Contemporary cuisine: the best places to taste it in Santa Barbara

10 restaurant menus in Santa Barbara, (the ranking and the list of restaurants are based on the number of recommendations received from users in the last month, currently updated)
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Barbareno
Barbareno
94/100 (929 ratings)
Restaurants
Vegetarian Friendly
Fusion
Contemporary
Fusion
American
Contemporary
American
Gluten Free Options
Vegan Options
Barbecue
Vegetarian Friendly
Gluten Free Options
Vegan Options
Dinner
Lunch
Ice Cream
Tagliatelle
Cobb Salad
Pancakes
Quail
Pasta
Beignets
Salad
California Roll
Duck
Panzanella
Mussels
Cakes
Tuna
Lamb
Salmon
Pesto
Fish
Cod
Burger
Pork
Beef
Sit down
American
Fusion
Contemporary
Accepts Mastercard
Seating
Accepts Visa
Table Service
Accepts American Express
Wheelchair Accessible
Street Parking
Accepts Discover
Serves Alcohol
Wine and Beer
Gift Cards Available
Parking Available
Free off-street parking
Highchairs Available
Free Wifi
Accepts Credit Cards
Outdoor Seating
Reservations
Dinner
Lunch
Mid-range
"Great food, good service, ok ambiance. Better options out there for the price but you won’t be disappointed. Food: 5/5 From appetizers to entrees..."
Lilly Ong
"What a fantastic experience the food Comes in modern plates with beautiful presentation and tastes delicious way taste amazing! The wine is not..."
Cleia Edwards
"This is hands down the next restaurant I've eaten at in 2021 so far. The food is exceptionally flavors and fresh - we got the avocado and wings for..."
Wendi
"Celebrated my birthday here. Great food, beautiful ambiance and exceptional service. Would definitely recommend eating here and to make a..."
Quinn Gleeson
"Husband and I had a great time there. We have no complaints about the food. Everything we ate was DELICIOUS!! And our server was very attentive on..."
Gloria Quenun
"Great food and excellent service. Seasonal menus. The lamb dish / appetizer was excellent and the steak was..."
Ashish Kelkar
"Loved every single dish!!! Highly recommend if you are visiting Santa Barbara!..."
maria batsis
Test Pilot
Test Pilot
92/100 (461 ratings)
Restaurants
Contemporary
Hawaiian
Late Night
Drinks
"A unique place to stop for a drink and to rest while spending time in Santa Barbara.. loved..."
Donna Schmidt Taylor
"Extremely unique! Really fun atmosphere. The service was incredible. They had many options for the non-drinker also, delicious Mocktails! Highly..."
Karen Roland Hare
"This place is a definite go to.. if you are ever in SB. Cheers!🍹..."
Ben Nuno
"Awesome! Excellent selection and service. My favorite local rum..."
Sam Shewan
"We were visiting from Phoenix and booked a trip around this bar. Great bartenders and people who developed an excellent cocktail menu! We ALWAYS..."
Melanie Liddy
"Let’s just say.....The cocktails are sooo good. Awesome..."
Jon L Brown
"Cool spot, chill vibes, good drinks! Definitely a must if you're in..."
Tony Sciucco
"Brilliant move, guys. Best service and drinks in town by far!!! Highly recommend to anyone and..."
Lauren E. Coomer
"Test Pilot is the business! I'm all about tiki cocktails, for I have a tiki bar in my backyard, and this place rips up any competition within 80..."
Mitchell Manimal Evans
"Went to try this place out after finding it on Yelp. The sign it was a little hard to see but was pleasantly surprised with the inside. The drinks..."
Art Solis
"Great cocktails! Friendly staff, fun vibe and music. Artistically crafted cocktails. The bartender told me they source the produce locally & make..."
Jennifer Shaw
"Great polynesian drinks and a cool bar. A nice respite from all the wine tasting rooms. The mai tai was..."
Rosetta Purcell
"Best yummy tropical drinks I've ever had!! The bartender was friendly and fast. Can't wait to go..."
Randy Roberts
"Love!!! Three visits of in two days and it never..."
Joy Caves
"Great cocktails and..."
Ksenia Sarkisova
"Excellent drinks!! Will come again when we are in town next...."
Leslie Smith Martin
"These cocktails are absolutely stunning and fabulous. I love the ambience and their Thai iced teas were stellar. Good place for..."
