Walked up and asked to be added to the waitlist. They said 20 minutes. 40 minutes later we were 1st on the list and went to check in. They would not seat us because "the kitchen was backed up". Looking around outside not a single table had food. One table got up and left because they had been waiting so long and no server came to take their order. I heard someone say they'd been waiting for almost 2 hours to get seated/served. Meanwhile the hostess is still telling people the wait is 20 minutes. What really killed it is they had been telling people they can't sit if they're ordering takeaway, and then sat someone who just walked up while we've been standing there for an hour. We ended up deciding to leave because it took SO LONG, and we figured even if they did seat us we'd be waiting another hour for food, so we went to Finneys across the street and were immediately seated and served. This place was a disaster and kinda ruined our last day in Santa Barbara. read more

Nice restaurant in Santa Barbara. We called them before dining to ask if they can accommodate food allergies and their response was "absolutely"! Our server, Jack, was kind and made sure to communicate with the kitchen about our allergies. The food was really good and the coffee was a great! read more

Goat Tree - Gluten-Free Seasonal Fruit and Chia Seed Parfait - Cafes Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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We ate here twice this week since we were staying next door. We will be back next time we are in town. The service was excellent. Our server (Hector) was friendly and attentive. The food was good. We had the pancakes, frittata, chicken salad and turkey sandwich. While a little slow due to the holiday weekend, it didn't bother us at all to relax on the beautiful patio and enjoy the morning. read more

If you're here and not getting the salmon toast, you're doing it wrong. We sat outside and watched all the people stroll by and had a wonderful time. The service was fast and on point. read more

Goat Tree - Cafes Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

The food is very good here. The chopped chicken salad is very filling. The Bloody Mary's are very strong. The Ambiance is beautiful outside. There is a Star pond with running water which is calming in the middle of the courtyard. The service was great. Our waiter and the bus boy checked on us a few times. read more

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The bacon and Brie breakfast sandwich is fantastic! Highly recommend. The other breakfast sandwich is open faced and not disclosed. A nice spot for brunch. read more

Ugh - why is goat tree so bad? We stayed at Hotel Californian and had the AMEX breakfast credit here. I will say, my expectations for a restaurant owned by a 5 start hotel are high (as they should be) and wow does this place disappoint! The location is convenient, but the menu is tiny and the food is extremely low quality. After giving up on of the breakfast, we just did some to go sandwiches and pastries today utilize our daily credit. Everything we got had to be from the day before. The avocado on my sandwich was brown, the sour cream bread was stale, the bread was dry. This was our second time staying at HC and we were hoping the food / coffee would have improved over the years, but no. It sucks to feel like you have to go here if you are staying at Hotel Californian - I don't think it's worth the price point. read more

Pathetic. Food is so bland. Service is horrible and really let's call it by its name: shameful cultural appropriation. They're just feeding off clueless tourists. read more

Ouch, didn't sit down for this, got there we were getting seated right away then this lady comes out asking for our name when there was no one else waiting, she put us on a list and pushed us out with her words. I was appalled, I don't write Yelp reviews often, unfortunately my experience was not good, we did not come back for our reservation and we won't be coming back, pretty bummed. read more

I will echo other reviews that state the service and food quality have gone very far down hill. The management really should take the poor reviews seriously and improve the visitor experience. For such a lovely restaurant, the current situation is truly disappointing. read more

Awesome food. Quality ingredients. Easy going atmosphere. Definitely a must try in the area and a great place to start before wine tasting. read more

Goat Tree - Vanilla oat milk latte. - Cafes Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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We had a great experience dining here. I came in on Sunday morning and was greeted by the sweetest hostess, Tessa. We then ordered the crème brûlée pancakes which were fabulous! Our server was great as well. Just a great experience overall! read more

I had brunch with my daughter and enjoyed our avocado toast,fruit and service! Cute place,excellent service we'll be back! read more

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Goat tree is great! Charming patio! Service is very friendly and helpful. Food is good. Even just stopping for a pastry is nice. Obvi can't beat the location for walking around. read more

