I haven't been to the Harbor in probably 20 years until today. The remodel is gorgeous. It's very bright and has fantastic views from every seat inside. The food was delicious and pricey but worth the splurge for a business lunch or special occasion. The service was fine but not up to par for a restaurant of this caliber. Maybe the more experienced servers are scheduled during the dinner service. I'd go back for sure. read more

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The location and view from the wharf is great. The service is also very attentive and friendly. However, the Seafood Tower ordered from the Happy Hour menu was disappointing. The oysters, clams and mussels were really tiny and miniature. The prawns and lobster tail were normal sized. The taste was very bland and had very little flavor. The quality should be much better for the price. read more

We've been coming to this restaurant for about 15 years. And we've always enjoyed it. It was closed for remodeling so we haven't been here in a couple years. We came here 15 years ago as one of the stops on our honeymoon and as a revisit tonight, it is our 15 year anniversary. This is our first time back since the remodel and everything is beautiful. Of course, the scenery is the same as it always was... magnificent! But... I'm not going to finish writing this review until after we eat our meal. I will say the menu is very, very different. It's like a whole new restaurant, obviously new kitchen staff, new cooks, new chef, all new drinks they did discontinue our favorite drink. And they also discontinued our favorite herb crusted salmon, which is so disappointing. We ordered that dish every time we came here, either my wife or myself or even both of us, along with the tropical itch drink that came with a back scratcher in the glass. If you've been coming here for a while, you will probably remember and expect the delightful bread and flavored butters that used to come to the table complimentary. Well, there's something on the menu that might be a similar experience, but we did not order it because it's a $9 upgrade, we figured we would order a salad and clam chowder instead. The mixed green salad was terrific, but the clam chowder, however, was kind of bland, the flavor was just not close to what it used to be. Definitely not an upgrade. If you want a place to go for the best clam chowder, that would be the Fish Wife in Pacific Grove on Sunset dr. In the Monterey area. We had a terrific server Ulysses, and the hostess who sat us was very polite and professional. We showed up early for our reservation and she was very accommodating and was still able to seat us right away with a smile. Since they didn't have our old stand by favorites, my wife ordered the blackened halibut, and I ordered a piece of prime rib cooked, medium-rare. The halibut was very good. The prime rib, unfortunately, was not super tender and not quite the quality of cut that I would have liked it to have been, The price was not extremely high either. So I understand that it was probably a typical choice cut. It was prepared well in the flavor was good. All in all, it was a good experience. We may come back again but it's not the place that we used to love. I'm giving it 4 stars for the terrific view and the wonderful service, but it just doesn't get the 5 stars, that it would have gotten from us before. Sometimes change is good Sometimes it's just change... read more

The Harbor Restaurant - Seafood Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

My husband and I were looking for a restaurant where we could enjoy seafood and watch the sunset, and we found this place. One of the highlights was that we were able to bring our small dog, which we really appreciated. It was around 78°F, and surprisingly, it took about 20 minutes for someone to bring us water, and when it finally arrived, it wasn't even cold. Service overall felt a bit slow and just average. We ordered two margaritas, which were actually very good. For food, we tried the fried calamari, fish and chips, and the "famous" garlic bread. The fish and chips came with a red sauce instead of the usual tartar sauce, but when I asked for tartar, they did bring it. The fish itself was okay, nothing special. The calamari, however, was very disappointing. Instead of rings, they were more like sticks, and honestly, they tasted terrible. My husband ate about half, probably just not to waste it. I ended up just having a piece of his fish. The garlic bread didn't stand out at all and barely tasted like garlic. The location and view are beautiful, especially for sunset, but unfortunately, the food didn't match the setting. I don't think I would come back. read more

Beautiful views of the harbor from the wharf and a tasty mocktail and drink selection, but could improve on the food. My husband opted for 2 appetizers for his main meal - the Harbor Crispy Rice (crispy rice topped with raw salmon or hamachi) and the Channel Islands halibut ceviche. I had the herb crusted mahi mahi. The ceviche was probably the best of the dishes - very fresh and light. The crispy rice was just okay, but not stellar for the price. The mahi mahi was overcooked and dry, but the wilted spinach that came with it was pretty good. read more

