Over all these years, I have avoided the Funky Zone for various silly reasons. But for a while now,…read morewhen I visit my friend's auto repair shop downtown, he always gets Turkey Burgers from here. Always looking for places to have solo lunch, I finally ventured to FZ. There's no sign. I drove by several times and parked, determined to find it. It was next to Lama Dog. I ordered at the window from a very friendly and efficient staff member. I found a nice bar-height communal table inside a super cool restored warehouse with awesome indie music jamming, also surrounded by big screens and sporting events. I ordered a bottled Arnold Palmer from the bar, not realizing the bottled drinks are self-serve. Nevertheless, the bartender kindly got it for me along with a glass of ice. Now here's the best part: the very best Turkey Burger I have ever had--way better than any take-out before. It's topped with garlic aioli, avocado, melted cheese, lettuce, tomato, and crispy skinny onion rings, just perfect. I also ordered the fries with truffle and Parmesan--absolutely delicious, though a bit too flavorful, which overshadowed the turkey burger's flavor. I've tried both sweet and regular potato fries here, and they are excellent too. This place really hits the spot. Can't wait to come back.

We stopped by Lama Dog for a drink and were very happy to find this little "nook" inside serving…read morefood. Perfect for grabbing a bite to go with your beer. Got their Lobster Mac & Cheese. Was enough for us to share between two. Creamy and cheesy, but could've used more lobster. Would've expected a better lobster to macaroni ratio with this one. Prices are a little steeper here. It was $25 for the Lobster mac & cheese, which I would've been more open to with a bit more fish in the dish. Plus, when I go to grab a beer, I'm not necessarily wanting to pay $20+ for a burger without fries. That being said, it's still a good spot to grab some food while drinking a beer at Lama Dog.

Food was phenomenal, service was exceptional!!! All around amazing experience! We came for my…read morefriends bachelorette for a more chill vibe but it was exactly what we needed. Sabit the manager was amazing and so accommodating! Will be back cus he was wonderful!

We had dinner at Finch and Fork and ordered the fried chicken with sautéed baby broccoli and mashed…read morepotatoes. The potatoes were the standout. The butter was balanced, the texture was so good. The chicken wasn't dry and was seasoned perfectly. However, Sabit, the assistant manager is the reason I'm writing this. He was incredibly kind to us. We watched him move through the dining room the entire time we were there. He wasn't checking on tables the way managers do when they're running a script. He was actually paying attention to people. The staff around him seemed comfortable, not performative, which usually tells you more about a manager than anything they say. The food was good, Sabit made it better. We'll be back.

Great experience! Showed up pretty late at 8:45 with last minute reservation for 3 and had to wait…read morea bit before seated but they were very welcoming! The menu is interesting in a good way! Everything I tried was very fresh and a medley of unusual flavors that refresh the palette. The honey rosemary cornbread is very memorable! Our waiter was super helpful and nice! Definitely would go again!

During a weekend getaway to Santa Barbara, a friend and I had dinner at The Lark after hearing…read moregreat things about the oysters and fried chicken. Those recommendations gave us an easy place to start, and neither dish disappointed. We were seated on the outdoor patio beneath the trees, surrounded by greenery and warm string lights. It felt comfortable and intimate, especially as evening settled in. This would be a great setting for a date night, dinner with friends, or anyone who prefers a lively restaurant without sacrificing conversation. A generous bowl of seasoned popcorn arrived first and disappeared quickly. It was crisp, savory, and a fun alternative to the usual bread basket. We ordered several rounds of the West Coast oysters, served ice cold with lemongrass and Thai chili granita. They were fresh and briny, with enough brightness and subtle heat from the granita to complement them without overpowering their natural flavor. Oyster lovers should put these at the top of the order. The fried chicken was another standout. The crust was deeply crisp while the chicken remained juicy, and the creamy grits underneath made it especially satisfying. Scallions and plenty of house-made pickles brought freshness and acidity to the plate, balancing the richer elements. This is a substantial dish and an ideal one to share. The menu lends itself well to ordering a few plates for the table, which worked perfectly for us. We paired dinner with wine and appreciated being able to take our time rather than feeling rushed through the meal. The Lark delivered exactly what we wanted from a Santa Barbara dinner: excellent oysters, a fried chicken dish worth sharing, an inviting patio, and a relaxed evening over good food and wine. I would gladly order both dishes again.

