Downey's

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Address:
1305 State St.
Santa Barbara, CA 93101

Neighborhood:
Santa Barbara

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Cuisine:
Californian

Price: $31 to $50

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Downey's Details

Dining Style: Casual Elegant
Website: http://www.DowneysSB.com
Email: Dinewell@DowneysSB.com
Phone: (805) 966-5006
Hours of Operation: Dinner: Sunday: 5:30pm - 9:00pm, Tuesday - Thursday: 5:30pm - 9:00pm, Friday - Saturday: 5:30pm - 9:30pm
Payment Options: AMEX, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Cuisine: Californian, French
Executive Chef: John Downey
Dress Code: Smart Casual
Accepts Walk-Ins: Yes
Additional Details: Beer, Farm to Table, Non-Smoking Restaurant, Wheelchair Access, Wine
Catering: Classical intimate dinner parties in your home with Chef John Downey for 6-20 guests.
Private Party Facilities: Downey's restaurant is yours for the evening. Subject to availability, you may reserve our entire dining room for your dinner party. Chef John will plan a special menu for your party of 20-48 people. No room charges, but minimum expenditure is required. Amount will depend upon day of the week and season.
Private Party Contact: John Downey (805) 966-5006

Getting there

Cross Street: Victoria
Parking: Street Parking
Parking Details: On street parking or two public lots available nearby.

A word from Downey's

Fresh produce from the Santa Barbara Farmers' Market is skilfully prepared with sustainable seafood and naturally-raised meats by acclaimed Chef John Downey. We invite you to join us for dinner and taste why Downey's has been Zagat Survey's top-rated Santa Barbara restaurant for 26 consecutive… years. The Downey family take great pride in their small, intimate restaurant. John heads the experienced kitchen staff aided by Liz who also handles the wine list and manages the dining room. You will be served by experienced and knowledgeable professionals who know when to be present and when to leave you to enjoy your dinner.Continued

Foodspotting photos

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Awards voted by OpenTable diners

Diners' Choice WinnerBest Overall
Diners' Choice WinnerBest Ambiance
Diners' Choice WinnerBest Food

