This place is located on Stearn's Wharf. We decided to eat here while exploring the wharf. We were greeted and seated immediately and the restaurant was not busy. We were seated with a view of the ocean off of the pier. It was a Sunday and they had a brunch menu in addition to the lunch menu. The first two items that I ordered were not available and had to settle on my third choice, clam chowder soup and a side of steamed vegetables. My family had two orders of fish with cilantro rice and steamed vegetables and a lobster salad roll. My soup was good and the veggies were great as they had a nice butter flavor on them. The fish order received thumbs up and the lobster salad roll was the least popular in the group. The restaurant was not busy but the service was slow. This was a 3.5 star visit with opportunities at a higher score with more food availability and faster service. read more

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We always passed by this restaurant when we're in the area so we decided to try it and we thought it was okay. Not as great as the other restaurant on the pier. Still recommend it as it has a nice indoor view, ambiance, and service. I had their clam chowder and it was my least favorite. The oysters was good though! read more

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the service is really good but the food is overpriced and not very good it tastes bland. This restaurant used to be soooo good i think they changed ownership or something but it is NOT the same anymore. Don't come here if you want good food. The environment is nice and a good place to be since the service is pretty good now, not as good as it used to be though. The plate i got was so bland i couldn't even finish the fries. I personally don't recommend it. read more

Moby Dick Restaurant - American Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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This place is situated out on the pier in Santa Barbara. It's your typical touristy seafood place that are located on piers up and down the West Coast. We sat in the bar as we had gotten there a little late. The service by the bartender was very nice, efficient and friendly. We had a great time and the food was pretty good. Lobster salad roll the cheese toast, shrimp cocktail all good and very nice experience. This isn't a fancy place at all but it's also not a dump. And I mean that in the best way possible. It's definitely a place you should give a try! read more

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The Restaurant was exceptional, the food was outstanding. The location on the pier have an awesome view. read more

It was "just ok". The ambiance and feel is a bit dated and the food is a solid 3/5. The staff were attentive and kind. I was surprised to see that there wasn't a big assortment of local seafood offered, aside from catch of the day. Honestly, the other restaurants on the pier that we went to had a similar vibe but there were some really nice looking restaurants across the street from the park on the land. I'd recommend going there, to one of those, over the pier dining. read more

Moby Dick Restaurant - American Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

I came to Moby Dick in Santa Barbara with my family the other day, and it turned out to be a solid choice for a seafood meal by the water. We ordered a dozen oysters to start, followed by clam chowder, lobster bisque, clam linguini, a seafood platter, and chimichurri fries to share. Everything came out fresh and well-prepared. The oysters were clean and briny, the bisque rich and comforting, and the chowder had just the right balance of creaminess and flavor. The seafood platter was generous and well-executed. And the chimichurri fries? Fantastic--crispy, herby, and packed with flavor. Easily one of the highlights of the meal. If I had one small note, it's that the clam linguini could've used more clam juice in the sauce--it leaned a bit blend compared to the rest of the meal. But even with that, I still enjoyed.. Service was friendly and attentive throughout, and while prices were a little on the higher side, it's to be expected for a spot right on the pier with ocean views. Between the setting, food, and service, Moby Dick checks all the boxes. I'd gladly come back next time I'm in town. read more

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Water down drinks. I got my drink took it back and watched him make the new one. Same taste, no taste - conclusion, water in the vodka bottle. Spend your money some place else. read more

We were here for July 4th. We ate here around 3pm; there was no wait if we sat outside. Even though it was windy and chilly we said we would sit for a bit and eat what we came to eat and leave soon. That was wrong! We waited for a waitress/waiter for so long so we had to ask someone for our server. our order included ginger beer, coke, clam chowder, raw oyster, and calamari Clam chowder: was not smooth. It felt so grainy. Also the "clam" did not taste like clam at all. It tasted like those canned chicken Calamari: very soggy and bland. We had 3 pieces and left the rest The only good items we enjoy from our order was the ginger beer and the raw oysters read more

Moby Dick Restaurant - Fried Calamari - American Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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We are tourists today! We took the Surfliner train down from SLO on a Wednesday for Lunch in Santa Barbara. Good Idea. Walked to the end of the pier and had a choice of restaurants we looked at Yelp for help.? Okay its decided, Moby Dick for lunch. sat immediately as we were there when they opened the door. I'll say this everything was perfect, the food, the service, and the ambiance. This is an old school restaurant nearly everything is made in house, tartar & cocktail sauce, the breaded shrimp, the cod for fish & chips, the calamari. My Louie Salad was great, butter lettuce, real louie dressing not 1000 island, plenty of crab and shrimp. The Clam Chowder was creamy but could have been hotter. A ordered the Seafood Sampler and it was just as good as ever to share. I went for the calamari and A enjoyed the cod and fries. Moby Dick's was a good for us, it was a throw back to the eighties, however the prices are reflective of 2025. Oh Well. I'll recommend for Lunch . Foodguy, Martin read more