Shweta Nalawade
"The Test Pilot is an amazing little place with great atmosphere and amazingly prepared, specially crafted drinks. I met friends there on a Friday..."
Noe Torres
"I really appreciate a bar that can craft something delicious with or without alcohol. The non-alcoholic Buccaneer was fantastic with lots of..."
Claire Chisolm
"Had some great service here. The cocktails are crafted with care and are quite good. Outdoor seating is nice. I particularly enjoyed the Potentially..."
Will Vesey
"Test Pilot is a fabulous cocktail bar. It definitely stands alone in the funk zone, and always is a good time. The drinks are strong, so be wary that..."
sarah lippert
"Excellent cocktail bar frequented by a young crowd. Every drink I have tried has been suprub but in particular I highly recommend the..."
MR L
Mesa Verde Restaurant
Mesa Verde Restaurant
91/100 (1660 ratings)
Restaurants
Contemporary
Gluten Free Options
Healthy
Contemporary
Healthy
Vegan Options
Vegetarian Friendly
Vegetarian Friendly
Gluten Free Options
Vegan Options
Brunch
Dinner
Lunch
Picadillo Empanadas
Falafel
Baklava w Vanilla Ice Cream
Juice & Smoothies
Impossible Burrito
Cheesecakes
Grilled Flatbread with Hummus
BLT
Pasta
Umami Mushroom Burger
Lasagne
Salad
Picadillo Tacos
Patatas Bravas
Risotto
Squash Blossom Quesadilla
Pesto
Falafel Wheatberry
Pulled Pork
Imposst Burrito
Huevos Rancheros
Cheesecake
Tapas
Juice & Smoothies
Tacos
Sandwiches
Jackfruit Tacos
Burger
Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Falafel Sandwich
Veggie Burger
Polenta
Macro Bowl
Hummus
Sit down
Contemporary
Healthy
Serves Alcohol
Parking Available
Highchairs Available
Accepts Credit Cards
Outdoor Seating
Takeout
Seating
Table Service
Wheelchair Accessible
Brunch
Dinner
Lunch
Mid-range
"Thanks to Yelp we found this place. We are always looking for Vegan restaurants and this one did not disappoint. The staff was friendly, the..."
Liz Garcia-Caamano
"This place was absolutely delicious! A flavorful and presentable vegetarian restaurant that shows you what vegetarian can be without tofu! The..."
Autumn Huey
"Tasty and colorful cuisine. I loved the lime infused falafel sandwich. My husband had the Raja Tacos. Polenta fries very tasty. A little taste of..."
Karen Dean Keegan
"The (cashew) grilled cheese sandwich (omg!), falafel bowl, baklava with the best vanilla bean ice cream and pumpkin cheesecake were delicious! Was..."
Shelley Petlansky Watkins
"Absolutely incredible! Nothing I write can accurately relay how remarkable the food is, or how magical my experience was. The food is the most..."
Maxwell Kennedy
"One of the best food and drinks we’ve had since turning vegan over a year ago! Interesting ingredients, creative choices, perfectly cooked and..."
Paulina Pawlowska-Nunez
"Fabulous vegan desserts! The food was tasty, and superb. The staff was friendly, knowledgeable, and patient. If you are into vegan dining, or wanting..."
Sabrina M.
"Food excellent!!!! Service is even more excellent!! Kenny was our EXTRAORDINARY amazing waiter. He went above and beyond in providing great..."
Ruby Patel
"Feel good food that satisfies you. I ordered the Mediterranean bowl, which came with the best salad mix I’ve ever tried. It’s so herbaceous and..."
Christine S
"Really loved the Mediterranean bowl and the Jupiter smoothie. It was enough to share for a lighter lunch. All the flavors went so well together, and..."
Marcella E.
"Pleasant outdoor dining ambiance. Great, attentive service. Amazing food (one of the best meals we've had in a while) and the best smoothies we've..."
Jenna Breiner
Dart Coffee Co
Dart Coffee Co
90/100 (319 ratings)
Coffee & Tea
Restaurants
American
Cafe
Healthy
Contemporary
American
Contemporary
Healthy
Cafe
American
Contemporary
Healthy
Café
"Loved DART Coffee in the Funk Zone! The line was long, but it was moving pretty fast. The staff is cheerful, friendly, and knowledgeable. The place..."
