50 Best American Restaurants in Santa Barbara

“Our server,Cole R, was awesome-very informed and articulate. Food was amazing-cannot overstate the incredible preparation and presentation of the prime rib!“

“Food is fantastic and so delicious!“

“This is a great spot in the scenic mountain area of Santa Barbara California. Awesome food and the staff is amazing. Perfect stop for lunch while on a motorcycle ride.“

“If you're looking to make a lasting impression on your special someone, this restaurant is an absolute must-visit. With its refined ambiance, exquisite cuisine, and impressive wine selection, it offers a truly exceptional dining experience. Having had the pleasure of dining at numerous Michelin-starred restaurants, I can confidently attest that this one stands out from the rest. Upon arrival, you'll be greeted by beautiful gardens and breathtaking views, leading to private bungalows. The staff's warm hospitality and welcoming smiles further enhance the experience. For a truly unforgettable high-end dining experience, this venue is an absolute must.“

“Great service, delicious food and nice atmosphere. The guys who was playing guitar on a street was fantastic 🤗!“

“Food was great! We tried the sweet breads- my favorite, lobster gnocchi-daughters fave, ramen-good, scallops-super lite and fresh, and the catch of the day-very tasty. The amazing menu doesn’t necessarily lend itself to picky kid eaters (my son) but he loved the catch of the day with the sauce on the side. The food took a while as they were pretty busy so the manager comp’d 2 desserts which were both spectacular! We will be back!!“

“Everyone is Very pleasant“

“We stopped for a quick bite after the zoo. Parking can be difficult in the area , but it was a wednesday late afternoon , so finding parking was not too hard. They have a good selection of foods and a happy hour in the afternoons with french fries for 5 dollars and really good macaroni and cheese balls for 7 dollars and a few more selections. The kids grilled cheese was pretty good and there were 2 sandwiches. One of us had a smash burger and was reportedly good. I ordered the specialty hot dog with Chipotle sauce, grilled onions and a grilled jalapeno.It was good not great. I have had there, macaroni and cheese balls and they're out of this world. Their fries are also very good. It is right across from the ocean wall and has a very nice casual ambience.The seating is all outside and was very pleasant. The service was good and everyone was very polite.“

“Excelente servicio rico delicioso los platillos q eh probado thank you lunas café“

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

“Had a fantastic night at islands! Clay Shuck is the most amazing worker I've ever seen, based on what I saw definitely employee of the month! Checks all the boxes - facey, smart, and kind. Ladies check this place out, Clay Shuck is a snag!“

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

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

“The Yukon Gold Cinnamon Roll is a DON’T MISS ITEM! The best cinnamon roll I’ve EVER had! The Dirty Fries were amazing. The Shrimp Cocktail - the best part was the sauce 🤦🏻‍♀️.“

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

“The pan-seared peppercorn-crusted filet mignon with potatoes au gratin and sautéed asparagus were as good as I've had anywhere. Thick, small and perfectly cooked medium-rare. And the thinly-sliced tomato salad was the perfect starter. We brought our own wine, but their in-house selection is outstanding. The staff were all extremely courteous and helpful. Our waiter, Dominic, was professional and attentive, and we never felt rushed. We enjoyed a two and a half hour anniversary dinner in a lovely outdoor setting and will definitely revisit when we're back in Santa Barbara! Thanks to everyone at Bouchon for a very special evening.“

“⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Absolutely loved this brunch spot! The avocado toast was incredibly fresh, flavorful, and perfectly prepared. And the fried chicken burrito… wow. So crispy, juicy, and delicious — easily one of the best brunch items I’ve had in a long time. Everything tasted amazing, the atmosphere was great, and the service was super friendly. Definitely coming back again!“

“Great food and better drinks!! 🥃“

“some good shows and supports local punk rock“

“So good! Nothing else to say!“

“We were very pleased with the food and service at Garretts. We had breakfast and coffee was pretty good for diner coffee. They kept cups full. Very good breakfast and service. Very casual place. We'll established. Prices reasonable. Parking was easy. Will definitely visit again. Good food.“

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

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

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

“Saint Remy is a cute little spot connected to the Marriott on State St, the restaurant area has such a fun and beachy atmosphere I loved it! I had some yummy poolside drinks and food, and the service was great! Definitely one of my new favorite spots.“

“It's a bit non-sensical to say a restaurant that's been there since 1956 could be a hidden gem. But, that is the case. Tucked away in a strip mall next to a nail salon with the tallest snake plants I've ever seen is Tee Off. It's kinda' Musso and Franks little brother. Harry Bosch would be right at home with red leather booths, dim lights and food from a different era. If you're over 60 you gotta go here. If your under 60 you won't understand how I gave the ambulance a 5 but you'll dig the food and service.

This was a splurge dinner for Jacki and I but it is possible to have a very satisfying meal and keep it under $30. We went the other direction...

Jacki went for the New York and I the Rack of Lamb. Both cuts were perfect. My medium rare lamb was perfectly done. Jacki's medium steak was a little, stress little, underdone. All entrees come with choice of soup or salad, potatoes or rice and veggies. Nicely done. I had a beautiful salad and Jacki had a spectacular prime rib soup. Very satisfying meal. Very large portions on the entree. Rack and a half on the lamb and steak had to be 12oz or more. Accompanied by a bottle of Jordan Cab ... a perfect pairing.

We loved the meal and just being there. treat yourself. Ask for Suzie. Service was 10².“

“Great place great beer and great food“

“Good food, good service, comfy and cool atmosphere“

“triple d, food network, Guy visited it“

“Really great restaurant!

The food was delicious, the atmosphere was great, and the service was outstanding. Everyone was incredibly friendly, attentive, and welcoming. We felt comfortable right away.

