Took the kids to dinner at the Nugget in Goleta. I ordered the beef stroganoff and had a Chief Peak to wash it down (okay maybe 2). Stroganoff was very generous with meat and the gravy was spot on. Just like momma used to make. Aside from the 8 bay leaves lurking in my sauce, it was a really tasty and hearty. Service was good. Seem like they have a number of quality veteran staff there who know how to run the show. Atmosphere at Nugget is rustic with a Wild West vibe. Tons of license plates from all states and a bunch of animal heads to keep an eye on you while you enjoy your meal. It's a good spot to bring the family, have a beer and watch a game. Always busy there so get there by happy hour to get a booth. I've eaten there a number of times, so if stroganoff is not your fancy, they offer tons of burgers/sandwiches/appetizers and quality steaks and chicken plates. Definitely recommend for a good meal read more

Outdoor ambiance is very nice although it's right next to the freeway (hence, I took off a star). The menu offers a wide array and wine selection is great. Wait staff is perfect--not too intrusive, but available when needed. I've never eaten indoors, but the back patio is a nice place to linger over dinner with friends. read more

Took the family here for dinner and it was excellent. Great food, wonderful service, and awesome prices. The beef stroganoff and the salmon were amazing. Oh, and they make a great Old Fashion. read more

From spending 90 minutes here, this place seems like somewhat of a local's staple kind of establishment. It's not fancy or touristy. It's not a hole in the wall or a dive. It's just your average American bar and grill, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. I had the opportunity to sit up at the small bar top to watch Monday Night Football, and maybe it would've ended better if I hadn't watched at all....I digress. There are many very nice people here. All the staff and patrons meet you with a smile of some kind or another and all good. Service was absolutely fantastic. Food was not bad at all. The ribs were falling off of the bone soft, sweet potato fries were probably something that I wouldn't pay to upgrade on again. The beers are not bad for the price or the selection. Would I go back? Yes, I certainly would. read more

Stopped in an were sat right away. Took a while to be greeted for waters and beer, but other than that the service was amazing. Only a couple of beer selections but I was very happy with the service since COVID. read more

The Nugget - American Near Me - Goleta, California

This place is amazing, I placed an online order and the wait to pick up was 30 mins and I asked for the updates via text. I recieved none and went over 20 minutes later. I walked in and the lady behind the bar looked at me like I was the ugliest person she ever seen. I must have looked so bad she was left speechless because she said absolutely nothing to me. After about 3 minutes a guy came over and asked me for my name. Sure enough the food was sitting on the bar waiting for me. I brought it back to my room and devoured it. The burger was off the chain delicious and just they way I love it. The food was great and the customer service is on point but paying 16 dollars for a burger is not really worth it. Sum it all up: great food not worth the price for what you get and definitely not worth the looks I got from the bartender. read more

Never returning after having mediocre experiences that eventually culminated in the worst case of food poisoning I've had in 20 years.

Always great service and steaks here ! I feel at home in the nugget. They serve really great steak - always cooked to perfection. read more

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Good experience at Nugget, 4 adults and a baby at dinner. Crunch Burger, Western Bacon Burger, Sea Bass and Beef Stroganoff, all very good. The appatizer, Grande Quesadilla, was very nice, served with salsa, sour cream and guac. It was pretty busy and loud on Monday night, and servers were a lttle stressed, though they did a good job. A very good family restaurant. read more

Nugget Bar & Grill Decided to check this place out for dinner with the guys while we were out here in Goleta working on a project. The place is not huge and the parking, let's face it is even worse so plan accordingly. The wait was not long surprisingly even for a party of 4. They did happen to take a while to get our drink order and by the time the waiter came through we ordered our meal as well. Our food came out shockingly fast. Everything was picturesque to say the least, but full of flavor. Everything from burgers to fried chicken was cooked perfectly. The ambience seemed to say it was more of a local hangout spot for all ages and the place to be even on a Thursday night. Nonetheless it was a decent night and I would probably still come back again. read more

