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Opal Restaurant & Bar, Santa Barbara, CA

Opal Restaurant & Bar

4.8
4.8
1296 Reviews
$31 to $50
Californian
Limited Inside and Outside dining. Choose Outside Dining or Standard for inside dining. Either choice is a commitment to dine in that area.
To accommodate our second seating, early parties should plan for a maximum stay of 1.5 to 2hrs, depending on party size. Please call 805 966 9676 for more details.
A popular local’s favorite, opal restaurant & bar’s Eclectic California Cuisine fuses creative world cuisine influences with American Regional touches, from a 14 oz. Herb-Grilled Ribeye Steak on Tuscan White Beans, to Fresh Pan-Seared Fish & Seafood, Homemade Pastas, Gourmet Pizzas, fresh Baked Breads, imaginative Salads, & Homemade Desserts.
We have a Wine Spectator award-winning wine list, & a full bar with seasonal Craft Cocktails.
Our entire dining room staff assists to take care of each table, enabling exceptional service in a warm engaging manner, properly nuanced to your mood & taste. Our staff genuinely cares about giving you the best possible experience!

Make a reservation

2 people

7:00 PM


Booked 21 times today

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style

    Fine Dining

  • Cuisines

    Californian, Fusion / Eclectic, American

  • Hours of operation

    Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 5:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–10:00 pm

  • Phone number

    (805) 966-9676

  • Payment options

    AMEX, MasterCard, Visa

  • Dress code

    Smart Casual

  • Executive chef

    Felipe Barajas

  • Private party facilities

    We can accommodate 45+ guests on one side of the restaurant, and 65+ on the other : 110 total. Either side reservable for semi or private dining.To book a large group or banquet (15 or more guests), contact our banquet management team for more details by clicking on the Banquet inquiries tab below and filling out the Banquet Contact Form there.

  • Private party contact

    Kristin : (805) 966-9676

  • Neighborhood

    Santa Barbara

  • Cross street

    Sola Street

  • Parking details

    Street Parking available on Sola Street and State Street. There is also a large public lot on Chapala Street between Victoria and Sola Streets, and a lot on the corner of Chapala and Sola Streets

  • Additional

    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Delivery, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Popular dishes

What 1,296 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

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

4.8
4.8 based on recent ratings
  • 4.7Food
  • 4.8Service
  • 4.6Ambience
  • 4.5Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • California Central Coast

    Californian

  • Santa Barbara

    Best Overall

  • Santa Barbara

    Best Food

  • Santa Barbara

    Best Value

  • Santa Barbara

    Good for business meals

  • Santa Barbara

    Good for groups

  • Santa Barbara

    Neighborhood gem

  • Santa Barbara

    Great for fine wines

  • Santa Barbara

    Lively

  • Santa Barbara

    Most Booked

Sort by

Filters

  1. SusanS

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined 2 days ago

    overall2food2service4ambience1
    Very noisy restaurant. Entree I had eaten there not long ago (vegetarian napoleon) was not nearly as good the second time. Mushrooms and eggplant were very chewy. However, service was good.
  2. OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 3 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Birthday Dinner for boyfriend
  3. JessicaA

    Orange County

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 4 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Wonderful experience! Great ambiance, including the lighting and the music. Everyone was kind and helpful, and the food was delicious (including the gluten free fusilli pasta)! 5 stars, would absolutely recommend.
  4. CynthiaM

    San Francisco

    21 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    21 reviews

    Dined 4 days ago

    overall3food5service1ambience3
    The food I had was wonderful. I had a duck appetizer that melted in my mouth. I also had the crab cake, also very good. The service was attentive at first and then the waitress disappeared. I had to flag down a man clearing tables for a dessert menu. Could be short-handed but lessened the experience.
  5. NewportGuy

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 5 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Amazing. Our server recognized that it was our anniversary, let us try wines because we were indecisive and the food was amazing.
  6. PamelaB

    San Francisco

    15 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    15 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We had a great experience. The mixed green salad shared was fresh and delicious. We both had variations on penne pasta - the chicken piccata was perfect and I heard good things about the chicken pasta with chipotle cream sauce. A beautiful Meyer lemon tart followed as the final course. All in all lovely. We’ll be back.
  7. JohnL

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on March 13, 2023

    overall4food3service5ambience5
    Excelent roast duck breast and excelent Calamari starter could not overcome my partners bland tasting smoked chicken pizza.
  8. SBDiner

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on March 12, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    The wait staff is amazing! They went the extra mile to bring my friend a birthday surprise scoop of gelato. The heaters at the outside tables work super-well, too.
  9. PeterE

    Central Coast

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on March 12, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    This was our first time dining at Opal. We will return! We were greeted warmly and seated outside, as we knew we would be. The heaters were turned on and we were quite comfortable. Our server introduced himself, was professional and friendly, and delivered very good service throughout the meal. My drink was perfectly prepared and delicious, as were our appetizers. Our main courses were again, well prepared, delivered hot and were delicious. We're not usually big on cheese cake but Opal's version was light and very tasty. All in all a relaxing and pleasing dining experience. We hope to see Opal around for a long time!
  10. SusanR

