50 Best American Restaurants in Santa Barbara

“Food is fantastic and so delicious!“

“Outstanding, meticulously prepared and innovative cuisine. Quality of ingredients is top notch. Service was personal and attentive. Well chosen wine list deep in local selections. Tremendous value for the price. All in all, highly recommended“

“most amazing restaurant I ever been to“

“Great spot for low-key locals.“

“Very good food very nice“

“triple d, food network, Guy visited it“

“Comfortable, relaxed atmosphere. We decided to eat inside rather than outside as the outside dining area was not as appealing. Our before dinner drinks were well done. Dinner for the 4 of us was delicious & reasonably priced. When in Santa Barbara again we will be certain to return.“

“Cold Spring Tavern is just a hidden gem. The food is great. Portions are perfect. And there really no better atmosphere. I would go back in any weather. I really would recommend trying the sampler chili, the onion rings, and of course the tri tip.

Parking: Parking is along the canyon. It's a little walking depending where you park, but that's part of the ambiance.“

“We just finished dinner at Black Sheep. Two of us enjoyed the Wednesday mussel special while my daughter had a mushroom pasta. All of us thought that the food was very good. We started off with a salad and it was very fresh and enjoyable and I would have to say exceptional. The sauce the mussels were in was very good and my daughter's mushroom pasta was terrific. We tried both desserts, one was crème brûlée, and one was a chocolate tart, We enjoyed all them. What stood out to me was that the people who worked there seem to genuinely enjoy being and always had a smile on their face. It made for a very relaxing atmosphere.We will go back soon. “

“Friendly and knowledgeable staff. Great service and delicious food.“

“Best Food in Santa Barbara.12/10 ⭐️’s.“

“...an absolute must culinary experience! Neptune Radio reporting. ...“

“Everyone is Very pleasant“

“Food, service & location is amazing. Blackened halibut sandwich was delicious.“

“Walking into this place I felt like I was in a nice establishment. The menus being in the table is cool but a bit inconvenient. I ordered the Alfredo and it thought it came with chicken because of the description, but it turns out to be extra. Change the wording! My friend also got the garden burger but didn't know what was on it. The waiter explained that it has cheese in the actual burger! It did not explain! This is bad for vegan customers.
When the food came and we took our bites it was really good! Burger cooked perfectly medium rare, and the Parmesan on the side. The garden burger and the regular burger are very messy. We all finished our plates. The garden burger 6/10, the hamburger 6/10, and the fettuccine Alfredo 7/10. Overall good experience and would come back if I were in the area.“

“Alex is the best! Food is great, and the service is amazing.“

“We were stuck in horrific traffic coming from Los Angeles. After changing the reservations several times, and being over an hour and a half late —we finally arrived. Not only did we get a terrific table, but the service was impeccable and the eggs Benedict was perfect. 5 stars for such a relaxing, special lunch in honor of my niece's graduation from the University of Santa Barbara! What could have been a disaster was a wonderful success!“

“Very pleasantly suprised by our meal at Islands! The carnitas tacos were delicious and my husband enjoyed his burger. The kids were super happy with their kids meals. Service staff were extra kind and attentive I don't usually go to chain restaurants but we will definitely be back!“

“Nice fun place staff was very friendly and helpful. We showed up with a large party on Grad night, and the manager made it happen for use. Thank you, sure, for saving the night. Open till midnight, so if you need a nice dinner spot, this is it nice bar and craft beer selection.

Parking: First 75 min are free 3.00 dollars for each hour after that.

Kid-friendliness: Seen many kids and dogs here nice friendly staff

Wheelchair accessibility: There on the first floor with plenty of space to move around should not be an issue they have tables, booths, and hightops. so seating should not be an issue as well.“

“Who can go wrong with Kyle?“

“Love Love anything that Norbert is involved with. All menu items are super delish.“

“sumptuous food. great beers and wine. a favorite place to meet old neighborhood friends every time I visit!“

“it's a small place for a small group of performers, but that's the worst I can say about it. there is a small stage at one end - maybe 10 to 15 - and great music whenever they choose to perform.The space is long and narrow - the back half is pretty quiet. the whole place is on the end floor...enjoy!“

“Great place great beer and great food“

“Consistently high quality brunch option with lots of seating, mostly outdoor. Good hot/iced Americano coffee and iced tea. While the food is great in general, I have to call out the "home fries" potatoes that are on the side, truly amazing. My favorite sandwich is the Rollex although the Sando is also great.

