Chuck's is one of my favorite places in all of Santa Barbara. A locals place that's been there for forever. Great steaks, always love the New York Strip and always is cooked perfectly to my temp. Place does get busy. But the service is phenomenal! Great, great service by a pretty, tall blonde young lady.... Kayla? She seems to handle the busy restaurant with ease, attentive and just a friendly personality. We'll be back!
Mia W.
Everything is very bad. Everything is the worst restaurant I've ever been to. I always opt for well-done steak and have never had a steak that was completely burnt. The outer layer of the steak is too charred, not only the taste becomes very bitter and hard, but also bad for health. Charred foods contain substances such as acrylamide and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which have been found to be carcinogenic in animal studies. When I asked to fix the problem, the waiter was very dismissive, I don't know if it was because I was Asian, and he refused to help me cut off the burnt outer part. It was a really bad dining experience. If you have other options, please do not choose this restaurant, the worst food and service in the world is not worth the high price you pay for it.
Bill M.
Poor service on arrival. Waitress acted aggressively when asked to be seated elsewhere. Clearly bothered by the request and we decided to leave. Spoke to manager who was not interested.
Danielle R.
We love Chucks!!! We love the salad bar. We love the teriyaki ribeye! The chicken and the pork chop (it's huge) are also wonderful. My parent's first date was here, and they're still making great food 40+ years later! Excellent staff. Big patio out front, inside is dark, cozy, and moody. Always very clean. *Old fashion drink was disappointing 3x I ordered it (just not traditionally made - made with crushed ice).
Msjayfab G.
Had a great time in this beautiful venue located in the downtown area of Santa Barbara. I had the grilled chicken with baked potato which actually had a really crispy skin so it almost tasted like potato skins lol. The chicken was great. I really loved the food here. Oh andddddd they have a salad bar. But my must go back to is the bar for my lemon drop! The bartender Daniel was so hospitable and was fast with the drinks and the waitress Bella had such great attitude and vibe providing just awesome service. I will come back and actually take some pics to post of the food.
Jeff W.
So perfect. From the gas torches out front that remind you of Hawaii to the old-school but comfortable and upscale vibe inside it's just an awesome place. For what you get the prices are beyond reasonable. You were there for a couple of hours and I have to say the food was great. The swordfish was 10/10. be going back for that definitely. It's the type of place where you leave feeling like you paid the right amount for great quality food never rushed in a nice environment. What more could you want!
Vivian T.
The food here was alright. My steak was cooked well but definitely under seasoned while my rice was over seasoned and too salty. The scallops were delicious though! Also, the salad bar concept was pretty cool - I enjoyed that part a lot. The drink I ordered, a Moscow mule, was by far the worst drink I've ever had. I wouldn't ever order that again. I proceeded to order extra ginger beer to make it better but the servers forgot and I think the ginger beer was flat which made for an awful drink. I went on Valentine's Day with my friends and the vibes were cool. Didn't feel crammed or too loud there! Overall decent!
Jodi B.
This business has been around for decades and my family has been coming here for decades. The food and drinks are good here however the few things I don't care about is how dark and crowded it is inside and I did notice that their croutons are made from their old dinner rolls. Great that they're eliminating food waste but often they are over cooked and sometimes feel like they've been sitting out for a long time with their rock hard texture.
Larry S.
Been a fan for years, but had a very bad experience last Saturday. Really poor service throughout the night. Wait staff not friendly, attentive or professional. Food getting very expensive, so you expect a lot since you pay a lot. We had a birthday celebration and were very disappointed. We have a lot of restaurant choices in SB. Chucks has to do better or you'll continue to lose customers like us.
Steve L
Another long time Santa Barbara favorite, Chuck’s offers traditional steakhouse fare with a Hawaiian flare. They have a selection of beef cuts to choose from (I prefer the New York strip, medium rare) and several non-steak options to accommodate most people’s tastes. Meals include a trip to the salad bar with amply sized plates and bowls to ensure you get enough. The food is good and I find the service equally good, even when it busy (which is often).There’s a full bar with separate seating if you’re so inclined or prefer an even more casual and social experience. That being said, the general vibe is very casual and it’s not unlikely to see people wearing anything from shorts and a t-shirt to slacks and a button up - not unlike many Hawaiian restaurants.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Salad Bar, 14 Oz Pork Chop T-Bone Cut
1 star is only for the rice which really killed us the rest of the night. It was obviously 2 or 3 days
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 1
Service: 5
William S.
Steak was very good. Bar service is prompt, professional and separate from food servers. Salad and bread bar is fun - and keeps a lid on the overall cost. Line can be long which gives the feel of a free for all. I think they sat us at the worst possible table. Whenever we come up from LA we stay at the Hilton by the beach and eat here. But unless you're a local or you have a reservation made long ago expect to be seated accordingly! Seriously there shouldn't even be a table where we sat.
Johannes Scharf
Have been there on a Sunday early evening. Great service by Amanda. Fantastic steak (12oz Sirloin). The salad bar is very good sorted and fresh. Nice bread. A pity is that the beer is not on happy hour.I`ll be back soon!!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jenn M.
