We have been back several times when visiting our daughter in SB, and each time it has been great! Ambiance, service and food are all consistently good. read more

Such a great place to go for an intimate gathering or date. Got to sit outside, and it was so cute. Food, service, and vibes are all immaculate. Got to try the hangar steak, fried chicken, and crudo. Steak was tender and cooked to perfection, only complaint is that it didn't come out very hot. Fried chicken was SO good, perfectly tender and moist. The pickles and gravy that comes with it pairs perfectly with the chicken. Crudo was my least favorite, I feel like it was missing an acidity or sweetness, still pretty good though. Will be coming here again the next time I am in SB. Such a solid place. read more

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Brussel sprouts are packed with flavor, worth trying item on the menu. The rest of the food is meh - underwhelming. Not worth waiting if you don't have a reservation. Service was ok, decent wait time for food to be served. Nice ambiance. Good idea for a dinner date, otherwise save your hard earned money and go somewhere else. read more

What a wonderful spot! Santa Barbara is full of hidden gems and The Lark is definitely one of them. The indoor/outdoor ambiance is so beautiful. So many unique and yummy dish options. I can't remember the name but the fried chicken plate is to die for. Insanely delicious, with a glass of white wine! Can't go wrong. The parking may be tough which is totally understandable if you're a SB local but there's a chance you'll find something close by if you get lucky! It was my first time recently and would definitely come back. read more

If you get their cookbook you immediately realize why the food is so good. So many things require complex prep days beforehand. The food is tip top. This should at least be a Bib Gourmand on Michelin. The only drawback I have isn't them, it's more their neighbors and the patio. The inside has great vibes-- but the patio could use a lil facelift. And at times on the patio you get blasted by their neighbors music, or smothered in cigarette or weed smoke. You do you, I don't want to breathe that when I'm eating. read more

I have a story to tell you! We were coming back from my niece's wedding and wanted to grab lunch to take a break from our long drive ahead. My other foodie niece recommended The Lark for burgers so we of course went for the burgers. We didn't have reservations but they were able to seat us right away at the communal table for a party of 7 at 12:30pm on Sunday. As we sat down, our server "Justin" was so friendly and answered all of our questions on what to order. We had told him we heard the Burger was highly recommended. He agreed and said you should try it. So we all ordered burger: The Lark Smashed Burger on Brioche - $24 - 4.5 Stars - The order came with skinny (matchstick) fries which was crispy and just perfect. The patty was so tasty with their secret sauce along with American Cheese. The melted cheese on the ground ribeye patty was perfection. Ask for an extra side of their secret sauce to dip the fries in. Now I understand why my niece said to order the burger. Apparently all the reviews said the same thing. Hangover Garlic Fries - $15 - 4 Stars - Skinny (matchstick) fries with lots garlic, definitely garlic lovers dream. The aioli was really good, not too mayo-y if you know what I mean. Storytelling time - When we paid and left, I had my black cardigan sweater on the back of my chair and didn't see it since their chairs were a dark wood and it kind of blended in. Either way I forgot it there and we drove home. Like most, I didn't unpack right away so I didn't even know it was missing.Three days later I unpacked and couldn't find it. I tried to remember when the last time I wore it. It dawned on me it was when we went to lunch at the Lark. I quickly called them but they were not open until 5pm. When I finally spoke to a sweet girl, I described who our the server was, the table where we sat at and the date/time we were there. She took down all of my info and said a manager would get back to me. It was a few days later I received a call back and the manager said she found my sweater in their Lost and Found. She was going to be out for a few days and said that another person in management would be calling me back to confirm if they can mail it back to me. A nice gentlemen, Pierluigi Z called me back and told me he could send me my sweater and of course I would pay for whatever the shipping would cost. He agreed but said it would be later in the week since he was busy. About a week later he emailed me a receipt of shipment and I was able to Venmo him the cost to ship it. I learned that he was the General Manager of The Lark and that he took time out of his day to go to the Post Office to send me back my sweater. I don't know how many others would've easily said they can't help me. He offered to do that on his free day. Thank you Pierluigi for taking time in your busy day to help a desperate girl not wanting to drive 5+ hours to retrieve my sweater. He truly went above and beyond to help me out. The sweater was not expensive at all but was a gift from a loved one so it was super sentimental to me. I will always be dining at The Lark when I travel up to NorCal and will be sharing with all of my family/friends to dine at The Lark too. Humanity and kindness does still exist people!!!! What a great place to dine with GREAT people. Go check them out if you happen to be in Santa Barbara!!! PIERLUIGI, I APPRECIATE your KINDNESS to help me out. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! Hope to see you next time (soon)! Forever grateful customer! read more

