- Santa Barbara is a beautiful, upscale city with incredible choices for fine dining. The prices and the sophistication of many of the city's restaurants can be overwhelming for many tourists, especially those on a budget or interested in more casual dining choices. However, after spending time on the beach or touring the city's historic mission or other sites, casual diners can find comfortable restaurants that offer good food and spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean. Stearns Wharf and Cabrillo Boulevard offer the scenery and gorgeous sunsets and provide at least three casual dining choices.
- Shellfishseafood medley image by jcpjr from Fotolia.com
For 25 years, the Santa Barbara Shellfish Co. has been serving the area's freshest seafood on historic Stearns Wharf. The restaurant specializes in seafood entrees and seafood sandwiches. Shrimp and lobster tacos, coconut shrimp, steamed clams, oysters on the half shell, crab cakes and crab sandwiches are just a few of the options. Santa Barbara Shellfish Co. is also a great place to take in a sunset on the ocean and share a pitcher of Anchor Steam with friends.
Santa Barbara Shellfish Co.
230 Stearns Wharf
Santa Barbara, CA 93101-3571
805-966-6676
sbfishhouse.com/shellfish/index.html - Steaksteak image by berean from Fotolia.com
Located at the tip of Stearns Wharf, the Harbor Restaurant features steak and fresh seafood, upscale dining and gorgeous ocean views. The restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and has several seating areas, most with open views of the ocean. The dinner menu is fairly typical of surf and turf menus. Prime rib and sirloins are just two of the beef options, and shrimp, salmon and tuna are just three of the fresh seafood options. The scenic location on the wharf and the proximity to the Santa Barbara Sea Center make this pricey restaurant a great choice for tourists.
Harbor Restaurant
210 Stearns Wharf
Santa Barbara, CA 93101-3583
805-963-3311
harborsb.com/ - AvocadosAvocado isolated image by Marek Kosmal from Fotolia.com
Founded in 1954, El Torito is the largest Mexican restaurant chain in California and uses the freshest ingredients. The restaurant's fresh, made-to-order guacamole is prepared table-side and is a popular feature. Handmade tamales, upscale margaritas and home-style flan are menu features. The restaurant in Santa Barbara is located across the street from the beach in a lovely adobe building with Spanish-tile roof. The rolled, grilled tacos are a restaurant specialty, the margarita choices are extensive and there is a Sunday brunch buffet. This affordable restaurant is conveniently located near Stearns Wharf and offers affordable, tasty Mexican meals.
El Torito Mexican Grill
29 East Cabrillo Blvd.
Santa Barbara, CA 93101-2329
805-963-1968
eltorito.com/
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -
