Black bird came highly recommended from Another great restaurant so we decided to try it. Made reservations and was seated very quickly. The place is alittle dark . They do have outside seating which I regret not using. Menu is a little difficult to understand. We went with the citrus and the flat bread as starters. Citrus was a little weird , pretty much some fruits and yogurt. I would recommend. The flag bread was great. My wife went with cauliflower soup. They make Table side and is very creamy! I chose the the spaghetti and it was decent. Maybe I'm just not used to ultra fancy food. Staff was very attentive and helpful. Although people in other reviews are complaining about price we found the price to be just about why you would expect for a main spot on state street. Two people without drinking was about 100 plus a tip. If I'm being honest food was about a 3 but service , facility and location make it an over all 4 read more

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Except for our drinks and the seasonal root salad which were truly special - the lobster and the rib eye steak were less than mediocre. Lobster was over cooked and tasteless. Very disappointed after looking forward to a special Valentine' s day celebration in our long over due visit to Santa Barbara and our 4 hour drive to this very special part of the world. . read more

Service was good ambiance was outstanding. The food was very disappointing. I'm not sure if they were having an off night with the kitchen staff or....idk.. For the high price tags on the entree's I was really expecting something amazing and honestly it just didn't taste good. I could get better tasting food at just about any place that prepares food. This is my first yelp review ever and I rarely complain. I really hope this place ups their game. It has a lot of potential and it looks like they could have a really great place in the future but something needs to change. read more

One of the best dinners I've had in SB! Came in on a Wednesday for dinner and ordered the Eastside cocktail, the Faroe island salmon and the black swan for dessert. Everything tasted amazing! Food was very fresh and were very creative, yet simple enough for people to want to eat. I was lucky enough to be one of the first ones to try out the new desert menu and I loved it! The service was a bit slow, considering there were serval waiters. I only saw two people actively serving everyone there. You should definitely check this place out if you're willing to pay the $$$$. read more

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People have to stop reviewing high simply because they spend a lot of money. This restaurant is average at best. The server was fine except that after the food was done and desert was finished, literally did not come back again to drop the check or anything. The worst ending to a meal you can offer a guest and at 125 to 150 per person, not acceptable. The food though was very good. I had the branzino which was cooked perfectly and the offering of a slice of Speck in the center made the fish truly unique. The UNI appetizer was way too salty from the seaweed although the UNI itself was perfect. Location is easy to get to and the restaurant is very loud. Not intimate, not private, just loud and very bright. Would I go back? No, there are too many great offerings at better price point in Santa Barbara. read more

I haven't written a Yelp review in ages. The fact that I'm writing this should suggest some serious thought--both by the restaurant and any potential diners. Putting aside the fact that a "Michelin listed" restaurant had some of the worst service I have ever experienced, the food was lacking in nearly every way imaginable. There was no wow factor, The mussels were chewy due to being overcooked. The only thing saving the mussels were the chorizo broth and buttery sourdough bread served with it. Our waitress was too busy chatting with the bartender to advise us that the $75 short rib entree wasn't a traditional braised short rib, rather a bland "steak" version of short ribs that was lacking in flavor. The only saving grace as the risotto that is really hard to mess up to begin with. The ambiance can be described as trying to be Los Angeles, but without anything worth writing home about. The intimate restaurant was nothing special. Truly very disappointed. We were hoping to include Blackbird in our rotation for exquisite dining experiences. I wonder who at Michelin accepted the bribe. read more

Nice comfy seating, helpful staff, and tasty eats... make for a lovely dinner. Other than being bit pricey, all in all, a great experience. read more

