One of the most innovated and delicious meals I've ever had. Secluded, charming atmosphere, excellent service. The food- amazing. Familiar but creative and cooked to perfection. Highly recommend. read more

See all

We made a reservation for 2 on New Year's Day on our final night and ordered the deviled eggs, brussel sprouts, chicken, and duck. It was more than about food for 2 people and we went home with leftovers. The brussel sprouts and chicken were the highlights. There were so many interesting flavors in the brussel sprouts and the chicken was the perfect comfort food. The restaurant was pretty busy even for our 5:30 reservation and it's a cute area to walk around. read more

This place was to die for ! Every dish that came out was 5/5 stars, dog friendly patio, and the service was fantastic. Danae took great care of us. We will be coming back next time we are in Santa Barbara! read more

See all

I was really looking forward to dining at The Lark, but unfortunately, my experience was tainted by poor customer service and misleading pricing. I ordered the Fisherman's Catch listed at $38 on the menu, only to be charged $42 on the final bill. When I pointed this out to my server, the manager came over and matter-of-factly said the $38 halibut was sold out, so they had to charge me $42 instead--without notifying me beforehand or offering any accommodation. I've never encountered a situation where a restaurant changes the price of a dish after it's been ordered and then refuses to adjust the bill. It felt dismissive and unprofessional. I expect more transparency and accountability from an establishment that claims to be of high caliber. Eventhough $4 is minor, it's the principal of the matter for me. This was was deceptive and shady. read more

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

See all

Be sure to make a reservation on a weekend evening. There are lots of visitors who love this place, locals may want to try lunch on weekdays! They have a few seating areas and a sharing table which is nice since there are options. We prefer outside under heat lamps and next to the fire! I highly recommend the Brussels sprouts. Just order that for your meal. It is always my plan and then I'm tempted by all the yummy dishes. This time the table shared and we all loved the fried chicken and the homemade parpadelle pasta. Yum yum! The dessert could be left off, but not the cocktails! Try the off menu spicy margarita, it is the right level of spice to flavor. read more

See all

We selected this restaurant for my husband's birthday dinner with a friend. Sadly it was a huge disappointment from start to finish. We arrived and ordered oysters, pimento cheese dip and cocktails. The pimento dip came right out and was good. We waited over 20 minutes for our drinks. And our oysters never came even though we asked twice about them. During the wait we ordered our entrees and a salad and a bottle of wine. After about 30 minutes our salad came which was good it was a panzanella. During this time our server kept asking if we needed anything else and we kept reminding her that we had already ordered our entrees. She was very nice but didn't seem like she had it together. She was also really busy. After another 30 minutes or so, total of 11/2hours from sitting down, we didn't have our entrees. I got frustrated and found a manager and asked. He said maybe the coursing didn't work , He said he would check. He came back to our table and said they were working on it and brought us a salad to 'hold us over'. I sent it back because we had already had a salad. In my opinion it does no good to send me something that I don't want, it actually makes the gesture a joke. Soon after that, my husband's entree was served and we were told ours would be out soon. So now we watched him eat for over another 15 minutes. During this time, our server brought us a round of Cava. Again, not something we enjoy so not a thoughtful gesture and we didn't drink them. Finally our chefs catch showed up and it was good. My husband's shrimp toast was meh and underwhelming. At this point you could tell our server was rattled and just kept saying I'm sorry. I'm not sure if it was her fault for not putting our order in or if something may have happened in the kitchen but she knew that nothing was going very well. She also kept asking us if the general manager had been by to see us which he hadn't. Finally he arrived and said he was sorry and would make adjustments to our check. Now that is the appropriate response to the bad experience we had. We ordered one dessert to split for the table and after dinner drinks. At this point it had been almost 3 hours! When we got the check, our dessert and pimento cheese dip were taken off the check, really? Those were $30 in total on a check that we spent over $350 on, so less than 10%! What a joke! We will never go back and our friend who lives in Santa Barbara won't be returning either. It was such a bummer because we were celebrating my husband's birthday and wanted something special as a memory, but instead we got this. read more

Great atmosphere with ample patio and inside seating. Best salad and choices from extensive menu with a vast Wine list read more

