Santa Barbara Restaurants Dining Guide

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  The Santa Barbara Restaurants Dining Guide  
Sep. 2, 2010
  
Santa Barbara Restaurants

New Restaurants 2010 & 2009 Openings
Be one of the first to review your dining experience.

Union Ale Brewing Company
Dogtown Hot Dogs
Nugget
HobNob Tavern
On The Side
Billies
Las Aves Cafe
Bay Roadhouse Bar & Grill
Renaud's Patisserie & Bistro
Bella Dolce Bakery
Wine Cask
Blush
California Crisp
root 246
French Press
South Pacific Coffee Co
Jitters Coffee
European Deli & Market
Mediterra Cafe & Market
Petros
India House
Pasta House
Sushilicious
Chinos Rock & Tacos (Santa Barbara)
Los Agaves
Chinos Rock & Tacos (Isla Vista)
TonyRay's
Giovanni's
Olio Pizzeria
Mac's Fish & Chip Shop
Holdrens
Saigon In and Out
Saigon (Five Point)
Lam's Vietnamese BBQ &Sandwiches
Yogurtland
Red Mango
Pinkberry
Live Culture
Yoyumyum
Whole Foods


The Beach Grill at Padaro is proud to announce some recent changes to their pizza. They now offer 3 distinct topping style: traditional Italian style, New York style, and their favorite, California style. Additionally their new dough is made with 100% unbleached flour, sea salt, filtered water and wild yeast. By hand tossing their dough they create a slightly thicker yet light and crispy crust.

The Padaro Catering Company located at 3765 Santa Claus Lane in Carpinteria, specializes in Prepared, Delivered food for your Rehearsal Dinner, Birthday, Reception, Company Picnic, Theme Event, Photo Shoot, On Location Event, Grand Opening, Open House, Corporate Retreat, Party, Holiday Party or Ground Breaking. If you need a
location for your event, The Beach Grill at Padaro is the perfect choice for your wedding, party, or special
event. Treat yourself and your
guests to a memorable day in our half acre beachfront garden.

Past Restaurant Openings Be one of the first to review your dining experience.

Trattoria Vittoria

Milk & Honey

Downtown Brewing Company

Hollister Brewing Company

Quantum

Jake's

Bay Cafe

Storke Ranch Deli

Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf

Plow & Angel

Bougainvillea

Giannfranco's Trattoria

Panino

New Restaurants in 2006
Be one of the first to review your dining experience at the 2006 openings.

All India Cafe

L & L Hawaiian Barbecue
L & L Hawaiian Barbecue located at 7127 Hollister Ave., #21 in The Plaza in Goleta was founder in 1976 by Eddie Flores, Jr. and Kwock Yum Kam. L & L Hawaiian Barbecue offers concocted delectable plate lunches that captivated the islands. The Hawaiian plate lunch is a huge, gastronomically challenging mixture of Asian and American starches (two scoops rice and one scoop macaroni salad) supplemented by a United Nation of entrees such as chicken katsu, beef curry, deep fried shrimp, mahi mahi, lemon chicken, barbecue shortribs, hamburger steak, etc.

L&L is known for its large portions, freshly cooked food, and reasonable prices. For hefty appetites try the regular plate lunch which is said to easily feed two people, from $5.50. For a smaller portion, try the mini plate lunch which starts from $3.75.

El Caballo

Naan Stop

New Restaurants in 2005
Click restaurant name to view visitor dining experiences.

Cities Barbecue

Kampai

DogHouse

El Cazador

Square One

Sushiya Express

StarBucks

Tiramisu
Tiramisu is a new restaurant that opening in Santa Barbara's Paseo Nuevo Mall at the end of 2005. It features fresh homade rustic Italian cuisine with elegant hand crafted pastries. Privately owned by Head Chef Victor Carranza, Tiramisu is a casual dining experience with upscale service.

