Zookers Restaurant

I don't know why it took us so long to discover this place. Soooo good…read more I had their Mango Colada and Nachos and they were excellent. My partner had the Maui Burger and Sweet Potato Fries and they were equally as yummy. The atmosphere is fun, there's a bit of an ocean view from certain locations and lots of little pockets of seating which I love. It'll be a regular spot for us. Great place for kids to play in the sand. Such a fun vibe.

Dear Hubby and I have been long-time fans of Padaro Beach Grill. As such, we wanted to introduce…read more(maybe re-introduce?) Sweet Granddaughter to the place on a Saturday as summer is winding down. Am not sure if there's been a change of ownership, but there did seem to be a change of results of the experience of visiting. Noting that in a previous review I mentioned live music. Several other reviewers did, too. When we were there this past weekend in the early afternoon, there was no music to be found. We caught the ordering line at the right time; it wasn't too long and it didn't take but a few minutes to get to the counter. After that, it went downhill to some extent. The main disappointment was the food. I mean, it's a restaurant, right? That's kind of the point. The ambiance is still fun - beachy casual, like you're a guest at a private beach club. But the food used to be much, much better. I made the mistake of ordering the tri-tip sandwich. It was served with grilled onions and smothered in BBQ sauce. It would normally also come with cheese, but I had that left off as cows' milk cheese and I do not get along. I would have much preferred to leave out the BBQ sauce and have au jus on the side instead to let the flavor of the beef come out. Alas, that's not an option. There wasn't anything else on the menu speaking to me at the time, or I could have / should have ordered something else. I thought about the fish tacos, but I'm not a huge fan of cabbage. In any event, the tri-tip was cut too thick. That made it tough to bite / and overly chewy. To the point where it wasn't a happy eating experience. I only finished half the sandwich and gave the rest to DH to eat later. I didn't choose to add any fries or onion rings as I wanted to give fried foods a rest. So I had half a sandwich, and half a very overpriced and underwhelming chocolate chip cookie for dessert. For me, the food was bordering on a failing grade. Barely a "C". DH, on the other hand, really enjoyed the fish and chips he'd ordered. I had a bite, and while the fish was really fresh, the batter coating was undercooked, which made for a mushy exterior texture. It was also extremely greasy. SG ordered her favorite meal of chicken nuggets and fries. She'll never turn down fries, so that made her happy. The chicken pieces were not that flavorful, and not that great a texture, either. We also spent the meal dodging ants which were running over the picnic tabletop. A tabletop which looked like it hadn't been cleaned by human hands in a very, very long time. Which likely explains why the ants thought it was fair game - they were on the hunt for missed crumbs. I can bet good money that when we ask SG if she remembers eating at Padaro Beach Grill, she will recall that it's the outdoor place where the ants were trying to eat our food. There aren't enough umbrellas for all the picnic tables, and there's not really any other source of shade on a warm, sunny afternoon. We were lucky enough to get one of the lawn-area tables with an umbrella, but we ended up feeling crowded when mid-way through our meal, a group of seven people took over the adjacent table. By then, we were ready to finish up and go. In past visits, lingering and enjoying the tropical vibe was part of the experience. Not during this last visit. A shame.

Lots of seating nooks

Maui Burger

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Entrance

Clementine's Steak House

4.2(405 reviews)

0.7 mi

•$$$

Clementine's is like going to your grandmother's house for dinner, except poor Grandma can't cook…read morethis well. It's probably the best meal for the money on the Central Coast, and my daughter will tell you they have the best clam chowder too. They're famous for their baked potato, which has the skin removed and this crispy fried outside. It's really good and unlike any baked potato you'll get anywhere else. The service is fantastic too. Everyone is friendly and makes you feel right at home, which really adds to the whole experience. Dinner also comes with a piece of homemade pie, which we almost always take to go because we're too full by the end of the meal. Clementine's is just a really unique place. You won't find another restaurant quite like it. Great food, great service, great atmosphere, and a great value. It's our favorite place to eat dinner in Carpinteria.