I had the salmon salad at $18.95. The salmon was just okay. It was rather dry and salad was overdressed. My friend had the prime rib dip and she liked it very much. Lots of loud people. Waiter was not very friendly or attentive. Wine list was fairly priced. I would probably not go back. read more

The Nugget - Beware lots of dead animals on the wall! - American Near Me - Goleta, California

The Nugget Bar and Grill in Golita Sorry to see and taste the terrible quality of the food here. What a bummer. What has happened here? This location needs a major check-up. Chili was so burnt, tasted so bad wow, big bummer. The fish taco appetizers were very bad, fish was not fresh, taste was not good. Come on guys, tacos? Tuna melt seems to be aged tuna and fell apart, just didn't make the grade. Too much mayo maybe. Way to greasy, not well prepared. The old standby cheeseburger usually always good was not happening. Come on Nugget Guys, what happened here. Granted the bar was rocking and everyone was having a good time enjoying a drink. Service was fine, food quality batting zero. Okay it was a Thursday late afternoon, still let's do some food quality control here Nugget Team! We have never had any complaints at the Summerland Nugget location, they keep the quality up and service is good. We eat at the Summerland location often. Maybe one of the Summerland Team can get the Golita Team back on track. Hope so. Honestly sad to see. Proceed with caution. read more

I was very apprehensive to dine here, because of all the terrible reviews on service. Fortunately, I was blown away by the IMPECCABLE service we experienced from the moment we entered the restaurant to when we got up to leave. It's an older restaurant full of Americana character: license plates, funny signs, and taxidermy animals color the walls. It feels like a restaurant housed in a cozy log cabin. They serve a large variety of your typical American fare: soups, salads, burgers, sandwiches, pastas, special entrees like meatloaf. My parents split the prime rib dinner, I got the prime rib au jus with onion rings, and husband got the fish & chips. My mom sent back her clam chowder, because it was too salty, but the server was incredibly understanding and gracious about it. I really enjoyed my sandwich and onion rings. I would return if back in the Goleta area. read more

Update, lunch for four at Nugget today. Overall, excellent. Dishes; shrimp scampi, shrimp louie, chili, and fish and chips. service was great. I appreciated the fish & chips; firm white fish, well battered, done right with a crispy coating. The scampi came with a lot of savory, garlicy sauce. All at a fair price. Can't go wrong here. read more

I ordered our dinner for pickup, and paid for it online. Grubhub did not process it until the restaurant acknowledged the order. I arrived to pick it up and the Nugget employee said it was "never entered into the system". The Nugget did not apologize because he didn't think it was his fault, and blamed it on me and GrubHub. I guess either myself or GrubHub was supposed to let the kitchen staff know about the order. The employee was a complete jerk about it too. My family used to go to this restaurant a lot. Not anymore read more

I have mixed feelings about The Nugget. Our waitress was really sweet and helpful, and the drinks were creative and pretty strong, as well. I ordered what I believe to be the Impossible or Beyond Burger patty, but on the "Crunch Burger," and it came out delicious. I actually had a hard time stopping myself from eating all of it. The onion rings and stuffed jalapeños were mouthwaterrriinngg. I could have made a meal out of just the jalapeños. They also have high quality ranch here that I could practically drink because it's so tasty (gross--I know). However, my boyfriend's brother ordered a beer and it was flat. Upon hearing this, the waitress brought him out a new beer, and that one turned out to be perfectly fine. Also, I don't recommend ordering the guacamole and chips. The chips were pretty good, but the guacamole was criminally under-seasoned (basically an unsalted mashed avocado), and had clearly been sitting in the fridge for awhile because it was cold and did not taste fresh. I understand The Nugget is a burger place, but they, at least, need to salt the guacamole. Those were the only downsides though, and the burgers were good enough where I would definitely come back! Overall, the drinks are absolutely worth ordering, the service is fast and friendly, and the burgers are bomb. read more

Marissa the Waitress has been there for YEARS and is super nice, always attentive, knows the menu and gives all her customers consistent and quality service! Thanks Marissa!!!! read more