Savoy Truffles
Savoy Truffles surprising food boutique opened in November, and is packing 'em in.  The food is very creative, tasty, and remarkably affordable.  The service is warm and professional, and the ambiance is
European bistro chic.  It's locate just across the street from the Santa Barbara city parking lot near Norton's Pastrami shop.

Zaytoon
Zaytoon from the Arabic word meaning olive is a welcome surprise to Santa Barbara as it is one of the only Middle Eastern restaurants in the area. Located at 209 East Canon Perdido Zaytoon offers lunch and dinner from 11:30 am to at least 11 pm, nightly. Lunch prices average $9.50, dinner $15 plus drinks and appetizers.

Golden China
Golden China is located at 3130 State Street, Santa Barbara.

New Restaurants in 2004
Click restaurant name to view visitor dining experiences.

31 West
Locate at the new Andalucia Hotel in downtown Santa Barbara 31 West offers dining intending to be a power breakfast and lunch spot and a destination restaurant in the evening. 31 West will showcase American cuisine at its best. Seating 80 in the dining area and an additional 40 at the adjoining bar 31 West is a great location for small to medium size events.

Los Gallos
Los Gallos open for lunch and dinner was established by the same family that owns the local favorite Daily Grind, right next door. Los Gallos may become a favorite as well. Prices sound reasonable with a tri-tip taco $7.50, veggie taco $5.95, and chile relleno platter $6.25

Tuttini
Location in downtown Santa Barbara, at 10 East Carrillo Street, Tuttini serves Italian sandwiches at lunch time and fresh baked pastries. They are also open for breakfast and are famous for a breakfast cookie available all day, a grape nut/date concoction.

La Marina
With beautiful panoramic ocean views La Marina, Santa Barbara's only Four Diamond restaurant features seasonal California cuisine with an international flair prepared by Chef Jesse Olsen. Wine Spectator Magazine has noted La Marina as having one of the most outstanding restaurant wine lists in the world. La Marina is located at the Four Seasons Biltmore and is open Tuesday through Saturday 6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m

Kaliman's

Kahuna Grill

Siam Elephant
Siam Elephant an authentic Thai restaurant opens in Carpentaria serving dishes from 10 a.m.-10 p.m. ranging in price for $6.95 to $8.95. The word is that it’s good, but not as good as the Santa Barbara offerings such as Zen Yai and Your Place.

Itsuki

Camomile Cafe

Cavalli's

L'ombretta
L'ombretta an “authentic Venetian wine bar” Opens its doors September 2004 servicing small bites, “Venetian style” for breakfast, lunch and dinner at 1134 Chapala Street the former location of Jojo’s Cafe.

Elements
Elements opens at former Figaro location in Santa Barbara across from the Court House sunken gardens. Offering a high end menu Elements is becoming well known as a trendy hot spot for happy hour.

La Brisas
Another Mexican restaurant pops up in Santa Barbara on Milpas Street. From feedback that DiningSantaBarbara.com has received La Brisas is well on its way to be coming one of the finest choices for authentic high quality low cost Mexican food. La Brisas is a highly recommended for lunch.

Willows
Located at the Chumash Casino in Santa Ynez Willows spells out jackpot offering fine dining selections such as porterhouse steak, surf and turf, and seared ahi prepared by the former Chef of the Ritz Carlton in Hawaii, Thomas Meyer.

Zeno Mamue
Right as one Santa Barbara Peruvian restaurant, Papagallo's, closed this year another one opens. The word on the street is that Zeno Manue is becoming a great replacement.

European Deli
Specializing in German Cuisine the European Deli brings you a wide variety of delicious continental favorites. Try the Reuben Sandwich with sauerkraut and potato salad. Located in the Fairview shopping center the European Deli is a welcome new arrival to the Goleta area.

Norton's Pastrami
A great new Santa Barbara restaurant located at 18 West Figeuroa Street. It serves up high end lunch sandwiches, their pastrami sandwich is top notch.

