Reviews for Beachside Bar & Cafe

10/27/2021 - MenuPix User
Don’t waste your time, they are closed down!

09/13/2021 - Laura
My favorite restaurant in Santa Barbara!

10/14/2012 - mcintirept
I too have been going to Beachside for close to 20 years as the only restaurant in Goleta with a view. Every time I go, I tell myself I won't go back. This last time was the worst. Food was horrible, presentation was horrible, service was horrible. It really wasn't the waiter's fault but the fault of management. It looked like there was one busboy for the entire restaurant?! The waiter couldn't possibly serve us in a timely manner. We sat for 1/2 hour before anyone even came to the table to ask for drink orders or to give us water. I had the Halibut. The plate came with rice (off white) with the fish (off white) with no color at all, very unappealing. The fish wasn't cooked in parts and the flavor was horrible. My husband's steak was tough and almost inedible. Over a hundred dollars for a nice view and good bread. Not worth it! Fool me twice, shame on me...finally learned my lesson...never going back!!

07/24/2011 - Patsy
They used to have a wonderful shrimp cocktail with baby shrimp in a terrific salsa; now it's a below-average large shrimp (not all that fresh) on a bed of greens. Other food is average, service generally below average--drinks and extra lemons come after the food is already eaten--but the view is worth the food. You're not eating near the beach; you're eating ON the beach. Sunset views are unparallelled. Just don't expect a gourmet dining experience, and you're fine.

11/30/2010 - Robert T Knight
I have read several critical (negative) reviews focused on the people who greet you at the front desk. We live here and couldn't agree more. They have a high turnover at the front desk and the people are close to useless in making you feel welcome. If you can stand to wait or sit at the bar the food is quite good and the prices are very reasonable. Just don't expect 5 star service at a 2 star price.

09/03/2010 - FT & DT
It is the best. Been going for ever & never disappointed. Of coarse any restaurant can get too busy & things happen. But me & my family & friends 100% satisfied being a regular diners.

03/30/2010 - Chris Rubel
What a fine birthday Sunday noon we enjoyed with Channel Islands, a great waiter, named Luther, and superb service, and food. We celebrated an 80th and an 88th birthday at The Beachside and it could not have been more fun nor more beautiful on the 28th of March. Enjoy! And thank you, staff of The Beachside! Chris

03/12/2010 - unknown
Growing up in Goleta/ SB the Beachside has been an amazing restaurant, not to mention a great place of employment for the students. I admire the owner and managers for hiring all races of people. I read one review that said they were racist, who is cooking your food and serving it to you. I have friends that are of Mexican decent who work really hard and worked their way up from pantry to head waiter, who is the racist?? They are driving better cars than me!! And deserve all of it. I think people need to worry about gas prices rather than small things that happen in a restaurant, especially the Beachside. They have great food and a wonderful staff. Plus a great view:) By the way, their food is the best and freshest you will find.

02/10/2010 - SBDave
Also to Newyearsservers.Sorry it didn't work out Pedro. I've lived in SB for 50 years. Places like this are great!

01/13/2010 - Bicycle rider
To newyearsevers below. You don't deserve to go to the Beachside. your attitude and foul mouth should never be aloud. My husband and i go there every week somtimes twice a week. the service is awesome! the food is great. the clam chowder is to die for. The bartender takes care of us all the time. The staff is friendly and polite. will be going there soon.

01/11/2010 - The Petard
Every time we have been here, the food was quite good. Unfortunately, the service -- primarily the hostesses -- have been an abomination. If you call in for reservations, it seems like you're talking to an anti-social personality who is capable of only one syllable words. We asked for an early Sunday afternoon reservation for ourselves and some friends and were told that nothing was available at the early time we requested. We were offered 15 minutes earlier or 15 minutes later (go figure that one out!), and when we requested consideration for a table by the window, were told that none were going to be available, and they could not guarantee anything. When we arrived, the restaurant was only half-full. But, kudos go to a very pleasant server and to the chef.

A few questions:
Were they trying to turn away potential business so they wouldn't have to work so hard? Are their hostesses hired for their acerbic verbal skills? Who runs this hospitality disaster, anyway? Do we want to go back there again? (Probably not if the welcome is the same. Good food only goes so far.)

09/30/2009 - Tiffany
My absolute favorite restaurant in Santa Barbara/ Goleta. Wonderful food, great service, fantastic atmosphere!

09/22/2009 - Thomas H
It is the best cafe on the beach I have ever been to. The prices are right. It is a very friendly atmosphere. Plus the food is amazing. I love the tropical seafood salad. I highly recommend this to anyone going to Santa Barbara.

