My wife and enjoy the Happy Hour here (4-5:30) every time we’re in the area. Superb, attentive and very friendly staff. We always get the 1/2 off Cremant bubbly. The oysters, yellowtail crudo, bocarones and fries are our favorites. We joked with the staff that they should be Michelin Rated and apparently they are on their way!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fries, West Coast Oysters
Colette S
Right in the heart of Los Olivos, Bar Le Cote is a real find, serving up some seriously good seafood that's all about flavor and freshness. The vibe here is chic yet relaxed, making it a perfect spot for a leisurely brunch or a chilled evening after exploring local wineries.The staff strikes the perfect balance between friendly and professional, sharing their love and knowledge of the menu with exquisite service.The wine selection is top-notch, featuring local favorites and a special white wine by Stolpman that's a match made in heaven for their Uni.The shrimp salad is a must-try, and the oysters, sourced from both coasts, are as fresh as they come. The paella is not only a feast for the eyes but is also packed with tasty mussels and ideal for sharing.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Maya Shen
Came during happy hour and stayed through dinner. Very fresh seafood, the shrimp’s big and juicy, oyster price is not comparable to East coast’s $1 offerings but nicely cleaned! Wish they offer better fish than mackerel for their grilled whole fish dish. Nonetheless, it’s well executed.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Oysters Peel and Eat Shrimp Fries
Annie Hu
Came for lunch and enjoyed the steak tartare, the oysters, the yellowtail crudo, and French fries (no seriously, get it as a side) as appetizers. The oyster po'boy is good albeit the portion is small, definitely half the size of an oyster po'boy you'd get in New Orleans. The fried chicken sandwich was nicely done - excellent fry on the chicken. The clams came buried in a delicious meaty sauce and you'll definitely use all of the bread to soak up the sauce; I highly recommend. The paella was disappointing - rice was too mushy but the mussels on top were well prepared. The issue I have is the service - very lackluster and the pace was off - too forward and aggressive in the beginning and then sporadic and slow at the end. We waited 15 minutes after they cleared the plates for a check and we had to get the flag down the host to get one of the servers (we had 3 rotating people) to get the check.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Oyster PO Boy Sandwich, Oysters Peel and Eat Shrimp Fries, Neck Clams, Fries, Beef Tartare, Chicken Sandwich
Meliá Grasska
Amazing dog friendly restaurant (on patio). Door was local and fresh and the service is incredible. I loved it and will come again whenever I’m in the area. 20% service is included.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Darya M.
One of those meals where you spend the whole time talking about how good the meal is 10/10 on space, ambiance, food and service
Every dish we tried was absolutely delicious! Waiters were super nice and friendly. Loved the head chef walking around checking in on us. You can see the level of thought and care that goes in from the menu, ambience, and food to the level of the consumer's experience.
Lizzie D.
What an outstanding restaurant! From the ambiance, the service, the food, everything about this place is a 10/10!!We took the advice of our server and the reviews and got the saffron buns with the uni butter and you absolutely must do the same. They are so incredibly delicate and delicious! We did the happy hour fries and half dozen oysters. For entrees we shared the pulpo and mussels paella. Every dish was better than the first. I can't wait to go back!
Brent Hronik
Had the fried chicken sandwich and tartare, the fries that came with the tartare were amazing. Tbh, everything about this place was amazing, only downside is that there was no uni on the lunch menu, so guess I have to go back for dinner ?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Kim A.
Throw mine on the pile of 5 star reviews for Bar Le Cote. There should be a 6 star option--at least an asterisk or plus sign--for the telling of restaurants that go over the top to make guests feel welcome and offer an exceptional meal. We were greeted and seated by a charming man who behaved as if we were old friends. Tristen, our waiter was friendly and knowledgeable and although they were packed on a Saturday night, the service was exceptional. Four of us dined on small plates of croquettes, crudo, fries that made the angels sing, broccolini, paella and garlicky gambas. We paired it with a delicious bottle of Pinot Noir - only 1 bottle because we stopped at Mattie's for martinis before. And if we'd had another, we never would have left. I asked Tristen if there was flour in the croquettes and, without provocation, he brought a salad-in case there was an allergy at play and I might go hungry. That's what a good friend does, not a busy bustling restaurant on a Saturday night. I've truly never experienced service like that before. I ate everything, glutinous or not and I'm not sorry. No surprise that the food was prepared with the same attention to detail, and love that we felt from the moment we walked in. Three of us celebrate birthdays this month, and my husband snitched so they brought olive oil cake, ice cream drowned in sherry and a pot de crème I will dream about. It was an unforgettable experience. I'm not sure I can ever give another 5 stars. Who could compare?
