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Diners' Choice: Best Value restaurants in Santa Barbara

OpenTable

Updated 05 November 2024

Looking for the best value restaurants in Santa Barbara? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyses nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favourite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you book, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

A photo of Stella Mare's restaurant

4.8

4.8 (2294)

$31 to $50

French

Santa Barbara

About the restaurant

French country bistro...Between Montecito and Santa Barbara, Stella Mare's Bistro is located in a historic Victorian home overlooking the Bird Refuge. French country cuisine rules the menu, with dishes like coq au vin, cassoulet, and moules frites. Sip seasonal cocktails amid cozy décor -- all the right ingredients for a great dining experience. Bon appétit!

When requesting the greenhouse please note that is considered indoor dining.

Top review

B

burbanitevip

Dined 6 days ago

We recently moved to the Central Coast in CA. We often go to Santa Barbara for its restaurant scene. On my wife’s birthday we wanted something special and we were drawn to Stella Mare, with its classic French with a twist menu. We were blown away! Cannot say enough about the food, great housing in a Victorian home, and unparalleled service. The mushroom soup was perfection as was the apple, endive, pecan salad local blue cheese and light vinaigrette dressing. The coq a vin was perfectly seasoned and the meat fell off the bone. The salmon with cauliflower sauce was incredible. We were full but couldn’t resist the French Beignets which were heavenly and different from the normal Beignets. The only issue you better go now because the restaurant is slated to close Dec 31. Don’t miss the opportunity!!

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A photo of Stella Burger of a restaurant

A photo of Salmon of a restaurant

A photo of Saumon Amandine of a restaurant

Saumon Amandine

A photo of Secret Bao restaurant

4.8

4.8 (665)

$31 to $50

Asian

Santa Barbara

About the restaurant

Modern Asian American Restaurant from Chefs Peter Lee & Felicia Medina.

"Consider the bao. Chinese in origin, it’s most easily described as a steamed bun filled with something savory. Yet, like the American concept of a sandwich, the bao exploded into a flexible format of untold bounds — served at any meal, filled with you-name-it, completely closed or wide open, with endless regional variants from across Asia and far beyond." - Matt Kettmann (SB Independent)

1 Block From State Street, Easy Parking, Public Lot Nearby, Free 75 Minute Parking, Walking Distance, El Pueblo Viejo Landmark District, Superior Court, Spanish Colonial Revival Courthouse, Santa Barbara Museum Of Art, Courthouse Gardens, Bell Tower, Bao, Food, Restaurant, Asian, American, New, Modern, Fried, Chicken, Octopus, Vegan, Vegetarian, Paelo, Friendly, Dog Friendly, Outdoor Patio, Heaters, Warm, Inviting, Hospitable, Modern Design

Top review

L

Lisavip

Dined 2 days ago

Delectable food and great service. Creative bao flavors and everything from cocktail to noodles to baos to desserts were perfectly flavoured with nothing too sweet, salty or overpowering. Love that they offered happy hour until 6pm, even on a Friday.

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A photo of KFC Bao of a restaurant

A photo of KFC of a restaurant

A photo of Shrimp of a restaurant

A photo of Tre Lune restaurant

4.8

4.8 (1984)

$31 to $50

Italian

Montecito

About the restaurant

"Upbeat and comfortable, serving real-deal pastas and pizzas that make you feel like you're in Italy again." - ZAGAT 2010

Fresh fish, veal scaloppini, osso buco, prime steaks, Kobe-beef burgers, organic salads, and house-made desserts.

Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner-Cocktails.

Award Winner of Italian wines list.

Please call to make reservations.

Top review

J

Jordanvip

Dined 4 days ago

We loved everything about our dining experience! Cocktails and food were superb!

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A photo of Lasagne Maria of a restaurant

A photo of Fettuccine Alfredo of a restaurant

Fettuccine Alfredo

A photo of Intermezzo By Wine Cask restaurant

Intermezzo By Wine Cask

4.8

4.8 (1771)

$31 to $50

Californian

Santa Barbara

About the restaurant

Intermezzo by Wine Cask
New Menu by Executive Chef Mossin Sugich

Modern American cuisine with a Mediterranean twist

Top review

B

Billvip

Dined 4 days ago

Best food in town! Great staff and killer bartender! Owner is a stud as well! Cheers

A photo of Barbareño restaurant

4.8

4.8 (1875)

$31 to $50

Californian

Santa Barbara

About the restaurant

At Barbareño we seek to help further shape and define Central Coast cuisine. We take our inspiration from traditions and specialties of our area, delicacies unique to our region, and the many outstanding purveyors with whom we are so fortunate to work. In all of our efforts, we hope to capture the essence of a particular place or local flavor, embracing the nuances that make our food and drink unique to our home.

Top review

G

Georgette

Dined today

Amazing food, amazing service. Thanks for making my birthday a great night!

