Plow & Angel never disappoints when it comes to a holiday themed experience. I missed out last year for Christmas, but not this time! Reservations are required, so be sure to check out their website for available dates and times. The speakeasy is located on the property of San Ysidro Ranch. Prepare for breathtaking views, twinkle lights throughout the grounds and a touch of magic in the air. It's a small intimate space, and perfect for date night or just hanging out with friends. They also have live music every night. The atmosphere here transports you to the prohibition era, but with high prices. It is Montecito after all lol. Expect to pay $28 and up for a cocktail and $20 - $42 for nibbles. A total splurge experience if you can afford to treat yourself. I recommend eating beforehand if you're hungry to save money, or just drop in for cocktails and head to dinner afterwards. For food, we ordered the Korean tacos. I was expecting at least 3-4 tacos for $26, but you only get two small ones. They are delicious despite the price, and again it's Montecito. Home of the rich and famous. But, I am worth wining and dining on my own dime occasionally. The calamari was a decent serving and cooked perfectly, not chewy at all. We also tried the ribs and fries. The ribs fell off the bone and the meat was extremely tender. My only con was the ribs were very small and I wish they were bigger, because they were delicious. I shared with my friend, but if you're hungry then this dish is not shareable. They have a special holiday cocktail menu right now for Christmas. I tried the Violette Night and SYR Egg Nog. Both were perfectly made and not too sweet. I especially enjoyed the egg nog cocktail, because it was subtle in flavor and tasted like a yummy dessert. Valet parking is on site. Bring cash for tip! Overall, I love Plow & Angel and if you can afford to treat yourself then come here! The whole experience of the speakeasy is such a vibe and totally worth checking out. read more

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very cute and holiday-themed speakeasy at san ysidro ranch. a lot of speciality and holiday cocktails on the menu but you can also choose the option to be surprised based off a few questions the bartender asks for preference. highly recommend! read more

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Visited Plow and Angel for their special Valentines themed speakeasy cocktails and decorations. From the valet parking, to the fireplace and live music, and the surprise cocktails, there was something for all of our group. We asked for two surprise cocktails and they definitely were worth taking the chance. One even had a rose cup with light for ambiance and another cocktail came out on fire. The service was quick and everyone was mellow. I'll definitely be back to soak in the "love" and valentines theme again. read more

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It was pretentious, the drinks were just okay, extremely loud and the food service was slow. They forgot one of our appetizers but they comped it, which was fair. The wait staff was nice and attentive. The actual location, the resort is nice, I would not go back again. read more

Can't beat the ambiance of the Speakeasy during the holidays. The thousands of ornaments lining the ceiling, live music, and fun drinks provide a great environment to spend time with friends. The decorations around the property are also festive this time of year. I think the pricing is fair, because you are also paying for the experience. The service is good, but falls short of similar hotel restaurants in this class (rosewood, ojai valley inn). Would gladly come back. read more

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Had afternoon tea there . The restaurant is part of Ysidro Ranch which is just beautiful . The out of the place for a relaxing afternoon

Vegan and vegetarian options. Yay. They have a gluten-free bread unfortunately it's not vegan. Olives and radishes are brought to each table along with bread at dinner time The dinner menu upstairs and down in the garden is the same. It's very expensive as one appetizer can be $29. Food was good but I ate better for a third of the price in Italy last week. Our bill before tip was about $350. That was one appetizer, one side, three main courses , a dessert, (assuming one was comped for birthday) two drinks and a glass of wine The garden setting is magical and I love the table we had for three. It's wonderful that they have a musician playing the guitar and singing songs outside as you enter. The music wafts into the seating area but not too loud just perfect The ranch is magical. The service was excellent The smoked table side drinks were more about the experience versus having a different taste When they brought the balsamic vinegar, that we had asked for, it was dripping down the side so it stains tablecloth immediately. Quite messy I would recommend they put it on a small plate. I come here for the ambience. read more

