We went to Bouchon Bistro to celebrate our 25th anniversary, and the experience was outstanding…read morefrom start to finish. We did the Foodie Stroll & Dinner experience, which included a trip to the farmers market with the chef, Vick. Vick was a pleasure to spend time with--personable, knowledgeable, and genuinely engaging. We had a great time at the market with him and then enjoyed exploring it on our own afterward. When we arrived at the restaurant, our table was ready and beautifully set with rose petals to mark the occasion. The staff was attentive, helpful, and professional--always aware of when we needed something, but never intrusive. My wife ordered the Salade Lyonnaise, Juniper & Rosemary Venison, and Lemon-Berry Upside Down Cake. I had the Forest Mushroom Ragout, Braised Kurobuta Pork Flank, and finished with the Chocolate Molten Lava Cake. Every bite was excellent. My wife raved about the venison, and my pork flank was incredibly tender in a rich, flavorful sauce--the meat practically fell apart. Portions were generous; we couldn't finish everything, though we tried. Each course was paired with a different wine, and every pairing was spot-on. One especially thoughtful touch was that they presented us with custom 25th anniversary menus that we created with the chef. The menus highlighted our anniversary and listed the exact dishes we ordered--it was a really nice keepsake and made the evening feel even more special. All of this was done during a packed service, with only four people in the kitchen, which made the experience even more impressive. Thank you to Vick and the entire team for making our anniversary truly memorable.

We were in Santa Barbara for the Film Festival when we happened upon Bouchon and were able to snag…read morea last minute reservation. Located just off the main downtown street on Victoria St., this French-Cali restaurant feels tucked away with either an indoor seating or cozy outdoor patio option. From start to finish, it's a phenomenal full dining experience. Our waiter passionately walked us each dish, explaining in-depth not only the food preparation process but also when ingredients were locally sourced if applicable. We begun with the escargot and tuna tartare for our firsts. Both with beautiful presentation. Our mains were the duck breast & confit, venison loin. Both perfectly cooked, rich in flavor and again lovely presentation. While it's French in style, it's certainly not in portions.

Black Sheep has quickly become one of my absolute favorite restaurants in Santa Barbara -- and…read morehonestly, every time I walk in I think, am I really still in Santa Barbara? The level of service is that good. Logan & jess Huge credit to Ruben, the owner, and his wife, who created the beautiful decor. The space is stunning -- high ceilings on the main floor and a cozy, chic European bistro feel upstairs, but still airy and comfortable. It's stylish without being stuffy. The food is consistently excellent -- fresh, seasonal, and often sourced from the farmers market, with many organic ingredients. The chantelle mushrooms and risotto were outstanding. They're also incredibly accommodating with dietary needs (yes, even vegan options -- they had vegan butter ready without hesitation, which I deeply appreciate). And the bar... if you're lucky, you might catch happy hour all night. Even luckier? Jess behind the bar. She is absolutely fantastic -- warm, skilled, and makes the whole experience feel special. An ode to Jess: Hey Jess, the queen of the pour, One drink in and you'll want more. Good vibes, great laughs, service at its best, Every bar needs a Jess -- but this one has the best. The service overall is truly exceptional -- attentive, genuine, and rare to find these days. What does this place need? Honestly... nothing. Just go. If you're visiting Santa Barbara, don't miss it. If you live here, this should become your new favorite spot.

Great vibe and solid food…read more The Black Sheep Restaurant + Bar is a fantastic spot for drinks and catching up with friends. The atmosphere is lively and visually appealing -- I love how the space is set up. Ruben, the owner, was our server, and he was personable and attentive even though the restaurant was slammed. It was clear he cares about the experience and makes sure guests are taken care of -- thanks, Ruben! The food was good, with generous portions. It's not "over the top" or heavily specialized, but everything was well-cooked and executed by a chef who knows his craft. Perfect for a relaxed night out with friends. Overall, if you want a fun bar vibe, solid food, and attentive owner-led service, this is a great choice in Santa Barbara.