The Knock - King Salmon with greens and crispy skin - New American Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Well I wish I had gone to this place when it first opened because I've been missing out. I looked at the menu online and it didn't look like it had very much for vegans so I took a pass. But we took a chance tonight and it turns out they have a separate plant-based menu especially for people like me and it was delicious! The sunchoke bravas were amazingly delicious, the right combination of tender and crispy and flavorful with the accompanying aïoli. The brussels sprouts were in the Santa Barbara tradition but as well done as they are ever done here. And the under named vegetable plate was a delicious combination of farmers market fresh vegetables and orzo with whipped butter nut squash. My non-vegan friend had a spiny lobster pasta dish and there were lots of other options for people less restricted than I am. The service was also perfect. Our waitress was friendly and attentive without being annoying. The other servers who brought us our plates were also helpful and articulate, and the manager was charming when I asked to meet her. I suspect it gets a bit noisy when crowded; we were there early when it was very easy to talk. Otherwise, the ambience was delightful and creative in decor. I'm glad I took a chance on the place! read more

Delicious and extremely attentive servers. Not cheap but worth it, went with a group of 8 people, all the food was very fresh and aromatic! So good! One of the best old fashions I have ever had. read more

The Knock - King Salmon - New American Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Food: amazing Service (Mitch): top-notch, above and beyond Location & ambiance: fantastic We came here for our anniversary dinner on recommendation by a local winery. We can't wait to come back!! read more

Sadly we were disappointed here. The restaurant has fantastic decor and excellent service, unfortunately what it is lacking is consistently great food. (It does have great cocktails though...) The food was average at best -- extremely overpriced, small portions, and many of the items lacked significant flavor. We had a beet salad that was tiny and neither the beets nor the dressing had any real flavor. The chickpea fries were well-cooked but also virtually flavorless. The scallops were the standout -- well seasoned; but again given the price and portion size, it was more like a good appetizer than a main course. In the middle was the mushroom and sautéed chickpeas plate. Well spiced but again not a reason to visit the restaurant. There are better places in SB to spend your money on a fancy meal. read more

Great food, service and atmosphere. The food was amazing! Can't go wrong with any of the dishes. My favorite was the flat bread, grilled octopus and The seared scallops, gnocchi & soft boiled egg. read more

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Great mixed drinks, fun and creative appetizers, and warm staff. Oh yeah, lovely setting too.

Food was good, once we received it. Service was not so good. Had to send drinks back 3 times for wrong order. It wasn't the bar, but the waiter that kept failing. I'd try it again. read more

Dined at Blackbird on a Saturday night and we had a delicious dinner. We ordered from their new menu and had broccolini, quail, pasta and scallops. Each dish was unique and a fresh take on a classic dish. We especially enjoyed the scallops prepared with mustard greens and curry. The quail was prepared with farro and roasted carrots and was flavorful and juicy. Our server, Julia, was attentive and knowledgeable as were all the others on the staff that we met. From the hostess to the food runner to the manager who came over to say hello, we were welcomed and treated very well. Blackbird also has an extensive wine list and offers creative cocktails. We chose a lovely bottle of Chardonnay to complement our meal and it was perfect. Overall, we had great food and attentive service in a beautiful restaurant in the heart of the Funk Zone in downtown. We will be back! read more

Good food, weird service, overly priced. The decor is charming, good for dates but not for business meetings nor kids. The food was well prepared and full of flavor. Try the swordfish or the mushroom ravioli, and drink the lemon/blueberry virgin drink. Get dessert somewhere else. read more

Absolutely F-A-N-T-A-S-T-I-C food and desserts!!!!! Honestly, we are the pickiest food critic people EVER!! We ordered about 12 plates and fell in love with each and everyone, not one complaint! Each dish had acid, texture and flavor like no other! The chef here clearly knows what he is doing. Then come the desserts, they had some nostalgic desserts like milk and cookies, but the strawberry fields....amazing! So so so creative and fun. It's about time a place opened in Santa Barbara like this. Our service was great, Mitch was very good. He walked us through the menu and gave us fantastic recommendations. He talked us into staying for dessert and not walk to Mcconnells and boy were we ever greatful for that! So so so happy this place is here in Santa Barbara!!! It's a must try for sure! My only complaint was the gal behind the bar, she was extremely stand off-ish and did not want to give any direction or descriptions of the drinks. When I asked her what her favorite was she said it's like Having a favorite child, you don't. Okay, then I asked her what a certain liquor was and she explained quickly and then sat down behind the bar on her phone......super rude! Thank goodness for Mitch, he then came over and pointed us in the correct direction on menu items and we ordered some wine. When you have a drink menu that is new and exciting, the bartender should be able to point you in the right direction and explain what they are. She was clearly annoyed that we didn't know what the drinks were. read more

service was amazing, drinks were great. very cute vibe,and the servers were so accommodating--especially Kaija and Axel. definitely great for family dinners or date night read more

