Sit outside and enjoy the sunset! The food was good, I got the Bruschetta which I highly recommend! A little pricey for portion sizes but delicious nonetheless. read more

Once again, my fellow Yelpers we're on point with this restaurant. This place is a haven for foodies or those who just want something super yummy to eat. Had the roasted beet salad and Zookers Chicken Sandwich. Both were seriously to die for. I'll be baaaack!!!! read more

Service was good, but food was not. My burrito was pure onion. I couldn't even finish my burrito.

A day trip to Carpinteria brought me to Zookers Cafe. Always passed by it but never stopped by, until then. I strolled down Linden Ave at first where "most" of the "touristy" spots are, but decided to pass on all that and come back to Zookers Cafe. It can be missed by most that don't know about it as it's tucked in the corner behind Chase bank, but well known by the locals. Parking is in the Casitas Plaza parking lot (no street parking-only 24 min pick up on Casitas Pass Rd). Oh, and there's a Dry Cleaners right next door for those that don't handle the food properly and end up on your clothing :) hehe Walked in and was greeted by a gentleman that was polite and asked for how many in your party. I decided to seat outdoors on their patio facing the Casitas Pass Rd and was offered any table as the patio was empty (6pm), there were a few tables seated inside and interesting how many opted to seat indoors as the weather was perfect for dining al fresco. Inside 3 booths, few tables and a short bar seating available...Patio has about 9 tables with bench seating on one side of table and chairs on the other, sun shades go down by staff as the sun sets on the horizon. The clientele is diverse, as there were families with young children and some local business people, to the retired elderly. Seems like they are also doing good business on take out food-noticed a few take out customers parked in the 24 min spots for pick up. Waiter was fairly new, as he mentioned-Daniel, despite being new he knew his trade and was well rounded as I observed him making suggestions for some indecisive customers... You get a Wine List (some great local selections), Food Menu and Specials Menu...offered bread, but I refused, perhaps next time will try the home made bread too. Food items seem to be carefully selected, French cuisine with a flare on Italian, and I would assume chef is the owner as well. I started with their version of Ahi Tuna Tartare-great tartare with diced onion-cucumbers, was served on a bed of sliced Avocado, Crispy Wonton Chips Squares, topped with some Julienned Carrots, Red Onion and Micro Greens, drizzle of Wasabi and Ponzu...great flavors Next was the Cioppino, abundance of Seafood, Mussels, Clams, Shrimp (taill off), fresh fish (tasted like Halibut), Bay Scallops (I would have preferred a Diver Scallop-charge me more, perhaps $30 instead of $26) and Tomato Broth (was more "zesty" than "spicy")-never the less, a great dish topped with a couple of Crostinis. Ended up with a Flourless Chocolate Cake with Creme anglaise, there was a raspberry paste sandwiched in the middle, sliced Strawberries, Fresh Whipped Cream on top and a very aroma forward Mint leaf. (observed)-Special of the evening, Pork Chop was served at a table-seemed like a double cut, very juicy and tender (from afar-yep I am observant :) ) So, if you prefer a hangout place-this is not it, continue to Linden Ave down the road-but if you enjoy great food then try not to "pass up" Zookers Cafe as you pass on Casitas Pass Rd (pun intended), you will not be disappointed-and if you are, well you know the saying to be true: "You can not please everybody" and I always say HAPPINESS is A CHOICE, so choose wisely otherwise you will be the opposite of HAPPY :) read more

Zookers Cafe was just amazingly pleasant. Amazing waiters and waitresses. Kind and attentive. But the best thing that I've ever experienced in my life was their BREAD PUDDING. Banana and coconut in toasted hawaiian bread with caramel drizzle. We asked for ice cream on top... Dessert is an underrated name. This bread pudding was made on Olympus and a piece of it fell beautifully on my plate. I am not exaggerating when I say that was the best dessert I've ever had in my life. My only mistake is that I agreed to share. LOL! The rest of the food prior to dessert was fantastic. We had the muscle and clam steamers. I had a veggie burrito and he had the portobello grilled cheese. Greattttt food! Cute atmosphere!! read more

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Finally - a chance to go to Zookers for dinner! Previously, we'd been there only for lunch. The dinner menu is an extension of the lunch menu, with some of the same items (clams & mussels, our favorite) and some great items only available at dinner. Service was attentive, even though the kitchen was leisurely tonight. That's fine; we enjoyed talking to one another, and to guests at nearby tables easily as happy as we were. We'll be back. read more

A nice place to sit at , either in the front porch or in the patio in the back. Baby good selections of sandwiches and salads.

