You have to go to this place! It's literally the best stuff I have ever ate. Everything we ordered was delicious and tasted amazing. First, we got a bowl of popcorn which were seasoned to perfection. It was a combination of slightly sweet and perfectly spicy. Then we got a corn bread that came with a chile honey butter with sea salt. This corn bread was so good! It was warm and and baked to perfection and that butter was the best! We ordered a salad which had chunks of caramelized bacon, blue cheese, walnuts, and so much more. The dressing was delicious and they gave you the perfect amount of it. Then we got a beet salad with strawberries. This was so good! It was slightly sweet and the lemon vinaigrette gave the whole beet salad a delicious tang. It was a perfect combination with the soft beets and snap peas which gave the salad a nice crunch. We ordered two platters. We got the whole chicken which was seriously the best thing I have ever ate. The chicken was slightly sweet and it came on a bed of mash potatoes which were so soft and delicious. The sauce was slightly briny with chunks of olives scattered throughout. It was perfect with the grilled onions that added the perfect crunch. The prime flat rib was really good too! It was cooked to perfection and was soft and flavored just right. It came with a whipped bone marrow butter that melted slowly on the tender pink flat ribs. I really liked how the thing was garnished too. It had fiddle heads and other vegetables on it. Also a beautiful flower was on top of it. We got some drinks which were good too. We got the hummingbird, mule, and JP's Paloma. The best one out of all those drinks was the hummingbird. It was made with grapefruit nectar and it had a really yummy egg white froth on top. It was garnished with rosemary and thyme which added a subtle herbal taste to the drink. Then I liked the mule which had a cucumber infused vodka with a house made ginger beer. This drink tasted fresh and tasted like it was made with real fresh ingredients. My least favorite was the Paloma which had a strong tequila taste, but I did like the salt that lined the rim. The only complaint I have is that our server said we should get around six dishes, but it was definitely way too much for us to finish. I think four dishes was perfect for us and I wished she was more honest about the proportions. Seriously everything here tasted delicious and everything looked so cute and pretty. I would definitely recommend this gem! read more

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This restaurant has a lot of hype surrounding the food, ambience, and service. For the most part, it delivers, and you'll leave content with the meal you ate in the very Instagram-friendly location. We were only able to get a dinner reservation at 5:30 on a Saturday night. Even when we arrived at 5:15, the place was bustling. Both the indoor and outdoor seating areas are deliberately furnished giving a rustic-chic dining experience. Ambience definitely gets a 5. As far as food, be sure to inquire on portion sizes and beware starches. It is "family style," but the waiters choose to air on the side of ordering less. We had 3 snacks and 4 mains to share between our party of 4. Our server told us we were getting a lot of food, but after the meal we realized he was probably over-accounting for the starches. For example, both the Ribs and Salmon came with huge portions of potatoes which could cause you to fill up fast if you ate them all--which we didn't. We didn't leave hungry, but we could have squeezed in one more dish. The 5 star dishes: Ribs--so great. The duck wings. Grilled peaches--great light and flavorful addition to the meal. The cornbread. Also the complimentary popcorn was great and neat to kick off the dinner. The okay: Pimento cheese toast. It's good if you want spicy cheese on toast. The not so great: Black pepper parpadelle: Hate to use this word but kind of slimy, and the black pepper didn't come through nearly enough. Would definitely skip this in the future. In conclusion, the food coupled with its presentation in the restaurant setting are enough to generate hype. Not the best food I've ever had but definitely a good meal! read more

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Logging on to write one of my first restaurant reviews since a scathing critique of an Ann Arbor spot (deserved) five years ago: First of all, gorgeous outdoor space with ample nighttime heating. Enjoyed and reordered the Nelson cocktail which was entirely refreshing. Food wise: - single oyster - spectacular vinaigrette on it. Wouldn't order a dozen, but a great starter - Brussels sprouts - some of the best I've had. You think you don't like fish sauce? You do. - tuna crudo - expected it to be delicious, and it was - salad - love a palate cleanser with a citrusy herb dressing - prawns - if anything, you have to get these. Scraped the sauce off the plate. Would come here every Friday for a plate of prawns and a glass of rose if I lived in Santa Barbara - beef cheek - so tender and tasty - garnished with pomegranate seeds, which cut the richness and added a zesty burst of flavor. Could do with a more interesting accompaniment than potatoes, but honestly hard to beat a classic combo. read more

My goodness was the Lark one of the best restaurant experiences I've ever received . My server Zack was exceptionally attentive and DOESNT MISS when it comes to top quality service. Not only did he make me feel like i was the top priority, he constantly exceeded my expectations of a textbook waiter. Because of him, with the aid of their highly determined and extremely kind bartender KOA, I was able to walk out of the restaurant more than just satisfied at the stomach but in my heart first and foremost. The Lark is extraordinarily lucky to have these fine gentlemen putting smiles on countless faces. read more