05/04/2009 - Dennis-Ca.
I was looking for a place to have my wedding reception, found their outside patio superb & talked to a mgr. who gave me some info,said it was available & told me to call Keith to hold a reservation. I called the next business day & he was in a meeting but didn't receive my info or bother calling me back. I had to call him back & then he told me that reservations were called upon around 3pm. I explained to him that this was a small reception of about 25-30 people & we would like to buy their appetizers for our guests & each one served about 20 people. The fruit tray,vegetable tray, & their chicken-steak skewers. Which came to around $245.00 plus a $150.00 set up fee. I said that we would like to bring in a small cake & some sparkling cider for a toast. He said that there was a corking fee of $15.00 per bottle even though it was non-alcoholic & cake cutting fee of $1.50 each cut so I agreed to a corking fee & we were going to bring some i-pod music for dancing. He said he would look it all over & get back to me. Within 3 minutes the Manager called me back (Aussie accent)& said that with what I wanted & ordering that it would not be enough! He said that he would have to charge me $40.00 a head. I told him that that was an outrageous price for only 25-30 people. He said he was in the business to make $ & that would not be enough for his company in what I was ordering. I explained to him that I was on a budget but he didn't seem to care only that he needed $40.00 a head. I also said we were going to have dinner their for our immediate dinner party later on but it didn't seem to matter to him either! So I said "you would rather let a sale go buy & not make any $ than to only get what you want! It's a no wonder some business go under in this economy cause they cut off their nose to spite their face!! He said that the beach front property was expensive & that they needed to pay their bills also. Still he wouldn't even compromise on the price @ even $20.00 or $30.00 a head. So I was looking @ $1000.00 for an outside reception for only maybe 2 hrs.& that was 25 people, including kids. There isn't even have anything on their menu for $40.00. Gimme a break I'm not stupid & anyone else would have to be stupid for having their event there @ his prices. The patio only holds 50 people & @ that price it would be $2000.00. What a rip off. Besides when we paid for our food I gave the waiter my $ & he only gave me change back of half of what I gave him. The clam chowder in a bread bowl was so/so, & I've had better, but the atmosphere was good & nice Hawaiian music to match. One things for sure....you won't see me there again!! It's really sad in our society when we reach a certain plateau that we loose touch with the people that put us there & don't show our appreciation by not wanting to compromise to help our fellow man. He didn't even ask about a way to help only demanding a certain $ amount & that was it. I hope all who read this will reconsider renting out this facility for an event but continue to dine & enjoy the fine spirits that they have so as to not hurt the employees that work hard to pay their bills & make a living also.

03/23/2008 - Keith & Catherine
We arrived at the restaurant on Easter Sunday just before 4:30. We gave the hostess our name, asked for an outside table. Was told no problem. We waitedfor a table for about 20 mins. when we heard the hostess tell someone they couldn't be seated until 5pm. We were seated just after 5 pm and given an inside table. When we questioned our waitress we were told there were no outside tables. We could see plenty of empty tables but were told they were reserved. We could have an outside table if we waited another 45 mins. Why couldn't the hostess be up front and tell us there were no outside tables and that they didn't seat people after 4:30 - even though we were there before 4:30. We don't think we will be going back again.

03/16/2008 - G & J Holtz
We travel Hwy 101 between L.A. & the Bay Area often and when time allows, this is our choice for lunch. The food, service and cost make for a very enjoyable lunch. Add in the spectacular oceanside scenery and you have an excellent lunch.

03/09/2008 - MenuPix User
I love this place! The food is great, and it is right up next to the ocean, so it makes for a nice romantic atmosphere. Many of the people working there are UCSB students, but they do a great job at making the experience enjoyable. Not to mention, there are not a whole lot of nice restaurants in the area that have food of this quality. I have tried a few of the places in Santa Barbara, and just had to wait hours for my cold food to arrive. Give this place a try

12/04/2007 - MenuPix User
I travel to Santa Barbara from the east coast fairly often. This would be my second visit here. The first time the food was cold and uninspired. However the bartenders were really nice and convinced me that the food is normally good and that I really need to give them another chance. Well I did. The food was cold and disgusting. I have had better food at the Holiday Inn in Newark. If you are looking for a pre game spot for drinks they are the spot. For food you would be better off eating a warm bucket of vomit.

10/09/2007 - MenuPix User
Miss the lime butter swordfish!

07/13/2007 - MenuPix User
I've been eating there for years and the service is the best. the food is great and the restaurant is clean. TRY THE HALIBUT, IT'S THE BEST!!!!!