I've been eating her for about 2 years and the food was good. Now it's not. The quality has gone done, I went there again yesterday to give them another chance I ordered scrambled eggs potatoes bacon toast and a cappuccino. It was not good the service has gone down and so has the food quality. They have also changed the coffee it's now very bitter. I talked to the manager previously about food quality and service he said they were making some change and working on it but nothing has improved and the prices have gone up. Will have to find a new place to eat. read more

What a disappointment. Good location, and friendly people working there, however, very slow and inefficient service and wildly mediocre food. We had the Shakshouka and Lemon Ricotta Pancakes. Both had little taste - the pancakes were like rubber. What a bummer because this place has a cute vibe, just not good food. read more

Great variety and vibe here. We especially loved our server Juan who was great to chat with and gave us the tip to order the excellent strawberries. read more

This place is SO poorly run. Stay far away unless you have 2 hours to wait for your meal after you order it. Place wasn't even crowded and we were told over and over that they were "slammed." Had to ask 3 times for coffee - then got one and waited a half hour for the second one. We were not served a bite of food even after getting up twice to ask for it. Go elsewhere unless you have many hours to spare. Seems like nobody is in charge here. read more

Two Words: overpriced mediocracy. Coffee is trash, especially for $6. Desserts are good, not $8 for a tiny slice. Below average service, but the restaurant was clean and well designed. Good for pictures and maybe a brunch, not a good coffee spot at all read more

1. We had been waiting for 25+ mins... when someone finished eating saw her friends, called them over & gave them their table without going on the list or waiting... ROBIN the server was aware, let them sit with no problem...the hostess told ROBIN they were not on the list & ignored her... ROBIN didn't follow protocol... after waiting our turn 35mins my husbands eggs were not as ordered, the croissant egg yolk popped as I bit it making a mess, I think They gave me his egg& him mine, so it was soggy... read more

A big oof. Cool vibe. Busy on a Saturday. However, they need some help dealing with the large amount of people. What a mess.

Our last day in Santa Barbara, we closed it out with one last visit to the goat tree Mochas and out standing Pastries Over 4 visits we sampled 7 different pastries all of which were excellent The favorite was the chocolate almond croissant followed closely by the Fruit Tart But can't go wrong with any selection As an added treat we were waited on by Meadow a personable young lady who was very attentive read more

We came for breakfast with the family. We waited 20 minutes for a waiter. Our order arrived after an hour. The value for money of the food is very poor. read more

The layout of the restaurant is confusing. The folks at the to-go counter asked us if we would like to have our coffee To-go or at a table, and when we said at a table, she prompted us to the other side of the restaurant where there was a host booth assuming that there is a queue for general seating. We were seated and ordered our drinks and brought them to our table. We were given menus for their food items but elected to just enjoy the pastries that were behind the counter instead. It wasn't until then when the manager (or owner) came up to us and asked if we were ordering off the menu, which we then responded we weren't. We then were told to move to a separate "to-go table" in what felt like a patronizing tone, with the explanation that the tables were reserved for the folks who were ordering off of their afternoon menu. I was trying to explain that we were told by the baristas that we could sit there, but I guess it didn't land. The coffee and pastries were good, but seems like there is a disconnect of quality of service between employees and management, and perhaps lack of clear signage. read more

We loved the Goat Tree. The food was excellent - ricotta pancakes were especially delicious. Cocktails are lovely and service is excellent. The place was a short walk from our cruise ship and the patio was a delightful place for people watching. read more

Goat Tree - Patio - Cafes Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Coffee here is burned, tastes like it had coffee grounds in it, and made me feel like I was drinking a cup of badly made coffee. I ordered a peppermint mocha, whole milk, asked for it to be a little less sweet. I didn't taste the peppermint or the mocha. I was the only one who ordered a latte, no line behind me, not full of people so there was no rush to make it. I was too ashamed to ask for my money back, over $7. I ended up waiting to walk outside to throw it away. read more

Amazing food and Juan was the perfect server! He was helpful with suggestions on the menu and so kind and fun. Food was great but Juan made the day! read more