Diner Reviews

"Quiet so you can hear each other, dependable and well crafted food, Downey's never disappoints. With Liz running the front and john in the kitchen, they provide a rare environment where the owners are your hosts. The food reflects years of refining the menu and perfecting techniques. The service is without question, the best in town. The dining room is peaceful and not an exciting "scene" . The customers can run to the geriatric but every time I go, I think I should come more often. When you can spend more on inferior meals at Luckys or the Biltmore, Downey's is a great value."
Dined on 2/27/2014
"We have gone to Downey's three times as we don't get to Santa Barbara as often as we would like. This restaurant has a small menu of locally grown and sourced items done very well. The service is some of the best we have encountered in restaurants. They pay attention but are not hovering over you. The local black cod with meyer lemon sauce was delicious. My wife enjoyed the mussels. Next time we are in Santa Barbara we will be going to Downey's."
Dined on 2/22/2014
"Food was wonderful, service perfect. Great to meet Liz Downey and see her lovely art work on the walls."
Dined on 2/25/2014
"This is not a hip and happening place. In fact, I'd say the ambiance is a little dated and tired. But the service is warm, efficient and caring, and if you want to experience a series of beautifully prepared, exquisite takes on local ingredients, then this is the place. The lamb is certainly a must-try. They also had a very fairly priced wine list of (mostly) central coast wines. Definitely, we were very pleased with our choice for the evening."
Dined on 2/22/2014
"What a wonderful restaurant. Nothing to disappoint here and we are so happy we chose Downey's for a special birthday dinner. It was quiet and a very special evening. We will be back again soon."
Dined on 2/21/2014
"Returned again this year and found the food still good although the service slipped a bit by one person. The changed wine list misses some good wines that used to be available. Not sure why given they are still available in any decent liquor store/wine shop. Will probably come back again despite some increases in price."
Dined on 2/19/2014
"We spent Valentine's Day weekend at a very nice B&B in Santa Barbara, so I needed a nice, romantic place for a special dinner. I did my homework & chose Downey's from the website and reviews, fully expecting really nice but finding fantastic. The prix fixe menu was outstanding, creative, perfectly prepared, beautifully presented, and truly delicious. The room is lovely & the service was unpretentious & simply perfect, with clear devotion to helping us enjoy our experience to the max. We even found a great wine we'd never had from a new-to-us local vineyard: a tannat from Lone Madrone, big (16%!) & full with dark fruits and fairly high acidity but moderate tannins & oak (exactly as described by the staff). A great time was had by all!"
Dined on 2/14/2014
"It was a perfect Valentine. I celerbrated the day after because of my schedule. The food was fantastic. Do not look at the desert cart! I ended up ordering one of everything. The staff worked together and made sure that we were taken care of. Thanks Liz You made it a special night. We can't wait to come back."
Dined on 2/15/2014
"We drove up from San Diego for a Valentine's Day getaway, including dinner at Downey's. Did not disappoint. We were a little under-dressed, jeans a collared shirt, no jacket, just judging by others in the restaurant, but nobody seemed to pay any attention. We got impeccable service, and the food was incredible."
Dined on 2/14/2014
"We have been going to Downey's for many years and we always do for Special date nights, Like our Anniversary,Valentines Day, or any time we want a night out for great food and wonderful service!"
Dined on 2/14/2014
"Wonderful food and service. A family owned restaurant with great vegetarian food. My husband loves meat and had a wonderful meat dish. One of our favorite places to dine."
Dined on 10/20/2013
"Downey's still provides an elegant and intimate restaurant with excellent service and fine food. The menu is creative without trying too hard and the desserts are a special treat (and worth every calorie). Not a large selection of menu options, but certainly enough to satisfy any foodies. A perfect place for a romantic dinner."
Dined on 2/12/2014
"We went with "foodies" from San Francisco who were very impressed, as were we."
Dined on 2/9/2014
"Delightful evening. Exciting food, fresh, interesting sauces. Advice for wine perfect. Paintings were compelling, nice local."
Dined on 2/8/2014
"We have long regarded Downey's as the pinnacle of excellence in Santa Barbara dining and were not disappointed on our most recent visit. The food, always the best of local fare,was beautifully prepared and served flawlessly. The only problem came when our waiter neglected to take note of the theater startingtime we had informed him ofof which we had informed him when we were seated and we missed the first ten minutes of the long anticipated performance which began less than a block away. Certainly our mistake in part by enjoying the wonderful cuisine, but not quite what we have been spoiled to expect at Downey's.Nevertheless, we will return again enthusiastically."