Lion's Tale is soooooo good! My bf and I always have a great time there. Great drinks and our…read moreserver Iris was the best!

Love this spot. Stays true to the rest of the rest of the hospitality group's offerings (Good Lion,…read moreTest Pilot, etc). Excellent drinks and atmosphere. But the true highlight is their server, Iris. Super knowledgeable, friendly and the best at what she does. Will definitely be back!

Husband and I live in Orange County but we come here quite often lol. It's probably my favorite…read morebreakfast 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.

We dined here last night for an early Valentine's Day dinner and overall had a good experience. The…read morefood 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...

One of the BEST service experience I've ever had. All the staff were so friendly, knowledgeable,…read moreand attentive. Outdoor patio seating is also a very nice and you can hear the other person talking vs other restaurants where it's super loud. The menu has a lot of local items & everything was delicious. I think out of the few items we ordered, we liked the smoked tri tip and the mussels the most. The mussel soup was SO good and we needed more bread to eat it all up. The tri tip was also cooked perfectly and I loved the sauce that came with it. This is certainly a great date night spot and also bit pricier than I usually go for. The food might not have been what I crave but it was a great experience.

We had dinner here at Barbareno tonight. The wait staff and support were on point. However, we…read moreweren't impressed with the food nor its presentation/plating. Food: we started with the bread service (4/5) and the Scotch eggs (4/5). Both were good. We then had the mussels (4/5). Although I'm not a fan, my buddy powered through the entire bowl...so obviously he liked them. The sauce was spicy and flavorful, which I appreciated. I used the bread to soak up that flavorful sauce. Then we had the Santa Maria grill (3/5) and the pork rib plate(4/5). The presentation and seasoning for the Santa Maria plate was just boring and lacking. We chose not to finish that plate as it was not real flavorful, nor interesting. The pork ribs (3/5) on the 2nd plate had really good seasoning and flavor, but should have been cooked longer. This was a pretty significant miss, as the ribs needed to cook at least another hour. The meat was pink??? This is an oversight for cooking ribs. Dessert: we ordered all 3 desserts and they were all just okay. Nothing craveable or exciting. The service team was a strong 4 stars all night. The kitchen was maybe 3.5 stars. I was surprised that our party of 6 didn't enjoy the meal more based upon the reviews and previous restaurant recognition. Maybe the kitchen had an off night and we need to give it another try. There are so many great restaurants in SB, we may or may not make our way back to Barbareno.

Love this place so much, I consider driving up here from LA for more of the best quiche I ever had…read more So many perfectly sweet desserts to choose from. Everything is high quality and fresh for reasonable prices. Charming, cozy decor with Danish accents. Service is also excellent and warm. Quiche with Hollandaise Sauce - Light, buttery flaky crust, light, fluffy eggs. Absolutely delightful, leeks provided good texture. Came with a strip of bacon. Was so amazing hardly ate the sauce. Don't think you can sub salad for fries but no worries, as the breakfast potatoes were amazing. Many places offer breakfast potatoes but something seemingly simple is actually hard to make well. My friend's Bratwurst Sausage with Eggs, her favorite, was hearty and filling. A lot of indoor seating but we enjoyed our table outside, watching pedestrians on State St. and enjoying the beautiful scenery and architecture. We expected to wait to be seated but surprisingly it wasn't that busy. Order at counter and the food is brought to your table. As we waited, employee kindly gave us two free pastry samples, both delicious. All the baked goods I got to go I want again. Their scones are fabulous-slightly crunchy on the outside, light and fluffy on the inside. Their tea service which comes with champagne is pricey, I believe $75 per person. But interior is a perfect colorful and relaxed setting for tea. My tastebuds dream of coming back. Will be thrilled when I next indulge on their pastries and quiche.