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Had a wonderful dinner with my cousins at The Lark The food was amazing. Everything we ordered was perfection. The service on the other hand not so amazing. Even though we had reservations the hostess wasn't friendly or accommodating. The ambiance is lovely on a summer evening. Will be back again. read more

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

Had Easter Brunch there this year. I had eggs Benedict. Texas toast should be the new standard for all Benedict's! My husband had Shakshuka. Always a solid choice there. Wait staff very attentive and efficient. read more

Great food. Even better service. Olivia was amazing, able to answer every question my girlfriend had and was super helpful/ accommodating due to her many allergies. Olivia was also hilarious and such great energy. Every dish was beautifully curated. 10/10 amazing perfect and such great staff. read more

The Lark - Outdoor seating. Olivia, our server, was fantastic! 10/10 - New American Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Came here for a birthday and it did not disappoint. From service to food, The Lark hit all the spots! Came here for an 8:30 reso and got sat immediately. Our server, Kelly was very sweet and knowledgeable. The parpadelle pasta is amazing. Has a bunch of great vegetables and enough for an entree. the ambiance of The Lark is good for any occasion. Will def recommend to future friends. It's a must try for good local dinner in Santa Barbara. read more

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

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Service was good. Ambiance was good. Pretty restaurant in Funk Town. I was recommended by a couple of people to dine here, but the food was overall mediocre, unfortunately. Chile Cornbread = 9/10 Shrimp toast = 5/10 Pappardelle = 6/10 (surprised everyone was raving about this. Was not what we expected and it was soupy). Coconut Strawberry sorbet w/cashews & ginge candy = 6/10 (strange flavor with the cashews) Drinks were okay. Had my birthday dinner here and we left feeling the same -- not worth the money. Bummer! read more

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Christmas Eve dinner at the Lark was a real treat. The service here is top notch and the food is amazing. Our server Laurel was a real pro and never made us feel rushed despite the fact that she seemed to have at least 6other tables! read more

Went here for a work function and everything was great! The server was very nice and knowledgeable about the menu. We had some dietary restrictions and was able to accommodate everyone. The food was served family style and everything was delicious. The standouts was the cauliflower, ribeye and pork ribs. The ambiance was nice as well. We were seated in a back room that was secluded from the rest of the restaurant. It was private enough to have a good time with our group but not too private where we would be the only ones in the room. read more

We originally wanted to book for dinner but only have 5 pm and 8:45 pm available, so we end up moving the reservation for brunch on Sunday. The restaurant was pretty with nice ambiance, but the hostess didn't feel very welcoming. We ordered chicken and waffles, shakashuka, deviled egg. Chicken was ok, waffle was small nothing special about this dish. The shakashuka only came with one egg, and 2 small slices of toast, the tomato sauce taste pretty bland and after finished the 2 small toast we still have whole lot of tomato and still feel hungry, so we asked for more toast and got charged $5 extra for one more slice of toast. $12 for 3 pieces of deviled egg. Overall we were not satisfied with the taste of our food and the portions for the price. Just another over priced restaurant in my opinion. read more

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

Came here for brunch and ordered a French pressed coffee (a really good coffee), chicken and waffle and ribeye burger. Everything was delicious and the service was great as well! read more