Sabrina M.
"This thoughtfully designed, bright and airy coffee shop brings together the very best of Southern California beachside splendor. The coffee solid,..."
Christopher Chung
"I love this place and want to come back. The location was very cute, clean, and bright lighting. I had an oat milk matcha latte, delicious, and my..."
Courtney Tudor
"Wow! What a treat to stumble upon this place! Was looking for a quick place to stop on a road trip and this place came up. Easily accessible from the..."
Sarah Beth Pauls
"Sweet coffee shop with very nice employees. Line outside moves very fast. Good, standard coffee options, kids loved the pastries, and the sitting..."
Justin Nevling
"Great coffee and nice place to enjoy it. We sat in the warm January sunshine in the table area next to the shop. The garden across the street looks..."
KJ
"Stopped for a coffee in my visit to Santa Barbara. Really enjoyed the rich taste and the quality of the coffee. Service was fast enough considering..."
Hosna S
"Oddly frenetic vibe inside and while ordering / waiting for coffee for a sleepy Tuesday morning that was not very busy. The have beautiful grounds..."
Michael Weiss
Toma Restaurant And Bar
Toma Restaurant And Bar
86/100 (10553 ratings)
Restaurants
Tuscan
Central-Italian
Vegan Options
Contemporary
Mediterranean
Seafood
Gluten Free Options
Mediterranean
Contemporary
Italian
Vegetarian Friendly
Italian
Vegetarian Friendly
Vegan Options
Gluten Free Options
Drinks
Dinner
Lunch
Sashimi
Ribs
Pork
Prawns
Lobster
Squash blossom
Polenta
Pasta
Cioppino
Salad
Scallops
Bass
Clams
Torte
Calamari
Octopus
Risotto
Lasagne
Tuna
Calamares
Cannelloni
Salmon
Roast Chicken
Shrimp
Lamb
Beef
Pesto
Fish
Sit down
Contemporary
Seafood
Mediterranean
Central-Italian
Italian
Tuscan
Takeout
Accepts Mastercard
Accepts Visa
Reservations
Accepts American Express
Seating
Table Service
Waterfront
Wheelchair Accessible
Accepts Discover
Serves Alcohol
Gift Cards Available
Highchairs Available
Full Bar
Free Wifi
Accepts Credit Cards
Drinks
Dinner
Lunch
Fine Dining
"Amazing food dishes! A totally amazing meal with every dish so fresh and oozing with so many lovely flavours.Eaisly the best meal we had in America..."
Maurice Hughes
"We came to eat here at Toma while looking at their menu from the outside and a gentleman approached us and said that this place was had great food..."
Moises Vazquez-Tochijara
"Loved this restaurant. From the moment we walked in we were promptly greeted. It was towards closing so I was expecting to be rushed. Nope! The..."
Tracy Samuels-Cristallo
"Hubby b-day dinner. Loved everything about this gem of a restaurant, the location, atmosphere, cocktails, and specially the food. Service was..."
Maria Alejandra Ferrari-Davis
"This is truly the best restaurant I've ever been to. The lasagna was amazing, the staff incredible, & the dessert was off the hook!! You must..."
Ashley Williams-Marble
"We booked online after reading reviews on trip adviser, it was the last table available and it was worth the the late time of 9.30! We had the tuna..."
Suzanne Pennington
"Service, food and energy was great!!! We had a wonderful time celebrating my birthday! The wine list was superb! I highly recommend this..."
Janis Miller
"The wine, food, bartenders & atmosphere are fabulous! It's a small restaurant but if you're lucky enough to find a place at the bar you will not be..."
Laura Ward Galassie
"Love everything about this restaurant. The food was amazingly delicious. They had a great wine selection and the ambiance was right on..."
Nancy Gutiérrez-Turner
"Thank you Tom and the amazing staff at Toma. Our waiter, the food, and the prompt service was exceptional. Chef Nat Ely is amazing and his dishes..."
Irica Monique Rodriguez
"Wonderful dining experience. Food was excellent, service was amazing and the atmosphere was perfect. I would recommend you go there when you visit..."
Marcia Eleccion
"Amazing food and our waiter Cullen was beyond exceptional with suggestions of food and wine, loved the Ahi cones and my lasagna was incredible but..."