I ordered a sandwich, chicken sandwich the Zookers. I went to pay the bill before I got the sandwich and they wanted $18 for a sandwich. That's enough for two sandwiches, I probably canceled my order and went to Vons. $18!? Come on read more

We have never had a bad meal or glass of wine here. Can't go wrong ever ordering off the special of the day menu. I'd tell you about the choices but they change. The spring rolls are a solid light choice for an appetizer and the Roasted Beets and Pear salad is delicious. Staff is always friendly and attentive. Eat outside it's beautiful. Inside is super loud, maybe the acoustics or insulation but nothing to complain about since outside is perfect. Solid place for a date night. read more

Zookers Restaurant - Miso Black Cod on top of baby bokchoy and soba noodle cake - American Near Me - Carpinteria, California

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Two orders of copino which we had on the patio July 13. Very good flavor but little fish-- portion about half that of Jane's (Santa Barbara) fish stew. Also, the menus are not disposable and I saw no evidence of them being cleaned. So hope the preceding customer was not infected... (Service very pleasant, efficient) read more

Seems like they knew everyone's name and you can tell this restaurant has a loyal following. My husbands porterhouse steak was huge and delicious. My swordfish was perfect. This place is a bit pricey but nice for an occasional treat! read more

Best meal I ever had in Carpinteria The steak was exceptional and the wine is wonderful. Service is perfect read more

This restaurant has been updated with new owners. It is no longer a casual burger place but now more upscale food.

Cute little cafe in Carpenteria! Service was WONDERFUL!!!! We just shared a few appetizers but the wait staff treated us like royalty. Dog friendly as well!!!!! Food was good but the service is what I will remember. read more

The filet mignon is amazing!!!! Also, I wanted to thank you for letting me get the creme brulee to go. I know it's usually preferred to be served in the ceramic dish, but I prefer eating at home. You let me order two filets and two creme brulees to go again tonight. Thanks again read more

Excellent restaurant. Owners and chefs really take provide in their work and customers. Plus they recently opened a meat/seafood market next door. Very knowledgeable employees and as I learned waiting for my order people drive here from LA. read more

Ok. I don't not know where to start. We named our server KAH. Kind - Attentitive - Hospitable (Abigail) The food was great - vegetable burrito, shrimp pasta w bacon, chicken kabab, grape leaves w hummus, cioppino, steamers, and finally the bread pudding and coffee. Our family loved t and hopefully yours does too. read more

Awesome place and the service was great. Friendly staff and well attentive. Had the cioppino which was spicy, had some tart, and a well balanced seafood taste to it ( not too fishy). Also had the vegetarian burger that tasted like a well seasoned beef burger. Highly recommend stopping by this place again. Also thank you Brent for helping us. read more

Zookers Restaurant - Cioppino- we'll balanced spice that's not too fishy. - American Near Me - Carpinteria, California

I truly have pros and cons about this place. Pros: The Parmesan Eggplant was wonderful and they do have Vegan options. We sat outside under a very nice heater. Table was clean and it was pet friendly outside. Cons: Server (Josh) was very annoyed. Not us particularly but with working on a Friday night. Unfortunately it ruined a $80.00 meal. Would have been more if we would have been offered a second drink. He did not pre-bus our table. My friend and I asked to have the check split and he actually charge the wrong amounts to the wrong cards. There was another server named Kyle who was an amazing server to the table next to us. He smiled and went over and beyond with the guest. My friend and I always TIP 30% because we are foodies. This was so hard because as we all know when we go to eat we must Tip accordingly. I apologize Josh that tonight was only 10% however I wanted great service when I spend hard earned money. read more

Look no further: this is the BEST restaurant in Santa Barbara County! I was blown away by the food and the service. Patrick our server was delightful, sitting outdoors with a beautiful breeze we were treated to the best grilled cheese I have ever had. My husband had the penne pasta that was killer, and to top it off a Cherry Crisp that melted in my mouth. 5 Stars all around for Zookers! read more

