We just had a team dinner at Moby Dick - our server was Marlen she was so attentive and made our whole groups evening! Even getting to know why we were in Santa Barbara - walking with World vision!! The crab cakes were light and cooked beautifully and clam chowder was very nicely done!! Would come back any time I'm back in town! read more

We came in with a large group and had a great expense. Marlen was an excellent server. She was joy filled, on top of everyone's order, and so kind. Food was delicious and the view was beautiful! read more

Food was great, and the service from Marlin was top shelf! Kind, courteous, funny, and the coffee cup was never empty!

This was our first time back to Moby Dick restaurant on Stearns, wharf in about 7 years. Since another restaurant in the area went through so many changes including remodeling and menu changes leaving me very disappointed with everything. (Except for the actual atmosphere of that restaurant) I had to try something new, so this evening, we decided to come back to Moby Dick for the first time in ages.  Of course, their location is great, and the view of the harbor and the beach is breathtaking. The question is how was the food and the service? I give them a 5 star rating. From the time we walked in and sat down, they treated us great. The menu is much improved over what it was the last time we came, including the delicious USDA. PRIME New York strip steak from Creekstone farms. My wife and I shared an appetizer of crab cakes, "they were perfect". I ordered the New York strip steak that I just mentioned, and my wife ordered the Fish and Chips. Of course we sampled each other's meals, so we could have a variety and both were absolutely fantastic. A USDA. prime steak like that is not a common thing, usually even the high dollar steakhouses in town have USDA choice, but if you know meat, prime is much better, has better flavor, and is way more tender than choice. I ordered the steak medium-rare. It came out Perfectly! We really enjoyed our meal and decided to stay for dessert. We got the dark butter cake topped with vanilla, bean ice cream and other toppings. And again, it was a home run. Our server, Allan was super friendly, very professional and kind. He made our evening that much more pleasant. We stayed until the Sun set took some fantastic pictures off the back patio. We topped off the evening with a great cup of coffee, and a walk back down the pier. I am so glad we came back to give this place another try. After years of passing it by since we had that bad experience 7 years ago. And so pleased that they improved this restaurant way beyond how I ever could have thought. We will definitely be back and this just might be our new place whenever we come to enjoy our frequent Santana Barbara. Great Job! read more

This was easily one of the highlights of our trip to Santa Barbara! We were lucky enough to get a window seat overlooking the ocean and harbor, and the views were absolutely breathtaking. It was the perfect setting to relax and enjoy a meal on the pier. We ordered the beer-battered shrimp tacos and the fish and chips, and both were incredibly fresh, flavorful, and cooked to perfection. Everything tasted amazing. A huge thank you to our server, Lee, who made the experience even more special. Lee was friendly, attentive, and genuinely welcoming, making us feel right at home from the moment we arrived. The service was outstanding, and to top it all off, we were treated to two delicious desserts, which was such a thoughtful and generous surprise. The restaurant has so much charm and history, and the atmosphere is warm and inviting. Between the incredible food, stunning waterfront views, exceptional service, and Lee's wonderful hospitality, this is an absolute must-visit when you're in Santa Barbara. We can't wait to come back! read more

Moby Dick Restaurant - Keylime crème brûlée and butter cake topped with ice cream and strawberries - American Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Came here on a Tuesday because we saw their deal of $1.50 oysters during happy hour. I thought I didn't like oysters, well my mind had changed and they're DELICIOUS! We ordered 2 dozen oysters, fried calamari, clam chowder and my husband got shrimp and chips since he doesn't like oysters. Our server was super attentive and sang happy birthday while bringing out a butter cake that I think my table ordered secretly when I went to the restroom. Sitting outdoors overlooking the water as the sun was setting was the perfect way to end our trip to Santa Barbara. read more

