Good atmosphere, great aesthetic, but service needs some work. The server took our order and mid order walked away to another larger table. No reason. The server said they were done taking our order and we hadn't even ordered main courses. I was never given a plate so used the main course entree plate to eat off. I ordered mussels and wasn't given a bowl to discard my shells. We ordered the bread to start (warmed) and the butter was ice cold on top, like it came out of the fridge right before delivery. Overall, the place needs some work on staffing and service, but the food is solid and the drinks are great. I assume it's hard to find great service with such a high cost of living in Santa Barbara and difficulties keeping great staff. Overall, it's a nice spot to go for a drink and dish, but I may reconsider a date night visit. read more

New favorite place in SB Highly recommend for amazing cuisine , personal attentive service , and romantic setting 5 STARS ALL AROUND ! read more

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While my mom visits, she likes to take me to places in Santa Barbara I haven't been before. I immediately knew I wanted to try Gala restauarant. It always looked like it had a beautiful ambience, good food, and had nice music I could hear while passing by. I was not disappointed at all! The owner, Tara, welcomed us in and was very sweet. Our server was Genarro, a kind Italian man who gave us excellent service and great recommendations! My mother and I tried out a bunch of their small dishes, the zucchini flowers and croquetas were my favorite! Overall a really good experience. Good service, food, and setting. Really nothing else you could ask for! They accomodate to walk-ins but are mostly reservation based so be sure to make one! read more

If you're looking for a cool vibe and delicious food, look no further! Gala has some delicious creative cocktails, my favorite is the Guava Caviar sour, and some unique dishes full of flavor. Order the mushroom risotto and the Gilda oysters, you will not be disappointed! Bring a group and share everything, you'll want to taste all the amazingness this place has to offer. Above all, the amazing service staff is what really makes this place special! Check it out next time you're in downtown Santa Barbara! read more

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Gala quickly became one of our favorite restaurants in town as soon as it opened! There is nothing on the menu that isn't fabulous but my go-to's are the Duck Confit and Oyster Mushroom Risotto. Not only does the food taste amazing but it's also pretty and the atmosphere is inviting. Great for a fun night with friends or romantic dinner date! read more

I never write reviews, but feel that a review is necessary after the poor experience we had at gala on Friday night. We are Santa Barbara locals and this was the second time we have eaten here. The first time the service and food was subpar. They had given us free Prosecco for the inconvenience the first time and we wanted to give it another chance since the aesthetic is nice. We had a reservation at 7pm on Friday. We arrived on time, but had to wait outside and were seated at 7:10 (totally fine, this is not where my issues lie). We were seated at a table right next to the bar. It seemed to be an added table with no white table cloth, unlike the others. My husband got bumped serval times by a waiter or waitress running drinks or a bar back coming through. We had to get up and ask the people sitting at the bar to scoot in to give a little more room to prevent the bumping. Our waiter could have cared less about us and was very unapproachable. At this point we contemplated getting up and leaving, but decided to try and make the most of it as we were celebrating a late Valentine's Day. We asked to do our dinner "shareable" style, which seemed appropriate given the menu. When we asked if we should order the food at once or in increments, the waiter responded by saying "order all at once, I won't rush you." I kid you not, 3 minutes later 4/5 dishes we ordered were on the table. I mentioned to one of the gals serving food that we were told we would not be rushed, which she responded by giggling, shrugging, and setting the food down. We were served water once at the beginning of the meal. All other tables seemed to have a carafe of water, we did not. We went without water for the duration of our meal but luckily had wine. The food is good, but not worth the service or money. We were incredibly uncomfortable all evening and will not be back. Gala should be ashamed. read more

This is one of my favorite new restaurants in town. The decor is perfect, the open air bar is wonderful. I've been in 4 times now and the staff has all been hired perfectly. My favorite and repeat orders are the two crudo fish apps, and the fried zucchini flower the fried tomatoes, The steak & frites always a win. The French fries are a perfect side order as well some. The watermelon tomato burrata dish was a wonderfully tasteful surprise. read more

This is a favorite special occasion restaurant. We love the modern look, the spacious table placement and the fresh, unique food choices. My only issue is that it gets pretty noisy, but then again, that's a tribute to its popularity! read more

Great food, drinks and atmosphere. Unique feel inside the dinning room. Location is nice because it's close to State St, but also kind of tucked away read more

Our favorite spot in Santa Barbara - literally never disappoints. Food is consistently incredible, service is consistently great. It's such a beautiful spot, too, both inside or on the patio. We love it for a special occasion or just a fantastic meal and it's always our top recommendation. Steak, branzino, crudo... you cannot go wrong. And start with the chicken croquetas!! read more