This was my first visit to Carpenteria. We had our dog along for the night, and opted for the front porch of Zookers, a long standing tradition for dining options of the locals. Ample seating and a comfy heater thoughtfully placed above made it so cozy (it was chilly that January evening) They brought out a bowl of water for Frodo as well. We started with a basket of homeade breads, herbed butter, and crispy homeade pita bites drizzled with olive oil, salt and spices that made you want more. Our starter was Cauliflower Tempura with a peanut curry sauce, and a napa slaw spicy miso dressing. It was delicious and the fresh made slaw was so snappy crisp. The wine I chose for dinner was "The Offering" -Santa Barbara '14 to pair with my Bacon Wrapped Filet of Beef topped with Gorgonzola cheese and a red wine Demi glaze alongside roasted cauliflower, broccoli, green beans, some perfectly curried carrots, and mashed potatoes. My steak was cooked medium rare, with that outer layer of yummy bacon. It was sheer perfection, warm with a red center and juicy from end to end. I kept making sure to drag my veggies and bites of steak through the sauce to get it off of my plate and into my belly! She had the Cioppino which is an Italian stew with mussels, clams, shrimp, scallops, fresh fish, and a spicy tomato sauce. She lingered over every bite and made sure to dip that homeade bread into the bowl and get every last drop. I had a shrimp when she wasn't looking and it tasted so flavorful, cooked just right. For dessert we decided on a special bread pudding made with Hawaiian bread, and Chocolate topped with whipped cream and Vanilla bean ice cream. We also had a piece of the light lemon cheesecake had my mouth watering with every bite. It was not too heavy and the crust was just right. I ended the evening with a glass of 10yr Tawny. Yum. Everyone that we met was so welcoming and accommodating. The Food and the Service were both 5 Star. read more

Zookers Restaurant - Homeade Light and delicious lemon cheesecake with graham cracker ct Rust - American Near Me - Carpinteria, California

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4.5 stars. Service was great, food was solid. Hubby got a sea bass curry special, I had the Scottish salmon and kids had burger and chicken skewers off the kids menu (would def recommend those 2 kid options. Portions were big and very tasty for "kids" menu items) My salmon could have used a bit more of the maple bacon butter but I loved the roasted sweet potato that came with. Also got nectarine blueberry crisp and tiramisu. Dessert was just ok. (I'm a baker) so thought crisp could have been better but we still ate it all :) Riley was very friendly, attentive and great with the kids. read more

This was originally an unintended pit stop on my way to Santa Barbara, but it's now going to a necessary visit whenever I'm in the area! Very friendly service, and the lentil soup was outstanding. Highly recommend it over neighboring options. read more

A very family / Pet-friendly environment ...full service restaurant!! When i have friends and/or family visiting...This is where we go for Great Food! Wide selection of meals on the menu!, Excellent Service!! ENJOY!! read more

The place was a little hard to find (tourist here) but I'm glad we didnt give up (it ended up being right on the corner *eye roll*) so glad we kept looking because... Delicious! I ended up w the seared sesame crusted tuna over soba noodles (minus the sesame) that I adored. I'm craving it now, days later. My companions shared a burger with everything on it that came w fried potatoes slices ("fries") and they were happy. The wine selection was pretty good if slightly pricey. Pretty good ambiance too. It was recommended to us by multiple locals and I'm glad we tried it. I too, recommend it. read more

Terrible food!! Way overrated and overpriced ! Ordered grilled portobello sandwich and it was cold, and rubbery and raw!! Nothing on the sandwich and came with disgusting tortilla chips and pita chips that were stale and burnt!! For almost $20 they should have had fries at least! Nothing in there should have been served with this chips! And the service was awful! Took forever to get the food and nothing was even cooked it was all salads and sandwiches!! read more

Delicious! Low key atmosphere. Feels like a mom and pop run restaurant. It's in a mini mall. The steamers were delicious. I could have sipped on the broth all night! I had the seared ahi which was prepared to perfection. My husband had the seafood pasta which was good but not great. Service was great. read more

Zookers Restaurant - American Near Me - Carpinteria, California

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One the benefits of staying in Carpinteria is this fabulous eatery. I'm eating here every night I'm in town. Delicious meal from the salad to the dessert. Nice people, good atmosphere. I don't drink alcohol so the fact that they have Coca-Cola is the fifth star in my rating. The Filet and the Little Gem Salad are superb! read more