This place is absolutely BOMB. Dude, the ambiance is gorgeous, hanging string lights, industrial chic, mixed with wood and brass. Outside has plenty of fire pits and space heaters to keep you warm, and the inside is friendly and bustling. I didn't sit at the community table, but everyone looked to be having a nice time. Get a reservation. I'm sure you could walk in and get a table maaaybe if you waited an hour, but just call a head, it will save you the wait. We went on a Tuesday at 7pm and it was jammin'. We ordered The Brussel Sprouts (10/10) The Wedge Salad (10/10) The Half Dozen Oysters (10/10), The Duck Wings (8/10 great sauce, spicy and sweet, incredible lemon aioli, but there were only one or two meaty wings) The Salmon (7/10, mostly potatoes really, with a very deliciously cooked salmon, but the salmon was small, least inventive dish to me) Apple Fritters (10/10 hands down the best dessert) Cookies and Milk (9/10, horchata seemed overkill but still good) Pistachio Cookie Ice Cream Sandwich (6/10 definitely not the place for passion fruit) Incredible food, great service, dope ambiance. Definitely coming back to the Funk Zone of SB. read more

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

We were referred by multiple friends to come here. Made reservations for 8:15. If your using the yelp maps for some reason the back of the building is tagged as the front door. The main entrance is next to the lucky penny. Place was PACKED . They literally shoe horn people in . But we were seated fairly quick, pretty loud but we could still carry on a conversation. The waitress , Miranda greeted us quick and got waters almost immediate. In stead of bread they do popcorn. She made it sound like they had different flavors but she gave us sea salt . I probably could have ate that all night . We started with the Brussel sprouts after everyone raving in there reviews. Welp it's true they are amazing! A definite must get. Not like any brussel sprout you have had before. For the main. I ordered beef ribs , she warms that that they are spicy and peppery. But I thought they were perfect! My wife ordered cauliflower couse couse. She wasn't the biggest fan of it. Meals we pretty large I can now see why they say family style ordering. I had read some reviews earlier about people saying portions were small maybe they change some things up but our plates were just short of massive . For desert I went with cookie sandwich . That did not disappoint as well. This place has three money signs. $$$. Which I have to disagree with. Our whole meal was under 100.00 (before tip) I'm not sure what people are complaining about I think it's definitely worth the value and the service 5 stars would definitely come back. read more

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So it's been a year since I've eaten but came across the pictures I had taken and figured I'd write a quick review... The Lark is a super popular kind of hip place to eat. Finding parking in the area is rough and you gotta get lucky. That's exactly what it's like getting a table too. Either reserve far in advance, wait for 2 hrs or get lucky at the communal table, which we managed to do. A group was just standing up as we walked in so we snatched it right up! The restaurant is cozy with all the wood, the communal tables and the patio outside. It feels homey yet festive with all the chatter around you. We went tapas style between the three of us and shared the Pancetta deviled eggs, Brussels sprouts, hamachi crude, smoked pork belly, and black garlic glazed lamb shank. And while I cannot remember the exact taste of anything, I just remembered it all to be super delicious and fresh. The menu changes so my guess is that some of the dishes will come back around. We also had a few cocktails that were well balanced and delicious. This is a great place to enjoy some good food with the people around you. I'll definitely come again if I'm in the area. read more

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Great atmosphere, we sat outside and while it got chilly, we were very comfortable. Service is excellent, attentive and friendly. We were celebrating an anniversary and they brought us complementary sparkling Rosé'. Try the pimento sliders, the okra is a fun touch. I had the branzino, it was perfectly prepared, crispy skin and delicate meat. Foodies will enjoy the unique flavor combinations. The less adventurous eaters may struggle to find an entree they are comfortable ordering. read more

One of the most interesting restaurants in the Santa Barbara area. The atmosphere inside this now elegant, but former fish market, is perfectly executed to give you a sense of quiet quality, yet preserving the interest and history of the building. It would be difficult to suggest a perfect entree at The Lark as they are all excellent. The professional level of service we receive as guests of this restaurant, along with the wonderful food, just makes this spot a little treasure among the many great restaurants in town. It's a unique place for a special occasion and the food is not going to disappoint even the most finicky of guests. The wine list and drinks prepared by the bar are as well thought out and prepared as is the fine dining experience. The restaurant is very popular with locals and always seems to be busy. Reservations will help you avoid a wait for seating. read more

Busy restaurant even on a weekday. We had a reservation and were seated quickly. Our server was friendly and knowledgeable and he really sold us on the brown butter cornbread, which we were extremely happy we got. Popcorn: comes as a free starter; we had BBQ flavored popcorn because their current theme is BBQ Red lettuce salad: very good, the two dressings on it were so flavorful, but I think the ratio of dressing to salad is off. It needed more lettuce or vegetables. Cornbread: THE best part of our meal! So rich and buttery and sweet. Wayne's fried chicken: fried chicken thighs over grits with pickles. The chicken was my least favorite..it was moist yet fried well, and the grits were creamy. However the chicken was one note and lacked spice or flavor beyond salt/pepper. Cocktails: strong and delicious Overall it was an amazing dinner and we would come back! read more