    Los Angeles

    4 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on March 10, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Great food and super nice people. Got us in right on time and great service 😊
  11. LeeS

    London

    4 reviews

    3.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on March 10, 2023

    overall3food3service4ambience3
    Didn't think the food measured up. Unfortunate to say the least.
  12. KarenH

    Central Coast

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on March 10, 2023

    overall5food4service5ambience5
    I love this place! Hadn’t been in awhile and it was great to see the quality, atmosphere and staff is as excellent as ever! We’ll definitely be back.
  13. CaliGirl

    New England

    34 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    34 reviews

    Dined on March 8, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    Second time there and both times everyone loved their meals. Very broad and eclectic menu, but they manage to make everything well.
  14. OpenTable Diner

    Central Coast

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on March 7, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Awesome service from Lisa. Food was excellent, perfect balance of flavors that can individually be tasted without any one overpowering the others. This is one place I lick the plate clean. Wait time for food was on par with any restaurant with good service, but with this caliber of food o consider it fast. Opal has a smaller personal ambiance great for dates. Space is limited for parties over 4. Highly recommend
  15. CraigS

    Los Angeles

    34 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    34 reviews

    Dined on March 4, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We celebrated our anniversary at Opal. The food was simply amazing - wonderful calamari starter with an Asian flair - absolutely the best calamari we have ever tasted. One of us has Paella - which was superb - a must try specialty of this restaurant, while the other had a filet steak with mushroom herb sauce, mashed potatoes and fresh vegetables. Probably the best cooked filet I have eaten in 29 years! Outstanding. The wine selections were fantastic, and we had a Manhattan, which was classics and excellent. The service was above gracious and helpful - such fun and a delight to celebrate a special occasion here at Opal. We sat inside, but they also have a large outdoor seating area with lights and heat lamps. Very popular dining destination in town. Highly recommend for any night out or a special event. One of the finest restaurants in town. Don’t miss it.
  16. Kal1

    Central Coast

    8 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    8 reviews

    Dined on March 3, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Fantastic service. Had the perfect table near the window. Loved the cocktails & selection of food.. perfectly fresh.
  17. NatalieH

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on February 25, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We were celebrating our 33rd wedding anniversary. It was the best meal with the most gracious servers. The striped sea bass meal was the most memorable meal I have had in years. Thank-you! Great blackberry margarita too.
  18. SheilaW

    Central Coast

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on February 23, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Our waitress was terrific! She was friendly and professional.
  19. BobN

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on February 22, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    Best duck dinner ever! Waitress was above exceptional!
  20. SBfoodie71

    San Francisco

    62 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    62 reviews

    Dined on February 21, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    Preferably, we still dine outside. Opal has one of the nicest venues in SB. Always delicious is the locals favorite salmon with lemongrass. The crab cake appetizers are a grand choice. Opal’s service is always commendable and Lisa is pro. Owner Richard is at tentative and delightful. Do I need to say more? Opal is a favorite!
  21. DennisP

    Orange County

    38 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    38 reviews

    Dined on February 20, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    As always the drinks were generous and well crafted. The staff was friendly and prompt. Food imaginative and tasty. Highly recommended if you are in or near Santa Barbara
  22. Taf1945

    Los Angeles

    10 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    10 reviews

    Dined on February 20, 2023

    overall4food4service5ambience3
    Food continues to be first rate as does the service especially with Shannon. the noise level is beyond acceptable if you want to have as intimacy, or holding important discussion for all to be included on your table of 4 or more. This topic comes up frequently. Many location in SB suffer from this. Opal is no worse just too bad everything else they do is really good.
  23. OpenTable Diner

    San Diego

    1 review

    vip
    1.0

    1 review

    Dined on February 19, 2023

    overall1food4service1ambience4
    Really bad service I’ve been coming here for years I was shocked. Waited forever to even get a drink order. Bummer. Food eventually was good
  24. mickey

    Central Coast

    12 reviews

    5.0

    12 reviews

    Dined on February 19, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Fabulous as always!!!!
  25. OpenTable Diner

    Central Coast

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on February 18, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    It was great
  26. BobW

    Central Coast

    120 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    120 reviews

    Dined on February 18, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Another perfect meal at Opal. We brought some friends that haven't dined at Opal before and they were totally impressed. The food, the service, etc., everything was incredible. We can't wait, as always, to go back to Opal.
  27. WendyB

    San Francisco

    22 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    22 reviews

    Dined on February 18, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Outstanding in every way. Our favorite Santa Barbara gem. Service, food and atmosphere are all to perfection!
  28. markfred

    Palm Springs

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on February 18, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Service and food are always excellent! We love to go there regularly. It’s a special place to be with great friends or loved ones.
  29. DudaDining

