Ate here last night for dinner. The service and atmosphere are so warm and welcoming, it pains me to say that we found the food just okay and the drinks are overly sweet. The pane con tomate had no real tomato flavor; the calamari starter was a little rubbery; the tagliatelle was overly sauced; and the chef's cut steak was tough, accompanied by not-crisp fries. I think they need to work out a few kinks to get their food to be really tasty. But as I said, we were so warmly welcomed by the hostess and then the server, it was extra disappointing to have the food be so meh. read more

Everything was delicious, I had the rockfish ceviche, and my wife had the duck confit, and we had the cornbread as a starter. The drinks were VERY strong but I didn't mind because I like to get my money's worth from a cocktail read more

Gala is my Go-To place in town. From a quick Happy Hour bite, to a working meeting dinner to a sweet date night with my husband or lady friends, I always find a reason to be back there. Their food and cocktail presentation are so colorful and chic. its a hit every time I am there. I always feel taken care of by their staff. I highly recommend their mushroom risotto, steak and fries and to start I love their burrata salad and their hash brown bites. Take the hash brown's up a notch and get the caviar! read more

Gala - Jaime's Cheesecake! - Spanish Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Overall, the food was excellent, the setting was lovely. The reviews for only four stars because I thought the service was a little lacking. We were sat on the patio and not really acknowledged for 10 minutes, then the next table was sat and the server, came out and took their order before us and still was not acknowledging until I called them over. After that, service improved. read more

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Have had a couple opportunities to experience Gala, and both the food and cocktails will definitely keep drawing me back. And of course the staff were very helpful with recommendations, and giving us the lowdown on the delicious dishes. Can't even say enough about the cocktails and how tasty they all are. The group favorites have been the Silky Cigar (bourbon), Campanelli (Italian Margarita), and the Gala's Beet Margarita. Still another half dozen to try, looking forward to that. And their del jardin, mar & montaña menu just keeps getting tastier and tastier. Group favorites, and so happy we all got to share, are potato & quinoa hashbrowns, shrimp croquetas, crunchy 'coca' (catalan flatbread), and the kusshi oysters (from the Pacific Northwest and DELICIOUS). And still nine new dishes to try next. A fun and tasty new addition to the Santa Barbara food scene, and centrally located downtown. Right across the street from La Paloma Cafe, and plenty of parking at the Ortega Street Garage. read more

Gala has a wonderful ambiance that transported us back to Barcelona. The pan con tomate was delicious, with tomato sauce just as good as what we enjoyed in Barcelona. We began with olives, oysters, calamari, and seared scallops, all of which were exquisitely prepared and presented like art pieces. We finished with mushroom risotto, which the group found a bit too cheesy; we would have preferred it with smoked cheese, but by then, we were full and becoming a bit picky. We also tried the squash flowers; despite not usually being a fan of fried foods, I found them quite good. Our dogs rested under our table on the patio, and we appreciated the nice touch of being able to drink vermouth again. read more

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One of the best restaurant experiences I've had in Santa Barbara, and I love many of them. Gala has an upscale, sophisticated vibe and the food is superb! Highly recommend! Can't wait to go back;it will soon become one of my go-to spots! read more

Gala - Amazing cheesecake - Spanish Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

I was sad when I heard that Low Pigeon (the coffee shop that used to be in this space) was closing, but after my great experience at Gala this week I'm feeling a lot better! I only tried one drink this time, but I'm eager to go back and taste the food. We sat at the bar- the staff were super friendly and helpful, and the drinks were very tasty and pretty affordable for such a nice restaurant! This would be the perfect spot to enjoy some post-work drinks with friends on the patio. Looking forward to coming back. read more

Gala - I can't remember what this drink was called, but I know it's the one that had beets in it. Very tasty! Not too sweet. - Spanish Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Awesome addition to Santa Barbara! The aesthetics of this place is to die for. The food is a mix of cuisines, ranging from Spanish to Mediterranean. The chef here is cooking up some incredible items like the potato and quinoa hash brown with salmon. It reminded me of a fancy samosa and it absolutely blew my mind. I loved the spin on the zucchini flower with the halloumi cheese.The duck confit was also really nice and tender. Can't wait to try the smash burger next time. read more

