweet and yummy but I didn't care for the white fish, it had no taste and the dish needed acid to balance the sweetness of the scallops and the blandness of the oil. Same hot pickled peppers used on both the smoked fish appetizer and atop the crudo - where the creativity in that? The servers didn't describe the dishes so it was hard to know what you were getting or what the chef had in mind. (Was there a chef in the house? I don't know. None was mentioned.) We then ordered crab legs and a $68 bottle of white wine, a bottle of Perluca Khoros from Paso Robles. Our new server was a bit nicer and offered to chill it on ice. The crab legs and wine were both delicious. For the main we ordered the Morcilla, a meat and bean dish. It looked so unappetizing I didn't even want to try it. It was less than ok. I just nibbled at it and we didn't finish it. Also of note, I went to the ladies room mid way through and both bathrooms were occupied for a long time. After a 2nd knock, the host who had been rude from the start emerged in a huff. Something's not right here. The bill was still $250 after the supposed discount. Not worth it! Blah. Bland. Boring food. Expensive. Don't go. read more

Dom's Taverna - Smoked fish appetizer on the left and scallop + white fish crudo on the right. - Basque Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

We had a great experience dining at Dom's Taverna and I honestly wanted to leave this review here because our hostess, Skylar, was able to make magic happen after I accidentally messed up our dinner reservation and moved it to an entirely different night (whoops!). We were able to be seated and enjoyed the food very much and our server helped us out with picking some items to try on the menu. At some point our server got called away(?) and Skylar stepped in to take care of us for the rest of the night (yay!). We enjoyed our drinks, dinner, dessert, and service was great. We didn't get a chance to snap a pic of the cheesecake because it was immediately attacked by spoons upon arriving at the table; 10/10 would recommend to a friend, we left no survivors. The location if a few blocks up from the busy oceanfront and we liked the vibe here very much. read more

See all

Loved all of these dishes! The chicken was so tender and the cheesecake was to die for! We also got the plantains and they were divine. Service was super friendly and although I personally find the ambience a little cold for my taste, that won't stop me from returning! read more

Dom's Taverna - Cheesecake - Basque Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

See all

Finally had a chance to dine at Dom's Taverna, one of the newer restaurants that opened last year, and it absolutely lived up to the hype. We made a dinner reservation via OpenTable before heading to an SBIFF event, and everything from timing to service felt seamless. This is a share-plates dream, so we ordered accordingly. Hongos, mussels and clams with chorizo (that broth alone is worth the order), prawns with butter and garlic that were rich and perfectly cooked, steak bites, half a dozen oysters, and Santa Barbara crab claws. Every dish came out well-paced and clearly meant for the table, which made the experience feel relaxed instead of rushed. For drinks, I tried both the Don Raj Spritz and the freezer gin martini. One was earthy and refreshing, the other ice-cold and dangerously smooth. Exactly the kind of cocktails you want before a night out. Service was attentive without hovering, knowledgeable when asked, and genuinely warm. Plates were cleared on time, drinks stayed filled, and no one made us feel like we needed to rush out the door. As for value, the quality of the seafood, portion sizes, and overall experience felt fair for what you're getting. This is the kind of place where sharing a few dishes gives you a full, satisfying meal without feeling overcharged. We missed happy hour this time, but for those planning ahead it runs from 3-5:30 pm and again from 9-11 pm, which is honestly a great deal considering the menu. Dom's Taverna hits that sweet spot of elevated but approachable, with thoughtful collaborations that show they're tapped into the community. Great food, solid service, and an easy go-to for both special occasions and spontaneous nights out. read more

See all

Went here for my partner's birthday and we really enjoyed our experience! It's a cute space with a seafood-forward menu--we realized midway through our meal that we'd inadvertently ordered multiple dishes that had roe in them, but they were all delicious! We ordered: -hongos: a super delicious grilled mushroom dish with egg yolk sauce and our fave of the evening. just super savory and yummy -bluefin crudo: a special of the night, this was served with watermelon which was a delightful surprise -smoked fish dip: great texture and enjoyed the crackers it was served with -surf and turf tartare: nice presentation, good flavor, but would've enjoyed it more if the meat were a bit more finely chopped -tomat: tasty, but would try a diff veg dish next time All paired with a lovely glass of vermouth. Would definitely come back and try their happy hour sometime! read more

