Rating this Best Western for their wonderful service at the Live Oak cafe, service was very friendly and welcoming :) I like! read more

Live Oak Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

I ordered by phone - Santa Barbara wrap, bacon on the side. It was ready in 10 minute. However, they got the order wrong. They remade it on the spot. It was delicious! The decor was old-school-cozy and fairly quiet. Despite the error, I will be back. read more

Everyone was so welcoming and accommodating! A restaurant with great food, positive vibes and amazing service! Thank you for a wonderful time!! read more

This is located within the Best Western hotel property. To-go order. Service: ridiculous fast, pleasant, on top of the order, to the minute they predicted. Friendly, personable staff, attentive. Take-away beers (bonus!!). The current IPA was very solid. Potstickers: solid good, slightly dry (to be expected alone), nice sauce, good flavor. Spicy Noodles w/Salmon: pure awesome, perfectly grilled salmon fillet, broad veggie palette, great sautéed broccoli florets, something almost balsamic in the mix, def umami. Grilled cheese and apples: I was told it was great. Parmesan fries: very good, little soggy but hit the crave. Interesting sweet/sour/ketchup sauce. We have a salted caramel ice cream waiting in the freezer, food was over-portioned. Will order again. Also props to Best Western SB. Very focused, attentive, actually cares. Rare to find this kind of chill combo. read more

This place is in a hotel on the main Street by the hospital....quiet , no full bar , lil bakery fridge in the front. Sat at a booth ordered the BLT & Live Oak burger, both so yummy. . . Had no clue the bacon on the BLT was more like ham , which was a great surprise, I even asked if they could lightly toast my sourdough bread and they did it perfectly. Those water cups could have been larger, had to get lots of refills. Overall surprisingly yummy spot!!! Going to be frequenting this place to try everything on the menu :) read more

Tucked in the Best Western Inn, this place has an amazingly fun selection of menu items including quinoa patty benedict (which my vegetarian companion said was delicious) and French brioche toast. I also had the chicken picatta entrée and waffle breakfast. Truth is I've eaten here 3 times over my 2 night stay and couldn't be more pleased. There is a nice bar area to sit at and I noticed some great conversations with the bartender, even in the morning (mimosas and bloody Mary's anyone?). Waiter has been consistently attentive. read more

Delicious food and coffee. Seating in the patio was beautiful. I was happy with how healthy and good their menu was.

We went to Live oak Cafe on a friend's recommendation. We loved the healthy choices, really positive and helpful staff, and loved their soups! Next time will try one of their Grain Bowls. Nice semi-outdoor patio and indoors, beautiful local art on the walls. Will go again for sure. read more

Wow. Who would have thought this place was so good. Everything's homemade. From the breakfast sausage patties to their delicious sausage kale soup. For breakfast one morning I had the harvest grain breakfast. It was so good. Quinoa with sautéed kale, mushrooms and egg on the side. read more

Great atmosphere and good service! My wife and I had breakfast which was delicious. I was on the fence about going with my usual or trying something new. I decided try something new abd went with Pacific Rim Bacon Fried Rice which was so delicious and filling! My wife got the Lemon Zest Brioche French Toast and she loved it, ate every bite. Another great thing about this wonderful restaurant is that they serve an array of mixed coffee drinks if you want something other that coffee. I hope I get a chance to try dinner here as they appear to have a great food options and a selection of local brews. I would definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone who is in the area or coming to the area. read more

The Kalua flat bread is delicious. Not greasy and has just the right amount of toppings, tastes like a gourmet pizza. Would definitely order again. read more

The location is convenient since I had an appointment at a clinic across the street. I popped in for a quick breakfast. I wanted something more than the usual bacon and eggs. I settled for the Lemon Zest Brioche French Toast. I have to admit I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of my breakfast. The restaurant shares a parking lot of a Best Western. Usually that means a "diner like" quality. But my French toast not only looked great but also tasted terrific. The quality and care of f the ingredients showed. More importantly, the staff was top notch. read more

Live Oak Cafe - My Lemon Zest Brioche French Toast. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

I love this place. It's beautiful, has birds outside, the employees are nice and the food is good and has reasonable prices.

