Augie's of Santa Barbara

While visiting gorgeous Santa Barbara, we were in the mood for some Mexican cuisine and came across Augie’s, a stylish spot with a fun vibe. We made a reservation just in case, but it turned out to be unnecessary — the place wasn’t too busy, and we were seated right away. 🌮 What We Ordered: We tried the enchiladas with mole, shrimp entrées, and a side of guacamole with chips. The guac? A whopping $15 — and honestly, not worth that price tag. The enchiladas were just okay, and the shrimp didn’t leave a lasting impression. Flavors were mild, and the portions felt underwhelming for what we paid. 🍸 Drinks Looked Great, Tasted… Watered Down We also ordered a few cocktails. While my wife enjoyed hers, I felt they were overly diluted and packed with ice. For the price, I expected more flavor and less filler. Presentation? A+. Taste? B-. 👥 Customer Service: Nothing Special Service was just so-so. Not bad, but definitely lacked that warm, attentive touch that enhances the dining experience. 💸 Price vs. Value? Not Quite Balanced Between the pricey guac, small portions, and average food, we left feeling like the bill didn’t match the quality or quantity. ⸻ 🔥 Real talk for foodies: If you’re in SB and craving authentic Mexican flavor with value — you might want to explore other local gems.

Ingredients are very fresh. Food tastes okay, but it really is American cuisine, not Mexican at all. Meat is dry and overcooked, but veggies and seafood are good. Nice atmosphere and service, but won't return for their food.

Wonderful experience! Loved everything about this gem off State St. The owner was here eating as well and came to introduce himself, check on our experience. The staff is beyond friendly - any negative reviews, honestly disregard them. Authentic, delicious, and well presented food. Cannot wait to bring more of my friends and family back here!

Augie’s was our best food experience during our 72 hours trip to Santa Barbara. The Ceviche was amazing with super fresh fish and vegies. We were a party of 10 and we ordered 70% of their dishes. Everyone was very pleased with their dishes. Guacamole, The NY Steak, Salmon, Fajitas, and the veggie tacos were all super tasty. Very friendly staff with great service.

Augie's is a great little restaurant in the heart of downtown Santa Barbara. Walking by it doesn't immediately pull you in, but do yourself a favor and grab a table. Augie's is one of the newer spots on the block but the service is top notch. The chairs are really comfortable and the place is comfy and clean. An open air patio gives direct views onto State St for people watching and a cool vibe. Indoor seats are casual and cool. The food is really good and great presentation. A great variety of drinks including seasonal specials. Augie's is definitely a spot you want to drop into and for sure grab a patio seat. PS... Look for Augie (he'll most likely come to your table and say hi and ask about the tequila he makes😃)

We were visiting Santa Barbara and had happy hour here. Service wasn't great and we though unprofessional and they nickel and dime you blaming management. The food, drinks and atmosphere was fine though. They have a cut patio and nice set up with the plants in front.

Awesome Drinks, great Bartender, Amazing Ambience and a great Sat Night at the Augies. Bartender helped me choose my own personal bourbon and made a smashing Ol Fashioned for me....the Corn chips and dips (super punchy flavours) were the perfect compliment.

We had a wonderful experience at Augie's last night. The food & cocktails were delicious. The service was great. The prices are reasonable. The ambiance was really nice. The restaurant's clean, the music is nice to listen to not overbearing. We sat on the patio and felt comfortable with all the other guests that were there. The serving staff took care of all of our needs. Hector the manager went over the menu with us so we knew what was what. Augie the owner checked on us multiple times to make sure our experience was the best. And it was! Augie's it's definitely a restaurant that we will frequent. High Quality Food - Affordable Prices - Wonderful Atmosphere - Great Service!

Amazing food, incredible service, and such a fun and festive atmosphere! I had the shrimp tacos which were so good, everything is made in house and it shows. The tortillas are perfect. Also don't skip the churros, they are the best I've had. Hector, the general manager, was so warm and inviting. I'm definitely becoming a regular!

One of the best craft cocktails I've had on State Street. Beautiful Bar with an impressive selection of tequila. All the staff are very friendly.

