Louie's California Bistro

Name: Louie's California Bistro
Address: 1404 De La Vina St, Santa Barbara, CA, United States, 93101-3027
Telephone: (805) 963-7003
Price range: $30 and under
Rating: 4.7

4.7

424 Reviews

$30 and under

American

Top Tags:

Intimate and exclusive due to it's limited seating, Louie’s California Bistro has long been touted as one of Santa Barbara's favorite local secrets. Unconcerned with flashy food trends, the focus at Louie's has always been to take local ingredients and make them shine, often through classic style cooking and recipes. Add in Central Coast wines and a table on the historic wrap around veranda and you have the makings for a truly enjoyable dining experience. Louie's resides within a local landmark: The Upham Hotel. The Upham, built in 1871, is California's longest continuously operating hotel and is one of Santa Barbara's oldest buildings, having survived the earthquake of 1925.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

May 17, 2022

May 2022

Sun

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

7:00 PM

Booked 28 times today

Experiences are available.

Order delivery or takeout

Takeout

(805) 963-7003

Additional information

Dining style
Fine Dining
Cuisines
American, Californian, Comfort Food
Hours of operation
Brunch
Sun 10:00 am–12:45 pm
Dinner
Tue–Sat 5:30 pm–9:30 pm
Phone number
(805) 963-7003
Website
http://www.louiescabistro.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Dress code
Business Casual
Private party facilities
We often cater private events in the meeting rooms of the Upham Hotel. Please inquire for pricing

Location
1404 De La Vina St Santa Barbara, CA 93101-3027
Neighborhood
Santa Barbara
Cross street
De La Vina Street at Sola Street
Parking details
Street Parking
Additional
Banquet, Beer, BYO Wine, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wine

Featured in

Best Restaurants in Santa Barbara

Experiences

SB Restaurant Week
$40.00 per person
May 17 - May 22, 2022
In honor of SB Restaurant Week, we are offering an optional pre-fixe menu at $40 per person, excluding beverage, tax, and gratuity. Menu: Starters (choice of) Strawberry and Spinach Salad with Caramelized Pecans & Poppy Seed Dressing/ Shrimp and Scallop Cake with Scallion Vinaigrette/ Puree of Asparagus Soup/ Entree (choice of) Sautéed Swordfish with Wild Mushroom Risotto, French Green Beans & Saffron Cream Sauce/ Lightly Breaded Filet of Sole over a Potato Pancake with Steamed Asparagus & Lemon Beurre Blanc/ Louie's Classic Grilled Meatloaf with Sautéed Mushrooms & Onions, Cabernet Sauce and Garlic Mashed Potatoes/ Pizza with Caramelized Onions & Gorgonzola/ Dessert (choice of) Flourless Chocolate Cake/ Creme Brulee/ Trio of Gelato

Popular dishes

Tomato, Gorgonzola, Red Onions, Basil, Pine Nuts & Balsamic Vinaigrette$13.00
Strawberry and Spinach Salad with Caramelized Pecans & Poppy Seed Dressing$15.00
Pear and Gorgonzola Salad Over Spinach with Avocado, Red Onion & Cilantro Vinaigrette$16.00
Caesar with French Bread Croutons$13.00
Mixed Sweet Greens with Fresh Herb Vinaigrette$10.00

Pizza & Pasta

Pizza with Caramelized Onions and Gorgonzola Cheese$18.00
Pizza with Cajun Chicken and Pineapple$19.00
Angel Hair with Tomatoes, Olives, Capers, Oregano, Basil, Pine Nuts and Parmesan$21.00
Fettuccini with Tomato, Fresh Basil and Parmesan In a Light Herb Cream Sauce$23.00
Spaghetti with Meatballs, Marinara Sauce and Topped with Parmesan$24.00
Linguini with Grilled Shrimp, Tomatoes, Kalamata Olives, Spinach, and Feta Cheese$25.00

Entrées

Chicken Piccata$28.00
served over Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Spinach and Asparagus with Louie's Piccata Sauce
Grilled Meat Loaf$27.00
Sautéed Mushrooms and Onions, Cabernet Sauce and Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Lightly Breaded Filet of Sole$29.00
served over a Potato Pancake with Steamed Asparagus and a Lemon Beurre Blanc Sauce
Beef Stroganoff$32.00
Filet Tips with Mushrooms, Onions in a Stroganoff Cream Sauce over Noodles
Sesame Crusted Scottish Salmon$35.00
with Stir Fried Vegetables in a Soy Ginger Vinaigrette with Rice Noodles and a Wasabi Cream Sauce
Louie's Seasonal Seafood and Shrimp Cioppino$35.00
with Saffron Rice
Sautéed Catch of the Day$36.00
with Wild Mushroom Risotto, French Green Beans and a Saffron Cream Sauce
Grilled Filet Mignon$41.00
with Sautéed Mushrooms and Caramelized Shallot, Cabernet Sauce and Crumbled Gorgonzola Cheese, over a Potato Pancake