Great menu; diverse and interesting. Excellent service, very reasonably priced. Nice selection of wine and beers. You will enjoy the ambiance. read more

Took a little vacay for the week and decided to dine in at LOC since we stood at Best Western Plus. Everybody was seated at a social distance. The food was great. I would definitely come back again. read more

Just threw out the other half of my burger. Was very disappointed. Work across the street decided to mix it up with a burger from here. Asked for medium and it was welldone. Burger was super salty. Gave 2 stars only for the fries. Fries were really good. Should have just got a overdone burger from here at work throw some extra salt for half the price. read more

We stopped on the way back from El Cap from 'glampin' over the weekend. Amazing hidden gem. Cool spot, very under states from the outside. Its attached to a hotel but it's clearly not just for room service. Lively crowd inside for a Sunday but not too crowded to get a table for 5 at 1ish. Kids loved checking out the birds just outside in a huge enclosure. Super fun thing to keep them entertained while we ordered. Regarding what I ordered, not sure much else needs to be said except they smoke their own bacon. So I had the fried rice with sunny side up egg. Amazing smokey flavor on the bacon. My wife has been here before and says the pork ragu is killer. She had their vegetarian style Itialian sandwich special which was delicious. They have good local beers on tap and if I had the time I would have tasted a few more. It's worth a stop of you are in the area or driving through. If you are staying at the hotel it's a must. read more

Live Oak Cafe - Sunny side up egg on fried rice with avocado. All perfectly prepared at a amazing hidden gem inside a hotel. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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This place is a great value. The food is great and it's pretty reasonably priced. I've been her twice, and I'm thinking I should come more frequently. read more

Wonderful little cafe attached to a hotel. It is surprisingly delicious! Very nice staff, great prices and portions, and everything is so yummy. Enjoy! read more

Love this place! Always forget its here until I have to visit someone at Cottage then am so glad to remember! Greeted and served by a young lady and young gentleman that couldn't have been more attentive and pleasant. Room is comfortable and menu is straightforward with great choices. Very reasonable prices and wonderful food! Need to return soon! read more

A little out of town for most tourists and townies, but definitely worth the drive for their Bacon Fried Rice. Can I say that's it's better than anything my mother or I have ever made, and I consider our renditions pretty great. First bite was a flavor explosion! If you love bacon, or other pork derivatives, you'll love this dish. Crispy fried egg on top? The frosting. Suggestion: add sriracha for a little zest, but I almost regretted doing that, as it covered up some of the flavor. Their brioche french toast with lemon zest was tasty as were the quinoa eggs Benedict. Why not 5 stars? The traditional coffee shop decor needs a little updating, but don't let that harsh the buzz you'll get from the fried rice! read more

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Came for lunch on a Saturday, inspired to give it a try with the Axxess deal. We would never have ventured here without finding it through Axxess. We were pleasantly surprised by the food and service. I believe Gavin was our server and he seemed to be the only one on the floor. (It wasn't busy, and sometimes that is when you get poor service as people get complacent or distracted since they don't have to be on their toes.) That was not the case here - the service was great. We got the tri tip and the banh mi sandwiches on the server's recommendation and we were not disappointed. Generous portions. Loved the carmelized onions on the tri tip. I am not sure how authentic the banh mi was - I think it could have used a bit more cilantro and crunchy veggies, but it was good. We will be back to try this place again. read more

I been here three times and always enjoyed my food and the service. There are healthy meal choices which I appreciate. I had The harvest breakfast this morning and alongside my scrambled eggs were kale scrambled with quinoa, mushrooms and onions along with diced tomatoes with herbs read more

This is a cute little gem for the area. They offer gluten free options and have gluten free bread. Sit out on the patio for a romantic experience. You can order gluten free eggs Benedict. We really enjoyed this. read more

Stopped in for breakfast on our way out of Santa Barbara, sooooo glad we did. I had the live oak benedict while my husband had the chorizo frittata. Both were exceptional and the mimosas were made with fresh squeezed orange juice. They even make specialty lattes and cappuccinos. Will definitely go back if we are nearby again!! read more

