Live Oak is a great place. Family friendly, good service and excellent food. My go to is the blackened halibut tacos, which are absolutely delicious and come at a really good price. My wife likes the chicken pot pie and the kids meals come with a very generous portion of delicious fries. I do wish they made their own ranch or at least not hidden valley out of the bottle, but that is my only complaint. They have an excellent beer and wine selection at reasonable prices, and homemade bakery items that are delicious. With the dearth of sit down spots in town, this is a gem. read more

The best restaurant in SB for a relaxing, casual and delicious meal! Breakfast is superb, freshly made with ample portions. The lemon zest brioche French toast with cardomon whipped cream & pistacios is a winner as is the SB Breakfast burrito. Tucked away on Bath Street, adjacent to a motel, you can't go wrong. read more

Wow wow wow what a gem best omelette ever, bacon, waitress and service . We stayed at the best western next door for a wedding and what a wonderful place and so glad we didn't drive somewhere else !! Don't miss this exceptional place to eat !! If I could give it the most stars I sure would . read more

I'll give you that our breakfast was very early on a Sunday, which may have made a difference. I had been to several excellent happy hours there, so I had a good feeling when walking in the door - but on that particular day, I wished I'd either stayed home or gone to a different place. Pancakes were attractive but tough. Egg dish was completely ordinary, or maybe a little less. OJ had a metallic taste and the bacon arrived literally swimming in grease. Likely not their best effort, nor our best time. read more

Great food and service-open for breakfast, lunch and dinner-great happy hour! Conveniently located nearby Cottage Hospital and Sansum Clinic-so happy it is here! read more

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

OMG, the Bahn Mi sandwich.... Hello, runnnnnn. Best one I've ever had. Pork belly cooked to perfection with a toasted French roll, YES. Service was great! Javier was very attentive and so was the other help. read more

Food was great, and it was on the property of our hotel. We loved the aviary and the finches. Delicious coffee, muffins, tarts and brownies! read more

Cute cafe with lots of plants and trees, an aviary, and view of the courtyard with pool; feels like a 70s throwback, but very peaceful. And food was very good. I stopped in for breakfast and had the Pacific Rim Bacon Fried Rice, topped with avocado ado and a egg. Very flavorful. Friendly service, too! read more

Live Oak Cafe - Pretty enclosed patio with lots of plants and trees - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Live Oak Cafe is the onsite restaurant for the Best Western Plus Santa Barbara location where we stayed to drop off my son at UCSB. Ambiance: clean and inviting, but a little dated. Service: TOP QUALITY - friendly, helpful and attentive. Food: Overall very good, we ate two meals there. Dinner the first night was okay, but breakfast the next morning was terrific. - Lemon Zest Brioche French Toast (ate before I got a pic) was delicious and perfectly mildly sweet with a mild hint of the lemon zest - Santa Barbara Breakfast Wrap was perfectly seasoned and served with a fresh and yummy salasa - Two Egg Combo with egg whites (+$2), scallion potatoes and turkey patty was a VERY generous serving size and well prepared (a little more salt and pepper would've been appreciated) - Pacific Rim Bacon Fried Rice with a sunny side up egg was devoured by my son -Breakfast Combo with Forager Waffle was crisp and flavorful made from whole grains and fresh berries with turkey sausage and eggs and big enough to share was great Definitely on the list when we visit Santa Barbara! read more

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The food was tasty the prices were affordable, and the service was very good. The ambience was homey. We definitely go again.

Good/okay food! I mean pretty simple food but still very good! Good vacation vibes. Everyone is nice and happy you can tell the food is made with love! I would recommend the organic orange juice and the oat meal, waffles, pandcakes and water! read more

This is such a gorgeous restaurant. It is a part of Best Western Plus with a great view of the bird enclosure and the pool. The service is very good and there is a variety of dishes to try. Overall a good experience, the food could use a bit more seasoning but everything else is nice. read more

A hidden gem. Nestled inside a motel you don't expect it to be this nice and the food is all home made, organic and fresh. Sit on the enclosed patio. It overlooks the pool. read more

Food offerings are flavorful, the juice fresh squeezed, the coffee choices great. It's a favorite place for breakfast.

