The Stonehouse Restaurant

The setting is stunning — a softly lit patio, historic building, beautifully appointed in a way that feels special without trying too hard. Easily an A+ on atmosphere. Service landed closer to an B+/A-: our server was genuinely lovely, but we had to wait a bit to get his attention a few times.

The food was more mixed than we expected. Highlights included the octopus (excellent), the duck l’orange (very good), and the carrots (also very good). The chickpea artichoke cake was solid, if not memorable. The fries were puzzling — billed as “the crispiest fries you’ve ever had,” which they… definitely were not. Our server offered to replace them, which we appreciated, but it felt more like a marketing mismatch than a kitchen issue and could have been easily avoided.

Dessert was a real miss. The Meyer lemon tart was borderline bad — the pastry was thick, uneven and so hard I thought I might crack the plate trying to get my fork through it.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 4

Service: 4

One of the best restaurants in the CA, ambiance is great, service is excellent, food is amazing 👌

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Wonderful experience. The smoked tableside cocktails were so fun, the dishes were absolutely delicious, and our server was so professional and kind. Highly recommend and look forward to our next time there!

We went to this restaurant for our anniversary dinner. The food, ambiance, and service was impeccable. The steak Diane and the black cod were amazing. Would definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone that is looking for a higher-end experience.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Beautiful elegant. Wonderful food and exceptional staff. We live near here and always love coming.

Wonderful experience! Everyone that works there are lovely. Some dishes were not worth their price but overall good.

This is not for the cheep this is a very upper class kinda restaurant. If you have the money and are in the area go. My husband and I went for our anniversary and it was so nice our food was even better. I wish we had gone in the early evening so you can see the grounds because we went at 7 and didn't really see anything but all the trees were lit up with lights it was beautiful. If I had to complain about anything it would have been the dessert not as good as the meal but still good. Go if you have the chance

Tl;dr:if spending $500+ on a dinner for two is a stretch for you then don't come.
The definitive review you need. Lunch here is better to appreciate the grounds. It is expensive. You are in one of the wealthiest zip codes in the world, quality is not linearly going up with the price. Service is really great and the atmosphere was super romantic. The food was good, we had the steak Diane which they overcooked a bit to medium when asked medium rare. The Mac and cheese is quite ordinary. Overall the food but prices do feel inflated for the quality. For similar price you can get an even more outstanding meal at a michelin star steakhouse like Gwen's in LA. Again, you are paying a premium for the location. If you are saving for a special dinner/occasion I would not come here as you might be disappointed with high expectations . If this is in your usual budget range then you'll be satisfied and have a good time but wouldn't go out of the way to come here.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 4

Service: 5

Absolutely loved the food, service, and overall experience. 10/10 recommend going at sunset and sitting outside. The food was delicious. Would definitely go back!

A breathtaking venue San Ysidro was such a special finish to our Montecito weekend. Unfortunately Stonehouse was in service cleaning when we visited so the breakfast was

It was great in every single aspect. Definitely coming back and recommending! Thanks, Juliana

Stonehouse at San Ysidro Ranch is truly special. The food was outstanding—fresh, beautifully prepared, and full of flavor. We ordered the eggs Benedict, lemon ricotta pancakes, and the salmon lox bagel, and every dish was excellent. The ingredients tasted incredibly fresh, and each plate felt thoughtfully made rather than overdone. The service was impeccable: warm, attentive, and seamless without ever feeling intrusive. The setting alone is worth the visit—ocean views paired with lush trees and manicured shrubs create a serene, almost magical atmosphere. The grounds are stunning and make the entire experience feel elevated and relaxing. A perfect spot for a memorable brunch and a quintessential Santa Barbara experience.

We have been going to Stonehouse for about 20 years and have never been disappointed. On the Mount Rushmore of US restaurants.

A romantic date night! The most beautiful decor and ambience. The food was unbelievable. Everything was perfect!

Amazing food. Enjoyed the speak easy before dinner, which was also great. They accommodated my dietary preferences. Fabulous wine recommendation from the sommelier. Lovely soft live guitar music. I lió e this place!! Oh, and the chocolate soufflé was delicious.