I agree with other folks who have reviewed this place. I'm a local to SB and this place has seriously missed it. A dark, blackbird, Hitchcock inspired joint right by the beach? Such a miss. Additionally, our server was obnoxious. It was clear that the way he was trained made him really uncomfortable. He was angry and took it out on his customers. The food was average at best and incredibly expensive. I hope this place goes out of business soon and we get something appropriate. Such a shame. read more

Really like this place, reasonable price and good service! Very inventive dishes. Deserts are really special. The meat quality of the steak is also really good. Overall love this place so much! read more

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We had oysters they where delicious. The beet salad was tasty and large enough to share with two. The branzino was a great whole fish good for one person. They have a nice selection of Japanese whisky and wines. read more

The Knock - New American Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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I was so impressed. From ambiance that was transporting to another dimension that was hard to put a finger on time and place. Service that was personal, kind and top notch. Server Mitch was awake and responsive and a joy to order from. Food was amazing, the chefs are creative, accommodating and quite talented. This meal was/is the highlight of my coastal journey thus far. So many thanks. read more

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Ordered a "mock" cocktail....It came loaded with vodka Ordered a dessert...I took forever....and the wrong one came to the table. Overpriced. TERRIBLE service. Really the worst service imaginable. I couldn't imagine a poorer value. If you are going to be this pretentious....you might TRY to deliver SOMETHING. read more

If a restaurant is going to add a 20% gratuity to your bill, they should be very upfront about it. And if they aren't going to be upfront about it, they should DEFINITELY tell you about it when they deliver the bill. Neither was done at our dinner last night. I find that incredibly shady and borderline unethical. I'm guessing many people don't notice and end up leaving a double tip. Not cool. At the end of the meal when we realized the tip was automatically added, we had to question the server's motives and recommendations. When we asked what our server's favorite dishes were, in retrospect we realized he'd recommended the most expensive items on the menu- presumably so he could run up that total and therefore his tip...? The topic of this auto tip has left a seriously bad taste in my mouth. The recommended appetizer was tasty, but it was three pieces/three bites of fritter and it was $24!! Overpriced in my humble opinion. The Caesar salad was good. At each of these first two courses the waiter showed up just after our plates had been delivered. Both times we were about to take our first bites when he'd show up and ask how everything was. He was not quite focused or present enough to realize we could have answered him if his timing was better- like, let us have a bite or two and then ask. I'm even fine with not being asked at all, but don't keep asking us how things are tasting when the dishes have just been delivered. It kept taking the focus away from our meal. Anyways, not a deal breaker, but since I'm writing this review, I might as well be thorough. The last annoying thing worth mentioning is this: When we sat down and were first greeted by our server, in his opening greeting, he mentioned that they were serving a bananas foster creme brûlée. It was just a bit odd that he was talking about dessert before we even ordered our drinks, however, I didn't mind because I love bananas foster AND creme brûlée, so I definitely wanted to get that for dessert and I ordered my other courses accordingly. When it came time for dessert, I overheard our server tell the table next to us that they got the last order of the creme brûlée. Ok, in my experience if you tell a table about a menu item, and if that menu item is running low, you let your table know and ask them if they want to reserve one. It was so annoying that he dangled the carrot at the beginning of the meal, and then didn't let us know that there were only a limited number of servings available. AND, after he confirmed to us that the dessert he hyped was indeed sold out, he didn't offer us any other dessert at all. Instead of dessert, he said, we could order another cocktail or a shot for the road! What the heck?! A shot for the road? Blackbird, I guess, is now on our black list :-( read more

Good unique dishes to try. We tried king salmon, halibut and a scallops dish. All was good.