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I wish I could give them a 3.5. Drinks were excellent, smaller plates were ok. The main dishes we had (duck confit and the scallops) were great. My critically feedback is they put nasturtium petals and spouts on EVERY dish, and quite a bit of it. It's unnecessary and doesn't add anything but color. Perhaps, just a few would get the job done. Unfortunately our server wasn't the most attentive, but the bartender was great! read more

My mom and I entered and were immediately greeted by the kind staff. We can for happy hour and were impressed with the high quality drinks, appetizers, entree and dessert. The restaurant itself is classy and beautiful, with big windows facing the mountains/state st area. The chicken croquetas were the star of the show, creamy and perfectly seasoned. The octopus was flavorful, but not cooked totally through. The margs were top notch, highly recommend those too. The bartender even gave us a taste of a new drink she was putting on the menu which was incredible! The tart was a delicious end to the meal, which felt like it was straight from high quality berries and ingredients. Was flaky and delicious! read more

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I went to Gala to celebrate my sisters pregnancy with my mom and sister. We enjoyed our dinner (where we spent over $250 for 3 of us), and were wrapping up our conversation when the owner came up to our table and asked us to leave for the incoming reservation. We had only been at the table for an hour and fifteen minutes. We would have graciously left, but the owner was incredibly snarky and rude to my mother while asking us to leave. When we left we went back up to the owner to express that we had only been there an hour and fifteen minutes and did not deserve that treatment after spending so much on our evening and tipping incredibly well. She did apologize and admit she'd thought we'd been there longer, but said "I'm already worried about the review you'll write." What happened to doing the right thing because you want to not because of the potential review someone may write?? We would have gone back to Gala, but after that customer service, from the owner especially, we have a horrible taste left in our mouth and will let our friends know as well. Disrespecting your customer (especially my mom!) is never ok. read more

I absolutely loved the ambience and setting of this restaurant. The bar seating looks out into this large window and the decorations felt very elevated. My personal favorite was the scallops which were a seasonal item. Our server was polite but the place was quite busy so he wasn't hovering 24/7 (which I liked). I would definitely come back to try other things on the menu. read more

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I highly recommend this wonderful restaurant the food is out of this world. They are super tasty with great presentation. The service is impeccable and very friendly. Great place to go with friends and have a wonderful time. read more

Ricky was our server and he went above and beyond! He's an attentive, knowledgeable and wonderful human being. The food was great per his recommendations and the atmosphere was very nice! read more

This place is great, the oysters and the crudo are must haves. Incredible Negroni as well

I came here on a whim and it turned into the best dining experience I've had all year. The staff were friendly without being overbearing, and every dish tasted fresh and thoughtfully prepared. The branzino was perfect flaky, moist, and seasoned just right." read more

We had a group of 14 and they accommodated super well. It was an extremely busy night being Friday of fiesta and our server took Justin took such good care of us. Was very patient and kind with our large group and really made our experience exceptional. Thanks Justin read more

We are from Napa Valley, my husband is a winemaker, and we were here in SB for a family member's graduation and our anniversary. We made a reservation here after looking through many reviews and photos. It lived up to our expectations. Staff was AMAZING! Megan and Rico were absolutely outstanding. We spoke at length to Megan about wine and she was so knowledgeable, fun, interesting and kind. Rico always made sure our glasses were full and that our table had what we needed. He also gave a heartwarming talk to the family member's graduating. It was so sweet and kind. Truly memorable. We've dined at so many amazing restaurants because of my husband's career, including Michelin Star restaurants in almost every country, and the service here matched what we come to expect from Michelin Star Restaurants. Truly outstanding on a particularly busy evening with graduation celebrations happening. Kudos to the waitstaff, the chef, the kitchen staff and the bar for doing such an excellent job this evening. We will be back! Get the Burrata, the fried green tomatoes, the scallops, the duck confit, and any dessert. Their wine list was also great. read more

Justin was so attentive and friendly! They made our entire experience and the food and drink was amazing. Will be back for sure!

