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Ratings and reviews

Travellers' Choice2023
RATINGS
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
Special Diets
Gluten Free Options
Meals
Lunch, Dinner
CUISINES
American, Seafood
FEATURES
Takeout, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Parking Available, Free off-street parking, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Wine and Beer, Accepts American Express, Accepts Mastercard, Accepts Visa, Accepts Discover, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service, Waterfront
Reviews (1,722)
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1,252 results
Traveller rating
670
396
118
40
28
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LanguageEnglish
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Traveller rating
670
396
118
40
28
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All reviews crab shellfish lobster tacos fresh seafood abalone onion rings club sandwich caesar salad take out window long wait outside seating wharf clipboard sb ocean
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Reviewed 3 days ago

A wonderful and fresh seafood restaurant in Santa Barbara. They are affiliated with 2 other quality seafood restaurants known for their freshness and local ingredients.

Date of visit: January 2024
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 27 November 2023

My wife and I had lunch her while in town to celebrate my birthday. Don't let the casual appearance put you off. You have a great selection of sea food, served by good staff, at reasonable prices, while enjoying it all with a waterside seat.

Date of visit: November 2023
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 18 September 2023 via mobile

Visited this restaurant on Sunday September 17, 2023 for some appetizers and drinks because of the positive reviews. This place did not disappoint. Alfonso provided excellent service and the appetizers were excellent. Definitely try this place when you can.

Date of visit: September 2023
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 16 September 2023 via mobile

The restaurant is located at the end of the pier with parking also at the end of the pier. The views are wonderful and match the food. The onion rings that came with the order in place of fries were a tasty and welcome surprise....In all, a wonderful choice for good, fresh seafood with a view at a casual place.More

Date of visit: September 2023
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Reviewed 7 August 2023

Freshest and best seafood deal in Santa Barbara! Our favorite Santa Barbara seafood restaurant. Found at the end of the wharf. Casual, popular, and best views of the Santa Barbara Harbor. Sister restaurant is Santa Barbara FisHouse.

Date of visit: July 2023
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Reviewed 2 July 2023 via mobile

Good seafood. Long wait so we decided to do the to go window. Had a good clam chowder and some oysters and was able to eat in front of the pier and enjoy the vibes.

Date of visit: July 2023
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Reviewed 31 May 2023

The Lobster roll was delicious! Best we have tasted in a long time. Very fresh with a great buttery bread. Also the cole slaw was really good. We ordered at the window and sat on the picnic tables to enjoy the food and view:

Date of visit: May 2023
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Reviewed 7 May 2023 via mobile

We were so excited to eat fresh food and what a disappointment The food was not good, we couldn’t eat the crab cakes and the steam mussels tasted very fishy. We both got sick from it. Would never go back

Date of visit: May 2023
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Reviewed 20 March 2023

Delicious crab cakes and calamari sandwiches! The restaurant is located at the end of the Santa Barbara pier, so you get excellent food accompanied by an ocean breeze and a nice view. Friendly staff.

Date of visit: September 2022
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Reviewed 17 March 2023