Roaches. Went there…read morelast night for Mother's Day. We ordered Fresh fish". --salmon and halibut. Tasted a little fishy; it was just ok. But for the high price - fish should be excellent. But the very worse thing: was the German cockroach we saw sprinting across the wall next to us. I told the owner, he was nice and understanding, took full responsibility for it-and said "they're everywhere." I appreciated his honesty. Western extermination had been trying to cure the problem, he said, but they keep failing They need to close down the restaurant and take care of this. For if there is one, there is, and we know, thousands-- in walls, kitchen, storage, flour, pie mixture, etc.

Lights work but were told the fans did not. The dining room was sweltering.

Banana cream pie

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Rear parking and entrance

The Nugget

3.8(36 reviews)

Good drinks and good bar food. Servers were nice and service was good and fast. The music was too…read moreloud for our liking, but it IS a bar and I think we were seated in proximity to the speakers. The food was just good! Nothing special, but definitely not bad!

Second time here and the food and service was great! Our server was attentive and was making sure…read morewe had refills on our drinks. Everyone enjoyed their meals. The only thing that wasn't amazing was my martini. The olive juice tasted a little off. Other than that everything was great!

The Bar

Club Sandwich

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Potato Skins

Teddy's By The Sea

4.3(936 reviews)

We visited Carpinteria for the first time as a little summer escape from the heat in Simi Valley,…read moreand after arriving hungry, we came across this place. What a great find! The restaurant was busy, with tables pretty much full both inside and outside, but luckily we were able to get seated without a wait. I ordered the fish tacos, my son had the linguini pomodoro, and my wife ordered the cioppino. Everything was delicious. The seafood tasted incredibly fresh, and the fish in the cioppino was so tender it practically melted in your mouth. The broth was rich and savory--maybe a little on the salty side, but we still really enjoyed it. The service was another highlight. Everyone was kind, friendly, and welcoming, and you could tell the staff was working hard to make sure everyone had a good experience. I also really liked how diverse the menu is. There are plenty of choices for different tastes, whether you're in the mood for seafood, pasta, tacos, or something else. Overall, this was an awesome first experience and a great discovery during our trip to Carpinteria. We'll definitely be back next time we're in town, and we're looking forward to trying more dishes from the menu!

This used to be one of our favorite spots in Carpinteria, which makes it especially disappointing…read moreto leave a 1-star review. Unfortunately, after giving Teddy's by the Sea multiple chances, the problems have become too consistent to overlook. We've had repeated issues with online orders--food mixed up or not prepared the way we ordered it. On one occasion, we even found a piece of plastic in our lobster mac and cheese. But the most frustrating issue has been the completely inconsistent closing time. They advertise that they're open until 8:30 PM, yet we've shown up as early as 7:40 PM and been told they're already closed. This hasn't happened just once--it's happened to us multiple times. We really used to enjoy coming here, but between the order mistakes, the plastic in the food, and never knowing whether they'll actually be open during their posted hours, we've finally given up. If you advertise that you're open until 8:30, customers should reasonably be able to expect you to be open at 7:40.

Fish Tacos

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Ceviche

The Spot

3.7(506 reviews)

0.5 mi

What can you really ask for in a shack experience, order and the window and settle down at one of…read morethe tables. Breakfast sandwich with a burger on it- hard to go wrong Cept could use more filling to match the bread. The chorizo breakfast burrito was very classic. Surprisingly their coffee hit the spot (pun intended) as well.

One of the best double cheeseburgers I've ever had. The vibes are also beach life perfect.read more

Cheeseburger French Fries

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Rincon Brewery

4.0(592 reviews)

Best hot dog ever !! Hamburger were great too !…read moreVery friendly and polite I Will definitely go back !!!! I knew it would work .

First of all, the service was great. Our server was attentive and checked on us multiple times. The…read morebiggest problem for me was the mediocre food for the price. I do like that they had some options for gluten free, you can lettuce wrap most sandwiches and burgers. The food wasn't terrible either, but if I'm paying $18 for a burger and side salad I want it to be great. The seltzers were good though and I think worth the $8 price tag you see at most local breweries. The real kicker was the $3 charge for using a credit card that I didn't see posted anywhere (I could've missed it to be fair). The patio was nice and you can people watch on the busy street but inside wasn't anything exciting either. Again, our visit wasn't bad but wasn't great.

Four beer 4oz flight $8

Inside dining area

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Taps

Island Brewing Company

4.4(324 reviews)

0.4 mi

Stopped in for a quick drink on our first day in town and loved it! The seltzer was my favorite one…read moreI had on my entire vacation and the back patio was relaxing with plenty of shade. Service was great and the local patrons were so nice, I chatted with multiple people! Also love how dog friendly the place is with multiple water dishes and dog treats available. Wish we had a chance to go back again, but it will definitely be our first stop on our next trip back to the Santa Barbra area.

I was in town with a relative and we decided to stop in for a drink. Friendly staff , good beer and…read morelive music! It wasn't too busy on a Friday night which was unusual to see. I have been here before and I would come back when in town! Plus .... Free WIFI !

Clear and Present Danker IPA.

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Dang Burger

4.5(203 reviews)

Ordered the hot dang and it was fan freaking tastic. Loved every last bite! The burger was…read moreabsolutely perfect. The crisp edges, the fresh veg, and the to die for fries. That's one perfect burger.

This place was worth traveling outside of Santa Barbara! I follow them on instagram and seen the…read moreadvertisement for the special of the day. It was a salmon burger so I figured let's try it. I didn't expect it to be $20 though! Sheesh. You don't even get fries with it. Nonetheless, my son enjoyed it and that's all that matters to me. I ordered the single dang burger with small fries. The burger was delicious! I always get the special sauce on the side because I'm not sure if I will like it. Well dang! The special sauce here is clearly made in-house and I absolutely loved it!! The fries reminded me of In-n-Out, but better. They aren't too dry and paired well with the sauce. The atmosphere here is really nice! I love the options of outdoor seating and they also have a small area inside. The space is also shared with Sunburst wine bar. Overall, a great place to check out in Carpinteria.

Burger and Fries

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Hard to find look for the orange umbrellas & Sunburst sign

The Worker Bee Cafe

4.2(1k reviews)

0.4 mi

Omg... long story short we loved it... actually fresh, homemade food!…read moreGreat, great service! I was so happy and I'm kinda keren sometimes loll... inside keren... Enjoy this lovely place!

Eggs overcooked. Potatoes barely cooked. Gravy had no flavor…read more Service was slow but not due to lack of effort on our servers part. You can't expect one person to watch a counter for 10 and 8 tables.

The inside dining area

Gluten-Free Cinnamon Raisin French Toast

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Mural in the back parking lot

The Shoals Restaurant

4.3(341 reviews)

5.0 mi

A romantic spot along Hwy 101. The restaurant is located on the lower floor and outdoor patio of…read moreThe Cliff House. Sit outdoors and take in the lovely, serene ocean view. The food is top notch as is the service. Our server, Billie Rae, was pleasant and personable. We ordered fried calamari, the pork chop, salmon and cheesecake for dessert. The pork chop and salmon both had a nice sear and the lemon, mushroom rice and veggies were wonderful!

Lunch with family back on Friday, April 10…read more I still remember how perfect the weather was that day -- not too hot, not too cold, and the sunlight was soft and comfortable. It created such a relaxing atmosphere for lunch. It was my wife's and mother's first visit, and they both really enjoyed the ambiance. Honestly, the atmosphere made the food taste even better. We ordered the risotto with added chicken, along with mussels and a few other dishes. The risotto was creamy without feeling too heavy, and adding chicken made it much more satisfying. The only slight disappointment was the mussels. They were much smaller than expected -- probably not in season -- and there was barely any meat inside Still, the overall experience, atmosphere, and quality time with family made it a very enjoyable lunch. Definitely a nice spot for a relaxing lunch on a beautiful day

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Sunset Ocean View

Salmon

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A frosty glass is always a nice touch.

