Clark's Oyster Bar is a mini-chain of seafood restaurants that started in Austin, with three of the six locations in high-rent California neighborhoods. The Montecito Clark's is on Coast Village Road, in a cheerful white stucco building trimmed in yellow and blue. I've been twice now, both times for lunch with my husband, our kids, and some permutation of grandparents. It's an easy last-minute reservation for a large, floppy party, great for everyone in our family, with an age range of three to 83. I'll admit that my three-year-old likes Clark's for the wrong reasons (primarily, that it has a prominent ceiling fan), but it is a family-friendly place, with a relaxed atmosphere and a little aquarium in front with fish that look like Nemo and Dory. There's also a secret kid's menu (you have to ask about it; our first visit, we just paid for the $18 pancakes on the regular menu), and the butter pasta is reportedly very good. I like almost any place with a kid's menu and a wine list, and Clark's is firmly in this category. There's a full bar, but I've done well with the selection of white wines--Chenin Blanc, Chablis, Sancerre, all available by the glass. Service was on the slow side our first visit but otherwise fine, and I was impressed with our waiter Andreas when we went back the weekend after last. He was patient and accommodating with our whole party, talking extensively about bread with Grandpa and answering questions about the fan for my little boy. The only problem with Clark's is that it's pretty expensive for a low-key spot, especially if you're going for lunch. I guess that's why it's in Montecito, though it certainly isn't there for old timers like my father-in-law. The food is fantastic, starting with the complimentary house sourdough, which Grandpa has declared the best bread he's had in California (where, to be clear, he's lived for 50 years). It is genuinely top tier bread, fresh and chewy with a nice crust, served with good butter and salt and beautiful little radishes. You can buy it to go for something like $16 a loaf, but it's available on demand when you dine in, and you can and should ask for more. Clark's specializes in seafood, and I've enjoyed both the jumbo shrimp cocktail and Santa Barbara uni. The shrimp cocktail comes with horseradish, seasoned saltines, classic cocktail sauce, and lemon; the uni in its spiny shell with Meyer lemon and shiso on a bed of ice. On the larger side, I'd recommend the mussels and clams in white wine and herbs, with garlic, chili flake, and a side of wood-charred sourdough. I've also liked both the lobster roll and the burger. The lobster roll comes with a heap of sweet lobster with lemon mayo, drawn butter, and bibb lettuce on a toasted bun. It comes with choice of fries or slaw, and the shoestring fries are thin and crispy. The pan-roasted black angus hamburger is a juicy burger with sauce gribiche and gruyere, with the same choice of sides. My boy keeps asking to go back to Clark's for the ceiling fan, and I suspect we'll be back soon enough, if mostly for the restaurant's other attractions. I'd recommend it if you want good wine, bread, and seafood in Montecito. read more

We stopped at Clark's for a late lunch on a Saturday afternoon and had a really nice visit. The building and restaurant are really cute, and we sat on the outdoor side patio which provided a relaxing ambiance. The menu is seafood focused, and we got oysters, ceviche, shrimp toast, and French fries. All of the food was really good, but I especially loved the French fries. They were a true shoestring (thin and crispy) with salt and rosemary. Absolutely delicious! Their happy hour menu had a good deal on oysters and martinis so I'd recommend coming then. Service was a little slow, but overall we had a really nice experience. read more

Spending a day in Montecito, starting with a morning hike and lunch to follow at Clark's, which I read so much about. I did secure an Opentable lunch reservation, but we finished our hike earlier than I anticipated. We arrived shortly after the restaurant opened... very nice low key restaurant with seating inside at tables and a bar area along with patio seating. We chose the patio. Julian introduced himself as our server and took good care of us. We ordered quite a few Cocktails and several shareable plates, so we could try different menu items. We started off with the Santa Barbara Uni and Oyster Rockefeller then a Shrimp Cocktail. We ended with the Mussel & Clam dish along with a Clam Chowder. All the dishes were presented well and tasted good and fresh and were accompanied by a complementary loaf of Sour dough bread, which was very good. The weakest dish was the Clam Chowder which was very thin in consistency. I will say their customer satisfaction is 100%. We had an issue with one of our dishes and brought it up to the young lady that was managing and the dish was immediately remade. Thank you! Atmosphere: bright, low key relaxing feel. Service: very good. Food: good. read more

