I truly don't understand the reviews. It took us 15 minutes to be seated, 45 minutes to get our first glass of water after several reminders. The drinks were a little watery. The menu is small, so there isn't a huge amount of choice, and the plates are really not that good. I had the bluefin tuna, which was overcooked. The chicken was soft and flavorless. The tri-tip was stringy. Do yourself a favour and go somewhere else.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 1
Recommended dishes: Brussels Sprouts
Vinay Guduguntla
I had a party of 12 come here for brunch recently. Food and ambience were great, but the service from the "front of the house" was subpar.
I called at 10AM on Sun AM and let the restaurant know that I was coming in at opening time with a party of 12. I got a quick "sounds good, see you then!" so figured we would be all set. Upon arriving we were greeted by an unpleasant front desk host, who asked why we didn't just call before showing up with our group. It took 15+ minutes for them to push 3 nearby tables together, and they then offered us different menus than the standard brunch for our group. These different menus had very few vegetarian options, and even asking for alternatives from the "original" menu seemed to be a hassle for their team.
Moreover, when it appeared we didn't have enough place settings for our group, I reached out to the host, who again had a negative attitude about the situation. Luckily our server, Diego, was the saving grace of the staff. He was great, and tried to help where he could.
Overall, while we enjoyed the food, the service was both slow and unpleasant.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 2
Greg Kubat
Food was very good - enjoyed everything after they finally got around to taking our order. Service was so slow someone had to go ask if anyone was working the patio. Sat outside on a cool night and although they had heaters, only one work, and it was not near us or majority of patrons outside. Service ruined dinner.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 5
Service: 1
Ethan Kersat
The service level was beyond expectations and the menu is mind-blowing. Food was delicious and cocktail menu is irresistible. The atmosphere is wholly unique, authentic, and charming. We can’t wait to come back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
malati pr
We enjoyed an excellent vegan meal at La Paloma. Delicious homemade tacos stuffed with a potato-zucchini mash on a bed of flavorful black beans. Served hot, it really hit the spot. Also ordered marinated portobello mushrooms and lentils infused with honey, ginger, and truffle. Original and satisfying. Thanks for the great service too, Beth.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Giana C
Let me start off by saying this place is impeccable! I love everything about this place. There dishes were amazing and the ambiance was inviting. The servers are perfection! I came here with my partner to celebrate our 2 year anniversary ?♥️ they made the night so special for us with sweet champagne and an exquisite dessert ! We left in awe! The posible was delicious and the steak was *chefs kiss*. Highly recommend!
Brendan Sweeny
Everything was five stars! We were celebrating a birthday and everyone at La Paloma went out of their way to make sure the evening was special. Special shout out to chef Jeremy for his incredible food as well as our server, Olivia, for the amazing hospitality! We cannot wait to come back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Dan Lang
Great atmosphere right next to state street with a kind staff.
We got a salad which was solid and the tacos which were really, really average for $24.
Beers were $9 and cocktails $20…
Come here if you’re bored and want to act fancy
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 4
Willybird
Beautiful ambience, very very very good drinks, and delicious food fit for a gnome.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Tri Tip
Sherns Wang
walk into the restaurant around 1:20 PM on a Thursday. They were very slow. Interior was completely empty. We sat outside. They’ll accommodate your seating if you’d like. Halfway during our meal, it did get very warm. So just voice your concern if needed.
Brussels sprouts - HIGHLY recommend. The flavor and char is there. The bottom with all the sauce was a bit salty for me. 9.5/10
Brisket burnt end bowl - the brisket burnt end was a bit tough. Not the tenderness I was hoping for. Flavor is there though! The salad was a good pairing with the bowl. The rice is at the very bottom which wasn’t as much as beans in the bowl. I’d give it a 7/10.
We had the oak-charred portobello mushroom slices with charred lentils, and that was a fun new choice! On a very positive recommendation from a friend, both our parties also ordered a fabulous side discharged Golden Hominy Cheese casserole-- a new take on Mac n cheese, maybe? We loved it. Pricy, when you consider the vegetarian ingredients, but their spin was creative and new to us. Also, perfect location before an evening concert at the nearby Lobero Theater. Very SB!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Maria Barrell
Consistently excellent and creative dishes, exceptionally fresh fish, and amazing cocktails! On top of that, the service is quick without feeling rushed. Thank you for being in Santa Barbara, La Paloma!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Arianna Oliver
We just hosted our wedding reception at La Paloma Cafe over Labor Day Weekend and it was simply amazing. We had a reception for 54 people out on the back patio and it was perfect. It was such a beautiful space and fit our needs exactly.
Working with Megan was a great experience and she made everything very easy for us. She was very accommodating and informative and was willing to work with us on our various needs and requests.
On the event day, the space was set up perfectly - exactly according to our specs. The food was AMAZING - we got so many compliments on everything, especially the brussel sprouts and hominy. The drinks were superb - especially the margaritas - and the wait staff was so patient, kind and responsive.
I'm so so glad we went with La Paloma. It was perfect for our wedding. We can't wait to come back and visit again so we can have another meal here and relive our special night.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Brussels Sprouts
feuriger Stern
Vegetarian options: The hominy cheese casserole is great.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Tereza Fritz
We had a group of 11 to celebrate my mom's birthday on the patio. The service was really great and everyone enjoyed their meals.