The Nugget - Filet Mignon with Mashed Potatoes and Steamed Veggies! - American Near Me - Goleta, California

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Food was great but the standout was the service! Our server was Krysta D. And she was so attentive and wonderful. Our drinks were never less than half empty. Our food came out in very reasonable time. She had great knowledge of the menu and what was gluten free for my husband. I got the prime rib special and it was soo tender! A tad over cooked but still amazing! If I were to get it again I would get the steamed veggies instead of the garlic mash though. My husband got the pork chop with apple sauce and was delighted with his meal. The portions are large so come hungry! We both had to roll out of there! Overall great value, amazing service and good food. Would go again!! read more

One thing I can say with mild conviction about Goleta is that it's no culinary mecca, and Goletans seem to like it that way. Serve up a big meaty portion and don't charge much for it, and there's the general formula for restaurant success. If it's a local business makes it even better. This is the second Nugget, with the first so unbearably far away in Summerland that this part of town can now breathe a sigh of relief knowing it's no longer necessary to drive through downtown or the dreaded Milpas bottleneck. And Goleta so desperately needs more homestyle hangouts that's not some corporate monster. The Nugget seems like a good fit. Most of the offerings of this Nugget are based on the Summerland restaurant. I'd like to highlight what few items are different. For one, the bartender and his unique specialties. I went with some thirsty friends and we sat at the bar. There we learned that this Nugget has a big ol' container of pepper infused vodka: sweet peppers, jalapenos and habaneros. The vodka has some kick to it and it's served in the Bloody Caesar cocktail. I especially liked the pickled green beans in this drink. The bar also brings the Mud Slide Cocktail to the table. Think of it as a milkshake for adults. It's a nice way to wrap up a meal of a juicy burger. I also tried the pomegranate cocktail. A bit sweet for my tastes, and I am a girlie that likes sweet things, but perhaps the portion will appeal to some. Not just a cocktail glass, but a full pint, which is poured in portions into a cocktail glass. Oof. The Nugget also has a sort of special dish menu, perhaps for lunches, or a portion that's not a full blown gut-buster main. It seems to contain items of good value. We learned that the crowd favorite was the beef stroganoff, coming in at $9. Someday I'll try it, but it was not for me that night. Instead I ordered a meal that the Summerland Nugget does not offer: baby back ribs. A full rack, with a side of vegetables and starch, for $20. The meat was falling off the bone and wasn't overly slathered in sweet sauce. It turned out my thirsty friends were also a little hungry, and we all dug into them and there was still some left over. I'd put the food at 3 stars, A-OK. The extra star comes from improving the Calle Real strip mall with one more local business. Photos of everything we drank and ate are available for your perusal. read more

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The service is pretty much great here ONLY IF you're any three or higher combinations of below. - White - In your late twenties and up - Straight read more

Miss this place. I used to live in the area a few years ago and found myself craving it today. The Philly cheesesteak was a favorite of mine. I liked going for lunch or dinner and getting a cocktail. Yum read more

Super cool western vibe with delicious food and excellent service! My go to's are the crunch burger, prime rib, and onion rings.

Don't order to go. I've eaten at the restaurant plenty of times and I've always been happy with my food. I ordered a salad to go today and it was disappointing to say the least. I paid $13.95 for tons of spinach, half an avocado, a few sprinkles of bacon, a few pieces of egg whites and a few slices of old apples. read more

The Nugget - American Near Me - Goleta, California

The new Bob's Burger was amazing, chicken Marsala awesome, coconut shrimp YUM, the wings were on point!! Service was amazing and the cocktails perfect!!! The atmosphere is chill. Summertime on their huge patio is a must!! We will be back for sure. read more

Our new favorite in Goleta. The food was fresh, delicious and plentiful. I had the Linguini and Clams. It came with toasty garlic bread. Great seasoning and absolutely loaded with Clams. My husband had the buffalo burger with the sweet potato fries. Everything came to the table piping hot and cooked perfectly. Matched with a couple of good local beers... simple and perfect without breaking the bank. Our server Olivia was warm and friendly. We will certainly be back again. read more

The Nugget - Linguini & Clams and the Buffalo Burger were both excellent! - American Near Me - Goleta, California

Loved it here! Great ambience, and really tasty meatloaf meal.