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Beautiful setting for a special occasion - for us, an anniversary and an afternoon in SB. This restaurant was on many top lists. Table outside on the patio was gorgeous with ample heating and a few pretty fire pits for comfort. Service was friendly, efficient and professional throughout. They went the extra step with a note and some sparkling for the occasion. So thoughtful. Menu is for sharing, which we love. The arugula salad was visually stunning and absolutely refreshing and unique. The pistachios, herbs and soft cheese had all of the right balance. The bone marrow was well executed, but the pickled fish on top overwhelmed the dish. I would have preferred it without. The fried chicken over cheesy grits had a little heat and was also cooked nicely. A homey dish. Overall, a lovely experience. The menu is a little heavy handed and could use some lighter items for balance in my opinion. Otherwise a nice choice and would recommend. read more

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Our family of four (parents with two adult children) dined here over the weekend to celebrate a birthday. This was my third visit. A lovely, California dining experience with fresh, farm-to-table food. The portions aren't substantial, but the presentation is lovely and so is the atmosphere, so that is what you are paying for. Our party of four ordered five dishes to share and the total was $185 before tip, with only filtered tap water to drink, just so that you are aware of what you may spend. The unique flavored popcorn was a hit and I come home wanting to recreate it. We sat outside by the front entrance, so our location wasn't superb to take in the entire atmosphere. If we were to dine here again, we would request the garden patio. Our server was attentive to us and was friendly. read more

Jaylen is the man of the hour! Drinks are incredible and we went everywhere. The service is outstanding from what we experienced so far but can't speak for everyone however I recommend you grab a drink if you are in town and want a place to come up with a plan to increase ya spiritsss! Cheers! read more

The Lark - Drinks sonnn - New American Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Funk zone SB fine dining you say? My wallet is crying just thinking about it. My friend in SB recommended we give this place a try since we wanted to eat at a nicer restaurant for dinner, and we were not disappointed. They are only open for dinner, so I highly recommend making a reservation as the wait line seemed pretty long even at opening. The restaurant is location in the funk zone in SB, a few blocks full of cool and hip bars, restaurants, and wineries located near the pier. Parking is mainly street parking as they do not have their own parking lot. There are plenty of inside and outside dining options and our server was very friendly and helpful. There was a good variety of American fare on the menu that covered both land and sea. We decided to go for the Creekstone prime hanger ribeye steak $95, and the Wayne farms buttermilk fried chicken $36. The steak was about 16oz and came with potatoes. It had a fantastic crust, was seasoned well, and was very tender. As for the chicken dish, there were 4 pieces of fried chicken which came with creamy grits. The chicken was crispy, sweet, and savory. My friends ordered mussels and oysters and they raved about the freshness and quality of their food. All in all, if you're looking for a fancy dinner in SB, this place is a great pick as long as you're not worried about the bill. read more

The Lark - Creek stone Ribeye steak $95 - New American Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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I am never disappointed when I visit The Lark, the food, cocktails and atmosphere are amazing. I love asking the waiter/waitress for their recommendations and I'm never led astray. Tonight I had the salmon and the flavor was delicious!! read more

