What can I say about this restaurant. Five star in my opinion. First time visiting this place and it was exquisite. We arrived on a Friday night and they were kind enough to find us a table without reservation (I would still recommend reserving for the weekend). Customer service A plus. Ambiance was so beautiful, we felt we entered another dimension with the patio seating. We ordered Falafel, Baba Ghannouj Chicken Kabobs and Pita Bread. For a cocktail I had a tequila based one called Standard. Everything was made to perfection and fresh. Timing between entrees was perfectly calculated. We were seated like in a private terrace which we loved. read more

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The ambiance here is absolutely stunning, and the service was decent--the manager was friendly and attentive throughout our meal. However, the experience felt a bit underwhelming for such a very expensive price tag. The Food & Drinks: Pita Bread: A disappointment; it lacked the soft, hot moist texture you expect and honestly felt like it came out of a bag. Hummus: Just okay--nothing to write home about. Beef Shawarma: This was the highlight of the meal; it was actually good. Alcohol: Be warned--the markups are intense. They really gouge you on drink prices, so you might want to skip the cocktails. The Experience: The "cool factor" has dipped a bit since they stopped offering hookahs, and since there were no belly dancers during our visit (maybe we were just too early?), the entertainment was lacking. Also, keep in mind that you must be in a large group if you want to snag one of those coveted fire pit tables. The Verdict: Go for the views and the relaxed vibe, but manage your expectations on the value for the price. read more

They squeezed us in without reservations on a Saturday night, which was super nice! The staff was friendly and attentive. Food was really good, I just wish for the $$$ we were paying there would be a bit more on the appetizer plates (we tried the mixed appetizer platter). Would definitely come back to try more of the menu, and the ambiance was beautiful - very romantic and special. read more

Went with a large party of 13 to celebrate our friends birthday. It was evening time and the ambiance was very nice. We walked up a few stairs that led us to the outdoor patio. I did not notice an ADA setup. The weather was nice and there was a fire place in the middle of the table that kept us warm. They had two bathrooms with one stall in each. overall the establishment was very nice. We were split amongst two tables that were right next to each other. I had the beef kabobs. They were served rare to medium rare. I did not know they would be served in that way. Next time I would ask for well done. We also ordered the hummus trio. I also had a lemon drop that was yummy. We told them that it was someone's birthday and brought our multiple mini cakes for everyone to try. This is not complimentary. In fact, anything you order is a la carte. For example, my friend wanted something spicy to add to her meal and asked for one jalapeño. The one jalapeño totaled at $3. So please be aware that anything and everything you ask for comes with a price. I will be coming back! The serving staff were very kind and patient. read more

This restaurant is fully outdoors, there are heaters throughout but you may want to bring a jacket in case! But walking in the restaurant you are welcomed with some amazing lights and it sets the tone for great vibe for the whole night. The waiters were all super friendly. To start, we ordered the trio mezza which included hummus, baba ghannouj, and pistachio spread - you can go wrong with these, they all tasted delicious and it's a good choice when you can't choose just one mezza. For entrees we ordered the chicken kebab and kebab combo - very tasty! The chicken was juicy, the other meats were all cooked to perfection in my book! And we ended our night with baklava and you can never go wrong with this! Will definitely come back soon to enjoy the lights and food of this place! read more

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When we booked we were unaware that it is all community seating. We were unsure on how this would go when we arrived but it wasn't as awkward as we thought. It still felt private and the wait staff made sure to attend to you separately. The vibes were chill with really great music going. Every dish we had was flavorful and perfect to share. The cocktail that I had was really good and not overwhelming. Would return if we are ever in the area again. read more