Our food and drinks were excellent. We shared oysters, best I've had, Ceasar salad, Brussel Sprouts, asparagus, and the Ribeye. What a perfect meal!! The steak was perfectly cooked, definitely enough for 2 people with the sides. We ordered the only dessert offered, vanilla latte crème brûlée. It was fantastic!!! I was craving chocolate, but love anything coffee, so we went for it. Glad we did. We ordered a 2013 Barbaresco, perfectly paired with our dinner. This restaurant is quaint, quiet, and sexy. read more

Great restaurant and part of a great hotel. The food here was just as perfect at my stay here at the Hotel Californian. Mark, Tim, & Kelly made sure we were well taken care of and they provided us with great service and great food/beverage recommendations. Really enjoyed the cocktails and the oysters with the black pearls were amazing! read more

The Knock - New American Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Great new edition to the SB restaurant scene. It's not an inexpensive place to eat or drink, but it is at a luxury hotel and the ingredients, service and ambiance are top-notch so the price feels in line. Our server, Tim, was a true pro and he knew about the food and wines in a way that showed his training and professionalism. Oh, and their wines by the glass are insane... Sea Smoke Sea Spray? Sanguis Misfit? Unheard of. Highly recommend! read more

I went during SB restaurant week. I had the set menu. The crab puffs were AMAZING, but the serving was tiny. I ordered the salmon and it came out super undercooked. The fish was still swimming up stream. Amazing espresso martinis. read more

Amazing service, amazing food, amazing drinks, and a great ambiance. My group and I were seated by a very kind hostess ' Aly ' and were delighted with the overall service we were provided during our three course meal. The staff here really goes above and beyond to service your requests and provide you nothing but a 5 star experience. Drew was also amazing, and very personable. We definitely will be frequenting this spot when in Santa Barbara. Service like this isn't easy to come by and everyone in my group was absolutely delighted by the quality of the meals and very kind personable service we received. To anyone looking for fine dining in Santa Barbara, I highly recommend you visit Blackbird and indulge in their exquisite service and dining experience offered. read more

Food and ambiance were great! Came in on a Friday night and sat outside. The menu was interesting and innovative - ordered the charcuterie and was really pleasantly surprised. I had heard about seafood in Santa Barbara and Blackbird truly delivers. We basically cleared the charcuterie plate down to nothing and the scallops cut like butter. Drink wise I had the uncommon cargo - sounded better than it was, nothing really mind blowing. We ordered the octopus and scallops for dinner - both were really delicious. Servers were attentive without being overbearing, which I always appreciate. read more

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We traveled to SB for Thanksgiving and chose Blackbird restaurant for TG dinner. Everything about the evening was superb. Blackbird is a small restaurant-bar that is exquisitely beautiful down to the last detail with comfy seating, gorgeous decor, and a private dining-feel. The food was superb. Our waiter Mitch, was personable, knowledgable, kind, and extremely attentive. We even went back the following night for a night-cap after a show at the Lobero Theater. Thank you Blackbird for making TG dinner such a special event. Highly recommend. read more

On a recent visit to Santa Barbara my husband and I dined @ Blackbird. We have been visiting SB for 20 years and wanted to try a new restaurant which was recommended by the hotel concierge. Kelly, our server was well versed on the menu and the wine list. Our appetizers were delicious and arrived as one would expect. I will confide that there was an untimely earthquake between appetizers and entree. This unsettling event did not interrupt the seeming flow of the kitchen. My husband and I waited over 50 minutes for our entree. My husband had ordered a burger. Our server, Kelly, handled this as best he could. We called over the manager to inquire about the delay. The manager disappeared. We got ghosted. I would say that the food did not merit the wait time. Kelly brought us a complimentary dessert which was too little, too late. read more