Saigon
The only authentic Vietnamese restaurant in the Santa Barbara area offering fresh dishes with stylish presentation.

Sakana
Dishing out Sushi in Montecito Sakana Japanese restaurant became an instant hit with it's fresh food and fast service. A Santa Barbara restaurant recommended visit

Quantum
Modern San Francisco style decor with an Asian twist; contemporary American cuisine offers a menu of small plates designed for sharing. A Santa Barbara restaurant Must Visit !

Spiritland Bistro
Gourmet organic food catering dishes to vegetarians and offering a fun casual atmosphere, a good alternative to the popular Santa Barbara Sojourner restaurant.

Deli 101
Located at 130 North Calle Cesar Chavez in Santa Barbara.

Beachbreak Cafe
Located at 324 State Street Santa Barbara, CA. Very Close to the beach and Stearn Wharf.

New Restaurants in 2003
Click restaurant name to view visitor dining experiences.

Good Cup

Rizona's
If you’re looking for dishes that will tantalize your taste buds with tropical flavors why not try Rizona’s in Santa Barbara. Coconut cream of rice for breakfast and wild caught salmon with coconut-chili sauce for dinner are some of the tasty selections.

Abdi's
Only Persian dining in Santa Barbara, bring your own wine No corkage charge!

Bellyboards

A-Ru

Chef Rick's

Spice Avenue
Authentic Indian cuisine offering an affordable lunch buffet and wine by the glass.

 Holdrens

Taiko

Dish

Atlas Market

Kimochi

Cafe Delight


 New Restaurants in 2002
Click restaurant name to view visitor dining experiences

Mondial
Private Dining Seating up to 40, Catering available. Great location for business dining.

City Kitchen

Go Fish

Natural Cafe

Chipotle

Maeda

jojo

Primo

Hibiki Sushi Cafe

Nu




What makes DiningSantaBarbara.com the best choice for dining options?

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2005 visitor dining reviews approved by a real editor. Each visitor review includes ratings for food, service and ambiance tabulated to give you the overall ratings for restaurants base on the number of restaurant reviews. 616 hand picked Santa Barbara area restaurants searchable by area, price, cuisine and name. Regular updates of new openings and closings to keep you notified and give you the most accurate information possible.

Select a Cuisine
American Argentinean Bagel
Bakery Barbeque Cafe
Cajun Californian Chinese
Coffee Shop Creative Deli
Family French Frozen Yogurt
Fusion German Greek
Grill Hamburger Hawaiian
Healthy Healthy Gourmet Ice Cream
Indian International Cuisine Irish
Italian Japanese Juice Bar
Korean Market Mediterranean
Mexican Middle Eastern Modern
Moroccan New Mexican Organic
Persian Peruvian Pizza
Private Dining Sandwich Seafood
Spanish Steak House Sushi
Thai Tropical Vegetarian
Vietnamese Wine Country

Recent Visitor Restaurant Reviews
Click on restaurant name to see more visitor reviews, listing details and over all ratings.
Superb = Poor =
Montecito Deli
Montecito Deli Restaurants
Restaurant Review Submitted by Andrew on 8/26/2010 Visited on August 2010

Great food, fast and reasonably priced for Montecito. Soup made from scratch, fresh salads and everything pretty much first quality. Guys working in kitchen hustled, courteous and helpful. Gal at the counter was rude and argumentative.


Peabody's
Montecito American Restaurants
Restaurant Review Submitted by Andrew on 8/26/2010 Visited on April 2010

Never considered going into the place as it looked dated and rundown. Started going to Peabody's on and off over a year ago as an old acquaintance recommended it wasn't too bad; check it out - sort of like Mesa Cafe. Food is fair to pretty good for the price – they need consistency in the cooking dept. We went in there several months back with some friends to watch a major motor sports event as they are known as a sports bar. We had been there before for drinks, food and a race. Bartender had two minor “ball” sporting events on their TV's with just a few people at the bar and would not put the race on. He began spouting off and going on and on about how he doesn't like racing and won't watch it which did an incredible job of insulting our party. We’re all pretty much done with this employee’s attitude and Peabody's - at least for awhile. Perhaps some good or steady management would help this restaurant gain customers instead of alienating them.


