Came for brunch in the hipster "funk zone" area, at the fairly well-known restaurant, The Lark, for my first time. Service was friendly and great, although our food came out a bit slower than expected. Still, the hostess, waitress and bussers were all informative, fun and kind. The food was fantastic! My spouse loved the shakshuka, as it was powerfully flavorful with cast iron to have that roasted touch. We could've done without the green olives in it, but more for personal taste. My chicken and waffles were also excellent. The waffles were surprisingly light and crispy, with some heavy honey butter to kick you in the mouth. Fried chicken was good. We enjoyed our mimosa flight- particularly with the sparkling wine/champagne served in a separate chilled container to dole out for the flavors (pomegranate, grapefruit, orange and cranberry, iirc). All the other sides like the oyster and hangover fries were well-suited to curb any remaining appetites. Love the decor too, particularly in the booths. Very charming, and classy, while still chill. Easy to find this restaurant nestled with other shops, pastries and coffee. Definitely would come again!
E G.
Welcome to the most below average dining experience of your life... Showed up and seemed like no one was prepared to have us there. Staff was nice. Seemed like the hostess was doing more than she is paid for and entertained us while our waitress lagged. Super awkward experience all around server was okay. After reading all this and you still decide on coming here for dinner, get the brussel sprouts. They were the only thing that impressed us for our grand total of $240 (for 2 of us) So disappointing
Pablo Palomo
Completely overrated because of the food. We order the pasta that did not have any taste and the salmon that was really dry. You do not expect this on a place of $70pp. The service was 5/5.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 5
J B.
We sat outside. It is a great patio area and sheltered from any wind. The food was exceptional. It was the best meal we had in Santa Barbara. Our group started with several small plates, including beets, crudo and Brussels sprout's. For the main course we tried the fried chicken, pork ribs and fish. The fried chicken was fantastic. Everyone loved everything we ordered. The service was top notch as well. Highly recommend The Lark for a nice evening at an upscale but casual restaurant that epitomizes Santa Barbara.
Anika B.
The lark's ambiance was very cozy and vibey but that might have been my favorite thing about the experience. We got the beet salad, the catch of the day, and the brown butter corn bread. The cornbread was my favorite of the three but even that didn't blow me away. Service was fine, but we probably won't return just because there wasn't any standout dish for us.
Jon N.
This is such a great place in Santa Barbara. We first visited a few years ago and loved the food, but didn't have outstanding service or a great table location. It still didn't ruin our experience. During this visit, we had a different yet equally bad seating location, but the service was perfect, and the food was delicious! We tried the cornbread (DO NOT MISS THIS ONE!), the Brussels Sprouts (yum!), the oysters (Skip this one, it was the only let-down of the night), the ribs (Great), and the Mussels (Ridiculously tasty!). We finished with a delicious matcha ice cream with macadamia nuts and coconut. Manager, Patricia, was so welcoming and made sure that we had a great experience, and we sincerely appreciated it. 100% recommended restaurant in Santa Barbara.
Melissa Wantland
Great service and (seemingly) good food - until you're struck with food poisoning 4 hours later. Having worked in food and beverage, I know how seriously restaurants take these incidents....but oddly, this one didn't. The manager didn't apologize or have the decency to remove the offensive dish from our bill. "Looking into it" is not good enough when you've ruined our first kid-free vacation. 2 stars for poor follow-through.
Cali Living
Vegetarian options: Limited vegetarian options
Earl G.
My wife and I made a reservation here to try out their coastal and Texas-inspired dining experience with shareable plates. The food comes out as it is prepped and the expectations were set high but fell a little bit flat towards the end. Time and Tide - A herby vodka cocktail with mellow citrus to start and a slight bitterness finish. Easy to sip on throughout the meal with not too strong flavors Crispy Brussel Sprouts - Incredibly savory first bite with umami and acid on the first bite! Brussels sprouts are cooked crispy in the outside yet tender on the inside. Tastes like soy sauce, lime, and a little bit of spicy kick. Handcut Pappardelle Pasta - A light carbonara sauce on firm pasta. Seasoned well and the citrus breadcrumbs add a nice depth of tang and crunch to each bite. 6 Hour Smoked Duroc Pork Spare Ribs - Taste and texture really varies on this one. I had an end piece that was tough and dry, but I also had a rib that was tender and fatty. Decent smokiness on the first bite with a mild kick at the end. Coleslaw was creamy and compliments the dish but nothing out of the ordinary. Service and advice on navigating the menu was easy thanks to our server Corina. I could've ordered the not as popular dishes but I wanted to try something different than the seafood items. Maybe I'll come back for those next time.
Stefanie D.