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

We went to celebrate our anniversary. The food was good a little high priced I felt. We had the panzanella salad which was wonderful. My husband had the lamb which was amazing I had the steak it was good nothing special. We had grilled peaches for dessert again nothing special. We sat in a corner which was kind of odd the seat was strange u felt like I was sitting in a cubby. It was ok but we wouldn't go again. read more

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

The vibes were great, we had a table outside with heater because we had our dog with us. They were super accommodating and was constantly checking in on us. The food was good but nothing to write home about. They're more of a family style restaurant and recommended 3-4 dishes for the 2 of us. We got the brussels sprouts, tuna crudo and the steak. Everything was good and well seasoned, the steak stood out because they used Japanese yams, I thought that was pretty cool. We celebrated my birthday here and they gave us a scoop of their coconut ginger sorbet. read more

Fantastic food in a lovely setting. We had walked past the restaurant the day before when wandering around the area- there are a couple of places which share the same outdoor courtyard, but the Lark is the upscale restaurant. We were able to get a seat in a section of the restaurant which looked like a train carriage which was fun. There are also outdoor sections which are great in good weather. The food was excellent, but most of the portions were TINY. I'm only giving 4 stars because my teenage son laughed every time a dish came out, at the minuscule mouthfuls of food, which jolted me out of my pretentious foodie mindset. You will have a good meal, but you may need a snack afterwards... read more

Good food and good service. We sat in the shaded outdoor area . One of the better restaurants in Funk Zone. read more

The Lark - Yummy (but pricy) non alcoholic drink - New American Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

See all

Great food! Definitely get the Brussels, they were delish. I got the 8oz steak and I loved the spicy mustard twist read more

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

The good: amazing popcorn, drinks, cornbread, and fried chicken The okay: Brussels and tomatoes. Brussels were over sauced and the tomato appetizer had good flavors but just didn't hit. The bad: our sea bass was overcooked and dry and the corn and okra was slimy and underwhelming - oh and the sea bass came 10 mins after our chicken without any apology The ugly: the sun was blinding my son and there was an umbrella 2 feet away providing no one with shade. When we asked to move it, we were told that some other people were probably going to sit at the empty table and that empty table needed the shade while we baked in the sun. Asked twice and our waiter could not have cared less. The manager had to come over before a super simple solution was put in place. Horrible start to the dinner. In general, Lark has gone downhill. The service was horrendous but that happens. One bad waiter shouldn't be the end of things. The dishes are well designed but poorly executed. Very different from a couple years ago. read more

Lark was the first restaurant I went to when touring UCSB and now (8 years later) I have the pleasure of eating here all the time. Food, drinks, and service are 100/10. read more

See all

This place is good, solid place for brunch. I wasn't really that hungry so I got a salad and a croissant. The salad is MASSIVE. Enough for two... or even three people who are feeling a little peckish and were looking to keep it healthy. I wish there was a small version of it because it was good. I think all the stuff is meant for sharing because the portions are pretty big. So maybe be aware of that if you're looking for some smaller portions. My favorite thing was the warm croissant and the fresh jam and the muffin. Man, the pastries were good, which I think are from Helena Bakery behind the building. PARKING: Parked in a nearby lot and walked. read more

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

See all

The food was "meh." Can't understand why I got 9 messages regarding my reservation only to arrive and have to wait because they aren't prepared. Makes me wonder if the number of messages is related to trying to make sure someone comes in because they aren't that good. Overall; I would not return. This is a very less than average experience. Sitting in direct sun was definitely not a plus either. No accommodation made to close a door or move us, etc. (mind you there were other empty tables). read more

1. Sunday evening early...not too busy. Sat at the communal table, enjoyed the ambiance, my friend and the vibe. 2. Service - thank-you John for the excellent service 3. Good wine and cocktail list 4. Lovely pretty fire pits and heaters outside, but still a bit chilly this time of year. They leave the big doors open by the communal table due to service requirements, but can mean a draft at that table..though we sat in the middle so it was fine. 5. Food - salad was overdressed and we did tell them when they asked. It has about 2x what it should have had. This was the oak lettuce salad,but it was good just not great. Not much for vegans. Luckys has tofu and a vegan burger...please get something! The pasta dish with the veggies is good but it had a butter sauce...it was that or just salad, as main course. See photos. I wish Sami was still on site at the Lark. Talented chef he is. read more