What 424 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.7

4.7 based on recent ratings

4.5Food
4.7Service
4.7Ambience
4.3Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

California Central Coast
American
Santa Barbara
Best Overall
Santa Barbara
Best Service
Santa Barbara
Best Ambiance
Santa Barbara
Healthy
Santa Barbara
Neighborhood Gem
Santa Barbara
Outdoor Dining

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Filters

OT
OpenTable Diner
Washington DC
15 reviews
vip
5.0
15 reviews
Dined 2 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Such a lovely quiet brunch on the porch. Excellent shrimp and crab Eggs Benedict and challah French Toast. So clean and wonderful service. Always a perfect place to bring our out of town guests.
KS
KathleenS
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 2 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Wonderful service and lovely atmosphere. All four dishes were fantastic. $20 corkage fee. Definitely will be back.
l
luvtoeat
New York Area
12 reviews
5.0
12 reviews
Dined 2 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Thoroughly enjoyed our meal as well as the staff.
MB
MichaelB
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined 2 days ago
overall4food4service4ambience5
Lead waitstaff was excellent and so upbeat but the delivery of the main course was not timed properly by another guy. Anya (sp?) was great but a couple of the other workers were less than professional. That said, we still love Louie’s and will be back.
OT
OpenTable Diner
San Diego
3 reviews
3.0
3 reviews
Dined 2 days ago
overall3food1service4ambience5
The most chewy filet mignon I have ever had. No kidding. It was not over cooked. It was just so chewy that I splitter out most of it. For that and the slow service I would have given it a 1 out of 5. The waiters were nice and the other food were ok. So I gave it a 3 but it’s more like 2.5.
SS
SusanS
Hawaii
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined 3 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Our server was delightful. We had our very young granddaughter with us and she was super at getting the spaghetti brought out quickly! Wish I remembered her name but she was awesome.
WM
WilliamM
Central Coast
5 reviews
vip
4.0
5 reviews
Dined 3 days ago
overall4food4service5ambience4
Good starters and entrees. Nice ambiance. Good wine list.
S
Saltbread
Dallas
13 reviews
vip
4.0
13 reviews
Dined 4 days ago
overall4food4service5ambience5
Quaint and quiet spot situated in an inn. Great service. Food was very good. Would definitely come back
SG
SheilaGG
Chicago
13 reviews
vip
4.0
13 reviews
Dined on May 8, 2022
overall4food5service4ambience5
Mother’s Day was a little understaffed. We love this restaurant and come here for many holidays, but they were a bit overwhelmed on Sunday.
BB
BryanB
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 8, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaawwwwwwwwwwwwwwww
OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 8, 2022
overall5food5service4ambience5
Mothers Day. Lovely!
E
Edie
Central Coast
86 reviews
4.0
86 reviews
Dined on May 8, 2022
overall4food3service5ambience5
It was Mother’s Day. Very special place to go for any occasion. We love it there. The food for brunch was okay I’m afraid. But we’ve had wonderful meals there most of the time.
SF
ShaniF
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on May 8, 2022
overall4food5service4ambience5
Mother’s Day brunch was a total success! The food was delicious and the setting was beautiful.
B
Bobcat
Los Angeles
121 reviews
vip
5.0
121 reviews
Dined on May 8, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
We had brunch and food was way beyond Excellent!
OT
OpenTable Diner
San Diego
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on May 8, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
I love this restaurant. Brunch is amazing. Best quiche ever!
FF
FiFi
Dublin
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on May 7, 2022
overall5food5service4ambience5
We had an absolutely divine dinner. Food was absolutely delicious. Ambiance lovely, loved the outdoor terrace, quiet, neighbourhood feel but two blocks to state st. We'll be back!!
M
Mark
Las Vegas
11 reviews
4.0
11 reviews
Dined on May 7, 2022
overall4food4service5ambience5
Nice place, limited menu, food was good portion size was good. Parking is an issue.
g
grateful
Central Coast
5 reviews
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on May 5, 2022
overall5food5service4ambience4
We returned to celebrate two wedding anniversaries and were once again delighted with our food and service. This is a lovely restaurant that we'd highly recommend.
SB
StevieB
Los Angeles
14 reviews
4.0
14 reviews
Dined on May 1, 2022
overall4food4service4ambience4
The salmon was excellent! Lamb was cooked perfectly. We enjoyed the steak tips starters as well.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Los Angeles
9 reviews
5.0
9 reviews
Dined on April 30, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Food was very good; service very good; very cute old building; a little expensive so not a value but also a very nice meal.
R
Roundmidnight
Los Angeles
24 reviews
5.0
24 reviews
Dined on April 29, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Food was delicious and well prepared. I loved my curried carrot soup, and the Scottish salmon was perfect. Our server was very attentive and cordial. We sat outside on a lovely wrap-around porch with heaters to keep us toasty. I would definitely go back again.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Denver
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on April 24, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience4