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Excellent experience here! I stopped by for restaurant week and took advantage of their $60 Prix Fixe meal. For the table you get fresh handmade sourdough bread, sliced radishes and sea salt. The bread was super soft and perfect with the creamy butter. Then came the appetizer. I chose a hearty bowl of New England clam chowder. It was a generous serving and I honestly didn't think I would finish it, but it was soooo good that I managed to eat it all. It was the perfect ratio of clams, chunky potatoes and bacon. With a kick of Tabasco! I would totally order this again. For my entree of choice, I went with the crispy skin faroe island salmon. I love ordering salmon when dining out. This one was well executed! Not only was the skin perfectly crisp, but the salmon was buttery, light and melted in my mouth. I'm not too fond of eating salmon skin, but this one was worth every bite. It paired very well with the red chimichurri sauce. Highly recommend this one if you like salmon. For dessert, the key lime tart was the perfect way to end my evening. It was delicious and I especially enjoyed scooping up the torched meringue and toasted coconut flakes with each bite. Overall, the ambiance here is beautiful and the service was very pleasant. I can't wait to come back to try more on the menu! read more

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Amazing cozy restaurant with all tasty food. Of course kind and nice hospitality. I will stop by whenever I passing by. read more

So glad to finally check out Clark's during restaurant week and it didn't disappoint! It's an adorable atmosphere right off the bat! It was beautiful, unique and soft lighting made this place intriguing and comfortable. Service was top notch and informative and friendly. Food was yummy very rich and heavy. The clam chowder was delicious. I ordered the linguini with clams and that was also very tasty but I was so full from the clam chowder and fluffy bread that I only had a few bites. I took one bite of the key lime pie and the toasted coconut shavings on top were a perfect last bit of touch! I have plenty of leftovers to enjoy and I would definitely go back! I saw that they have a happy hour too to explore! read more

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The possibilities are truly a 5, but the execution is a 3, and with the ingredients that they play with, there is no excuse not to be at least a 4. Drinks Pimms Cup: Go kidnap Mikey from Lion's Tale and have him teach you how to make this. Way too bitter for what it should be. (-) Mai Tai: Strong, but it ends there. Go steal The Laylow's recipe in Waikiki for this one. Their rye Manhattan and wines by the glass are good. (+) Food Bibb Salad: Fresh and mixed well with a nice dressing, making it a good start to your meal. It's what you expect. (+) Uni: It's Santa Barbara Uni, you can't mess this up. (+) Rock Crab: Only second to stone crab, but in California, it's likely as good as it gets. But next time, please throw in a crab cracker. (+) Clam Chowder: A chowder with enough clam to call it a clam chowder...wow (++) Octopus: A beautifully put-together plate; the Fresno chiles are delightful. Maybe sous vide and then grill? I only suggest this because it was slightly overcooked, but the plating made up for it. (+) NY Prime Steak: Omaha-sourced steak cooked closer to rare than the medium-rare ordered, but it still delivered and wasn't cold in the center. As long as it ain't blue, I guess I won't complain, but a little more cooking would have done it more justice. (+/-) Desserts Affogato: I'm yet to find a place that will eff this up. (+) Basque Cake: Missed a punch with the lack of richness, tastes more like Pavilions than from a boutique bakery. (-) Julian and the team did well with the service; attentiveness was there, but the food missed the mark a little. The ingredients and the menu are set up to succeed, but they need better delivery. read more

Clark's Oyster Bar - Desserts Near Me - Montecito, California

So I came back a second time because the first time I loved it however this time was disappointed. Steak tartare had so much dressing ( mustard) I've never seen so much layer of mustard in my life. Service was great though read more

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We have passed by Clark's so many times when visiting our son at Westmont, and we finally decided to give it a try -- I'm so glad we did! From the moment you walk in until the moment you leave, the service is wonderful. Our server was incredibly kind, took the time to go over the menu, and answered all of our food allergy questions with care, which we truly appreciated. They start you off with complimentary sourdough, and it was so delicious that my son even asked to take some home :) The seafood was extremely fresh, and our favorite dish of the night was the scallops. Such a great experience overall, and I can't wait to go back and try more from the menu! read more