Very cool Nugget extension. The inside is full of awesome memorabilia. Classic bar and grill that has something for everyone. From families to business....Our favorites are the Mac n cheese, salads and the steaks . My son loves the buffalo burger. Can't go wrong with this one. read more

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Great cocktails (we had blood orange margaritas!) and good food. It was quite busy when we were there and the server was very attentive. Met some very nice locals there and got great info on other places to try out. Nice outdoor patio area during Covid. read more

Oddly, The Nugget seems to be one of the most controversial restaurants in the area. At least by the numbers; a raft of 1-2 star reviews and a raft of 4-5 star reviews, how is this possible? Well, I decided to go find out :-) What I discovered is, well, it comes down to what your expectations are going in. If you are expecting to find filet mignon with port wine demi-glace, Asian fusion BBQ, or even low-n-slow Southern smoked meats, then you are clearly in the wrong place. Veggie burgers, tofu and bean sprout salads are also missing from the menu, but I think you get what I'm saying here :-) What I expected was a solid place with straightforward but well executed American, meat-based plates & sandwiches. Good portion sizes and reasonable prices were a bonus. And that's pretty much what I found. The decor is very Western Americana kitsch, we've all seen it before but, hey, it fits here and just wouldn't seem right with anything else. The clientele is mostly locals and mainly from the large retirement communities very close by as well as travelers from the 3 very proximate hotels. There was a throng of "regulars" at the bar when I got there (about 6 PM) The draft beer selection could certainly be broader but they sported 4 local brews that covered the basic minimum (Lager, Blonde, IPA and Pale Ale) with no Bud-Light in sight :-). $5 pints ($4 at happy hour until 6) I was waiting for 2 friends so, for a few minutes I sat at the rail that divides the bar from the main dining room and saw a lot plates go by. As I mentioned, portions seemed generous and the steaks seemed thick. Most impressive was the chili cheeseburger which looked as if it would feed 2-3 people. It was burger night for us but I chickened out on the chili-cheese and went for the western bacon version, mid rare. Burger came a bit closer to medium but with 2 excellent onion rings, solid bacon and a pretty fair BBQ sauce (I skipped the mayo. Really, Mayo?) Both friends got the Bacon Bleu burger medium and were quite satisfied with theirs. Fries were skinny but plentiful and tasty, no burnt ones in the bunch. Now, I realize (as should everyone:-), that service is subjective and transient, and I know that's been an issue in other reviews. Ours was perfect, team service, no complaints whatsoever. Best of all maybe was the bill, 3 guys, 3 burger plates, several beers and out the door for for sixty-something $$ with a solid tip, pretty good. My wife and I usually spend more for only 2 of us :-) Happy to go back for well made, traditional American fare :-) read more

Great food , great service and friendly for kids!! We got on tap beers who is serving my table recommended. We ordered chips and salsa, today's special meal, kids meal burger, cheese burger with French fries. All of food was very good portions, tasty! We will come back again for sure.. read more

The Nugget - American Near Me - Goleta, California

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We are so DOWN ON THE NUGGET...notice I said "down on The Nugget" not down for The Nugget, because after spending LITERALLY THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS there, we can assure you that the quality has gone down...and the prices have consistently gone up annually since 2013. $16 for MacNCheese?! $13 for a wedge salad?!! Please. RJ read more

Crunch Burger, Crunch Burger, Crunch Burger!!! And the bartender is a magician. Decorated much in the vein of the original Nugget (in Summerland), this place feels cozy - and - the outdoor seating is pleasantly cool. read more

The Nugget - Back patio is wonderful - American Near Me - Goleta, California

Went back for another crunch burger. Was going to take a picture of it to add to my review, however, I made the mistake of picking it up first. Once you pick it up you can't put it down because it is too juicy. I had it with fries this time and they were also very good. Wish I could go to the Nugget more often but it is a bit pricey. Including an iced tea and the tip it was nearly $18 and that is a bit much for lunch. read more

Fabulous fish place The greatest Ahi tacos... yummmm The Fried cod was delicious Service was great and attentive Thank you read more

Food and service is excellent, can't wait to go back. The decor is frightful! Could really use a makeover.

