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    Roy

    3.8 (297 reviews)
    ModerateNew American
    Closed 6:00 pm - 12:00 am (Next day)

    Roy Photos

    ROY ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Outdoor seating
    Happy hour specials

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    Recommended Reviews - Roy

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    Crab cakes

    Food was bad bland no taste and just left a lot to wish for and it took them like an hour to bring out the food but that's not even the worst part was THE SERVICE OMG I HAVE NEVER EVER EVER felt so discriminated against my partner and I (people of color) came in at about 10 pm when we walked into the restaurant there was no acknowledgment that we were even in the restaurant. We walked in and stared at the bartender and at the people run the restaurant and they stared back not offering a seat or anything kinda just wondering why we were even there. There is no POC in this restaurant and it is extremely uncomfortable for us they took a while to even acknowledge us or even try to seat us. Tho was the worst restaurant I have ever been too definitely do not go to this place is you are a person of color because you will 100% be discriminated against and it seems that your money is not worth the same as a white person who were greeting treated amazing by the staff and bartender.

    Bar sign & artwork
    Ivy E.

    I found this place on Google after a late yoga class nearby and it's honestly a hidden gem. . Roy is a local Italian bistro that is open daily from 6 PM to midnight. When all the other venues are closing up for dinner service, they are just getting started. They have the cutest handwritten menu complete with appetizers, starters, a full bar, entrées and dessert. . I cannot rave about the space enough with all the cool artwork from local, late and great Santa Barbara artist Ken Nack and vintage design pieces. My friend & I both ordered from the starter menu. She had the huge veggie plate and I had the fish and chips, which was actually made with salmon that night, but surprisingly did not disappoint. Portions are fairly big so don't let your eyes fool your stomach. The fish was perfectly crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, and the presentation was very beautiful. The chef Roy himself even came to the table to greet us and Morgan, who was the only server in the restaurant was doing a kick ass job taking care of everybody as the night picked up. . We're suckers for Italian food, so I have nothing but good things to say. Go try them out for yourself if you're in the downtown Santa Barbara area!

    Roy the owner with the live music
    Ann D.

    The food was wonderful here. The service was spectacular. Our waitress was very nice and Roy even came out to fill our water glasses. The ambiance inside is like an art gallery. I have been coming here for years. Their soups and salads are also very good. Definitely a place to have a nice dinner or to celebrate a special day. The live band was great. They played a lot of Led Zeppelin and Tom Petty.

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    2 years ago

    Excellent bar. Very friendly service, quirky but pleasant vibes, well made drinks. What else can you ask for?

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    9 months ago

    Friendly staff with a great ambiance and superb food. Can't wait to come back on my next trip.

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Often overlooked when thinking about dinner, Roy is an excellent choice. Music some weekend nights. Fresh everything and cozy ambiance.

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    2 years ago

    Great food at great prices in a relaxed atmosphere. Plus, outdoor seating and live music.

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    The Lark - Banana Bread and peppered Bacon which

    The Lark

    (2.1k reviews)

    $$$

    Absolutely stunning dinner at The Lark last night on our only night in Santa Barbara and I feel…read moreglad to say we picked the right restaurant! The place was full, including indoor and outdoor seating, great ambience and light level, and lovely string lights above the seating outdoors. To start they bring over a delectable dill popcorn which was a rich, salty, dill and butter creation. Totally set a fun tone for the meal. Then we had the crispy Brussels sprouts (ORDER THESE!!!) they were divine, the sesame and lime combination was reminiscent of a great pad Thai, with the perfect amount of sauce and tiny bites of figs which all worked together in a way I wouldn't have expected. For the mains we had the shrimp toast and the pork ribs, both fantastic both well portioned and both 10/10s. Pork ribs fell off the bone easily and were spicy and tangy without overdoing flavor and the shrimp toast tasted like a great gumbo sauce and the shrimps were big! This is a meal I'll be thinking about and recommending to others for a long time, thank you Lark!

    We chose this spot to celebrate a milestone birthday and made an advance reservation for a large…read moreparty. The booking process was smooth and straightforward, which I really appreciated. When we arrived, the ambiance was lovely, we were seated outside, and with the perfect weather, it made for a really nice setting to celebrate. Because of our group size, we were on a prix fixe menu. While I understand the need for that with larger parties, it did limit the experience a bit since we couldn't choose individual dishes. We chose the high priced option with more food. The food itself was decent, but nothing particularly stood out. Many of the courses felt more like appetizers, so it didn't quite feel like a full, well-paced meal. Service was a bit inconsistent. We had Harlow, who seemed a little disengaged at first, though she did warm up after some light conversation. That said, we didn't see much of her afterward and were expecting a bit more attentiveness given the size of our group. She actually had no idea we were celebrating a birthday until about check out. Which is odd because of our advanced reservation. Once she did know she brought out a small birthday dessert. Water refills weren't offered regularly, and we had to flag someone down for additional drinks. There also wasn't much explanation of the dishes as they were brought out, so we found ourselves guessing what each item was based on the paper menu left at our tables. One point of confusion was the billing process. We were asked to put a card on file ahead of time, with the understanding that it would be charged at the end of the meal and that gratuity would be included for a large party. However, neither happened, which left us a bit unsure about how to handle the final payment and tip. Overall, it was a decent experience, and we made the most of the evening thanks to the great company and atmosphere. That said, for the price point, I was hoping for a more seamless and attentive dining experience to match the setting.

