Steak was extremely fatty. Wait staff forgot we were there even though our final check was $996 (7 people). Atmosphere is very stark. Not a great place for intimate or nice setting. Wouldn’t recommend for any occasion… it was “fine” but not for nearly $1k. Oysters were good but expensive.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 2
Keren Shahar
Excellent food and service loved the NY stake the Ahi Tuna , mushrooms and
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Tammy Dobrotin
Took my team here for dinner to celebrate 2023. The service and food were excellent!! If you are after a quiet, romantic meal, probably not your best choice. The music and conversation noise was loud. Will definitely go back!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Kenneth Maney
Service was great but the steaks were not cooked to medium rare. They were almost rare and chewy in portions of the cut. The service met the price point, the steaks did not.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 5
Sheera Erana
Recommended for date night. It has that romantic ambiance.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Laura Dennis
We had an exceptional dinner at RareSociety and have to give a special thanks to Trevor who took such good care of us and made sure we had an amazing evening. The steaks were cooked to perfection and the potato au gratin with truffle on the side was so delicious. The miso glazed carrots were not to my taste but my husband liked them.All the food was washed down with a lovely bottle of red wine. We happened to mention to Trevor that we were travelling on our honeymoon and at the end of our meal he brought us a complimentary glass of bubbles each, this was such a lovely gesture and went down a treat! The inside of the restaurant is absolutely beautifully decorated. We were the last customers but did not feel rushed to leave at the end at all.I could not recommend Rare Society any higher - thank you for such a wonderful evening.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Portia Edens
Loved the table sharing of the steak. Cooked to perfection. Service was great as well. The glazed carrots were exceptional. Don’t skimp and get the dinner rolls- worth it! The snickers desert was very tasty.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Joe K.
This is my first time in Santa Barbara. I love steak and when I did my research for a decent to good steakhouse, this was always in the top 3 of places, sometimes number one. You can call for reservations or do it online. I called and spoke to Iliana who took my reservation a few days before. Ava was who greeted me at the door though she was sweet. My server was Ky, a sweet and extremely gorgeous lady who was amazing from beginning to end. Here are my comments:LOCATION: It's in an area right by downtown. PARKING: Terrible. The parking next to the building is for the restaurant next to it. I had to park in a far lot behind it which wasn't too bad cuz you can cut into the restaurant's lot (lateral restaurant) and into he path to the entrance anyway. Wish this place had its own parking lot next to it. FOOD: (I didn't order any appetizers because I knew the dish I ordered would be big)DISH: The Associate Steak PlatterCOMMENTS: So, Ky taught me the difference between the Associate Platter and the Executive Platter besides the price cuz in the pictures from the restaurant, they look almost the same in amount, but they're actually 30oz apart in steak amount. The Associate has 22 ounces of chef chosen steak cuts. The Executive has 52 ounces and can feed up to 6 people. The three cuts the chef chose were: Denver, Tenderloin, and Tri-Tip. I had it medium-rare and it wasn't too rare thank goodness. It came with a side of special butter and 3 types of sauces which included a salsa-type sauce which was supposedly to go with the tri-tip and a pseudo-A1/Lea & Perkins mix sauce that is their in-house creation. Normally I hate steak sauce cuz I think it takes away from the integrity of the actual taste and experience of enjoying the meat, but the sauce grew on me quickly somehow. Like the photos, the platter has 3 sections of beef, all cut into pieces neatly placed with the butter and sauces in the middle. I ordered a side of creamed spinach which was nicely sized for one person and a side of lobster mashed potatoes which was a tad big for me but I ate most of it cuz it was delicious. I just wish the cut piece of bone that supposedly should have "Bone marrow" actually had bone marrow in it. It was an opening with a little oil in it. Maybe that's what it was supposed to have but I've always wanted to try bone marrow. That was a tad disappointing, but not a big problem at all.WOULD I ORDER IT AGAIN? Absolutely yes!SERVICE: Ky was amazing. Sweet, attentive, all-amazing (Did I forget to mention beautiful??). Checked on me a LOT. Even gave me some tips as to where to get more good seafood in the city cuz I know this city really has a LOT of seafood to offer, being a huge beach city. Shoutout also to Senia, who serves the meat and she's always on the go. What made her so special besides the fact she's really nice too (And also really cute) is that despite how on the go she always is, she actually takes time to explain each meat cut on the platter and every sauce and butter on it as well, what they're made of, and how exactly they're supposed to taste. I had to make sure I included her in this review cuz she was really great too.BOTTOM LINE: I'd go back in a heartbeat. They also have choices like wagyu steak, dry-aged ribeye, dry-aged New York steak, and other dishes. Not the biggest menu laden with choices, but the choices they DO have are great. Services is amazing. Next time I come back to Santa Barbara, this place will definitely be on the "would go back to for sure" list. Glad I tried it. Glad Ky was my server. I felt blessed to say the least, seriously. Wish more people were like her. Not just servers. Definitely is someone who I will remember vividly in the days ahead.