Experienced the First SB Restaurant Week, and chose Blackbird. What a fantastic choice! Room and ambience a great mix of World Charm with a Contemporary Twist. Inviting and warm. Service, all I can is, Tim our server was excellent. Somewhere between Old School service and Southern Calif.timing. Their "Special R.W." 3 course menu was generous. Their top dishes where offered and did not reduced their portions. A class act! My Rabbit (confit) Fried Spring Rolls a perfect start. Rich meat stuffed in crisp light wrappers. My entree of Spaghetti with cauliflower, uni, lamb belly, soft egg and mint, a stand out. Hit all the notes, savory, creamy, rich and decadent, between the uni and pork belly, well all I can add, it was the hit of the table. And to finish with the Buddha's Hand Sorbet with coconut, tamarind and mango was the best ending. Clean, bright and a great palette cleanser after the pasta. Wine list interesting and varied. Solid Cali list and Andrew, the Sommelier was knowledgeable and down to earth. Made wine decisions fun, interesting and friendly! Front Staff, top notch. Kitchen Staff, professional,very friendly and inviting . They have a great handle on the vision of their food and execution of their end product! Compliments to the Chef. Our party of four all agreed that we'll be back and urge all of our friends to experience Blackbird! read more

Great experience. Mitch was our server, and he was attentive, but not in the way. He was able to walk that fine line, and I appreciate it. Their octopus dish was the best cooked I've ever had, and I've had a lot. As a local, I was afraid it would be a hyped up new hotel experience. I was wrong! Will be back again, and glad there is another fine dining option in SB. read more

Creative cuisine and perfect service are rare here，and I like the decoration style of the restaurant. A little retro and a little marrakesh... read more

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This is a gem, a real find, period. Nuanced dishes with hyper-local foods, arranged beautifully, a great bar and desserts that are worth going there for them alone. I've been there 4 times so far, each time had been a spectacular arrangement of food. The Citrus (a burrata dish) was amazing, the Flatbread is never bad, the Kurobata pig dish changed my dining companions opinion on pork belly, and by all means, if you see the phrase "Pine Nut Granita" in a dessert, just order it. Talia at the bar will take great care of you, and if you sit at a table, ask for Molly. Both of these ladies are exceptional at their job, know the menu well, and can speak eruditely about it. read more

Same problem as other reviewers. Made a reservation well in advance and when I arrived, I was expected to eat outside in 50 degree weather. No way, not paying that much to eat uncomfortably, I don't care how many heat lamps you have. The hostess insinuated that it was our fault because we should have requested inside seating. Hey Blackbird, were you aware you can set up the ability for people to choose inside or outside through Opentable? Other restaurants in your neighborhood use it so guests know exactly what to expect when they reserve. It's pretty widely known, the fact that it isn't used here makes me assume that you want people to feel forced to sit outside because of lack of available last minute options in the area when they are surprised with the outdoor table when they arrive at your restaurant. I've stayed at Hotel Californian and loved it. Hope they get a better restaurant option soon! read more

I have to say I loved my experience at Blackbird but it wasn't because of the food, it was because of the excellent service we received. Of the things we ordered, the rabbit small dish was our favorite (unfortunately forgot to take a picture). The gentleman that helped us pick our drinks, Andrew, went above and beyond to make our experience top notch. He had excellent advice on what to drink with each dish and he obviously had a top level wine education. And his suggestions were phenomenal! One of the wines he poured was using a device to pour a glass without opening the bottle. Very neat and it was outstanding. Another touch we loved was the artistic touches of the decor and the exquisite flatware they use (handmade and unique). A great time was had by me and my wife, definitely a great date night / special occasion spot. read more

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To start, we sat at the bar for 20 minutes without any service, thinking we might at least get a glass of wine waiting for our table. No wine or service at the bar. This should have been our clue, but we sat outside with heaters that were there only for looks. Then the drink order, which took over 40 mins, was delicious, however one drink was not delivered and took another quick 30 minutes. We were there for 2 and a half hours for tasty but not satisfying appetizers and a Sizzler like rib eye that was far too over priced. Restaurants and stores go in and out business all the time in SB. This maybe one of them. read more