This dinner was SO GOOD! I had the steak and shrimp tacos (a la carte, for taco thursday) and they were both fabulous. I also had their house margarita, and it was also great. We sat right next to the palm tree in their outdoor section, and it was quite nice. Our server was very helpful in letting us know the specials and promptly getting orders in. The manager said this place is pretty new and we thought that was shocking considering how great everything was. Now, all that was great, but let me tell you the best part, THE CHURROS. GET THE CHURROS YOU WONT REGRET IT. They were absolutely a highlight of the night. If we were locals, we would 100% return.

Omg this place is soooooooo good! BEST MOLE ENCHILADAS EVER !!!! the sauce is decadent! When we first walked in, the staff wasn't super friendly and the service was a bit slow. However, none of that matters once the food comes out . I'm telling you, this spot is a MUST! My aunt says she's fly from MN just to eat here. The ambiance is a vibe during the dinner hours, with great music and even better drinks. The bar is super cute but also masculine. The bathrooms weren't so pleasant but again, the FOOD !!!! I was sooo hungry I didn't take too many pics of drinks or food. We ordered mole, rojo, and verde enchiladas . Mole was the BEST! We started w the steak nachos, bomb ! That's all I can say. The steak was grilled perfectly . To drink we had the Montego Bay Margarita and the basil margarita with a little extra spicy to it. Again, so good, they really can make an amazing cocktail .

Wow! AUGIES IS THE PLACE TO GO! The host was kind, the servers were lovely, and the food was phenomenal! My mom and I got the ceviche and it was hands down the best ceviche I've ever had. (Didn't take photo of ceviche) The fajitas were delicious and the chicken was moist. Hector was so so kind and the dessert (platano macho) was out of this world!

My first visit wasn't a hit with the food--I had the enchiladas, ceviche, and salad--but the cocktail I tried quickly became one of my favorites. I've returned several times just for it. The Noche De Moras, made with Mezcal, blackberries, egg white, and lime. I also really like the design of the place and enjoy sitting at the bar I'll definitely be back again for the cocktail and will give the food another try next time.

Augie's of Santa Barbara is such an amazing establishment on old town State Street! We were quickly greeted by the host -- and was giving options to sit outdoor patio or indoor. With such great weather, most patrons wanted outdoor. However, we like to eat in peace and rather not people watch. The whole service team is cheerful and work well together to give us a great experience. The menu is simple but solid from fish tacos to chile relleno and dozen other specialty dishes. We started with the in-house fresh made chips and salsa. We got a trio-flight of salsas. The dishes all look so vibrant. We ordered the following: 1- Carnitas Tacos (4/5) -- the dish is good but two tacos were too little. 2- Chicken Enchiladas (5/5) -- the dish is very good. The roja sauce and cream is a great topping to meal. 3 - Chile Relleno (5/5)!- the chile is huge and nicely stuffed with cheese. The rice is so good (glad it wasn't the standard red Spanish rice). You get a chance between refried beans or whole beans, including black beans.

Came to Santa Barbara and came upon this restaurant! Absolutely wonderful food . I recommend the ceviche!!! So GOOD! We got the fajitas , (chicken) came with a side of beans , rice and tortillas!!!!!! Delicious!!!!!!! Thank you Hector for our amazing food and dessert !!!!!!!

The place was awesome. Great food and the staff were on point. The GM was a gem. Highly recommend

Wow, the food and service were spectacular I couldn't get enough of my carnitas tacos and my husband thought his green enchiladas were some of the best he's ever eaten and the rice was at the top of his list. We will be back when driving through SB :)

We dined last night here and we had a wonderful experience. I convinced my party too order Mezcal flights. Only two of us did and one of us had a beer and the ladies ordered a shot of Mezcal each. Ugh... the ladies weren't necessarily impressed ( with Mezcal) so I had no problem finishing off there drinks. The guacamole and chips are outstanding. Our meals were delicious and well prepared. In all a great experience and we will return.

We were looking for a nice place out to eat while visiting and decided to try out Augie's. The service was incredible, and we got seated pretty fast, the food was really good and well plated and the vibes of the restaurant were well done. The music, outdoor seating with heaters, and decor of the place all came together really well. The food was priced pretty average but the service really sent it over the top. It was a friends birthday and they gave us a complimentary flan and sang with us so 10/10 experience. Will definitely be back!