Los Agaves
Santa Barbara Mexican Restaurants
Restaurant Review Submitted by Maureen on 8/26/2010 Visited on 8/24/10

Terrific seafood molcajete and housemade tortillas. Clean and bright flavors. Noisy and somewhat chaotic, but food was muy sabrosa


Zen Yai
Santa Barbara Thai Restaurants
Restaurant Review Submitted on 8/24/2010 Visited on 08/16/10

Best Thai food in the area


Las Aves Cafe
Santa Barbara American Restaurants
Restaurant Review Submitted by Brenda Soriano on 8/18/2010 Visited on

Loving the decor and environment.


Los Tarascos
Santa Barbara Mexican Restaurants
Restaurant Review Submitted by Spencer on 8/17/2010 Visited on August 17, 2010

Better than most resteraunts in SB/Goleta and they have a broad selection of food. The licuados are excellent and the pricing is unbeatable. It looks like somebody actually takes pride in there business.


Harbor Restaurant
Santa Barbara Seafood Restaurants
Restaurant Review Submitted by Mark H. on 8/17/2010 Visited on August 17, 2010

The service is the one of the worst I have ever had in my life. Slow, inept, clueless staff. Clearly the main problem lies in the owners and general manager in not training the wait staff properly. What a shame because the resturant has a stunning veiw of Santa Barbara and the harbor.


Cal Taco
Goleta Mexican Restaurants
Restaurant Review Submitted by Julie E on 8/4/2010 Visited on July 2, 2010

I recently had the opportunity to visit this gem, just north of Santa Barbara. It was well worth the few minute drive! I ordered chicken soft tacos, thinking I would get two and try something else. WRONG! The portions are definitely a value, as I could only finish one taco. The chicken was moist and hot (a rarity at most grills) and the salsa was to die for. Could have sat on the patio and enjoyed chips and salsa for hours. My girlfriend had a teriyaki chicken sandwich that I wish I ordered too, its the only thing she ever eats there. I highly recommend it for anyone looking for great food, excellent value, but most of all high quality


D'Vine
Santa Barbara Deli Restaurants
Restaurant Review Submitted on 8/3/2010 Visited on 8/3/2010

Love to pick up a sandwich here when I am on the go. Sandwiches are great, location and parking are good. The oregonian is my favorite on the menu, at least for the moment!


Hollister Brewing Company
Goleta American Restaurants
Restaurant Review Submitted on 7/30/2010 Visited on 7/25/10

This was some of the worst highly overpriced food I've ever eaten. Their meatballs were a joke and the marinara was a joke, more like crap sauce. The garlic bread was oil soaked barely toasted bread. The salads are ridiculous, you should get twice as much for what you pay for. And don't get me started on those gross fries. Completely under cooked soggy and grease soaked. Plus I paid 3 bucks for 10ozs of soda. The only reason this place is still open is because they rip you off! Whoever made the menu and taught the cooks should be made to give their paychecks back and write an apology to all the customers. The service is also horrible. A bunch of people standing around looking at you like you're bugging them. Don't waste your time, go next door to McDonalds. It's better food and service.


Gino's Pizzeria
Santa Barbara Pizza Restaurants
Restaurant Review Submitted on 7/29/2010 Visited on 7/28/10

The food and service was fantastic. It is always hard to find a place that the entire family agrees on but this was the place! It was a small place and we didn't expect this kind of quality and service for the great prices. Speedy service and fresh food is the greatest attraction here for our family.