Natasha T.
The happy hour pineapple margs were delicious we had 6 al together. We ordered steamed clams which were superb. The flavors were delicious. We had the Denver cut and mushrooms for our main with the house horse radish sauce all to die for and topped it off with the ever so necessary butter cake! Great way to celebrate our anniversary! Thank you so much for the excellent food and superb service!
This review is specifically for happy hour, but I do intend on coming back for dinner.Happy Hour is offered on Wednesday - Monday from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. and provides a delightful experience with its open, airy and vibrant atmosphere around the bar area. There is limited seating and it's first come first serve, so be sure to arrive earlier than later! The HH menu includes a diverse selection of discounted drinks and appetizers. The well-crafted cocktails and appetizers make it an ideal spot to unwind after a long day or just hanging out with friends. On my visit, I decided to start with the wood fired pineapple margarita. This cocktail was so refreshing and good! Although, I was expecting a little hint of the wood fire to come through, but it didn't have any trace of it. Nonetheless, it's still a nice drink if you like margaritas and pineapple.I took a little detour off the HH menu and my second drink of choice, was the martini espresso. Instead of vodka, it was made with tequila which was a game changer! I don't care for vodka, so I was glad the waitress recommended trying it with tequila instead. It was so good I ordered two rounds! For appetizers, me and my friends ordered a variety of things to try and share. We had the grilled artichoke, wagyu asada fries, rare society signature burger, and the ahi tuna tartare. Everything was delicious! I especially enjoyed the grilled artichoke with the chipotle aioli dipping sauce. The wagyu asada fries were filling and the meat was really tender. Our server Ingrid was not only attentive and friendly, but she really made the best espresso martini I've ever tried. So cheers to Ingrid! Overall, I'm glad I could finally check out happy hour here at rare society, and the wallet-friendly prices make this place a go to destination for those seeking a great time without breaking the bank!
sharma h.
The whole experience was divine. From the greeter to the waiter and other people who stopped to check in. Had $91 rib eye. Was very good and I'm not a meat eater. The wedge salad was to die for. The au gratin potatoes yummy and cheesy. And the apple cider sorbet was the best I've ever tasted. Very unique. Highly recommend.
Kyle F.
Nice service but server brought the wrong steak up charging us. Server than never ghosted and would not approach the table. Which the worst part is the steak was overcooked. The wrong order overcooked and would not adjust the bill. For a steak house this is a fail. The sides were great and had unique flavors.
Toka Kuma
Very good food want to go back
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Kelly S.
Everything about Rare Society is seamlessly perfect! The venue itself has an elegance that is above any other restaurants in the area, with black and gold accents throughout all seating areas, bar and the restroom. All of the staff is on top of everything - waters always refilled, plates are taken and replaced before next course, and our server was extremely friendly. We never had to ask for anything because it was already thought of. We were so impressed by the level of service! We started with cocktails and Oysters on the Half Shell, which are served with three different sauces. They melt in your mouth. The Pickled Fried Onion Rings were next and you do it want to miss out on these! It was an amazing starter and perfect to share for four people, the crack sauce complimented them very well. Next up we shared the Caesar Salad and the menu is not wrong that it comes with a lot of pecorino - it's covered in cheese. My favorite part about the salad were the fried anchovies, warm, savory and a perfect addition to the salad. At first I thought it would be better split between two people but we ordered so much food it was good for four. The Bacon was huge and paired well with our Pinot Noir. It's full of flavor and a couple bites were all I needed. For our meal we ordered the Executive Board and a side of asparagus and potato au gratin. The meats were amazing (we probably could have gone with the smaller sized board) and the potatoes were my favorite dish of the night! We finished off with the Butter Cake and wow - don't miss out in this buttery, delicious, melt in your mouth cake (drool). It was the one of the top meals I've had all year!
