Staff is pleasant, professional, and fast. Food is great. It's kind of quiet, music playing softly but it's very pleasant

First impression: There is a cage full of finches outside. Who can resist a cage of finches??? Our Axxess card (buy 1 entree get the second free deal) brought us here tonight, and I am glad that I was able to try it, but I most likely won't be returning. We ordered their wings as an appetizer, chicken piccata, and a chicken marsala with a side of fettuccine alfredo. They have happy hour with select dishes at lower price, so the wings came with 6 for $6. The wings taste like the wolfgang puck wings - spicy with a bit of asian infusion. Best described as spicy plum sauce wings served with a blue cheese ranch. The chicken piccata came with veggies and mashed potatoes, which were pretty good. The texture of the chicken itself wasn't too good. The chicken marsala... man... I wanted it so badly to taste good, but the salt was just overwhelming. The chicken marsala was served with some mushrooms, and every bite of the mushrooms filled my mouth with salt. I ate the fettuccine alfredo last.. If it weren't so salty, it would have been good. But alas, I was left with a thirst that not even the largest oasis could satiate. I do have to give props to the waiters though - they made our experience great, even if the food was sub par. read more

Don't be alarmed this place is in a BestWestern. Now that the shock has worn off, let me tell you about Live Oak, the food is so good! I had their soy chorizo fritta nd OMG!! Thankfully it was too big for me to eat in one sitting, so I was able to enjoy it twice! Their menu is fresh and new and the chef/part-owner came to our table to make sure we were doing ok. My SO and I were so glad to have found this place, definitely coming back!! read more

Such a shame. I just had breakfast here and once again disappointed. The quality of the food itself was excellent!! But just like the last time and other times that I ate here it was swimming in so much grease that you couldn't pour it off your plate. I tried to mop some of it off with paper napkins, but with an omelette, it's all through it. I was completely overwhelmed with mouthfuls of grease, fat, oil instead of taste. I want to taste the food. Not on a diet, and don't care about the calories, just thought that the overkill of fat was disgusting and now I have a gut ache. read more

Breakfast 2 x mornings in a row while staying bvb at best western. What a gem. Great breakfast options. Super staff and quick service. We also got a couple glasses of wine from the bar one evening. What a find. read more

A Favorite Spot. We love the Live Oak Cafe. Lots of healthy options, great service, the food is tasty and well-priced. Our business is just a block away, and when we get tired of some of the other options, Live Oak is always there for us. The burgers are great, the salads are really fresh, the fish and chips is super. read more

We recently hosted a dinner here for a special occasion in the aviary room. Molly and her team were incredibly welcoming and helpful. We brought in some special decorations and they immediately jumped in to help. We selected a choice of three entrees in advance and they printed personalized menus for the occasion. The food was delicious, the service was great and our guests were raving about it all! Thank you, Molly and the Live Oak team! read more

We stayed at the Best Western which is right next to the restaurant we got there around 3:45pm and as we walked in they asked if we were there for happy hour because happy hour is from 3-6pm. We were given the option to eat inside or under the covered patio. We decided for the covered patio we ordered beer, house wine, and a Moscow mule. I recommended the Moscow mule. We had BBQ quesadilla for an appetizer and it was delicious they serve it with extra BBQ and sour cream. We ordered Pacific Rim Bacon Fried Rice, Shoyu Chicken, and Hickory Smoked Tri Tip. I had the fried rice it was so yummy. Service was great the waiters were very attentive. Overall good experience. read more

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

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So good! Mark & Molly are great people and know good food. A low key local place with craveable dishes...really good smoked meats and seafood. Great vibe-like eating at your friends house whose a great cook. I would be a regular if I still lived in the area. read more

We tried out this restaurant when we stayed at the Encina. I LOVE the food and the service there. The menu is small, but all the things they offer are things I want to eat; a huge menu doesn't mean much if most of it is not appealing... I got the pancakes with fresh fruit and eggs over easy. I wasn't sure how the pancakes would taste because the batter is made from various non-grain flours, but they were delicious! I couldn't tell the difference, accept that they tasted handmade and good quality rather than tasting like they came from some yucky industrial mix. I can't wait for our next trip to Santa Barbara so we can go there again. The server was very gracious and patiently explained the menu. Not overbearing but attentive. I highly recommend this place! read more

Yes, yes, a thousand times yes. House made maple espresso bacon. Do I really need to say more? Ok, I will: Nicely curated selection of local craft beers on draught, fresh squeezed OJ that's actually fresh squeezed, omelets stuffed full of quality goodness, perfectly roasted tomatoes... The yummy details are firmly in place with the menu. Ambiance is upscale casual, clean and includes a small aviary filled with birds! read more

I'm guessing this place is best for breakfast. The lunch was okay. Everything was heavily salted and I'm not typically too picky about salt. I ordered my burger medium and it came out beyond well done. Service could also use improvement. The waiter walked past our table countless times and never checked in or refilled water. It wasnt busy at all. Never brought the bill, we walked to the register finally in order to pay. read more