This is a beautiful restaurant. The food was amazing. The hostess was witty, beautiful and welcoming. The service was outstanding. I ordered the pozole and it came with all the fixings. We ordered the huevos rancheros and flan. All of it was really good. The owner Auggie stopped by our table and was so humble and nice. We hope to try some of his other spots in Santa Barbara.

The food was amazing. Everything was so flavorful, especially the queso fundido with chorizo and the octopus tacos! The service was exceptional! Nico, our server, and the manager, Hector, were both very kind. The vibe of the place was really nice as well. Very beautifully decorated and the heat lamps were life savers lol. Overall great experience!

I truly hate to have to do this cause I'm a nice person and I know it was super busy because of Fiesta, but after not receiving a text that we would be seated after like 45 minutes of waiting when we were told 30 (we basically never got a text after we left, so we would have def waited much longer than that) I figured that maybe their text messaging wasn't working. Which would have been fine since we were standing right there in eyesight, however, we did notice other groups who got there before us go in when they signed up after us, or the manager would just clear a table and let whatever party was lucky enough to be standing there to get a seat. And I get that it's super busy, I definitely do, but the manager and hostesses were having trouble figuring out who was where and could not keep track of the people they had waiting. We came from Los Angeles to enjoy fiesta, too. A friend of mine recommended me this place as she lives in SB. I've only ever had happy memories of this place. I'll continue to have an amazing time everyone I go to SB, but every time I'll pass by Augies I'll just have this one bad memory. Sorry! The one star btw is for the nice hostess. I know it wasn't her fault. The whole thing was just a sh*t show so maybe get it together when it comes for big events (@management)

Nice Mexican/ American restaurant, very loud and happy music, we tried the guacamole, shrimp cocktail, enshaladas and tacos all Was great! And the churros come in the cutest little cart!!

Beautiful ambience..... a huge selection of really good tequilas. Bartender Jade was awesome. She really knows her stuff. Salmon Cesar salad was really good. The rib eye taco was so good. Perfectly seasoned and cooked. Perfect start to our day!!

Fantastic drinks, food, service and the ambience grabbed us from the street. Best michelada

We fell in love with this restaurant. We were a party of 11 with 3 kids but they were accommodating. The ambiance was great, and upbringing. The food came out on time and it was super fresh and good. The waiter, the manager (Hector) and bartender had a positive attitude. We will definitely come back to this place next time we are in Santa Barbara.

My friend told me about this place so I was open to trying something new. It is very uniquely beautiful inside with an impressively massive bar. You can tell there is a huge investment in this place in which we quickly realized was reflected in the prices for food and drink. We were seated with only 2 other tables in the restaurant. Server was very kind, patient and helpful with menu navigation. We ordered 2 soups and the duck carnitas tacos. It took quite a bit of time to receive our food and everything was staggered, not served together. My friend never got his tacos and then he realized the table next door was given by his tacos by mistake. They quickly corrected the error and the manager came out to apologize (offered dessert, which was nice although we declined). We made friends with our neighbors which was a nice bonus to the experience. I was not overly impressed with the food as it did not reflect the pricing comparative to portion size. I would pay top dollar for food any day but the stand out flavor has to be there. I think this might be the wrong location for a Michelin attempt. I would come back for drinks as the bar was very inviting but that might be the extent of my visits here.