Dined on 2/5/2014
"Downey's is where we taken anyone we want to bless with a wonderful dinner! No better choice."
Dined on 1/26/2014
"Downey's is an upscale dining experience in Santa Barbara that is competent on all levels but don't go expecting it will live up to it's Zagat 29 rating. A 29 Zagat rating is very rare and reserved for restaurants operating at the highest level of perfection; a solid 26 is a more appropriate rating for this restaurant. Food at Downey's was noticeably and outstandingly fresh, well presented and reasonably priced with most entrees at about $30. Service was outstanding and very friendly. Atmosphere is comfortable and warm but quite basic. Overall, we enjoyed our meal, the best we have eaten in Santa Barbara."
Dined on 1/26/2014
"This quaint dining establishment has been in business as long as I can remember. The evenings are very rewarding in its ambiance, and the menu is very unique in a subtle way. Well done to Downeys."
Dined on 1/25/2014
"The duck is definitely a winner here. There were four of us and we each had something different so we could try four different entrees. They were all amazingly delicious so it is really personal preference that I am using to rank these but the duck, then the filet, followed by the venison and then the veal is the order we would put them in. The desserts were to die for as well! The wine list supplied a large selection of very good wines. I highly recommend this restaurant. It is intimate, the service was good and the food nicely presented! A wonderful way to spend my 60th birthday!!"
Dined on 1/25/2014
"It has been a long time since we have eaten at a restaurant that exceeded all expectations and we eat out a lot. I picked Downey's based on the reviews I read which were excellent. We were running late for our reservation so I called and Liz who I later identified as the owner was so sweet and accommodating. We were able to sit and enjoy our wine without being rushed to order. Our waiter described the background of the restaurant and the chef/owner(Liz's, husband). Everything about this experience felt so personal and relaxed. We had the Crab Salad over Papaya, the Veal entree, Lamb and Pear Pastry dessert...all were outstanding. We look forward to our next visit."
Dined on 1/11/2014
"IT WAS OUR THIRD ANNIVERSARY AND WE WERE LOOKING FOR A SPECIAL EXPERIENCE. AT DOWNEY'S, WE FOUND IT! THE SETTING, THE SERVICE, THE FOOD, THE ENTIRE EVENING....ALL VERY SPECIAL. I HAD THE CHEF'S FOUR COURSE TASTING WHICH WAS PERFECT. INCLUDED WAS THE PAPAYA CRAB FIRST COURSE, POTATO-SPINACH SOUP, BEAUTIFUL DUCK AND LOVELY DESSERT (ALMOND PEAR TART). MY WIFE HAD THE SAME FIRST COURSE AND THE EXQUISITE FILET MIGNON. OUR WAITER (WITH DOWNEY'S FOR 13 YEARS) COULDN'T HAVE BEEN BETTER. THE WHOLE EVENING WAS THE PERFECT FIT FOR US!! THANK YOU!!!"
Dined on 1/7/2014
"Few restaurants keep the very highest quality for 10 years, let alone for 30 years. John Downey has done it for 30 years! My wife and I, who live in West Los Angeles, have for a number of years driven to Santa Barbara just to go to Downey's for special occasions. We just celebrated my wife's 70th birthday at Downey's this past weekend. We both had the prix fixe meal, just to taste what John felt was inspiring out of the available local farms and fisheries: muscles, potato-leek soup, duck, and desert. John has such a wonderful way of allowing you to taste every ingredient -- in total balanced harmony, a skill few have, even among high end chefs. He also has an uncanny ability to choose great local wines available by the glass. Total joy!"
Dined on 1/3/2014
"Really, all the English language superlatives are exhausted in descriptions elsewhere, but as a peron with a masters degree in food and a member of a large fine dining club I say don't miss Downeys. Dress up a little and savor the excellence at this great restaurant."
Dined on 1/3/2014
"Our annual New Year's Eve dinner at Downey's was amazing, as usual. The 4 course meal included great and varied selections."
Dined on 12/31/2013
"Especially enjoyed the lobster nicoise salad, the champagne truffle sauce served with the salmon and the adorable presentation of mini versions of your always excellent desserts."
Dined on 12/31/2013
"Excellent!!! Downey's is my favorite restaurant in town."
Dined on 12/31/2013
"We go to Downey's to celebrate special occasions with a romantic dinner date, and we are NEVER disappointed. Liz is so welcoming and friendly, as are all the wait staff, and the meals John prepares are simply superb! His dishes are always prepared with the freshest ingredients in creative combinations that make each component shine. And who can resist that lovely dessert cart?? We usually share a dessert just to sample John's wonderful treats. Exceptionally fine dining in an atmosphere reminiscent of small San Francisco restaurants. Such a pleasure to recommend Downey's highly!"
Dined on 12/29/2013