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While walking on the pier, we caught sight of their Happy Hour aka Oyster Hour menu and it was just about that time of day. Oyster Hour: Monday - All Day Tuesday - Friday: 3 pm to 6 pm I believe you can only enjoy Oyster Hour by the Oyster Bar, so let the hostess know if that's what you're there for. We got two dozen of their $1.50 oysters. They were serving up kumiai oysters that day for their Oyster Hour. Kumiai is a Pacific oyster and pretty common for raw bars. It's served with a lemon wedge, horseradish, and cocktail sauce. I wish they offered another variety for the oyster hour though. We also had a couple of $4 Sliders, an order of the $12 Calamari, and a $5 Santa Barbara Blonde. We were just enjoying some light bites as this was our first meal in SB and it's the touristy thing to be doing. Great view of the Pacific Ocean as we sat by the windows. read more

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My family and I came here for a late lunch early dinner while on vacation over the weekend. We were visiting the pier for our family tradition and decided to come to Moby Dicks instead of our usual Long Board. I am so glad we did. We sat on the deck which was so beautiful. We had a male server, I cant think of his name but he was fantastic! We ordered the calamari with lemon aioli which was sooo tasty it had us licking the plate! Then for my dinner I ordered the pasta cioppino. I asked the server if he can ask the chef to make it spicy and he definitely delivered! It was so flavorful. It came with a lobster tail, lots of shrimp, and clams. My partner ordered the snapper which he said was a little salty but the sides were good. My sons mac and cheese was also tastey for being a kids meal! Highly recommend this place not just for the amazing service but also for the food and views. read more

Moby Dick Restaurant - Pasta Cioppino - American Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

This place is crazy busy! We walked in on a Saturday as a party of two, and you definitely can't get a regular table without a reservation. We ended up sitting in the bar area instead. Our bartender/server was slammed, but we still managed to get our oysters in before happy hour ended. The view through all the windows is great, but just be prepared for the crowd--the place is huge and accommodates a lot of people, so it gets loud and hectic. The oysters were good, though! read more

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Wonderful service, great food & unbeatable view. Losing 1 star bc the espresso martini was made with regular coffee & it wasn't great. Everything else was absolutely wonderful! read more

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The mussels and clams are too salty I like the snapper that includes 2 sides. The cold lobster roll has too much sauce so it's hard to taste the freshness of the lobster meat itself read more

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Loved this place!!!! The food was amazing. The fact that the restaurant was on the pier, the view of the ocean was lovely while you eat. I ate at the bar and our bartender (Latino) was excellent. He took care of of us with the drinks and hospitality. This is a great spot for seafood and drinks read more

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I came on. Tuesday during happy hour. I saw the $1.50 oyster offer so I stopped to eat despite not being that hungry. I was seated within a minute or two as it wasn't that busy at this time. I sat at the oyster bar and saw the oysters being opened right in front of me. I got the pea soup which wasn't anything special, but I was focused on the oysters more. The large oysters tasted different than the small ones and I'm not sure why. I also tried the key lime pie which has a bruleed top and comes with caramel sauce. I had a good experience from the few things that I tried. Environment was nice and my waiter was kind. read more

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We were passing through Santa Barbara and decided to give Moby Dick a try. The restaurant was busy, but not too loud that we couldn't talk. The server was fabulous. He was busy, but still took the time to care for all of our needs. The drinks were very good and we had Maple old fashioned and a Gin martini. We shared the seafood platter. Which was a disappointment as it didn't match the quality of service we received. The food was ok, but not fantastic. read more

Moby Dick Restaurant - Seafood Platter - American Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Restaurant on the pier with beautiful views and fresh air. Not too busy on a Saturday afternoon, sat at the bar quick service fresh oysters and clam chowder was perfect with our rose wine. Reasonable pricing for the wine and soup but the oysters were overpriced in my opinion. This is a regular stop on our trips up to Santa Barbara. read more

Moby Dick Restaurant - Dragonette rose was really good we went to the winery after trying it. - American Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Great views, really enjoy their Happy Hour at the oyster bar. Franky is great! If your in town visiting a great place to get a feel for the town and catch dinner with a view of the harbor. read more