Dom's Taverna - Surf and turf tartare - Basque Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Discovered Dom's Taverna on Yelp since it was just a few blocks away from our hotel so it was a nice walk. Luckily, they had a couple tables open so we didn't have to wait at all to be seated. // COCKTAILS // LA PLUMA: Pisco, passion fruit, licor 43, lime, foam. A solid cocktail if you want something that is not too strong, on the sweeter side with a slight hint of citrus. 4/5 // FOOD // DOM'S LOUIE SALAD: Tuna confit, local crab, poached shrimp, iceberg wedges, piparra, radish, tomato, chive, lemon-espelette vinaigrette, Louie dressing. Light, citrus heavy and mixed with a good amount of seafood. It was a nice twist on your typical seafood louie salad with more of a thousand island style dressing. I would definitely order this again! 4.5/5 CIOPPINO PASTA: eggless fettuccine, shellfish, rockfish, shrimp, calamari, konbu marinara, toasted bread. I'm pretty picky when it comes to cioppino and this one was on the better side. I personally wish the sauce was a little thicker and more flavorful, but the fettuccine was a nice touch to round out the dish. 4/5 Overall, I'm glad we stopped by Dom's Taverna for dinner. It will definitely be on my list of restaurants to come back to when I'm in SB. read more

My parents and I stopped in here because of a recommendation from some credible travel site. Those are sometimes hit or miss. This time was a hit. The inside was small and intimate. Loud but not too loud that you can't hear each other. Our server was excellent, and extremely knowledgeable. We were still a little full from our lunch (4 hours earlier) so we stuck with lighter bites. * Spiced lamb & chicken croketas: maybe one of my favorite bites of the night. Super tasty, but the real winner was the sauce underneath. A sort of aioli type. * Kalamari: you can't go wrong with a really flavorful kalamari * Steak bites: yum. Just yum. * Seaside snap pea: this was my favorite thing we ordered. So fresh and flavorful. It felt light and not heavy. I'd order this again and again. * Tomat: this was good but I also think I'd order a main dish over this. We just weren't hungry enough. This isn't to say it wasn't good. Just not my favorite. read more

See all

My wife and I recently went to Dom's Taverna in Santa Barbara for date night and it turned into one of our favorite dining experiences in town. We kicked things off with some tasty cocktails, which immediately set the tone for the night. From the moment we walked in, the entire staff made us feel genuinely welcomed, but a special shoutout goes to our server Raul. He absolutely nailed every recommendation and guided us through the menu like a pro. We started with the crudo, which was bright, fresh, and perfectly balanced. Then came the smoked seafood flatbread, rich and flavorful without being heavy. For our main, Raul suggested the steak txuleta, and it was phenomenal. Cooked to perfection and beautifully paired with the tomato salad, it was one of those combinations you don't forget. We wrapped things up with "La Cuchara," a spoonful of Basque cheesecake topped with caviar. It sounds unexpected, but it was pure magic, creamy, salty, and just the right amount of indulgent to end the night. read more

See all

The bartenders were the highlight of our visit. Friendly, personable, and attentive. One bartender accidentally splashed me while shaking a cocktail and immediately took one of our freezer martinis off the bill, which was appreciated. The bar itself is also pretty cool, with TVs disguised as artwork that blend into the space. We ordered the cioppino, wagyu tartare, and sole. The cioppino was made without shrimp due to my allergy, which I appreciated, but it was unfortunately very salty and I couldn't eat much of it. The wagyu tartare was the standout dish. It came topped with roe and was flavorful and well-balanced. The truffle chips served alongside it were very truffle-forward, and adding a side of caviar complemented the tartare nicely. The "whole fish" turned out to be half of a sole. It was fine, but nothing memorable. Overall, the tartare was the only dish I would consider ordering again. While the service at the bar was great, the food didn't leave me wanting to return. FYI. We did have a reservation but chose to sit at bar since it was open. read more

