Came back for lunch on a Saturday. Was not crowded, sat outside which was nice. I had a sausage sampler(knockwurst and weisswurst) with a side of sauerkraut, my dining companions had a turkey Ruben and a grilled turkey sandwich. My wursts were perfectly cooked, one with a course grind, one fine. Two mustards and horseradish was brought with them. Truly delicious. I also tasted the ruben, the bread was delicious and perfectly grilled, turkey was not too salty, tender and moist. Everything (dressing, cheese, turkey, bread) was perfectly balanced. The man who took our order and served the food was extremely knowledgeable about the ingredients (we asked several questions) and was very attentive during our meal. If you're into German food, this might be your only option in town. Thankfully it's a good one and there's plenty to choose from if you're not into German cuisine. read more

Last night on a drive hoe dow the coast we happened across a roadside Dutch Restaurant....starving we went inside to the most eclectic, eccentric, ADORABE spot we could have picked out of a guide book!!! The service was so friendly!! The chef is right there cooing yourr fod....when he heard me say BEST SOU IVE EVER HAD...he had to come to the table! Its cozy and inviting! The food is the main star! Egg salad salad, soup and a Bavaria pretzel the size of my head- with some cheese mixture that's divine! The apple strudel...hot and HEAVENLY!! We're going back in December for vacation and its on our list! read more

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Love the weekend happy hour on the patio. The schnitzel plate with the most amazing German potato salad is hard to beat. Wife loves the knockwurst plate. Service is friendly and patio is dog friendly. read more

Dutch Garden Restaurant - Me & the Mrs. - German Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Knew when we were coming back to Santa Barbara we were coming back here. We weren't disappointed. Had the special turkey open faced sandwich which was amazing. Service was as great and food amazing. We will be back. read more

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We ate at DG yesterday. I have to say it was not a good experience. I gave 3 stars because service was on spot. The gravlax was past its prime. The pretzels are over baked. I'm German and I can tell you that the potato salad needs an overhaul. No parsley and no bacon or salt. My husband who eats anything even didn't like it. I believe the recipes are offend shortcuts are being made to maximize income. read more

Every year for my birthday, my dear friend take me to the Dutch Gardens when they took me the first time I said the veal schnitzel is as good as the ones I had in Budapest Prague and Vienna. I was so thrilled I couldn't believe it. And the potato pancake was crispy and delicious. I'm sorry to say that this year was a disaster.. veal was cut so thin paper, thin that of course it was going to dry out upon cooking . So the dish became a sliver sliver of veal you needed a magnifying glass to find The protein in that dish, so the breading was so heavy so it was like having breading with a sliver of veal. It was disastrous and it didn't even come in one piece. It came a bunch of little pieces. I called a young man who worked there and I said this is not acceptable. I said I bet you you have a different cook than you had last July he said how did you know I said because this is from another planet than the one I had last year how long has the chef been here eight months I said well you need to look for another one. He was very nice. And replace the dish it was a little better, but still the same little sliver of view, but not as much breading and not overly cooked like the first one and not salted like a salt mine. And a potato pancake that was so delicious last year wasn't even cooked. It was like a bunch of mush inside my friends husband who is so pleasant and nice and never complains. He said I'm not enjoying this potato and he didn't think the veal was great either.. and to top it off my dear friend she ordered a burger and found a piece of bone in it. She was afraid she had chipped a tooth. She showed it to the young man and he said oh I know what that is. it's a bone sometimes we get the meat and there's a bone in it while they took her meal off the menu, but let's put it this way. It was not a very pleasant evening except that I love being with my friends. Oh, and I ordered a glass of wine. It must've been watered down because it had no taste and I'm not a drink. I usually from one glass of wine. I get a little tipsy. Nothing was like drinking a glass of soda. I would like the owner of this restaurant to reimburse my friends entire bill because this was a disaster and it's a shame because it's a wonderful restaurant and people love it. The waitress I remember having her last year and was the same situation. She's very pleasant and is doing her best but she has so many tables to attend to. She can't do it in the proper manner. We had to ask her seven times for everything we needed and then she would say oh yeah, I felt bad for her, but it didn't make for a pleasant dinner on top of all our other problems.. No, this restaurant has been there a long time and people love it however last night there was nothing to love So please reimburse my friend for the entire dinner. It was very kind and generous of her to take me there.. The only positive thing about last night is that we found an area in the back that was shaded. read more