I truly don't understand the reviews. It took us 15 minutes to be seated, 45 minutes to get our first glass of water after several reminders. The drinks were a little watery. The menu is small, so there isn't a huge amount of choice, and the plates are really not that good. I had the bluefin tuna, which was overcooked. The chicken was soft and flavorless. The tri-tip was stringy. Do yourself a favour and go somewhere else.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 1
Recommended dishes: Brussels Sprouts
I had a party of 12 come here for brunch recently. Food and ambience were great, but the service from the "front of the house" was subpar.
I called at 10AM on Sun AM and let the restaurant know that I was coming in at opening time with a party of 12. I got a quick "sounds good, see you then!" so figured we would be all set. Upon arriving we were greeted by an unpleasant front desk host, who asked why we didn't just call before showing up with our group. It took 15+ minutes for them to push 3 nearby tables together, and they then offered us different menus than the standard brunch for our group. These different menus had very few vegetarian options, and even asking for alternatives from the "original" menu seemed to be a hassle for their team.
Moreover, when it appeared we didn't have enough place settings for our group, I reached out to the host, who again had a negative attitude about the situation. Luckily our server, Diego, was the saving grace of the staff. He was great, and tried to help where he could.
Overall, while we enjoyed the food, the service was both slow and unpleasant.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 2
Food was very good - enjoyed everything after they finally got around to taking our order. Service was so slow someone had to go ask if anyone was working the patio. Sat outside on a cool night and although they had heaters, only one work, and it was not near us or majority of patrons outside. Service ruined dinner.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 5
Service: 1
The service level was beyond expectations and the menu is mind-blowing. Food was delicious and cocktail menu is irresistible. The atmosphere is wholly unique, authentic, and charming. We can’t wait to come back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We enjoyed an excellent vegan meal at La Paloma. Delicious homemade tacos stuffed with a potato-zucchini mash on a bed of flavorful black beans. Served hot, it really hit the spot. Also ordered marinated portobello mushrooms and lentils infused with honey, ginger, and truffle. Original and satisfying. Thanks for the great service too, Beth.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Let me start off by saying this place is impeccable! I love everything about this place. There dishes were amazing and the ambiance was inviting. The servers are perfection! I came here with my partner to celebrate our 2 year anniversary ?♥️ they made the night so special for us with sweet champagne and an exquisite dessert ! We left in awe! The posible was delicious and the steak was *chefs kiss*. Highly recommend!
Everything was five stars! We were celebrating a birthday and everyone at La Paloma went out of their way to make sure the evening was special. Special shout out to chef Jeremy for his incredible food as well as our server, Olivia, for the amazing hospitality! We cannot wait to come back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great atmosphere right next to state street with a kind staff.
We got a salad which was solid and the tacos which were really, really average for $24.
Beers were $9 and cocktails $20…
Come here if you’re bored and want to act fancy
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 4
Beautiful ambience, very very very good drinks, and delicious food fit for a gnome.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Tri Tip
walk into the restaurant around 1:20 PM on a Thursday. They were very slow. Interior was completely empty. We sat outside. They’ll accommodate your seating if you’d like. Halfway during our meal, it did get very warm. So just voice your concern if needed.
Brussels sprouts - HIGHLY recommend. The flavor and char is there. The bottom with all the sauce was a bit salty for me. 9.5/10
Brisket burnt end bowl - the brisket burnt end was a bit tough. Not the tenderness I was hoping for. Flavor is there though! The salad was a good pairing with the bowl. The rice is at the very bottom which wasn’t as much as beans in the bowl. I’d give it a 7/10.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Brussels Sprouts
Restaurantji Recommends
We had the oak-charred portobello mushroom slices with charred lentils, and that was a fun new choice! On a very positive recommendation from a friend, both our parties also ordered a fabulous side discharged Golden Hominy Cheese casserole-- a new take on Mac n cheese, maybe? We loved it. Pricy, when you consider the vegetarian ingredients, but their spin was creative and new to us. Also, perfect location before an evening concert at the nearby Lobero Theater. Very SB!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Consistently excellent and creative dishes, exceptionally fresh fish, and amazing cocktails! On top of that, the service is quick without feeling rushed. Thank you for being in Santa Barbara, La Paloma!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We just hosted our wedding reception at La Paloma Cafe over Labor Day Weekend and it was simply amazing. We had a reception for 54 people out on the back patio and it was perfect. It was such a beautiful space and fit our needs exactly.
Working with Megan was a great experience and she made everything very easy for us. She was very accommodating and informative and was willing to work with us on our various needs and requests.
On the event day, the space was set up perfectly - exactly according to our specs. The food was AMAZING - we got so many compliments on everything, especially the brussel sprouts and hominy. The drinks were superb - especially the margaritas - and the wait staff was so patient, kind and responsive.
I'm so so glad we went with La Paloma. It was perfect for our wedding. We can't wait to come back and visit again so we can have another meal here and relive our special night.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Brussels Sprouts
Vegetarian options: The hominy cheese casserole is great.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
We had a group of 11 to celebrate my mom's birthday on the patio. The service was really great and everyone enjoyed their meals.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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