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    Joe's Cafe

    3.6 (1k reviews)
    Closed 7:30 am - 10:00 pm

    Joe's Cafe Photos

    JOE'S CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Joe's Cafe

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    Zoila S.

    I ordered the Salmon Salad, I had to ask for dressing as the dressing was not in the salad. The drinks were pretty good too. My kids got scrambled eggs, with bacon and toast and my husband got the meat marinera sauce spaghetti. Staff was friendly. The lights inside the restaurant was nice. The restaurant has almost been around almost 100 years, I'm not sure if in that particular place.

    Cheeseburger
    Alyssa E.

    Service and food were okay... little bit of a 'tude from our server but I'll say hospitality was best we were greeted and sat rat away, atmosphere is fun. Great music but don't think we'll be back

    This Is K.

    Service was fast seated right away. Very friendly host/waiter. Very calm and quiet place to enjoy some breakfast with family and friends. Food was good and came out quick.

    Avocado Toast
    Katie K.

    This has always been one of my favorite breakfast places. The servers are all seasoned and really know how to make you feel at home and take care of you. The menu has a really great variety. Everything is good quality. None of that IHOP or Denny's B.S. They have cozy booths, or a nice long full service bar. It's always festive and lit up. It's a great place to come when you're nursing a hangover or you're working on getting one. It's a diner, but a goooood diner.

    Salmon and poached eggs with grits  and rye
    Jenn M.

    Joe's is known for its strong cocktails and fun bar vibe but let's talk breakfast at Joe's! I think it's one of the best breakfasts in Santa Barbara. Great food, decent portions and legendary environment. Now, if you like pie for breakfast (I'm not a pie fan), they have fresh pies everyday. My pie friends tell me it's great. I usually get The Champion, avocado toast with eggs, bacon and chile flakes-salsa on the side. Today I mixed it up today with the smoked salmon amd poached eggs with grits. Yum! This is a spot for locals and visitors alike.

    Rose L.

    Fun staff and interior but the food was okay at best. We got the Cuban and the all day breakfast. There was a strange after taste with the eggs but the toast and butter were great. French fries were nice too. My partner enjoyed the Cuban. The total ran us about $46 which was slightly pricey but well worth the ambiance. The thing that irked me the most was the water cups, it smelled like dog for some reason, therefore was slightly off putting to drink and get refills. Otherwise a decent experience.

    Delicious Old Fashion
    Tracy A.

    Stopped in for lunch at Joe's. My server was very friendly and attentive. I sat out on the patio and watched people walking up and down State Street. I had a really good old fashion and a hearty salad. The salad was really good and filling, couldn't finish it all. I would stop into Joe's again.

    Mike L.

    Just stopped in for a drink, Kyla at the bar is wonderful. If we lived in Santa Barbara we come here every day!!

    Alex K.

    It's been a while since we were last here. I do remembered they offer breakfast which we were originally interested in but when we arrived, there was a sign posted that breakfast was finished and lunch was being served. Oh well... We ended up staying for lunch instead and got seated on the patio. Downtown Santa Barbara has changed since we were last here. The restaurant use to utilize some of the street for outdoor dining but there's now a new walkway that takes over that area. It did take a while for our waiter to come to us even the hosts (gentlemen who seated us) asked if we've been helped yet. He was gracious and brought out some water which was nice. After a bit the waiter did come out to take our order. Menu wise, it's still the same from last visit. Even though breakfast was over, mimosas was still good. Mini bottles of bubbly was served with a mini carafe of orange juice. I remembered the onion rings last time and that they were good. So that was a must with the meal. It's was a mixture of everything for our table. The Cobb salad which portion wise was nice and big. You have everything in it, nice chunks of blue cheese, eggs, bacon, turkey, tomatoes and a nice potion of avocado. The salmon salad was also a nice option. Petty big size of salmon on top a bed of mixed green. The fried chicken sandwich with a side of sweet potatoes fries and chicken quesadillas. Sandwich was great, nice big chicken battered and cooked perfectly. Quesadillas on the other hand, it was whatever. Nothing really major to rave about. Had to ask for some salsa to accompany it. Then the onion rings. From what I've seen with other tables ordering it, it looked great. And i remembered last time. When ours arrived, it was overcooked. And not only that, cold to the touch. Seemed like it was made in a huge batch and left there till someone ordered it. I don't like sending anything back but we asked one of the waiter if they could just replace it with something hotter. He was kind of hesitant at first. Asked if I wanted them heated up in the microwave which I said no. And asked if it was possible to get another order. From what I've seen coming out, our batch was a disappointment. Maybe a minute later, he brought out the onion rings which was exactly the same thing we originally had. They must had just threw it in the microwave.... Oh well, guess they didn't care to make customer happy. Anyways, we still munched on them as it was being paid for. Food, some of the dishes were good. Service, it was nice. Staff were friendly. Overall, we would have like to have breakfast but now know that there's a cutoff time. Didn't want to be a nag but the onion rings situation could have been dealt better but it's whatever. Didn't want to complain as it didn't affect our other meal but it could have been better.