We ordered the organic matcha and coffee. The coffee shop window is on the side of the restaurant and it's really cute. You can obviously order inside but the coffee window is outside. Organic matcha latte with peppermint - 5/5 Really delicious! Organic coffee latte with oat milk - 5/5 Black bean sandwich - 4/5 Good enough to keep us full & we shared it. It could use something else like salt or garlic. That would put it over the edge. Fries - 3/5 no salt or seasoning but still good. read more

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Cute place with cozy vibes and decor. The waffles were great, and they have one of the best hot chocolates we've ever tasted. It was a busy morning, and our order somehow got overlooked on the kitchen, but the staff provided excellent service and went out of their way to accommodate. read more

The atmosphere was amazing! I had ordered a salted caramel latte and it was the best latte I have had. It had just the right amount of sweetness. I had also ordered one of the breakfast burritos and it wasn't my favorite but I'm willing to try something else on the menu solely based on how amazing the latte was! read more

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

I stopped into Live Oak Cafe after visiting a friend in the Cottage Hospital a couple blocks away. Live Oak is basically a Cafe attached to a Best Western but that is where all resemblances stop for Live Oak is doing things with care and attention to detail: things you don't usually find in a motel restaurant. We were initially greeted by a huge smile bestowed upon us by a pretty woman (sorry, i did not get her name) who, along with Javier gave us primo service throughout our short stay. The decor of Live Oak is straight out of 60's Cafe' attached to a Motel decor which was a bit off putting but the proof is in the pudding and so we marched on. Plus 2 of my Yelp friends had raved about this joint: so there is that. We were hankering for a great waffle and Goodlands was not open. so, based on Yelp's cumulative score: we walked on down here. We ordered A Belgian Waffle, A side of Onion Rings, a Spinach, Mushroom Omelet. I returned the waffle because it was not cooked enough and i ordered it plain: with butter and maple syrup and well cooked. The second one was perfect: yeasty, crispy and slightly sweet. The Omelet was stuffed with spinach, mushrooms and cheddar and light, eggy and accompanied by savory green onion skillet potatoes. The Onion Rings were ok not great: obviously frozen but of a good quality but out of a bag nonetheless. And finally the Syrache. What the Hell is that? Syrah? Grenache? Yeah: a combo of the 2? Yes, I think, Well it is a very good, chillable red wine with fruity ( as in Blueberries) and floral notes yet not cloying on the tongue. I enjoyed it with my waffle and also with the Omelet. So i guess you could say that it is a great Breakfast wine! Who knew? Service was very good and Javier was personable and helpful. Oh yeah: the coffee is great: produced with beans from Greenstar in Goleta. But good coffee only comes from the melding of the proper amount of water to ground coffee ratio. They do it right here. Live Oak is the perfect place to go for a drink (they have a nice cozy bar) and the greenhouse room is attractive and warm feeling. Cheers. read more

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We didn't feel like cooking one Tuesday night and my wife suggested coming here after driving by it for years and hearing good things. They also have a good Axxess deal. The restaurant is inside the pleasant grounds of a Best Western Plus hotel, but I understand it is independently owned and run. Being off State Street's beaten path, it felt like a secret staycation spot for us. The restaurant's interior is casual, uncrowded, clean and comfy with a large enclosed patio area. It was a cold evening and we sat inside in a booth; it was about 1/3 full. Full breakfast menu with pastries and coffee, with smallish but well rounded dinner options: burgers, sandwiches, chicken pot pie, seafood, chicken Picatta and masala, some Asian inspired dishes, tacos, steak, salads. Also a full bar and a good selection of wine by the glass or bottle. I had the chicken piccata with sweet potatoes and a glass of Chenin Blanc, and my wife had chicken pot pie with a salad and Chardonnay. Both dishes were extremely well prepared and presented, and tasted great. The restaurant was full off professional staffed, with folks checking on us every 5-10 minutes. I have to admit, I was expecting hotel dining twilight zone, but Live Oak presented itself as good as a top notch cafe/bistro, at a great value, in Santa Barbara's sea of hit or miss restaurant options. We will definitely be coming back! read more

The minute you walk into Live Oak Café you feel completely welcomed you see the pastries and desserts that they have and then you can just sit in this very comfortable atmosphere. The servers the waiters the food is fantastic. Cannot wait to go back. read more