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I love San Ysidro Ranch and the Plow and Angel. Ambiance, food and service usually all wonderful. Very pricey, but wonderful! So I chose the Plow and Angel for my birthday dinner (and it was a BIG birthday!! :-)). I have to say it's the first time I have been disappointed. Don't get me wrong, the food was fabulous, as usual. The service was very nice and although attentive, not overwhelming. The big problem was with the wine. My friend and I were quite shocked with the prices for a bottle of wine! We searched the wine menu for quite a while until we found a nice-sounding wine at $90. And that's what we thought we ordered. But, when the bill came, the wine cost was billed at $175!!!!! Almost twice the cost of what we thought we ordered. We questioned this and the sommelier came to our table with the wine menu and insisted we had ordered the more expensive wine. We both said that we thought we had ordered the less expensive one, but he was insistent that we did not! We could have argued with him, but that would have ruined what was a lovely birthday dinner. So we didn't argue and just paid. What's particularly galling is that the wine was just 'ok'! Both of us put that down to it being the $90 wine... but for a $175 bottle, it was not very good! And then, the final thing was that the restaurant and staff knew it was my birthday. They didn't even offer a complimentary dessert or after-dinner drink. For such an expensive establishment, you would think they could spare a dime to celebrate a birthday!! I am so sad to only give a 2* review of this wonderful restaurant. But their service really let down the food and ambiance this time around. Probably be a long time before I return. read more

This place is so beautiful so I hate to give it a one star about the drinks are awful and start at $28. Way too sweet. We ordered one on the menu and one bartender's choice. He didn't listen to anything. Such a fun feature when you have skilled enough bartenders to do it. Unfortunately last night they did not. Bummer to walk away. Paying almost $70 for two drinks and we didn't even drink half of either of them and had huge headaches. When you specify. I don't like sweet and they use coconut syrup, cactus cooler and another syrup... Hopefully management will provide more training or lower their prices to meet the actual drink that you're getting read more

Put this on your Bucket List. The outdoor seating is elegant and nuanced with casual romance. The wine list is unparalleled; every employee is helpful and friendly...the service is top-notch. The food is delicious; creative without being pretentious. This is our family's "go-to" for dinner. You will need a reservation. read more

Plow & Angel - The sommelier is always spot-on with recommendations. - American Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Peter was a superb waiter and staff member. Really appreciated his time with us. Gave us winery reccos and shared stories. Outstanding place and ambiance. read more

Delicious food, beautiful ambiance, accommodating staff. Recommend the halibut and the steak Dianne. Impeccable! Thank you for making our little Babymoon celebration dinner one to remember. We will definitely be back and try to stay at the property! read more

Plow & Angel - Bananas foster dessert with a sweet message for us! Thank you staff! - American Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

I had a such a lovely time. Manny did a great job taking care of us at the bar. He is incredibly friendly and welcoming AND quick. He was able to answer all my questions and promptly responded and delivered everything. The food and drinks were so delicious- the artichoke was great and the aioli it came with just took it to a whole new level. The lamb sliders - yum. The fish and chips were PHENOMENAL! Unfortunately, the duck confit fell short because the the fish and chips were so great. The staff was so pleasant. And the atmosphere is amazing. I can't wait to go back! read more

Amazing ambiance, excellent service and well prepared food. Order carefully, or the bill will ruin your evening.