Moby Dick Restaurant - Happy Hour $1.50 Oysters!! - American Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

This review is for the oyster bar located on Stearns Wharf and inside Moby Dick Restaurant. It's still fairly new and brings a bright updated open space with amazing ocean views and a fresh oyster bar. They offer a curated selection of seafood, craft cocktails, beer and local wines. On my visit, I started with a passion fruit margarita. Surprised? If you know you know! One of my favorites, although I will say that it was pretty expensive, and it will cost you $19. Ouch! This price is based on the location obviously and what most tourists will pay. Despite the price, I still enjoyed it. For food, I ordered the shrimp scampi. Definitely the right choice! The presentation was beyond my expectations and the portion was huge. The shrimp was succulent and full of flavor. It also comes with cilantro rice and garlic cheese bread. The perfect accompaniment to soak up the garlicky buttery juices. It wasn't busy on my visit, which was nice. Then again it was mid-week. The bartender said they tend to get busy later in the day and most weekends. Overall, my visit was pleasant and I could have stayed here all day just looking out at the beautiful ocean waters. A definite bookmark and worth the splurge! read more

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Our first visit here to Pier Santa Barbara. The beaches we normally go to were too cold so we drove a little further south to my mom's home town. We walked the pier and stopped here for a bite. The weather was perfect so we sat outside on the patio overlooking the ocean. The staff was very friendly and we didn't have to wait to be seated. Considering how busy it seemed in the parking lot, I was surprised at the speediness of getting seated and served. I wasnt super hungry so I got the Ahi Tartare and it was nice and refreshing. Perfectly green Has Avocado guacamole covered in beautiful tuna chunks served with kettle chips. We got the popcorn ship as an appetizer and I loved the batter! It was nice and crispy and had a good seasoning to it. The little shrimps were perfectly cooked as well. The popcorn shrimp is a must have. read more

Moby Dick Restaurant - View from outdoor seating - American Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Rice was good. Ordered the king Crab had rice and broccoli with a wonderful strawberry sorbet as dessert. The king crab was dry.and tasteless. The only thing that was good was the rice so for $149 just order the side of Rice and save your money. read more

Our server, Lee was amazing! She was so attentive and her attention to detail was amazing! Food was delicious and Lee gave great recommendations. View was perfect!! Definitely recommend !!! read more

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Stopped in on Thursday night for the tail end of their "Oyster Hour." Sat at the bar. Grabbed a couple blonde beers, a couple oysters and two sliders - all on the menu for their happy hour. Beers were great. Oysters were oysters, and the sliders were no where near worth their discounted price of $4 each. They had a great flavor but were just far too expensive for how small they were. The owner was there. My husband noticed him looking at bottles near us in the bar and commented to him that he looked like he owned the place. He replied, "Good guess." After the owner was gone, we listened to the manager behind the bar complaining to the bartender about his sore arm. We continuously watched this same manager grab quick pulls off the Michelob Ultra tap. Also watched him pour a glass of wine back into the bottle. At his last stop at the taps before we left (he probably stopped there 5 times that we saw), he glanced over his shoulder to make sure the owner was out of sight (he was preoccupied talking with a couple and walking them through part of the restaurant) before pouring himself another shot of beer and chugging it. This place has a lot of potential. Unfortunately this manager's shenanigans and unprofessional demeanor aren't helping. read more

This is my second time visiting this restaurant and it was just as good as my first time! The fish is always fresh and soft, and the cilantro rice is cooked and seasoned very well. The lobster mac & cheese was a little lacking in portion and taste. Would always recommend their market specials for the entrée. The service is always fast and efficient but we always get sat by the ocean which is a stunning view. Definitely recommend this spot if you are looking for a great view and great food along the oceanside. read more