Zaytoon - Lebanese Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Zaytoon *December 13th, 2025 *6pm- Saturday *5 Stars Environment: *Indoor and Outdoor Seating *Quick Service *Pleasant and Friendly Staff *Beautiful Ambiance Food/Drink: *Chicken Kebab (with rice pilaf and fattoush salad) *Beef Shawarma (with rice pilaf and fattoush salad) *Mahi Mahi (with rice pilaf and fattoush salad) *Duvel Belgian Blond Food here was excellent! We ordered the chicken kebab, beef shawarma, and mahi mahi, and all of the proteins were cooked to perfection. Our group was especially impressive since, chicken and mahi mahi are tricky to cook and can sometimes easily be overcooked. The chicken and mahi mahi were both juicy and flavorful, and the beef shawarma was tender without being dry. The ambiance really elevated the experience. We sat outside and enjoyed the propane fireplace, which was a great touch on a cold Santa Barbara night. The setting felt warm and inviting, and the staff was pleasant and friendly throughout the evening. One small thing to note is to be mindful of where you're seated outdoors, as the wind can occasionally cause a slight gas smell near the fireplace. Overall, a fantastic meal with great food, atmosphere, and service. Definitely a spot I'd return to next time I'm in the area! read more

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Beautiful Lebanese restaurant in Santa Barbara! My son recently moved to the area and has been wanting to try this place. Being Palestinian, I'm super picky when it comes to Arabic food -- but Zaytoon delivered and did not disappoint. We started with the hummus, grape leaves, and tabbouleh. Everything was fresh and delicious. My only critique: the hummus doesn't come with bread, so you have to order it separately. For our mains, we had the beef and chicken kabobs, both tender, flavorful, and perfectly cooked. Next time, I'd love to come on a weekend and with a bigger group. They have tables with fire pits that make for a beautiful, cozy evening atmosphere. read more

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I've been to Zaytoon twice now and each time has been fantastic. To be fair, the second time was for a friend's wedding and that already makes it special. They were both such different experiences, so I'll post about them separately. As a regular guest: We were seated on the patio and our waiter was very helpful in helping us decide what to order. We definitely managed to order too much still, but everything was delicious. The seating areas were very cute, I love elegant backyard vibe of the entire place. As a wedding guest: Everything was prepared well, about half the restaurant was sectioned off with plants and you could barely tell there was an entire restaurant on the other side! They kept the food rolling and cleared and combined as needed without disrupting conversations. They did a fantastic job and I would recommend Zaytoon for similar events. Especially the cheese rolls and the potatos! read more

Zaytoon - Hummus trio and batatas - Lebanese Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Per Yelp this place is rated as $$, but I would definitely make a correction for $$$. Ordered shawarma plate, it's was just ok, a bit on a dryer end. Definitely, is not made by skilled shawarma maker and cook. Tried their hummus - ok ( trader joe???) baba ghanoush - very good and memorable and tzatziki - ok ( Safeway Greek yogurt?) Interior is beautiful but food lacking flavor and for that price! Service is fast and respectful. read more

Zaytoon - Hummus, tsatski and baba ghanoush - Lebanese Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Second time here. First time a few years ago, we loved it. This time not so much. Had an early resy at 5pm since we had theater tickets a 5 minute walk away. Food and service was lacking. Our waitress was friendly enough and we ordered drinks and the vegetarian feast for appetizer for our group of 6 and a fattoush salad to share. Roasted potatoes for one in our group who prefers not to share. Lamb kebab combo, salmon with cream, chicken kebab combo and a salad topped with chicken. The vegetarian feast which had Hummus, baba ghannouj, falafel, cheese sambosik, pistachio spread, and tabbouli came out in many separate dishes as expected but kind of thrown down on the table by other waitstaff. We were on one of their beautiful fire pit tables outside and all the dishes ended up on one side of the table. Awkward to have to pass every dish to others who had nothing. Pita, Hummus and Baba Ghannouj were decent. Everything else lacked flavor. The salad was something I could make at home. Thank goodness one person ordered a watermelon salad which he shared. It was delicious. Our mains came out and once again brought by other waitstaff who had no idea who ordered what. I corrected them with the first dish but they only moved the dish one over and not to the person I told them. Maybe not paying attention? We finally got everyone's dishes on the table. Lamb kebab and chicken kebab combos reported as good. Salmon (3 of us ordered) was swimming in the sauce and was a thin piece. Sauce had to make up for dryness. The salad with chicken was some chopped lettuce with chicken thrown on top. No effort for any type of nice presentation. We were going to the theater so left once we were finished. No doggie bag desired. After the theater we commented on dinner. Only two out of 6 of us liked their entrees. We all agreed the service lacked professionalism and food plating minimal. It was not crowded yet at that early hour so we had plenty of waitstaff. There just wasn't any attention paid or instruction on who got what before throwing down the plates. Please do better as I know you can. Don't think we'll be back to find out. read more

