We had a most delicious dinner at Lilac tonight! We ordered four starters, each one notable . Starting with tasty shrimp and clams, spicy and saucy with a knock out sauce and toast for mopping. Outstanding cauliflower seated on a bed of fantastic sweet and sour sauce. The fried calamari was delicious with a dipping sauce of spicy aioli. Sadly, we had no room for their famous desserts! Highly recommend this lovely spot in Montecito. Outdoor seating was pleasant and friendly . read more

We dined here last night for an early Valentine's Day dinner and overall had a good experience. The food was well-prepared and the ambiance was nice. Our total came to just under $200, and we were happy with the quality of the meal. When the bill arrived, there was a large QR code printed on the receipt instructing guests to pay by phone. We used that option and completed the payment before leaving. We also lingered at the table for a bit afterward -- I was putting on my coat and we were in no rush -- and at no point were we given any indication that there was an issue with the payment. However, as we were walking to our car, the waiter and busser came outside looking for us, believing we had not paid. From the parking lot, I could see them searching and had my husband walk back to clarify. The situation was resolved quickly and the server apologized, but it was uncomfortable and embarrassing. Especially after using the payment method they provided. I understand that technical delays can happen, but I would recommend verifying payment status internally before approaching guests in that way. It unfortunately put a damper on an our dining experience and the rest of the night... read more

I've been to the Lilac in downtown Santa Barbara before and had a great experience so figured I'd stop by the one in Montecito this time. We had a late brunch so got to choose between their breakfast and lunch menus. I ended up going with the breakfast sandwich, the bread was so good for being gluten free, the Black Forest ham was a unique addition as well. My fiance got the grilled cheese and added bacon which was good but honestly didn't have that much cheese on it. The space was very nice and quiet for midday on a Friday and had an outdoor patio that would be lovely on a sunny morning. read more

Lilac Montecito - Breakfast Sandwich - Modern European Near Me - Montecito, California

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From Ventura had the opportunity of visiting this bakery here in Montecito I had heard about it finally got a chance to come. I will come back for sure. I bought two pastries had it for dinner dessert my husband was so overwhelmed with the flavor. Came home with lemon meringue and a carrot cake cupcake very delicious if you get a chance to visit this adorable place in Montecito Coast Village Road I recommend. read more

Lilac Montecito - Modern European Near Me - Montecito, California

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Host was very lovely and service was great. Best food and lattes we've had on our trip. It's a must try. read more

Lilac Montecito - Modern European Near Me - Montecito, California

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Husband and I live in Orange County but we come here quite often lol. It's probably my favorite breakfast place. I don't even need to eat GF and I would choose to eat here over other places. My husband has celiac so this is his spot! We love it so much! For me it's mainly Bc he feels 100% safe eating here. And we can share everything which means I get to try more dishes lol The other location Lilac Patisserie is really really cute too. Makes you feel fancy lol. Staff at both locations are exceptional and so kind. My fav dishes here are the French toast, apple sausage (SOOO GOOD, You must get it), pancakes, potatoes (also really good), coffee blueberry muffin, all their pastries really and the soup with the meatballs (I forget the name). Honestly, I think everything is good here. Love this place, we find every excuse to come here. Highly recommended. read more

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I saw a slice of carrot cake posted on one of their Instagram stories a couple days ago. I called to ask if they offer it every day and the sweet employee said more than likely. When I came today, there were two slices left, and I bought one to go. The inside of the establishment looked so lovely and clean and I look forward to eating a meal here in the near future. The employees are very friendly and you better bet I devoured that piece of cake. It was one of the best slices of cake I've ever had, so dense and fresh and inexplicably delicious. read more