SCORE 0 HEALTH HAZARD 10…read more This is our third time we've had issues with the staff. Today is our last time going here. There was only one person in line and 4 staff members behind the counter standing around talking to each other. Nobody greeted us or asked for our bakery order. When I said excuse me to a dirty blond girl she replied "WHAT!" and continued to joke with a co worker. When the cashier finished with their customer they walked away and even though they saw we were waiting to be helped. I looked around and saw nobody helping seated customers or us at the bakery counter. Finally, the dirty blonde ask what we need and my response was "WHAT" ?! At this point we should have left and gone to Lilac Patisserie however we proceeded to give her our order. I told another customer behind us that rudeness seems to be the norm, and she agreed. I paid for our bakery items and asked an older woman scrolling on her phone if we could have a bag for all of our boxed treats. She grabbed a handful of bags and threw them at me from across the counter. We were appalled and left. We found a place to sit on State street to eat our treats and my daughter said she didn't want her Meringue because the dirty blonde girl used the back of her ungloved hand to repeatedly wipe her nose. We threw all $50 worth of baked goods in the trash. Yes, I should have gone back and complained I'm had everything refunded but it was Mother's Day and we didn't want anything more to do with this establishment. It was also an epiphany that they don't treat everyone this way. It could be you next time. Please go somewhere else. We will never go to anywhere but Lilac Patisserie which is to the left as you exit Andersons, past the stop light. You will definitely get your money's worth and the staff is friendly, professional, and greet you immediately as you reach the counter.

Popped in on a Weekday for a dinner date early evening-- no reservation/ no wait. (don't let the no…read morewait discourage you) Hot or Not? Ravioli al Burro e Salve : Spinach + Ricotta rav 10/10 bites Beau & I split this one dish (during our SB food tour) and it is rich & delicious, the Crispy sage, the brown butter sauce, the raviolis cooked perfectly all blend so well in this dish. my favorite Rav in all of the (SB) land. HOT! I will keep coming back for this dish. Excellent Service. (we love montecito but it's just not the same at that location, I've had it here before & it's superior in this location) Prime Corner location, lovely ambiance, plentiful street parking in the area (Note: Our "Food Tour" is not an actual Tour, that's what I call going to multiple restaurants in a day i.e., to make the most of a weekend trip/ day trip)

Looking forward to dinner here but it turned out to be a disappointment,…read more Ordered calamari appetizer (good) and overpriced $60 (menu) bottle of $15 (retail) Banfi Chianti. Really a 400% mark up is necessary? We ordered two pastas, Fusilli tartuifato and papardelle Boscola. Papardelle were good, but the fusilli sauce was watery, like soup, so the minimal flavor did not really stick to the noodle. Also very little truffle flavor in the sauce, was embarrassingly bad. We sent it back suggesting any other pasta dish would be a better choice but they insisted on replacing it with another identical order which was just as bad. We gave up and overpaid for unsatisfactory pasta meal. Service was ok, had to ask for water fill up, but we did not fault the waiter for bad food, not his fault. Profiteroles dessert did not have enough chocolate sauce and too liquidity cream filling . Also disappointing. Do not recommend. Quality did not justify the price tag, Sorry.

All of these stars are for the excellent taste and quality of the food. The service tonight was the…read moreworst ever. We have been coming here since it opened and were so disappointed. We sat for 20 minutes waiting to order our drinks and appetizers. We never got bread. The waiter took our forks when he took the appetizer plate and just dropped our food on the table and left so we had to go hunting for silverware as our food sat getting cold. What happened?

Wow! We live in SB and we are so impressed with the service we received today. Heather ( hostess)…read moreis amazing! Whoever hired her is a genius. She is so friendly, has a wonderful smile, and she is so Welcoming! Ben served us. He is also amazing! He is on point. He is friendly and informative about the menu and the food. Another amazing hire! It's so great to see these younger people doing such a great job. We will continue to return. And, btw, the food was on point. My husband, upon Ben's recommendation, had the spicy salmon sandwich. I had the ahi ceviche and the Parmesan potato cake. It was all very tasty. Highly recommend.