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(Overall: 92% | A) - Excluding the disastrous steak, I found the food to be pretty decent overall at the Lark. I will say what sets this place apart is the role model hospitality service and the lovely outdoor atmosphere to dine. The bathroom for some reason is very dark and smells unclean. (Lemon Poppyseed Popcorn: 102.5% | A+) - This popcorn is complimentary with the meal and has a fantastic flavor profile. I love the sweetness inspired from a kettle corn with bursts of acidity coming through from the lemon. The poppyseed also adds a nice earthiness and color. (Long Beans: 92.5% | A) - The dual colored beans add a nice color to the dish. I love the salsa verde that adds so much flavor to the beans, as well as a crushed hard boiled egg for that extra protein. The pine nuts also give great texture and works well overall. (Brown Butter Cornbread: 80% | B) - Priced at $10, I think this dish is a bit pricey, but in terms of portion size this is the correct size. I love this elevated take on cornbread as it is light and fluffy and baked to perfection. Personally, I found that there was too much butter, making this dish a bit rich. (Yellowtail Crudo: 97.5% | A) - Overall, this is a beautifully conceptualized dish that is intricately plated. I love the avocado crema that adds so much flavor to the fish as well as the subtle the mint. The true star, though, are those fried green beans that are delicately trimmed and add fantastic texture. I think the yellowtail was strangely butchered though because the pieces cannot hold shape, but otherwise phenomenal dish. (Wordless Message: 92.5% | A) - This is a beautiful strawberry based drink with a delicate choice of ingredients. I love how the flavors are at the forefront of the drink without being overpowering. (Farmer's Market Shrub: 65% | D) - The concept of citrus soda with a hint of lavender sounds amazing. Unfortunately, this drink tastes like pickling juice for me. (Maine Mussels: 85% | B) - I found these mussels to be a bit borderline overcooked as they are not glistening and tender but instead small and shriveled. The bread is by far the most addicting part of the dish, which complements the broth that is nicely not overloaded with cream. The seagrass also adds a nice freshness to the dish. (Angus Ribeye: 50% | F) - To be fair, this dish *sounds* like a nice conception but is poorly executed. We ordered this $95 16 ounce steak twice, but they somehow managed to overcook it twice. The first time came out medium-well, and the second time in this picture is more of a medium on the visible side. The fundamental problem of this dish might be the fact that its plated in a cast iron, where the residual heat cooks the steak that is perhaps not rested long enough. As a result, I could barely eat one piece with great difficulty. Furthermore, the flavors for this dish is completely lacking. I think a sauce is much needed to give the steak moisture and flavor. Additionally, the vegetables only have the saline dimensionality and could greatly benefit from more love of flavors. In light of these issues, the manager was kind enough to take this item off the bill. read more

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Really cute and inviting place. Staff were great. Daughter took me there for dinner. Food was delicious. Easy 5 stars. You will not be disappointed. The server recommend food for us and told us if we order too little or too much. She was very helpful. All our food was just delicious! Will for sure return there! Such a cute place. read more

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Good eats great food, service. The ambiance was amazing, would recommend as a good date night

Finally made it to THE LARK! WOW what I have been missing. Everything we ordered was out of this world. Panzanella salad Roasted Moroccan eggplant Lamb ribs I'm looking forward to returning to order all the other wonderful dishes I saw passing me by. Service was spot on read more

Food was good We stopped for a glass of wine at the bar and waited for our table - We had a reservation - you can make one on their website it sure does help when it's a busy night Good Environment the low lighting sets the mood of the restaurant and they give you a free postcard with your receipt which is kinda cool. Food was good I suggest going a little earlier in the day it is quite busy around the time we went 8PM Also this restaurant is a $100+ restaurant for two people - good for a nice date night just don't go when there busy because it seems like they get pretty overwhelmed and it's a pretty chaotic neváis the restaurant is quite small. Not there fault at all for the size of the restaurant it's just a lot of people like there food and the experience lol read more

The Lark - Quail and Steak - New American Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

We had a pre wedding dinner at The Lark. Everything was absolutely perfect from cocktails, wine, food and service by Oscar!! Loved him and his charming personality. The vibe inside was so much fun, coudon't have picked a better spot to celebrate! read more

I ate here summer 2025 and the food was so good that I am still thinking about it. The drinks and popcorn were delicious, cornbread was to die for, and the sea bass was a death row meal for me. Great service and beautiful restaurant. Highly recommend! read more

Excellent service and lovely ambiance. Loved the food. We had rosemary brown butter bread, shrimp toast and lamb ribs. The cocktails were yummy too. Highly recommended this restaurant read more

I went here for dinner last night and this place is one of a kind! What a great vibe! The food was outstanding--so many bursts of flavor in every dish! The ambiance was on point and very up my alley. I recommend sitting at the tables by the open windows it's super cute. Best of all we had Karina as our server! She was INCREDIBLE! The food can be great but when the service is stellar it makes the experience even better! Karina was super attentive, made great conversation, gave great recommendations, and ensured we had the best time. Food--we ordered six oysters honestly wasn't impressed (took a photo anyway) I'd pass on those in future, BUT do yourself a favor and get the blue fish crudo, the Brussel sprouts were the best I've ever had (in the world), the ribeye was fuego, the rockfish was perfectly cooked to perfection with a little layer of crisp and the brown sugar cornbread WHAT WAS THAT?! It was awesome. The food was amazing. Don't forget to get a glass of cab franc when your ribeye comes out! read more