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I would have never guessed this place is 100% gluten-free! Although I'm not intolerant to gluten, a couple of my friends were in our party of 8. My girlfriends and I were passing through and wanted a pretty place to have brunch. Considering the location and how upscale it looks, the prices are very reasonable! The host was all smiles when we arrived and seated us right away despite being a bit early. The outdoor patio only has a few small tables, so we sat inside in the light, elegant dining area. Our friendly server took our drink orders moments after we seated. We enjoyed a couple bottles of Prosecco, champagne, a matcha latte and macchiato. My friend and I shared a couple dishes: - California Benedict, which included sautéed spinach, tomato, avocado and a side of mixed greens for $20. The eggs were not as runny as I like, but the hollandaise was perfect and all the ingredients were very fresh. - Vegetable Quiche with mushrooms, red peppers, caramelized shallots, spinach, jarlsberg swiss cheese and a side of mixed greens for $19.50. The crust was flaky and the quiche was packed with veggies in every bite. - I also tried the butternut squash soup and it was light and comforting. The croutons added a nice crunch to it too. All of our dishes came out pretty quickly and around the same time. My friends were happy with what they got. The servers were so nice, attentive and let us be our chatty and giggly selves. I would definitely return if I wanted brunch in Montecito again! read more

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It's always such a relief to find gluten-free restaurants that can also accommodate tree nut and sesame allergies. Our server was so sweet and patient, answering all of our questions and making us feel comfortable dining here. The restaurant itself is a charming spot in Montecito, and the food was good. We'd love to come back and try it for both lunch and dinner next time we visit our son, who just moved there. read more

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This place is great. Our favorite was the lasagna but everything we had was great. The ambience was nice and the staff was polite and helpful. read more

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Quiet brunch spot, immediately sat at noon on a Saturday. Service was nice but not super attentive. Prices make sense for the location. $20 for this French toast only seems worth it because of the fresh berries on the side. Plate seemed a little empty though- idk if this is always how they serve the French toast but the presentation was lacking. Avocado toast, a millennial staple, was also a little bland, tomatoes were roasted but could have been cooked a tad longer in my opinion- although I'm sure preferences here vary. For the price here as well, there could have been a little more avocado. Lose a star here for French toast presentation and lackluster avo toast. I asked if there was a wheat bread option for the avocado toast and was told no. Only rustic white or brioche. Please consider a heart-healthy bread option. I know lilac is known for being a gluten free bakery, but for the bread choices, everyone else has a wheat option except them. Oddly enough a gluten free bread was not offered for the avo toast when I asked about alt bread options. Loses a star for no wheat bread option. While the prices are a little high in general, this is the case for every restaurant on coast village road. read more

Lilac Montecito - French Toast - Modern European Near Me - Montecito, California

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Love the ambiance of this place, as a matter of fact that's what attracted us to walk in and look at their menu and decided to dine out in the patio. They got a nice food variety and list of wines from all over the place. Service was a slow, took a long time to get our food & drinks, even though the place wasn't that busy on a Sunday night. waiter, forgot about my drink and had to put out a reminder to get it. Food was good but I'll probably explore the other near bar fine looking establishments before I revisit this place in the near future. In my humble opinion, a solid 3 stars is the best I can do at this time. read more

Lilac Montecito - Branzino - Modern European Near Me - Montecito, California

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An ALL gluten free restaurant! Finally some GF bread that is soft and not too dense. Everything was delicious. Great service. read more

I had a great dinner experience at Lilac with friends, and really appreciate how accommodating they are for gluten free (or any diet restrictions) for my friend. We went on a weekday night, and the ambiance was relaxed and welcoming. The staff were all very attentive but not in your way. And the food was delicious - I personally got the chicken parm with broccolini, and both were very good. Apparently they just updated their dinner menu. Saw another table getting the hamburger which looked delicious! What's fantastic is that they make gluten free dinner rolls that were really good and satisfying - even to a gluten and carb lover like me. For dessert, we each got a sorbet, which was very satisfying and had plenty of cut berries on top. The meal was a joy, and there's plenty on the menu I'd come back for. Street parking out front. read more

Great clean atmosphere, kind staff, and service was good. Love the safe environment for customers with gluten intolerance. Especially loved the super soft bread read more

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Highly recommended. Just a great place all around. From food to atmosphere to service.