The natural wine bar of my dreams! We came to SB on a trip and were searching for wine bars that…read moreserve natural wine, and this one kept popping up as a top choice -- and it absolutely lived up to the hype. It's located right on State Street, so there's plenty to explore nearby. We came right at opening and were greeted by the friendliest host. The style of the space is amazing -- walls lined with bottles, funky furniture, and such a fun, modern vibe. They were also super dog‑friendly and immediately brought my pup a water bowl, which I always appreciate. The host was incredibly knowledgeable and answered all my questions (and I had many). I'm still new to the wine world, so her openness and guidance meant a lot. I sampled two wines and chose the one that was perfect for me. I also loved that they bring the bottle to your table to show you and tell you more about it. My partner had one of their vermouth cocktails and loved it. We even learned about a natural wine event happening next month that we might come back for. The host also recommended wineries in the area based on our preferences -- such a thoughtful touch. Would definitely come back anytime we're in SB.

Unfortunately, I didn't have the best experience here as I imagined it to be. I stopped by on a…read morewarm day and wanted to enjoy a Spritz. I walked in and spoke with the guy working the bar area. I wasn't sure if I had to order my drink there or if there was table service. He said he could take my order and then I could go find a table to sit at. I placed my order for a Spritz and found a table outside. It seemed like 15 minutes had passed by and still no drink. He tended to another table in front of me with a group of women he knew. I thought he would stop by my table after, but he didn't even acknowledge me. Finally, another staff member tended to me and I told her I had placed my order at the bar and was still waiting for it. She was very kind and quickly got it for me. My observation of this guy, was that he acknowledged everyone around me but for some reason never acknowledged me until my bill was ready. Such a bizarre experience! In any case, I still managed to enjoy myself and was glad the Eva waited on me. She was very kind and I appreciate her getting my drink and food in a timely manner. I ordered the Spanish cheese plate, which was the perfect snacking board. It comes with manchego, membrillo, corn nuts, cornichon, quince, strawberries, focaccia, and charcoal sourdough bread. This plate is great for two people. Overall, a not so great experience, but grateful that Eva came to the rescue! It left me unsure of whether I would come back, only time will tell.

Came back to celebrate our anniversary and I'm happy to say Caruso's did a phenomenal job in making…read moreour special day feel extraordinary. The staff remembered us, we chatted about various topics from golf to traveling, and the sommelier was just as warm and friendly as I remember from our first experience. Food and presentation was excellent, ambiance was romantic and relaxed, and overall we had (another) amazing time.

Came here on a Saturday night with my mom and overall had a really lovely experience…read more Even though we didn't stay at the hotel, the service throughout the property immediately stood out. When our Lyft arrived, employees rushed over to open the doors, and when we asked where the restaurant was, the front desk employee actually stepped away from the desk to personally point us in the right direction. The walk to the restaurant is a bit long since it overlooks the beach, but it was a beautiful night and ended up feeling relaxing and special. (Particularly on the way back when we were full from the tasting menu) I just wouldn't wear uncomfy heels. One interesting touch: we overheard the hostess offering another couple the option to put their phones away for the evening so they could fully experience dinner distraction-free. I ended up keeping mine away too and honestly enjoyed being more present during the meal. As a side note, another couple took photos of every meal and there didn't appear to be a stigma regardless. We did the tasting menu, and our waiter was fantastic with recommendations. All the staff was great, honestly. What stood out most to me compared to other Michelin-starred restaurants I've visited was the focus on seasonal ingredients and vegetables. That night featured Harry's berries and asparagus throughout several dishes. My favorite was probably the burrata with Harry's berries and rhubarb. There are quite a few optional upgrades throughout the tasting menu, including caviar and upgraded steak options, but we only added the chocolate bar selection at the end, which was excellent. I also appreciated the atmosphere. You could hear the waves crashing through the open doors, but it still stayed warm and comfortable inside. The noise level was lively without being overwhelming, and the recently added piano really elevated the experience. Some dishes seemed to sing to the symphony. Overall, I wouldn't say it was the best meal I've ever had, but I absolutely would return. Several dishes highlighted the ingredients so beautifully that I'd love to come back during another season to try a different menu. Solid experience and felt more or less felt worth the price.