Lilac Montecito

My wife and I just had an amazing 1 year anniversary dinner here! Fernanda was a spectacular host and server she gave great hospitality! The food was delicious, I had the duck and my wife had the lasagna both delicious. For dessert, we had the berry cake which was DANGEROUSLY delicious. If you’re in the area, gluten free or not, check them out!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Wow! I was very impressed with this little restaurant. Not only was the service outstanding, the food was incredibly delicious. This is a little gem in the heart of Montecito. I will definitely visit this restaurant again when I return to Montecito.

So good we ate here twice in one day! Traveling with my friend who has Celiac and it's always nerve wracking finding safe and yummy places to eat. Our dinner at Lilac was delicious. We started with the beet salad and had the hanger steak and lasagna for our mains. The hanger steak was cooked perfectly and the chimichurri was so fresh and zesty. The onion rings on the plate were so light and crispy. My friend had the lasagna, which was also delicious. Served with a béchamel sauce, the lasagna had a nice balance of tomato and cream. Our server Alex was wonderful. Highly recommend.

In addition to the very good food and service, one notices there is super clean kitchen (visible to see through glass windows). For us, one of the most desirable items to report is the fact the restaurant (for a moderate priced point establishment) is one of the dying breed that still use tablecloths in the evening, with little candles and small flowers to brighten your table. Hard to find these days with the new and older restaurants on the scene. Their restrooms are spotless and seem brand new. Tells a lot about the owners sense of care and cleanliness.

Beautiful space, excellent professional service; unfortunately, the food was not up to par. I started with the grilled pear salad, the pears had been lightly grilled prior and were served cold and hard with a romaine salad, the persimmons and blue cheese were a nice addition, but it didn'twork as a cohesive idea. If the pears had been thinly sliced and grilled to order and served warm with a more delicate leaf green this would be a great dish. For my main course I ordered the Shrimp Scampi with homemade fettuccine. To the kitchen's credit it arrived piping hot with the heady aroma of garlic. Unfortunately, the beurre blanc sauce was over emulsified and had broken resulting in a distinct soapy taste. I'm still burping up soap bubbles this morning. A couple minutes less on the heat, this would have been an amazing dish. Kitchen mishaps happen even to the best of restaurants, I'll definitely give Lilac M a second try.

The service was SO SLOW, we were there for an extended period of time. Then the waiter added a 20% tip to the bill without telling me (for a party of 3), which I do not think is a normal thing to do. So i ended up tipping again, and left 40% tip for bad service. Portions small and prices expensive. $35 for a lunch chicken fettuccine.

Best brunch. Highly recommended. Superlative cuisine and equally phenomenal and friendly service. Quiet and comfy.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

First, staff were so friendly! Literally every staff member was so sweet. Food was so good and gluten free. Fried calamari and onion rings were so tasty. Will definitely be coming again and recommend to anyone looking for gluten free food that tastes amazing.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Came here for my birthday and really wish I hadn't. Hostess was in a foul mood and didn't even attempt to crack a smile. She made the experience a poor one. Food is subpar at best. Would not recommend.

While I have been to Lilac Montecito before, this visit was substandard. We were there for a birthday. My desire was for our birthday guest to choose a dessert from your beautiful selection. I brought candles for the occasion. Instead, after our food plates were cleared, the waiter brought a small square of chocolate with a candle to her. It was very anticlimactic birthday experience. Perhaps I should have mentioned what we imagined. Perhaps the waiter should have said you provided a complimentary dessert, etc. Besides this disappointment, we were pretty much ignored after our food plates were cleared. The restaurant was virtually empty and the wait staff hung out at the front talking to each other. Just a disappointment all around.

The food is always delicious and the service is always great! Personable, helpful and attentive. One of my favorite spots for our family and especially for friends visiting from out of town!

Terrific brunch spot ALL gluten free, without sacrificing anything to those who are not. Not written on the menu, but if you know, you know. The gluten free bread was the best, really surprisingly good. Everything well prepared, nicely served, with good cheerful service and a pleasant vibe. Awesome looking desserts. Tried two: carrot cake in muffin form and cheesecake (OK, not NY, but pretty damn good), both of which looked good and tasted good. Nice to walk around the town and stop for a meal here.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 5

Excellent place for celiacs - I would highly recommend.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

This was my second visit & it was for a cozy anniversary lunch on a rainy day. I had black bean & rice soup that was just perfect for the day. My partner loved his burger, especially the bun! We took home two huge pieces of carrot cake for the evening. Best we've ever had. We'll be back.

Probably will not go back. We've tried this restaurant a couple of times. Food is just ok. Service is not friendly or welcoming for the second time which is huge for us as we are locals. Over priced for what you get. Probably great option for gluten free people though 👍🏻