Food and service was ok. I did not realize it was an all GF menu. I'm sure if you need to eat GF it is good though

I ate at Lilac for the first time a couple months ago! I had only heard of the Patisserie on State St. before, and was not aware of the restaurant before my friend made the reservation! The ambiance in the restaurant was clean and bright. The staff were very friendly and the food was delicious. I greatly enjoyed dining out at this restaurant and I hope to go again soon! read more

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Am so disappointed. Wanted to love this restaurant but from the moment we walked in the service was truly terrible. We told the host we had a reservation, gave him our name and just stood there waiting for him to say anything. Finally, someone else came over and took us to our table. When we sat down, we had to ask 3 different people for water. The appetizers came out quickly and tasted good so we thought, "hey ok things are improving"...spoke too soon. Cut to two other tables who sat after us getting their mains and desserts before we ever got our main courses and no one coming over to ask if we needed anything. For reference, we sat down at 6:45 pm and got our main course at 8:15 pm. Our waiter was lovely but unfortunately the evening was already ruined. No one came to clear our plates and when we asked to speak to the manager, we waited for another 10 minutes and no one came over. We ended up walking our check up to the host because we couldn't even get someone to come to the table to take our money! I know restaurants have off nights, but any acknowledge of our subpar experience would have gone a long way. Once again, our waiter really was lovely and tried to make up for the atrocious service. Will not be back. Too bad. read more

Exceptional Gluten-Free Dining & Hospitality at Lilac Montecito My wife and I returned to Lilac Montecito for dinner after visiting their sister café in Santa Barbara earlier that day. We've been to Lilac before and already knew the food was fantastic--but this visit reminded us why the experience here is truly unmatched. Earlier in the evening, we had left a nearby restaurant where my wife's celiac disease was dismissed without care. The moment we stepped into Lilac, the contrast was clear. Lilac Montecito is a 100% gluten-free restaurant, which instantly set our minds at ease. For anyone with celiac disease--or dining with someone who has it--you know how rare it is to relax fully during a meal. Here, you can. Our server, Emanuel, and his entire team went above and beyond to make us feel welcome, respected, and cared for. Their warmth, professionalism, and quiet attentiveness turned what could've been a ruined evening into the best date night we've had in years. We arrived about 60 minutes before closing and--without planning to--lingered a bit past their posted hours. Not once did we feel rushed. The team continued to serve with grace and never made us feel like an inconvenience. We were incredibly grateful for their hospitality and respect that this was a generous exception, not the norm. The food was incredible--beautifully plated, fresh, and deeply flavorful. And knowing every bite was safe for my wife made it that much more enjoyable. If you're looking for a refined, fully gluten-free restaurant in Montecito with a staff that truly cares, Lilac Montecito should be your first stop. We'll absolutely be back--and next time, we're bringing friends read more

I can't really complain good food good location cool building The only thing that was wrong was the food we ordered took a while and the sausage I ordered took even longer 5/5 read more

Lilac Montecito - Carrot cake - Modern European Near Me - Montecito, California

My daughter and her wife drove from LA and I drove from Santa Maria to have a nice Easter meal here yesterday as it was halfway between where we all lived. The menu looked good and the food was delicious. Service was good as well. As it was Easter and I don't get to see the girls often, I brought a small box of chocolate Easter eggs for them. My DIL opened one end just to smell inside, then closed the end back up. A young man came over and said outside food was not allowed in the restaurant as it was a gluten free restaurant. That was the first we knew that. No greeting first, no "Thank you for dining with us", no Happy Easter, just an admonition that was very embarrassing in the full restaurant. And all DIL did was smell the gluten free chocolate, then push the end back in. After eating, including the lemon tart for dessert, we very happily left and were looking for a friendlier restaurant for our next get together. read more

Overall very much enjoyed ambiance, service and food. Lovely bright setting. The best was the quiche Lorraine and waffles read more

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It was nice for my gluten free daughter to eat anything she wanted off the menu, but the presentation of the food was disappointing. It's like they just plopped some stuff on a plate. The food is very overpriced and the service was just so-so. read more

A sidewalk ambience that made for a quiet casual meal. Excellent unobtrusive service and reasonable pricing considering the sophisticated menu offerings. Has a neighborhood regular feeling. read more