See all

Went to The Lark and loved everything about it! The food was amazing, the vibe was great, and the service was super friendly. Definitely a spot I'd go back to and recommend to friends. read more

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

The beautiful flower filled patio is the draw here. The food was good, but came out unevenly so we had to wait 10 minutes between each person's dish being served. We had chicken and waffles, shakshuka, and the burrata and pear salad. Everything was good, but on the small side. We also ordered drinks right when we got there and they took forever to come. So the timing was off throughout the meal. We also ordered a starter that had not arrived by the time our last meal arrived so we canceled it. 4 brunch dishes and four drinks came to &150. read more

The Lark - Mimosa $15 - New American Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

See all

their duck leg was super tender and juicy, their tuna was also very good... it's a cute vibe but can be quite loud read more

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

Well, this is by far my favorite restaurant in the funk zone. Be prepared for a wait if you don't make a reservation ahead of time. They do catered meals in the back as well and those are just as amazing. They also have a great wine selection. If I had a complaint it would staff-some were amazing and some fell flat. read more

Few menu choices in both food and drink categories. 'We don't have Pinot Grigio or Hazy Beer choices. No parking! Very uncomfortable wooden booth. Service was average. I'm disappointed. Won't go again. read more

Came here for brunch. Made reservations but you probably don't need to. There is a public parking lot about 2 blocks away if you can't find street parking and it's free for the first 75 minutes. We got the sticky bread, chicken and waffles and shrimp and grits. The sticky bread came out hot and warm. The chicken and waffles, the chicken was amazing but the waffles were too sour and it didn't seem like it was cooked fresh. The shrimp and grits, I recommend completely. Soooo good! Service is impeccable too. The server would ask if I needed refills on drinks just as I was about to run out. Plates were cleared quickly. read more

1 cocktail: On the Fence $16 1 main: Fried Chicken w/Grits $38 Service and presence of the staff in general was exceptional. They show up with intention, and deliver on the Lark promise. Food and drink were both excellent. It's not cheap (in fact, at $60 for the two items not including tip, it's decidedly expensive!) but this is the going rate these days for top-tier dining in Santa Barbara. read more

We came here for our anniversary dinner and while everything we ordered was excellent, the service left much to be desired. We had a reservation but the wait was still 10+ minutes and the waiting area didn't have a patio heater, so we started off really really cold. We got seated outside, but luckily the area did have a patio heater so it was toasty. I saw other tables got offered a blanket if it was too cold for them. As the night went on, it did get chillier. Our server offered us champagne to celebrate our anniversary but we don't drink so he said not to worry and that he'd find something for us. That something never arrived to our table. We saw other tables get complimentary popcorn, but we did not, so we had to inquire about it. We really liked the popcorn and our server noticed so he said he would bring us more. That never arrived to our table either. There was also a long awkward gap in between our starters and entrees arriving. The seating was a bit cramped so I could hear everyone's conversations. I liked the ambiance still and I would come back here to celebrate a special event. Moving on to what we ordered, we got the endive and asian pear salad, cornbread, pappardelle pasta, and salmon. We enjoyed everything! For the salad though, the endives were a bit wet and not properly dried. The cornbread was smaller than I was expecting for the price but it was still very good and packed with butter. Parking in the funk zone is pretty difficult on a busy weekend so allow 10-15 minutes to find parking. read more

See all

Delicious dinner spot! We enjoyed everything we ordered: oysters on the half shell, shishitos, pappardelle, fisherman's catch read more

See all

Had a fantastic dinner here and the service was great! My husband got the hanger steak-asked for rare which never seems to actually arrive that way, but here it was cooked perfectly!! I had the mussels and the flavor was spot on. It was a chilly evening but our spot under the heater was perfect. Def a thumbs up! read more

The Lark - Mussels so yum! - New American Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

See all

Four words: Lemon poppy seed popcorn. This complimentary starter is excellent:) The ambiance at the Lark is top tier.. we sat on the patio, which was plenty large and boasted romantic, twinkle lighting. As a group we ordered the crispy Brussel sprouts, Wayne Farms buttermilk fried chicken, Brown butter cornbread, and several other dishes to share. This is the way to do it! Try a little bit of everything. Perfect location for family dinner night, a date, and more. I highly recommend The Lark! read more