I will give this restaurant two stars for the location and beautiful restaurant, but I'm certain I ate better food at the public market (Corazón) earlier that day. Last night my wife took me to Plow & Angel for my 35th birthday. She was so excited because of all the great reviews we heard. Unfortunately, the service and preparedness of the food left a lot to be desired. We sat down expecting to take our time and indulge ourselves, instead we were rushed by our waiter to order the drinks and food as quick as possible. There's nothing worse than being rushed to eat, especially at a beautiful high end restaurant. After ordering my drink, our waiter was back at it, interrupting our discussion every two minutes to see if we decided on an app and main. We finally settled on the lamb sliders and flatbread, which he said wasn't a lot of food for apps and kept suggesting us to order more. The funny part was that he said we would get 3 sliders and a small flatbread with 2 or three bites. It arrived....there were only 2 sliders and the flatbread was huge! It felt as though either our waiter had no idea what he was telling us or just trying to up-sell us. When I told him we wanted time before ordering the main and literally kept coming back every 2 minutes telling us to put the order in. It was so frustrating so we caved and settled on the 72 hour sous-vide short ribs. What an unfortunate dish...I'd never eaten such dried out short ribs in my life. The flavors were uneven, the consistency was not "fall apart" and the meat was so dry! How could you overcook short ribs, especially sous-vide? This was a huge miss, but actually not the worsed... Before finishing dinner, our impatient waiter came back to take our order for desert and tell us about the options. We had even been half-done with our main. What type of restaurant does that? In addition, he asked if I wanted another drink and I obliged. He hurriedly tried to grab my first, which was only half-way done, before I stopped him. So here's the kicker. After a terrible main, some how I still felt obliged to get desert so I could have a candle to blow out on my birthday (which my wife reminded the host of when she made the reservation). When it arrived...no candle, an unimpressive ricotta cheese cake, and a waiter who kept coming back repeatedly asking if we wanted tea or coffee after refusing multiple times. What an unfortunate end to what was otherwise a wonderful day. At these prices, service should be impeccable, dishes should be well prepared, and attention to detail should be paramount. I would not recommend this restaurant to anyone, especially when there are so many great options in the city (The Lark and Loquita for starters). read more

My wife and I have been at this restaurant many times. It is a good alternative if you can't get a table at The Stonehouse. Great ambiance, cozy, charming, romantic and beautifully decorated. Good menu, great cocktail and wine menu. read more

I was taken to Plow and Angel for dinner to celebrate my birthday and absolutely loved the experience. Naturally we chose to sit outside rather than indoors. The patio area is lovely and beyond romantic. Replete with lights strung through the branches of the trees and an antique kerosene lamp at each table. After looking through the extensive wine list of San Ysidro Ranch, offered also at Stonehouse, we went with Fiddlehead Cellars' 2010 FiddleStix Pino Noir. Quite tasty. And now it was time to deliberate our preeminent cuisine. Plow and Angel patrons are most fortunate to have the ability/luxury to order from the Stonehouse menu as well. Lucky us. We began with the Octopus starter, and it was divine. Difficult to share, I might add. Thankfully I was able to manage, considering I wanted to save plenty of room for our entrees. We were both eyeing the Steak Diane(a favorite on the Stonehouse menu) so we decided to share it. The burger sounded good, and in my quest to find the best burgers in the SB area, we chose it to share as well. Lisa, who attended us for the evening, flambéd the sauce for our steak, table side. What a sight. She sautéed cremini mushrooms in butter then poured in some brandy and WOOSH up went the flames. Oh my, so good. The burger was decent, but didn't make my Top Three list. The chocolate cake for my BDay wish was just the right touch. Far above all, was the romantic feel of the place. Thanks to this, along with the wine, cuisine and company, it was the most enjoyable BDay dinner to date. Not sure how next year could top this, but I'm sure it will;) read more

Plow & Angel - Birthday wine is the best wine... - American Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Is there a way on yelp to add more stars to my rating? I'd like to give this place 8 stars. First of all, the property is incredible. There's a calm sense of grandeur at the San Ysidro Ranch. Everything is just .... beautiful. There's no other word for it. Ok the food. Order consisted of - Mac and Cheese appetizer, Prime New York Steak and Butter Poached Lobster. The Mac and Cheese was incredible. Yeah I know, so and so's grandma makes the best. Bla bla bla. While that may be true, the SYR's Mac and cheese is really, really, really really good. 4 cheese sauce, crispy cheesy top, served in a cast iron skillet. And it's got proscuttio in it. It's ridiculous. It's really really quite good. The NY Steak was cooked perfectly. Dry aged prime... YUM. It came with mashed potatos and a cognac peppery sauce. I'm usually not one for sauces with steak - but it was delicious nonetheless. And it's a great deal at $32 The Lobster dish knocked it out of the ballpark. Butter poached lobster served on a risotto in a heirloom tomato...sauce...thing, a little meyer lemon beurre blanc and garnished with pea shoots. This is one of the best things i've ever eaten. Incredible. Service is excellent, and the whole experience here is just really special. Wow. read more