Came here for brunch and had a good time with my friend! We ordered the lemon zest brioche french toast and pacific rim bacon fried rice. Both were pretty good- I really enjoyed the french toast with the berries and cream, the lemon wasn't too powerful which I appreciated. The pacific rim bacon fried rice was pretty good but there was visible oil pooling at the bottom of the bowl.... otherwise the egg and avocado on top was a good pairing for the fried rice! I knock off a star because of the oily fried rice and also because there were several bugs flying around our table while we ate and chatted. This was mainly because they opened the door to allow for more airflow and to cool down the space I'm guessing, but we also asked a waiter to maybe help us take care of the bugs or help in any way and he said he couldn't really do anything about it. Otherwise he was really nice, but I would have appreciated if he'd suggested we move tables or close the door maybe. Otherwise, I really did enjoy this spot and I want to come back! Their food is special (Hawaiian, Asian fusion) and quite affordable by SB standards, I just wish our experience had been a little better. I might ask to not be seated in that sunny greenhouse-like area next time. The restaurant shares a parking lot with Best Western I believe, though we got street parking pretty easily. There's also an interesting little enclosed bird house area outside by the restaurant, it was nice to pause and watch the birds flutter around the space. read more

Live Oak Cafe - Lemon zest brioche french toast and pacific rim fried rice - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

I've always had a fantastic experience at Live Oak! Excellent food, great service and a laid back feel. I enjoy popping by for a latte and a delicious housemade pastry for a quick breakfast. I also love staying a while for a plate of waffles or a breakfast bowl. The pork belly bacon is out of this world!! All of their breakfast dishes are a big hit. I recently went to meet a friend for lunch and finally got to try the lunch menu. I went for a simple soup and salad. I should have known that it would be incredible! A Portuguese bean soup du jour along with a simple yet fresh green salad with a tasty vinaigrette dressing. It really hit the spot! Live Oak really finds a way to make every dish special. read more

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A local, downtown Santa Barbara gem! The food at Live Oak Cafe is super homey and delicious. My husband and I love to stop by on cold nights, after a walk on the beach, or just nights no one wants to cook, lol, and get the burger or turkey pot pies with mixed greens side salads. We also LOVE the pork manapua, homemade soups, and the wide variety of gorgeous, decadent desserts! Seems like there is always something new to choose from on the menu! Service here is always super friendly. I can't remember ever having a bad experience, dining in or picking up. Everything is always prepared and served with care and attention to detail, and it always seems like a good value, for the price. Takeout orders are easily picked up at the little side window and packed thoughtfully. read more

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Came here for SB Burger Week for their banh mi burger and my goodness was it delicious! I especially liked the sauce they used plus the veggie slaw gave a good crunch to the burger! The fries were also well seasoned and tasty, definitely going to be come back here to try some more things! When I ordered my burger they asked how I wanted it cooked & that it came with a side dish, amazing! Well worth the price. They also wrote these cute notes for everyone's order! How sweet is that?! The customer service was amazing! And they also have this cute big bird cage near the front of the restaurant, super cute! read more

Live Oak Cafe - banh mi burger! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

We have since moved away from the area but always loved the breakfasts at Oak Cafe. Excellent quality, portions and prices.

Food was ok, service was horrible :/ a friend and I went for a casual late breakfast. There were maybe 5 people working the floor. Unfortunately they forgot about us so we got up and moved to a more visible seat. We then had a bunch of random interactions with multiple servers. There were maybe 3 active tables aside from ours. A coffee took so long to come out and I noticed the server forgot. Such a confusing chaotic experience... read more

What a nice surprise dining for breakfast this morning. ! I've lived in Santa Barbara for six years, but never knew about this gem ! Customer service was great and the food was delicious. I had the fried rice bowl.- so yummy!! Highly recommend! read more

We were tired after a day of driving and just wanted to have a bite and a cocktail at the bar and restaurant. They don't have a spirits license so only wine, beer or wine cocktails. We were too tired to explore, so I had water and my mom had a glass of wine. The wine was good. We ordered kaluha tacos. They were bland. Little flavor. Service was not up to par. Our server was in training and not enthusiastic. The head server was good. She brought out the food and let us know they didn't have a liquor license. I wish it was a good spot since we're staying at the hotel. read more

Exceptionally clean establishment with friendly customer service. It was so comfortable on a hot day and I can't say enough how spotless the place was. It has a nice covered outdoor patio with indoor seating options as well. Decent food! As a local I am so excited I stopped in with my husband and grabbed some food in a whim! My aunt from out of town told me about this place and got us gift cards to stop by. Locals shouldn't sleep on the hotel adjacent food spots! Nice view of the pool and a cute mini bird sanctuary as you walk in. They even have a happy hour and vegetarian options. read more

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The food was just ok. We had the eggs benedict and French toast. The eggs benedict was over toast, with over-poached eggs (look sad). Fresh toast did not taste like much except for the syrup. read more