The Harbor Restaurant - Harbor Crispy Rice and Channel Islands Ceviche - Seafood Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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We came here to have a late lunch on Monday. Party of 15 after 2:00. The server came 40 minutes late to take our food and drink order. I asked for my filet mignon to be medium rare. It came out medium well. This happened to my son's as well. The service was poor and slow. At that time, it wasn't very busy. The view was beautiful. I guess the restaurant was intended for tourists or someone who doesn't know better. read more

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This is the type restaurant where you come for great views and good service. Cuz sadly, the food was awful. I would have sent mine back but I was enjoying my weekend getaway and didn't want to make waves. Pros - service, ambiance and incredible view of the harbor. We saw boats and kayakers and paddle boarders up close. It was also great to meet a friendly, enthusiastic employee and fellow Mets fan. Esthetically the restaurant is spacious and welcoming. Cons- as mentioned the food. My grits had jumbo shrimp, but both were over overcooked. Tough shrimp and lumpy underseasoned grits. Adding Tabasco sauce helped somewhat. The poached egg was good but the creamy yolk could not save the meal. My coffee was also weak My friend's shrimp cocktail was also very chewy. Her eggs Benedict with salmon was good enough. Prices were ok. There are two restaurants in one. We dined in the more formal one. Upstairs is a more casual patio. Might be good for drinks or happy hour. read more

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The Harbor Restaurant is easily one of the best dining experiences in Santa Barbara. As a Santa Barbara local the last 7 years I've ate at just about every fine dining restaurant, and the Harbor Restaurant is easily my favorite. You really can't beat the incredible ocean and harbor views, modern atmosphere, and amazing food. You can tell how much work has gone into bringing this historic Santa Barbara restaurant back to life. John Thyne and his teams have done an incredible job updating the restaurant, and it's continuously getting better.Everything feels much more elevated, polished, and welcoming. Whether you're local or visiting Santa Barbara and looking for waterfront dining, seafood, cocktails, or just an amazing restaurant with an ocean view, The Harbor Restaurant on Stearns Wharf is absolutely worth checking out. My personal order is the Ahi Carpaccio, Hamachi Crudo, then Filet Mignon + Crème Brûlée over an old fashioned It's great seeing someone invest into such an iconic Santa Barbara location and give it the attention it deserves. Five stars all around -- definitely a place I'll keep visiting every week and recommending to friends, family, and anyone visiting Santa Barbara! read more

The Harbor Restaurant - Surf & Turf w/ a Still In Fashion - Seafood Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Francisco was the BEST SERVER EVER!!!! The moment we met we were laughing and enjoying our time together. Absolute best experience I've had in Santa Barbara, and I've been to SB MANY times!!!! I loved the seafood tower, it was a lot for 2 people!! I definitely could've taken food home. Overall such a nice experience. This was such a great part of my weekend! :) read more

The Harbor Restaurant - chilled seafood tower - Seafood Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Seafood restaurant by the sea/ harbor. Very pretty at sunset. Inside is chic. We got a window table and have amazing view of the ocean. Service is attentive and friendly. We enjoyed all the dishes including beet salad, crab louie salad, and halibut/ salmon dish, Cioppino. The salad portion here is relatively small compared to other restaurants. We made reservation in advance. It should be ok without if you don't need to sit by the window. I always recommend a reservation though so the restaurant knows to expect you and arrange properly. read more

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Dining here is always a Great experience. Only upstairs dining was available until the remodeling finished which turned out beautifully. Service was attentive. Our dinner was so yummy and enjoyed by all. read more