Amazing Mussels. Can't tell you enough how delicious and plump and juicy they were with a delectable garlic/wine/butter broth. Very light and powerful broth. This is the best kept secret in Santa Barbara county. Oh my. I just found my new fav restaurant read more

We went to Zookers Cafe for an early evening dinner and were so happy we chose Zookers. On Yelp is says "burgers" and traditional but it's fantastic Italian foods with lots of other choices. We split a very fresh picked Caesar salad. I had the chicken saltimbocco and my wife had the eggplant parmesan. Both were delicious and exquisitely made. We sat on the patio in front and were able to watch the owner interacting with all the arriving diners. So sweet and friendly with trying, and usually managing to seat those who didn't think to make a reservation. Our server was very nice and attentive even though she seemed to be fresh at the job of waitressing. Lots of locals came and were always greeted and warmly welcomed. If you are in Carpinteria you must visit Zookers for a wonderful evening out with friends and family read more

Not the easiest to find but tremendous food and pet friendly Nice waiter and a great menu Just off the freeway in a small strip mall read more

Everything is on the expensive side, but tastes really good! I love the zookers chicken sandwich, cobb salad, and especially the curry chicken salad. Great service, too. read more

Gross is the first word that comes to mind after experiencing this restaurant. The food was greasy!!! The burger was dry and nasty. If you want to pay high dollar for nasty food, this is your place!!!! I gave two stars because the service was good, personally I'd rather have good food and bad service! read more

Zookers Restaurant - High dollar for nasty food!! - American Near Me - Carpinteria, California

We were given a gift card from a special friend who highly recommended Zookers. We had discussed eating there many time as we visited the quaint beach community of Carpinteria. We read that this place was special from other yelpers. I am so glad we finally went. We had a beautiful table by the window with a gorgeous mountain view. The service from Nicole was spot on. They checked on us often and refilled our water frequently. Then the food came out beautiful and then it was delicious! My pecan crusted salmon with roasted winter vegetables which consisted of sweet potatoes, Brussels sprouts, butternut squash and spinach with a maple glaze. Amazing! My husband had the roasted pork tenderloin with roasted winter vegetables and beet purée. Also delicious. We would definitely recommend Zookers to anyone looking for a delicious meal and great service. read more

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Awesome food and staff. I had the seared ahi tuna which was cooked perfectly, but the sauces they dribble on the plate really made the dish along with the noodles. The bread they put out on the table was also delicious. read more

Zookers Restaurant - American Near Me - Carpinteria, California

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Okay .. I'm a foodie . Also kinda hard to please & Zookers really is a wonderful dinning experience. Organic everything !! There specials are amazing . I've had the Pork , Pasta's , veggie dishes , salads .. great wine list .. it rocks !! The service also is really top notch . They get busy and really go out of there way to make a very nice dining experience. Thank you read more

I wish more restaurants dedicated this kind of effort to pairing exceptionally trained staff with incredible locally-sourced, organic food. Zookers probably has an advantage over many of their East Coast farm-to-table counterparts because of the vast array & abundance of local options but you can taste how dedicated they are to getting it right. Also, they're not just farm-to-table, they're farm-table-farm for the whole cycle. Their table & kitchen scraps go to a local pig farm! Great, knowledgeable service from Jamie who did timely quality & service checks but didn't hover - she even told me more about the fresh herbs garnishing my dishes - and friendly banter with the hostess whose name I've forgotten. On to what you really want to know...what did I have? Sweet Potato Chipotle Bacon Soup Bacon-wrapped grass fed Watkins Ranch filet mignon with a carmelized shallot & Gorgonzola crust with mashed potatoes & locally grown vegetables in red wine reduction Tiramisu Glass of Malbec Everything was extraordinary and I can't wait to come back to Carpinteria for another visit! read more

Zookers Restaurant - Bacon-wrapped filet mignon with a carmelized shallot & Gorgonzola crust with mashed potatoes & vegetables in red wine reduction - American Near Me - Carpinteria, California

No thank you. My office told me not to try this place and they were right. I ordered something simple like a chicken Caesar salad and it was probably the worst one I'd ever had. Won't be returning. read more