First time eating here and it did not disappoint! Had a reservation and we were promptly seating at the warm fireplace tables. the ambiance is so cute with all the fairy lights and plants. we ordered a bunch of different foods, including different appetizers and entrées. EVERYTHING WAS SO SO GOOD! We were dying over the Halloumi Cheese we ordered it as an appetizer and then again later on in our meal because we all wanted more. And don't even get me started on the Forever nuts decaf tea!! this is the best tea i've ever had in my LIFE. Our waitress was also super sweet and nice I wish i got her name. anyways all of the flavors just hit every note and i can definitely say that if you eat here you will be coming back! read more

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This is an absolutely beautiful outdoor restaurant. There is no signage outside, so you need to know where it is, but parking on the street was plentiful when we went on a Saturday. The food was mostly amazing. We started with the Batata Harra, which may have been my favorite portion of the meal. The potatoes were crisp and had a wonderful flavor profile with a strong lemon taste. So delicious. For dinner I tried the Mashawi Combo and all of it was great. I liked the lamb in particular. My wife had the Lemon Chicken, which was tough in texture. I think I'd recommend skipping that one, not the best. In terms of service, everyone was friendly. The pace of service was quite relaxed, which was fine for us on this day, but plan accordingly. All in all, a great place to enjoy the beautiful Santa Barbara weather for a special occasion. read more

Zaytoon - Batata Harra - Lebanese Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

A friend and I came to Zaytoon tonight for dinner. We made a reservation ahead of time, which I recommend because it was BUSY! The server was very professional and kind to us. The food was prepared promptly and tasted delicious! We both got the watermelon martinis, super fresh and yummy. We split the Baba ghanoush and Pistachio, pomegranate, cheese dish for appetizers. Great spices and flavor. I got the beef kabob and it was cooked perfectly, right about medium, super juicy and tons of flavor. To add the tzakisi sauce was an extra $7. I felt that was a little overpriced and wished it just came with it. Then we got the phylo crema for dessert. It was crunchy and sweet. Loved it. Lastly the ambiance and decor is lovely. Lights and beautiful greenery all around, felt like we were somewhere far away! read more

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This was an amazing addition to our Santa Babara trip and a beautiful Lebanese restaurant in general! We are so glad to have visited this restaurant and had the opportunity to taste such great quality Lebanese food. We ordered a Mashawi Combo and Kebab Combo and it was more than enough for the two of us. With plenty of spreads, rice, and salad to go around, we were delighted to eat the tender meat in their very pretty outdoor garden area! Despite the dropping cold temps in December, this whole area was lit up with plenty of heat lamps and very pretty string lights and fixtures, brightening the whole garden at all times. Would definitely consider adding this to your Santa Barbara restaurant list! read more