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A photo of Santa Maria BBQ of a restaurant

Santa Maria BBQ

A photo of Baked California of a restaurant

Baked California

A photo of Grilled Avocado of a restaurant

Grilled Avocado

A photo of The Black Sheep SB Brasserie restaurant

The Black Sheep SB Brasserie

4.7

4.7 (703)

$31 to $50

Contemporary French / American

Santa Barbara

About the restaurant

A locally owned and operated, modern-classic California-French Pub. We serve elevated, eclectic, locally sourced Cuisine paired with incredible wines and craft beer. We are NOW OPEN for SUNDAY BRUNCH 10am-1:30pm. Located in Old Town Santa Barbara on 18 East Cota Street, the building boasts a rich history of French restaurants and saloons dating back over a century.

We are open for Dinner Wed-Sun from 5PM. We are known for our incredible family style tasting menu’s where multiple dishes are presented to your table for each course.

Top review

T

Thilovip

Dined 3 days ago

Great experience for Thanksgiving dinner. Service was great, food delicious and creative.

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A photo of “Apero” Early Dinner Prix Fix of a restaurant

“Apero” Early Dinner Prix Fix

A photo of "Sunday Supper" Chef's Choice 4 courses of a restaurant

"Sunday Supper" Chef's Choice 4 courses

A photo of Endless Moules Frites every Wednesday of a restaurant

Endless Moules Frites every Wednesday

A photo of Opal Restaurant & Bar restaurant

Opal Restaurant & Bar

4.9

4.9 (1751)

$31 to $50

Californian

Santa Barbara

About the restaurant

We have inside and limited outdoor sidewalk dining. If you prefer to sit outside, please indicate that with your reservation request.
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!

Top review

B

Bob

Dined 3 days ago

We went for the Prix Fixe Thanksgiving dinner. Kudos to this restaurant for not only serving a delicious traditional turkey dinner, but they also presented a half dozen other entrees like fish, beef, and vegetarian. Well done, Opal management.

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A photo of Pasilla Chile Filet Mignon of a restaurant

Pasilla Chile Filet Mignon

A photo of Bouchon - Santa Barbara restaurant

Bouchon - Santa Barbara

4.8

4.8 (5420)

$31 to $50

Californian

Santa Barbara

About the restaurant

We are delighted to have added additional outdoor seating but Santa Barbara nights are chilly so bring a sweater or light jacket!

Fresh, local ingredients, prepared with care. Excellent wines that reflect the quality and character of our region and work in concert with the cuisine. Warm, inviting ambiance, service at a relaxed, leisurely pace. Santa Barbara ‘Wine Country Cuisine’ means we source our ingredients using an ‘as-fresh-and-as-local-as-possible’ approach, with fish from the Santa Barbara Channel and produce from the surrounding countryside. We then take into account how these flavors can be presented in concert with our local wines. We believe you’ll taste the difference. Bon Appètit!

Top review

C

Cecile

Dined 4 days ago

Excellent in every way. Nicolas was our server. Great guy.

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A photo of Dungeness Crab Cakes of a restaurant

Dungeness Crab Cakes

A photo of Bouchon French 'French Onion' Soup of a restaurant

Bouchon French 'French Onion' Soup

A photo of Toma Restaurant & Bar restaurant

Toma Restaurant & Bar

4.8

4.8 (5479)

$31 to $50

Italian

Santa Barbara

About the restaurant

Toma Restaurant and Bar a waterfront bistro, located along Santa Barbara's picturesque Cabrillo Blvd. Experience Santa Barbara waterfront's most romantic restaurant. Savor exquisite Italian and Mediterranean inspired dishes from Santa Barbara's seasonal bounty, supporting our local fisherman, farmers, foragers and food artisans. Pour over local and Italian wines along with a full bar of handcrafted cocktails and spirits. Enjoy warm and attentive service while dining window side with a view of the enchanting Santa Barbara harbor.

Top review

B

BLANCAvip

Dined 1 day ago

Nice restaurant with excellent food and service. We will return asap.

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A photo of Lasagna of a restaurant

A photo of Ravioli of a restaurant

A photo of Olio e Limone Ristorante restaurant

Olio e Limone Ristorante

4.8

4.8 (2538)

$50 and over

Italian

Santa Barbara

About the restaurant

Olio e Limone Ristorante, located in downtown Santa Barbara's ARTS District, serves artisanal Italian cuisine. Meaning “oil and lemon” in Italian, their restaurant’s name reflects husband-wife team Alberto and Elaine Morello’s philosophy: rely on the integrity of the ingredients and quality of the preparation to provide Santa Barbara diners “simply sophisticated” Italian cuisine served in an inviting atmosphere with European hospitality. Start with eggplant souffle, then tuck into a plate of house made duck ravioli or Sicilian spaghetti with bottarga. And be sure to take home a bottle of their own olio, an organic extra-virgin olive oil made from Sicilian olive varieties.
Bonus: their contemporary Italian breakfast, lunch & retail spot Olio Bottega, and authentic pizzeria next door at Olio Pizzeria. Private dining in the Cucina Room for up to 40 guests.

Top review

H

Howardvip

Dined 2 days ago

Simply the best, our most favorite Italian restaurant in Santa Barbara that never, ever disappoints.

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