    Pie oh my!
    Desiree P.

    Great location on State St. with a diner style menu. Joe's serves a large menu of American and California comfort food classics. It is a Santa Barbara institution and the city's oldest restaurant, having served locals and visitors on State Street since 1928. It is widely celebrated for its "stiff" cocktails, generous portions, and a nostalgic, high-energy atmosphere that transitions from a family-friendly eatery during the day to a lively bar scene at night and is a central hub for socializing. Situated in the heart of Lower Downtown on State Street, it offers both indoor seating and an outdoor patio perfect for people-watching.

    Bar
    Stephanie L.

    Joe's Café in Santa Barbara is one of those rare places that becomes an icon in the memories of countless people. It's been around for God knows how long and has so many people that worked there that have stayed with the place for many many years. It adds to the allure of it, the history, The memories, and just the overall experience. It's a really casual dining spot in Santa Barbara, but somehow their bar feels super Lux and classy in its own way. The red and white checkered tablecloths are sweet and just so representative of the place. We have a lot of memories here over the years from late nights and night caps to brunch or lunch. Anytime of day, Joe's is the answer. Lots of memories to be had here and lots of great service. You'll always find it busy and bustling it's just a magnet.

    All American Breakfast!
    Michael F.

    Gio was our waiter and was excellent. Bacon, eggs, hashed browns and sourdough toast with a large OJ. Everything cooked perfectly and hot.

    This place is SOOOO good. We got the chicken Alfredo and a meatball sandwich. The sandwich was good but not amazing but the pasta was so good the service was AMAZING . I wish I got our servers name cause he was the best !! We'll for sure be back !

    Crab Sandwich.

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    3 months ago

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    2 days ago

    1st time here. Good food, good portions, fast service, charming environment. Would definitely recommend.

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    5 days ago

    Local spot. Fantastic food and atmosphere. our waitress "MaiTai" was a gem. Two visits in three days.

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    Page 1 of 27

    Joe's Cafe Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Joe's Cafe

    What time does Joe's stop serving breakfast?

    11:15

    How is the fettuccine alfredo?

    It is diner quality food so it would be ok.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    4.1(294 reviews)
    0.5 mi
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    Over all these years, I have avoided the Funky Zone for various silly reasons. But for a while now,…read morewhen I visit my friend's auto repair shop downtown, he always gets Turkey Burgers from here. Always looking for places to have solo lunch, I finally ventured to FZ. There's no sign. I drove by several times and parked, determined to find it. It was next to Lama Dog. I ordered at the window from a very friendly and efficient staff member. I found a nice bar-height communal table inside a super cool restored warehouse with awesome indie music jamming, also surrounded by big screens and sporting events. I ordered a bottled Arnold Palmer from the bar, not realizing the bottled drinks are self-serve. Nevertheless, the bartender kindly got it for me along with a glass of ice. Now here's the best part: the very best Turkey Burger I have ever had--way better than any take-out before. It's topped with garlic aioli, avocado, melted cheese, lettuce, tomato, and crispy skinny onion rings, just perfect. I also ordered the fries with truffle and Parmesan--absolutely delicious, though a bit too flavorful, which overshadowed the turkey burger's flavor. I've tried both sweet and regular potato fries here, and they are excellent too. This place really hits the spot. Can't wait to come back.

    We stopped by Lama Dog for a drink and were very happy to find this little "nook" inside serving…read morefood. Perfect for grabbing a bite to go with your beer. Got their Lobster Mac & Cheese. Was enough for us to share between two. Creamy and cheesy, but could've used more lobster. Would've expected a better lobster to macaroni ratio with this one. Prices are a little steeper here. It was $25 for the Lobster mac & cheese, which I would've been more open to with a bit more fish in the dish. Plus, when I go to grab a beer, I'm not necessarily wanting to pay $20+ for a burger without fries. That being said, it's still a good spot to grab some food while drinking a beer at Lama Dog.

