Steve's Local Dining Guide :
With hundreds of great restaurants in Santa Barbara it may be difficult to decide where to eat.
The  's are places that I frequent on a regular basis. State Street is the center of the downtown
area, however a few of these are on side streets and easy to find. Most places do not take
reservations, although some places will allow you to call ahead to get on the waiting list.
|
 $= under $10$$$= $16 - $20
$$= $10 - $15$$$$= over $20 |
| |
| RESTAURANT |
 ADDRESS |
PHONE |
PRICE RANGE
|
|
| ITALIAN |
| Pascucci's |
729 State St. |
(805) 963-8123 |
$$
|
| Excellent food at a great price, a la carte. Plan on a 1 hour wait, but worth it. |
|
| Palazzio's |
1026 State St. |
(805) 564-1985 |
$$
|
| Huge portions, the “Half Order” is more than a meal. |
|
| SEAFOOD |
| Brophy Brothers |
119 Harbor Way |
(805) 966-4418 |
$$
|
| A local's restaurant where we bring our guests from out of town. Usually a wait. |
|
| Enterprise Fish Co. |
225 State St. |
(805) 962-3313 |
$$ - $$$
|
| Order off of the chalk boards. Nice fish tank. |
|
| CALIFORNIA CUSINE |
| Chad's |
625 Chapala St. |
(805) 568-1876 |
$$ - $$$
|
| Get the Sampler Platter if it's your first time. |
|
| Paradise Café |
702 Anacapa St. |
(805) 962-4416 |
$$$
|
| Dinner on the patio, order something from the oak grill. |
|
| Roy |
7 W. Carrillo |
(805) 966-5636 |
$$$
|
| 3 course meal for one price, live music after 9pm, serves food 'till midnight. |
|
| Rocks |
801 State St in Paseo Nuevo |
(805) 884-1190 |
$$$
|
| California cuisine with a touch of asian, with a lounge and a late night menu. |
|
| Stella Mare's |
Off Cabrillo by Bird refuge |
(805) 969-6705 |
$$$$
|
| Artistic presentation. Upscale dining in a casual atmosphere. |
|
| Citronelle |
901 E. Cabrillo Blvd |
(805) 966-2285 |
$$$$
|
| California-French Cuisine, Reservations taken here. |
|
| PUBS |
| Santa Barbara Brewing Co |
501 State St. |
(805) 730-1040 |
$ - $$
|
| MicroBrew, Great beers especially Pale Ale. Have a Santa Barbara Blond just for the novelty. |
|
| Dargen's |
18 E. Ortega St. |
(805) 568-0702 |
$$
|
| A great place for a bite to eat and a beer. This is an authentic irish pub, bring the family. |
|
| STEAKS & GRILL |
| Joe's |
536 State St. |
(805) 966-4638 |
$$
|
| Where the locals go for the strongest drinks in town, plus you can get a shoe shine. |
|
| NEW MEXICAN |
| Zia Café |
532 State St. |
(805) 962-5391 |
$$
|
| Style and flavor from "New Mexico, USA" with sopapillas and blue tortilla chips |
|
| THAI |
| Galanga |
507 State Street |
(805) 899-3199 |
$$
|
| A great place to go with a group. Every one orders something different, and you all share. |
|
| CHINESE |
| Yu Shan |
1202 Chapala St. |
(805) 962-6602 |
$ - $$
|
|
| JAPANESE/SUSHI |
| Arigato |
1225 State Street |
(805) 965-6074 |
$$ - $$$
|
| The city's best sushi with rock 'n' roll music in the background |
|
| Piranha |
714 State St. |
(805) 965-2980 |
$$ - $$$
|
| Lots more than just sushi |
|
| CAJUN |
| The Palace Grill |
8 E. Cota St. |
(805) 966-3133 |
$$$ - $$$$
|
| A bit of a line, sometimes they give you popcorn shrimp while you wait. Magician Fri at 7:oopm |
|
| Café Orleans |
213 Paseo Nuevo |
(805) 899-9111 |
$
|
| The same food as the Palace, but a down priced and scaled |
|
| ARGENTINE |
| Café Buenos Aires |
1316 State St. |
(805) 963-0242 |
$$$$
|
| Imported Argentine beef and good empanadas |
|
| PIZZA |
| Gisella's Pizzeria |
1311 State St. |
(805) 963-8219 |
$$
|
| Personal size Italian thin crust style pizzas. Also great Italian food. |
|
| MEXICAN |
| Chilango's |
503 State Street |
(805) 897-1160 |
$
|
| For a low cost burrito or taco |
|
| La Super-Rica Taqueria |
622 N. Milpas |
(805) 963-4940 |
$
|
| Our best kept secret. It's so secret, there's not even a sign out front. Just look for the line. |
|
| Carlito's |
1324 State St. |
(805) 962-7117 |
$$
|
| The corn salsa is the best. |
|
| DELI |
| Bitterman's Deli |
5 W. Canon Perdido |
(805) 965-7500 |
$
|
|
| Italian & Greek Deli |
636 State Street |
(805) 962-6815 |
$
|
| A Santa Barbara favorite |
|
| BURGERS |
| East Beach Grill |
Across from the Radisson |
(805) 965-8805 |
$
|
|
| The Hamburger Habit |
216 S. Milpas |
(805) 962-7472 |
$
|
|
| McDonald's |
1213 State St. |
(805) 962-6976 |
$
|
|
| RG's Giant Burger |
922 State St. |
(805) 963-1654 |
$
|
|
| Sambo's |
216 W. Cabrillo Blvd |
(805) 965-3269 |
$
|
| The Original one. |
|
| LongBoards |
on Stearns Wharf |
(805) 963-3311 |
$ - $$
|
| Mahi Mahi Sandwich or the Fish and Chips and a great view. |
|
| NATURAL/HEALTH |
| Natural Café |
508 State St. |
(805) 962-9494 |
$
|
|
| Sojourner Café |
134 E. Canon Perdido |
(805) 965-7922 |
$
|
|
| NIGHT LIFE |
| Dargen's |
18 E. Ortega St. |
(805) 568-0702 |
$$
|
| Guinness on tap, local bands and billiards. |
|
| Q's Sushi A Go-Go |
409 State St. |
(805) 966-9177 |
$$
|
Just "Q's" to the locals. Three floors with dancing, drinking and billiards.
Nothing really happens until after 10pm, but usually no cover charge before 9:30 pm. |
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