OMG! Just when I thought I had tried all variations of Mediterranean cuisine, I was absolutely blown away by Zaytoon. From the moment one enters the space, which is outdoors with lots of foliage and subtle lighting that creates the ambience, it feels like you are in for a special experience which it was. Everything from the mezza to the shockingly good gluten free chocolate cake for dessert, was outstanding and special. The quality of ingredients and attention to detail really shines through. The kebab combo plate allows one to try all three of their meats - beef, lamb and chicken ((I preferred the latter two) - which anchor the menu but there are also unexpected standouts like the salmon with (not heavy) basil cream dish. Even the pita bread, which seems to have been freshly baked, has a different taste and texture than I have had anywhere else. I was so enthralled that I forgot to take pics until mid meal - they don't do the restaurant justice ... trust me. Our server was friendly, informative and attentive although she initially appeared to have too many tables in her section. There are lots of great dining options in SB - on the first try, Zaytoon soared to the top of the list. I would even drive there from LA and back in one night if I am fortunate enough to spontaneously snag one of the highly coveted reservations. It's that good! read more

Zaytoon - Kebab combo - Lebanese Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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What a gem of a place! Everything we ordered was fantastic. NA cocktails are delicious and the food is something that I often think about many months later. If you are in Santa Barbara, you have to try this place. Make reservations in advance read more

Zaytoon in Santa Barbara is basically the best restaurant in town. The most fresh Mediterranean style food will leave your table overflowing. The most delicious lamb, chicken and beef head with delicious vegetables will leave you stuffed and satisfied. The dessert was so good. It was a little bit heavy on the sugar in the paklava, the ice cream was good, but the pistachios complicated the pallet a little bit too much. I feel like it would be better if regular pistachio ice cream was used instead and the berries were yummy and sweet. I was seated outdoors on the patio. The weather was cool and temperate, then when the time came for dessert, my server turned on fireplace, which added some warm and comfort to the dining experience. The service is very nice and attentive. Despite the restaurant being busy my meal was enjoyable and my food was absolutely delicious... so good I over ate. read more

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Zaytoon has been a favorite SB staple for over 25 years. The food is absolutely delicious and full of bold flavors! My favorite is the lemon chicken, the kebabs and the garlic spread along with the hummus and falafel appetizers. The drinks are super yummy, the service is always warm and friendly, the ambiance is one of the best in SB, with their gorgeous outdoor patio fountain in the middle, fire pit tables, twinkle lights for romance and charm and often a love guitarist to set the mood. We come here at least once a month for date night of with groups of friends. Be back soon! read more

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I came here with my husband for the first time as my brother really enjoys this place. I wasn't really impressed, I really enjoy Middle Eastern food, but this wouldn't be on my list. Their prices are very high for the food that you get and did not feel that flavor was as good as other Middle Eastern places. The place is really beautiful, they open at 5 PM and it's outdoor seating. read more

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classic spot i love it and have been going for years. fire pits are nice in the evenings and winter. batatas haras and hummus are standout. i wish you could order kebabs à la carte because i end up with a bunch of meh rice and salad. read more

We went here for a wedding and they told us the story that they randomly checked out this place and ate in a corner several months before the wedding and decided right then that the food, the service, and the ambience, was enough to have the wedding after-party at their establishment. I will agree that the food was amazing and the atmosphere was absolutely romantic and intimate. The service was quick and responsible. My only issue, and I think it's kind of funny, is that they don't have a sign at the front so it does feel exclusive and I had to ask the front clerk if this is the correct place to be. :) read more

Zaytoon - Salud to the new couple! - Lebanese Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Food, drinks, service and ambiance were all a 10/10! We will definitely be returning to this beautiful restaurant! Beef kebabs (entree) and beef sambosik (appetizer) were our favorite !!! read more

Zaytoon - Amazing appetizers - Lebanese Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Came here around 5:30 for a party of 10 without reservation. Got seated in 5-10 minutes. All the seating is outside. It was a bit windy so the fire pit warmed us up. They also provided blankets to keep us warm. The food came out in 10-20 minutes. My mixed shawarma plate was super delicious. The salad was delicious as well along with the rice. I also tried some meat from the mashawi combo and it was super tender. The pita bread was good with the spicy tzatziki. Overall it was a delicious place with a cozy fireside ambience. Service was also great. read more

Zaytoon - Mixed shawarma plate - Lebanese Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Wow super nice experience the food was great and staff was great definitely coming back.