Sometimes I wonder how an establishment can rate themselves as gourmet with prices to match and carry on this charade with a straight face when they apparently are very average at best. Zookers must rely on the travelers passing through because I can't imagine the locals eating here on a regular basis. Our party was in the area for three days on business. A local contact said Zookers was "pretty good " but that he hadn't been there in a few years. Other reviews have suggested Zookers has new ownership and they recently changed it from a funky beloved burger joint into an attempt at upscale located in "The American Riviera" (LOL) similar to what other eateries in the area are doing. My experience with Carpinteria is that it's blue collar and houses a lot of the Hispanic population that commutes to Santa Barbara, so good tacos in town, right? Wish we would have went that route. Zookers is located in the busy Albertsons shopping center on the main drag. On a pre dinner bike ride I noticed this area had a noticeable homeless presence, which made it seem unwise to leave my bike locked to go shop, so I skipped it. The corner location has a busy light with lots of cars turning and accelerating to the 101 Fwy., so out door seating is going to be trafficky with fumes. We left our hotel at 6:00p and were seated by 6:20p. Upon entering we were warmly greeted by several staff. The place was almost empty, a red flag. Good places are always crowded, right? The staff were doing busy work polishing glasses and such. The decor was a themeless mish mash with apparently local artwork that didn't match anything. Our waitress seemed a bit disheveled, just this side of frumpy, and it had been a while since her black uniform had seen an iron. She was nice but with a slight hint of condescension. Menus were given and water was brought, unfortunately it was warmish tap water with a noticeable chlorine taste and very little ice. I noticed a small sign informing a 3% surcharge would be added if a credit card was used. So, if I pay cash I get a discount? I figured this would mean upcharges for any substitutions off the daily specials, so I bypassed the Halibut with "black rice" and ordered the $48.00 ("48") LOL menu speak Ribeye with mashed and seasonal veggies, as did several others. Also included "bone marrow butter" on the steak, yuk. Can't we just do garlic butter, or add marrow in and keep it a proprietary secret, I don't need to know "how the sausage is made". Since a good ribeye already has substantial fat is any butter even necessary? Our waitress took our orders apparently by memory, just nodding using no notepad, perhaps she recorded us on a phone in her apron, but I found this to be odd. One of the steaks was to be extra extra well done, NO PINK. Somebody ordered a glass of wine, the only Cabernet Sauvignon on the wine list by the glass for "15". (Paso Robles!). When it arrived I noticed the wine glass wasn't the preferred wide thin rimmed Grand Cru used by most gourmet restaurants for a cab allowing the wine to swirl and breathe but a taller thicker fluted style more suitable for a white. This also reduced the size of the already non generous pour. A newbie faux paus or more likely tight fisted management? 30 minutes in, dinner still was not on the table, I joked that perhaps they had to run over to that Albertsons to grab a few ribeye's for us. At about 45 minutes wait time our waitress brought over a little basket of cold sliced sourdough, commenting that usually they charge for the bread, but since we were waiting, there would be no charge. Chlorine water was refilled repeatedly as well by random staff. Mmmm, bread and water. Um, thank you? As mentioned, this place was dead, its not like they were swamped with orders. Finally, here comes dinner. All the ribeye's had pink ( remember "NO PINK") and after cutting away the fat and gristle, yes gristle I was left with what I would consider "The Petite Cut". The chunk of "marrow butter" was huge for my size steak. Off it went. The mashed potatoes and seasonal veggies were good but VERY small portions, maybe 6 or 7 green beans and maybe 5 or 6 tablespoons of mashed, and a few cauliflower that were grey in color. The steak had good flavor to be fair, with a Burgundy style sauce saving the day, but also serving to camouflage the meat. My joke about Albertsons suddenly seemed prophetic, and from the Price Reduced for Quick sale section as well. Any thoughts of a steak approaching Maestro's or Ruth Chris were completely vanquished. This was Cracker Barrel on a bad day. At this point I knew we would not return. Ever. Extra Extra well done but Pink person offered me half their steak, at $3.50 per bite I couldn't say no. Finally, thankfully this dinner came to a close. With tip, the bill for dinner was about $250.00, a ridiculous amount for this experience. Arrived back at the hotel 1 mile away at exactly 8:00p. Almost two hours of our lives we'll never get back. read more

They're Great!!!!I've never been disappointed... I like the Zooker's chicken sandwich, my fav!!! I like the blue corn chips & pita chips... read more