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Clark's looks like a very casual dining restaurant based on their beach vibes aesthetic but it is very classy from the customer service to their meal preparation. Their employees are very professional and it's how most of the restaurants operate off of coast village. (Unlike the lions tale[super trashy personnel and worst food that's worst than Santa Barbara]). Clark's has their raw oyster bar, daily catches and burgers! They have a happy hour from 3-5 pm SEVEN DAYS A WEEK that includes trying their burger for half off for their promo price. Half off Martinis, $5 Trumer Pilsner, $10 Featured Wine, $5 Oyster Shooters and $2 off Oysters! My favorite for lunch is the Wood Grilled Shrimp Toast that has Pea Shoots, Shaved Celery, Harissa Aioli. read more

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This 'in the cut' oyster bar was phenomenal! The service was welcoming and friendly. Every food option I had was perfect! Love that there were different choices for oysters. Plus, if you sit at the bar you have the opportunity to watch them fix your oysters. I will definitely, be returning. read more

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I came to Santa Barbara for a solo birthday trip and of course I had to go to Clark's for my birthday lunch. Had some of the best cocktails, home made sourdough bread and freshly cracked oysters. Service was amazing! The bartender was super chill and down to earth which I appreciate so much. Ambiance is clean and spacious. I definitely recommend! I will be back. read more

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Every dish was fantastic. Incredible company, delicious dishes, and excellent service and ambiance. The outside area was nice and a bit quieter than the inside seating area. The service was great with excellent recommendations, the oyster options were all delightful in their own ways, and I especially enjoyed the generous portion of fish for the crude plate. read more

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I had a wonderful experience at Clark's today. The service was exceptional, the food was top-tier, and the venue is beautifully clean and welcoming. I sat outside in the sun and was checked on the perfect amount of times. The Rockefeller oysters came out nice and hot and the ceviche and Crudo came out cool and fresh. This was my first time here and I didn't know that you are offered fresh sourdough with whipped butter. It was divine. All of the wait staff are so friendly and I look forward to my next visit. read more

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Such a cute seafood restaurant in Montecito. Their oysters are delicious. Great service with friendly staff. Great for lunch or dinner. read more

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Food was good. Wedge salad was a bit small. Shrimp were great. Service was very good except we had to ask 2 times for bread...which is really fresh and tasty. read more

This place is amazing ! Husband and I are in town for the night kid free in forever ! We walked down the street put our names in at Honor Bar and decided to keep walking to see if we could get a quick drink somewhere. We were treated at Clark's Oyster Bar immediately by the lovely host and ask if we could sit at the bar luckily there were a few seats left open. Server came over immediately(kicking myself in the hut for not remembering her lovely name) but from the moment she came over to the moment we left she was very attentive and warm. At this point go early my food could be gross because I feel seen ... But luckily it wasn't ... the raw bar chef offered us oysters and of course we accepted .. they were to die for .. then he asked if we have ever tried Uni and I hadn't so he served us up a plate and O M G ! ! ! Melt in your mouth butter ! Honestly the entire time we were at Clark's my husband and I felt like we created lifetime friends ! We were truly blessed tonight with delicious food amazing service and clean restrooms ! I can not wait to be able to return to this amazing restaurant ! Thank you to the entire staff for making us feel like we were home with our best friends !! read more

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Here from out of town. I was taken here for dinner. The food was excellent. We started with bread with incredible butter and very flaky salt. Yum. We had Cioppino, mussels in a white wine sauce, and branzino. Everything was delicious. We chose not to have dessert because the food portions were a good size. Just want to say...I have never been charged to debone/filet a fish. This should be done free of charge. Service was good because there are many runners to help. read more

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Mike is the kindest most attentive bartender I have ever met. And I will be returning regularly - thank you so much! read more

Clark's Oyster Bar - Mike the bartender - Desserts Near Me - Montecito, California