Parking: There is usually street parking available on Milpas or around the corner in the residential area. Might require a hunt at the weekend.“

“Had breakfast here twice during our five-night stay. Food was delicious! Highly recommend the french toast!! Our server, Alex, was delightful. She was very pleasant, friendly, and made the absolute best latte -- better than most baristas in most coffee shops!“

“Fantastic food and outdoor party possibilities! Service was slow, 2 bartenders with a line out 2 doors and waitstaff no where to be found. I’d definitely return maybe not on a weekend night, but the food and drinks were great.“

“So good! Nothing else to say!“

“A hidden gem in Santa Barbara. The diner could use some TLC as it hasn't been remodeled in a bit, but I think it's part of the appeal. Everyone that came in seemed to have been there before. The Mrs. and I were driving to Lake Arrowhead from the coast when we stopped by for some brunch. The Mrs. breakfast was perfect with crispy bacon. My turkey sandwich was on point. Only giving 4 stars on the food due to not having any gluten free options but if this doesn't apply to you, it's 5 stars for a quick stop for breakfast or lunch!“

“I visited SB Biergarten and had a great experience. The cashier was very friendly and helped us pick a beer for our flight. We didn't feel rushed at all. The staff was quick and made sure we had everything we needed. The place had a nice, welcoming vibe. I definitely recommend it for good service and a fun atmosphere!“

“The Mussels are my favorite. For dessert, I always enjoy the crème brûlée. Excellent service and wonderful atmosphere.“

“Wow! Don’t be put off by the uninviting front entrance and the opaque windows. GO EAT THERE!Once you enter, you will find yourself in an elegant restaurant.I had the prime rib. It’s one of the few places I have found that actually serves it on the bone. For $54 I was served much too large for one person portion. I asked for an end cut and boy was it crisped to perfection. It was the best prime rib I have had in a very long time.It comes with a salad and two sides. The Caesar salad was almost a full meal in itself. I wanted the mud pie for dessert but was much too full to order it. I have to get there just for that.And I must not forget to mention the large single malt selection that they have - including a very nice selection of 18 year olds. Prices were very reasonable - especially since they were three ounce pours.Definitely going to return as soon as I can.“

“We had a stellar dining experience with gorgeous views on the patio. The staff at Angel Oak is nothing short of extraordinary. From the attentive hostesses and knowledgeable staff. I wanted to recognize our server assistant, Kayleigh, our server, Brian, and our bartender, Luke. The restaurant has a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Each server seemed genuinely passionate about the menu and offered expert recommendations. Of course, it's impossible to overlook the stunning ocean views. Whether you're seated indoors or on the patio, the panorama of the Pacific is simply breathtaking. My hamachi crudo was one of the best I have ever had, coupled with a petit filet and asparagus! Perfecto! I will definitely be back.“

“Delicious high quality plates, selection of wines and great service. We tried all their entrees, one of their desserts, and everything was de-li-cious. Highly recommended.“

“the food is awesome Service is great and the atmosphere is very welcoming the wings were made and delicious and the sauce was excellent I also got a hamburger that was yummy and I love the sauce the fries were awesome just as well“

“Great food and service. Beautiful location.“

“Wonderful food. Friendly staff. Beautiful atmosphere.“

“Enjoyed our first visit for Intermezzo's new Brunch service. Really fantastic. The food was as delicious as it was beautiful. Lobster stuffed French Omelet, Huge short-rib breakfast burrito topped with avocado and a fried egg, potato pancake with smoked salmon and Filet Mignon Enchiladas to round out the table. All spectacular! And of course Bottomless Mimosas on top of it all! Highly recommend Intermezzo brunch in the courtyard... it really is special.“

“The one spot we eat at every time we are in town.“

“I've been going to the Blue Owl with my daughters since it opened. The food is fantastic. The vibe is the closest to being in a late night New York eater. I always feel home here. And of course I love the Tuesday night open mic comedy. A staple in the Santa Barbara Comedy Scene.“

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“We dined at a fire pit on the Fourth of July so we knew there would be noise and possibly less attentive service and what we experienced was such a pleasant surprise. The music and festivities were louder than usual given the holiday and yet we could all enjoy conversation without the fun of the event being an issue. The firepit service was exceptional as was the food. Mangers were on premises ensuring everyone was happy and we couldn't have been happier. Wonderful evening!“

“A great place for celebrating! You always have a great experience at The Palace“

“Being an old school food and beverage professional my experience at Honor Bar was
AMAZING.
Devin, our exceedingly classy and beautiful bar tender delivered amazing service.
For the first time ever- my martini class was exchanged for a new chilled vessel.
WHAT?
Damn girl- you had me at chilled martini glass.
Thank you for your commitment to the ultimate customer experience.
Please come to Seattle and share your grace!“

“Friendly staff. Great Happy Hour specials.“

“big portions, yummy breakfast food. We waited 30 minutes to enter though, place is small though, for the amount of people wanting to go in. So check if place is full before heading over.

Kid-friendliness: crayons available!“

“Such an accommodating place! Good service, a diverse, delicious well priced menu, and convenient! Wish they were open longer in the day.“

“This place is off the beaten path, but the service was exceptional, and the schnitzel was among the best I’ve had. I’ve lived in Europe for many years, and spent a lot of time in Austria and Germany. This was as good as the best I’ve had over there. I would recommend this place any day of the week! It’s no frills when it comes to atmosphere inside, but you can sit out on the street and watch trains go by, or you can sit in the back out on a patio. I would recommend this to anyone!“

“Cozy spot in Santa Barbara. The sliders were so good. I wished that I would have ordered a full burger. The chimichurri fries were delicious. The steak bites were great and just delicious all the way around. Lemon drop martini was great. And the Hoppy Poppy Fig Mtn beer was great! Definitely will return to this place! Hidden Gem in Santa Barbara.“

“Excelente atención , buenas ubicación“