Steven West
"The food and the service were great. Great wine list. Only downside tables are really close..."
Sue Dirkschneider
"Amazing, fresh and delicious food! Our server was awesome! Very professional and kind! Thanks Toma for a great birthday dinner! I will be coming..."
Michele Leann Custer-Thompson
"This was s a true restaurant! Reservations! Appointed tables! Fabulous specials on the menu! You are the most important patron! The restaurant is..."
Jeannie Campbell Carpenter
Finch & Fork
Finch & Fork
81/100 (3644 ratings)
Restaurants
Vegetarian Friendly
American
Contemporary
Contemporary
Vegan Options
American
Bar
Gluten Free Options
Pub
Vegetarian Friendly
Vegan Options
Gluten Free Options
Breakfast
Brunch
Drinks
Dinner
Lunch
Pork
Tapas
Fish Taco
Juice & Smoothies
Tacos
Ribs
Pasta
Salad
Eggs Benedict
Wings
French Toast
Mac and cheese
Toasts
Scallops
Omelette
Duck
Oyster
Juice & Smoothies
Risotto
Burger
Creme Brulee
Salmon
Kale Salad
Lamb
Beef
Crème Brulée
Fish
Sit down
Bar
Pub
American
Contemporary
Full Bar
Free Wifi
Accepts Credit Cards
Television
Reservations
Accepts Mastercard
Accepts Visa
Private Dining
Seating
Accepts American Express
Table Service
Street Parking
Wheelchair Accessible
Accepts Discover
Valet Parking
Serves Alcohol
Parking Available
Highchairs Available
Drinks
Brunch
Breakfast
Dinner
Lunch
Mid-range
Smithy
Smithy
81/100 (484 ratings)
Restaurants
Contemporary
International
Dinner
Salad
Scallops
"Outstanding service, lovely outdoor seating, lots of heaters to keep you warm outside. Restaurant week allowed me to try a variety of menu items, all..."
Diana Lowry
"Pretty place. Seems mellow. Only had drinks. Daniel the bartender was a nice guy. Pretty..."
Hudson Hornick
"Amazing 😛 Brussel Sprouts, Scallops, Chicken 🐔, all were good chicken has a honey 🍯 glaze so if you don't like a little sweet order..."
Zach VanHarn
"It was a little busy on Friday right about the dinner hour, but that was expected. They have nice sitting areas in the front and back as well and a..."
Alex Torres
"Everything we shared was absolutely delicious! From the drinks, to the grilled peach salad & bruschetta appetizers; to the scallops, cioppino,..."
Damon Roberts
"Nice relaxing spot hiding off of state street. A drink enthusiast or a foodie will love this spot as you get choices not found in many places. A..."
daren green
Marketplace Cafe
Marketplace Cafe
80/100 (16 ratings)
Restaurants
Contemporary
Cafe
Dinner
Lunch
"Tried this place already with a friend and I am hooked ever since. I liked the excellent character and tasty dishes and beverages. Keep up the good..."
Cayden Morton
"Nice..."
jesper
Bluewater Grill
Bluewater Grill
77/100 (702 ratings)
Restaurants
Seafood
American
Contemporary
Healthy
Healthy
Contemporary
Seafood
American
Gluten Free Options
Bar
Bar
Gluten Free Options
Drinks
Dinner
Lunch
Chowder
Lobster
Swordfish
Bass
Salad
Fish
Clam Chowder
Crab
Scallops
Clams
Oyster
Calamari
Risotto
Salmon
Crab Cake
Shrimp
Sit down
Bar
American
Contemporary
Healthy
Seafood
Gift Cards Available
Parking Available
Free off-street parking
Highchairs Available
Full Bar
Digital Payments
Free Wifi
Accepts Credit Cards
Reservations
Seating
Outdoor Seating
Table Service
Takeout
Wheelchair Accessible
Television
Street Parking
Serves Alcohol
Drinks
Dinner
Lunch
Mid-range
Gioia Wine Lounge
71/100 (578 ratings)
Restaurants
French
Wine Bar
Mexican
Mexican
American
Wine Bar
American
Contemporary
Contemporary
French
Breakfast
Dinner
Lunch
Sit down
Wine Bar
American
Contemporary
French
Mexican
Breakfast
Dinner
Lunch
Mid-range