Incredible experience overall. Amazing food and amazing service

I just can't say enough about the quality and uniqueness of the food here. We started with the yellowtail crudo and it was bright, fresh, with all sorts of subtle flavors complementing the fresh fish. Next we had the lavender infused ricotta ravioli with smoked broccolini, pearl onions, garlic and fennel. I could have eaten 4 more orders of it. The smoked wagyu tri tip was gloriously tender and flavorful with these cute little beans that carried the flavors through. I wish we lived closer so I could enjoy their creative cuisine weekly! And the service was fantastic, wonderfully enthusiastic people who really were proud of the food they served.

The food was lovely but the service was not. We were seated in the tent section by ourselves which was away from other diners where there were available tables. The ambience in the tent was poor compared to the other seating areas. We did not complain and figured it was something due to Covid.

While our server was attentive, we were not allowed to switch tables within the tent section, when my wife asked to because of the setting sun shining directly in her eyes. There were several tables all around us that were empty for most of our meal. The front of the house told us that it was going to be too challenging to move us. What ever happened with “the customer comes first?”. When we asked why, we were not given a real answer, and felt kind of dismissed.

Immediately after that exchange my kids asked for more bread and the server told us that each table only gets one slice per diner but she’ll go back to the kitchen and ask if she can get more. She came back and said unfortunately we can’t give you any more bread but we do have some rejects that we can give you. She actually used the word rejects! She came back to the table with four badly burned end pieces.

The server did not give us a kids menu (and there was one). The kids ordered their entrées plain with the sauce on the side. The waiter said that’s fine and then when the dishes were served they were sauced and the kids did not like them. When I told the server that we asked for sauce on the side she said that’s not what I was told and didn’t offer to bring back the correct order.

We decided to skip dessert and get out of there. We still provided a 15% tip because many of the bad decisions at Barbareno were not hers.

It does make me wonder if booking with OpenTable gives you “third class status”, versus booking as a local.

And as good as the food was we are definitely not going to return based on our poor experience.

Birthday celebration. Everything was perfect

First visit this evening. We enjoyed the Especial. Lamb al Pastor.
The Santa Maria BBQ Wagyu tri tip was the best I've had, amazingly tender and great smoke flavor. Loved the brussel sprouts, crispy and nicely seasoned.
Very decent wine list focused on Central coast.
Wish I had room for dessert.

This is the second time we have eaten at Barbareño. Both times fabulous. But...beyond description the fennel fried chicken. Crispy and so moist inside and not greasy. Dessert, there are some choices of chocolate. Provided by Michael Orlando chocolatier, 5 star in Santa Barbara. The service both times was the very best. Servers are knowledgeable and friendly and are such bright individuals who are interesting to talk to. Don't miss Barbareño!

Great food and service

Loved their outdoor dining setup with a lovely and relaxed garden atmosphere. Highest grades for the ambience! Food was overall good but not everything on the menu blew us away, e.g. the grilled avocado was a bit of a letdown and the amaro way too sweet. Some flavours were very "peculiar" and dominant. The vegetarian acorn tagliatelle, however, was simply amazing ❤️ And their bread is stellar - a shame that they are rationing it 😆

My husband and I celebrated our fifth anniversary at Barbareño. The food was phenomenal as well as the wait staff. They really took care of us. I would highly recommend.

It was amazing as always! Nahtassha and Team always make us feel incredibly special ... they are extremely attentive and knowledgeable about the menu as well. The depth of flavors in the food and attention to detail is incredible!!!

Aggressive mask policies for outdoor dining. Would like you to wear the mask every time someone approaches the table. Awkward. Food was really good. So good it gave my wife a hang over & we don’t drink

Excellent food in a great indoor patio. Very dog friendly and the server even brought our dog water!

Incredible dining experience. A bargain for how incredible the food was.

Beautiful and delicious original food. Loved the avocado appetizer, miso cod,Tri tip, best potatoes ever, fresh baked sour dough & chocolate dessert. The chef is truly creative and knows how to spice, but not overdue it. Excellent service! We look forward to returning!

This place was delicious. I really like how they explained each plate when they delivered it. Our waitress was amazing and explained and asked how our food was. They really made our 20 year anniversary very memorable and a great experience. I am definitely coming back! We had the fried ranch Chicken, crudo, grilled avocado and wings. All so good! I will make the drive from LA to this place just so I can try their season food and for the great service

Delicious food and lovely atmosphere. The grilled avocado was beyond any expectations

Everything was AMAZING!!! What a wonderful dinner and experience. The crudo and grilled avocado were delicious. The chocolate 5 ways dessert was phenomenal. Everything was thoughtfully created. The atmosphere is cute and cozy. I celebrated a special event here and it felt very special indeed. Highly recommend!