Moby Dick Restaurant - Lobster Mac and Cheese - American Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Firs time stopping in as I had family in town and they wanted to explore the wharf area. No wait when we arrived and we sat inside with a great view of the ocean and harbor! We had the sweetest waitress who chatted with us and answered all of our questions about the menu. Ordered the grilled fish tacos, grilled salmon, grilled halibut and wedge salad. Everything was pretty good! The tacos were a pretty small portion for the price but tasty. The cilantro lime rice was great and super flavorful. Nothing was super stand-out flavor wise but certainly nothing was bad! Will add this to my list of local places to take friends and family when visiting. read more

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My friend and I visited this seafood restaurant located on Stearns Wharf for lunch and had a great experience. We sat outside since the weather was nice facing the harbor and both tried their lunch option which was Salmon with a side of soups or salad. Their salmon was incredibly fresh and flavorful. The service was also good and our waiter was friendly. I definitely recommend this place and will be back if I am back in Santabarbara. read more

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Great service from Everardo. Ask for him when you come to this spot. Solid food. Had clam chowder. fish and chip good stuff

This place is located toward the end of Stearn's Wharf in Santa Barbara, CA. You may drive into this area - look for the parking booth and press button for ticket for arm to raise up. It's a wooden plank road so lots of little bumps. Restaurant is located on right side with a view of harbor fishing boats and lots of pelicans resting. We walked inside and it's a real salty dog atmosphere with wood and brass, comfy and fun, with lots of windows to see the view. We were seated around the side by a bar. Our server was Joseph, and he was just as sweet as can be. They have a specialty drink menu so I had to try the Bloody Mary which was like a mini meal lol with all the garnishes - shrimp, celery, blue cheese stuffed olives, bacon, lemon/lime and a rim of tajin! Joseph explained to me what it was and added a little kick. Hubby had a draft beer but their oyster menu was intriguing with all sorts of choices so he had to try a few. Nice to be able to order one and not an entire plate. Joseph explained what each one was and how prepared etc. This little pick-me-up was just right! Mahalo to Joseph, bartender and chef at Moby Dick's! We shall return read more

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Transparency: Late Review On our trip to Santa Barbara we stopped here for Lunch/Dinner. We went to "The Oyster Bar". We were seated in the patio which gave a pleasant view of the ocean. There is a glass wall that shields you from the elements when the wind picks up. The service was good, attentive, and accommodating. The Food: You don't go to an oyster bar and not have oysters, lol. They were excellent. There was a special at the time which brought them into more reasonable prices. We had the half dozen. They were fresh, and tasty. The other dishes included the halibut and the mussels. Both were fresh, with good presentation. read more

Moby Dick Restaurant - Half Dozen Oyster Sampler - American Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Moby Dick is located at the Pier. I had a great halibut ceviche! The best! Hazy ipa also super cold and tasty. Actually had the same ipa few more places, but Moby Dick hazy ipa was the best. Great view from anywhere you sit. Watching a boat or two floating on the ocean is great. Friendly service. Nice bathroom. read more

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We stopped by Moby Dick when we trying to come to Santa Barbara Shellfish Company and the wait was too long. They seated us within 20 minutes at noon on a Sunday, which was pretty great! I ordered the steamer combo, which was mussels and clams in a white wine and garlic sauce, with a side of toasted bread. YUMM!! That was a pretty good deal to me and it tasted delicious. I did notice that all of our dishes had dill, including my dish and our garlic parsley Parmesan oysters. I'm not a fan of dill, so I wished it didn't include the dill. BUT, it was still delicious without! read more

Moby Dick Restaurant - Steamed Seafood Platter (Clams and Mussels) - American Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Food was really good. Sitting on the patio looking over the ocean! Can't beat that. My drink was refreshing and the service was timely and non intrusive. read more

Moby Dick Restaurant - Lobster Macaroni and cheese - American Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Frankie was great! We sat in the bar area with such a lovely view of the ocean. The calamari was perfectly crisp and served with a delicious lemon aoli. The surf and Turf was very good! Only thing is the lobster came still on the shell and my boyfriend didn't know how to resells lobster properly so that kinda took away from the experience and he lost a good amount of lobster to the shell. Great service and great food with a beautiful view would come back!! read more