If we're ever back in the USA, we'll definitely stop by again. Highly recommended.“

“Super fast service, great food, great price. Highly reccomend the milkshakes, I had the oreo milkshake and its one of the best I've ever had. I don't really reccomend the mac n cheese or the chicken sandwiches, they're just okay, but the burgers are good.“

“We have been here on two separate occasions. Once for breakfast and then lunch just the other day. Both were fresh and very good. If you like food with a hometown diner feel, you will like Joe's a lot. Service was excellent on both occasions. Sitting outside is always nice on a Santa Barbara afternoon.“

“Hi I enjoyed it very much thank“

“Excelente atención , buenas ubicación“

“Friendly staff. Great Happy Hour specials.“

“Wonderful food. Friendly staff. Beautiful atmosphere.“

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

“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.“

“I’ll be honest. I could have eaten anything in Santa Barbara. I hadn’t eaten anything since 9am and it was 5pm when I arrived in Santa Barbara. I walked one mile away because of the great things I heard about Jill’s Place. And you know what? I was not disappointed! I was stoked and impressed greatly 🥰😁 I had two wonderful, dazzling, and sweet waitresses (lucky me!). I was served a yummy chicken breast sandwich and it was the best one I had ever! No seriously! It wasn’t too salty and the bread was golden brown and ready to be munched on. The tator tots had the perfect texture. It’s almost as I had food from some amazing restaurant, which, hello, I did 😅 The place was packed, since it was Fiesta, but I imagine it always is. It sucks I live 45 minutes from this great establishment. The atmosphere was fun and a little country, but I love that. It’s casual, and not some elegant place like Lucky’s is. I’d still show up in a suit, if I could and would. Definitely check this place out and ask for the two blonde sisters who work there. They’ll dazzle you with their charm and diction 😉 Hope to be back again one day!“

“What a treat! This restaurant was conveniently located near our hotel, and we’re so glad we stopped by. The pistachio-crusted salmon was absolutely amazing—cooked to perfection and now my favorite type of crusted fish!

My husband had the smashburger and really enjoyed it. Just a heads-up: the burger doesn’t come with a side, so be sure to order one.

Their happy hour drinks were fantastic—strong margaritas and great deals! Our waiter was awesome, and the service overall was excellent. Bonus points for being super dog-friendly—they even have a dog menu! Highly recommend this spot for a great meal and atmosphere!“

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“Great food and service. Beautiful location.“

“My husband and I ate at the Live Oak Café while were staying at the Best Western on the same property. The restaurant interior is bright and chic and, as a bonus, overlooks the hotel pool. Plenty of parking. We had dinner the first night of our stay and loved it so much we went back for breakfast. Everything is fresh, high quality and delicious. If you are in Santa Barbara, be sure to stop by and give them a try. Be sure also to stop and say hello to the cute little finches who live right outside. I have to give a very special shout out to Javier and Luis! They were awesome – made us feel warm and welcome and part of the family. Luis kept the smiles and the coffee coming (VERY important part of my morning) and Javier could not have been more helpful and also has a really great smile! Stop by and say hi to the guys!“

“Fish n chips are awesome !!!“

“If you are looking for an Amazing And Beautiful event venue for a wedding reception, a birthday party, a bachelorette, or any occasion venue. I Highly Highly recommend State and Fig in Santa Barbara! From planning to execution, Patrick and Serina made my niece’s wedding Perfect! I don’t use Perfect lightly, as I am known to be critical and a perfectionist especially when it comes to events. They made my niece's wedding planning experience so easy, from booking the venue to providing Customized menu options, and ALWAYS received quick responses any time we had questions as well as added personal touches of their own to the wedding. Serina and Patrick were extremely helpful, detailed, and knowledgeable and knew exactly what we wanted and how they could help. On the wedding day, The whole staff was very friendly, attentive, communicative, accommodating, Extremely helpful, and responsive, from assisting with centerpiece decorations, to serving hors d’oeuvres Always with a smile, making sure Each and Every guest was taken care of throughout the night, I was very impressed! Now for the food, EXCEPTIONAL, the taste was phenomenal, the meat was tender, the salmon was cooked perfectly, Nothing was over/undercooked, so delicious and the guests would not stop talking about how good the hors d’oeuvre and main courses were! Thank you, Serina, Patrick, and your staff from the bottom of our hearts for helping to make my niece’s wedding day beyond wonderful, and Perfect! We certainly will be back even for a weekend getaway! 😊“

“Intermezzo by Wine Cask is a true gem! The restaurant boasts a stunning atmosphere with gorgeous decor and perfectly set lighting, creating a wonderful ambiance. The service we received was truly phenomenal – our server was attentive, knowledgeable, and made the entire experience even better. We tried the pizza, fries, and chicken, and each dish was outstanding. The quality of the food was evident, and everything tasted incredible. This was an amazing experience, and we can't wait to return. Highly recommend!“

“We stopped at Sam’s To Go Sandwiches on Meig on a whim. We are certainly glad we did! This unassuming sandwich shop was clean, the owner was so pleasant, and the sandwiches were fresh and tasty! I recommend a stop at this small, non-chain shop. You won’t be disappointed.“

“We enjoyed the Thanksgiving Buffet, it was DELICIOUS!! 🦃🥰❤️“

“Increíble vista, buena comida“

“Long life to this place ! What a discovery! 🤩
I had already been to Gulfstream and loved it, and this place is just as amazing. Food, quality, and service are a solid 10/10. Everything was served in just 5 minutes, and although the salad came out at the same time as the main dishes, when we asked for the check they told us they wouldn’t charge us for it because it had been “late.” Honestly, we hadn’t even noticed! Such a thoughtful gesture we even asked them to please include it because we enjoyed it.

It’s the little details like this that make a restaurant stand out from the rest. Definitely coming back!“