Incredibly disappointed. Used to be amazing, took a big drop post COVID. Will not be returning

Great food as usual. Always unique entrées and amazing desserts. The desserts are also unique and a must have when at Barbareno.

If you are in Santa Barbara you MUST try Barbareno! The food is impeccable. The flavors are unique and eating there is a must-have experience for your tastebuds.

Fun, unique and delicious night out in Santa Barbara.

The food was VERY delicious. Flavors I've not had. We liked every dish we ordered. The dessert was the "surprise," the panna cotta--a burst of surprising flavors that I've never had together. We will definitely return and tell friends and family.

We were celebrating a birthday. Barbareno is a wonderful place for a special evening with dishes you don’t experience every day. The staff is courteous and our waitress was well informed of the menu equally well versed in the wine selection. My husband decided on the recommended Pinot. We started with the grilled avocado, the eggamuffin, and duck wings. All amazing. For entrees the kids got the cheeses burgers with potatoes. The adults all ordered different dishes so we could get a Taste of each other’s meal. Our daughter ordered the ravioli, the birthday boy got Tri tip, my husband the black cod and I got the fried chicken with the animal fries to share. Everything was incredible. Our son is a chef and said his Tri tip was the best he’d ever had. For dessert We all shared the chocolates, the “baked California ” and velvet rose. 5 star experience all around. We plan to go again. Many thanks to the front and back of the house! Bravo!

Celebrated my dear friends 40th birthday and everyone raved about the food, the wine, the staff, the everything. Truly a divine evening! Thank you!

Amazing food and service! Everything we tried was phenomenal. Wish I lived closer!

Honestly, what a delightful surprise Barbareno was. This restaurant exceeded expectations and we would love to come back as soon as we're back in town. We especially enjoyed the grilled avocado app, the fresh market fish (black cod in miso glaze), and the Ojai dessert which was truly spectacular. 10/10 service.

Interesting food and flavors.

Amazing dinner. The sourdough with butter, lamb flatbread and the contrasts in texture and flavors from the butter lettuce were ALL amazing. The tagliatelle was flavorful and it was well made, but I think I was expecting something a little different. The rib eye was AMAZING!!! We were too full for dessert, but they still gave us truffles with a candle. So sweet and thoughtful!

Very unique experience! Highly recommend! :)

Probably the best dining in Santa Barbara. Bespoke without being precious. Gorgeous ingredients composed masterfully.

Excellent meal once again! Barbareño never disappoints. The way flavors are blended, melded, showcased is just exceptional. Every dish was enjoyable and had unexpected elements. Don’t miss the Especial flatbread and grilled avocado appetizers-simply amazing! The entrees were also fantastic. We finished it all with wonderful French press coffee and beautiful desserts. Service is always attentive but not overdone. The staff always makes you feel they are grateful you are sharing the evening with them. We left feeling very grateful for such a wonderful evening.

While the service was acceptable the food was sub-par. The food came out luke warm, while the presentation was nice it needed to be hot. In addition the flavor of the dishes was lacking. The COD fish special was more like a stew. The skin was still on the fish and unable to be removed because it was sitting in a broth and soggy. The Tri-tip was lacking the oak fire grilled flavor that Tri-tip is famous for. On a high note the Brussel sprout were amazing.

Awesome food and service!! Hidden gem!

Our first visit. Wonderful experience. Will return soon!

Tasha was an amazing server - her food knowledge was on point! The portions were just the right size. The vibe of the entire restaurant & staff could not have been more relaxing! We spent the rest of our trip comparing all the other spots we dined to Barbareno. They set the bar high! We will be back for sure!!

Amazing food and atmosphere. Staff are following all the appropriate covid guidance, and with tables spaced out pretty far, eating here felt very safe.

The most delicious food, farm to table pure goodness. It was absolutely tasty, fresh, unique, and satisfying.

The best dining experience I have had in the last year, by far. Ambiance was pretty good, considering we were in a parking lot. You might consider laying down a temporary wood floor, as they have done at some of the other restaurants in Montecito - much more appealing. The food was phenomenal!

A lovely place for lunch or dinner. The menu is relatively short but well-curated and the food is beautifully prepared and served by skilled, caring people.

Fab food and service - can’t wait to dine in again but patio was pleasant - heaters appreciated