Bottom line: overall confusion and the prices are twice what they should be My wife and I came here for a late Valentine's Day dinner out, hoping for some good food and a little quiet romance. We arrived and stood at the kiosk for about 15 minutes with not a word from anyone working. It looks like there was only one girl working, and she was running back-and-forth doing what looked like mostly everything. Eventually, she came by and seated us and took our order. The first thing that popped out to me is that the prices are outrageous. I know this is the second block of State Street but $30 for a bowl of pasta is a lot even for Funk zone. The pasta was OK, but for that much money, there should be quite a lot more pork belly that was in there, there was very very little. We also ordered the burger, which was pretty good, but not for $20. The entire time we were having our dinner, people were walking in the door and standing at the kiosk and leaving. Or coming in the side door and just sitting down. So unsure this place is supposed to be a walk up restaurant, or sit down restaurant... The front door is periodically closed and then reopened, all the while the one girl is handling all of the tables, and I felt really badly for her. When I walked to the back to find the bathroom, the place was messy and appeared to be in disarray. Cons - dishes, towels and disarray - one girl working - twice as expensive as it should be - service is lacking for the price - feels like a walk up, priced like it's in Montecito but with goats on the wall...? - clear lack of organization and effort - staff elsewhere - no sign about where to sit - can't even see myself in the mirror in the bathroom - why are the doors locked? - no heaters Pros: - food is yummy - nice inside read more

The service was good and fast. The portions were small, but it was a nice place to have breakfast and we were seated right away. I had the parfait and my husband had the iconic breakfast. I really loved the ambiance! read more

Goat Tree - Bar area - Cafes Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

This is my 2nd time at Goat Tree and I absolutely love it! The servers and staff are so nice and friendly. The restaurant has a great outdoor sitting area as well as inside. We sat outside because it was a beautiful day. There are umbrellas to block you from the sun which is great. We ordered cranberry and orange mimosas, wild arugula salad with chicken, Gooey bacon & Brie sandwich with avocado, and the GT smash burger with seasoned fries. Everything we had was delicious and filling. When staying at the Hotel Californian, I find this is the perfect spot to walk across the street and go for a nice brunch. read more

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We visited twice recently for breakfast and lunch, and purchased sandwiches to-go each time. Really great. The BLT+E is open face, delicious, and very filling. With a side of fries you will be stuffed. Awesome Bloody Marys too. The turkey sandwiches hold up well hours later when brought on a trip for late afternoon lunch. The pastries are beautiful and well crafted. However, the cookie I ordered to-go was like a sugar bomb and couldn't finish it. All the servers and staff were very polite and accommodating. On a Wednesday morning before 09:00 am it was nearly empty. However, at 11:00 am on a Friday we had to wait 10 minutes for a table. There's a Starbucks just two doors down, but once we tried the coffee and pastries here we didn't want to go to Starbucks on our return to Santa Barbara! read more

Let's state the facts: Went here for brunch on Memorial Day. They were busy but not THAT busy. We were told the wait was 20 mins - no problem - ended up being 45 mins until we hit #1 in the open table que. Still not upset. Then we see a table get up to leave and they let the waitress know after over 20 minutes of sitting no one came up to them to take their order or even bring them water so they're leaving. I looked around and no one at the restaurant had food. Everyone was just staring at each other waiting for their food looking pissed off. At this point we had already been waiting almost an hour so minimally we just wanted to sit. My husband went up to the host. Let her know we were number 1 and can we sit at the table where the people had just left. We knew if we went somewhere else on Memorial Day. there would be another wait. She said the kitchen is backed up so I can't sit you yet - no idea what that means. Hire people who understand customer service. Then literally two minutes later this group of people goes up to the host and says we're ordering food to go. Can we sit at the open table while we wait - the answer should've been no - but she let them sit and I thought I was gonna lose my mind. I asked her to grab the manager so we could ask what was going on and figure out if we should leave. The manager goes over the table of to go orders thinking it was us lol My husband and I looked at each other just as another table gets up and walks out not having eaten anything and we're like let's get out of this dumpster fire. We went across the street which was not the type of food that we wanted, but we were so hungry at this point and there was no wait even though they were busy and they got us our food within 15 minutes. Note to this restaurant: Please stop putting 18 YOs at the host table who don't know what they are doing. They were actively handing out menus to people and telling them it was a 20 minute wait when they should have stopped adding people to the reservation list altogether because their kitchen was backed up and they couldn't even sit us after an hour. It was being poorly managed. Waiting for that long I think we saw 1 waiter walk through the entire time - egregious lack of know how and customer support - if I was the manager there everyone would be getting a new job or maybe they need a new manager. read more