Plow & Angel - loup de mer - American Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Nothing special. Instead, go to their other restaurant, stone house, so you can sit outside and enjoy the beautiful setting. This restaurant has only inside sitting and it is sooooo dark. I felt like I was in cellar or underground. Not really pleasant when it is 75 degrees outside which is a typical so ca weather. The service, of course, is excellent. But they try to over sell more expensive items on the menu. Food is ok. Would only come back to the other restaurant. Felt like a 2nd grade citizen sitting inside with no lights. But, I do realize, it is a personal thing. read more

Plow & Angel - American Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Had an amazing evening at San Ysidro Ranch w/ great friends. Definitely get there during daylight to take a stroll around -- the grounds, landscaping, and flowers are so beautiful; peeked into a few of the historic cottages, which were very cool, too. We intended to have happy hour at Plow & Angel, but learned that the "Angel Hour" is just 5-6 pm Mon-Thur., and it was Friday, so just ordered some cocktails and appetizers. Everything was wonderful. We ordered 4 appetizers for the 4 of us, and they were all great -- the grilled artichoke (my favorite), the Ranch mac & cheese w/ prosciutto and 4 cheeses (really good), a unique flatbread w/ chicken, mushrooms, jalepeno, cilantro and smoked gouda, and lamb sliders w/ feta (wow - so juicy, too). Ordered a few cocktails, but our favorites were the Blood Orange Margarita and the Ruby Red vodka martini (so fresh and tasty). Our Nashville friend really enjoyed their Manhattans, too, which I think were called "Originals." Service was wonderful; setting was just stunning, and as an added plus, had a table of beautiful Hollywood celebrities seated right next to us! Definitely want to come back w/ my husband next time I'm in the area for a special night out. read more

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This was my first time here and I loved it. It was everything I read about it and more. It was cozy and romantic which is exactly what I was looking for. The staff was very friendly and attentive and the food was delicious and the drinks were great. I wish we would have arrived earlier to be able to sit out on the patio and enjoy the beautiful gardens, but can't complain about the cozy fireplace. It was the perfect place to celebrate a special someone on her birthday!! And I would recommend it to all!! read more

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I was browsing around on the net before heading out to my little day trip to Santa Barbara and I came across San Ysidro Ranch. Apparently JFK honeymooned here and it's known to be quite secluded and beautiful. How can I read that and not check it out right??? We had a late lunch so we just went to the Plow and Angel for drinks so we can check out the grounds/bar. Plow and Angel itself is very quaint and lovely. The bartendar gave me a few different wines to try and I ended up going with one of their Chardonnay's which I'm not generally fond of drinking. It was pretty good though and strong!!! I was pretty buzzed before my dessert came out. LOL! Add some sips of beer and tada! Buzzed CJ. haha Valrhona Chocolate cheesecake is delish!!! Very rich yet subtle if that makes any sense. Orange accents, tangerine sorbet on top, and a little raspberry sauce. MmMmm!!!! The one thing I did notice before I left was that they had dessert wines on the dessert menu. I had initially asked for a sweeter wine, preferably a Moscato/Muscat wine but the bartender said they didn't have any. While checking out the dessert menu, they did have Muscat wine!!!! :( I was so sad. Everyone was very nice and it was a nice experience. I wish I didn't overhear some racist remarks some patrons said to our bartender but I won't go into that here. Other than the last two points, it was FABULOUS! :) read more