We came to Santa Barbara For a time of rest and had dinner at Zaytoon! We sat in the patio and started with the pistachio spread with pita bread it was outstanding! Yogurt with pistachio and pomegranate and it's crazy good! Our server was very nice and gave us plenty of time to be alone and enjoy before the dinner came! The fire pits and music and cool breeze gives a nice romantic dinner for us! The mashawi combo was fantastic! read more

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**Must order: halloumi, tzaziki This restaurant is so charming! The outdoor patio is a dream at night. The fire table was cool but a little scary with the Santa Ana winds going crazy the staff offered to turn down the flame intensity for us. Food: All of the food was remarkably simple but amazing. I was very impressed with how delicious everything was without going over the top. Portions are massive. Between four of us we ordered two kebab combos and three appetizers - it was the perfect amount of food Tzaziki (10/5): you have to order an extra side of tzaziki with the pita bread. It is incredible flavorful we finished the whole bowl! Your breath will definitely smell like garlic after though Halloumi (5/5): A simple dish with slices of fresh watermelon, basil, and grilled halloumi sandwiched together. The halloumi was NOT chewy at all and SO tasty!! Pistachio yogurt dip (5/5): the yogurt they use is insane. So thick and creamy and flavorful. The mint and pomegranate went together so well Mashawi combo (5/5): all of the meat was cooked so perfectly. Chicken was especially juicy, and the side salads are wonderful. Cheese sambostik (4/5): felt like an elevated mozzarella stick. If you're familiar with Turkish food, very similar to sigara börek but with mozzarella cheese and a much thicker pastry read more

Zaytoon - Halloumi - Lebanese Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

This is absolutely one of my favorite restaurants not only in Santa Barbara, but in the world. When I first went to this establishment years ago, it was possible to get a table with a fire pit even if it was just for a couple. Nowadays, you need to have a group to request a table with a fire pit, but, it's still quite an experience. It feels very elegant--giving the entire experience quite an enhancement. You know what is just as impressive as the fire pit tables? The service you get at Zaytoon. These people are just so classy so helpful so friendly and they do it all so elegantly. I'm not talking about corn ball cheesy whatever the customer wants stuff. I'm talking about a real interest in helpfulness and service. The staff is beautiful inside and out And then the quality of the food is really as impressive as the environment and the service. Admittedly, I've only had their vegetarian feast entrée and I always get full off of it because I don't need much to get full. I've always enjoyed it and I feel bad that I haven't tried anything else on their menu, but don't feel bad that I look forward to ordering the vegetarian feast at this establishment again in the future. I don't know how I'm going to solve that conundrum. Five solid stars. This place is as good as it gets. And it's worth the money. It's a great place for a date or for a special occasion. read more

Zaytoon - Zaytoon's Vegetarian Feast - Lebanese Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

I highly recommend Zaytoon! We always get it to go and it is so delicious, portions are generous, so fresh, and the service is fast. read more

We had a fantastic date night at Zaytoon, a hidden gem by the Santa Barbara Presidio. The ambiance was magical, with fire pits and string lights on the garden patio. Our Mediterranean dishes were fresh, flavorful, and paired perfectly with refreshing cocktails. Highly recommend for a romantic night out! @sosalicious805 Check out my visit here: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DB-lDOWxR4o/?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== read more

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This one is always busy and will have a waitlist. Good ambiance though the seating we got was a bit uncomfortable. The food was average - but the service was god awful! I will give the ambience a higher mark than the food and service read more

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Excellent food. Wine menu is very nice and service impeccable! The ambiance is very cozy.. highly recommended! read more

Came here for a birthday dinner and it was good! Nothing too special of a place in my opinion but it was pretty. Food was okay, service was great and place was very busy. We had a reservation for 5pm when they open and they already had a line. This could very well be the only Lebanese restaurant in the area but coming from a city these dishes can be found for a much cheaper price and better tasting. read more