I went with a group of 6 for brunch. The food and drink were great here. I also want to give a special commendation to George, the busser, who was exceptionally helpful with cleaning our table and even moving a heater closer to us. He was working very hard! Unfortunately, the overall experience was severely impacted by the very slow service. I was forced to get up from my table twice just to check on the status of our food and drinks. While the quality of the meal was great, the lack of timely table service was a serious issue that needs improvement. read more

We were waiting on some friends around the area and decided to grab a quick drink at Goat Tree with the dogs. We were seated at around 11:00am but our server was MIA for at least 15-20 mins. No water was served. No one came and introduced themselves to us as our server. Eventually, our order was taken, but it was another 20-30 mins before our very easy order of mimosa and bloody mary arrived. All in all, we spent close to an hour just waiting on two cocktails and I was already over Goat Tree at this point. I wanted to order an iced coffee to go, but decided against it. Ain't nobody got time to wait another hour for coffee! I've never checked my watch so many times to see how much time has passed since I was in school. read more

Goat Tree - Cafes Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Should have read previous reviews before coming here. Interior is nice and we were fooled by it. Service was so slow, we barely saw our waiter despite it not being super busy. Only got our waters after food came out, despite asking politely for it first. The cloth napkin smelled funny. Got the shakshuka (decent but not enough bread) and lemon ricotta pancakes (no lemon flavor and I'm pretty sure the bacon came from Costco). When paying, the waiter was looking at right at tip screen. Even Denny's is way better than this. read more

My boyfriend and I were in need of a midday energy boost and he recommended Goat Tree. The restaurant had both indoor and outdoor seating with gorgeous architecture letting in the ocean breeze. The high ceilings and comfortable seating made us feel cozy and relaxed. We both wanted espresso and we asked our server if the barista could whip up an undertow. He accommodated our request with vanilla and oat milk. We paired it with a matcha latte for "dessert." Although we didn't grab a pastry or get to explore more of their menu, everything sounded tasty and we hope to be back soon! read more

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I came during happy hour and I was happy the food menu was mostly vegan/plant based options. After ordering the Couscous Salad and the Crispy Chickpeas, the server came back about 20mins later to tell me they were out of the Couscous Salad. Then proceeded to give me the crispy chickpeas. Turned my happiness into disappointment. I was planning to eat them together, no point eating the chickpeas by themselves, as they are merely a salad topping (comparable to croutons). I then tried to order the Baba Ghanoush and surprise surprise, they are out of that as well. Why wasn't any of this information told me when we first arrived? Looking around the venue, it wasn't packed nor did anyone else have food at their table. Happy hour started at 4pm, we arrived close to 5pm. The math wasn't adding up. Why offer happy hour when TWO of the main options were unavailable? read more

Goat Tree - Happy hour menu - Cafes Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Our hostess NORA and our server HECTOR were above and beyond and made a long wait seem flawless. Can't wait to be back!!!

FOOD SERVICE AMBIANCE Entertainment is a bonus if you're a people watcher like me. Waited on line till doors opened at 7 a.m. so worth the wait! I chose dine in, got the champagne and full breakfast of eggs bacon potatoes and toast (not on menu) not disappointed! Fresh cut potatoes enough to share, apple smoked bacon instead of the harshness of hickory (hey it's a love/ hate you do or you don't). Staff friendly, attentive and efficient. In craziness of a Fiesta weekend it was great to experience Santa Barbara ! I'll be back .. maybe tomorrow read more

Goat Tree - Sign of establishment - Cafes Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Excellent brunch spot in Santa Barbara! We only waited about 20 mins to sit on a Sunday morning. Loved the bacon Brie sandwich and the large, cute outdoor patio. read more

Goat Tree - Shakshuka, Lemon Ricotta Pancakes and Bacon, Gooey Bacon Brie - Cafes Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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