A true highlight of our trip to Santa Barbara. The clams and Wagyu were fantastic. Burrata was outstanding. Would not recommend the pork rillette or chocolate cake though. Great wine selection for those looking to drink local and a bit beyond. Charming setting- efficient service. A lovely evening here. read more

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

Put our name in for a table outside. Sat at the bar to grab a drink while we waited, best decision because Jason at the bar is absolutely incredible. Told us stories behind specific liquors and just an all around great guy. Truly made our evening. After about 45 minutes we were seated at a tiny little table squeezed in between two other tables. Not the greatest spot after waiting 45 minutes but we dealt. Ordered the crispy Brussels, Hope Ranch mussels & the big eye tuna crudo. The Brussels were great, a little on the sweet side but the texture was crispy and portion was good. I wouldn't order the tuna crudo again. The Hope Ranch mussels were a show stopper. The creme fraiche/white wine sauce was unreal. The peppers & roasted tomatoes with big fresh mussels worked so well together. I would order that over and over again. Service was great, cocktail were great. Definitely a good spot for appetizers and drinks! read more

The Lark - Hope Ranch mussels!! - New American Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Where do I start?!? The staff was super friendly and helpful. From the moment we walked up the hostess was sweet and kind. (Were off to a good start) Once seated our waiter came over and walked us through options and suggestions. We ordered the Brussel sprouts to start and oh my! The best! Even if you don't like brussel sprouts...order them. They are that good. We followed that up with the Crab risotto & wagyu beef. Crab risotto was good but that wagyu was excellent!!! And yes, we had dessert. The creme brûlée and as with the rest the meal...it didn't disappoint. read more

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We really enjoyed our dinner here. The food is very unique and the chefs know how to pair food! We got the crispy brussel sprouts and they were a-mazing! The atmosphere was very nice and the wait staff were quite attentive. read more

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

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All the dishes were delicious! We knew we were in for something special with the spiced popcorn that was brought out at the start for a snack. Friendly service and great ambience. read more

The Lark - The cute Lark postcard came out with the check. - New American Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Had an amazing dinner at Lark. Even on a rainy night, it was busy. Though we dined at the large communal table, so did not have to wait to be seated. I don't think you can go wrong with anything on the menu here. My friend and I shared an appetizer (crispy Brussels sprouts) , salad (autumn pears) & entree (grilled lamb belly) Unfortunately, we didn't have room for dessert, though we saw some delicious desserts that others ordered such as the cheesecake with persimmons. Service superb - our server went out of his way to get complimentary tea for my friend as they were out of the two she wanted. I highly recommend Lark if you happen to be in Santa Barbara - always a 5-star experience! read more

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I used to love this place and recommend it, but won't be coming back. First off - the place is freezing. Despite asking, they kept all the doors open which makes no sense. Everyone was wearing jackets inside. They also kept us waiting when we were seated 35+ mins without a drink. They didn't have two items that we ordered, one of which they had to run back to the table after we ordered. We decided to just cut our losses and just walk out. It's a shame and was disappointing. read more

So disappointed by my experience at The Lark. I am vacationing in Santa Barbara from San Francisco and The Lark was a recommendation from a fellow travel, food, and wine blogging friend. The ambiance and food was good. The service was not. There was not one or two mistakes, but a series of 5+ mistakes. All started well with our server, but things quickly fell apart. I have celiac disease and told this to our server right away. We then asked for his recommendation on the wagyu short rib or lamb ribs. He emphatically recommended the wagyu short rib, so we ordered that, along with the wedge salad, scallops, and two cocktails. We told Wyatt we would order wine with the meat later. Misstep #1: We only received one cocktail. Misstep #2: We received the wedge salad with croutons. Misstep #3: Dishware and silverware not replaced after the wedge salad; plates and forks were covered in Gorgonzola cheese and a smoky dressing. We ordered wine. Our server recommended one to taste and brought it out to taste, which brings us to misstep #4: he never brought out the full glass of wine. Misstep #5: After finishing the scallops, he brought out the dessert menus. We then pointed out all of these missteps because we had several people working our table, and asked if he forgot about our wagyu short rib. He responded "ok, ok, ok" and didn't offer any apology or solution; Wyatt simply asked if we "still wanted the short rib". At this point I was incredibly frustrated and told him to forget it. We left without a main course, and the experience soured a fun dinner in Santa Barbara. I wanted to love and recommend The Lark to friends, and readers/followers of my blog. However, service is highly important to me. At times we felt forgotten. With the number of mistakes and failure to own/course correct them, I could not recommend The Lark. read more

