The Creekside Restaurant & Bar

Will not return. Food is poor and service is even worse.

Trapped in Their Bathroom for Over an Hour – No Help, No Apology, No Human Decency

If I could give zero stars, I would. My experience at Creekside in Santa Barbara was not just unacceptable—it was traumatizing. I was locked inside their bathroom for over an hour, and the way the staff and co-owner handled it was utterly disgraceful.

I suffer from anxiety and was having a full-blown panic attack while trapped. My family pleaded with staff to take action and explained what was happening. The bartender’s only attempt to help? He tried to open the stuck deadbolt with a butter knife. That was the extent of their emergency response.

Even worse, the co-owner stood by with her arms crossed, watching the situation unfold with zero urgency. When my family told her I was panicking and needed immediate help, her response was: “She’s fine.” Let that sink in.

My family had to physically kick down the bathroom door to get me out. No one from the restaurant called the fire department. No locksmith. No apology. No concern. Just indifference.

This wasn’t just bad service—it was a complete failure of basic human decency. Do not support this place. They showed a total disregard for customer safety and well-being, and the lack of empathy from ownership was beyond disturbing.

Traveling - Shared a meat combo, lg house salad; added mac n cheese. Couldn't finish it all but ate the ribs and chicken. All good. Surprise - Mac was the best dish! Root beer excellent! Not a fan of hard stools or chairs on my olde butt, or plastic and throw away glasses and dishes and only want French dressing - not an option there.

Perfect for large groups! TVs for March Madness. It's the perfect spot!

Generous portions of delicious food. Friendly, helpful staff, plenty of spacious outdoor seating, with effective outdoor heaters for chilly times. Prices were reasonable too - my friend ordered a huge steak quesadilla, and I ordered very generous Greek salad with mounds of goat cheese, candied pistachios, and smoked beets. Each was well under $20, and we left feeling very well fed.

Do not place an online order. They will hapilly double charge you. Greedy owner. You don't take online orders ? I just posted a photo proof your online ordering.

Parking: It was a x-mas party for 40 people that went pretty well. Drinks are good food was good. The staff was incredible, I don't know how they put up with us.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 3

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Creekside Nachos, Burrito, 3 Meat Combo Plate

Came with a group of 70. Great service leading up the event, fair pricing, and very good communication throughout. Event space was perfect for the large group (we had 90 in the space at one point), food was good, seating was spacious. Easiest large-group restaurant our org has been to in years.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

We had the best time for my son's bday! The staff was helpful, always available, very accommidating and fun. The food was great and abundant. We did speakers for music, next time I would do a DJ because the music was a bit more quiet that maybe you'd want at a party but still fun and you could chat. Tables were great. Everyone was super comfortable under the canopies with the heaters. Love it and highly recommend for special occasions!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

I'm very new to going out to have dinner and watch "the game"! This place has drawn me back 2x now, dined alone once, met new folks, plenty of large TVs for viewing, love the large picnic table, family and friends atmosphere. Reminds he of Copenhagen Sausage Garden, very large, welcoming outdoor d ining for large and smaller groups. Nicely accommodates kids and dogs,! Very friendly staff. Provides plenty of outdoor heaters. I feel at home there and highly recommend the beet, goat cheese salad and the salad with pistachios, both unique flavorful and you can add your lean chic breast or Tri-tip, yum! And ladies, if you want to relax and not be " picked up" this is a good hang out! I will be going again real soon

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 4

It was sad to see both bartenders (male & female) doing shots while on the job. I don’t think they knew we saw them doing it!

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 4

Service: 4

Walking in and first impression was good. Ordered some beers, got seated, chatted, ordered food... food came out faster than expected... ordered my Tri-tips medium rare... got them rare, okay, no biggie. No, next came getting rushed out the door. Nothing worse than getting rushed, but they just kept coming back to the table to take things and very vocal about last orders and closing... so I gave up eating and let them take everything. It felt like they were kicking us out for something, but I digress. I 100% DO NOT, do not, recommend this place. It's not a good feeling. Will never return.

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 1

Service: 1

Lots of fun and beautiful atmosphere- fun, attentive servers!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Creekside Nachos, Nachos

After a day at Haskell’s Beach, the Creekside Restaurant and Bar was the perfect place to end our evening! Joe and Katie were the perfect hosts! We had a delicious dinner of Macaroni and cheese,candied bacon, burnt ends, chicken, and the most flavorful buttermilk coleslaw! Visiting from Denver we found this a delightful respite from our travels. We venture out to Santa Barbara yearly and have never happened upon this restaurant. What a great find and we will be back!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

We had a group of 30 and Creekside hosted our event. The food was great, the service was wonderful, and the staff was very accommodating. Dave was quick to respond to my emails and making the reservation was a breeze. Everyone raved about the food. Great place for large parties. We will definitely come again!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Half Chicken Plate, 2 Rack of Baby Back Ribs