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A great twist on some familiar dishes that's not too much to call experimental but just enough to get you out of your comfort zone. The oysters are fresh, plump, and sweet with the right garnish. The steak is cooked as requested with balances of flavors between the sauces and garnish like horseradish flake and mustard seeds. The patio is warm enough to make the cold not a factor. Lastly, of course, our server, Julissa, was a gem among many. Everybody in the area was waiting for her to come around just to see her smile again! read more

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

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The food here? Absolutely scrumptious. Service? Simply fantastic. The pasta and fried chicken are must-tries. Just wish the donuts weren't quite so heavy! read more

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Loved everything about this place. A friend suggested we make a stop here and I'm so glad we did. It was a rainy chilly day and we had our dog. The hostess was so accommodating. She made sure we had a warm dry place outside to sit. The atmosphere was great and the patio is so nice. Our server was amazing and so was the food. Highly recommend read more

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The food was absolutely delicious and we will definitely be coming back. The wait staff were very friendly and fun. Loved sitting on the patio and enjoying our dinner. read more

Santa Barbara's most exiting corner was at the Lark. The restaurant sits elegantly around what feels like a garden maze is round a castle on the beach! The plates are all shareable and savory. We had to try the ribs, salmon, and fried chicken. All served at perfect casualty to indulge! The drinks were phenomenal! I had to share or try a bit of everything's. If you like to explore variety of dishes with loved ones this is a perfect place to plan for special celebrations! read more

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Went on a solo date to the lark, got the confit belly, the heirloom tomatoes, the oysters, donuts, and a couple drinks. The drinks were great, the oysters were good but not worth the price, and the belly was pretty tasty, but the heirloom tomatoes stole the show! I could have easily eaten another plate of those alone. My only true minus is for the donuts. They almost borderline on savory which is odd for desserts. read more

The Lark - West Coast Oysters On The Half Shell - New American Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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This is the best place we've eaten in Santa Barbara. Their dishes are all well thought out and focus on in-season ingredients and their cocktail menu is based around artisan spirits. What's fun about coming here is all the dishes are designed to be shared. For the two of us we ordered four dishes and a dessert. In addition to what you order, the staff starts you with complementary house ginger-coriander popcorn. This sweet and savory combo was delicious and nicely spiced. Next we had a delicious pimento cheese platter. Make sure to ask for extra crackers so you don't waste any of the amazing cheese. Next was the ahi tuna crudo that was so tender and flavored well with avocado mousse plus crispy sea beans. One item I didn't expect to was the grilled broccoli which included garlic, lemon flavors atop crisp long stem broccoli. We opted for the shrimp toast as our "main" and it was a wonderful gumbo base over thick toast topped with shrimps. For dessert we went for simple with the sundae and it was another incredible choice with delicious caramelized persimmon chunks, sprinkled pecan streusel, and a rich salted caramel topping. We had dinner on the patio in early January and were plenty warm with the heater lamps they had running. Can't wait to come back to try more dishes and cocktails with a larger group! read more

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What a gem. Friday night early dinner. Oysters , duck leg,heirloom tomatoes, fish crudo, great deserts. And A nice mescal cocktail to top it off. The food was great. The service perfect. What a great place. Will be back read more

We had an amazing experience and meal here! The service was next level, and we have Kelsey to thank for that. Her knowledge and suggestions were great, and she was attentive to all our needs! It's a lovely place to have a meal if you're looking for ambiance, and the food is delicious!! Try the fried chicken! Chef's kiss* read more

The outdoor seating is wonderful and the service was great! I would highly recommended the Brussels sprouts and their date cake, as it far exceeded my expectations. This is the perfect place to take friends and family who are visiting the area. read more

Take 2! Second time for us was really pleasant! Kelly was super fun and helpful. The drinks and the trout special was really good. read more

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