For such a highly reviewed place with great reviews on yelp, I was sorely disappointed by this restaurant. My bf & I stayed for a whopping 20 minutes and left because both the service and food were so mediocre. I made a reservation on a Fri during COVID and were promptly seated. FOOD: - Brussels sprouts +1/5 While the server tried to explain that the marinade was what made the the Brussels sprouts taste smoky, I think they straight up tasted burnt. And yes, it doesn't take much to distinguish whether a food item is burnt or has a marinade. We sent this back and asked for the kitchen to have it less burnt. Our server then comes back to say that they'll take it off the bill but never brought back the "fixed" Brussels sprouts so we just were left.. hungry. - Oysters +3/5 While these exploded with flavor, I have to say that I felt like the kitchen was trying too hard because there were TOO many flavors. From floral to tart to tangy, I was left with mixed emotions about these. I given 2 extra stars, however, because they were clearly very fresh. - Octopus +3/5 I order these dish fairly often whenever I go to a tapa-style restaurant and this was by-far the saltiest, most overcooked one that I tried. The octopus quality was fair but the bf & I literally had to wash down each bite with water because it was just that salty. SERVICE: - our server seemed to stop caring after we sent the Brussels sprouts back but the manager kindly came to express his apology for our convenience. He even offered to help us make a reservation at their sister restaurant the next day but we would be leaving the morning after so we couldn't take him up on his offer. While I realize that our dishes could've been the only ones that were poorly executed this night, I doubt that I will want to come back again. While the manager tried to alleviate our experience, the server's dismissal of our table after we sent back the Brussels sprouts along with the dishes that weren't up to our standards left us with a sad dinner experience. read more

My review may read a bit oxymoron-ish...so beautiful ambiance, 1st server was superb-food fresh & appetizing, but while our replacement server brought our food...we waited for our Brussel sprouts and food got cold. So we proceeded to eat and asked "Is it normal to wait for our Sprouts?" Honestly It could have been an innocent oversight...but it's the little things that I notice. I heard about this place, I've been to so many great places and I have to give LARK 3.25 Stars Note: I so wanted a better experience... -Blessings read more

The Lark - Beef was a bit dry... - New American Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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We were SO IMPRESSED by The Lark. The atmosphere, service, cocktails, and food were fantastic, and the reasonable prices made everything sweeter. read more

We have eaten at The Lark four times now. The outdoor patio is visually lovely and has heaters. Service has always been attentive and informed. Food is usually excellent. The restaurant does allow dogs (at least outside) so you might have some barking during your meal to disturb the ambiance. We had two guests sitting near us with both a large and small dog, and the small dog produced intermittent sharp barking during our entire meal. read more

It was more than two years ago that I reviewed the Lark. We were the first customers that first day. While I loved the restaurant I have to admit I was skeptical that it would survive. They have a large staff which seems to be the secret of their success. Since my first visit I have been here about 70 more times so I guess you could call me a fan. I enjoy the bar or the community table. What impresses me the most is that a restaurant that serves only dinner has a full staff of chefs who arrive early in the morning to prep the food. During the dinner service there are at least a dozen chefs in the kitchen. The attention to detail is beyond belief and every dish is worth trying. Since my first visit the menu has changed and the specialty cocktails have changed as well. I miss some of the previous items yet their replacements are equally amazing. I have always enjoyed the Wedge salad. Lots of wonderful bleu cheese with candied bacon and pecans. If you sit at the bar their burger is one of the best you will ever eat and for $13 or $14 it is a bargain. It is "off the menu" so you feel like a regular when you order it. Another entree to consider is the half chicken. A dish that two people will share with leftovers for tomorrow's lunch. Like all the dishes the preparation is wonderful as it is brined for 24 hours+ before cooking. You have my guarantee that it will be moist and fall-apart good. If you want a unique experience you can ask to have your reservation of two in the confessional booth, a very cool relic from the 1700's imported because the owner thought it would be a nice addition. read more

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

Beautiful atmosphere and great food. We ordered a ton of food for our group of six and we kept getting some serious judgment from our waiter who kept asking if we were SURE we didn't want to cancel anything. I think he was doing it to be considerate, however, so that we wouldn't feel pressured to eat everything we had initially ordered. Otherwise, the service was good and the food was stellar. We got the deviled eggs, brussel sprouts, heirloom tomatoes, beets and butternut squash, duck liver mousse, goat confit strozzapreti pasta (basically goat confit on tubular pasta), Spanish octopus, scallops, and the trout. All of it was very good; I thought the heirloom tomatoes and beets and butternut squash were too sweet but my friends liked them. My favs were basically everything else. We also ordered the honey dessert and the ice cream sandwich. The honey dessert (I forget the actual name) was very unique and tasted almost like a honey panna cotta. Highly recommend. They also comped one of the desserts for us because it was my birthday! I thought that was very nice. I'd definitely recommend this place and come here again next time I'm in the area. read more

The Lark - Waiting for us at the table! Sweet gesture. - New American Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