As a dual citizen US and The Netherlands, I approve. Howerver, this a German restaurant the letter. Inside cozy pub vibe, otside patio is like stepping into a German Bier Garten. The housemade from from scratch Bratwurst is traditional style served with mustards and horseradish. Delicious warm Potato Salad, sharp Sauerkraut with Carrots and Peas, and Chilled Bottled Water. Smiling, friendly, and attentive service. The counter seating is snug for my XLness.Although a bit pricey, I will return to try Dinner, perhaps a Schnitzel. read more

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Excellent German food, great patio, super beer list. What else do you need? Service is cordial and efficient, parking is easy, atmosphere is pleasant. Prices are fair for the good quality. read more

I can't wait to go back! We went for Santa Barbara sandwich week on a Sunday afternoon, and the place was slammed. That said, when our BLT's did finally come out, they were very well presented. There was no hint of rush; it was prepared with care with wonderful ingredients. I saw people around eating schnitzel and the portions were huge. On a sunny afternoon, the patio is very welcoming andnot hurried. Our server Rickey was terrific. read more

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We wanted to drink a beer with the dog in the out of doors, and Happy Hour at the Dutch Garden completely filled the bill. I ordered a Mahr's Helles, a German beer brewed with German ingedients, but in San Luis Obispo. My travel companion ordered a Früh Kölsch, and an open face sandwich comprising sardines atop a creamy spread on pumpernickel bread. It was delicious. I got the Bavarian pretzel, a soft pretzel with a resistant mahogany surface, that was approximately the size of my steering wheel. It came with a scoop of tasty white cheese spread. Hot dogs with sauerkraut were also available. Excellent service, and cheerful fellow patrons. We chose a shady spot, but sunny tables were also available. read more

Dutch Garden Restaurant - A Happy Hour Mahrs Helles, and a pretzel as big as my steering wheel, with tasty cheese spread. - German Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Came here with a group of friends and had an excellent time! Joe was an awesome server and was patient with our shenanigans. There is a great beer menu with some wine for those that don't want beer. There is also a delicious non-alcoholic beer! The farmers special came with five meatballs, mashed potatoes and a salad. Very flavorful! The pretzel is LARGE so plan on sharing it with 3-4 people. The cucumber salad was fresh and a favorite of mine! read more

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This is one of my favorite all-time restaurants in all of Santa Barbara, and I'm a foodie who eats out a LOT. Fun Fact: it's the oldest restaurant in Santa Barbara, from the 1940's, and not much has changed! Their German food is house-made and the waiters are very knowledgeable. Their pretzels, sauerkraut, sausages and mustards are amazing, and the beer selection is huge - the best in town. The salad are super fresh and lightly dressed European style, mmmm - out of this world. I love sitting at the lunch counter where you can literally watch "how the sausage gets made". The outdoor patio is great too, although the outdoor tables are a little bit too large (I feel a little far away from my guest). Overall I'm really happy this restaurant is still here, let's all support it as they expand their hours! Wed-Sun, 11-9. read more

Dutch Garden Restaurant - German Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Tried Dutch Garden for the first time for dinner. Service was great and very responsive friendly waitress. Food was a great and some just average. We had great German Brut and German beer. The Bavarian pretzel was the way it should be; crisp crust tender soft inside. House salad was good, a little sparse on lettuce and other ingredients for the price. Chicken was a special for the night and was delicious done with crispy outside, tender inside. Asparagus good, average, some a little too done. Lastly Rinderrouladin "brisket" was a disappointment, not done enough and lacked flavor, we should have stuck with trying the homemade bratwurst. Changed our mind at last minute. Mashed potatoes were good but nothing exciting, a little too whipped for my taste. German Chocolate Cake yummy and moist. I would try again here to experience lunch menu, which I have heard good things. Not giving up on this place yet and it's close to home. read more

Dutch Garden Restaurant - German Chocolate Cake - German Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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This place is a must visit!!!!! So cute, the service is top notch and the food is freaking amazing!!!!! Stopped for a quick bite for my birthday and will be back!!!! This is strange but be sure to check out their adorable restrooms!!! read more

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Not only is this place charming and really cute, but it is spot-on right- on! From the moment you park and walk in, the tone is set. It is clean, tidy, loved, and taken care of. Pretty special; not many places like this. Heck, I don't really drink much beer or eat much meat, but the attentive, sharp, authentically nice service and upbeat energy of the cooks won me over. This is the kind of place to love and lunch with your loved ones. And then, especially good of you are looking for German food. They do a really excellent job with that. Open for dinner,Thursday, and Friday. Daily Different soups and specials Charming bar seating and ample, pleasant outdoor courtyard seating. read more