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Food: we had clam chowder, seafood pasta, and cioppino. Clam chowder is the best. We loved it! The pasta dish was also really good, shrimp could be cooked a bit more otherwise the sauce is excellent. Service: well attended by the server. Good service. Checking a few times just to see if furthers service is needed. Ambiance: excellent view with window seat. Saw people kayaking through. Great beach view read more

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I came here with a large party for a pre wedding brunch. The ambiance was very nice, great views of the wharf and beach. Omar our server was super friendly and helpful. The food was good, but not mind blowing. I had the lobster Benedict, my egg was pretty overcooked so it was essentially a hard-boiled egg. We also go the duck French toast which was really good, nice flavors with the duck confit and the maple syrup with cashews. read more

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Great food - brilliant section of wines. Service was a little slower but very courteous. Front desk lady was amazing in accommodating the reservation. Ambiance is right on the harbor. Expensive side but worth a try. read more

The Harbor Restaurant - Seafood Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Such a nice place to enjoy the ocean and happy hour. The pineapple mojito was amazing! It took me back to being in the Maldives. Really great service here, Mitch makes excellent drinks! Highly recommend this spot for monday happy hour from 2-closing. The view is unmatched. read more

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Unfortunately, the beautiful view is ruined by the poor service and food & badly kept restrooms . What can I say? I was terribly disappointed read more

The Harbor Restaurant - Great view - Seafood Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

The harbor restaurant has a great view and ambience. The service is great however, the food was left A lot to be desired, especially in such a beautiful atmosphere. I ordered the prime rib sandwich which in itself was not the best, very fatty .. my sister ordered the surf turf as well as my niece and they both also said it wasn't the best.. read more

The Harbor Restaurant - Seafood Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Food was not good at all. We had oysters , steak tartare , and Ahi sashimi. They kind of put a gourmet twist on it should've left it more traditional. Very over done Beautiful restaurant n great view Service so so Will not return read more

The Harbor Restaurant - Steak tartare - Seafood Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

If you are into seafood and in Santa Barbara, you have to visit Stearns Wharf. For me, the sea breeze, calm horizon, the captivating ocean vistas and restaurants, are irresistible. On this trip, I decided on, The Harbor Restaurant, which I was told had been recently renovated (with new owners) and a revamped menu. The inside dining space is tastefully decorated with lots of light and beige dining chairs. The water and sail boat views from seating by the large windows, is nothing short or relaxing and magnetic. The staff is polite, inviting and attentive. As it transpired, this was the day of the week where they had their lobster specials. For $59.95 (usual price $88.99) you could have a whole one and a half pound Maine lobster (poached then seared), with mashed potatoes, broccolini, drawn butter and bearnaise sauce. That looked like a good bargain to me. The plate came out beautifully presented and was mostly occupied by the plump lobster that was cut in half. There was ample meat in the dish (including the claws and knuckles, which were partially cracked) with the crustacean skillfully prepared to retain succulence, texture and meat tenderness. Dipping in the butter and/or bearnaise sauce enhanced the dining experience. The mashed potatoes deserve commendation, they were soft, silky and flavorful. This lobster dish can easily give serious competition, to any of its counterpart establishments, anywhere in this vicinity. The Harbor Restaurant is now also open for breakfast. Needless to say, I will be coming here soon, to try more of their attractive breakfast and lunch menu items, or once again, it will be difficult to ignore.....that fantastic poached and seared, lobster special entree. read more