On the pricier side...I'm actually surprised this place averages 4.5 star. I think its more of a 3.5 (the ambiance is nice) but I guess for Santa Barbara, this is a cute place with a nice outdoor area. If this restaurant was in LA, they would need to improve the service. Our server was "nice". But she definitely didn't go above and beyond by any mean. She told us that they were more of a tapas style restaurant where we'd be sharing and the # of dishes she told us to order was outrageous. On top of that, my one friend told her she liked very sweet, fruity drinks and the drink she recommended was far from sweet. When we told the waitress that it wasn't sweet enough, she didn't offer a new drink. About 10 minutes later, I decided to complain on my friend behalf, she said she will bring out simple syrup. Even after that simple syrup, my friend wasn't happy with her drink so she drank maybe half. The waitress didn't seem to care or notice, I gave up at that point. The food was not bad. I think I eat out waaaaay too much and my standards are super high these days. Though some of the dishes were good, I do take into account the price which I didn't think was worth it for the portion we got. For instance, their deviled egg was 3 halves for $5. I think I make better deviled eggs. Their brussels sprout was very good. I didn't care for their crab gnocchi but the others in my party seemed to love it. My favorite thing was the free popcorn they gave us...haha. I don't know what it is but my Santa Barbara dining experience this time around wasn't great overall. We ate at 3 restaurants and I was unhappy with them all. Next time I think I will choose all the restaurants - I didn't have a say on this trip! read more

I wanted to love The Lark. I thought I would love the Lark. I planned to love The Lark. But I didn't love The Lark. It's absolutely beautiful--the restaurant, the cocktails, the food, even the people serving the food. We were seated and took some time to admire the design of the restaurant--there are really fantastic details everywhere you look, from the chandeliers inside, to the fire pit grate outside, to the mismatched silverware. And I was excited about the family-style service...I love getting to try a bunch of different dishes. This place was living up to all my expectations! After placing drink orders, we chatted for a really long time before our food order was taken. No problem--I like a leisurely pace. Finally, my cocktail, the California rattlesnake, arrived. Made with bourbon, lemon, absinthe, and egg white foam, I was surprised to find it a bit one-dimensional and flat. But I was not yet disheartened...surely this was a one-off. The first few courses were really wonderful: Brussels sprouts with dates and lime in a fish sauce--crispy, savory; a stone fruit and burrata salad with cashew praline and pickled cherries--bright, light, balanced; the little gems wedge--crisp and creamy; the pimiento cheese spread--smoky, spicy; and the Dungeness crab gnocchi--pillowy, rich, so delicious. Each was beautifully plated and equally enjoyable to eat. Just what I was hoping for! This is when things sort of fell apart. We had a half hour lull. No food, no server checking on us, no water refills, no nothing. We had an 8:30 reservation, so by now it was getting close to 10:00. We were hungry. We were tired-ish. This was not what I had envisioned. It was with much excitement that we eyed a server bringing a beautiful entrée to our table. Alas, it was the Jidori chicken, which we had not ordered. Sigh. We sent it back reluctantly, and settled a bit deeper into disappointment. A few minutes later, our server stopped by the table to inform us that the kitchen was backed up, apologize for the wait, and tell us our entrées were on their way. She offered a gratis glass of wine, which we appreciated but we declined...just wanted our food. About 15 minutes later, they brought out our crispy trout and short rib (both recommended by our server). The trout, served with pole beans, cilantro pistou, squid, cherry tomatoes and garnished with two deep fried squash blossoms, was surprisingly unflavorful. The beans added nothing and were texturally problematic for me. The trout was well cooked, but overall the dish was meh. The short rib was beautiful, but not so great in the flavor or tenderness departments. Also there just was not very much of it. The morsels of summer squash served with it were amazing. The shishito peppers were a bit undercooked. My lack of love for this experience was being further confirmed. The desserts were, overall, underwhelming. Not bad, but not fantastic. Each had a lot of elements, and some of them were really wonderful, but on the whole they just didn't rock my world. Which is too bad, because I really love desserts that rock my world. They did comp one of our desserts because of the long wait, which was nice. But still...I did not love The Lark. Maybe it was an off night. Maybe this wasn't a typical experience. Maybe if I came back, I would love The Lark. Now I just have to convince my husband that we should give it another shot. read more

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The food was delicious, the outdoor seating was stunning, and the service was impeccable! This is a must if you're visiting Santa Barbara! read more

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Working in the Funk Zone, I have been to The Lark at least a dozen times. Note, they do switch up their menu a little bit every month, and yet there are some constants, one being their Secret Burger which you won't find on the menu and supposedly can only be ordered at the bar or their communal table, however I have heard tell of some servers who bend the rules and will serve it at a private table. You can taste the high quality of the beef and they make sure to cook it perfectly to temp. The Secret Sauce they apply to the toasted brioche bun is delish and I always ask for a side of it to dip the fries in. I'm not usually a fan of french fries, but I do adore them here. Executive Chef Jason Paluska is definitely on top of the Upscale Farm to Table movement and fits in perfectly at The Lark. Other dishes I've tried... Crispy Brussels Sprouts-quite good for not being homemade. Little Gems Wedge-the only "wedge" style salad I have ever liked. The key is the baby hearts of romaine they use instead of iceberg. Octopus dish(which they change up frequently)-there's always too much of whatever fruit they feature to accompany. Marinated and Grilled Hanger Steak-yes. This review is based solely on my experiences sitting at the bar and communal table. The bartenders are great and always friendly. read more