Cane last night with old friends and had the most amazing dinner here. Between the six of us, we were so fortunate to try a dozen West Coast oysters, a dozen East Coast oysters, bluefin tuna carpaccio, the jumbo shrimp cocktail (some of the biggest most succulent shrimp ever), the Grilled Spanish octopus (amazing), mussels and clams with white wine and herbs (really flavorful and tender), and the ciopoino, which was a little difficult to share, but delicious. Had some great white wines to pair - a Greek Assyrtiko from Santorini, and a lovely French wine, I think a Sancerre. Our waiter, Joshua, was the best. Loved it so much we came back the next night for happy hour! Bartender Charles was awesome - we had a half price martini (just $10), a half dozen West coast oysters - $4/oyster, .50 off; loved them all; happy hour white wine to pair ($10), and split a Wedge Salad - ice cold and so flavorful. Loved this place! Will be back! read more

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In Montecito for the weekend, and enjoyed drinks and for Happy Hour at Clark's. Sat at the bar that was almost full at a little past 3. Folks were mainly inside since it was drizzling. Since we had dinner resy back on State, we decided to split the espresso martini and our server was wonderful to come back with the cocktail split into two smaller glasses. Started with bread and butter which were amazing. A couple of oyster shooters and oysters - just enough to kick off the night. Loved the vibe at Clark's read more

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Absolutely a fantastic lunch!! Kevin was a fantastic bartender. Excellent with suggestions about the menu. The food was delicious. Truly a great find!! read more

Clark's Oyster Bar - Desserts Near Me - Montecito, California

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We stopped by Clark's Oyster Bar in Montecito for our anniversary lunch on our way to our hotel near Sandpiper Golf Course -- and we're so glad we did! We decided to spend the afternoon in the Montecito area, and Clark's turned out to be the perfect choice. The restaurant has such inviting aesthetics -- a cheerful blue and yellow color scheme and a beautiful blue-tiled patterned entryway that immediately caught our attention. The weather was mild and perfect that day, so we chose to sit al fresco and enjoy the relaxed outdoor atmosphere. Our server greeted us right away and offered great appetizer recommendations, making our choices easy. We went with the Kumiai and Shigoku oysters, Clark's wedge salad, and the Santa Barbara clam chowder -- which ended up being our absolute favorite! It was rich, flavorful, and perfectly balanced. For our main course, we shared the whole oak-grilled Mediterranean branzino, keeping our lunch light since we had dinner reservations later that evening at Marisella, the coastal Italian seafood restaurant at our hotel. Everything about our experience -- the food, the ambiance, and the attentive service -- was spot on. It was a lovely way to celebrate our anniversary and spend the afternoon. We'll definitely be coming back to Clark's Oyster Bar the next time we're in Montecito! read more

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Stopped by Clark's Oyster Bar on Saturday before a birthday party in Santa Barbara, and it was a great experience! My husband had a cocktail that was absolutely delicious--I couldn't partake since I'm pregnant, but the menu looked amazing, and I can't wait to come back for one. We sat at the bar high-tops, and the service was excellent--attentive, friendly, and accommodating, even letting us bring our child. The ambiance was upscale yet welcoming, and everything was spotless. We only had a quick bite, but the shoestring fries were next-level--extra crispy, perfectly cut, and fried with rosemary for incredible flavor. They also served fresh bread, which was a nice touch. Yes, it's on the pricier side for cocktails, but that's expected in Montecito, and the quality made it worth it. Definitely looking forward to returning for a full meal and a cocktail (or two)! read more

Clark's Oyster Bar - Desserts Near Me - Montecito, California

Beautiful very warm new staple restaurant in cute little Montecito town. Excellent for weekend brunch. Great to enjoy the outside scene of the town. Staff and service take care of you and make you feel welcome. Had the oysters, great cocktails, lobster roll, clam chowder and ceviche. All were well done. Don't much care for those extremely thin and crispy whispy fries just not my style. The chowder was a little watered down. Limited clams, mostly potatoes. But all in all great place for date or family. read more

Clark's Oyster Bar - Chowder - Desserts Near Me - Montecito, California

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If I could give this place 10 stars I would. The ambiance is incredible and the design of the restaurant was so welcoming and fun! The staff was AMAZING. They were so knowledgeable and helpful- SO fast with their service. If there was any chaos - as a patron we would of never noticed. We tried many things on the menu but my top 2 are definitely the Oysters Rockefeller and the Cheeseburger. Let me tell you- that was hands down one of the best cheeseburgers I've ever had. The oysters themselves were so fresh and dressed to perfection. Crudo was so refreshing and buttery! I can't wait to go back and try more menu items! read more