See all

We hit up Dom's Taverna for an early dinner during our spring break visit to Santa Barbara. We chose the table by the window to enjoy the natural light coming in. * Steak Bites $19 - These Wagyu pieces were a little overcooked for our liking. * Seaside Snap Pea $16 - This was a refreshing dish with fresh peas and arugula. * Smoked Fish Dip $20 - I love a great smoked fish dip and theirs did not disappoint. The salmon roe gave it that salty kick too. I wasn't the biggest fan of the tapa crackers as they didn't hold the dip very well. I would have preferred a different vessel for the dip. * Surf & Turf Tartare $26 - We love tartare and will order it every time we see it on a menu. Their Wagyu version with the anchovy aioli and fish roe, and truffle chips was very enjoyable. We ended up getting two orders! * Clams & Mussels $16 - A light and tasty dish. * Pea & Artichoke Pasta $28 - An enjoyable pasta with peas and artichokes. There were some super salty bites and can only guess it came from the Basque cheese. * Hongos $27 - Grilled mushrooms with more of a marinated or brined egg yolk, rather than raw, poured table side. Great flavors. * Grappa's Tarta Vasca aka Basque Cheesecake $20 - We never would have known it was a Basque cheesecake if the waitress didn't explain it to us. It was good choice to close out our meal. We had some really enjoyable dishes at Dom's and would probably go again if we were in the area. Service was much more attentive in the beginning but as the evening picked up, service slowed down. It wasn't a deal breaker, but we did have to ask for more water and things like that. I love the water glassware. Very cool. Overall, there are some innovative dishes happening here and I think their menu has been changing already. So I gotta love a restaurant that is constantly changing with the season. read more

See all

I debated on the stars. I'd hate for their rating to be low due to my sense of what things should cost. The sandwich was good; it was $20. After tax and tip, I spent $27 on a sandwich today. It did not come with anything: chips, garnish salad. It was a holiday lunch with friends so special occasion. On a regular basis, I don't see this being a go to for me. The service was nice. The environment is inviting. This is my third visit there and I'm still not sure of what to order when I go. As I don't speak Basque, I find the menu a little difficult to understand. So far it seems like the Basque Bowl with rice and a few little things in it could be a good choice. read more

Dom's Taverna - Submarino Española Sando It's a long sandwich. There are 2 halves here. - Basque Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Well done, Chef! You've solidified Don's in my top3 restaurants in Santa Barbara. First off you'll want to make reservations. This cute, little place fills up by 6 so plan ahead. Not to say you can't walk in but with his popularity and amazing food I don't recommend it. Go ahead an arrive early for a seat at the bar and take in the vibe. It's bright, loud, friendly, and filled with beautiful locals who put thought into what they're wearing. We may be at the beach but wear proper shoes and look sharp on your date night. Why so popular? Before the food is definitely the. Both at the bar and at tables the team is well educated on the menu, friendly, and ready to jump in or give you a little space to figure out northern Spain's Basque region cuisine. It may look scary but I promise you it's not. My latest visit was with a GF friend and our server, Erin, along with Chef Don, even managed to split some ingredients to make every bite safe and delicious for all. Now on to the food. Well, maybe a cocktail. You must start with a Spanish staple, the LAIE Vermouth $8. Next jump on the Bar Bites menu served 5-6 and available at the bar or table. I highly recommend the Jamón Grilled Cheese $10 and Lamburgesa $12. I've tied the Chistorra Glizzy $13 sausage but found it dry. The winner of the night was the Hongos $28 Grilled Mushrooms. I wanted another order but knew we had to keep the party going with Crab Rice $19 and the Spicy Fried Plantains $14. Not don't yet the Prawn Koktel $24 was garlicky awesome with some bread to dredge and we finished off with 6 Raw & 6 Grilled Oysters. Was this a lot of food? YES. And shared by 4 but when food is fresh and if a high quality not processed and preserved you don't feel it. None of us left stuffed. I wanted more but knew I was at "Just Right". Well... until dessert. The Goxo Itota $14 good but the Torrija $17 was the cherry on the top. If you made it through this review you'll see I'm impressed with all Chef Dom Crisp brings to the table. Next time you're at the bar look around, you might just find me sipping on a Vermouth and enjoying a mouth watering Lamburgesa. Eskerrik asko! read more