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I've stayed at the San Ysidro Ranch many times and I've always eaten at the Stonehouse, until last night. Plow & Angel is the more casual restaurant at the hotel and it's tucked under the Stonehouse, in what feels like an old tavern. A fireplace spreads a warm glow across the room and they have their casual menu or offer food from The Stonehouse. It's particularly lovely this time of year, as it is decorated for the holidays. We started out with the grilled artichoke and a wonderful glass of pinot noir. It was fantastic and probably the best artichoke I've ever had. I also nibbled on their gluten We shared the black cod and the halibut from The Stonehouse menu and both were excellent, especially the halibut. The halibut is parmesan crusted and served with pesto on a bed of gnocchi. This fish is flakey and light and the accompaniments give it great flavor. We were so full but could not skip dessert! We shared the seasonal cobbler and the pumpkin soufflé. They were both wonderful but I was really into the pumpkin soufflé. It came with a cream cheese ice cream and tasted like winter in a jar. I highly recommend this dessert. Service was a little distracted but other than that we had a wonderful evening. Another great restaurant in Montecito. read more

Awesome birthday celebration last night & GREAT service by all servers & staff....the food was wonderful & perfect dining ambiance ...we are officially 75 now & all of you made "our day" very special! We were reduced to tears by your very sweet server running down the steps to catch us before we left to say goodbye & give more birthday hugs! BIG THANKS to all of you! read more

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Plow & Angel is where we take visitors since you can't beat the charm, history, location and mountain view at San Ysidro Ranch. It's the little sister of Stonehouse restaurant upstairs but we prefer the casual fare and cozy vibe downstairs and outside (if the Stonehouse hasn't booked all the outside tables that is since P&A shares that space with them but does not take reservations so it's hit or miss outside). From 5-6pm, Mon-Thur is the "Angel Hour" where they offer 6 appetizers from about $9 to $13. Mac & Cheese, Baby Iceberg Wedge and Flatbread are our favorites and easily suffice as a light dinner. Three types of bread are included (the best I've ever had) and drink specials range from $3 to $11. This is when it's the least crowded and most beautiful so this has quickly become our favorite happy hour. Another little known fact (and one I'm almost reluctant to share since they are rarely crowded) is their "Friends & Neighbors" 3-course meal ranging from $37 to $43 Sun-Wed. For the food quality, setting and service, this is a great value since you could easily spend 2x otherwise. Our favorite is the Prime Rib on Sundays, Monday is usually the Filet Mignon Tacos, Tuesday Paella and Wednesday Pork Chop Milanese (this may change so call ahead). Portions are huge so perfect to split. For the dessert course, you get the pick of the dessert menu but we usually opt for 3 big scoops of their homemade gelato or ice cream -- it's exceptional and you can pick 3 different flavors to sample. Before leaving, walk around the grounds and check out the reception lobby and extensive vegetable gardens. It's downright magical here so not surprising is was deemed the #1 hotel in the world a few years back. In general you'll pay a little extra because of that but it's worth it. (Just don't tell everyone so it can remain our little secret.) read more

Two Words: Classic Steak I think the only Santa Barbara places that serve a fine cut of steak are located in Montecito. I ordered the Classic Steak(yes, I went right for the most expensive entree). The steak was impecabble and it came with a brandied sauce. I have never had a brandied sauce before, but the sauce brought out the rich flavors of the sauce. I ordered a side of maple brussel sprouts because all their vegetables are grown here. This speciality added to the dining experiene. I highly recommend this place for an intimate dinner. read more