Your Place
Santa Barbara Thai Restaurants
Restaurant Review Submitted on 7/26/2010 Visited on

We ate there and we both got sick (mild food-poisoning). We could tell the chicken was not fresh and it smelled even in the curry, so we only had a little bit but enough to make us sick for 3 days. When I complained about the food to the server she giggled and didn't even apologize - instead she looked nervous like she was ticked off. The place also smelled funky. This has to be the worse restaurant in Santa Barbara.


Los Agaves
Santa Barbara Mexican Restaurants
Restaurant Review Submitted on 7/19/2010 Visited on 7/19/10

Went there for lunch today for the first time. Outstanding menu and was not disappointed with the fish tacos. The most halibut I've ever had in fish tacos and I've eaten them everywhere. Fish was super fresh and all the ingredients were good. The salad was a little overdressed but with their delicious mango dressing. I subbed beans instead of rice and the beans were good. Excellent interior but very noisy. Great Prices for the quality and quantity.


Petit Valentien
Santa Barbara French Restaurants
Restaurant Review Submitted on 7/18/2010 Visited on Over and over going there tomorrow again !!!!

Love the place, love the food and love the ambiance. It's like being in a bistro in Europe.


Cafe Buenos Aires
Santa Barbara Argentinean Restaurants
Restaurant Review Submitted on 7/17/2010 Visited on

Thanks Wally You are the best.


Panino ( Santa Barbara )
Santa Barbara Deli Restaurants
Restaurant Review Submitted on 7/14/2010 Visited on 07/08/2010

After visiting Panino for the 3rd time I thought I would have a better time. First time was great then the second time was a disaster. Our sandwhiches were dry, it took way to long to receive our food, and the exhaust from the trucks was nauseating. This was our similar experience this last time. I really wish we could of had a better visit.


805 Deli
Santa Barbara Deli Restaurants
Restaurant Review Submitted on 7/13/2010 Visited on 07/13/2010

We had the 805 deli cater our breakfast and lunch for 2 days. We will definately use them again.


Museum Cafe ( Santa Barbara Museum of Art )
Santa Barbara Cafe Restaurants
Restaurant Review Submitted on 7/10/2010 Visited on JULY 10, 2010

There was a used bandaid stuck to the bottom of our panini: http://bit.ly/autV51


Las Aves Cafe
Santa Barbara American Restaurants
Restaurant Review Submitted on 7/8/2010 Visited on July 3, 2010 last visit

This is such a special place to go....Now! It has had a few owners, and I happy to say this is a winner. I just stopped by on a whim and was delighted to find a most competent staff, and the food is so fresh and very tasty! I have been back several times and each time it has been a pleasure, both enjoying good food and a great smiling staff!


Palazzio
Santa Barbara Italian Restaurants
Restaurant Review Submitted on 7/8/2010 Visited on 7/4/10

So as past patrons of this restaurant it saddens us to have to report our incident as the management did not take responsibility or resolve. BE WARNED they must be under new management or just have been hit with economical factors that have turned this once great place into a nightmare. DO not eat here for your own health. After the 4th of July Parade our group of 11 went there and 4 of us got FOOD POISONING. What's worse is we returned two items with creams in them that tasted sour and then we believe our food poisoning was from the Rosemary Stuffed Chicken we all had all 4 eaten. Ruined our holiday ... we all immediately feel seriously ill to the point of meds and had to leave town and not even enjoy the fireworks that night! We immediately called and missed the manager and nobody wanted to look into this for future clients that day. Then after many conversations to management they refunded a tiny portion of the big bill that we obviously did not enjoy...and refused to take responsibility or take action or show remorse. Unreal and unexpected reaction as we were good patrons and referred a lot of biz there way. On top of this incident we notice a decline in service and quality overall. It's only a matter of time before this catches up with them...


Saigon In and Out ( Milpas Street )
Santa Barbara Vietnamese Restaurants
Restaurant Review Submitted by max cougar oswald on 7/6/2010 Visited on all the time

Extensive and AWESOME vegetarian menu. Highly recommend the vegetarian pork (tofu) dishes. The only problem is that the waiters don't speak the best English so you have to ENUNCIATE your orders very clearly!


