Bouchon - Santa Barbara

Review summary

1. D

   Darya

   Austin

   7 reviews

   4.0

   7 reviews

   Dined today

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Excellent service from beginning to end. The food, however, was bland and generally under-seasoned. The chef is afraid of salt and acid. Essentially every dish would have been dramatically improved with a splash of lemon juice and more salt. Especially the scallop trio. Very bland in desperate need of salt, spice and acid. Crab cakes are good, but again, needed acid — as does most seafood. A tiny sliver of grapefruit on the side does not suffice.
   

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2. J

   Joel

   Los Angeles

   2 reviews

   5.0

   2 reviews

   Dined 2 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Such a wonderful night. The vibe, food, and service (Nicholas) were so nice. Can't forget the music. Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Nat King Cole...smooth!
   

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3. D

   Dave

   VIP

   Philadelphia

   3 reviews

   3.0

   3 reviews

   Dined 2 days ago

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 4

   The seafood dish was excellent and unfortunately the steak was the worst I have ever had including the side dish that went with the steak.
   

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4. L

   Louise

   Central Coast

   25 reviews

   5.0

   25 reviews

   Dined 3 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 5

   Bouchon's palette is rich and delicious. Avoid if you want a sparing, minimalist viewpoint or varieties of plant-based choices. But if you are in Santa Barbara looking for marvelous flavors and expert cooking that isn't pretentiously priced, choose Bouchon. The asparagus is perfect. Though they don't offer a true French vinaigrette with their salad greens, they're beautifully tossed and completely fresh. Bouchon is 7th heaven for carnivores; the duck, steak, chicken and lamb are juicy, never over- or under-cooked, crispy when they should be, tender as all get-out. Silky creme brulee. No cocktails, unfortunately, but a strong wine list. And somehow (I think it's the lighting) they manage to make the atmosphere of their woodframe outdoor seating glamorous and cozy. The waitstaff are attentive, kindly and competent, the hosts less so--busy-busy, self-important, a bit negligent. I always wonder why they're all men. But the wallpaper in the main dining room is quite consoling. Don't expect a deeply classy welcome, but don't stay away--all else is very wonderful.
   

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5. N

   NIcole

   VIP

   New York City

   49 reviews

   5.0

   49 reviews

   Dined 3 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 4

   The service is incredibly responsive & the food delicious. One of favorite SB restaurants.
   

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6. N

   Nusara

   VIP

   Las Vegas

   11 reviews

   5.0

   11 reviews

   Dined 4 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   What a lively fun restaurant and I was a solo diner. Everyone was amazing working together as a team. I did not have to ask for anything since my needs were anticipated and filled! The duck was delicious and steak tartar.
   

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7. G

   Gael

   Central Coast

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined 4 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Lucas welcomed us warmly. Nicholas provided excellent service. Our seafood choices were perfectly cooked and were plated with outstanding vegetables. The chocolate lava cake was a sensory and sublime experience. We learned that the chef will prepare creative vegetarian dishes using fresh, local ingredients. Cannot wait to try this next time. Outstanding experience! Thank you.
   

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8. S

   Susan

   VIP

   Chicago

   76 reviews

   5.0

   76 reviews

   Dined 5 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 4

   excellent food and a great house red. pretty setting. Lots of noise from adjoining tables but still ok.
   

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9. T

   Ted

   Central Coast

   2 reviews

   5.0

   2 reviews

   Dined 6 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 4

   Thank you to Bouchon for a wonderful experience. When I made a reservation using OpenTable, I noted that it would be my wife's birthday. To our surprise, we were greeted at the door with a Happy Birthday and our table was decorated with rose petals and a Happy Birthday note. Our waiter Nate was excellent. Our meals, which included a rack of lamb and wagyu ribeye, were superb. Our dessert was a delightful moist chocolate "molten lava" cake with ice cream. Bouchon is our favorite restaurant in Santa Barbara. Their food, ambiance, and service have always been superb.
   

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10. E

    Emma

    VIP

    Los Angeles

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on February 17, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5

    Mitchell was the loveliest person and made the trip worth it. The food, and wine selections, were perfectly curated.
    

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