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It seems like The Lark is the place to be on a Monday night! That's when I visited and it was crowded which was the first indication of a great restaurant selection. We were asked to stay by the bar while our table was ready which was for about 10 mins. During this time, I tried the cucumber specialty cocktail which had almost no alcohol. My partner in crime tried the humming bird and concurs with the alcohol ratio. Once at our table, the waiter explained the dishes were meant to be shared family style so we ordered a few: - Deviled eggs with crispy pancetta, jalapeño, smoked paprika, and chive. - Roasted beets and burrata with strawberries, toasted pistachios, hibiscus vinaigrette, frisée and watercress. - Pineapple & habanero Spanish glazed octopus with zucchini, fingerling potatoes, pickled carrots, mezcal and yogurt. - Smoked pork belly with roasted blackberry, almond brittle and house made chicharron. I liked everything equally. The portions were substantial, the plating was stunning, and the flavor was excellent. My only complaint would be the gaps are often long between dishes. Overall, The Lark delivers consistent food quality in a retro/industrial setting. It was a pleasure dining here. read more

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Waiter sucked... so arrogant...service was very slow... food was very over flavored , and not very good... way to ruin a Brussels Sprout... not impressed for all the hype. read more

This is a play by play review: We arrived at 7:20 for our 7:30 reservation. It's a Friday evening and place is packed: a good sign. I had to use the restroom and asked one of the hostesses for directions and she walked me there! Very very good start. It's 7:45 now and we are still waiting. Don't mind it too much as I am not famished, and it's a great spot to people watch when it's this crowded. Heat lamps are on and the two fire places and fully lit. Every table is taken and the aroma of deep fried then broiled Brussel sprouts is in the air. The management is quite visible here; broad shouldered ... Hmmm looks like he is my size and a half tall, so he gotta be Blake Griffin tall, making his rounds and scoping out the entire establishment for unwanted guests... he's actually politely escorting a lost transient now away from the restaurant! Eventful! Got seated at 7:54. I was entertained so really didn't mind. Our table is in the back, facing the opened side French door. This is such a lovely place: no bright lights , only string lights giving off enough illumination to see people's faces and your food. Kind of romantic ... except for the noise. Heat lamps are everywhere. Coffee,Belgian beer, and hazel nut beer. All good. Beet salad - beautifully arranged and delicious. Yellow and red beets, a few leaves of basil and mint, grilled strawberry halves, and caramelized hazel nuts. I would order this again. Wedge salad - they use the lettuce hearts here instead of the typical full lettuce heads. Instead if being drowned in blue cheese dressing, it is lightly coated with a vinaigrette dressing with blue cheese crumbs, glazed whole pecans, and crispy cubes of pork belly. Very nice. Hubby didn't care for it as much as I, but that's his problem. Brussel sprouts - heard about Bouchon's Brussel sprouts being better from one other yelper... not sure that's even possible. Can't really describe it except that it's really really good. And I think it would be really good with a bowl of white rice! Pork chops - their special. It was okay. The server who brought this to our table spent a good deal of time telling us what was on the plate. And it was complicated. It has good flavor, but it was served room temperature, soft and dry. Served with homily .. salty, just not sure what to make of it. And there was this green sauce that I could not figure out its flavor. The presentation was very nice though. I would not order this again. Chicken - full very juicy baked chicken with crispy skin, served on a bed of grit that had been prepared like mashed potatoes with a kick. Ham hock, pickled okra, and frisée leaves were the side kicks. This is a five star chicken. Side kicks get 3.5 stars as I would like to have more non-salty veggies as side kicks to offset the saltiness of the grit. I would come back just for the service here. Lori and Matt were our servers. They never left us in need of anything, aside from being pleasant and knowledgeable with our orders. Throughout the evening, servers, bust people, and the management were everywhere. Everyone was efficient, polite, and attentive. I totally understand why this establishment is so highly rated. The only recommendation to make this a 6-star place is cushions for chairs. My bony butt hurt sitting so long on their metal chairs. Killing me. read more

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Beautiful ambiance, knowledgeable servers, and incredible menu. Each flavor feels intentionally selected. Beautiful presentation as well. Standouts for me (I'm vegetarian) included the complimentary lemon poppyseed popcorn (so creative!), marinated burrata & pixie tangerines, and maitake mushroom risotto. My family members enjoyed the hamachi crudo and roasted California chicken. Overall, a great place to go to celebrate my sister's graduation. What a treat! read more

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Sad to say but, my most recent experiences at The Lark have been lackluster. I've been a a regular since the beginning and quality, service, and portion size have all floundered. Disappointments this trip included lousy thigh fried chicken that lacked flavor with a smudge of garnish. What happened to the delicious Mary's chicken that we'd have leftovers to follow?! The salmon crudo was 4 bites, same with the watermelon cucumber dish. Flat iron was the same small plate that lacked flavor disappointment. Attention management: Just cut the "family style" explanation at the beginning of the meal. Nothing about your portion size can be called family style anymore. read more