Chuck's had been here for years and it didn't disappoint. The salad bar is like a trip to the1970's. The brown squaw bread with butter was great. The cherry tomatoes were rock hard and not edible. There were 5 of us and everyone enjoyed their meal. My rib eye was just right, the scallops were tender and not mushy. The pork rib was tender and juicy. The prices were reasonable, given how everything has gotten so expensive, the prices didn't feel like gauging or offensive. They have a great happy hour and that could be enough for dinner
Chuck's is one of my favorite places in all of Santa Barbara. A locals place that's been there for forever. Great steaks, always love the New York Strip and always is cooked perfectly to my temp. Place does get busy. But the service is phenomenal! Great, great service by a pretty, tall blonde young lady.... Kayla? She seems to handle the busy restaurant with ease, attentive and just a friendly personality. We'll be back!
Everything is very bad. Everything is the worst restaurant I've ever been to. I always opt for well-done steak and have never had a steak that was completely burnt. The outer layer of the steak is too charred, not only the taste becomes very bitter and hard, but also bad for health. Charred foods contain substances such as acrylamide and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which have been found to be carcinogenic in animal studies. When I asked to fix the problem, the waiter was very dismissive, I don't know if it was because I was Asian, and he refused to help me cut off the burnt outer part. It was a really bad dining experience. If you have other options, please do not choose this restaurant, the worst food and service in the world is not worth the high price you pay for it.
Poor service on arrival. Waitress acted aggressively when asked to be seated elsewhere. Clearly bothered by the request and we decided to leave. Spoke to manager who was not interested.
We love Chucks!!! We love the salad bar. We love the teriyaki ribeye! The chicken and the pork chop (it's huge) are also wonderful. My parent's first date was here, and they're still making great food 40+ years later! Excellent staff. Big patio out front, inside is dark, cozy, and moody. Always very clean. *Old fashion drink was disappointing 3x I ordered it (just not traditionally made - made with crushed ice).
Had a great time in this beautiful venue located in the downtown area of Santa Barbara. I had the grilled chicken with baked potato which actually had a really crispy skin so it almost tasted like potato skins lol. The chicken was great. I really loved the food here. Oh andddddd they have a salad bar. But my must go back to is the bar for my lemon drop! The bartender Daniel was so hospitable and was fast with the drinks and the waitress Bella had such great attitude and vibe providing just awesome service. I will come back and actually take some pics to post of the food.
So perfect. From the gas torches out front that remind you of Hawaii to the old-school but comfortable and upscale vibe inside it's just an awesome place. For what you get the prices are beyond reasonable. You were there for a couple of hours and I have to say the food was great. The swordfish was 10/10. be going back for that definitely. It's the type of place where you leave feeling like you paid the right amount for great quality food never rushed in a nice environment. What more could you want!
The food here was alright. My steak was cooked well but definitely under seasoned while my rice was over seasoned and too salty. The scallops were delicious though! Also, the salad bar concept was pretty cool - I enjoyed that part a lot. The drink I ordered, a Moscow mule, was by far the worst drink I've ever had. I wouldn't ever order that again. I proceeded to order extra ginger beer to make it better but the servers forgot and I think the ginger beer was flat which made for an awful drink. I went on Valentine's Day with my friends and the vibes were cool. Didn't feel crammed or too loud there! Overall decent!
This business has been around for decades and my family has been coming here for decades. The food and drinks are good here however the few things I don't care about is how dark and crowded it is inside and I did notice that their croutons are made from their old dinner rolls. Great that they're eliminating food waste but often they are over cooked and sometimes feel like they've been sitting out for a long time with their rock hard texture.
Been a fan for years, but had a very bad experience last Saturday. Really poor service throughout the night. Wait staff not friendly, attentive or professional. Food getting very expensive, so you expect a lot since you pay a lot. We had a birthday celebration and were very disappointed. We have a lot of restaurant choices in SB. Chucks has to do better or you'll continue to lose customers like us.
Another long time Santa Barbara favorite, Chuck’s offers traditional steakhouse fare with a Hawaiian flare. They have a selection of beef cuts to choose from (I prefer the New York strip, medium rare) and several non-steak options to accommodate most people’s tastes. Meals include a trip to the salad bar with amply sized plates and bowls to ensure you get enough. The food is good and I find the service equally good, even when it busy (which is often).There’s a full bar with separate seating if you’re so inclined or prefer an even more casual and social experience. That being said, the general vibe is very casual and it’s not unlikely to see people wearing anything from shorts and a t-shirt to slacks and a button up - not unlike many Hawaiian restaurants.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Salad Bar, 14 Oz Pork Chop T-Bone Cut
Restaurantji Recommends
1 star is only for the rice which really killed us the rest of the night. It was obviously 2 or 3 days
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 1
Service: 5
Steak was very good. Bar service is prompt, professional and separate from food servers. Salad and bread bar is fun - and keeps a lid on the overall cost. Line can be long which gives the feel of a free for all. I think they sat us at the worst possible table. Whenever we come up from LA we stay at the Hilton by the beach and eat here. But unless you're a local or you have a reservation made long ago expect to be seated accordingly! Seriously there shouldn't even be a table where we sat.
Have been there on a Sunday early evening. Great service by Amanda. Fantastic steak (12oz Sirloin). The salad bar is very good sorted and fresh. Nice bread. A pity is that the beer is not on happy hour.I`ll be back soon!!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Chuck's had been here for years and it didn't disappoint. The salad bar is like a trip to the1970's. The brown squaw bread with butter was great. The cherry tomatoes were rock hard and not edible. There were 5 of us and everyone enjoyed their meal. My rib eye was just right, the scallops were tender and not mushy. The pork rib was tender and juicy. The prices were reasonable, given how everything has gotten so expensive, the prices didn't feel like gauging or offensive. They have a great happy hour and that could be enough for dinner
Make a reservation.Prepare for a loud atmosphere.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 4