Mom ordered tortilla soup which came with nothing more than a few pieces of shredded chicken and 2 pieces of toasted bread. I had the pork belly sandwich that was made up of gelatinous fat and no flavor. It was supposed to come with sriracha but instead they gave me ketchup. Will not be back read more

Good beer, food, and great service, the staff and service make the place. I watched the manager get Dine & Dash'ed on by three grown men, she confronted them outside and when they couldn't pay (inside the restaurant ) she let them slide with great customer service. Every bartender was attentive and more importantly could carry on a good conversation. Couldn't say more about the staff. Looking forward to trying more of their dinner menu. I had the halibut and it was well seasoned, seared nicely, and paired with mashed potatoes and carrots that I ate more of than the fish itself, they were that good. read more

Been here twice and have been very impressed. He food is fresh and creative. Service is excellent. Wishing the best for this place and we can't wait to be back! read more

This little cafe is a hidden treasure next to the Best Western Motel in Santa Barbara. The breakfasts are creative, healthy and really couldn't be better. Very much Healthy Californian cuisine. We stopped in again and had a slice of Almond Cranberry cake with coffee mid afternoon and it was tart, nutty and had a crisp top. It was made in house by an accomplished pastry chef and delicious! read more

Amazing eggs Benedict, coffee was great, most of all very pleasant servers, you will enjoy this place

This place is a hidden gem and the cooks know their stuff (including gluten free items and allergy risks)! I live just around the block from the Live Oak Cafe, and have been wanting visit for a year now - and I'm so glad I finally did! It's a very cute restaurant with an enclosed, heated patio in the Best Western. The food was delicious, the ambiance and atmosphere was delightful, and our service was top notch. They have a gluten free menu, which is awesome for my mother-in-law with an auto-immune issue, and all the food is fresh and interesting and the menu has a ton of choices - from classics like chicken marsala to unique plates such as kalua park flatbread with grilled peach sauce and goat cheese. After having a hard time deciding on what to get, two of us had salads with salmon, and the other two had kalua pork bowls (so many things I need to come back and try - including brunch!), and everyone was really pleased with their meals. I will definitely be returning, highly recommend! read more

Rented out the enclosed patio room for a friends and family lunch after our small wedding in the historic clock tower. The space was ideal for us with our party of 32. Molly, the owner was very easy to work with and very accommodating! Our menu consisted of the burger, smoked turkey sandwich, golden beet salad and pacific rim rice bowl. For dessert we had brownies that you could tell were made from scratch... everyone loved their food. Service was great and everyone left with a smile. Stop in for a bite, you'll be glad you did! read more

We're locals and came here due to an Axxess buy one, get one free deal. We didn't know at the time, but the restaurant is located on the premises of the Best Western off Bath (super cute area). We walked in at 5ish and it happened to be Happy Hour (3-6 daily). There's an assortment of drinks that are only $6 and $1 off all beer and wine so we went with Fess Parker Chardonnay's. We got the HH Chicken Gyoza for $7 and the entrees were Pork Ragu Pasta and Pork Belly Banh Mi. Both of us loved all of it and our server was super friendly and nice. The place wasn't busy at all but as the night went out a couple booths and tables started filling up. Also when you come, try the Live Oak Lemonade, normally $9 but only $6 for HH and its delicious! Cucumber, chamomile smple syrup, lemoade, sparkling water and vodka. Perfection. We will be back :) read more

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Stopped by here for lunch while visiting Santa Barbara. The bowl I got (brown rice, chicken, etc) was awesome. Marinated perfectly and full of flavor. This place also plays excellent music and has a nice ambiance. Waiter did a good job and was friendly. Highly recommend. read more

They are open for dinner! And a great dinner it was. We had the chicken Marsala which was huge. Two large chicken breasts, veggies nicely done and awesome mashed potatoes. Easily splittable but we didn't because I had a whole Branzino all to myself! Sea bass with the head and tail - can't get any fresher than that! They have a full dinner menu, sandwiches and salads. The servers are delightful and attentive. Beer and wine. A couple of designer mixed drinks before 6pm they are only $6. Save room for dessert too. We had the flourless chocolate torte with tangy strawberry sauce. Yum!Definitely the best restaurant ever to be housed at this location because there have been many. The breakfast menu looks good too... Lemon zest French toast, eggs Benedict and when I have to be good: Steel cut oatmeal. read more

I went to Santa Barbara with some friends and we wanted to try a new place. Found this place on Yelp. It's a cute restaurant & we were all very pleased with our food. read more

Such a pleasant hole in the wall breakfast joint! You wouldn't expect such a great brunch spot in a hotel parking lot, but I'm actually glad the Best Western didn't offer continental breakfast because this place was such a nice surprise. I was only in Santa Barbara for two days and one night so I wanted to make the most out of my trip and try all the great food, drinks, etc. in town, and I did not regret my visit here! Just a short trek outside of our hotel room, we had the fried rice dish and the traditional pancake/bacon/eggs dish. Eggs were superb - cooked fluffily and pancakes hit the spot. The fried rice was a unique spin on traditional Asian fried rice since it was bacon fried rice with avocado, but I liked it! It was a bit heavier for my boyfriend's taste with all the brown rice and bacon, but definitely a great portion for $10. Affordable and delicious food, and it was packed on a Sunday morning. Would definitely go again if I stayed in the hotel during my next trip. read more

Everyone loved this restaurant. The fried rice on the breakfast menu was AMAZING! . The bowls were flavorful and a good size. I would have not expected this little gem in the best western hotel! read more

Great hidden gem! Went for breakfast,3 types of bacon ( maple espresso, spicy and sweet Pacific Asian and crispy) , cute bar,nice patio,good happy hour,definitely going back! read more

Went there as it was next door to our motel. Was pleasantly surprised. Fast service, very friendly. The food was outstanding.