My family came to the Lark for Mother's Day Breakfast and all were looking forward to having a delicious meal. Unfortunately, the experience left much to be desired... Specifically, our waitress did everything she could to avoid eye contact with anybody that needed something in our area. For example, if you wanted to get her attention that you were ready to order, she would see that you needed something from her and immediately avert her eyes. I watched this happen to several other diners too and eventually saw that folks were getting up to walk over to her to ask for their check and to place their orders. What a disappointing way to spend a holiday breakfast, following the waitress around on foot in order to get a refill, to place an order, and to get the bill. The food was good, but honestly not worth all the walking and the experience was overshadowed by their staff's buffoonery. What a disappointment. read more

This place is not a lark. This Lark soars and sings. Downtown Santa Barbara panders to the fanny pack crowd dragging small children wearing Mickey Mouse Ear Hats. They stroll State St. in search of soggy nachos and limp pizza both of which are easy to find. Lark, in the "Funk" area, off the main tourist paseo is totally up market and definitely a foodie find. In fact it can go toe to toe with any hot ticket in New York. So there. Make a reservation or you too could be chowing down at a Sports Bar trying to hail some tatted, pieced, brew barista instead of a settlin gin for a classy culinary delight. The place is buzzin' from the opening bell till late. The communal table in front is shoulder to shoulder, (sometimes that can be like eating at reform school, but not here), the bar is hoppin' and the large space is awash with locals and those who have done their homework. The tables a tad too close, but go ahead, get convivial, and there is no crushing rock loop to compete with and like a good movie sometimes an experience with others is enhanced by doing it with others. So the busy-osity of Lark is not off putting. Outside seating for a summer's evening is inviting, and the open kitchen with 20 or so cookin' fools is fun to watch. The basket of popcorn arrived immediately and was one click past it's prime, but from there it was plated perfection from gullet to gizzard. The wait staff is professional and efficient. Our server not only knew the menu inside out but how everything was prepared. She said "Me Jane, You Customer". Very cute. She offered to orchestrate the symphony of food to come. Good idea. She was terrific and a veritable Dudamel of dining. The Ras el Hanout Zucchini was crisp and righteously spiced. Perfect with Whiskey Sours and the correct Luxardo Cherries. Ask for extra cherries and they show up quicker than a Russian bride website. Jane good. Customer happy. Pochetta di Testa was not that juicy herb/tapenade stuffed pork tenderloin swathed in crisp pancetta. Nope....it's headcheese. Six huge disks of thin tasty charcuterie. Hips, lips, nips, and tips all layered together with dots of Pickled Mustard Seeds and grilled thick sourdough bread. You either love it or leave it. I loved it so much I wanted to wear it. Run out of bread and a pile magically appears with cultured Maldon salted butter. Class act. Marinated Hanger Steak can either be regal or a good reason to hang the chef. Here it was dead perfect. Served with Charred Broccoli which can be as limp as a Bob Mondale ED commercial. Not these spears. Crisp and delish with Calabrain Chili, Crispy Shallots, and fresh Mint. The Farmers Market Pappardelle (house made and al dente) with Grilled Asparagus, Spring Garlic, Fava Beans, Shaved Speck, Pickled Shallots and Horseradish sounded complicated. It was simply outstanding. Mario Batali would have traded his Orange Crocs to have a bowl of it. Dessert capped off a great meal. Tahitian Vanilla Ice Cream Sandwich. Miso Butterscotch Apples, Cocoa Nibs. Hard to eat it while applauding, Lark is serious and playful at the same time like an excellent first date.This place is worth going steady with. read more

My husband and I are always on the hunt for some good foodie fun. Before visiting Santa Barbara we did our "research" to find the top places to try out, and the Lark clearly made the list, and for good reason. We were particularly excited to try it out as we heard so many of the locals raving about it; a good sign of an outstanding restaurant. Coming from San Francisco where foodie restaurants are litered amongst pretty much every street at all price ranges, it's sometimes hard to find restaurants that offer the high quality, freshness, and unique flavors that we've come to love of our local eatery finds. The Lark was right up our alley - seasonal ingredients/menu with interesting flavors that showcase the seasonal flavors, along with beautiful presentation. And the price point is great; definitely affordably priced for the quality you receive. And HUGE portion sizes compared to those we are used to in SF! We were happy with everything we tried: Popcorn (4.5 stars) - delicious little snack to keep you happy as you await your food items to arrive (we actually asked for a second dish) Green Fried Tomatoes (3 stars) - This was a new menu item, so the waitress said they were still trying to perfect this dish. We were going to go with the brussel sprouts as those looked and smelled amazing; however, we thought the fried green tomatoes went well with all the other items we were looking to order. The consistency of the tomatoes and the crispness of the fried batter was excellent. I think it just lacked the punch of flavor we were looking for - somewhat bland and under-seasoned. Beets, Strawberries, and Burrata Plate (4 stars) - If you're a beet lover this dish is great (and this plate is huge!). My husband only had a few bites, as he's not quite a fan of roasted beets - but he still appreciated this dish. The burrata, strawberries, and nuts all paired nicely with the beets, particularly the yellow beets. Yellowtail Hamachi Crudo (4 stars) - Very fresh and light; the flavors of this dish (Navel orange aioli, marinated cucumber, pickled fennel, chili flake) all were so interesting and fresh. Great dish for spring/summer. Marinated & Grilled Hanger Steak (4.5 stars) - This was the clear winner in our book. So full of flavor; loved the addition of mint and crispy onions. We thought it looked a bit light on the meat (less than the 5-6 ounces we were told it would be); however, we were satisfied with the amount of food we ate overall. The service was okay - the wait time between each dish was definitely long. But the kitchen seems super slammed, as the restaurant was packed. The wait didn't bother us, though. The atmosphere provides a fun place to chill, and we were content sipping on our well-made cocktails and snacking on the free popcorn. All in all, we were happy with this place and would definitely recommend. We also really liked Finch & Fork. Both are great restaurants. Just depends on what kind of food you're looking for and the atmosphere you want to dine in (the Lark is more our preferred atmosphere (fun casual vibe), but a "nicer/fancier" locale that the Finch & Fork offers is also appreciated). Would go back to either! read more