Lots of miscommunication between the servers and host stand. We went for happy hour on Friday and got seated in the patio as we have a dog. We came hoping to get tequila flights, and got handed 2 menus by the hostess: 1 for food, 1 for drinks and happy hour. Upon looking at the menus, we didn't find a tequila flight - no big deal. We also saw that the menu said "happy hour at bar only" so I asked the hostess if this patio area still was eligible, since we had the dog and couldn't sit inside. She said yes, so we stayed and our server came to take our order. I decided to double check with the waiter as he poured our waters if we were able to do happy hour where we were sitting, and he said no. I was expecting the hostess (who was standing right next to our table at her hostess stand) to interject or say something, but it was just a little awkward and we just decided to order some drinks at normal price. As we waited for our drinks, a man who I assume to be the manager came up and asked us how things we going, to which we mentioned that we had come for happy hour and we're bummed that we weren't able to have it where we were seated, and to our delight, he said he'd honor the happy hour prices for us! The drinks came and they were delicious, beautifully decorated, and at happy hour price. If it ended here, it would have been a great experience. However, we decided to order some more (might as well since we were getting the happy hour deal, as we had originally planned). We ordered some ceviche tostadas (a little bland, but meaty fish so filled us up pretty well!) We then decided to order some tequila shots - I asked how much they were as we didn't see any on the 2 menus we were given. Our server said he'd go check and came back and said they started at $8 and brought us a whole other menu with just tequila. We browsed, then found this extensive tequila menu had a wide variety of tequila flights listed! We had really wished we had seen this at the beginning, but I suppose we could have asked as well. The tequila shots we chose were out of stock so we chose from a few of our server's recommendations, came lukewarm, and took 30 minutes and some reminding to our waiter for them to come out. This lag at the very end really wasn't ideal, and when we got the bill we noticed that the shots we ended up getting were double the price expected - $16 each! I really wanted to like this place as it's such prime location and beautiful, but the service is just very lackluster, slow, and unorganized.

This place has great flavors and service. We came later on in the night so it was more quieter. While looking at the menu Augie came by to introduce himself, make some recommendations from the menu and even offered a tasting of his tequila he made with some info on them. The flavor of his tequila changed as it has time to open up and has nice fragrance and flavor notes like one opened up to carmel notes. The halibut ceviche had a nice creaminess and I liked how they had serranos for us to add for those who like spicy. When we asked for spicier salsa, they also offered chopped habeneros. The habenero salsa was really good! I loved the smoky flavor. We used the chopped habeneros and squeezed the lime into the coctel de camaron (by itself, it was a tad too sweet for us, but the spiciness and acid was perfect for our taste preference). Don't forget to mix the coctel de Cameron if you order it! I really liked the steak taco. The cheese made it taste buttery and delicious so I didn't need the cilantro, onions or peppers. The pulpo- octopus taco were very soft and the wife didn't like how there was no bounce and felt mushy to her. I didn't mind it and thought the flavors were nice. The flan had a creamy carmel flavor and the churro was one of the best I've had. It was soft yet crispy and the chocolate adds a nice flavor. I'll probably come back to take my parents here when they come down to visit me.

We love Augies. Service is great, drinks are great and food is really really good. Augie is usually there talking to everyone so if you see him say hello. So happy that this is open again.

Really great food and service the owner goes around the customers to make sure everything works out well The atmosphere it's great

Amazing experience! Thank you so much for this outstanding dinner with the family. Staff were beyond pleasant and attentive. We felt welcomed and appreciated. Auggies is the place to visit in SB! Attaboys!!!! And girls!

The fresh lemonade is best! As if your grandma made it in the kitchen! Which is used for the margaritas and a fresh cup was great. The pozole, guacamole, and salsa's are amazing! Chips perfectly crisped. However the tacos were huge and great with just two and a side of rice. However the best part was the service, not only did they attend our dog in the patio and had gourmet salt free chicken but they kept coming around! Juan our server shared the tequila story as the owner has an amazing reposado that was delicious!!! Omg that's a must try!!! It's so fine and light yet strong! Thanks so much!!

Excellent service & superb ambiance!! Thank you, Augie's! Excellent service & superb ambiance!! Thank you, Augie's! Excellent service & superb ambiance!! Thank you, Augie's!

We had a fabulous dinner at Augie's last night. The food was delicious & the service was great. We really liked the ambiance, enjoyed the music and the restaurant was just very clean and comfortable to be in. We sat on the patio, and we felt very comfortable with all the other guests that were also eating there. The staff attended to our needs bringing extra chips for guacamole. Hector, the manager, was helpful going through the menu with us. He and Augie checked on us multiple times to make sure our experience was the best, and IT WAS! I had the salmon xelha (so moist) with lemon Caper sauce and vegetables that were cooked perfectly. My guest had the mole enchiladas, which were delicious. We felt it was price just right for a very nice high quality dinner out that didn't break the bank for once. We will definitely be back for more!