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Every time I come to Santa Barbara, I always come to this restaurant. The prices are great and the food is great. I don't understand why the stars are so low balled here. perhaps every time I come I just get lucky because the service is impeccable and the food is always on point. Today I came in during happy hour and the prices are just amazing to me. They have a new oyster bar in the room it's just super beautiful. The waiter was awesome and very attentive and the food came out quick and delicious. I highly recommend this place. It's great for the money. The service was awesome and the views are great. My only comment would be that I would hope they update the remainder of the restaurant to match the oyster bar. I think if they did that they'd be onto something more. read more

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Located on Stearns Wharf. What happened was my boyfriend meant to take me to Santa Barbara Shellfish Company next door. Unfortunately there was a crazy long wait, and if we ate any later we would ruin our appetite for an upcoming dinner reservation, so we settled for Moby Dick. We were able to get seated within 5-10 minutes where they were setting up a table, but when we were leaving they also had a wait here as well. Come for the views, but don't expect too much from the food. Service wasn't great either as it wasn't attentive and drinks were not refilled unless you explicitly asked for it. For lunch we shared the half dozen of their Pacific Coast Oysters (MP, $22 when we visited) and a Dr. Pepper. My boyfriend had the Fish and Chips ($24) and I had the Lobster Roll ($30). They both came with fries but somehow his were undercooked and mine were extra crispy. You can see the clear color contrast in the photo of our food. The oysters were most disappointing cause they were bland. When I think of pacific coast oysters I think of the creamy sweet pacific north west oysters. Our waiter never said what the oysters were but I think they were the Fanny Bay. The shucking was also awful with the oyster still stuck to the shell. How embarrassing considering they are planning to open up their own oyster bar soon. The fish and chips were as basic as any fast food fish and chips. My lobster roll was so dry and bready. On a happier note the view was amazing from our table. Since it was located in the wharf, we got to see the surrounding waters. We had a great window seat, so we were pretty lucky in that sense. It served its purpose but I'm not sure I would recommend this to anyone, unless having a good view is all you're looking for. We're at a coastal city, there are plenty of other restaurants with decent views. read more

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Liz our waiter was amazing! She was so kind and patient with us! No rush feeling! We cannot believe we almost walked away from this gem of a place due to bad yelp reviews. It's one of the best on the pier restaurants we have ever been to in California! The beer battered shrimp tacos were the best! Clam chowder in the bread bowl was amazing! And their service and team make you feel comfortable and right at home all included with beautiful views! We will be back! read more

I was worried about the rating of the restaurant but I ended up eating here. The food was delicious and the service was great.

Interior was dated and a bit run down. Food was pricey and awful. The calamari was undercooked and bland. The shrimp scampi had no flavor and the shrimp were undercooked. The butter cake was amazing and our server was very friendly and responsive. Keep walking to the place at the end of the pier and go to this place for desert. read more

Great ambiance, best view on the pier! The food is hot, greasy and delicious! We love MD!

We sat down at lunchtime and realized 1/2 dozen oysters on the 1/2 shell was gonna run $27. So we decided to come back at Happy Hour when oysters are $150 each. Upon returning, we ordered a bowl of clam chowder, Calamari, bread, 1/2 dozen oysters and a blonde beer. Everything was great including the weather. Views are beautiful and patio is really nice place to sit. read more

The food was great! Clam chowder, Caesar salad, fish tacos, lobster Mac and cheese were all very tasty! I also enjoyed their strawberry margarita and dessert. The service was very good as well and the restaurant was nicely decorated with red lights for Valentine's Day. It was a bit cool by the door so only thing I would have changed would be that. read more

It's actually gotten better recently. Everything used to be quite bland but some of their new options are pretty solid (try the salmon bowl). Overpriced a bit compared to places that are not on the wharf, but that comes with the territory. read more