This is the filthiest restaurant I have ever seen! See my photos of filth behind backs of booths and ANTS! We discovered the line of ants along the back of our booth when my husband found one on his drink glass. We asked for the mgr to point out the dirt & ants, but none was available and the server seemed disinterested. As you can imagine food was terrible. Chicken cooked until tough & stringy. Wilted salad greens. read more

The Nugget - Ants on booth area - American Near Me - Goleta, California

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Good drinks, good potato skins, and good pasta. Also friendly and helpful waitstaff. We will be back. read more

The Nugget - American Near Me - Goleta, California

My wife and have dined at The Nugget in Goleta several times in the past month and it was always very nice. Good food, good service and we very much enjoy eating out back on the patio. However, last Friday night our experience was awful. After a long week of work, and not wanting to cook, we arrived a little before 7:00, and although the inside was packed, we were seated outside right away. We ordered a drink and then our server took our order. For some reason, our food took forever. I noticed that four other tables arrived after we did, one almost twenty minutes later, and they all received their food before we did. The server never once came over and checked on us. When our food finally arrived, brought by a food runner, my wife's was made incorrectly. By the time her food did arrive, I was more than halfway done with mine. When the server finally came over, I asked him why we waited so long and why other tables were served before we were. He said that sometimes on a busy night, tickets get lost and/or get placed out of order. That seemed like a pretty lame excuse and he didn't seem too sorry about it. I was curious as to whether a manager might come over and say something or if our bill would have any adjustments on it. When our server brought the bill by, I noticed that there were no adjustments on it. I was pretty disappointed and upset. I am wondering if our server said anything to a manager or not. If he did, and the manager did nothing, shame on the manager. If our server didn't say anything, shame on him. When we came home I wrote an online story about our experience on their website and now it has been six days and no response. Two examples of poor customer service. We might go back again, but certainly not on a busy night. read more

I frequent the Nugget with a group of neighborhood friends almost every Tuesday. We like this restaurant because of the variety of food on the menu and the reasonable prices. I have had mostly good food But we especially love it because of the excellent service we have received over the past three years from Heidi our waitress. She is pleasant , funny and so accommodating with our often strange orders. Martha read more

We decided to come for a late brunch. Arrived at 1145am to see the place virtually empty. Which was good for us. It mean no waiting and better attention. We were wrong. The first was the wait staff explaining that they really didnt do breakfast anymore. I asked about the big sign in the front that advertised breakfast served til 2pm. The second was the one of the staff members seemed very young and more interested in laughing and giggling with our wait person causing a distraction. It took a full nine minutes just to get our coffee, at which time we ordered our food. At this point more giggling and joking goes on. Eventually we flag down our server for a refill the other server brings the coffee and its empty. He explains that they will have to brew more. To which I mentioned. Something about the restaurant being empty and they should at least have coffee brewed. To which he started to counter and i cut him off saying. This is the part where you just agree, or say yes sir and go brew some coffee. This really upset him and he seemed visably shaken. He quicklt returned with coffee which had already been brewed...as it should have been. So feeling a bit guilty I mentioned to our server, that I might have upset him. She nodded and said yes he is young. I added.. yes he is probably still in training and im probably the first time he experienced actually disapproval. She replied. No. He has been here a while... So to be clear this is not a critical review of the service or the food or the youth of America...this is a critical view of absentee management. Lack if training on the part of management/owners is the reason why there will be more people not coming back to the Nugget. Its golden days are past. read more

The Nugget - American Near Me - Goleta, California