So our second time here and just as good! The fried chicken is amazing, and the salanova and shrimp toast were delicious

Long overdue review. I was visiting Santa Barbara with my family and read great things about The Lark, so we had to come! I had made a reservation and we were seated right away in the outdoor patio. They even brought a bowl of water for our dogs and turned the patio heater on since it was a cold evening! We ordered: 1. Brown Butter Cornbread - The most delicious cornbread I've ever had, I would have ordered one just for myself! I even asked for the recipe, which apparently is in the restaurant's cookbook! 2. Crispy Brussel Sprouts - Citrusy and sweet, it was tender but also crispy. Can't go wrong with the brussel sprouts! 3. "Mary's" Duck Liver Mousse - This was just okay to us, but the strawberries added a nice sweetness to it and the walnuts a nice crunch. The crostini was a bit too hard for me. 4. Halibut Crudo - A favorite for the table! The halibut was sweet and paired well with the creamy avocado mousse. 5. Buttermilk Fried Chicken - Chicken was hot, crispy, and juicy, the grits were smooth and cheesy. 6. Bone Marrow - The ingredients paired well together for the perfect bite! The anchovy was a weird thought for me but it tasted delicious when eaten all together. 7. Hand Cut Pappardelle Pasta - Another favorite for the table! The pasta was cooked al dente so it had a nice chewy texture and the sauce was citrusy and cheesy. 8. California Fishermen's Catch - The catch was tuna and it was caught that morning! It had a great seared crust and the dish had lots of textural elements from the peas, radishes, and tangerines. 9. Bombolini Donuts - We were so full, we weren't planning on getting dessert but I couldn't say no to fried donuts covered in cinnamon sugar. They were hot, crispy, not too sweet, and were delicious dipped in the creme sauce! My parents don't like to dine out much but they really enjoyed this meal. The food, ambiance, service, everything was great! Shoutout to our server, Brooklyn, who gave menu suggestions and was just super friendly and attentive throughout the meal! I'd love to come again because I'm drooling just thinking about these dishes again! read more

See all

We called 2 hours ahead to make a reservation for a huge party on a Tuesday night and they were extremely accommodating! This is a restaurant that is so busy and they definitely did not have to help us out but they did and we appreciated it so much because the food was so amazing and I don't think I would have enjoyed going somewhere else! The environment was so refreshing and the staff was so kind. We decided to do family style and get a little bit of everything and that was the right call. Will definitely be back the next time I'm in the area . read more

Ambience is great, drinks are awesome, great service and amazing food! Came here with a couple of friends to have dinner and drinks. The Paloma and the serpents tooth are both amazing cocktails! They were super accommodating. I am highly allergic to dairy and they were able to make the pappardelle without butter and with olive oil! The Brussels sprouts are super crispy, flavorful and delicious! Highly recommend coming here:) Oscar is by far the best waiter there!!! read more

The Lark - Hand Cut Pappardelle - New American Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

The service was great. Our waitress was very nice, we had a few things but the food was just ok, the banana split version they have was horrible. Popcorn was nice that you got when you first arrive, and the drinks were good! read more

We had early reservations midweek for four. We were promptly seated in a nice booth. The interior is very welcoming and well appointed. Our hostess and waitress were exceptionally kind and friendly. We quickly became aware that this farm to fork experience was highly conducive to shared plates. This s one of our favorite ways to dine. So cool to have a taste of many preparations. We ordered crispy Brussels sprouts with medjool dates, Wayne Farms buttermilk fried chicken. deviled eggs, kale salad and a little gems wedge salad. All were superbly delicious with well thought out preparations and amazingly sourced ingredients. A memorable meal that left an incredible lasting impression. Looking forward to dining here again soon! read more

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

See all

One of our favorite places to eat in Santa Barbara with nice outdoor seating! Our server was friendly and attentive. Although they don't have a ton of options on the menu, we really enjoyed anything we got. Highly recommend the fried chicken! read more