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The Harbor Restaurant received more than a paint job to elevate your dining experience. Tuesday night brought our party in for the newly launched "Locals' Live Maine Lobster Specials". For $59.95 you get a 1 1/2Ib freshly cooked , live Maine lobster with béarnaise sauce, mashed potatoes, and broccoli; or Surf and Turf with half of the lobster and a 4oz NY strip. The entire table ordered the special in one for or another and I opted for the béarnaise on the side. I'd prefer drawn butter but did try it. The lobster was perfect and come on, mashed potatoes!?! Yum! A great presentation and delicious food. But wait. There's more. Before the lobsters swam in we feasted on the Oyster Rockefeller $18, Shrimp Cocktail $18, Harbor Crispy Rice with 1/2 Salmon and 1/2 Hamachi $27, and bread with rosemary butter, dried tomato tapenade, chimichurri $9. All paired nicely with the Mer Soleil Reserve Chardonnay. I did start off with a glass of the Pascal Jolivet Sancerre which I highly recommend. The space is beautifully redone in a way that fits Santa Barbara's refined yet beachy attitude. There is now a lounge area near the bar to relax hat high tops, sofas and low back chairs to snack on Happy Hour treats or listen to live music on Wednesdays The service was great and the food delicious. We used to come for the view now we'll enjoy the food too. A special thank you to Kyle behind the bar and Roth running the floor. We had a great night. read more

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The happy hour (oyster and duck confit with cherries) was a-amazing , and Amber at the bar was so nice and friendly and the late afternoon million dollar view from the windows was the bestest. Definitely coming back. read more

The Harbor Restaurant - The view - Seafood Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Another beautiful visit at The Harbor Restaurant. This time we were able to get a table near the ocean view and the view was stunning. I had to stick with my go to of their seafood pasta because the squid ink pasta is one of my favorite dishes. I noticed some changes this time I was in and the menu had upgraded from paper menus to more durable elegant menus. I also noticed they had upgraded their plates and they look stunning. I am loving these amazing changes and as always dinner had a great execution thanks to the amazing and talented chef! read more

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Wow, the Harbor Restaurant underwent a beautiful makeover! When I walked in, I was happily surprised. It finally has such a modern, clean feel to it. I'm finally happy to see a beautiful restaurant on the pier; it was much needed. We went all in on the chilled seafood tower and it was worth every penny. The quality of seafood is chef's kiss. The broccolini was perfectly cooked with a nice garlic spread. My favorite was the service. Most of the staff were from Stelle Mare's, so it was nice to see familiar faces! Now I have a reason to visit the pier more! read more

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Great place to sit and have a bite and drink and beautiful view. If I lived here, I'd be here all the time. read more

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This restaurant is a gem on Santa Barbara's pier! It overlooks the ocean, has incredible elegance (but is still comfortable), amazing food, and the most attentive waitstaff. I went with a couple friends for one of their birthdays and everything was so lovely! We had beautiful views, yummy drinks, and truly AMAZING food!! Their chef, Herik, is incredible and even visited our table as we ate during an off-time (2:30pm). I ordered the Chicken Milanese for my meal, with Papas Rotas for the table, and an Apple Tart for dessert. I ate EVERYTHING - which is extremely rare for me - and loved it!!! An overall incredible experience and I cannot wait to go back! read more

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I am not sure if any prior bad reviews was another time but as a very picky customer out of Texas, I cannot say enough about the food, ambiance, PHENOMENAL staff and management. The view, by the way, was stunning. We celebrated our 8th wedding anniversary with friends in Santa Barbara and wanted an intimate welcome dinner for 30 guests and could not believe we found The Harbor. I believe this is a newly renovated space but it was exactly what we hoped for. I set up everything remotely and online and there were literally ZERO hiccups. All we had to do was show up and it was PERFECTION. We highly recommend the restaurant to any who are looking for a wonderful dinner with a view. The Harbor is definitely a place that gives you a high end service without breaking the bank. Thank you to the amazing staff and Yoko for making it happen! read more

The Harbor Restaurant - View from inside the private space to the harbor. - Seafood Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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This is getting a 1-star review. I'd also leave this on OpenTable where I made my reservation, but it got removed by the business somehow. I made a reservation here because it's obviously so beautiful with its views, which it was. It's just such a shame that the food isn't anywhere near as good as it should be. My husband and I were staying a night in Santa Barbara as we drive up the coast for our honeymoon and I was super excited to try this restaurant. Firstly, the waiter got both of our wines wrong. I said something about mine and she brought back the correct one. My husband didn't want to say anything about his, even though the wine she charged us for was more expensive. We both ordered burgers to keep it simple for lunch, and we both only took 1 bite and sent it back. I'm not sure what type of meat or how it was stored, but it was the worst burger honestly I've ever had. It didn't even taste like beef, was rubbery and gray, microwave bacon, and just really bad. The waitress took it off our check and then we left. read more