If you want amazing service, a delectable menu, an upscale, luxury ambiance and a pet friendly patio, look no further than Lilac. My aunts, a pup, and myself dined on the patio this past weekend and we could not get over how great of an experience it was. Our server promptly greeted us and got our drink orders going. We had our choice of classic white bread or an olive bread; we all went for the olive bread which was complimented so well by the salted butter. The perfect mix of warm, soft bread with a hint of briny, salty flavor. Simply amazing! I split the burrata salad and poisson meunière amandine with one of my aunts. It has been a long time since I've had a meal this good! The salad had creamy, whipped burrata; juicy orange segments; perfectly tender beets and crisp greens. The beet puree on top was a beautiful garnish as well. The fish was also top notch. A flaky, butterflied branzino cooked to perfection in a warm, balanced lemon browned butter sauce with bright, slightly charred broccolini and crisp potatoes that soaked in some of the lemon butter sauce. Divine is understatement. Toasted almonds finished the dish and were the perfect topping. My other aunt had the soupe pistou which featured perfectly tender vegetables, a flavorful broth and the addition of pesto drizzle was beautifully balanced. She also had an order of the mashed potatoes which were sooo silky and although a relatively staple side dish, just executed so well. They had a gorgeous selection of desserts as well but unfortunately we were too full to entertain the idea of something sweet, but I would love to come back for a glass of wine and a dessert. Such a pleasant dining experience and Lilac will definitely be on our list to return to the next time we're in the area! read more

If you aren't blonde and blue-eyed, don't expect equal treatment at Lilac Montecito. I brought a large, well-dressed, professional group of attorneys, a professor, business owners, even a doctor, to breakfast. We were polite, respectful, and enjoyed great food and a wonderful server. But several other employees couldn't hide their contempt for the simple fact that our party included people with skin tones ranging from pale white to olive. That was enough for us to face blatant racism. Here's the problem for Lilac: this isn't just bad hospitality it's illegal. Under the Unruh Civil Rights Act (California Civil Code § 51), all business establishments must provide full and equal accommodations regardless of race, ancestry, or color. On top of that, Title II of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 makes it a federal violation for restaurants to discriminate on the basis of race or national origin. And yet here we are, in 2025, with my grown, university educated children who are pursuing their doctorates forced to sit through bigotry at the breakfast table. Disgusting, I am glad they will be teaching history, they will not allow those they teach to forget our history and how awful racism is and has been in this country. Food won't save you from liability, Lilac. Train your staff or be ready to defend yourself in court, because you'll eventually end up with a discrimination lawsuit. read more

Food looks amazing and I am sure will taste good given the awards. But, I've been standing for 50 minutes now waiting for pickup for 5. And still don't have my food yet after asking 3 times. They are just "working on it" each time I ask. I've watched massive lines comes though and be seated and get their food. So I would recommend just getting a table if you ever come here. read more

This is the first time in 10 years that I've had fried calamari- AND IT WAS DELICIOUS. Having celiac disease and finding a safe place to eat has been almost impossible. Not only was it gf, it was absolutely amazing. The staff were kind and gave excellent suggestions. The wine list was incredible and they had a decent selection of gluten free beers and seltzer. My partner, who does not have dietary restrictions, said he couldn't tell it was gf and enjoyed every part of his meal. The ambience was perfect and you could grab a seat inside or out. I will definitely be brining myself and family back soon. Thank you for the first restaurant meal in over a decade that I could eat stress free. read more

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I had to stop and try this place out. I have frequent the one in SB for breakfast and lunch, but this one offers dinner and drinks! We stopped in for breakfast to check it out and it did not disappoint. I am always on the lookout for a Gluten free environment and this place has it. We will return to experience dinner, cocktails and they have a nice wine selection! The service was great and they are always happy to see you! read more

Fresh, organic food! Everything was absolutely delicious! Service was also excellent! read more

Went here on my off day during a work related trip to this area. I came alone, and asking for a table for one seemed odd to the hostess up front who had to ask a co-worker where she seat me-- to which I was seated in the back corner of the restaurant. My waitress came and wasn't the friendliest, when I asked about bread rolls she treated me like I was stupid for not knowing it comes with whatever you ordered (it was literally my first time here...). I ordered my food, which was pretty good so no complaints there, except for the Caesar salad which could have been more flavorful and the size was skimpy honestly. I also ordered the Fettuccine Alfredo and a slice of the chocolate decadence cake. The fettuccine alfredo was phenomenal, and I obviously felt safe eating it since this is a 100% gluten free establishment. However, the cake was a bit dry. Ambiance was nice though! Overall this was an okay experience. I wouldn't go again, and I don't appreciate being looked down upon for eating alone. I am simply okay with my own presence and prefer alone time as I work a job where I'm with people constantly. The only thing really worthwhile was the alfredo and the singular bread roll I received. read more