A waterfront location that serves a little bit of everything from breakfast, lunch to drinks and…read morehappy hour. This was my first stop of the morning and I was hungry and didn't want to wait too long anywhere else. Therefore, I stumbled upon this cafe which was not crowded. Their menu is diverse, they include dessert, lunch, alcoholic drinks, etc. I ordered the breakfast burrito with sausage: W/GRILLED POTATOES, MAC & CHEESE, SCRAMBLED EGG & SAUSAGE Very flavorful, unique and the mac & cheese was a new one to me. A high carb burrito to get me going while I continued to explore downtown SB. 5/5 I also ordered an orange juice, really delicious and fresh. 5/5 loved it. I sat facing the beach and it was very relaxing. I enjoyed my breakfast here and overall a nice experience.

So happy we found something close to the water that wasn't all seafood and that my husband could…read moreenjoy. He is not a big seafood guy, and when you're by the water, it feels like every restaurant usually specializes in seafood. Happy Cat Eats had a chicken sandwich that looked really appealing to him. After we got our food from the wharf, we drove over and sat at their outdoor tables while we waited for his order. The chicken sandwich was DELICIOUS. I actually liked it a little more than my own food and almost traded with him. Too bad he doesn't like clam chowder! The onion rings he ordered were just as good. The tempura batter was a 10/10. It wasn't oily at all, which is the key to a good tempura fry. We loved the weather, and all the tables had cover, which made it even better. It was a beautiful day made even better by their food.

Last night was the first time in many years that I've eaten here…read more I cannot believe I waited so long to come back. Our food was phenomenal. Each dish had its own unique flavor. No dish seemed to have any crossed ingredients. Fortunately for us as well was that we were there at one of two times during the day when they have an entire restaurant participation sing along. Most Outstanding Dinner outing !!

The Palace Grill is a great spot to grab cajun food and share a meal. The service was amazing and…read morethey are dog friendly on their outdoor patio! That was a big plus in my book. The ambiance on the outdoor patio was cozy and gave New Orleans vibes. I absolutely loved the muffin sampler that they give as an appetizer. We had the hurricane margaritas, crawfish étouffée and redfish pontchatrain.

Customer service and staff - 5 stars Food - 5 stars…read moreBeer - 5 stars Ambiance - 5 stars

Had the regular burger. Probably the worst I've ever had in my life. Patty is half the width of the…read moreburger and SUPER hard. Their ketchup has chili peppers in it... They should consider not having a food menu. They don't know what they are doing.

My partner and I came to celebrate our one year anniversary and we had an amazing time!! We chose…read moreto do the 4 course tasting menu which was out of this world and incredibly worth the price. Each dish was so flavorful and made with so much care. My favorite dish was the pumpkin style gnocchi we had and the branzino fish, he loved the bone marrow. The soup I forgot to take a picture of was potato and leek with truffle was amazing as well. The restaurant is also very cozy with great ambience and we had fantastic service.

Great vibe and solid food…read more The Black Sheep Restaurant + Bar is a fantastic spot for drinks and catching up with friends. The atmosphere is lively and visually appealing -- I love how the space is set up. Ruben, the owner, was our server, and he was personable and attentive even though the restaurant was slammed. It was clear he cares about the experience and makes sure guests are taken care of -- thanks, Ruben! The food was good, with generous portions. It's not "over the top" or heavily specialized, but everything was well-cooked and executed by a chef who knows his craft. Perfect for a relaxed night out with friends. Overall, if you want a fun bar vibe, solid food, and attentive owner-led service, this is a great choice in Santa Barbara.

Great service and fantastic food. Not to mention the view . Bring your bathing suit because the…read morebeach is steps away.

We found this gem right on East Beach in Santa Barbara. There were both beachfront patio and…read moreindoor dining options and they somehow perfectly combined casual oceanfront dining with an outstanding menu. Make sure to make a reservation for outdoor seating. We were served by the lovely Harvey, who was warm, welcoming and made us feel right at home. Thank you Harvey! We ordered the deviled eggs which were out of this world, the best French onion soup in town, delicious miso garlic noodles and a Cobb salad. Every dish was delicious and full of wonderful flavors. In addition they had an extensive cocktail menu. We highly recommend this lovely casual spot.