    Los Angeles

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on February 17, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    It was our best meal in years. We could not have been happier. The calamari was utterly amazing. My husband had the basil pasta with shrimp. I had the herb grilled filet with truffled mashed potatoes, a selection of vegetables and an amazing sauce that tempted me to lick the plate. We were celebrating a birthday and went the whole nine yards with dessert too. We had the Tahitian vanilla creme brûlée that was perfectly creamy and a dark chocolate pecan tart. It was the perfect way to end a delicious meal. The restaurant is about an hour and a half drive with traffic. Irrespective of the drive we will be back soon.
  30. OpenTable Diner

    San Diego

    7 reviews

    3.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on February 15, 2023

    overall3food5service5ambience1
    Opal has been a favorite of ours for dinners and events for many years- last night we went to celebrate Valentine’s Day - we had moved away during the pandemic but are returning back since then the outdoor seating has been added in the front. Unfortunately now for the main front dining room guests servers and hosts go in and out of the door every two minutes - it was freezing last night so every time the door opened and closed it was cold and noisy - this is my only complaint but really needs to somehow be remedied with construction maybe an entry point that breaks noise and wind- or a service door in another location. (maybe easier said than done) While the service, food, special touches of balloon decor, roses & chocolates for guests was amazing and is why we chose Opal and it was very much appreciated - sitting in our outdoor coats with the door shutting in uncomfortable ambiance was a real let down. In future we probably will only plan to join on warm days and on winter days only if we are seated in the side room where you are protected from the in and out of entrance. Thsnks for listening I hope you have a plan moving forward to better your new situation with outdoor dining- Opal is worth it!
  31. OpenTable Diner

    Central Coast

    9 reviews

    5.0

    9 reviews

    Dined on February 15, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    An amazing Valentines evening with my wife. We loved our night out and our special table — We will book for New Year’s Eve ( Table #40). Seaward “Ace” Grant
  32. YvonneR

    Central Coast

    8 reviews

    5.0

    8 reviews

    Dined on February 15, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We were there for Valentine’s Day and our waitress was so great ❤️ Their care and appreciation for us, made it even more special 🌺
  33. MarylindaF

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on February 14, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Loved this restaurant! Our server was lovely and the food was fantastic! Definitely recommend making a reservation before hand, will definitely come back
  34. OpenTable Diner

    New England

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on February 6, 2023

    overall5food4service5ambience5
    The phyllo prawns are spectacular!
  35. gastro2

    Detroit

    16 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    16 reviews

    Dined on February 5, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    The food was well prepared and presented. The service was attentive and very pleasant. Very nice evening. Thank you team Opal!
  36. mickey

    Central Coast

    13 reviews

    5.0

    13 reviews

    Dined on February 5, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    As usual food was excellent , service very good, and the owner, Richard is so gracious and cares so much about the quality of his restaurant . Always my go to place🥰
  37. MarlaP

    New England

    26 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    26 reviews

    Dined on February 4, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Opal is always welcoming. Their wine list is extensive and varied. Their food is consistently good as is their varied menu. Paul couldn’t have been lovelier as our server. The lamb chops and salmon are especially delicious. A wonderful night.
  38. ADinSB

    Central Coast

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on February 4, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Truly a Santa Barbara gem! Service it’s always top notch, and the food is always great! Elegant casual dining experience with reasonable prices. What more could you want?
  39. OpenTable Diner

    Central Coast

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on February 3, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Everything good
  40. CatherineP

    Sacramento

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on February 3, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We asked for a table by the window and they accommodated our request. Service was excellent.

Safety precautions

  • Cleaning & sanitizing

    • Surfaces sanitized between seatings
    • Digital, disposable or sanitized menu provided
    • 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
  • Screening

    • Sick staff prohibited in the workplace

FAQs

Opal Restaurant & Bar offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (805) 966-9676.

Opal Restaurant & Bar is rated 4.8 stars by 1296 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a reservation

2 people

7:00 PM


Booked 21 times today
Google Map for Opal Restaurant & Bar

1325 State St, Santa Barbara, CA 93101-2609

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Cross street

    Sola Street

  • Neighborhood

    Santa Barbara

  • Hours of operation

    Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 5:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–10:00 pm

  • Cuisines

    Californian, Fusion / Eclectic, American

  • Dining style

    Fine Dining

  • Dress code

    Smart Casual

  • Parking details

    Street Parking available on Sola Street and State Street. There is also a large public lot on Chapala Street between Victoria and Sola Streets, and a lot on the corner of Chapala and Sola Streets

  • Payment options

    AMEX, MasterCard, Visa

  • Executive chef

    Felipe Barajas

  • Additional

    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Delivery, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine

  • Phone number

    (805) 966-9676

  • Private party facilities

    We can accommodate 45+ guests on one side of the restaurant, and 65+ on the other : 110 total. Either side reservable for semi or private dining.To book a large group or banquet (15 or more guests), contact our banquet management team for more details by clicking on the Banquet inquiries tab below and filling out the Banquet Contact Form there.

  • Private party contact

    Kristin : (805) 966-9676

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