We read about this restaurant in the Westways magazine as the latest restaurant on state street. We came by for a brunch , which is not as popular as the dinner. But state street is super quiet on weekend days. 1- ambiance A friendly and welcoming decor. Neat artistic alcoves. Super friendly staff. This is a location that you want to dwell in 2- food Presentation is outstanding A nice level of spice. For those desiring more I'm sure you can heat it up. The huevos rancheros were fantastic. Came with A robust side of avocados. Green Chiliquelles - walking in I saw that this was the most popular dish. Not my style but the wife quite liked it 3- drink This is a well stocked bar! If you can think of it, it's probably here. Overall: oh yes!!! Artesian "south of the border" food. Great atmosphere. Fantastic presentation.

An absolute must! Food is extremely delicious and fresh and they have every tequila or mezcal you could ever want. We ordered the steak tacos and the nachos, soo tasty. I ordered a fruity margarita, but it was sweeter than expected, so I switched to a Cadillac. So glad we came here and would 100% come back. Dog friendly, too.

The service was unacceptable. The waitress did not know anything about the menu. When we asked question she had no answers. The chicken enchiladas were dry inside and very hard to eat. The steak taco were dried up strings of meat that were way overcooked. The rice was nondescript flavorless starch. The churros were worse. Over cooked and hard. $15.00 for garbage. They charge for the greasy chips and salsa. $75.00 for a poor meal with a hapless waitress. Just not worth your time or money. On a busy Saturday with hour waits - this place was half empty. They must have friends writing reviews. This is an overpriced poor excuse for a restaurant.

My husband and I found this place by accident, and were so impressed with the quality of the food and the superior service. We had 5 different types of tacos and the nachos and everything was so amazing! The flavors were so authentic and deeply impressive I can't say enough! We will definitely be back!!

Stumbled upon this place while getting something repaired across the street ! So glad I did ! It was happy hour number one so 8 bucks for a margarita and 12 bucks for two delicious shrimp tacos with cheese !! Yum steal !! It's quiet at happy hour and this spot is fairly new!! The rice that accompanied the meal was bland .. it was pretty though . The arrangement was definitely pleasing . I recommend coming if it's for happy hour it's def worth it !! Happy hour is from 3-5:30 plenty of people watching if you sit outside .

1. The whole package- I came here for brunch today and it was lovely. Chill music, chill people, excellent food, top-notch service. Thanks to the manager, Corina, Ethan, our server, and Nick. 2. We had the first mocha - they use their churro chocolate, which gave it a hint of smokiness. It's a dark chocolate with no dairy so it's good for vegans. Was absolutely lovely. 3. So appreciate that there is something for everyone. They are vegan options on the brunch dinner and happy hour. The cocktail list looks amazing. 4. I noticed some people were talking about the pricing - we just ate at Loquita four people for dinner a bottle of wine, one paella and some appetizers and a dessert and it was $450. So this place is on par for high end good food. Better pricing. 5. I had the vegan chiliquilles which they have with vegan cream queso. Thank you. They aim to have something for everyone. Love they are so Inclusive ! 6. Oat milk latte - I love that they are inclusive on this and they did not charge me for nondairy milk. Thank you so much. This is how it should be. 7. We're coming back in a week or two for dinner with friends. I'll give an update on that. 8. We were able to just walk on down on a Sunday morning and get right in for brunch. What a treat. The open air made it feel very safe with we enjoyed a bit of sunshine. Plenty of shared tables too. 9. Outdoor heaters for dinner. Yeah. Great decor. Give them a try. They're also going to maybe work on some specials for happy hour deals. So give them some grace as they sort out their opening Welcome to Santa Barbara Augies ! So happy to have you

Hector (general manager) reached out via this platform and offered to look into my receipt discrepancies. After some back and forth and help form his IT person he was able to locate the itemized receipt. He confirmed I was charged twice for tip, issued a refund and offered a gift card should I decide to return. Will consider. I still think there's room for improvement in their communication practices; check email, voicemails and answer their phones--or at a minimum update their website.

ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC!!!! Highly recommend!! Literally everything on the menu sounds amazing, so it's always so challenging to decide what to choose. The Carnitas Tacos and Molcajete are some favs though. If you're able to get a spot on the patio, the ambiance is amazing and with the heaters, it stays warm even on cooler nights. The chips are easily my favorite part though. Flor de Maiz has always been my SB favorite chip, and I hate to say it, but Augie's chips are noticeably superior. Definitely make sure you go to Augie's!

Excellent service! Bar tender will make your drink the way you want so if you're not a sweet drinker let him know. The food has an excellent authentic flavor! If you like chicharones one! The Gorditas are Fire! Love Love

Amazing food, great service and beautiful decor. Don't hesitate and get the churros for dessert.

We popped in here on Sunday night. The Tommy margarita was great but the first one tasted a lot better than the second. (Little inconsistent). After seeing the enchiladas come out (rolled enchiladas) I opted to change my order to the mushroom quest fundido. It was delicious. My husband had the seafood empanadas. He loved how fresh they were. Our server was fantastic but our food took awhile to come out. The restaurant itself is beautiful definitely worth a trip in.

The best Mexican I have had in California. This place is high end with a homey feel, the service is impeccable - Hector took great care of us and the cocktails...don't even get me started. The Cristo Rey is top notch

Was in town for my daughter's wedding on Saturday August 10th. Was looking for a place to take the family and found Augie's online. Made a reservation through their site, which I personally appreciate the convenience. We tried several of the appetizers, cocktails and entrees. I can't remember the last time every person in my party really, really enjoyed what they ate, which happened that night. We've all eaten a lot of Mexican-style food, but this was exceptional. Augie came over to say hello because he could see that we were really enjoying ourselves. He brought out the chef so he could hear directly from some satisfied customers. Some really great desserts were brought out to really cap off our experience. This meal was wonderful and I'll recommend Augie's to everyone heading the S.B. Thanks for a great time!

Food is fantastic. The service was pretty slow. At 6pm as we were finishing our meal I asked for dessert and was told the kitchen was closed. Right there ruined it for me and I won't be back.

Augie's has been CLOSED for weeks. The Restaurant Guy, a local food columnist, reported it as a "temporary closure". No sign in window. No updates on website. It sure looks to me like it will be permanent, but it hasn't been emptied out yet, so we'll see. Wish them luck.

Great atmosphere and staff. Local was great that it is located on the main boulevard. Food was decent and the portions were ok. Chips n guacamole saved the entire meal.

Absolutely fabulous first experience eating at Augie's. Several weeks ago while passing by we stopped and spoke with the hostess. She was gracious with answering our questions. Yesterday afternoon she greeted us in her friendly manor and quickly prepared the table we requested. The menu has a wonderful selection of dishes to choose from with mouth watering descriptions. My friend tried the entree Pescado a los Tres Chiles. Fresh halibut served with a nice selection of vegetables and perfectly seasoned saffron rice. I chose a dish from the Classic selections. Empanadas de Camaron. Delicate, lightly fried pastry filled with shrimp and a devine sauce. Both dishes were nicely presented and of normal portions and reasonably priced. Bella, the hostess, Juan, our server, and Hector extended our positive experience with the their attention and service. As a born in Santa Barbara patron I enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere and feeling of being on vacation in my home town. Nice not to feel rushed! Love the Jeff Shelton architecture, exterior and interior of the restaurant. We are looking forward to returning and sampling more of the menu.

Fantastic margaritas, beautiful decor, and very friendly bartender. We lucked out on a Tuesday and happened to be walking by when they were cleaning up from a private event. The bartender let us order a drink while he cleaned up even though they're normally closed on that day. Nice place!

Went in right when they opened. Had some great vodka cocktail for happy hour that had pomegranate, aloe and lemon. Ordered the three mole plate, all three different moles were delicious in their own right. We also got the barbacoa and both plates came with fresh tortillas. Service was friendly and prompt making sure we always had whatever we needed. The three salsas we ordered with the chips were delicious. Definitely worth the visit.

4/19/24 Augie's is amazing!! Love the selection of tequilas. The booth was comfy and cozy!!

Delicious! I'd highly recommend this place! The shrimp tacos were so good, as were the carnitas tacos that my daughter had. The hibiscus margarita was really tasty!