See all

My group of friends and I visited when they just opened and had a lovely time for lunch. The seafood is quality. We enjoyed the fusions of flavors and enthusiasm from the staff. I have on thing to say- GET THE GRILLED OYSTERS! It was so good, we HAD to get another order in. I dream about these oysters often, they are the best grilled oysters I've ever had. read more

See all

My friends and I were greeted by the sweetest person, Audrey. She was so friendly and gave us the rundown. I appreciated that she was honest about the wait time and recommended the bar seating (there were two seats available). By sheer luck, a reservation only had half the people show and we got a table. Thank you food gods! Raul was our server and he was simply the best! He educated us on the menu and made amazing recommendations. He was a joy to have serve us in this foodie experience. Literally no other feedback other than I hope he always serves me when I come visit. The tomat was an explosion of different flavors that meshed so well. SO WELL! We ordered a side of bread just to dip in the sauce. Fresh, delicious, flavorful...what more can one ask for? The crudo was devoured quickly. What can I say? It was exactly what it should be. Surf and turf tartare dish was perfection especially eaten with the chips. Salty, crispy, crunchy ::chefs kiss:: I would literally come back just for this. I don't think i can order this dish any where else because it will never be this good. Full disclosure, we ordered THREE rounds of this dish and had zero regrets. Lobster rice was a special (you can typically order the crab rice) and i would highly recommend it. The lobster was cooked perfectly and everything mixed together so well. The smoked shell flatbread was too much, too overpowering. I could not throughly enjoy what this dish had to offer due to the kick. I was told it had a little more spice than usual so I'll need to try it again in the future. Chicken croketas were flaky on the outside, perfectly cooked on the inside and sat in a lovely (and delicious) sauce of dill. Look, bathrooms (in general) are pretty standard however, i need to give kudos to the fact that they provide feminine hygiene products and a full length mirror. It's the small touches that really make this place great! Quick tip: make reservations. This place is a hot spot and while you can gamble with walking in, bar seating is not guaranteed and tables get snatched quickly. read more

See all

Wow. Dinner at Dom's was one of the best meals I've had in Santa Barbara in a long time. The hospitality is warm and genuine -- the kind that immediately makes you feel like you're a regular, even on your first visit. The space itself is stunning, with a beautiful, hand-milled wood bar that the owner, Dom, crafted from a tree on his family's land -- the very tree under which both he and his parents were married. It's the kind of detail that tells you this is a place built with intention and heart. And then there's the food -- layered, soulful, and deeply satisfying. The steak frites is unforgettable: perfectly cooked, tender, and finished with a sauce that's just indulgent enough. The clams are bright and buttery; the paella is generously composed and deeply flavored; the flatbread and bread service are the kind of simple things done exceptionally well. We also loved the Japanese sweet potato and the whole fish, both reflecting the kitchen's confidence in letting good ingredients speak for themselves. If you care about food and love restaurants that are personal, grounded, and generous in spirit, Dom's is a must. Santa Barbara is lucky to have it. read more