We dined the evening of 5/25/13 for my boyfriend's birthday. My boyfriend had previously been here as part of a larger party. During that visit, he ordered the burger: as a connoisseur, he ranked it at the top of his list. From the moment we arrived to the moment we departed, we had an awkward and unwelcoming experience. We arrived just after 5pm (their opening hour) so that we could dine right away. We asked to be seated outside, after being distractedly greeted. There were more than several tables available; only two sets of couples were already dining. The two hostesses didn't seem with it and I heard one snap at the other about where to put us. Our server seemed disappointed that we weren't older people staying at the ranch. He was young (we are late 20s) and not friendly - he did not want to wait our table! He was noticeably irritated that we declined on appetizers. The complimentary bread was fine as was the olive oil. My boyfriend got a beer, I ordered a Peach Bellini and decided that was the best thing I consumed during the meal. My boyfriend ordered his burger medium; to his dismay it arrived well-done. It wasn't flavorful or juicy but he didn't want to complain, just eat a little and leave as we weren't feeling the restaurant. I had grilled tofu with coconut curry sauce, which was fine, a little boring. I could have made it myself at home, it tasted like it had Trader Joe's sweet and sour sauce on top. Wasn't a $30 dish by any standard. Bussers refilled water and were kind and a little nervous. Our server reluctantly stopped by one other time. When we left, no one said "Thank You!" I regret tipping 20%, as I always do (minimum) because I had worked in service positions for years myself. Looking for an above average traditional burger? Tre Lune or Paradise Cafe should hit the spot. read more

What price atmosphere? San Ysidro Ranch's two restaurants, Stonehouse Inn and Plow & Angel are literally right on top of each other. In the beautiful outdoor garden, you used to be able to order from either menu. The Plow & Angel had lower prices (sometimes they wouldn't give you that menu unless you asked for it). Lower prices didn't mean low prices but it was worth it for the great atmosphere, good food, good service, etc. Now in the era of Covid, the menus have "merged." That means that the Plow's more moderate prices are gone. The barbecue ribs which were $35 are now $43. On the new menu, chicken is now $47. Salmon is $48. There is no salad below $20. Many diners, including those paying top dollar for a fantastic cabin, probably don't care. But it has priced some of us locals out of the market. read more

This was among the worst restaurant experiences I can recall. Annoying security gate stop (undertrained teenage "guard"), valet paring only. oh, oh! a $160 margarita? Give me a pitcher. If I buy one of the $10,000+ bottles of wine (several available) do I still get a paper table cloth? We were seated inside, in this awful, dismal cave of a room. Stone walls make for loud rooms. Very dark, very crowded. Not particularly comfortable. Music was some atrocious lowest common denominator soft jazz rambling puke. Too loud to go with more than one person. Service was annoying, uncoordinated, incompetent. It took 10 minutes to get the right number of place settings and wine glasses, culminating in 4 people showing up with assorted items, separately, so we had several extra settings. It never really picked up from there. I asked for a water and without asking the guy got me Evian. I wanted a water. a freaking water. The least expensive entree is the only vegetarian one, a hunk of tofu served on a handful of bok choi and a little rice. Food cost maybe $1.50, tops. $27 on the menu. That's a 5.5% food cost for you who know what that means. That's highway robbery for the rest of you (30% is typical). $29 fish and chips? Really? The food, at least, was pretty tasty. Not amazing by any measure, but know that as you get totally jacked you can at least, maybe, be satisfied. As soon as any plate was finished or near finished they would come, reach across and take it, or try to take it if I insisted I wasn't done. Removing plates before every diner is done is tacky. Doing it aggressively is disgraceful. I really hope I never get strong-armed into going back. If I do I will pre-eat. read more

After a somewhat mediocre visit to the El Encanto for happy hour last week, yesterday we decided to go to the Plow and Angel with our friends! We arrived early knowing that spending a few minutes walking around the beautiful grounds is like walking around the Garden of Eden! The first thing we noticed when we pulled up is that the valet was friendly and welcoming!!! Are you listening El Encanto? We were lucky, yesterday was the most pleasant Santa Barbara day so far this year, what a great day to sit outside! The hostess and our server were wonderful! Friendly and helpful. The Plow and Angel has a real happy hour! There are $3 beers, $5 well drinks ( I think their well has some pretty good quality to it) and a couple of wine and Martini specials. For food they had about a dozen items on the menu. I tried the fenole sausage pizza for $14. Delicious! The lamb sliders were a popular favorite as was the grilled artichoke with a great aioli sauce. An option if you are a little more on the hungry side is a three course pre-fixe menu for about $38. We didn't know about it ahead of time so we didn't go for it. Maybe next time. I would caution you that the "Angel Hour" is just that, an hour! 5pm-6pm. I think that our server was a little generous in that her watch seemed to be running a little slow to our benefit! All-in we fell between $20 and $25 per. Very reasonable considering the beautiful setting!!! We will be back for sure!!!! read more