I don't understand the contradictory reports to not being four or five at the least we enjoy the food the ambience, the drinks. The wine selection is fabulous. We haven't had anything to be negative about the service is fantastic not overcrowded. I like it that it might be a little bit pricey, but it keeps some space is open for others. That would just be here as tourism. You feel like a local when you're here. read more

The Harbor Restaurant - Beach view looking toward the pier where the harbor restaurant is - Seafood Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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I was staying in Santa Barbara for a couple of months and had the opportunity to have dinner at the Harbor Restaurant. Usually, I shy away from restaurants on piers or oceanfront, because they tend to be very touristy and more about the location than the food. I'm so happy to be wrong about the Harbor Restaurant. It was absolutely fantastic! The service was friendly, relaxed, and professional. One of my favorite things we had was a halibut ceviche appetizer. Absolutely a must try; bursting with flavor, beautiful and fantastic. We had a New York's steak cooked perfectly, that came with unfortunately amazing au gratin potatoes, which I stole most of and loved every bite, and I had the braised short ribs, which were divine. They also have a very nice wine list both by the glass and especially by the bottle. The bartender is also excellent as we had a couple of lovely martinis. We topped off the meal with dessert with an amazing chocolate cake that was rich and not too sweet, as well as a wonderful key lime pie. In fact, I enjoyed it so much that I came back two other times during my trip. Once for lunch where I had an absolutely fabulous Harbor Burger and beer, also, may I say cook perfectly not overdone. And then the last time I came back, was for a happy hour where I had, a couple of sauv blancs as well as the halibut ceviche again and the crispy rice with hamachi-delicous! read more

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I went to breakfast with my son and daughter-in-law on a beautiful Saturday morning and was seated in front of a large bay window. We had an amazing view. I ordered the Kir Royale to start, because it is one of my favorite drinks and very few places serve Kir Royals. It was delicious. Our group ordered the prosciutto Benedict, avocado toast, and the lobster Benedict. Everything was plated elegantly, and the eggs were perfectly cooked, nice and runny and delicious. The lobster Benedict had large pieces of beautiful lobster and gorgeous, bright green asparagus; the holiday sauce over the eggs was the best hollandaise sauce I had had in a long time. I adored the small Purple new potatoes that accompanied the dish. The avocado toast had delicious avocado. We all commented on how beautifully the dishes were plated. The wait staff here is very well trained; many from Stella Mares, and Chef Ironside from Stella Mares has really transformed the menu. I do hope that chef Ironside puts his delicious Moules Frites on the menu. Dining here is an exquisite experience. My son and daughter-in-law from LA loved it! Can't wait to come back! read more

I visited this seafood restaurant with some of my friends during my bachelorette and if I could put zero stars for this restaurant I would. It was probably the worst experience I had as far as establishments in Santa Barbara. Upon arrival there was initially no one at the front so we had to wait grab someone's attention then they guided us to our table. Our waiter did not even make eye contact with us when taking our order and skipped me while coming back to me at the end although it was my bachelorette. Every other restaurant in Santa Barbara made our experience so special with exception of this restaurant. Service was also very slow. We had to wait an hour for our food to arrive. The food quality was also just sub par and not amazing. I believe I even got sick after eating at this restaurant. Although the restaurant is beautifully designed with view of the harbor unfortunately the food quality and service is suffering. To make matters worse days after visiting this restaurant after checking my account I noticed the restaurant had charged me more than what I had signed and agreed to pay which had to be disputed with my credit card company as thankfully I had a screenshot of my receipt. I unfortunately would not recommend this restaurant and would ask you to avoid this restaurant as Santa Barbara has many other restaurants with great food as well as service. Updated note: The response from management is extremely disappointing as this was an honest feedback from myself and my friends. We did not make another reservation after that visit as that was our last night in Santa Barbara. My credit card was charged a different amount as the amount signed on the receipt did not match and I had to dispute that with my credit card company. If desired I can send you screenshots. Instead of bashing an honest feedback maybe try to train staff at the restaurant to provide better service to guests visiting your restaurant. read more