Food Shrimp po boy n fries nice soft bread good sauce and slaw, fries well seasoned. Could of use bigger or more shrimp Burger and onion rings nice n juicy and good rings Service. Was a little slow but she was nice maybe to many tables to attend Ambiance Was good with nice view Bad slow service and ice tea with no ice read more

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the service is really good but the food is overpriced and not very good it tastes bland. This restaurant used to be soooo good i think they changed ownership or something but it is NOT the same anymore. Don't come here if you want good food. The environment is nice and a good place to be since the service is pretty good now, not as good as it used to be though. The plate i got was so bland i couldn't even finish the fries. I personally don't recommend it. read more

Moby Dick Restaurant - American Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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This place is located on Stearn's Wharf. We decided to eat here while exploring the wharf. We were greeted and seated immediately and the restaurant was not busy. We were seated with a view of the ocean off of the pier. It was a Sunday and they had a brunch menu in addition to the lunch menu. The first two items that I ordered were not available and had to settle on my third choice, clam chowder soup and a side of steamed vegetables. My family had two orders of fish with cilantro rice and steamed vegetables and a lobster salad roll. My soup was good and the veggies were great as they had a nice butter flavor on them. The fish order received thumbs up and the lobster salad roll was the least popular in the group. The restaurant was not busy but the service was slow. This was a 3.5 star visit with opportunities at a higher score with more food availability and faster service. read more

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The Restaurant was exceptional, the food was outstanding. The location on the pier have an awesome view. read more

We always passed by this restaurant when we're in the area so we decided to try it and we thought it was okay. Not as great as the other restaurant on the pier. Still recommend it as it has a nice indoor view, ambiance, and service. I had their clam chowder and it was my least favorite. The oysters was good though! read more

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This place is situated out on the pier in Santa Barbara. It's your typical touristy seafood place that are located on piers up and down the West Coast. We sat in the bar as we had gotten there a little late. The service by the bartender was very nice, efficient and friendly. We had a great time and the food was pretty good. Lobster salad roll the cheese toast, shrimp cocktail all good and very nice experience. This isn't a fancy place at all but it's also not a dump. And I mean that in the best way possible. It's definitely a place you should give a try! read more

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Water down drinks. I got my drink took it back and watched him make the new one. Same taste, no taste - conclusion, water in the vodka bottle. Spend your money some place else. read more

It was "just ok". The ambiance and feel is a bit dated and the food is a solid 3/5. The staff were attentive and kind. I was surprised to see that there wasn't a big assortment of local seafood offered, aside from catch of the day. Honestly, the other restaurants on the pier that we went to had a similar vibe but there were some really nice looking restaurants across the street from the park on the land. I'd recommend going there, to one of those, over the pier dining. read more

Moby Dick Restaurant - American Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

I came to Moby Dick in Santa Barbara with my family the other day, and it turned out to be a solid choice for a seafood meal by the water. We ordered a dozen oysters to start, followed by clam chowder, lobster bisque, clam linguini, a seafood platter, and chimichurri fries to share. Everything came out fresh and well-prepared. The oysters were clean and briny, the bisque rich and comforting, and the chowder had just the right balance of creaminess and flavor. The seafood platter was generous and well-executed. And the chimichurri fries? Fantastic--crispy, herby, and packed with flavor. Easily one of the highlights of the meal. If I had one small note, it's that the clam linguini could've used more clam juice in the sauce--it leaned a bit blend compared to the rest of the meal. But even with that, I still enjoyed.. Service was friendly and attentive throughout, and while prices were a little on the higher side, it's to be expected for a spot right on the pier with ocean views. Between the setting, food, and service, Moby Dick checks all the boxes. I'd gladly come back next time I'm in town. read more

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