We once loved this place and I even yelped about it. While the atmosphere is still beautiful the food and experience has changed. For example, The mac & cheese which was once legendary is now better suited for a food cart. Another example, the sliders are so small I had to put on my reading glasses to see them. Furthermore, they were really pushing the bottle waters on us in our most recent visit. It would have been nice to know in advanced that they would end up as part of our bill. We weren't even interested in water and some how they sold us four bottles. Finally, the portions are about half the size they were 5 years ago. In addition, our server was delightful when at our table but the poor guy was spread so thin. The wait period between table visits was uncomfortable to put it nicely. A classic case of remembering how great this place once was and dealing with letdown of what it has now become. read more

My wife and I went on New Year's Eve, so they had a special menu for the evening. Okay, in a nutshell here's my thoughts: 1. The ambiance and decor is A++. Had the rustic look of an modernized farmhouse, with stone walls and nice stained glass. The fireplace gave it a cozy feel--definitely a romantic place for a date or an evening with the missus. 2. The food was very good. I had the foie gras something and the prime beef tenderloin with gnocchi and mushrooms, and my wife had the New York steak. My pinot noir-based sauce had this really cool smoky/warm/mushroomy flavor that really was superb. As for my wife's steak...it was very good--more on the beefier side with peppercorn sauce. I give my steak 5 stars, but I'd give her's four for the sides--the spinach/mashed potatoes were pretty plain and simple. 3. Wine - okay, so we ordered an ice wine and I got the Fat Tire. The wine was great--except for the price, I thought they'd at least fill up the glass more than 1/4 of the way. That's very stingy. That'd be the biggest nit I'd have to pick with them. C'mon now, we're ready to spend some good money there (and it was worth every penny), at the very least you could top off for a $28 glass of wine, right? Oh, and the bread that they bring out is addicting...well, it's not really bread. They call it lavache, but it's more like a flat bread cracker with cheese, sesame seeds and...I forget, but good good good! Service--acceptable, but surprisingly I found it not educational to helping make a selection. read more

1. A Manhattan should *never* be shaken, especially when I order it with Elijah Craig 18 Year Old Bourbon and you charge me $17. If I wanted a cloudy drink, I would have ordered something with an umbrella, thank you. Also, if you're going to charge me that much for a cocktail, at least get some real brandied cherries, rather than those red chemical bombs you're currently using. 2. The caramelized onions ruin their burger. In hindsight, I should have ordered it without the onions, but I figured, any chef with the balls to put a $19 burger on his menu must really know what he's doing. I was wrong. The caramelized onions completely overpower the flavor of the beef. Not only that, they also serve it with a substantial slice of red onion. Why would I want two kinds of onion on my burger? I think this shows how much thought they put into this dish: not much. On the bright side, this place is cozy and my bartender was friendly. I'd go back, but I wouldn't order a cocktail or the burger again. read more