Very nice. The service was particularly good.
F
Frank
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on April 24, 2022
overall3food2service2ambience3
Our food was served room-temp. Wife had the fish, which was over-cooked. I had the beef stroganoff--beef was over-cooked and dry. Our dinner salad which was a modified caprese salad was good--only 6 slice of tomatoes the size of a small plum for $14 dollars--wow. The only thing that was delicious was their crab dumplings.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Central Coast
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on April 24, 2022
overall4food4service5ambience4
Good food with some innovative touches. Very attentive service
OT
OpenTable Diner
New York Area
2 reviews
vip
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on April 23, 2022
overall5food4service5ambience5
A charming restaurant with a fantastic menu and exceptional service. Our waitress was a gem! The food was delicious and the ambiance very cozy.
OT
OpenTable Diner
London
8 reviews
5.0
8 reviews
Dined on April 21, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
The food is always 5 stars as is the wait staff. The ambiance is wonderful with lots of wood, very cozy, warm and inviting. The food is top drawer. It was a friends birthday and everything turned out perfect! One of the most outstanding restaurants in Santa Barbara!
SG
SheilaGG
Chicago
14 reviews
vip
5.0
14 reviews
Dined on April 17, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Easter brunch was perfect in a beautiful setting
OT
OpenTable Diner
Central Coast
3 reviews
vip
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on April 17, 2022
overall5food4service5ambience5
Sean at Louie’s stayed in phone contact to update us on the menu’s holiday additions. Our table was beautifully set snd decorated when we arrived and the waiter attentive to our needs. The meal was well-prepared and nicely paced. Heater were available and the porch area was comfortable for our party of ten. Several in our party ordered the special lobster omelette but all who ate it found the sauce too bland and unappealing. Everything else was up to Louie’s exceptional standards, including the shrimp and crab eggs benedict, the fluffy spinach and bacon quiche, and the pear and gorgonzola salad with grilled chicken.
c
croatia
Central Coast
5 reviews
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on April 17, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Perfect Easter brunch with family from out of town. Exceptional food and service, beautiful table service and the Upham's garden was beautiful.
CM
CarlaM
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 17, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
We had a fabulous time as always at Louie's, the food is aways so good and the service is on point. We will definitely keep coming back.
K
Keegan
Central Coast
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on April 17, 2022
overall4food4service5ambience4
The Easter menu was typical of what you would see in a bistro, however the food was good. Service and ambiance were also good. I plan on returning to try their other items.
RL
RicardoL
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 17, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
The food was superb service was outstanding invited my friend for Easter better than expected can't wait to return it was especially nice to see the owner manager with their sleeves rolled up helping out
OT
OpenTable Diner
Central Coast
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 15, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience4
I didn’t get her name, but our server was delightful!
OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on April 10, 2022
overall3food4service2ambience2
Food was pretty good. Bad table location in a corner behind a wall so server forgot about us. No check back and there was an issue with one of the three entrees but never able to communicate that. Server literally never came back. Had to request check with a table full of dirty dishes only to be told she was tied up talking at another table. We will try again but do not sit back behind the black wall!
JN
JohnN
Denver
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on April 10, 2022
overall4food4service4ambience4
The only problem we had was that the restaurant did not have our Open Table reservation but they were very accommodating and gave us a great table on the patio with a heat lamp. Both the service and the food were very good.
KG
KathyG
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 10, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
It was a beautiful evening, the food was great, actually big servings couldn't finish it all. Sitting outside on the front porch by the roses was spectacular. Service was great!
KC
KristinC
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 9, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
We went to Louie’s to celebrate our 22 wedding anniversary. The food was fantastic and the server was friendly, helpful and very attentive. Great night!!
E
billieE
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 9, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
I love going to Louie's. The food was great! Our waitress was excellent!!
OT
OpenTable Diner
Central Coast
4 reviews
4.0
4 reviews
Dined on April 6, 2022
overall4food4service5ambience5
Went for our anniversary dinner.
D
Docalex
Central Coast
37 reviews
vip
5.0
37 reviews
Dined on April 3, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Always a treat to dine here. Food is always outstanding, service is great, and a terrific value. Great to see them open for brunch. Hoping they are open daily for lunch soon.