Tara and Jamie at Gala are absolute pros and such gifts to our local restaurant scene. The service, hospitality, inventive food, upscale ambiance yet warm, neighborhood vibe is unlike anywhere else in SB. From the hug we got from you upon arrival, to the sweet sounds of Spanish guitar, the picture perfect cocktails, and show-stopping fried zucchini blossoms, to the last bite of that heavenly basque cheesecake, everything was executed with attention and grace. We were left in awe of what my mom and sister keep referring to as "the meal of a lifetime." Their steak frites are the best I've ever had and I love their passion for local, bright, and beautiful flavors. I cannot wait for another evening at this heavenly space :) read more

the food was good but not delicious. we had to ask for water four times. they brought out food before our drinks- when you pay this much, you expect professional service. it was not busy, maybe a quarter full, no excuse. there are so many better places in SB. read more

On mother's day I shared (two person dish) the Spiny Lobster Paella at Gala. Absolutely wonderful, flavors were unforgettable! Wish I had a photo but didn't think of it. read more

The best. A wonderful neighborhood gem. The restaurant itself is beautifully appointed. The owners are a lovely couple who are there most nights . The staff is friendly and provide excellent service. The drinks are creative and the food is delicious. read more

Beautiful place. Nice ambiance and great service. The portions are good and there is a nice selection of appetizers, salads and entrees. Service was fantastic all the waiters, buss boys and runners were very nice and attentive. I order the mushroom risotto and was really good. We also ordered the steak it was tasty but a little salty to my taste. The charcuterie was also good but it needed a little more crackers. Definitely will try again!! read more

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The ambiance of this restaurant is spectacular it looks so much different than when it was a crepe place. They have an open concept. The service is pretty good and I think it would be good to make reservations for this restaurant. We didn't and we were able to get in but maybe we wouldn't have. read more

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My husband and I made reservations and got sat immediately during busy time! This is a great place for bites, cocktails or full service dinner. This is the spot to sit back and enjoy your beautiful surroundings! The waiter we had was in lala land half the time and couldn't make eye contact but that didn't ruin our experience. read more

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Gala is the most vibrant and fun restaurant in Santa Barbara with consistently delicious food and great service. I love it!

The casualness (carelessness?) of service delivery in the seemingly upscale American dining experience has become something of a chronic infection plaguing the entire US service industry. The symptoms of this infection seem to acutely manifest themselves in "recently" opened sort-of upscale themed establishments (this place tries to be Spanish or something, but kinda fails at it) that in the last decade may have been considered novel as some Bourgeois/hipster amalgamation. Millennials (of which I am one) frequent these places, but their wine lists tend to be sub-par and often they, then, fail to deliver on basic service expectations. Indeed, Santa Barbara is littered with these places that try to wow you with aesthetics of place while failing to deliver on the basics (see, e.g. Barbareno, Black Sheep, Costa, Finch and Fork, etc.). Regarding service, take for example the fork and knife placed on the starter plate. Starters come and are consumed. Starter plates are removed and THEN the fork and knife are taken away and replaced by a new fork and knife for the entree, right? WRONG! They are placed directly on the table, the assumption being we should pay over $40 for a few "lollipops" of lamb (that's how the server described it) and consume it with a dirty fork that has been just casually sitting on the table. Imagine this happening at a steakhouse ... the Boomers would be mortified! And so am I. The lack of couth is frustrating. Also, you could ask if we want more wine before the main course comes out. My glass sat empty, then the food came out and we ordered drinks and waited 10 mins to get them. Snap snap! Service should be more attentive and the drinks should come out faster. No more excuses about being short staffed or taking your time to make things "special." As for the food/ drinks ... let me start with the cocktails ... if you're into creative combinations of activated charcoal and liquor this place is for you. Indeed the mezcal margarita with aforementioned ingredients was rather refreshing! But, an old school palette may not appreciate such creative cocktail machinations: their version of the old fashioned was so syrupy that it drowned out the smoky flavor of the whiskey. Too bad. As for the food ... it's actually the bright spot! Keeps me from giving them a 1/5. But the entire experience was frustrating and detracted from the quality meal. I suggest that for a quality night out you avoid this place. Ca'Dario, Toma, Lucky's, Secret Bao even ... more places for better food and service than here read more

I don't leave 1 star review often, but having the audacity to sit tables closer than a Parisian brasserie at rush hour has to be called out. We had a reservation and simply left for a place that respects their patrons. I'm not sure this is up to fire code. read more

A truly stunning interior complements a sophisticated menu with fresh seafood and an al dente mushroom risotto. Elegant and delicious.