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T. L.

10 years ago

Delicious food - GREAT service! We just moved to Carpinteria not long ago. We were checking out the local food establishments and stumbled on ZOOKERS right down the street from our house. My son has a "thing" for good burgers and we travel around tasting them wherever we go. We heard Zookers had a winning burger so we had to try it. My son LOVED it, Zookers is now his favorite place for a hamburger. They also have many other good choices, my personal favorite are the Mango Spring Rolls...YUMMY! It is our new favorite local restaurant. Also, the service has always been good but, if you want EXCELLENT service...Scott ROCKS! read more

Louis T.

3 years ago

Perfect spot to buy the start of an epic meal. Friendly people. Engaging and knowledgable with obvious passion for what they do. The selection of meat and seafood is intense and will fit your pallette. There are high quality cuts, fresh sushi-grade seafood (I always eat a slice of salmon even when cooking the rest) and amazing special dishes. There are even some items prepared to be cooked and served, such as lasagna and kabobs. A clean and simple aesthetic hilights the quality products (each chosen for top flavor) like capers, pickles, cheeses, etc. My go-to for almost every meal. read more

Nicola M.

4 years ago

Stopped in for their veggie burger.....WOW!! It was too much for one person. And delicious!! They must make their own patties. It was falling out of the edges of the large, toasted bun. Cooked just the way I liked it......Crispy! With an added side of cheese and grilled onions to go with the lettuce, tomato, red onions and dill spear! And that included wedges of hot, fried (crispy) red potatoes as a side! I stuffed down half and took the other half home for dinner!! And the prices are reasonable! read more

Brooks W.

108

9 years ago

Zookers is a great local Carpinteria restaurant. Their burger is yummy, and their pastrami sandwich is pretty good as well. Our waitress was nice and knowledgeable about the menu, however the service was pretty slow. I ate here on my one hour lunch break (I work about 4 minutes away) and I was late getting back to work. Other than that, I'll definitely be back. read more

Ronnie F.

9 years ago

Quality food - Great service Dinner here was a highlight of our trip. Salmon cooked to perfection, soft skin spring rolls with mango sauce a fresh surprise. Our waiter, Scott, was friendly, professional and knowledgeable. It was obvious he wanted us to be completely happy with our meal ... and we were read more

Jean L.

13 years ago

I stopped by randomly, without the help of Yelp, on my way to Santa Barbara. I have never had a sandwich that tasted this fresh and delicious. The bread is soft and the pastrami sandwich immediately earned 100 points. The Zookers chicken sandwich was good as well. I will definitely come here again. read more

Lorraine M.

11 years ago

The staff are very accommodating..lovely. Their ribeye steak was to die for with some of the best seasonings I've ever tasted so far.The most notable thing that stands out for me at this restaurant - and one of the main reasons I return, is their Caesar salad.Great dressing and seasonings read more

Sally T.

4 months ago

had a fantastic dinner at Zookers.The Bruschetta was a great start, and the Chicken Saltimbocca was absolutely delicious--chef's kiss! A huge thank you to our server, Kyle W, who was both personable and professional. He really made our evening special. I will definitely be back. read more

Sandra J.

12 years ago

I didn't actually get to enjoy because I was seriously sick when I went. But everything looked and smelled fantastic that my friends got. I took some home and ended up eating bits of veggies over the next week. I plan on going back as soon as possible. read more

Alex Z.

15 years ago

I was driving by and noticed the name Zookers, it just so happens my last name is Zook, so I went in for same lunch. I got the Zookers chicken and it lived up to the Zook name!! I recommend Zookers to anyone driving by. read more

Steven C.

8 years ago

Driving around Carp and saw this place. So glad we stopped because the food was awesome. Had the tuna sandwich and it wasn't all watery like some places.It was perfect. The place was really cool and our service was fast. read more

Brad N.

12 years ago

Thanks to a wonderful group of people for an amazing experience. The food was fantastic as well as the wine. They were also very accommodating to our daughter. Thanks so much as we'll be back! read more

Lexi M.