See all

We were looking for a late-night spot in Santa Barbara with good food and drinks and found out that Dom's Taverna had just opened recently. The restaurant was buzzing with people and energy. We ordered several cocktails: Night Vision, Don Raj Spritz, Espresso Eroa, and D'Alizia. I really appreciated that their drinks had a more sophisticated flavor profile rather than being overly sweet. For food, we pretty much ordered the whole menu (except the chicken croquettes, which had sold out for the night). We had the oysters, steak bites, brochetas de hongos, chistorra glizzy, jamon grilled cheese, taverna smash, and russet fries. The standouts for us were the oysters, jamon grilled cheese, chistorra glizzy (Basque hot dog), and the grilled mushrooms. The oysters were impressively fresh, even late in the evening. The jamon added incredible depth to the grilled cheese, the chistorra burst with bold Basque/Spanish flavors, and the mushrooms -- grilled in the Josper oven -- had that perfect earthy aroma while staying juicy and tender. Honestly, every dish was excellent. You can tell they put real thought into sourcing quality ingredients and preparing them with care. The restaurant is brand new, with a modern, chic, yet relaxed vibe. The open kitchen is gorgeous. Dom's Taverna is now officially my favorite spot in Santa Barbara -- it fits right in this lovely coastal town. I hope they keep up with the great work and I will be back again and again. read more

See all

First time at Dom's and it was outstanding. Delicious Fresh Food, Atmospheric Vibes, Great Service with a sprinkle of Michelin Stars on the horizon. A turnkey dining experience from Pintxos to Postre. Santa Barbara Magazine called their Ceviche "a Playful, yet mysterious Little Dish" and each delicacy far exceeded my expectations. Loved the Oysters too! Overall a warm & welcoming Dining experience. We'll be back soon! read more

Dom's Taverna - Basque Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

This experience started with a warm and welcoming atmosphere and was followed up with the best food and drink. Everything we had was delicious. I'm GF and EF and the staff was super knowledgeable about the menu and any cross contamination etc. As a person with allergies I'm super appreciative of the extra care put into our meal and experience. 10/10 recommend Doms! read more

Celebrated a friend's birthday at Dom's Taverna during their opening weekend in August. Dom's is a hop, skip and jump away from the State Street main drag. The kitchen is helmed by Chef Dom Crisp (Dom's Taverna EaterLA). The inspiration is basque cuisine with California , but I find it a loose interpretation with the menu covering a swath of pretty familiar dishes. Dishes were solid. Brunch/lunch dishes were very family-friendly as we had kids with us. We ordered a variety of things and I didn't get a chance to snap shots before everyone dug in.I think this is probably my favorite daytime meal in SB. Things were well-executed. Bar program was great. I had a few very refreshing cocktails...perfect for a warm summer day. Service was spot on. The team took great care of us even though it was a challenging opening weekend...the AC died on Friday with no hope of repair until the following week. Everyone was still welcoming and gracious even though the conditions were a little warm. The service team even slipped us some candy for the kids. I could see this being our brunch/lunch spot next time we're in town. Dinner menu looks even more promising than brunch/lunch. I think more of the Basque and Spanish influences are more evident in the evenings. Definitely looking forward to revisiting. read more

See all

The ambiance was genuinely enjoyable -- music at a comfortable volume. The Olives & Pickles were delicious and the Freezer Martini was easily the highlight of the night. Both worth ordering again. The Jamón Grilled Cheese is where the experience fell short. It arrived burnt -- black edges on the outside. When we flagged it, our waitress initially suggested the crispy exterior was intentional. After showing her a photo of what the dish actually looks like, she offered a remake, which we appreciated. The remake came back without the char, but the kitchen overcorrected. The outside was a hard fried cheese shell with no bread pull, no soft interior, and the jamón barely registered in flavor. The menu photos show soft golden bread with stretch and structure -- neither version we received came close to that. To be clear, I understand the dish is supposed to have a crispy cheese crust. That's not the issue. The issue is that we got burnt first, then essentially a deep-fried shell second, and the bread itself was lost both times. The staff handled the complaint and that counts for something. But two attempts at the same dish with the same core problem is worth flagging for the kitchen. read more

Dom's Taverna - Jamón Grilled Cheese - Basque Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

After his aggressive and emotional response. Changed my ratings. Thanks for your attempt to understand the local customers. I'm sharing your comments with friends and we are actually getting a kick out of your response. lol read more