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Dreaming about this pretzel still.... Best pretzel I've had in my life! We also got the butternut squash soup and it was really good. Honestly just a fun vibe. We were here when it wasn't busy at all, and we hung around for a while! Didn't get the vibe that they wanted us out early or anything it's really welcoming and chill vibes here. I'm actually not a fan of beer in general so the target audience is normally my boyfriend for this stuff, but anytime there's amazing food involved I'm thrilled. Living in SB my entire life, I don't know how I haven't been here before. Now I can add into my restaurant rotation. read more

Dutch Garden Restaurant - Pretzel & sauces, HH beer - German Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

They had Schnitzel Salad as a special and it was insanely good and also a huge portion size. Underneath the frisee were two fillets that took up almost the whole plate. The chicken was tender and the breading light and crispy. The homemade anchovy dressing accompanied the greens perfectly and I enjoyed the fresh shaved cheese on top too. Service was very fast, and the outdoor garden area is beautiful and quiet. read more

Dutch Garden Restaurant - Schnitzel salad - German Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

New dinner menu Same place as always The only thing that has changed is a new beer garden patio has been installed outside. Summer nights are going to be wonderful over here. read more

Ok so service is a little disorganized BUT...the food is excellent and the beers are cold and have a great selection. Lovely beer garden for outdoor seating. A real gem read more

Dutch Garden Restaurant - Pastrami and Swiss on Rye - German Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Both food and service are excellent. I would say that on a nice warm day when the patio gets full, it can take a while for orders and drinks. Perhaps if they had maybe one more waitress things could move a little faster. read more

Wow this used to be my favorite place in SB and they have gone way way down hill. So many things removed off the menu and different recipes. Everything is now a la carte so be prepared to pay $9 for veggies or sauerkraut. they used to have a whole basket of 5 mustards, horseradish, moist bread. the duck used to be a massive whole duck practically, now its a couple of small pieces and the sauce was not sweet or anything at all. it tasted like bland gravy. Most the staff is friendly. The only thing I can say is glad they finally dusted and got rid of the spider webs. (tears) read more

We got a big pretzel, schnitzel plate, and bratwurst plate! They all just delicious!! Schnitzel's breading was nice and crispy. Juicy Schnitzel! I got 2 slices. I like it with drizzle of lemons. It mixes well with sauerkraut! The potato salad was so good too! The bratwurst was a little salty but so delicious still. The huge pretzel comes with 2 different types of mustard and horseradish. Definitely worth coming back!! read more

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Not sure what happened to the Dutch Garden. Very underwhelmed tonight. $12 for beer; $45 for schnitzel (no sides) and $5.27 for tax. $62.27 total. No longer the great experience I anticipated. read more

Dutch Garden Restaurant - Jager schnitzel - $45 (no sides); beer - $12; tax - $5.27. Total - $62.27. Very underwhelmed tonight. My first visit in several months. - German Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Have been coming to the Dutch Garden for decades and so disappointed by the recent menu changes. $45 for meat entrees that come with NO SIDES? That is just outrageous. So sad to be saying that, unless they change their menu/pricing, I won't be coming back to what used to be a favorite restaurant. read more

I have been coming here since I was in my early 20's when I would work with my father.. well over 10 years ago. They closed for a while but luckily recently reopened. I haven't been back since the re-launch, but I'm taking my family up there during Labor Day weekend because it reminds me of such good memories with father, excellent food and amazing beers. I hope it doesn't disappoint. Cheers to Dutch Gardens! -James read more

Bummed: the first round of changes after Ken sold were doable; mostly same menu and pricing. Went last week and were very sad to see what the new "management" has done. Everything a la carte and overpriced and the soup, once very good was bitter and watery. Such a shame that another traditional and local spot has been ruined. We will not be back and were pretty regular at the bar for lunch and glorious dinner specials. Another one bites the dust. read more

The atmosphere both inside and outside is lovely. The beer selection is top notch. And the staff is so great. The food was fantastic. New date date night spot! Loved it! read more

Dutch Garden Restaurant - German Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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A former favorite. Sure, restaurants and staff have a rough day. Does that mean they have to take it out on customers? Apparently, the answer is yes. Out of several menu staples: meatballs, schnitzel, potato salad. The owner was nasty over each item we tried to order, "No we're out!" She snipped. "No! Out of that too." " May I have bread with my soup?" "All right," she bit back. No bread ever came. Slowww, angry service. So. Not. Interested. read more