Santa Barbara Shellfish Company has a SPECIFIC TAKE-OUT WINDOW at their restaurant. I used to think this was "genius"... now I know it's a "scam." On a Thursday night in mid-March... it's not busy at all, in fact there wasn't a wait. I had my...dog with me and wanted to merely enjoy their cuisine at home and not outside in the damp cold weather (since I had my dog). So, I walked up to their "to-go window" with my dog, and ordered the local Rock Crab priced per pound (it's 3 pounds per order, and comes with a side of onion rings- yes I asked about the sides) and ordered a beer to enjoy while I waited ten minutes for my to-go order to be ready. None of this is the problem.... the issue is what was given to me (with a straight face) for me to have at home with the expectation that I wouldn't return and complain, or write a review about. Even worse- the lack of customer service I received from Johnny (the manager that shift) when I returned with the box of food and voiced my concern. I got home and opened a box of half empty shells of rock crab and two... yes T-W-O onion rings. Despite the appearance, I tasted it and it was delicious, but not worth the value of the price, so I called them to let them know I was shorted product. Guess what?! They put their phone line on an automated machine that does not accept messages. SOOOOOOOO..... I put the empty shells of what I ate in a bowl and closed up the box of the rest and drove back to the restaurant with both- which I know they were not expecting, because otherwise why would they have given me such a mediocre product?! When I arrived to the to-go window, I asked to speak to the guy who sold me the product (Chris) and the manager on duty (Johnny). I voiced my concerns that I did not get the value from the product for the price and what is listed as 3 pounds of crab with a side of onion rings- I got half empty shells and TWO onion rings. Johnny literally told me AS HE ATE THE half-filled crab shells FROM MY BOX from the TO GO WINDOW, that I brought back "This crab is entirely okay to eat, there is nothing wrong with it. Ordering seafood from a to-go window isn't your best choice, regardless where you go. If you would have eaten inside, you would have had a better plate." I rebutted "I'm not telling you the crab is bad... it's fine. What's wrong, is that you gave me half of the shells empty and only two onion rings. I didn't get the value for my money and what Chris told me I would get." Johnny insisted that nothing was wrong with them, and that I was the problem... as he continued to eat the crab out of my box. Frustrated with his lack of customer service, I asked "exactly what would've been better if I ate inside versus ordering this to-go? What is the difference in value from the to-go window versus ordering and eating inside the restaurant? He said "You would have been given hand crackers to crack the crab shell with, instead of asking us to do it for you and now complaining about how it looks. You still would have gotten just two onion rings. Again, don't order seafood from the to-go window- not your best choice." - as he told me this from their TO-GO window. So pissed at this point, I asked "so, I still l would have gotten only two onion rings and a halft an empty crab?" He said "yeah. But it would have looked better and you wouldn't be complaining right now." Needless to say, I asked for a full refund. Johnny gave me a refund, but then asked me to reimburse him for the beer. When I told him "no"... he told me "have a nice life." WOW! How did this place survive COVID with a to-go window and this bad of customer service?!?!?!More

Date of visit: March 2023
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Reviewed 27 February 2023 via mobile

Excellent food and service. The shrimp cocktail was fresh and delicious. The clam chowder was wonderful. The view on Stearns Wharf is amazing.

Date of visit: February 2023
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Reviewed 18 February 2023 via mobile

Great vibes and tremendous seafood right over the ocean. The Clam Chowder, ceviche and Lobster Roll were tremendous. Good beer selection and outdoor dining options

Date of visit: February 2023
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Reviewed 16 February 2023 via mobile

While the place isn’t big or fancy, it packs in all that you need and more. Quality fresh seafood awaits. Super friendly staff - everything was grade A

Date of visit: February 2023
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Reviewed 11 January 2023 via mobile

Great food. Very popular. Fun times! At the end of a pier. Nice and hot food. Crowded!! Fun views and nice to go out on the pier after dinner.

Date of visit: January 2023
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 19 December 2022

I thought we would have to wait a long time for a table but it was not too bad and we have a view along the harbor. Service was excellent and food was very good. $36 for a lobster roll but it was full of...lobster and prepared Connecticut style like I requested, yum. Weather was exceptionally cold, there appeared to be heaters against the building. Ask for that side on cold nights.More

Date of visit: December 2022
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Questions & Answers
Ask a question
Helen C
8 May 2019|
AnswerShow all 7 answers
Response from lad0206 | Reviewed this property |
Not ahead of time... they have a sign up list which was on a clip board the day we were there. They move pretty quickly through the list.
0
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Jimbo1607
5 May 2019|
AnswerShow all 5 answers
Response from Litchfldman | Reviewed this property |
none required, just come relaxed for spectacular shell fish!
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Anthony M
9 November 2018|
AnswerShow all 5 answers
Response from Justine B | Property representative |
there is public parking on the pier and there are multiple handicap parking spots available
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Santa Barbara Shellfish Company - Menu, Prices & Restaurant Reviews - Tripadvisor

Frequently Asked Questions about Santa Barbara Shellfish Company

Yes, Santa Barbara Shellfish Company offers takeaway services.

Santa Barbara Shellfish Company is rated accordingly in the following categories by Tripadvisor travellers:
  • Food: 4.5
  • Service: 4
  • Value: 4
  • Atmosphere: 4.5