It is easy for one to assume that the price of an entree being three times the average makes a restaurant of good quality, that is not always the case... My experience at Plow & Angel on Friday night (March 20th) was mediocre at best. My boyfriend and I stumbled in around 6:30 and were seated after the two hostess (one blonde, one latin) chatted about where would be best to seat us all the while the blonde hostess twirled her hair with one finger. Ultimately, they let us choose our own table! Except, the options they gave - one included a table that still needed to be set up. It was obvious that this was the better of the tables in the restaurant at the time so we elected to awkwardly stand and wait while the busser did his duties. After a painfully long time, we sat down and were not in a seats more than a few minutes before our server (Adam?) greeted us. I shared with him that we were celebrating my boyfriends birthday. After getting our drink orders (just water, as we had been at a wine tasting before dinner and not in the mood to drink more), Adam wondered off. Miguel was quick to refill our waters, brought out "bread service" which consisted of marinated olives and a few radishes. I must admit that this is a good idea, but the plating is terrible. The olives all seemed to swim around rolling back and forth as he walked towards us and then back and forth some more after he placed them on the table. Please choose better plates for a dish like this!! And to pair about two dozen olives with three radishes? I was underwhelmed. Miguel caught on to that too when we had barely touched the olives after a good 10 minutes, he came with a more substantial bread service and an oil dip. The oil dip was FAR TOO SPICY for my taste, or for that of my boyfriends. We just enjoyed the warm bread and then waited to place our appetizer order. We ordered the mac'n'cheese to share as our first course and it was DELICIOUS. I loved it, he loved it.... We were soooo desiring more! After what seemed like an oddly long wait, our two angus burgers finally came. I would not order this again. Nothing special about the burger.... just a big ole piece of meat on a soggy piece of bread. Once I put all the fixings together, I cut the burger in half and tried cutting pieces to eat but everything kept sliding and finally opted to just pick it up. Definitely felt out of place eating a burger like this in such a nice restaurant. Finally, we finished with the granny smith apple fancier. It was brought out with a chocolate design reading "Happy Birthday!" The dish was phenomenal. A light scoop of cinnamon ice cream, a moist apple cake all over a pomegranate sauce. It was the perfect finish to our meal. I was really surprised that they do not comp birthday desserts here, as most places do - especially high end places. Overall: terrible bread service, mediocre entrees, and definitely would not return for a special occasion. read more

Great service, walked in this past Friday night - waiting only a few minutes... located directly downstairs from the more upscale Stonehouse. It was very humid and stuffy from the hot weather, so I felt like eating very light as we sat inside, but it was open doors with patio seating outside as well. (Part of Stonehouse Restaurant from upstairs). The Tuscan stone rustic interior decor reminds me of Napa Valley! Local wine selection was wonderful and varietal. Great complimentary bread, and fresh olives. Tasty sauteed brussel sprouts, simple organic greens salad, but miso black cod was only alright and very overpriced at $44. I enjoyed the ambiance and decor much more than our entree. But the setting is so beautiful, I will be back again. Maybe even for lunch to enjoy daylight views? Just won't order unworthy priced miso black cod again... In all honesty, I think my expectations on the miso black cod are so high as I am jaded from Matsuhisha, Nobu, Katsuya, and Villa Blanca in Beverly Hills? read more

Best ambience and worst prices in Santa Barbara. Ambience is quiet, gorgeous, professional. Can't be beat for a romantic dinner. Prices are better here than at upstairs Stonehouse, but still $$$$$. The food at Plow and Angel is very good, but still a little too fussy for us. See my review of our favorite restaurant Julienne, where the atmosphere is more casual and the food speaks for its delicious self. read more

Absolutely amazing from the ambiance, to the service, and most important, the food. I can't recommend this place highly enough. Can't wait to come back someday. Recommendations: Coconut Prawns Tortilla Soup (forget what ever you had in mind when you think of tortilla soup) Paella Lemon Tart read more

What a gem! The place is oozing with charm and style. Fantastic food, great people and the best bartenders you'll ever find. Chris the bartender is an absolute rock star! Try buddhas hand but don't there. This is now one of our very favorite places! You'll have a night you won't forget. read more

Plow & Angel - At the bar. The best seat in the house! - American Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Maybe they changed chefs when they re-opened? We used to come here for special occasions and were willing to pay ridiculous prices for simple food because the setting is so beautiful and the service has always been professional - but we went the other day for our anniversary (42nd!) and the food was just mediocre and even more expensive than in pre-flood days (fish and chips is now almost $40 and the ribs even more). So you can come here and drop $180 (with tip) for two entrees, no app and no desert or you can go somewhere else and get as good (or better) a meal at half the price. We were the only diners until after 7PM so it looks like others feel the same way - we will not go back. read more

Delicious margarita's and food! Try the rib night with mac and cheese. The best! read more