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Awful experience all together! Awful host and awful food! My husband and I were staying at Montecito for a weekend getaway and decided to try this place for an early Super Bowl Sunday dinner! when we arrived at six, the place was almost empty and the host (a bald angry guy) was very rude he asked if we had reservation and when I said no, he wanted to sit us somewhere dingy and all the way in the back corners of the upper patio and insisted all the other tables were reserved! Which I should mention, hardly anybody showed up the whole duration of our dinner and most tables were empty the whole time!!! That should've been my first red flag to skip this restaurant, Just so you know the outdoor garden sitting is only for larger parties of 4 people or more! If you're smaller party, you can only sit on an upper patio away from the garden! Very misleading advertising for a romantic ambience. We ordered the trio appetizer, which was tasteless, bitter, and awful! Ridiculously nonexistent portion and they had audacity to charge for couple of pieces of stale dry pita bread to eat with the dips as if you're supposed to eat them with your fingers!!!! Also ordered the salad and the lemon chicken, which was again tasteless worse than airplane and hospital food! Total disappointment altogether! I would not sit foot in that place ever again if they paid me Teach your host some manners and customer service! read more

We visited on a Thursday afternoon of out Santa Barbara trip and we we're disappointed. We started with cocktails which were super delicious. We liked the cheese sambosik and it was perfectly crispy and delicious. We also had the Greek salad but we were a bit underwhelmed by it. The tomato's tasted like Roma tomato's so they were juicy they felt a bit grainy The mashawi combo was enough for two people to share if you get an entre. It does not come with rice so we got an extra side of pita bread. We also got a side of Tzatziki it was delicious but a bit pricey for the quantity . Staff was amazing and the location looks really nice at night . I would definitely visit again read more

Zaytoon - Lebanese Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

God damn it, those Mashawi brought me back to Beirut and Damascus. The whole vibe of the restaurant, and even the smell wow. I really was transported back to the middle east. The baba qannosh was beyond beyond phenomenal tooo. I honestly cried a little as i ate. And the BREAD, dont get me started on that. Lots of white folks as staff, this girl asks, if i ever had arabic coffee before. She doesn't know our moms mix there tit milk with that shit and feed it to us as newborns. (That's just my arabic ego) the woman was nice im just sensitive, cause i look white without the actual entitlement/privilege. Anyways, really wonderful spot, i will absolutely come back. Genuinely better than many spots in NYC, which is a big deal. Thanks zaytoon, thx for bringing a slice of home to the US. read more

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We've been here a few times before so we have a better baseline - and we love this place...so maybe because they were cranking out the meals for Valentines Day, or maybe because the wind was blowing and it was chilly, but the food didn't make it to the table hot. The flavors were delicious as usual though, and the blankets provided on every chair were a very nice touch. The service was excellent and their patio is one of the best places to eat in town with the flames and twinkling lights, it is pretty magical. Just maybe save it for a regular night when the winds are calm (though I have to say, we still had a great time and were very glad to be there). And a halloumi sandwich on watermelon??? Whoever thought of that is a genius! We'll see you next time we're in town Zaytoon. Actual ranking: 5.0 read more

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Food is fine, nothing special. Essentially just shredded meat with a house salad and hummus for every dish. You go for the ambiance. Very cute spot. read more

Overpriced Mediterranean food and no hookah anymore. It's a shame. This place used to be awesome back in the day. Now, I'm not a consumer of nicotine anymore so it's not a personal concern of mine that the hookah is gone but it was the only hookah lounge in town so that's disappointing. Food is great, don't get me wrong. Also my date and I showed up without a reservation and they were able to seat us at a communal table, which was fine. Still though, overpriced food even though it's good, I can get similar quality at Luna Grill for 1/5 the price. read more

Very nice outdoor area with lots of trees, heaters, and the right amount of light. Service was great. They checked in often, but not too frequently. The food was good, but did not match the price. I would go again for the vibe and outdoor area. read more

Zaytoon - Lebanese Near Me - Santa Barbara, California