Las Aves Cafe
Santa Barbara American Restaurants
Restaurant Review Submitted by Arleen Euring on 7/3/2010 Visited on 3 July 2010

This is the third time I have been there, for lunch and for dinner. You are greeted by a very pleasant, smiling hostes, and it just gets better from there. The food is so fresh and so many good choices. The attention to detail with the food and the subtle sauces enhance the food is wonderful.The guacamole is the best I have ever had. The staff is always watching to make sure you have everything you need. Everything I have had there has been excellent, and the prices are very reasonable. We have a true jewel in this place. Love the makeover of the interior, very nice.


Endless Summer
Santa Barbara American Restaurants
Restaurant Review Submitted on 7/3/2010 Visited on Too many to list

We are so happy that this place is here and that it continues to be so very good. Fish tacos are the best anywhere. Love the ambiance, very retro, and the live music is really great. The staff is always pleasant, and it is always a treat to eat there.


Hollister Brewing Company
Goleta American Restaurants
Restaurant Review Submitted on 6/19/2010 Visited on 6/10/10 but go at least once per week

Ingredients usually found at upscale restaurants. Creative flavors. Farmer's market fresh. Friendly, casual and one of the few good restaurants in Goleta. My go to restaurant when in doubt. And I don't even drink beer.


Chinos Rock & Tacos (Santa Barbara)
Santa Barbara Mexican Restaurants
Restaurant Review Submitted on 6/14/2010 Visited on 6-11-10

I enjoyed the live music and great food. Cheap beers always a plus on State St.


Brophy Brothers
Santa Barbara Seafood Restaurants
Restaurant Review Submitted on 6/9/2010 Visited on 06/09/2010

I still love this place, but today the food was really lousy: The Shrimp on the sampler overcooked, the scallops undercooked, and the Mahi undercooked and tasteless. And the family next to us had the same problem – tasteless food. Sorry, it spoiled my wife’s birthday lunch, and I think, I’ll hold off for a while.


Cava
Montecito Mexican Restaurants
Restaurant Review Submitted on 6/7/2010 Visited on 6/04/10

It is rare that I have an experience as good as the one I had at Cava. The food is outstanding, the interior is as charming as it is beautiful, and the staff is expedient enough to ensure that not even my littlest one could ask when the food was going to arrive. If you like desserts, get the 'besito de cava': which Cava describes as "rich chocolate ganache torte with patron xo coffee sauce." Delicious.


Rockin' Yogurt
Santa Barbara Frozen Yogurt Restaurants
Restaurant Review Submitted on 6/5/2010 Visited on

It's an awesome place! I had the nutella crepe with yogurt and it was amazing! I really recommend it!


Silvergreens
Isla Vista American Restaurants
Restaurant Review Submitted on 6/3/2010 Visited on May 28, 2010

I just moved to Santa Barbara with my husband about a few months ago, we are always busy and always looking for a quick and healthy place to pick up food from a few times per week. I hadn't quiet found a really good place that I could consistently go to without getting over there food in a couple weeks. I luckily stumbled upon Silvergreens Downtown. There food is so fresh, healthy, and amazing. The service is awesome and very quick at that. They offer a ton of varieties from Salads, Sandwiches, Soups, Pastas, Burgers. They even cover for my sweet tooth with their shakes, smoothies, sundaes, and frozen yogurt with toppings. I can definitely say that I am in love!!


Blush
Santa Barbara Californian Restaurants
Restaurant Review Submitted by Erik on 6/2/2010 Visited on 5/22/10

This was a wonderful choice. It looked hip and stylish; I was a bit worried this would be a gimmick and it wouldn't be that wonderful, but we enjoyed delicious and creative meals. The service was also excellent. We went on a Saturday night, and I think we could get a seat because it was new; otherwise, a place like this ought to be packed at a time like that!