Wendie Morin
Delicious food. Attentive and friendly service. Gorgeous interior. One of the best meals I’ve had recently. Cheers:)
Best restaurant in the area. Book ahead. Usually booked
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Really neat place. Loved the food. Unique place in Los Olivos. Great to see it grow into a great food and wine
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: West Coast Oysters, Clam, Fries, Prawn Cocktail, Beef Tartare, Saffron Lemonade
This place was one of the highlights of our trip to Santa Barbara/Santa Ynez. The Branzino and saffron buns with sea urchin butter were delightful.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Spanish Citrus Olive Oil Cake, Dry Aged Branzino
Fantastic food and a amazing friendly
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
My wife and enjoy the Happy Hour here (4-5:30) every time we’re in the area. Superb, attentive and very friendly staff. We always get the 1/2 off Cremant bubbly. The oysters, yellowtail crudo, bocarones and fries are our favorites. We joked with the staff that they should be Michelin Rated and apparently they are on their way!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fries, West Coast Oysters
Right in the heart of Los Olivos, Bar Le Cote is a real find, serving up some seriously good seafood that's all about flavor and freshness. The vibe here is chic yet relaxed, making it a perfect spot for a leisurely brunch or a chilled evening after exploring local wineries.The staff strikes the perfect balance between friendly and professional, sharing their love and knowledge of the menu with exquisite service.The wine selection is top-notch, featuring local favorites and a special white wine by Stolpman that's a match made in heaven for their Uni.The shrimp salad is a must-try, and the oysters, sourced from both coasts, are as fresh as they come. The paella is not only a feast for the eyes but is also packed with tasty mussels and ideal for sharing.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Came during happy hour and stayed through dinner. Very fresh seafood, the shrimp’s big and juicy, oyster price is not comparable to East coast’s $1 offerings but nicely cleaned! Wish they offer better fish than mackerel for their grilled whole fish dish. Nonetheless, it’s well executed.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Oysters Peel and Eat Shrimp Fries
Came for lunch and enjoyed the steak tartare, the oysters, the yellowtail crudo, and French fries (no seriously, get it as a side) as appetizers. The oyster po'boy is good albeit the portion is small, definitely half the size of an oyster po'boy you'd get in New Orleans. The fried chicken sandwich was nicely done - excellent fry on the chicken. The clams came buried in a delicious meaty sauce and you'll definitely use all of the bread to soak up the sauce; I highly recommend. The paella was disappointing - rice was too mushy but the mussels on top were well prepared. The issue I have is the service - very lackluster and the pace was off - too forward and aggressive in the beginning and then sporadic and slow at the end. We waited 15 minutes after they cleared the plates for a check and we had to get the flag down the host to get one of the servers (we had 3 rotating people) to get the check.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Oyster PO Boy Sandwich, Oysters Peel and Eat Shrimp Fries, Neck Clams, Fries, Beef Tartare, Chicken Sandwich
Amazing dog friendly restaurant (on patio). Door was local and fresh and the service is incredible. I loved it and will come again whenever I’m in the area. 20% service is included.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
One of those meals where you spend the whole time talking about how good the meal is 10/10 on space, ambiance, food and service
Restaurantji Recommends
Every dish we tried was absolutely delicious! Waiters were super nice and friendly. Loved the head chef walking around checking in on us. You can see the level of thought and care that goes in from the menu, ambience, and food to the level of the consumer's experience.
What an outstanding restaurant! From the ambiance, the service, the food, everything about this place is a 10/10!!We took the advice of our server and the reviews and got the saffron buns with the uni butter and you absolutely must do the same. They are so incredibly delicate and delicious! We did the happy hour fries and half dozen oysters. For entrees we shared the pulpo and mussels paella. Every dish was better than the first. I can't wait to go back!
Had the fried chicken sandwich and tartare, the fries that came with the tartare were amazing. Tbh, everything about this place was amazing, only downside is that there was no uni on the lunch menu, so guess I have to go back for dinner ?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Throw mine on the pile of 5 star reviews for Bar Le Cote. There should be a 6 star option--at least an asterisk or plus sign--for the telling of restaurants that go over the top to make guests feel welcome and offer an exceptional meal. We were greeted and seated by a charming man who behaved as if we were old friends. Tristen, our waiter was friendly and knowledgeable and although they were packed on a Saturday night, the service was exceptional. Four of us dined on small plates of croquettes, crudo, fries that made the angels sing, broccolini, paella and garlicky gambas. We paired it with a delicious bottle of Pinot Noir - only 1 bottle because we stopped at Mattie's for martinis before. And if we'd had another, we never would have left. I asked Tristen if there was flour in the croquettes and, without provocation, he brought a salad-in case there was an allergy at play and I might go hungry. That's what a good friend does, not a busy bustling restaurant on a Saturday night. I've truly never experienced service like that before. I ate everything, glutinous or not and I'm not sorry. No surprise that the food was prepared with the same attention to detail, and love that we felt from the moment we walked in. Three of us celebrate birthdays this month, and my husband snitched so they brought olive oil cake, ice cream drowned in sherry and a pot de crème I will dream about. It was an unforgettable experience. I'm not sure I can ever give another 5 stars. Who could compare?
Delicious food. Attentive and friendly service. Gorgeous interior. One of the best meals I’ve had recently. Cheers:)