Came in around 715/730 and was seated near the bar at a table on mother's day. It wasn't busy. It my four year old and I celebrating mother's Day together. The server was a large man who came to the table and immediately glared at my daughter and asked if she was in a good mood or a bad mood today, very intensly. It was so uncomfortable. She buried her face in my arms to hide from him and whispered to me that she didn't want to answer. I was shocked he said that to her. I'm sure he'd never say that to an adult. It was weird and unprofessional and creepy. I was ready to order but decided to leave instead. We went to Santa Barbara seafood company next door and had incredible service and incredible food. Go to that restaurant instead, don't risk being approached by this creep. read more

The linguini with clams was delicious. The side of toasted cheese bread was an extra bonus. read more

Moby Dick Restaurant - Linguini with clams. - American Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

The food was great, but the service from our server, Lee W., is the real reason I'm writing this review. Lee was kind, patient, knowledgeable, and genuinely attentive to our table from start to finish. She checked in at all the right times, answered questions with confidence, and made us feel truly welcomed and not rushed or forgotten. You can tell Lee is a seasoned professional who takes pride in what she does. That level of care and warmth is becoming harder to find these days, and it made our entire dining experience better. The difference between someone who sees serving as a craft versus just a job really stood out here. If you're dining at this restaurant, do yourself a favor and ask for Lee W. She's the kind of server that keeps people coming back! read more

FOOD OK, CUSTOMER SERVICE TERRIBLE My family and I decided to try Moby Dick Restaurant. The food quality and taste are nothing special. Overall OK. Customer service is out right terrible. Waitress was upset that we asked for an additional set of silverware. There was three of us and the table was set for two. Two items we ordered never were brought to us, so we made sure they got cancelled off our ticket. The waitress never asked if we wanted refills of water and when I flagged down the waitress to request refills, she never asked us if we wanted refills on our other beverages. Hopefully bringing this matter to the attention of someone that can ensure other customers will not experience such poor customer service. read more

Nice views of the harbor, dog friendly and nice staff. Lobster roll was underwhelming and lacked seasoning, platter for 2 was good and really liked the pineapple coleslaw. Clam chowder was good and baked oysters. read more

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Yes a great restaurant on the pier good food and ambience highly recommended will go back there when I am in the area

Wonderful location , easy access for seniors ( we had a wheelchair ) , fabulous service and tasty food. Went for early Mother's Day and would definitely reccomend . Loved the nautical decor and large windows for ocean views too ( saw dolphins at our meal for an extra treat!) read more

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Originally headed out to have lunch at Santa Barbara Shellfish Company but the long lines and seeing people eating off paper plates with plastic cutlery put us off So we headed over next door to Moby Dicks which I was a bit skeptical about as it was much quieter with no lines making me wonder about the quality of the food Took a chance and so glad we did!! The seafood platter for 2 was delicious with a nice variety and the Rum Passion Fruit mojitos were on point! Staff were lovely and friendly and the restaurant very clean (with indoor restrooms) and lovely views off the pier Would definitely recommend read more

After walk on the pier, it's nice place to eat and enjoy the view. Service was excellent and clam chowder was good. Will be back for happy hours to taste fresh oysters. read more

I came to Santa Barbara to try the new Oyster Bar at Moby Dick on Stearn's Wharf. Apparently, it is a new addition and walking in, it looked inviting, friendly and comfortable. There is seating around the bar, but I opted for a table around it (always like both my feet on the ground). So what should I order? I debated for a while, over this simple point. Was it going to be the fresh Maine Lobster ($65), Roasted garlic parsley Parmesan oysters ($4 each), the chilled lobster cocktail ($30 for 4 oz), or the Linguine and Manila clams ($25). I finally chose the latter. I requested that the accompanying garlic bread come first...it was unique in color and even taste, an unassuming but superb concoction (see my picture). The linguine and clams arrived after, elegantly plated with lovely optics. See my pictures. But once I indulged, it was another story. Let me be fair. The pasta was cooked perfect al dente beautiful bite. The clams were small, but meaty. However, the overall flavor was a major disappointment. The white wine sauce was dilute, there was no garlic. If it was there, it was overpowered by a major overdose of fresh twigs of Thyme. Really Thyme? I have never had linguine and clams with this kind of modification. Look at my pictures, you can see the thyme twigs on top, but you know what, there were so many of them buried under the pasta. I must've pulled out at least 15 of them total. It killed the dish completely. A natural DOA (Dead on Arrival). The server kept asking me repeatedly, how it was and I finally had to tell him. Later, he said they had a treat for me and they brought a complimentary lava cake with ice cream. Nicely presented, but very mediocre, hardly any lava. Either way my lunch was destroyed. On a final note, to the Chef. A dish like linguine and clams is legendary. It has a standard recipe everywhere. Keep it just as it is. Then enhance your culinary delivery talents, with the pasta, with the garlic, with the sauce, the clams, the white wine, the techniques, the preparation, the presentation. Simple. Don't touch it any further, and you will make it a success. read more