THE BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE! Kind employees. Very welcoming. Truly and genuinely accommodating. I came here right after donating blood next door. Bridget was warm and welcoming even though it was almost closing. The chef (so sorry I didn't catch his name) assured me that they would love for me to place an order, even though I hate to do that to restaurant folk at the last moment at the end of the day. They could not have been nicer and more receptive. They truly made my day and I have to say, as a trained sommelier who knows good wine, food and service, these guys are to be commended. There menu is diverse and on point with traditional Dutch/Germanic cuisine. Aromas great you before you enter and the business is pristinely clean with a cut side garden. read more

Dutch Garden Restaurant - Delicious aromas upon entering becon you! - German Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Pretty bummed about our experience on Saturday. My husband and I have always enjoyed coming here but probably won't be back now. We showed up a little after 11:30 and there was a 2 top sitting at the bar and one other table inside. We stood at the front waiting to be sat for an awkwardly long time. We finally got sat on the patio and were asked for a drink order but I (mistakenly) said could we just have 1 more minute. That turned into at least 20 minutes...we watched a 6 top walk in and when that server (different than ours) walked by I asked her if she could please send our server over. We had our menus off to the side no drinks and were just sitting there silent looking around. Staff literally would make eye contact with my husband and go back inside. My husband even asked if we were being punked. Another large party got sat and I figured if they couldn't even take a drink order when it was just us on the patio then there was no hope. Not trying to spend our entire Saturday afternoon trying to eat lunch. We got up to leave and no one even ask why we were leaving. Wasted almost an hour of our time. I don't know if it has anything to do with new ownership or staff but it was really lame. We were really looking forward to ordering lunch, drinks and even to go food. Luckily we stopped at Llama Sama on the way home and had amazing service/food/drinks. read more

Dutch Garden Restaurant - Summer schnitzel salad - German Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

The patio is a lovely place for families. The pretzel is delicious and the pastrami sandwich is delicious. I really liked the salad with the German name that I can't remember that is made up of pickled cucumbers. While it may not be traditional, I think they should add french fries to their menu. Overall service was nice although a bit slow. My husband really liked his pork schnitzel sandwich. read more

Dutch Garden Restaurant - Pretzel so goood. Feeds 4 - German Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

I have not been to Dutch Gardens since High School most likely. Dropped by and had a great lunch! Food was delicious. Schnitzel was perfectly cooked and crunchy. Sat at the bar and was served by a wonderful Ms. Can't wait for summer so I can relax on the patio and enjoy a nice meal with a refreshing beverage read more

Dutch Garden Restaurant - Schnitzel plate - German Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Seriously this is one of my favorite places to go. When I was at the bar and the chefs were singing to lion king and the waiter asked what kind of beer I typically like and found me the best one.... It was like a dream. Everything there is great but if you don't typically eat German food I would recommend the sausages. read more

Dutch Garden Restaurant - Grapefruit radler - German Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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03/16/25 there are various sources on the Internet which show this restaurant as being closed. I stopped by there today. They are currently open for lunch Wednesday through Sunday. The staff indicated they would soon be reopening for dinner. Dutch Garden is alive and well. And they serve authentic German fare. read more

Food quality is good. I liked the schnitzel and gravy. It is close to what you get in Europe. Ambiance is cool and cozy specially if you sit outside. Staff are friendly and nice. read more

We live in SB and have been to Dutch Gardens many times and have always thought food was excellent. On 8/8/25 we went there with our daughter and we found that the potato salad was not good. It was different than usual recipe and did not taste good. We hope they go back to original recipe. read more

My family went for lunch the other day and Brigette went out of her way and made it a lovely afternoon. We had the Knackworst and it was delicious along with potato salad and sauerkraut. The dill soup was very special. The homemade apple cake and apple strudel was delightful. Thank you Brigette for the nice experience and we will back soon. read more

Best schnitzel I've ever had. The sausage, the kraut, and the potato salad were all amazing as well. And we literally could not stop picking at the giant pretzel throughout our meal. Can't recommend enough. read more

Quiet, outside, dogs allowed & we split a Reuben sandwich - it was perfect!! We'll certainly return. But check their hours first if you go. So fun to see dogs sitting quietly with their owners - AND- they are each given a bowl of water!!!! Our new favorite place!! read more

My German grandfather used to make me Reuben's all the time. He was a chef, and I thought he was the best cook ever. Eating lunch here felt like home. The ambience is charming on the inside and really lovely on the patio. The staff is attentive and honestly cares about their guests. Dutch Garden, I am so happy you are here. read more