Need more space between tables and a clear path to the bathroom. More servers needed as they all seem to have sections too big to handle on a busy night. read more

I hosted my post-small wedding lunch here (total 13 people) last Thursday. I was looking around Santa Barbara for a restaurant to book. I liked that Gala opens at 4pm instead of 5pm like majority of SB restaurants. The decor/ambiance is lovely and beautiful. When I inquired through text about the booking, I received a fast and friendly response. The food was great, staff was great. I would knock off half a star for the cocktails though, they were too sugary imo. However, overall had a 5 star experience here. Thank you, Gala! read more

Much necessary addition to SB dining. Great open layout (you don't feel crammed), exceptional service, and the food was amazing. We ordered the duck and risotto. Two dishes that are very easy to go wrong. They were incredible. The duck was perfectly rendered and the risotto had great flavor. We've had duck at many higher end restaurants and this was easily the best we've had. So excited to have our new "spot"! read more

So amazing! Sat at the atmospheric bar in the historic Spanish-sryle building, sipping a phenomenal red blend from Rancho Sisquoc winery. Decided on the filet mignon with chimichurrie and roasted garlic. Served to perfection! Treated myself to THE BEST creme brulee I have ever had. Infused with orange and topped with a crispy sugar layer, it is what all creme brulees should aspire to be. On the way out, I got to meet Jaime the owner who has clearly invested his heart and soul into Gala. Kind and caring employees make Gala what it is- a gem in the heart of Santa Barbara. read more

Absolutely delicious meal in a beautiful setting with incredible customer service. New restaurant in SB that has been packed since they opened. Cannot go wrong with any of the dishes, and the drinks are incredible as well! read more

Just finished dinner at Gala. This place is amazing! Four of us in our group, what we ate: Oyster on half shell Shrimp croqueta Local ceviche Branzino with polenta Mushroom risotto Wagyu steak with potatoes We had spicy margaritas, could not get enough of them. Chef Jaime came out to chat and inquire about dinner, so happy he opened this beautiful space. Food was absolutely incredible, we all raved about our delicious dinner experience. I wished I took pictures! The food and presentation are delightful. Highly recommend this new restaurant, the ambiance, food and drinks do not disappoint. read more

Gala has become my husband and I's favorite date night spot. The staff is always so accommodating and we've never had any trouble getting a table - especially when we have a reservation. Amazing ambiance with even better food and cocktails. It's always difficult to not over order from their farm to table menu since everything is always so good. I highly recommend Gala for a nice night out read more

Completely disappointing I handsome staff serving pedestrian fare I expected some music being that the owners originate from Barcelona o Lu to find a very local flavor that wasn't my hope foe the evening read more

It's a great new spot! Everything was delicious! Love the vibes in there too. Friendly staff :) read more

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Love this new spot. Walked in on a rainy Friday and got two seats at the bar. Fun cocktails, delicious oysters and the steak was incredible. Great vibes and we just really enjoyed our interactions with the bartenders and servers. Feels like the whole place (decor, menu, etc) is thoughtfully done, I will definitely be back! read more

Ambiance is good, pasta tagliatelle dish made or son and daughter in law sick with stomach issues and the runs. Son also found a hair in his pasta but may have been his daughters...anyhow duck was good and steak was ok but had some gristle in it. read more

This is a great find! I went on Friday evening on March 1. I was seated immediately. The interior design and set-up is very inviting. Service was great. I ordered the Pan Co Tomate as a starter and the Tagliateli Pasta which were both amazing. The pasta had an excellent orange sauce with some cheese and other ingredients. It was warm, good portion size and so delicious. I was pleasantly surprised. Highly recommend. read more

We had reservations for 2 on a Friday evening. Dinner was amazing- my friend commented that when she goes out to eat she wants the fanciest, most complex dishes unlike anything she could make at home- the octopus special hit the nail on the head with this one. The heaters, lighting and guitar entertainment really made for a truly enjoyable dining experience. Pricey, but one of those places where you feel as if you're paying for more than just the food. read more

Gala, our new favorite restaurant in Santa Barbara. The decor is beautiful and chic. The ambiance is warm, relaxed and intimate. The service is top notch and the food is delicious absolutely divine. We love Gala! read more

I went to visit my son who goes to school in the area. He suggested we go to Gala because he hadn't been there yet and wanted to try it. We were greeted by the owner who was very sweet and friendly. The restaurant is quaint but I hear they want to expand. The menu is tapas style so my son & I tried several different items. The zucchini blossoms and the croquettes were our favorites but everything was delicious. When I go back to visit, I'll be sure to go back. read more