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

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My bud and I were staying at the Best Western Plus, which is blessed to have a conveniently placed restaurant that happens to be really good! The Live Oak Cafe is located right on Bath Street and on the same property as the Best Western Plus. If you're staying at this hotel and are in search of good breakfast without going anywhere you're in luck. The coffee was outstanding as was the freshly squeezed orange juice. I had the West Coast Omelet, a three egg omelet loaded with meats and veggies. Great way to start the day! The side of scallion potatoes are recommended. I also had the Santa Barbara Breakfast Wrap, which is like a grilled breakfast burrito. I can eat pretty well and I almost couldn't finish this one. Truly a meal in itself. Service was friendly but food comes out of the kitchen a bit slow IMO. COVID protocols are enforced. Staff is masked up and everything is sanitized in between diners. Even though I only ate breakfast there, I'd definitely recommend the Live Oak Cafe especially if you're staying at the hotel. Great food and location, location, location! read more

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Healthy yummy food, great service and comfortable ambiance. You would never know that such a local favorite spot is hidden inside a Best Western near the hospital. It is open for lunch and dinner, even on Monday nights. Super solid place to meet up with a friend on a regular basis. read more

Tired of running around the city, we just realised that we were in the same parking lot as a really good breakfast spot. Not many people here but we weren't deterred. We got a half sandwich and soup which was really good. The albondigas soup was really flavorful and the meatballs had a really good texture. The bacon on the wasn't crunchy how I usually like it but it was still plentiful and had a nice little glaze / sauce on it. I'm a hash brown snob so I really pay attention to the cook on them. These were super crispy on both sides which is just what I like. Not too thick too which means more crispiness. The omelette had a lot of filling and I think that sour cream was homemade. It was thicker and was really good. Taste: **** Service: **** Ambiance: *** ---------------------------- Live Oak Cafe 2220 Bath St, Santa Barbara, CA 93105 ---------------------------- read more

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I came here for breakfast while staying at the Best Western hotel where it's located. My personal bias is for lowered expectations at restaurants at hotels but Live Oak didn't follow that trend. It's has a great ambiance. Peaceful and warm. This extends to the waitstaff who smiled and made eye contact. They weren't hurried or harried but were efficient. The coffee is is gourmet and I ended up having 3 cups. I had the harvest grain bowl which is not a traditional breakfast but a good test of the kitchen capabilities. Again, I was pleasantly surprised. It was very tasty! It was a good portion and the eggs over easy were perfect. In short, I would come here even if I wasn't staying at the hotel. read more

DO NOT EAT HERE IF YOU CAN HELP IT. I would give zero stars if I could. We came here to escape the wildfires of LA, exhausted and hungry. Not only was the service non-existent (25 minutes to even get a menu and 45 minutes to get cutlery) but we got horrible food poisoning! Terrible service, terrible attitude, and then we got horrendously sick. Avoid at all costs. read more

Food is so good, I've never had a bad meal once there. Price ain't bad either here, especially eating out in Santa Barbara. Always had great service, nothing to complain. Ambiance is great too, especially outside. read more

Really sweet hidden gem. We went here because we were staying at the adjacent hotel. It looked cute but it was more about the convenience. But as soon as we walked in we realized we were somewhere special. The had an actual live oak full of finch birds, a coffee shop with espresso machine inside and a walk up window if you just wanted coffee. And the seating was in a sort of enclosed patio that allowed you to see all the trees and swimming pool. The waiters and waitress were kind and helpful and the menu had a lot of unique items in addition to the standard breakfast classics. Our 4 kids had a mixture of eggs, fruit, bagels, pancakes and waffles. I had a breakfast burrito and my wife had lemon French toast. Everything was great and we even sat and enjoyed the atmosphere for a while after we finished. If you're staying in the hotel it's a no brainer, but I'd even drive to this place for a special breakfast next time I'm in Santa Barbara. read more

Live Oak Cafe - Whole grain Pancakes and fresh fruit - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Great little "hotel" cafe without the feel of a hotel cafe. Granted we just ordered takeout to take back to the room and the food never disappointed. Always fresh always fast and they have a loyalty rewards program as well. The food had such good tastes and seasonings and one of the best orders of onion rings I have ever had. read more

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LOVED this spot, been here twice now. Once for breakfast and for an early dinner. Staff is attentive but not over bearing. Perfect balance. The birds outside are a cute touch and inside is nice and cozy. Such a gem. Food hit the spot both times. Have and will recommend Live Oak to others. Can't wait to return. read more

Was staying at a hotel nearby and stopped by this cute restaurant in Santa Barbara that had a view of the bird sanctuary as well as the pool. The greenery inside made me feel more comfortable. Had the avocado and eggs Benedict which was really good. Our server was super sweet and very helpful! read more

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