While the food was excellent, the highlight of the meal was the service, which was some of the best I can remember. It didn't, however, outshine the food, which included dungeness crab cakes and a duo of duck. The ambiance matches the Californian location, casually elegant. A trip to Santa Barbara wouldn't be complete without a trip here.

Wonderful setting, great food, knowledgable and friendly staff. What more does anyone need! We were a group of 10 and sat in the private dining room. We had a set menu that was perfectly balanced with something for everyone. Delicious breads, salads, and my lamb was the best I've had in a long time! Everything looked and tasted divine!

Our waiter had some great menu and wine suggestions. We started off sharing sautéed champignons with tomatoes and baby spinach in a wine emulsion with a local Chardonnay. My venison medallions and my wife's local sea bass were outstanding with the Santa Rita Pinot Noir. The lemon blueberry cake we shared was delicious and creative. Contrary to an earlier Tripadvisor... More

First time to Santa Barbara. The food was delicious, the waitstaff very attentive, got a table on the patio outside which was fantastic!! The venison was amazing as was the sweet corn soup!! Best meal I had while i was in Santa Barbara!

Bouchon has it all - delicious food, exceptional and attentive service and great atmosphere. From start to finish a wonderful experience. It is a vibrant restaurant not at all stuffy or quiet. Reservations are recommended. A must for a wonderful dinner if you are in this area.

Our last night in Santa Barbara brought us here. Excellent choice. Everything fresh and as much as possible, local. Started with the scallops, large, meaty, and full of good scallop flavor. They must have been really fresh. The wife had the fish special and it was special. I had the duck, cooked perfectly pink/red, tender, large and juicy. We split... More

We recently enjoyed a beautiful evening here. We were seated at a cozy table outside. The service was perfectly timed and warm and friendly. Our food was flavorful, delicious. We shared a first course of baked Brie, each had a second course of crab cakes which I loved and a roasted beet salad. Both pleased us very much. We both... More

I ate here by myself, had three glasses of wine and the bill was around $220. That's a bit much. I was surprised that the portions here are not at all "California sized." They were enormous. Usually in CA it's safe to order a couple of different courses because portions are always on the smaller side. It was shocking to... More

The good news is that Bouchon is an adorable cozy bistro just off the main downtown drag. The wait staff was very knowledgeable about the local wines and pairings. The food was a bit of a let down though. Not very imaginative and a bit sloppy in execution. May have something to do with shaving off a bit in the... More