Came here for dinner with my husband and baby. We were blown away by the Brussels sprouts but the rest of the meal was just decent. Let me explain We ordered the crispy Brussels sprouts for appetizer. They were sooo amazing. Nice and crispy. They had this tangy yet umami and slightly sweet zing to every bite. Sometimes they can be undercooked at other restaurants, but they honestly couldn't have been better here. Hands down, the best Next we had the pappardelle pasta. It was a little on the lighter flavor side (at least compared to the sprouts) but the pasta was the perfect al dente texture. It was creamy, had a subtle garlic flavor, and the breadcrumbs added a nice crunch. The spare ribs were honestly nothing spectacular. They tasted like your traditional bbq ribs, maybe less juicy and more charred. However, I wasn't blown away even though the flavor was incredible. I didn't eat the slaw that came with it so I can't speak to that though. I'd honestly come back just for the Brussels sprouts. They were amazing!!!
There are some great things about The Lark--a beautiful and eclectic setting, friendly and knowledgeable servers and a great vibe. But the food was the weak spot for us. The menu is very limited and the prices are very high. The Smuggler's Punch cocktail I had was ghastly--words defy how bad it was. We had three vegetable dishes--an endive and pear salad was okay, but the dressing was way too salty, the beet salad was nothing special but the pea dish with harissa was good. The chef must like peas a lot, they're in several dishes. We also had the hand cut pappardelle, lots of peas in that. It was good, but it's an expensive place and nothing was worth what they were charging. I noticed people were ordering the fried chicken and the cornbread--maybe we should've gotten those. Bottom line, glad we tried it out, but we ended up going to Lucky Penny in the same complex and got a pizza. It was great!
Jonathan B.
Always a good meal. Service can get slowed down because they are so popular... Good Santa Barbara evening.
Chelsea
fun time perched at the bar. staff seem to genuinely enjoy working together and had the best energy. i got the mussels and was very happy!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Brett W.
I know this has been a very popular restaurant in the Funk Zone for many years. As a long time resident I have had many wonderful experiences here. But in the last year I've eaten here twice and been horribly disappointed. The service is pretty good, but the ambiance, food, and drink is completely disappointing compared to what it once was. Imagine sitting on a park bench, outside, inches next to another table. Then we ordered wine, $30/glass, and it was worse than any discount wine I've ever had. My GF also ordered a glass of expensive wine and hers was worse and had to send it back. And the food was just not good, both of us were equally disappointed and vowed not to return. I'm sure the tourists will keep it packed in the future but the locals will learn.
Master Flatz
Solid food, great space and friendly service. I feel bad for giving 3 stars for service since the waiter was so nice. Just seemed like he forgot about us and had to wait for a long time for main food to come out. We would definitely go back again.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Crispy Brussel Sprouts, Brown Butter Cornbread
Came for brunch in the hipster "funk zone" area, at the fairly well-known restaurant, The Lark, for my first time. Service was friendly and great, although our food came out a bit slower than expected. Still, the hostess, waitress and bussers were all informative, fun and kind. The food was fantastic! My spouse loved the shakshuka, as it was powerfully flavorful with cast iron to have that roasted touch. We could've done without the green olives in it, but more for personal taste. My chicken and waffles were also excellent. The waffles were surprisingly light and crispy, with some heavy honey butter to kick you in the mouth. Fried chicken was good. We enjoyed our mimosa flight- particularly with the sparkling wine/champagne served in a separate chilled container to dole out for the flavors (pomegranate, grapefruit, orange and cranberry, iirc). All the other sides like the oyster and hangover fries were well-suited to curb any remaining appetites. Love the decor too, particularly in the booths. Very charming, and classy, while still chill. Easy to find this restaurant nestled with other shops, pastries and coffee. Definitely would come again!
Welcome to the most below average dining experience of your life... Showed up and seemed like no one was prepared to have us there. Staff was nice. Seemed like the hostess was doing more than she is paid for and entertained us while our waitress lagged. Super awkward experience all around server was okay. After reading all this and you still decide on coming here for dinner, get the brussel sprouts. They were the only thing that impressed us for our grand total of $240 (for 2 of us) So disappointing
Completely overrated because of the food. We order the pasta that did not have any taste and the salmon that was really dry. You do not expect this on a place of $70pp. The service was 5/5.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 5
We sat outside. It is a great patio area and sheltered from any wind. The food was exceptional. It was the best meal we had in Santa Barbara. Our group started with several small plates, including beets, crudo and Brussels sprout's. For the main course we tried the fried chicken, pork ribs and fish. The fried chicken was fantastic. Everyone loved everything we ordered. The service was top notch as well. Highly recommend The Lark for a nice evening at an upscale but casual restaurant that epitomizes Santa Barbara.
The lark's ambiance was very cozy and vibey but that might have been my favorite thing about the experience. We got the beet salad, the catch of the day, and the brown butter corn bread. The cornbread was my favorite of the three but even that didn't blow me away. Service was fine, but we probably won't return just because there wasn't any standout dish for us.