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clarks has incredible oysters at a very reasonable price and their martinis are literally my favorite in town. My go to is a Hendricks martini extra dirty. read more

Clark's Oyster Bar - Hendricks Martini - Desserts Near Me - Montecito, California

We had a very good meal at Clarke. You gotta remember this is in Montecito so prices high but the quality of the ingredients and the dishes were prepared very well. The tuna Carr Pacho with capers and olives was excellent clams and mussels with the fresh sourdough bread that you could dip in the sauce was amazing although I will say perhaps the clean the muscles were just a little tiny bit overcooked The rockfish was the star of the show local fresh be right over polenta 10 out of 10 on the rockfish read more

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Clark's in Austin TX is one of my favorite restaurants. However I tried the Clark's Malibu today. I was very disappointed. Every dish was bland. No taste in salad, pasta and the fish. I am not going back. read more

Friends selected this place for dinner last night. We selected an outside table away from the Main Street. I'll apologize for not remembering our excellent server. (April 14th) ? Was her birthday and I think her grandfather's birthday. We ordered various Martini's and their delicious bread and butter. It was a party of five. One of us immediately tipped over their Martini and it made a mess of the table. The servers immediately returned with napkins to clean it up. They also replaced the Martini at no charge. She said it happens all the time. A very nice touch. We ordered the burgers.... Mussels... grilled kale salads... beet salad.... and chopped salad. Everything well prepared. All entrees just delicious and so was the service . A very well operated establishment would/ will return. read more

Half Price burgers and Martini happy hour 3:00 to 5:00 M-F. New spot in montecito nice new clean spot. Good servers and food read more

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My family and I visited Santa Barbara recently and Clark's Oyster Bar was highly recommended. We had lunch there and had a great time! The decor of the place is unique and the food was very good! The service was excellent! read more

Clark's Oyster Bar - Tuna - Desserts Near Me - Montecito, California

absolutely the best oysters in Santa Barbara. Great selection, very fresh, expertly shucked. This is our go-to place to quench that oyster urge read more

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Waited around quite a bit to be welcomed or acknowledged in a very empty space. Not the friendliest service. I enjoyed my food but my friend ordered a carpaccio which she wasn't able to pull apart. I watched her having a lot of difficulty trying to eat it. read more

Overall, ambiance, food and service were excellent. Prices high but worth it for an occasional bougie meal. Lunch was $120 including tip but we ordered quite a bit. read more

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First time customer with small group. Lobster rolls were excellent! Nice ambiance.?Out of towner who will go back.

Food was over priced and nothing close to special... Calm chowder tasted like hotdog soup... got the crap cake which was $36 for one... and it looked like it came out of a frozen box from Trader Joe's. The Carpaccio blue fin tuna tasted nothing like fish... felt like we were eating olive oil and peas... Cocktails were good so that's why I left a two star... waiters/waitresses were polite and very nice... but come on... the prices, smallest portions ever, and disappointing taste of simple foods was a bummer read more

I would've done 2 1/2 stars if I could. Overpriced, and nothing terribly amazing. Had the oysters Rockefeller (not really oysters Rockefeller, but instead oysters with some creamed spinach, and a piece of Uni on top), no breadcrumbs, no parm, no Pernod, it was okay, but it missed. Did a dozen mixed oysters, which were good, although that is obviously hard to screw up. Clam chowder was OK, but nothing to write home about, also got a blue cheese wedge, again OK, but nothing special and the Lardon's were rock hard and not crispy. I get it, if you're on the main drag in Montecito you've got to crack that nut, but the bang for the buck just wasn't there. read more

We arrived with sky high expectations for ultimate quality oysters. We were disappointed. Fair but nothing special. Over priced.

Incredible spot! Great wine list, food is to die for, service exceeds all expectations. Yes, expensive (per Montecito), but you are getting the whole experience, and it is WELL worth it. Patio was lovely to sit on and building is beautifully decorated. MUST GET: Shells & Mac, Bloody Mary, shoestring fries, and *obviously* oysters - chef's selection. read more

Clark's Oyster Bar - Shells & Mac (half eaten), Bloody Mary - Desserts Near Me - Montecito, California