All our out-of-town guests stay at the Best Western and we've had a breakfast or two at the live Oak Cafe. I keep telling people it's good but no one believes me, I've finally managed to convince my husband to try the fish and chips, which is the best I've had anywhere and I've had it everywhere, including London. It was beautifully brown, not greasy, large chunks of appetizing beer-battered halibut. Their Ceasar salad is always fresh and perfectly seasoned with slices of perfectly ripe avocado, everything they served us was absolutely delicious and tasted homemade with great care. Their pumpkin cheesecake was satisfying and tasted like real pumpkin, it reminded me of autumn. I hate to tell everyone how great this place is because we might not be able to get a seat anymore but they are unusually good and deserve better than the myth of the "Best Western hotel cafe." read more

Really nice food and a reasonable price. Service was knowledgable and polite. Unusual garden-porch design for half of the place. Lovely mains, salads, and good coffee and pastries. read more

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We stayed at the Best Western Encina Lodge and saw great reviews on Yelp for the Live Oak. The food is very good and it's a fun atmosphere. Don't be thrown off that it's at a hotel. The restaurant food, staff and ambiance are great. I travel a lot for work and this isn't your average hotel restaurant and bar. So many great healthy and hearty food options all day. Highly recommend. read more

This is probably the best breakfast I have ever had! Everything was so fresh and beautifully plated. I especially enjoyed their waffles, they didn't taste like eggos (I order waffles everywhere and they almost always taste like eggos). Everything was so gooooood! The staff was friendly and super helpful. 10/10 I recommend. read more

A friend recommended this sweet out of the way place and I am SO glad we went! A surprisingly diverse amazing menu, not what you would expect from this little tucked away next to a Best Western hotel. Great service and amazing food! We are definitely got by back before we go home. Lunch was great, breakfast and dinner offerings make my mouth water! Full bar also for those who care, with nice selection of beers and wines too. read more

Amazing food! Go with the Elvis Presley if you like peanut butter on your pancakes or waffles.

Fantastic food. I hadn't been there since the change in ownership and I was very very glad I returned. The buffalo wings are spectacular. I like them dry, but the sauce on the side was great also. Just the right size, tender, and perfectly cooked. The Insalata Caprese (mozarella, tomatoes, basil) was the best I've had outside of Naples--and better than many I've had there! Great value for money. The chef is fantastic. Worth the very short trip out of the downtown mainstream. Walking distance to Cottage Hospital. read more

I had no idea it was in the best western so I was a bit concerned but it was great food and staff...coffee is the best

Chirp tweet tweet a small bird flys past my head, looking through the brightly covered stained glass at the numerous coconut birdhouses dangling from the tree. I couldn't have imagined a more thriving menagerie. The restaurant was a mirror reflection of the caged wonder. Waiters and waitresses flying around regurgitating food into the customers open mouths, but the food was not birdseed. My bacon lettuce tomato feast arrived in mere seconds with a smile and a salad. I devoured it in mili seconds like a hungry fowl tearing apart a roadkill morsel. The water was refilled in no time at all, essential to a thirsty feathered friend. The place was filled with the cheerful chirps of many local birds, the kind that call this cafe home and come from their close by dwellings to chirp and sing, and of course eat some fantastic food. Eh could've just gone to cajun kitchen read more

Live Oak Cafe - 10$ BLT - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

I have never felt the need to write a review on Yelp. Any restaurant that I like I support by coming in more often. So it saddens me that the first review that I write on Yelp is one to disparage. The Live Oak Cafe features a lovely interior, that features a beautiful aesthetic and a comfortable atmosphere. This feeling of appreciation is sadly short lived though. To wrap up my experience at the Live Oak Cafe, my mug was filled with coffee 3 times before any food hit the table (I do not drink coffee fast). To give them the benefit of the doubt we could of just been the one table that went horribly wrong. There's a feeling of neglect when 3 tables who are seated after you get their food 20+ minutes before you, and a table seated 40 minutes after you gets their food right after you waited an hour and some change for yours. We ordered a stack of two pancakes with Blueberries, Strawberries (plural: as advertised), powdered sugar, and two slices of bacon. As well as their spicy Kimchi Burger with a side salad and fries. When the food hit the table everything except the fries were cold, including the fried egg and patty on the burger. Which is a shame, because the patty did have a good charred flavor. The real insult to injury to this entire experience though was the lack of fruit served on top of our pancakes. We got two lackluster pancakes with a sprinkle of powder sugar, 6 blueberries, and 3 slices of strawberry that I kid you not if puzzle pieced back together wouldn't even make up half a full strawberry. The menu promises strawberries, not a quarter of one, this has to be false advertising. read more