If you're reading this, you've probably heard of this place and are checking out reviews to help make a decision on where to have dinner in Santa Barbara. Look no further than The Lark. It's as good and special as you imagine. Be mindful of the family style dining as portions are designed to be shared. My wife and I had the Green Chile Cornbread to start. It was phenomenal. Our main course consisted of the Broccolini, the 8oz Prime Flat Iron Steak, and the Hand-Cut Pappardelle. It was the perfect meal in many ways, one of them being our server Danae. She was extremely knowledgeable about the menu and the restaurant's mission, and was incredibly helpful. She really did embody the vibe of The Lark. Dessert had to happen. We ordered their take on the Banana Split, featuring Brûlée Bananas. Say no more. We left knowing full well that we just had dinner at one of the best restaurants Santa Barbara has to offer. Now go have dinner at The Lark, and be sure to ask for Danae, as she will take good care of you. read more

My boyfriend and I dined here for our 3 year anniversary celebration. Overall, I would say the experience was very much okay in the sense that it wasn't bad but it also unfortunately wasn't anything special. The dishes are all plated very nicely and the ingredients are definitely fresh but we found that all of the dishes were pretty much lacking in flavor. While I appreciated the freshness of the salads and accoutrements, the flavors just weren't there and didn't complement or make anything in any dish stand out. The drink tasted mostly just like alcohol. I love oysters so you can't go wrong with fresh raw oysters. The tastiest part of the evening was probably the popcorn. The staff and our server were very nice and gave us enough space to enjoy our time together. The outside dining is beautiful at night with the lights on. This might be your cup of tea if you're looking for lighter meals. read more

See all

Great ambiance and good service. Went for brunch, menu was limited. Smash burger was good, French fries were the best thing on the menu. Drinks were good. Banana bread and scones were good but I guess we should just gotten that from Helena's. Cheaper there but again I guess your paying for the atmosphere. The locks platter was disappointing lacks flavor. more drink focused then food, read more

Had a wonderful dinner with friends here. We made a reservation and we're seated in the outdoor patio. It had plenty of heat lamps and fire pits so it was cozy and cute. Everything we had was delicious. The cornbread is out of the world, must have. Brussels sprouts super delicious. The fried chicken was solid. I would definitely come back read more

See all

The Lark is a restaurant that is gorgeous with standout ingredients - although we didn't always find the right dishes that hit with us. We found the Lark in the Funk Zone area, easily walkable if you parked or Ubered anywhere nearby in a small plaza shared with other eateries. I loved walking up to the restaurant which was distinct and pleasant, as if I was transported to a quiet forest area with the Lark in the middle. We did make a reservation a few days before for a Monday and found it to be pretty busy. Does have a bar area in case you'd like to take your chances without a reservation! We were led to a cute table area next to an open window. The indoors has that same rustic / modern feel as the outdoors. Here's what we picked out: *Popcorn: You are given popcorn as your free appetizer to munch on while you are here. It's delicious with a little bit of spice and seasoning! *Roasted Beets & Ventura Strawberries: As you'll see themed throughout this whole menu review, the individual ingredients taste fresh / delicious on its own. However, this is one of the dishes where the combination of these ingredients for some reason didn't quite work and the flavors didn't mesh quite well like the ricotta which was a bit too sour. *Channel Islands Halibut Crudo: Another dish where individually, the ingredients were really delicious and on paper, it sounded like a great idea. The peach is simply delicious and could eat that on its own. But together, the dish felt off. The halibut was a bit too fish-y and the other ingredients seemed to only accentuate that fishy flavoring. *House Made Porchetta di Testa: The best dish we had and the most abstract! It comes out like a cheese plate with all the ingredients separated and asking you to combine it together. And here, the flavors are marvelous. The levain is freshly baked. The onion jam is amazing. And the soft poached egg is cooked perfectly. Highly recommended. *Red Sweeney's Revenge: Their sidecar cocktail. It's a bit too sweet for my usual sidecar tastes, but like the overall presentation. *Hatchet Proof: Their old fashioned cocktail. It was solid, and we actually ordered it twice because it had a nice flavor profile with the coffee stout reduction helping to give it a unique twist. Overall, we had a lovely time here and think there are great dishes! Just need to try out some different things to find other brilliant dishes like the porchetta. read more

See all