Great neighborhood restaurant. Not very many locals know about Live Oak probably because it's located on the grounds of a hotel. The food is always very good. The prices are on point as well. read more

This is actually a really good little breakfast / brunch spot. Good quality food which is more home made than a chain location. We found it by chance and will definitely be back read more

Solid breakfast and brunch, especially if you're staying at the motel next door. Food won't blow you away, and neither will the service, but both are solid, and show effort. The menu is standard fare, and lands well. Nothing creative or innovative here, but they do a nice job with the basics. read more

I met some friends here this morning for a birthday breakfast. Two of us ordered the eggs Benedict. I ordered the bacon jack avo omelette. We tried the hash browns, country potatoes and tomatoes as sides and each enjoyed our meal. The atmosphere is bright and the bird cage is filled with lively birds flitting around and hiding in their hollow coconut homes. The menu has out of the ordinary ingredients which make it a nice switch from Denny's or IHOP. We used our Axxess card. Give it a try! You won't be disappointed. read more

It's a great location and has some neat seating views. The service was accommodating and nice; however I took 2 friends with me to breakfast and we all thought the food was VERY bland. Although it seems they use healthy ingredients, the food seems heavy on the cheaper ingredients. I had a breakfast wrap that was supposed to have bacon and I swear there wasn't even half a slice of bacon in there and the wrap cost $11. This place should be 4 stars, but the food drags it down big for me. read more

Fantastic environment - well crafted menu and drinks! As much as I want this to stay a hidden local gem, I would love to see this place packed to the gill at all hours! Had the banh mi pork belly sandwich - loved it! Make sure to spend some time out front with the finches - they will certainly lift your spirits! Can't wait to come back for breakfast soon, dinner will be next. ;) read more

After touring the Santa Barbara Mission, we searched Yelp for a good place for lunch. The Live Oak Cafe came up and we headed over. Good choice. My partner and I shared a big salad and a Tri-Tip sandwich both were delicious. The only downside was the fries that came with the sandwich were cold, but we're not that big on fries anyway. The place has a good menu and I could see coming here often if we were staying at the nearby Best Western. We've been staying at one of its sister properties, so maybe we'll try it out sometime. If you stop in, check out the amazing aviary full of finches just outside the restaurant! read more

I wanted to be impressed with this local eatery, but it fell a little short. We came for Sunday breakfast last week. Menu looked good - imaginative. My partner had the eggs Benedict with the house cured bacon. It looked and tasted good! I had the quinoa Benedict. Not as good unfortunately. The hollandaise sauce was great - I will give them that. But the vegetables on the plate - corn and spinach were clearly both frozen. Bummer. Coffee was terrible and hard to get. Service was really strapped. They are terribly understaffed and the cafe was busy. What really bugged me was when a party sat next to us with their dog. Clearly not a service dog. How isn't that those people were allowed to dine with their dog? Gross. Leave your dog in your hotel room. The dinner options looked simple - sandwiches. Probably tasty, but I doubt that I will be coming back. read more

This is our fourth time here at this fantastic restaurant. We have had breakfast once, brunch, lunch, and a dinner also and each one was delicious, artfully prepared, freshest of fresh ingredients, and stellar service with great attention by the staff. The coffee was also top notch and roasted locally I understand by Green Star Coffee. We will return over and over and if you want a five star meal any time of day the Live Oak Cafe is the place to come. read more

This little place attached to a best western is average at best. We tried it because we were passing through and it had good reviews. To Those who gave it high marks, I beg you, there are innumerable great restaurants in California and a great number in Santa Barbara, get out there, try some, educate your palates and tastes, then you will be better able to determine what constitutes a good restaurant, because this is not it. Food average, service average, value for money, below average, decor and ambiance below average, read more

Hidden gem! Stayed at the hotel expected crap hotel restaurant food from the restaurant on site, but was VERY pleasantly surprised. Staff was extremely attentive and super friendly. I had the pulled pork and it was delicious, even to a southern girl. Seemed to have a lot of delicious sounding daily specials. Nice surprise while traveling. Check it out everyone, definitely worth a try! read more

This was a cute and small place to eat. My husband and I were driving back home from San Francisco and this place just happened to catch our eye. It doesn't look like much on the outside but the burgers are here are delicious! We were seated immediately and the service was great! Overall, this place is cute and has great food. read more

Love this place. The owners Molly and Mark are delightful. Plus all the staff. This is our go-to-place breakfast,lunch,and dinner.