The Harbor Restaurant - Seafood Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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My husband and I decided to go to The Harbor Restaurant last Saturday to celebrate our 22nd wedding anniversary. We've always wanted to try it and figured this would be a great occasion. From start to finish it was a wonderful experience. Ulysses was our waiter and was absolutely wonderful. His recommendations on the food were spot on. We enjoyed every bite of our food, which was delicious. We are still talking about how amazing everything tasted. The dessert was a perfect way to end the dinner along with the complementary champagne they gave us to celebrate our anniversary. Ulysses offered to take pictures so we could capture the moment with the beautiful view. This was one of the best anniversary dinner we've had and we're thinking it might be the place to celebrate our 23rd! read more

Absolutely amazing experience. Top tier waitstaff, food and ambiance. They have a skilled guitar player playing relaxing music and the view of the ocean is spectacular. I can't wait to be back. Shout out to Ulysses! read more

The Harbor Restaurant - Scallops and ceviche - Seafood Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Service was great, view was better! Happy hour prices are spot on. Bartender was fantastic and very accommodating. read more

The Harbor Restaurant - Great Happy Hour! Best views in town - Seafood Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Got the Brioche French Toast and devoured it within 5 minutes! Host/server was super kind and helpful with recommendations and great about checking in on me. The only negative I would say was that there were a lot of flies in the lobby and one kept flying around the window I was sitting at. I didn't get the sense that the restaurant was unclean in any way, so if they could be more attentive to those flies, I'd give 5 stars! read more

The Harbor Restaurant - Brioche French toast - Seafood Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

The food is a 10+!! The sauces are amazing with each of our dishes! The view can't be beat! Our server was also great! Very good food as it was prepared excellent! read more

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This was the worst food and service that I have ever gotten for a $200 meal The service was lacking. Comfortless ambiance The food was extremely mediocre and everything arrived cold. The halibut was bland and dry. The lobster was chewy and stringy. Don't waste your money. read more

This restaurant is beautiful with magnificent views. The service is great. Unfortunately, the food is tasteless and bland. I got a ceasar salad which was very mediocre so I didn't eat much. My partner got the Wharf platter and the batter on the onion rings, shrimp, fish and calamari had ZERO flavor along with the coleslaw which was tasteless. The fish was very also very greasy. Although this place had amazing views, I would never go back. Very disappointing! read more

The food was delicious! We ordered salmon and the lobster roll, both of which were very well-made and very tasty. Our server Omar was very friendly, knowledgeable and patient, and very skilled at his job. My parents and I greatly enjoyed sitting in his section and chatting with him! read more

Went here Saturday, in the past we'd had great experiences however this visit was not a great experience at all. The most appealing part of the experience, was the hostess from Columbia who bonded with my children and my wife and of course the view of the harbor. Over the years, the food quality has changed. I had what was supposed to be a Prime Rib Sandwich. In apperance when served was very small in size, looked more like chipped beef and tasted nothing like Prime Rib! For $24 I'd have been better served going to Subway or Jersey Mikes. My wife hads a seafood stew, to which was not well at all, it had a very funny taste. Needless to say she did not finish it. One of my kids had an egg sandwich with bacon, and my daughter who rarely complains, mentioned the eggs had a foul taste. She did not finish the sandwich. My other kid had a hamburger, the only successful meal. A $9 up charge for a 6" piece of sourdough bread sliced in to 6 pieces? Seriously? The place wasn't all that busy, however service too a very long time. The view is wonderful, the drinks were okay...the food quality however, I don't believe we'll be going back again. read more