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Safe for dietary requirements! My dog was sick so when I came here for breakfast I ordered a side of chicken to go for him and the kitchen really put care into it and chopped it up into the tiniest of pieces for his nearly tooth-free tiny mouth and we really appreciate it. His dietary restrictions include zero salt / pepper or oil. This was ghost written on behalf of my dog, who wants to say thank you for such a wonderful meal! He feels stronger and nourished! Also, although I didn't personally try the chicken I can tell by its smell and his reaction that it was EXTREMELY fresh, and well sourced. All of my human meals have been excellent too! read more

My husband and I wanted to have a new dining experience on Coast Village Road and decided to try Lilac Montecito. It was perfect in many ways. First, they take reservations. Then we dined on the patio which had lovely views in a quiet (soft background music) atmosphere. Our knowledgeable server, Fernanda, welcomed us with prompt and courteous service. The food was delicious. My husband and I shared several dishes, the ceasar shrimp salad, branzino fish, and lasagne that were split on separate plates without an additional fee. To top off my birthday celebration, we had the delicious cookie ice cream dessert. This restaurant is a gem, we hope you give it a try. read more

Lovely interior. Lovely staff. Food poor quality, had the lasagna and it was like something that had been reheated, definitely not fresh.

Really nice atmosphere. They are busy right at noon, but by 12:45 PM on a weekday, you can have you pick of tables inside or out. The food was great. Nice find in Montecito! read more

Holy cow! There's a reason Lilac has an average of 4.6 stars as I write this review. We spent two nights in Montecito recently and ran across Lilac as a breakfast place just by accident. It's one of my most pleasant "accidents." The atmosphere is wonderful - bright, airy, comfortable, clean, and with some soft jazz wafting over the sound system. Music was loud enough to be comforting, soft enough to never interfere with conversation. Service was spectacular both mornings. First morning, I had eggs with country potatoes and chicken apple sausage. Everything was great. I'm picky about needing the whites of my eggs firm, and these were perfect. Potatoes, with the peppers and onion were cooked perfectly, as well. The sausage was delicious. Day two, my wife and I both had the Huevos Rancheros. Again, cooked perfectly and served atop black beans and marvelously crispy tortilla. I have no idea how they made the sauce, but it was not your traditional red sauce - more pink with just a hint of heat and still retaining the excellent tomato flavor. Best I've ever eaten, in no small part because they were very interesting. Located on Coast Village Road so it's easy to find. Do yourself a favor and stop here for breakfast. read more

Just had a fabulous dinner at Lilac Montecito. We were so excited to be able to enjoy a meal at an entirely gluten free restaurant. The service, food and wine were all impeccable. We started with the crudo. It was incredibly tender and well balanced. I ordered the swordfish, which came with a delicious onion compote. My partner loved the salmon. It was cooked perfectly. We will get fries anytime we can order from a gluten free fryer. I rounded it out with the chocolate lava cake. The size of the dessert menu made it hard to choose. We were really pleased with the wine list that featured a lot of local wineries. We can't wait to go back! read more

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This place is expensive and had bad service and dishonest. I paid $35 for the tiniest lunch portion of chicken fettuccine alfredo for my daughter, along with2 other means. Got terrible service, we were there for hours waiting fur our food, had to get up multiple times to look for someone to ask for things. Left a 20% tip despite all of this . Then i get home and look at the receipt and I see they added a 20% "large party" tip to our bill automatically before I left a tip. There were 3 of us. Completely shady and dishonest to do this IMO. Especially when I know they added an auto tip because they knew they gave us terrible service. But the norm to add a tip to a party of 3 without telling the customer!!! This place sucks, do not recommend. read more

Newer restaurant in Montecito with Sunday brunch that is worth a visit. I ordered two entrees as everything sounded so exciting. I can't stop thinking about the stack of cakes with berries & cream. Yum, yum. Service was efficient and a fun place to people watch and sip local wines. read more