Amazing service and drinks. I had the farmers market mocktail and have been craving it ever sense. Our waiter went above and beyond. Highly recommend ordering the lemoncello at dessert. There were 2 Bachelorette parties so they did get a bit louder but they were fun so added to the memories of the night. read more

There are certain things that make me happy when I go out. Good times, good vibes, good food and no heroics. That's exactly what Gala has brought to the table. Using the freshest ingredients and unique takes of classic Spanish and Mediterranean dishes the have successfully achieved my goals for a night out. This place is inviting for a solo dinner at the bar...a group of good friends/family or an intimate date. The kitchen sits behind glass windows which allows you to see an intense and busy kitchen without the direct noice. The decor is rad and I wish my house had half the furniture. Bar seats are super comfortable and it's great when they have the bar windows open. --- cocktails and wine list are delicious and creative. Great vegetarian options and they are always mixing the menu up. Check this place out! Cheers. read more

Gala is aesthetically pleasing. I enjoyed my margaritas, bruschette and fries!! However, this place gets a 1 star from me due to the customer service. I did a walk in with my girlfriend on 5 de de Mayo. A party had missed their grace period for their reservation, so we were given their table. 25 minutes after being sat, the host comes up to us and asks to move us to move to another table because the reservation, who had obviously missed her grace period had apparently been waiting at the bar. So we moved outside, only to observe the reservations "friend" walk in late. In short, the person who made the reservation waited until her friend was near to claim her table and we were forced to move to a table outside. As a woman of color, it was very disappointing to be asked to move my table for a non-colored women. I don't want to compare this to Rosa parks, but it certainly rings a bell. I will not be retuning to this place, ever again. read more

Gala - Spanish Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

I came here with high hopes...but unfortunately they did not come to fruition. We came for a birthday party and we're accommodated at a lovely dining table. The decor of the restaurant is airy and modern, although it does get rather loud. But the food was inconsistent. I enjoyed my "flatbread" which came with an assortment of raw and cooked veggies. The broccolini was tasty but too saturated with the soy glaze. My friends were very disappointed with their smash burgers. Service was trying hard but disorganized. Perhaps it was a really off night- hopefully with more time Gala will rise to its potential. read more

Wow. Dining here was an experience I will repeat over and over. From the craft cocktails with unique ingredients to the farm to table fresh menu, I was in awe every minute of my visit. I was able to enjoy the Pisco Sour as well as the tasty guava cocktail - so fresh. The mushroom risotto is an absolute must, I almost ordered a serving to go. Do not leave without tasting the cheesecake - one of the best I have ever had. Again, the menu does change depending on the freshest farmers market ingredients so I do hope these items are available again. Compliments to the staff and the amazing chef for the meal and experience I had! I will be back very soon! read more

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Modern Spanish inspired restaurant with lots of shareable plates in downtown Santa Barbara. Drinks and dessert were delicious read more

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Everything about gala is amazing! From the food to the staff it's never anything besides wonderful!

I would give a 1.5 if I could. Host was fine, nice but not very welcoming. She gave us a a choice of table which was nice. Our server was terrible. He neglected to introduce himself, lacked knowledge on the menus, and rushed us through our entire dinner. We had a reservation at 8:30pm and were told within 10 minutes of seating that the kitchen was closing and we had 5 minutes to put in our entire order. Drinks were ordered at least 5 minutes before our 1st course and didn't come until 5 minutes after our first course hit. Drinks were not nearly cold enough, every dish that came to the table was underwhelming and unbalanced. I would list the individual dishes but they were prepared so poorly it's not even worth it. Most of the food felt like it could be purchased from the frozen section of the grocery store. Our entire meal was rushed - we explicitly said we wanted to start with 2 dishes, then enjoy a 2nd round of apps, and finish with the steak and risotto. Everything came half-hazardly to the table, not giving us anytime to enjoy the individual courses. When we still had 4 appetizers on the table when a server (not even ours) awkwardly let us know that "the kitchen gets a little antsy"and our main course was ready. Also, they cut the music with multiple tables still seated at the end of the night. As a restaurant manager I'm shocked they feel they can give such a poor experience and charge the prices they do. Also, I've seen a couple other reviews with this note: stop garnishing everything with 32 pounds of micro greens. It's wasteful and doesn't add anything to the dish. read more

Good vide. Drink is ok. Zucchini flowers appetizer is surprisingly good. Staffs are friendly. read more

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