Love this place so much! Would definitely recommend!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Beef Tartare, Wood Fried Broccolini
Steak was extremely fatty. Wait staff forgot we were there even though our final check was $996 (7 people). Atmosphere is very stark. Not a great place for intimate or nice setting. Wouldn’t recommend for any occasion… it was “fine” but not for nearly $1k. Oysters were good but expensive.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 2
Excellent food and service loved the NY stake the Ahi Tuna , mushrooms and
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Took my team here for dinner to celebrate 2023. The service and food were excellent!! If you are after a quiet, romantic meal, probably not your best choice. The music and conversation noise was loud. Will definitely go back!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Service was great but the steaks were not cooked to medium rare. They were almost rare and chewy in portions of the cut. The service met the price point, the steaks did not.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 5
Recommended for date night. It has that romantic ambiance.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
We had an exceptional dinner at RareSociety and have to give a special thanks to Trevor who took such good care of us and made sure we had an amazing evening. The steaks were cooked to perfection and the potato au gratin with truffle on the side was so delicious. The miso glazed carrots were not to my taste but my husband liked them.All the food was washed down with a lovely bottle of red wine. We happened to mention to Trevor that we were travelling on our honeymoon and at the end of our meal he brought us a complimentary glass of bubbles each, this was such a lovely gesture and went down a treat! The inside of the restaurant is absolutely beautifully decorated. We were the last customers but did not feel rushed to leave at the end at all.I could not recommend Rare Society any higher - thank you for such a wonderful evening.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Loved the table sharing of the steak. Cooked to perfection. Service was great as well. The glazed carrots were exceptional. Don’t skimp and get the dinner rolls- worth it! The snickers desert was very tasty.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
This is my first time in Santa Barbara. I love steak and when I did my research for a decent to good steakhouse, this was always in the top 3 of places, sometimes number one. You can call for reservations or do it online. I called and spoke to Iliana who took my reservation a few days before. Ava was who greeted me at the door though she was sweet. My server was Ky, a sweet and extremely gorgeous lady who was amazing from beginning to end. Here are my comments:LOCATION: It's in an area right by downtown. PARKING: Terrible. The parking next to the building is for the restaurant next to it. I had to park in a far lot behind it which wasn't too bad cuz you can cut into the restaurant's lot (lateral restaurant) and into he path to the entrance anyway. Wish this place had its own parking lot next to it. FOOD: (I didn't order any appetizers because I knew the dish I ordered would be big)DISH: The Associate Steak PlatterCOMMENTS: So, Ky taught me the difference between the Associate Platter and the Executive Platter besides the price cuz in the pictures from the restaurant, they look almost the same in amount, but they're actually 30oz apart in steak amount. The Associate has 22 ounces of chef chosen steak cuts. The Executive has 52 ounces and can feed up to 6 people. The three cuts the chef chose were: Denver, Tenderloin, and Tri-Tip. I had it medium-rare and it wasn't too rare thank goodness. It came with a side of special butter and 3 types of sauces which included a salsa-type sauce which was supposedly to go with the tri-tip and a pseudo-A1/Lea & Perkins mix sauce that is their in-house creation. Normally I hate steak sauce cuz I think it takes away from the integrity of the actual taste and experience of enjoying the meat, but the sauce grew on me quickly somehow. Like the photos, the platter has 3 sections of beef, all cut into pieces neatly placed with the butter and sauces in the middle. I ordered a side of creamed spinach which was nicely sized for one person and a side of lobster mashed potatoes which was a tad big for me but I ate most of it cuz it was delicious. I just wish the cut piece of bone that supposedly should have "Bone marrow" actually had bone marrow in it. It was an opening with a little oil in it. Maybe that's what it was supposed to have but I've always wanted to try bone marrow. That was a tad disappointing, but not a big problem at all.WOULD I ORDER IT AGAIN? Absolutely yes!SERVICE: Ky was amazing. Sweet, attentive, all-amazing (Did I forget to mention beautiful??). Checked on me a LOT. Even gave me some tips as to where to get more good seafood in the city cuz I know this city really has a LOT of seafood to offer, being a huge beach city. Shoutout also to Senia, who serves the meat and she's always on the go. What made her so special besides the fact she's really nice too (And also really cute) is that despite how on the go she always is, she actually takes time to explain each meat cut on the platter and every sauce and butter on it as well, what they're made of, and how exactly they're supposed to taste. I had to make sure I included her in this review cuz she was really great too.BOTTOM LINE: I'd go back in a heartbeat. They also have choices like wagyu steak, dry-aged ribeye, dry-aged New York steak, and other dishes. Not the biggest menu laden with choices, but the choices they DO have are great. Services is amazing. Next time I come back to Santa Barbara, this place will definitely be on the "would go back to for sure" list. Glad I tried it. Glad Ky was my server. I felt blessed to say the least, seriously. Wish more people were like her. Not just servers. Definitely is someone who I will remember vividly in the days ahead.