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    Finch & Fork

    4.2(1.7k reviews)
    0.4 mi
    $$

    Visited Finch & Fork with my girlfriend. We had a lovely breakfast. Service was attentive and…read morefriendly. Our food was delicious. I'm normally not a yogurt person, but I really enjoyed theirs. I'm pretty sure the granola was homemade or at the very least sourced from a whole food brand. The baked pears added the perfect amount of sweetness. Pancakes and Avocado toast were also delicious. The cocktail is dangerous; I could have sipped on it all day. The restaurant is located inside The Kimpton. It's a beautiful property. Shoutout to Robert who was a pleasure to meet. Oh, and PARKING is COMPLIMENTARY if you dine at the restaurant, how awesome is that! (don't forget to tip the valet)

    * Visited for a birthday celebration; reserved room w/ a party of about 24 guests around 7pm…read more This restaurant is nestled inside the Canary Hotel. First, I want to say how elegant the hotel & restaurant are. There's a rooftop access where the pool is, and you can see gorgeous views of Santa Barbara. The staff here are incredibly kind, and quick to assist with what you need. As we were a large party, the staff was very patient and made sure everyone was situated. OKAY THE FOOD: * We had a preset menu, but everything was pretty tasty! * Tuna Poke: This was very delish - I loved that it was already portioned nicely and was the perfect appetizer. * Caesar Salad: The salad was quite yummy! It was loaded with LOTS of cheese. * Filet Mignon & sides: Very tasty, and was cooked to perfection. This dish came with mushrooms as well, but since I'm allergic, they were kind to remove the mushrooms. I have heard good things about their brunch dishes, and hope to try their brunch dishes next time I'm in town :)

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    Inside 10/15/25

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    The Lark - Banana Bread and peppered Bacon which

    The Lark

    4.2(2.1k reviews)
    0.4 mi
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    Absolutely stunning dinner at The Lark last night on our only night in Santa Barbara and I feel…read moreglad to say we picked the right restaurant! The place was full, including indoor and outdoor seating, great ambience and light level, and lovely string lights above the seating outdoors. To start they bring over a delectable dill popcorn which was a rich, salty, dill and butter creation. Totally set a fun tone for the meal. Then we had the crispy Brussels sprouts (ORDER THESE!!!) they were divine, the sesame and lime combination was reminiscent of a great pad Thai, with the perfect amount of sauce and tiny bites of figs which all worked together in a way I wouldn't have expected. For the mains we had the shrimp toast and the pork ribs, both fantastic both well portioned and both 10/10s. Pork ribs fell off the bone easily and were spicy and tangy without overdoing flavor and the shrimp toast tasted like a great gumbo sauce and the shrimps were big! This is a meal I'll be thinking about and recommending to others for a long time, thank you Lark!

    We are at the Lark tonight and had a good experience. It's a fairly casual and comfortable…read morerestaurant. We were greeted and seated immediately. I was glad we made reservations. The restaurant was busy. Our server was great. She introduced herself (Giana I believe she said) and helped us understand that the intent of the menu and dining approach is a sharing format. The plates and portion sizes vary depending upon the item. Cocktails: The Lark has a very interesting (in a good way) cocktail menu. Our party tried 5 different cocktails. Everyone loved their drink and commented on how well made they were. Food: The restaurant provides complimentary dill pickle popcorn (10/5) as a snack to get your appetite moving. This unique popcorn flavor was one of the best things I had all night. Everyone in our party agreed. We ordered 40% of the menu. The standouts were the fried chicken (5/5), the duck confit (5/5), and the pork ribs (4/5). Dessert: The chocolate pot-a-crème with banana cream (5/5) and donut holes (5/5) were both very tasty. We had a real good experience at the Lark. My only comment as a first timer was gauging how much food to order. We found the menu items in the Farm and Ranch sections were entree sized plates, while the Ocean section plates varied in size considerably. We consequently over ordered and wasted some food. Although our server Giana was helpful, we could have asked more specific questions to assess the quantity of food better. We enjoyed the restaurant vibe, cocktail program and many of the plates. If I lived in SB, I would have dinner here every other month and enjoy the dill pickle popcorn and the fried chicken with their signature Paloma to wash it all down.

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    The Palace Grill - Crawfish Pasta Lafitte

    The Palace Grill

    4.3(1.7k reviews)
    0.0 mi
    $$

    Last night was the first time in many years that I've eaten here…read more I cannot believe I waited so long to come back. Our food was phenomenal. Each dish had its own unique flavor. No dish seemed to have any crossed ingredients. Fortunately for us as well was that we were there at one of two times during the day when they have an entire restaurant participation sing along. Most Outstanding Dinner outing !!