Healthy Ahi tuna salad last night it was fantastic had the Live Oak benedict for breakfast and it was also very good highly recommend this place. You want to sit next to Josie organic and gourmet food. read more

Wow! A gem hidden in a tucked away corner of Santa Barbara, only a few minutes from the bustle of State St is an unassuming cafe with a wonderful secret: THE FOOD! Just fantastic. This used to be called Los Aves Cafe, but two amazing young talents (Mark and Molly) have transformed it into a true destination for foodies and affordable, creative gourmet food and drink. I've been staying in SB for eight days now, and have been fortunate to enjoy some of the best restaurants: The Lark, Finch & Fork, Lucky Penny, Mesa verde, (and some others that are highly rated and priced but not so great, see other reviews). I've been staying at the Encina Lodge and this gem was right under my nose: The Live Oak Cafe. I've been spending $30-50 per meal and if I had to do it all over again, I'd eat at Live Oak Cafe a LOT more. The prices are value but the food is 5 Star, so is the service. Last night I had the Pork Belly Bahn Mi sandwich, it was transcendent. Best meal I've had in SB all week. I tried their grain bowls, (Shoyu Chicken and the Korean BBQ Beef) they are amazing. And their whole steamed Branzino?! Heaven! Apples to apples: I had whole steamed Branzino at the highly acclaimed Sama Sama on State Street, it was not anywhere near as good as the identical dish at the Live Oak. Even simple things like the wings are special. I tried the Live Oak Benedict this morning with their house made maple espresso bacon, it was ambrosia. YUM! But great food is merely great food without special people, and the Live Oak has that element too in the form of Mark and Molly, the friendly miracle workers that make all the magic here. Mark is a gifted, innovative chef, very congenial, and so is Molly, a gourmet genius that keeps everything here fresh, vibrant and moving. The wine and beer list they've put together is top flight as well. Eberle Cab, Humboldt County Beers, many others. read more

I don't write too many reviews, but I have to give credit to the absolutely awesome and empathetic host/waiter who was working around 4pm this afternoon. I had just taken my roommate to the emergency room, and after sitting around waiting for a few hours I desperately needed something to eat. This place was nearby and I was greeted with a warm welcome by a very friendly young man who seemed to just "get" what empathy, kindness, and overall humanity is all about. Kudos to him! I didn't get his name but I will definitely return to this restaurant because of the warmth that he presented as soon as I walked in the door. What a beautiful person to have on your staff! read more

Great food and great service and reasonable prices. Came here for dinner with friends and ordered the salmon. It came with mashed potatoes and veggies. It was cooked and seasoned to perfection. The mashed potatoes were on point. Good quaint place to get away from the downtown shiffle. read more

All we came for was breakfast, I requested crispy bacon and it's even listed on the menu and one piece was crispy the other piece was buggery. My food came cold 1/2 portion of hash Browns maybe a 1/2 a cup at best, the whole wheat toast was one slice. When I put the butter on my toast it didn't even melt because my breakfast was cold. They were not busy!The eggs were the smallest I've seen anywhere and a little overcooked I ordered over medium. I mention this to the waitress who's service is very lacking and she just said O I'm sorry and walked away. She didn't offer to Flash it to make it hot or to bring a new piece of toast, nothing. I refused to get on Yelp for years until this point because people are really not objective and usually to emotional about it. I recommend no one to eat at live oak restaurant at the Best Western in Santa Barbara because it's absolutely horrible! Worst of all the chef just sat there and ran his mouth with some other guests at the table the entire time I was sitting there eating and didn't even realize what was going on. I was at the next table. I was charged 12 bucks I believe for my breakfast when a normal size breakfast literally cost at most $1.75 raw cost, so atrocious that u would skimp on the potatoes and only put 1 slice of toast on the plate, they are your cheapest items... shame on you Chef... btw I never do this but as a chef my self(executive chef for the last 20yrs) I am over people not having pride in this industry and having to pay for it. Make shoes or something, please.... read more

Live Oak Cafe - Chef too busy talking at table and not worrying about food. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Santa Barbara, California