The happy hour pineapple margs were delicious we had 6 al together. We ordered steamed clams which were superb. The flavors were delicious. We had the Denver cut and mushrooms for our main with the house horse radish sauce all to die for and topped it off with the ever so necessary butter cake! Great way to celebrate our anniversary! Thank you so much for the excellent food and superb service!
Restaurantji Recommends
This review is specifically for happy hour, but I do intend on coming back for dinner.Happy Hour is offered on Wednesday - Monday from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. and provides a delightful experience with its open, airy and vibrant atmosphere around the bar area. There is limited seating and it's first come first serve, so be sure to arrive earlier than later! The HH menu includes a diverse selection of discounted drinks and appetizers. The well-crafted cocktails and appetizers make it an ideal spot to unwind after a long day or just hanging out with friends. On my visit, I decided to start with the wood fired pineapple margarita. This cocktail was so refreshing and good! Although, I was expecting a little hint of the wood fire to come through, but it didn't have any trace of it. Nonetheless, it's still a nice drink if you like margaritas and pineapple.I took a little detour off the HH menu and my second drink of choice, was the martini espresso. Instead of vodka, it was made with tequila which was a game changer! I don't care for vodka, so I was glad the waitress recommended trying it with tequila instead. It was so good I ordered two rounds! For appetizers, me and my friends ordered a variety of things to try and share. We had the grilled artichoke, wagyu asada fries, rare society signature burger, and the ahi tuna tartare. Everything was delicious! I especially enjoyed the grilled artichoke with the chipotle aioli dipping sauce. The wagyu asada fries were filling and the meat was really tender. Our server Ingrid was not only attentive and friendly, but she really made the best espresso martini I've ever tried. So cheers to Ingrid! Overall, I'm glad I could finally check out happy hour here at rare society, and the wallet-friendly prices make this place a go to destination for those seeking a great time without breaking the bank!
The whole experience was divine. From the greeter to the waiter and other people who stopped to check in. Had $91 rib eye. Was very good and I'm not a meat eater. The wedge salad was to die for. The au gratin potatoes yummy and cheesy. And the apple cider sorbet was the best I've ever tasted. Very unique. Highly recommend.
Nice service but server brought the wrong steak up charging us. Server than never ghosted and would not approach the table. Which the worst part is the steak was overcooked. The wrong order overcooked and would not adjust the bill. For a steak house this is a fail. The sides were great and had unique flavors.
Very good food want to go back
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Everything about Rare Society is seamlessly perfect! The venue itself has an elegance that is above any other restaurants in the area, with black and gold accents throughout all seating areas, bar and the restroom. All of the staff is on top of everything - waters always refilled, plates are taken and replaced before next course, and our server was extremely friendly. We never had to ask for anything because it was already thought of. We were so impressed by the level of service! We started with cocktails and Oysters on the Half Shell, which are served with three different sauces. They melt in your mouth. The Pickled Fried Onion Rings were next and you do it want to miss out on these! It was an amazing starter and perfect to share for four people, the crack sauce complimented them very well. Next up we shared the Caesar Salad and the menu is not wrong that it comes with a lot of pecorino - it's covered in cheese. My favorite part about the salad were the fried anchovies, warm, savory and a perfect addition to the salad. At first I thought it would be better split between two people but we ordered so much food it was good for four. The Bacon was huge and paired well with our Pinot Noir. It's full of flavor and a couple bites were all I needed. For our meal we ordered the Executive Board and a side of asparagus and potato au gratin. The meats were amazing (we probably could have gone with the smaller sized board) and the potatoes were my favorite dish of the night! We finished off with the Butter Cake and wow - don't miss out in this buttery, delicious, melt in your mouth cake (drool). It was the one of the top meals I've had all year!