    It's been a while since I've been here. I used to really love this place. The food isn't bad by…read moreany means, it's just not as tasty as it used to be or as I remember it. It's like they threw out the old pots that used to give flavor beyond any seasoning they shook in. The menu is much smaller. The food presentation is better, the plates are definitely more cleaned up and picture ready. Previously, the food used to all run together. We ordered my all time favorite all, the Cajun popcorn. The recipe is definitely different, the breading is fluffier and softer. Personally, not a fan, I prefer it a little crunchier to my liking. The redfish special was good, make sure to get it with the Pontchartrain sauce, it MAKES the dish. The lamb was good, prepared medium rare perfectly! The bread pudding soufflé was excellent. I'd come back, the food is good, just not as great as I remember it. Street parking is your best bet, but you can drive around the corner and find a public parking lot nearby.

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    Jambalaya Sauce Piquante

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    Brass Bear Brewing & Bistro - Fields of Lavender

    Brass Bear Brewing & Bistro

    4.6(430 reviews)
    0.5 mi
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    I would give more than 5 stars if I could! We hosted our wedding reception at Brass Bear, and I…read morewould go way over the character limit here if I listed everything I loved about working with them. I truly cannot say enough wonderful things about the entire experience. We were looking for a laid-back and unique venue, and Brass Bear absolutely delivered. From start to finish, the team (especially Emily!) went above and beyond to make our day perfect. The space itself is welcoming and full of character, while also feeling elevated and thoughtfully designed. We actually saved a lot on decor because the venue was already so beautiful on its own. The top things that really set Brass Bear apart (aside from the space itself) were the staff and the food/drinks. The staff -- Every single person we worked with was kind, responsive, professional, and genuinely invested in making sure everything ran smoothly and that it was truly the party of our dreams. They were incredibly accommodating, handled logistics seamlessly, and anticipated needs before we even had to ask. It honestly felt like they cared about our wedding just as much as we did. Also throughout the evening, on their own, the amazing staff checked in on me and the groom, seeing if we wanted a drink refill or a cup of water. The food-- Hands down the best menu we sampled while choosing a reception venue. We wanted a place that would have a spread guests would talk about long after the event, and for months afterward our friends and family were still bringing up the tri-tip and how good everything tasted. Not only was the main food insanely delicious, the welcome charcuterie table was put together beautifully with so many options. The drinks -- The open bar was fantastic! Brass Bear offered a great variety of alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks as part of their open bar, the flow of guests being served at multiple bar stations stayed steady all evening with no bottlenecks, and they even helped me create a custom cocktail to match my purple hair. I also probably emailed (literally) a thousand questions throughout the planning process, and every single one was met with a kind, thoroughly explained answer, or a "let's see if we can make that work!" response, which made the planning feel like a breeze and really fun. If you're considering Brass Bear Brewery for a wedding, celebration, or any special event, do not hesitate. They helped create memories we'll treasure forever, and we are SO grateful we chose them. Highly, highly, highly recommend.

    The food tasted old. We had the chicken Caesar wrap, it all fell apart while eating it and the…read morechicken was so dry. The brisket tacos .... The brisket tasted like it had been reheated multiple times prior. Kids grilled cheese for $9 was even a disappointment. Not sure where the local food comes from but we won't be returning. Table next to us had the exact same experience... bummer

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    Lucky Penny

    Lucky Penny

    4.1(899 reviews)
    0.4 mi
    $$

    My mother, who isn't much of a pizza person, liked her pizza so much that she wanted to come back…read morehere a second time before we departed Santa Barbara. So, we came here for a second visit during our 3-day visit, at around 3pm and it was very empty. We ordered the same thing, Salty Surfer with mushroom, and my kid added pepperoni this time to his kids cheese pizza. It was just as tasty as last time, and everyone even ate the crust lol! Service here is so friendly. The staff are super chill and casual, and were all really nice to my 7 year old kid. Our table was a bit sticky and we put a napkin over the sticky part, and when a staff was clearing our table, he apologized for the sticky part for not cleaning it. Not a big deal at all, but really nice it was acknowledged in such a respectful way. This will now be my go-to when we come back next time!

    Long line when we got there for dinner! Didn't realize it stretched all the way to the back of the…read morebuilding where the ambiance is a little more classy. We ordered a Confit Garlic Bread and Salty Surfer based on other recommendations. I honestly wasn't too much of a fan of the Salty Surfer as it don't stand out compared to usual pizzas I would get elsewhere, but I really enjoyed the Garlic Bread. Very cheesy and the basil is a good addition! Would definitely want to try something else on the menu next time!

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    Joe's Cafe - tradamerican - Updated May 2026

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