The food and cocktails were excellent. I will have dreams of the cheesecake caviar bites. They are bus and have 2 seating times- I was catching up with a girlfriend so at times I felt a little rushed. But won't knock points for that- being busy means you are doing something right. Will be returning read more

See all

Loved this place! Not sure why i waited so long to try it. I didn't know they had happy hour and open late. Its always a struggle trying to find something to eat after a show at Arlington and people are constantly asking me. I had the red happy hour wine, jamon grilled cheese and fries. I can't wait to return. I saw other items on menu that caught my eye. And i loved the vibe. I would feel so comfortable popping in by myself, sitting at the bar for a glass of wine and meal. read more

See all

I can't sing my praises about this spot enough. Each dish was an absolute home-run for me. The flavor and depth to each dish was so exceptional. If there is anything that you have to try here, I would recommend the Surf and Turf Tartare and the Bread Pudding. Ambiance was perfect in here. We came during dinner time so it was busy and bustling. The wait staff was helpful and the noise level felt just right. Nothing felt boring here and it was a great mix of casual chic. I'm excited to come back for more next time! This has got to be one of my fav spots in SB thus far! read more

See all

Great food and ambience, Chef Dom & the team are all rockstars! The grilled oysters are perhaps some of the best I've ever tasted - better than what I've had in New Orleans! Every dish was so fun, flavorful & fresh. we left feeling full but not heavy/bloated. I bet a Michelin star is coming their way soon! read more

I'm so glad I went back to try the diner menu! First time I went for lunch with a couple of friends. The smoked fish dip and Bomba was our favorite. The tartare is mouthwatering delicious! I didn't want to share with my husband. Chef Don said his Cioppino was his favorite, so we were on a mission to try it. It absolutely was the best. Seasoning was perfect and plenty of seafood. It's a pasta dish and the pasta tasted handmade. Not sure if it was. My husband is from Spain and loves Morcilla (Blood Sausage). I was afraid of it but it was soooo good we pretty much licked the place clean. We ended with the bread pudding which was one of the best ever. Robin our server was very attentive. read more

Dom's Taverna - Cioppino Pasta. We ate all the other stuff and forgot to take pics. - Basque Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Don't normally leave reviews, but the second you walk in here you know this place is the shit. I was on my way to the good lion bar, walked by Doms and had to check it out. Will be back 100% for dinner, they have a killer happy hour. 5-6 and 9-close. Fav place in town read more

Great meal, we really enjoyed the ambiance and also every bite. The calamari and artichokes were amazing. The crudo and chicken were also excellent. We liked so much we made another reservation as soon as we finished our meal! read more

Third visit tonight, and the food--formerly excellent--was pretty bad across the board. The patatas bravas were overcooked; the tomato salad was boring; the calamari was chewy and oddly breaded; the chicken was solid but not outstanding. Overall a really, really precipitous decline for this restaurant. If my dinner wasn't an outlier--if this is what they're serving to most people--they'll fade away pretty quickly. read more

We have been dieing to go here life got in the way but let me tell you This place is sexy and cozy all in one it feels like Santa Barbara and some where in the Mediterranean all in one We were treated by a very welcoming crew from the kind busser or server with long hair and a cool doms hat on but then the hostess brunette was very sweet and gave us great recommendations the gal who really stole the show was Desiree she helped us pick out the most insane full of flavor and enjoyment dinner choices all in all I would go back a million times and probably will be back this weekend read more

Dom's Taverna - Streak frites - Basque Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Stopped off at Dom's for lunch today. Would have gotten 5 stars but they were out of their crudo after selling me on it. If you are looking for something new and different, this is a Spanish Basque restaurant and the menu changes regularly based on local ingredients. They specialize in seafood and beef dishes. They are relatively new as they opened March 25'. Omar was very helpful at explaining the menu and highlights and he made a great mescal drink, Txolo Squiggles. Since they were out of the Crudo, I had the Jurassco sandwich and I thought it was going to be small but it was quite filling. Also tried the grilled oysters to start and they were tasty. Overall, if you are in Santa Barbara near State Street, give an a try. I hope to make it back soon. read more