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The Lark is a modern twist on the rustic. It's a farm to table sort of concept and it's earthy feeling because of all the wooden decor. It has a supercool charm with a gorgeous patio, warm lights, and cute little succulents that live in the walls vertically outside. It's really this setting that makes an impression on me more than the food. I've eaten here a few times and the dishes have been hit or miss. As the foods are innovative and change quite often, I find not every ingredient in every dish syncs together all that well. Like the popcorn with many seasonings or the oysters with horseradish. It's fun to try novel combinations though. If you want to try something you can't get anywhere else, I recommend an octopus dish. The octopus with fingerling potatoes and pineapple actually paired pretty well together, but the octopus was unlike any I've ever tried in that it was so soft it lacked any chew and had less octopus flavor. My boyfriend said if the menu didn't state it, he wouldn't have known what the meat was. I think it was cooked via the sous-vide method, in a plastic bag under water for a long time. A strange dish, but still my favorite so far. I have to say, everyone keeps raving about the Brussels sprouts, but when I had them they were extremely oily and too charred. Not on the menu is also a burger, which you can order even if you aren't sitting at the bar. It was no bueno though, had some weird sauce. Lastly, try to get a reservation if you're going to go here because it's always packed. Even when I had a birthday reservation, we still waited twenty minutes past the hour expected. They were kind about it though, and the birthday card and complimentary dessert of choice were nice touches. read more

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

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This place was really underwhelming. After a whole day of wine tasting, my girlfriend and I wanted some light tapas for dinner. Saw great reviews here on Yelp, and the menu sounded delicious. The restaurant was packed and had a hip vibe. We were able to get a seat at a communal table, which was technically inside but behind us was the open patio so we were still able to get fresh air and a nice breeze. There was complimentary popcorn for us, which was good for munching on. Our waitress was very attentive and helpful in recommending what to eat. Unfortunately, we ended up not loving anything we ordered with the exception of the brussels sprouts. This came in a large bowl and is perfect for sharing. I loveee deviled eggs, but this is the first time I tried one I didn't like. The seasoning on top was just too much, and the flavors were weird. The pork belly, usually another one of my favorites, was dry and chewy here. Only came with 3 pieces, but my friend didn't even want more than 1. We were really looking forward to the charcuterie plate to go with more wine. We were expecting a yummy spread of cured meats and cheeses, but instead we got lots of bread and a giant jar of pate. Not terrible tasting, but just not what we wanted. So breakdown: 5 stars for atmosphere, which was appropriate and beautiful to end a day in SB; 4 stars for service; 1.5 stars for food, which is the most important factor, so probably won't be coming back. read more

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There is truly no better fine dining experience in Santa Barbara, every addition or revision to the menu is just as exciting, fresh and wonderful as what came before. They really know what they are doing and I know they are really putting the work in to that experience!! read more

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This place is a 3 star place at its best (with a 1 star bonus for the ambience)z Coming from Norcal where thousands of restaurants compete to stay in business, I'm throughly disappointed by the quality of this over-hyped restaurant. Popcorn is probably is most satisfactory dish here. It carries a unique blend of of lime and olive oil that makes you keep eating more and more. BONUS STAR: - They didn't have kids menu but offered to order pizza and pasta from another restaurant, was was very kind and accommodating of them. - Cute interior designs with a well decorated full bar. Limited cocktail options though. Well, it went downhill from there. Things that are ok: - Oysters: fresh, but hey, it's raw oysters. You can't go wrong with it. - Charcuterie is not bad. - Free range chicken was pretty good. Took 25 minutes but it came out tender and juicy. We ordered half chicken but it was big enough to feed 3 adults. Stay away: - Brussel sprouts. Was so salty that we had to send back! - Gnocchi. Nah. - Yellowtail Hamachi. The fish didn't taste very fresh and the avocado spread kinda ruined it. Service was a hit and miss. Our server was great - he knows the menu very well (though we didn't like any of his recommendations LOL #sorrynotsorry). Aside from him, others were mostly rude and unresponsive. Some even took our plates away even though we were not finished eating. This experience made me lose more trust in Yelp reviews. 4.5 stars? Man. Save your money and go somewhere else. Not coming back. read more

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