Elite 15

206

124

115

18 years ago

I seriously only go here for the HUMMUS. It's AMAZING! It just might be the best hummus I have ever had, and I have had tons!! GO HERE! You won't be disappointed!! read more

Nicholas M.

10 years ago

Now you're talkin'. AMAZING food, fully professional service, very reasonable pricing. A local secret where you can meet everyone in town at one time or another. read more

Susan W.

8 years ago

Love this restaurant. My go to place when I have guests from out of town. For dinner, some excellent fish items and lunch, love the 50/50 salad and sandwich read more

Isa K.

16 years ago

Always expect a good meal but be ready to pay. Which is ok if you know you'll get a tasty meal. My husband loved the fish special.

Sshir H.

10 years ago

That's the Best restaurant on this area! The food, the service,the location and the place are so amazing! We love it so bad ! read more

Braeden O.

9 years ago

Great sandwiches for reasonable prices, and good combo offers. Definitely my go to place for a sandwich on Carpinteria.

Bobby K.

9 years ago

Great local spot with amazing customer service and locally sourced food. Check for daily specials on their website

Mimi L.

6 years ago

I love how fresh their food is. my favorite is the Cobb salad. the best Cobb salad I ever had.

Zookers Restaurant - tradamerican - Updated September 2026

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Fantastic all around! The patio is so cute and covered in plants. You feel like you're tucked away…read morein a secret garden with the whimsical mismatched tables and seats. Our server was very nice and when I ordered a gluten free pasta she brought out gluten free bread for the table without even asking, such a nice touch that I rarely see at restaurants. They were a bit busy the night we visited so the food took a while to come out, but it was worth the wait! I got the gluten free primavera Rosa with added chicken (and it only cost me $3 extra which so affordable!) and my date got the chicken piccata. We were both raving about it as we scarfed it down! This place really feels like they've invited you into their home for a delicious home cooked meal. I think it is also family owned and operated which I always so nice to see. Please visit Thario's kitchen, you won't be disappointed.

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What a gem. Clearly all the locals go here. I started with…read morethe minestrone which was amazing. Very subtle flavor. The owner recommended the lasagna when I told him what pasta I should get! I've been to Italy and this was on par with that. I would have liked to see a layer of spinach but that's probably not authentic. My mom made it that way so I'm a little biased! For desert I got the light lemon custard which was very refreshing with an equally impressive cappuccino. Ciao, Bella!

First time trying Mollie's, and I can say that the service is very kind and welcoming. The food,…read morehowever, was incredibly underwhelming. Here's a break down of my experience: First of all, we came on a Tuesday afternoon for lunch. It says on the menu to ask about the daily special, but there weren't any. The waitress told us that on the weekdays, they do not offer daily specials since they do not have seafood on the weekdays; a weekend exclusive is what we were told. Very disappointing. We said it was fine, however, when it came to placing our orders from the menu, the waitress stopped us three times to let us know they were out of certain ingredients like ham and Italian bacon. Most of the food we ordered were not the dish in its complete form. Pasta Amatriciana: The dish I ordered. It did not come with the cured pork Italian bacon as advertised. The dish itself looks visually appealing but it was incredibly mediocre. The sauce was watery and poorly seasoned. Overall, the dish lacked flavor. I rate it as a 1/5. Chicken Vodka Pasta: the dish my mother ordered. Her comments were the same as mine. She notes that the sauce lacked seasoning and she described it as tasteless. Again, another poor dish. She rates it as a 2/5. Chicken Fettuccini: the dish my father ordered. He didn't have that much to say about it other than it being subpar. He rates it as a 2/5. I will say, in terms of pay, the price was fair. For 3 dishes, all of which came with generous portion sizes, totaled to about $62. Overall, I don't see myself returning to Mollie's in the future. They were out of many ingredients which led to mediocre dishes being served. If you wish to come here, I strongly suggest you visit on the weekend since they only serve special/ seafood dishes then. Other than that, Mollie's is a hard pass.

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