    The Black Sheep Restaurant + Bar

    The Black Sheep Restaurant + Bar

    (1.3k reviews)

    $$$

    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.

    Barbareño - Mango Pavlov... one of the best desserts I've ever eaten!

    Barbareño

    (627 reviews)

    $$$

    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.

    Next-level food -- absolutely outstanding…read more My wife and I ate at Barbareño, and the bottom line is simple: the food is out of this world. We knew it would be good, but this was on a completely different level. We shared: Bread & Spread (house sourdough, cultured butter, local olive oil, bacon-date jam) Ricotta Dumplings with strawberry masala, pine nuts, rosemary, nigella seed, and basil Santa Maria BBQ Brandt Tri-Tip with pinquito beans, pico de gallo, and garlic bread Everything was incredibly flavorful, but the tri-tip was mind-blowing. I've never had beef that tender -- it was almost pork-tender, yet still clearly tri-tip. Truly impressive. The staff was great, service was smooth, and the mead was excellent. Portion sizes were generous -- plenty of food without feeling skimpy. This place instantly became a favorite of ours, which is unfortunate only because we live a couple hours south. If you love bold, well-executed flavors and food cooked to perfection, go here. It's not even that expensive for the quality you're getting. A must-visit in Santa Barbara.

    Nook - Nook Burger

    Nook

    (294 reviews)

    $$

    Over all these years, I have avoided the Funky Zone for various silly reasons. But for a while now,…read morewhen I visit my friend's auto repair shop downtown, he always gets Turkey Burgers from here. Always looking for places to have solo lunch, I finally ventured to FZ. There's no sign. I drove by several times and parked, determined to find it. It was next to Lama Dog. I ordered at the window from a very friendly and efficient staff member. I found a nice bar-height communal table inside a super cool restored warehouse with awesome indie music jamming, also surrounded by big screens and sporting events. I ordered a bottled Arnold Palmer from the bar, not realizing the bottled drinks are self-serve. Nevertheless, the bartender kindly got it for me along with a glass of ice. Now here's the best part: the very best Turkey Burger I have ever had--way better than any take-out before. It's topped with garlic aioli, avocado, melted cheese, lettuce, tomato, and crispy skinny onion rings, just perfect. I also ordered the fries with truffle and Parmesan--absolutely delicious, though a bit too flavorful, which overshadowed the turkey burger's flavor. I've tried both sweet and regular potato fries here, and they are excellent too. This place really hits the spot. Can't wait to come back.

    We stopped by Lama Dog for a drink and were very happy to find this little "nook" inside serving…read morefood. Perfect for grabbing a bite to go with your beer. Got their Lobster Mac & Cheese. Was enough for us to share between two. Creamy and cheesy, but could've used more lobster. Would've expected a better lobster to macaroni ratio with this one. Prices are a little steeper here. It was $25 for the Lobster mac & cheese, which I would've been more open to with a bit more fish in the dish. Plus, when I go to grab a beer, I'm not necessarily wanting to pay $20+ for a burger without fries. That being said, it's still a good spot to grab some food while drinking a beer at Lama Dog.

    Opal - PESTO SAUTEED BAY SCALLOP SALAD $18.95

    Opal

    (1.2k reviews)

    $$$

    STEPH JUDGEMENT: Elegant-casual with a well-heeled older crowd…read more We wanted a nice dinner while in town and this place looked promising based on the reviews. We'd made reservations and were seated promptly when we arrived. The ambiance was warm and inviting. We noticed that the diners' demographic skewed older, but that was fine with us--it made for a relaxing time. We started things off with some cocktails: I got the Opal martini (gin and vodka, with Gorgonzola stuffed Olive--very good) and the hubby got the house old fashioned (not too sweet, also very good). They brought out a small complimentary bread basket, which had two different kinds of excellent bread. Carb avoidance be damned! We ordered the following: - warm seafood salad (lots of fresh seafood--great) - butter lettuce salad with Gorgonzola (so simple and so delicious) - mushroom risotto (delicious! Cheesy with bits of walnuts and asparagus as well as the shrooms) We thought the prices were reasonable prices for the quality, and the service was excellent. Overall a really great experience; would definitely try again.

    The ambiance at Opal was as usual, lovely, but extremely noisy. Not a lot they can do about that,…read morebut be aware if you are a large group that you won't be able to hear each other! And usually, the food is really good at Opal. But not this time! Very disappointing. Due to popular demand, they put the hangar steak back on the menu. I love that dish, so ordered it with great anticipation! But I was sorely disappointed. The steak was perfectly cooked to medium rare, but that's where the goodness stopped. It was extremely tough with gristle running throughout. The meat itself was flavorless. And, the sauce was something I couldn't even identify! No idea what it was, but it wasn't tasty. The mashed potatoes mentioned they contained horseradish. I love horseradish, so I was excited to try them. Unfortunately, half a bottle of horseradish in 1/2 cup of potatoes just doesn't work! Would have been better to have plain potatoes with a side of horseradish! I have to say the vegetables were nicely prepared, but nothing to write home about. All in all, a disappointing trip to Opal. I hope they make this dish the way t used to be, or cease putting it on the menu. It doesn't work at all the way it is.

    Roy - newamerican - Updated May 2026

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