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Ambiance was really good did the oyster bar. Service was good also. Food was amazing the green rice

Stopping by to have lunch from from Murrieta to San Francisco. First service was really good. Host ask us if we want to be seated outside for a wait or seated inside for ready tables.. Server comes pretty quick and ask would we like.. we'll just say service is very good! Food comes in.. We got the catch of the day which is grilled whole Branzino with vegetables and fries and seafood combo.. Branzino was so fresh and so good.. for the fried seafood combo it was huge amount but really good! We have to end up ask for to go box since we cannot finish ambience was view of the ocean and nice read more

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We love Santa Barbara and with such a gorgeous day, really wanted to have a relaxing meal right on the warm sand ay the beach by Stearn's Wharf. We stopped by this place because we saw the sign that offered Take-out and offered some non-seafood items because we wanted to mix it up a bit. The hostess was super friendly when we walked in the door and immediately gave us a menu to make our order. She was very helpful with our questions. Once we placed our order, she immediately had my drink ready to go and let us know that it would take about 10 minutes for everything to be ready. We told her that we will wait outside and that we come back in 10 minutes. There was a nice bench outside, under the shade of the awning, for us to sit and wait and enjoy view of the wharf. Shortly before the 10-minute mark, we got up to walk in to check on our order, but our hostess was already walking out of the restaurant and walking towards us with our order, which was very nice and unexpected. The meal was simple, fish & chips, shrimp cocktail, and chicken strips with fries. Everything was well seasoned, nicely breaded, and the customer service was excellent. My rating is based on the interaction we had with the hostess, how quickly our order was completed, and the taste of our food, which we thoroughly enjoyed on our beach picnic. read more

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We had dinner at Moby Dick last night. We started w the spinach crab dip w warm tortilla chips, the a platter of mussels in a delicious red tomato broth & cilantro broth & blackened salmon with veggies & Caesar salad. Omg this was a beautiful & delicious dinner. We poured the broth over the rice because we wanted to enjoy every last bit of both flavors. Our server was Eric. Debbie, the restaurant manager is friendly, quick witted, fun, & she recommended the butter cake. We had that, & key lime pie. Wow!! Delicious!! & Debbie, I can see why she's been there since 1986! She's great & kept us smiling. read more

Sorry! It was very mediocre food. Everything our table ordered was honestly not memorable. I will not be back. Time to revamp or close the doors. read more

Not sure why this place has only 3 stars. My family has visited 3 times now, and the quality and service is just as good each time. During our latest visit, my wife ordered the shrimp scampi, my son ordered the Wharf cheeseburger, and I got the grilled fish tacos. We also ordered the lobster mac and cheese and a grilled branzino to share. The food was excellent. The lobster and branzino really stood out. We absolutely loved it and look forward to returning again! read more

The bar is specifically the staff is amazing and very friendly and welcoming. The view and the ambiance is a 10/10. BUT let me say this a BUD-LIGHT should NOT be ***$9.50***and oysters shouldn't be $4.00 per. Just my opinion. read more

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The food and atmosphere were absolutely on point. I also really enjoyed the beautiful ocean view--it added the perfect touch to an already fantastic experience. read more

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My cousin was visiting from Pennsylvania and wanted to see a pacific sunset. Ventura was foggy so we kept driving and ended up on the wharf at Moby Dicks for Happy Hour. We left happy. read more

Moby Dick Restaurant - Fried Calamari, Guacamole and Chips, Bloody Mary, Watermelon Mojito, Lobster Bisque - American Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

A lot of mixed reviews from this place but I had a great experience. We came for breakfast and there was no wait and lots of empty seating. Just before driving on the wharf I had seen lots of people line up at other restaurants and bakeries, but no line here. And most places in the wharf were closed in the morning. They had a great lobster eggs Benedict. Lobster was slightly salty but I was able to cut that with a squeeze of lemon juice. The rest of my family enjoyed their meal. read more

Moby Dick Restaurant - American Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

The food was great and the service was good. We ate outside and it has a wonderful view. The fries were perfect: crisp and warm. read more

Moby Dick Restaurant - Clam Chowder - American Near Me - Santa Barbara, California