Aegean Neotaverna LLC

Amazing food from start to finish. The hummus is incredibly smooth and packed with unique flavor. I also tried the chicken kebab and the sea bass, both were outstanding. Everything here is a must-try! Do not forget to finish with a cup of Turkish coffee.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

I had an amazing experience at Aegean in Santa Barbara! The flavors here are on another level — the menu is packed with delicious Mediterranean dishes that feel both authentic and creative.

The meatballs and chicken quickly became my favorites, but the sea bass absolutely stole the show — truly unforgettable. On top of the food, the staff makes you feel so welcome, and the chef brings a cool energy to the whole atmosphere while working in action.

This new restaurant is setting a fresh standard for Santa Barbara dining, and I can’t wait to come back. Highly recommend!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

There used to be only one Mediterranean restaurant in this town but that is no longer the case. Not only has Chef Efe being able to provide us with another choice to eat this type of cuisine but he has done it with unparalleled style and craft. He takes you on a journey with his very daring choices and mixes of flavors. You can also taste the freshness of each ingredient. I hope his menu changes with the seasons because he has the vision of an artist and should be able to create new, more adventurous dishes. We are very lucky to have him in our community. Thank you for the wonderful experience. Keep up the excellent work.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Ege is the best Turkish chef out there. Before he becomes super famous, now is the time to taste his food! I am a recurrent customer over the years. Now that the restaurant is open, I will be continuing to eating here so as long as he is around!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Everything was 10/10!
The cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, tabbouleh,salgam crudo and chocolate dessert were all phenomenal!
Friendly service. We even had the honor to talk to the chef.
A great evening.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

As a self-proclaimed Mediterranean food aficionado, I was *immediately* intrigued when I heard Aegean was opening a brick-and-mortar location—and I knew I had to check it out.

Let’s start with the service: warm, welcoming, and incredibly attentive. The staff let us know it was their very first week of service and asked for a bit of patience—but honestly, had they not mentioned it, we would’ve never known. Everything ran smoothly, and the team made us feel genuinely cared for.

Now, the food. THE FOOD. I didn’t even pause for photos because it was that good. Our group went all in: fries, tzatziki, marinated olives, hummus with zoug, falafel, crudo, the special tomato salad, tabbouleh, and kebab.

Every single dish was spot-on—fresh, flavorful, and beautifully balanced. I’m only kicking myself for not saving room for dessert!

It’s a bit tucked away and might be tricky to find, but don’t let that stop you. This place is 100% worth the visit—and trust me, you’ll be dreaming about that hummus for days.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Really delicious food and great service. We had tried Chef Efe’s food before and it’s really fantastic flavors. We tried most everything on the menu and really enjoyed it all with the cauliflower with lemon tahini (so flavorful) and the meatballs as stand outs. But really everything was amazing. Great food and service with great views from the courtyard towards De La Guerra Plaza. Our group lingered over our shared meal and felt so comfortable and relaxed and well looked after. The flavors are really delicious!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Great taste, great atmosphere, great people. 10/10

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Agean restaurant is a new addition to Santa Barbara. Chef Efe Onoglu by choosing local, quality ingredients to create reimagined classic Mediterranean cuisine. A vibrant flavors with a unique twist.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 5

Great to have Aegean and chef Efe in Santa Barbara. Very tasty Greek/Turkish style food, wonderful flavors. Can’t wait to go back for the expanded menu. I was there first day open, so much soul and love in the restaurant.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 4

Mediterranean kitchen especially Aegen one is the healthiest alternative to American fast food !

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

This place doesn’t
exist

Fabulous, great tasting food. I could eat it every day. Thank you ??

As a native Chicagoan, one requirement is you have to love Greek food. After all, Chicago has the third largest population of Greeks out of all the cities in the world (~150,000)! Since relocating to Santa Barbara, I was disheartened to not find many Greek or Mediterranean restaurants that serve authentic cuisine. Thankfully I happened upon Chef Effe representing Aegean Neotaverna during one of his pop-ups. He cooks up not only healthy but delicious recipes. I tried a few dishes including hummus, tabouli, chicken kebab and Kavurma (brisket). Every.single.item was spectacular! Full of authentic flavors whether it is tahini, pinenuts, garlic and beyond. The hummus was smooth yet perfectly delectable. The meat was extremely moist with char flavor. I also loved seeing how organized Chef Effe was in preparing each plate--as if the pop-up was a Michelin Star restaurant. He obviously takes pride in his work and it shows. Can't wait to see where he pops up next via Instagram.

Absolutely the BEST food in Santa Barbara!