"This restaurant is OK. The food is quite good but I am not sure what the hype is for. Yes, it's all farm to table, but this is the norm in many places nowadays. The deco is very old school and definitely un impressive. The service is good but uninspiring. I went there with my parents. In three we shared a small starter, as main we orders one grilled salmon with potatoes and two lambs. They were tasty, but really nothing special. We also had two glasses of wine and one desert. With tip it came close to $90er person. Dinner was OK, but honestly the price tag is not justified."
Dined on 12/26/2013
"WE LOVE DOWNEY'S. WONDERFUL FOOD & ATMOSPHERE. PERFECT EVERY TIME."
Dined on 12/26/2013
"This restaurant frequently pops up on my searches for good restaurants in Santa Barbara. Finally, I decided to try it. I was not disappointed! We were warmly welcomed by the host Daniel, and promptly seated. The restaurant is nicely decorated and the artwork on the wall by local artists are for sale. The food prepared by John is based on organic fresh farm products from the area that is available at market that day. Everything from appetizers to desserts are in house made, and all were outstanding! Definitely a repeat venue and highly recommended."
Dined on 12/20/2013
"Its hard to be wowed at the same place over and over but we are never disappointed in the excellence of the dining experience at Downey's."
Dined on 12/20/2013
"We dined at a wonderful, special pre-fixe Christmas dinner last Sunday. The SB local lobster salad was scrumptious as was the roasted parsnip soup - yum. The goose -- the very special, special guest of the evening -- was cooked to perfection; it was succulent and the accompaniments perfect. They finished us off -- joke! -- with the best chocolate crème brulee EVER. A wonderful evening. Thanks to all!"
Dined on 12/15/2013
"We spent a spur of the moment weekend in Santa Barbara and were lucky enough to snag an early dinner at Downey's. What a find! We selected the Tasting Menu and had a relaxing and delightful dinner starting with cold mussels on a bed of lentils that had a wonderful curry vinaigrette, followed by hot butternut soup with warm cranberries and finishing with black cod on a bed of wilted chard. Last but certainly not least we had two wonderful desserts, a flourless chocolate cake and a wonderfully light mille feuille with fresh raspberries. Yum! I hope we go to Santa Barbara again soon so that we can eat at Downey's again!"
Dined on 12/14/2013
"I have been a guest at Downey's many times in the past. I visited again over the weekend. Downey's is better than ever! Five stars are not enough for this restaurant, it deserves more praise. I can't wait to return again, soon."
Dined on 12/14/2013
"The two of us and another couple have celebrated birthdays, one in each family, for six years. Tonight we had a reservation at Downey's, and we were there when they opened at 5:30 p.m., and we were seated not far from their little Christmas tree. Nice paintings lined the walls, and they were for sale. From the wine list to the "Taste of Santa Barbara" choice to the rest of the menu, including swordfish, pork loin and duck, it was very tasty. As it turned out, the duck was too rich for my husband, even though he loved the taste. The house choice dessert with raspberries, cream and white chocolate is best. The pear dessert is tasty, but the crust is too hard to fully enjoy. Creme brulee is nice. The service is absolutely excellent!"
Dined on 12/7/2013
"Our yearly visit to Downey's. We got married in S.B. and had our first dinner here 13 years ago and we've been coming back ever since. The service is the best and the food phenomenal. MY favorite restaurant in Santa Barbara."
Dined on 12/5/2013
"Cheerfully greeted and made to feel most welcome by Liz, the owner/chef’s wife. There is something to be said when the owner is in the kitchen and Downey’s is a perfect example of that truism. The lobster starter with capellini, asparagus tips, radicchio and endive was a taste treat all its own. The market greens with one of the house dressings was likewise. For entrées, the seabass was done in a sauce like a perfect bouillabaisse and the evening’s specially prepared medallions of lamb loin with roast potatoes, green beans with chanterelles and enoki made one wonder where their Michelin star is. Their modest wine list has plenty of half-bottles; we had the 2009 Carneros Pinot Noir. We’ll be back - often. This place is not to be missed."
Dined on 11/30/2013
"Both food and service are excellent. It is a bit pricy and the place could use more "atmosphere" but I would recommend it to anyone as long as they are willing to spend for fine food."
Dined on 11/30/2013
"Excellant service. The waiters were attentive, but not overly and knowledgable about the food and wines. The food was outstanding and cooked to perfection! The duck was mouth watering and the filet will melt in your mouth and if you've never tried their lobster salad, then it's a must. Leave room for dessert because it is decatant and delicious. The restaurant was quaint and comfortable.We had a wonderful evening and all though we were not there for a special occasion, we felt like it was."
Dined on 11/22/2013
"Our party was celebrating a birthday. The service was great and the food was even better."
Dined on 11/23/2013

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