This is such a great place in Santa Barbara. We first visited a few years ago and loved the food, but didn't have outstanding service or a great table location. It still didn't ruin our experience. During this visit, we had a different yet equally bad seating location, but the service was perfect, and the food was delicious! We tried the cornbread (DO NOT MISS THIS ONE!), the Brussels Sprouts (yum!), the oysters (Skip this one, it was the only let-down of the night), the ribs (Great), and the Mussels (Ridiculously tasty!). We finished with a delicious matcha ice cream with macadamia nuts and coconut. Manager, Patricia, was so welcoming and made sure that we had a great experience, and we sincerely appreciated it. 100% recommended restaurant in Santa Barbara.
Great service and (seemingly) good food - until you're struck with food poisoning 4 hours later. Having worked in food and beverage, I know how seriously restaurants take these incidents....but oddly, this one didn't. The manager didn't apologize or have the decency to remove the offensive dish from our bill. "Looking into it" is not good enough when you've ruined our first kid-free vacation. 2 stars for poor follow-through.
Vegetarian options: Limited vegetarian options
My wife and I made a reservation here to try out their coastal and Texas-inspired dining experience with shareable plates. The food comes out as it is prepped and the expectations were set high but fell a little bit flat towards the end. Time and Tide - A herby vodka cocktail with mellow citrus to start and a slight bitterness finish. Easy to sip on throughout the meal with not too strong flavors Crispy Brussel Sprouts - Incredibly savory first bite with umami and acid on the first bite! Brussels sprouts are cooked crispy in the outside yet tender on the inside. Tastes like soy sauce, lime, and a little bit of spicy kick. Handcut Pappardelle Pasta - A light carbonara sauce on firm pasta. Seasoned well and the citrus breadcrumbs add a nice depth of tang and crunch to each bite. 6 Hour Smoked Duroc Pork Spare Ribs - Taste and texture really varies on this one. I had an end piece that was tough and dry, but I also had a rib that was tender and fatty. Decent smokiness on the first bite with a mild kick at the end. Coleslaw was creamy and compliments the dish but nothing out of the ordinary. Service and advice on navigating the menu was easy thanks to our server Corina. I could've ordered the not as popular dishes but I wanted to try something different than the seafood items. Maybe I'll come back for those next time.
Came here for dinner with my husband and baby. We were blown away by the Brussels sprouts but the rest of the meal was just decent. Let me explain We ordered the crispy Brussels sprouts for appetizer. They were sooo amazing. Nice and crispy. They had this tangy yet umami and slightly sweet zing to every bite. Sometimes they can be undercooked at other restaurants, but they honestly couldn't have been better here. Hands down, the best Next we had the pappardelle pasta. It was a little on the lighter flavor side (at least compared to the sprouts) but the pasta was the perfect al dente texture. It was creamy, had a subtle garlic flavor, and the breadcrumbs added a nice crunch. The spare ribs were honestly nothing spectacular. They tasted like your traditional bbq ribs, maybe less juicy and more charred. However, I wasn't blown away even though the flavor was incredible. I didn't eat the slaw that came with it so I can't speak to that though. I'd honestly come back just for the Brussels sprouts. They were amazing!!!
Restaurantji Recommends
There are some great things about The Lark--a beautiful and eclectic setting, friendly and knowledgeable servers and a great vibe. But the food was the weak spot for us. The menu is very limited and the prices are very high. The Smuggler's Punch cocktail I had was ghastly--words defy how bad it was. We had three vegetable dishes--an endive and pear salad was okay, but the dressing was way too salty, the beet salad was nothing special but the pea dish with harissa was good. The chef must like peas a lot, they're in several dishes. We also had the hand cut pappardelle, lots of peas in that. It was good, but it's an expensive place and nothing was worth what they were charging. I noticed people were ordering the fried chicken and the cornbread--maybe we should've gotten those. Bottom line, glad we tried it out, but we ended up going to Lucky Penny in the same complex and got a pizza. It was great!
Always a good meal. Service can get slowed down because they are so popular... Good Santa Barbara evening.
fun time perched at the bar. staff seem to genuinely enjoy working together and had the best energy. i got the mussels and was very happy!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I know this has been a very popular restaurant in the Funk Zone for many years. As a long time resident I have had many wonderful experiences here. But in the last year I've eaten here twice and been horribly disappointed. The service is pretty good, but the ambiance, food, and drink is completely disappointing compared to what it once was. Imagine sitting on a park bench, outside, inches next to another table. Then we ordered wine, $30/glass, and it was worse than any discount wine I've ever had. My GF also ordered a glass of expensive wine and hers was worse and had to send it back. And the food was just not good, both of us were equally disappointed and vowed not to return. I'm sure the tourists will keep it packed in the future but the locals will learn.
Solid food, great space and friendly service. I feel bad for giving 3 stars for service since the waiter was so nice. Just seemed like he forgot about us and had to wait for a long time for main food to come out. We would definitely go back again.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Crispy Brussel Sprouts, Brown Butter Cornbread