We had an absolutely lovely time at Gala. Tera, who greeted us, was so kind, accommodating, and attentive throughout our visit. Our server Liana was also great. We got calamari and tempura zucchini flowers, both came out very quickly and were delicious. Our drinks took a bit longer but were very tasty! Overall we had a great experience here and can't wait to come back. read more

Excellent establishment, a wonderful welcomed new addition to Santa Barbara - unique dishes - the duck was excellent, appetizers wonderful, drinks in real crystal. Service was par excellent. Fresh, young and inspiring vibe! read more

Wonderful food, service, and ambiance. It's nice to see a new restaurant owned and run by restaurant professionals. A fresh new addition to Santa Barbara. read more

It was good. Overall, the experience felt a bit flat and that we were just a table to turn. Every dish was covered in watercress, which quickly lost its appeal. I would come back for a cocktail (the beet margarita!) and app, but as a meal, it's quite expensive. read more

Gala has great potential, but the food is was very subpar. Heard similar feedback from friends, but decided to give it a try. Great cocktails and ambiance, but the service was extremely slow and our dishes were mediocre. The Buratta was just OK, steak and fries were over cooked, no sauces or anything special about the zucchini flowers. The risotto was the best thing we tried. Hope they can work out the kinks because we want to love it! read more

Well you can't believe the five star reviews. Must have been left by people associated with the restaurant. This was a true disappointment. First they tried to sit us at a crowded communal table. We saw empty tables outside and asked for one of them. Then we discovered why tables were available. They are next to busy Anacapa street. The highlight of the meal was having a minor car accident happen right in front of our table. The much praised cornbread was not really cornbread. You can get much better at the Revere Room or Gelsons. The flatbread is more like a flat cracker with stuff on top I never want to eat again. The Branzino was good but not great. However the carrot cake was exceptional. The pastry chef should cook everything, read more

Outstanding unique dishes down to perfection. Flowered zucchini in tempura, fried green tomatoes and the Branzino melts in your mouth! Service was excellent. Very friendly and accommodating. For summer months try to get a sidewalk table. This is our second time but won't be the last. read more

Once again had an wonderful experience! Food & cocktails are amazing and the service is on point. Gala is an excellent description of the friendly, joyful atmosphere. I can't recommend it enough. read more

What a delight Gala is. From the open-air ambience to the stellar dishes coming out of the immaculate kitchen. Having learned of chef/co-owner Jaime's travels, cooking around the globe, with a Michelin star in there along the way, I expected delicious and that's what we got. Friendly service, headed up by co-owner Tara, who's a Santa Barbara native! Fun atmosphere, great food. Altogether, a fabulous addition to SB. read more

We had a really bad experience at Augie's so we left there and went to Gala, just a couple of blocks away. We were immediately greeted and seated at an outside table despite not having a reservation. We ordered the fried green tomatoes, zucchini flowers, corn bread, and burrata watermelon dish. All were outstanding!! The flavors were spot on and the presentation lovely. Thank you Gala for saving my birthday evening! read more

What an amazing gem in Santa Barbara. My sister took me for my birthday dinner last night. Gorgeous setting, we were warmly welcomed by Tara, she checked in on us through the night and made sure we had an amazing experience. I loved the oysters, fried green tomatoes is a must order and the crudo was perfect. But the steak and Jaime cheesecake blew our minds. The owners clearly know what they are doing and I am already planning on returning soon, this will definitely be my to go restaurant! read more

Best resturant experience in Santa Barbara in years. Enthusiastic wait staff and really thoughtful and delicious food. Get there early and bring a jacket in case you need to sit outside. read more

I'd like to give 3.5 stars. Love the ambiance. Staff was nice, and food arrived quickly. We shared 4 of the tapas style items, all of which had lovely presentation. However, 3 of the 4 were good, but not super tasty. One of the 4 was really delicious (the quinoa potato hash browns). A bit expensive, with small portions. Liked it enough to go back. Good for getting a small bite to eat, a cocktail and hanging out at the bar. read more

Best service, food is to die for. A menu and ambiance found no where else in California. White table cloth service, yet still laid back for walk ins, or just drinks on the bar. Dinner can be healthy veggie dishes with local crops, comforting mushroom risotto, a classic steak with chimichurri and bone marrow butter, to basque cheesecake, to name a few of my faves. It's cosmopolitan! Thanks for opening up such an amazing new option for dinner in SB...Looking forward to when they open for brunch.... read more

Hard to believe Gala has only been open for less than 2 weeks. First class tapa dishes and craft cocktails! TARA greeted us the moment we walked in, took a drink order from us and found us a spot at the packed bar the moment one opened up. Special thanks to DAKOTA (bar manager) for introducing himself and walking us through Gala's management/ownership team's vision. Their attention to detail is through the roof! A must-visit! read more