Safety precautions

Cleaning & sanitizing
- Surfaces sanitized between seatings
- Digital, disposable or sanitized menu provided
- Sealed or wrapped utensils used
- Common areas deep-cleaned daily
- Sanitizer or wipes provided for customers
Physical distancing
- Limited number of seated diners
- Distancing maintained in common areas
- Extra space between tables

Protective equipment
- Waitstaff wear masks
- Diners must wear masks unless eating or drinking
Screening
- Sick staff prohibited in the workplace

FAQs

Louie's California Bistro offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (805) 963-7003.

Louie's California Bistro is rated 4.7 stars by 424 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

May 17, 2022

May 2022

Sun

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

7:00 PM

Booked 28 times today

Experiences are available.

Order delivery or takeout

Takeout

(805) 963-7003

Google Map for Louie's California Bistro

1404 De La Vina St Santa Barbara, CA 93101-3027

Additional information

Cross street
De La Vina Street at Sola Street
Neighborhood
Santa Barbara
Hours of operation
Brunch
Sun 10:00 am–12:45 pm
Dinner
Tue–Sat 5:30 pm–9:30 pm
Cuisines
American, Californian, Comfort Food
Dining style
Fine Dining
Dress code
Business Casual
Parking details
Street Parking
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Additional
Banquet, Beer, BYO Wine, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wine

Website
http://www.louiescabistro.com/
Phone number
(805) 963-7003
Private party facilities
We often cater private events in the meeting rooms of the Upham Hotel. Please inquire for pricing

Featured in

Best Restaurants in Santa Barbara

Louie's California Bistro

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Takeout

Additional information

Best Restaurants in Santa Barbara

SB Restaurant Week

Grilled Meat Loaf

Caesar Salad

Crabmeat Dumplings

Starters

Filet Mignon Tips$15.00

Shrimp and Scallop Cakes$16.00

Crabmeat Dumplings$17.00

Salads

Tomato, Gorgonzola, Red Onions, Basil, Pine Nuts & Balsamic Vinaigrette$13.00

Strawberry and Spinach Salad with Caramelized Pecans & Poppy Seed Dressing$15.00

Pear and Gorgonzola Salad Over Spinach with Avocado, Red Onion & Cilantro Vinaigrette$16.00

Caesar with French Bread Croutons$13.00

Mixed Sweet Greens with Fresh Herb Vinaigrette$10.00

Pizza & Pasta

Pizza with Caramelized Onions and Gorgonzola Cheese$18.00

Pizza with Cajun Chicken and Pineapple$19.00

Angel Hair with Tomatoes, Olives, Capers, Oregano, Basil, Pine Nuts and Parmesan$21.00

Fettuccini with Tomato, Fresh Basil and Parmesan In a Light Herb Cream Sauce$23.00

Spaghetti with Meatballs, Marinara Sauce and Topped with Parmesan$24.00

Linguini with Grilled Shrimp, Tomatoes, Kalamata Olives, Spinach, and Feta Cheese$25.00

Entrées

Chicken Piccata$28.00

Grilled Meat Loaf$27.00

Lightly Breaded Filet of Sole$29.00

Beef Stroganoff$32.00

Sesame Crusted Scottish Salmon$35.00

Louie's Seasonal Seafood and Shrimp Cioppino$35.00

Sautéed Catch of the Day$36.00

Grilled Filet Mignon$41.00

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Sort by

Filters

Cleaning & sanitizing

Physical distancing

Protective equipment

Screening

FAQs

Does Louie's California Bistro offer delivery through OpenTable or takeout?

How is Louie's California Bistro restaurant rated?

Is Louie's California Bistro currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Takeout

Additional information

Featured in

Best Restaurants in Santa Barbara