Dom’s Taverna Santa Barbara

Finally had a chance to dine at Dom’s Taverna, one of the newer restaurants that opened last year, and it absolutely lived up to the hype. We made a dinner reservation via OpenTable before heading to an SBIFF event, and everything from timing to service felt seamless. This is a share-plates dream, so we ordered accordingly. Hongos, mussels and clams with chorizo (that broth alone is worth the order), prawns with butter and garlic that were rich and perfectly cooked, steak bites, half a dozen oysters, and Santa Barbara crab claws. Every dish came out well-paced and clearly meant for the table, which made the experience feel relaxed instead of rushed. For drinks, I tried both the Don Raj Spritz and the freezer gin martini. One was earthy and refreshing, the other ice-cold and dangerously smooth. Exactly the kind of cocktails you want before a night out. Service was attentive without hovering, knowledgeable when asked, and genuinely warm. Plates were cleared on time, drinks stayed filled, and no one made us feel like we needed to rush out the door. As for value, the quality of the seafood, portion sizes, and overall experience felt fair for what you’re getting. This is the kind of place where sharing a few dishes gives you a full, satisfying meal without feeling overcharged. We missed happy hour this time, but for those planning ahead it runs from 3–5:30 pm and again from 9–11 pm, which is honestly a great deal considering the menu. Dom’s Taverna hits that sweet spot of elevated but approachable, with thoughtful collaborations that show they’re tapped into the community. Great food, solid service, and an easy go-to for both special occasions and spontaneous nights out.

Everything was had was so delicious and fresh! The service was super friendly and it was cool to see the chefs working in the open kitchen. The vermouth over ice was perfect, the oysters and jamón were super tasty, and the Tomat was so good we ordered a second serving! The design inside is lovely and the vibes are great all around. Feels great for both a date night or a larger group out, and certainly to show off California’s superb seafood and produce.

From the outside it appears to be a not-so-out-of-place restaurant in Santa Barbara, but inside you'll be transported to coastal Spain. It might as well be another planet because the flavors are out of this world. Seafood as it should be. Warm, inviting, a place to bring a date or the friends and family. Grateful to have had the experience here and can't wait to go back and try everything I missed.

My friends and I were greeted by the sweetest person, Audrey. She was so friendly and gave us the rundown. I appreciated that she was honest about the wait time and recommended the bar seating (there were two seats available). By sheer luck, a reservation only had half the people show and we got a table. Thank you food gods! Raul was our server and he was simply the best! He educated us on the menu and made amazing recommendations. He was a joy to have serve us in this foodie experience. Literally no other feedback other than I hope he always serves me when I come visit. The tomat was an explosion of different flavors that meshed so well. SO WELL! We ordered a side of bread just to dip in the sauce. Fresh, delicious, flavorful…what more can one ask for? The crudo was devoured quickly. What can I say? It was exactly what it should be. Surf and turf tartare dish was perfection especially eaten with the chips. Salty, crispy, crunchy ::chefs kiss:: I would literally come back just for this. I don’t think i can order this dish any where else because it will never be this good. Full disclosure, we ordered THREE rounds of this dish and had zero regrets. Lobster rice was a special (you can typically order the crab rice) and i would highly recommend it. The lobster was cooked perfectly and everything mixed together so well. The smoked shell flatbread was too much, too overpowering. I could not throughly enjoy what this dish had to offer due to the kick. I was told it had a little more spice than usual so I’ll need to try it again in the future. Chicken croketas were flaky on the outside, perfectly cooked on the inside and sat in a lovely (and delicious) sauce of dill. Look, bathrooms (in general) are pretty standard however, i need to give kudos to the fact that they provide feminine hygiene products and a full length mirror. It’s the small touches that really make this place great! Quick tip: make reservations. This place is a hot spot and while you can gamble with walking in, bar seating is not guaranteed and tables get snatched quickly.

Dom’s Taverna was an incredible dining experience from start to finish. Every dish we tried was a standout. The jamón was perfect, the squid and beans were wonderfully balanced, and the mushrooms were packed with flavor. We loved the freshness of the raw oysters and the depth of the baked oyster the miso was just perfect. The crudo and tartar were both beautifully balanced and true highlights of the night. The pulpo was tender and perfectly charred, showing real skill in the kitchen. To finish, the cheesecake was absolutely delicious creamy, light, and the perfect ending to a amazing meal. All of the cocktails were amazing creative, balanced, and a perfect complement to the food. Service was warm and attentive, and the atmosphere made the night even better. Dom’s Taverna is a true gem we’ll definitely be back soon! This is just what Santa Barbara needs.

Cute lighting and atmosphere. Absolutely perfectly executed food with reasonable price at bar bites hours. Bartender that actually knows how to make cocktails. Friendly and timely service. Hats off, extremely hard to come by a restaurant in SB that actually is serious about executing all small details right. But Dom’s got it down. Impressed and will certainly be back. (Still thinking about that cheese burger and last word). 😋

If you’re looking for a dining experience that manages to disappoint on nearly every level, Dom’s Taverna is your place. From the moment you step in, you’re greeted by a pretentious atmosphere that feels more like a forced attempt at sophistication than a warm, inviting taverna. The Wayfair decor tries hard to impress but ultimately falls flat, setting the tone for what’s to come. The quality is shockingly poor. I had steak frites that is listed as “market price.” Seriously? I received a skirt steak that had a tangy liver taste to it. Guess the kitchen ran out of entrecôte. Maybe the fries would be better? Nah, they were cool and kinda soggy. You’d expect a taverna to offer hearty portions, but here, you’re met with meager servings that leave you wondering if you accidentally ordered appetizers instead of entrees. The beer selection is IPAs, a cider, and a low end lager. But you don’t get much of an opportunity to hate on your beer because they only give you 6 oz! Half a beer charged at half a liter price! I felt cheated. If you’re going to call yourself a taverna, at least have the decency to provide a decent drink to accompany the sad excuse for a meal. To top it all off, the staff were inattentive and fake. Instead of welcoming you, they seem bothered by your presence. Unfortunately, Dom’s Taverna is a perfect storm of poor quality food, uninviting service, and an atmosphere that tries too hard to impress. Save your time and money—there are plenty of other places in Santa Barbara that value their customers and actually know how to serve a decent meal.

I would come back to give Dom’s a second chance for a perfect score. We ordered 4 things off of the happy hour menu and 5 things off of the regular menu. Our bill comes and all items are priced at the regular menu prices. Our waitress said it’s because she didn’t put in our items until after happy hour was over. Well, we were sat with happy hour menus and ordered before happy hour was over so I am not sure what our waitress was thinking. And then the waitress hovering over while we pay is always just such an odd and tacky experience. The surf and turf tartare with truffle chips was salt overload. The other main dishes were good but very rich, and I think they needed some sort of citrus element to break up the richness. The snap peas were absolutely amazing, the french fries were delicious, and the oysters were the best oysters I’ve ever had in my life.

wow! this place brings the vibes and you can't go wrong with anything on the menu! From Mark who adds his own twist on drinks, to Audrey making you feel like family at the door and Dom and his team in exceeding expectations in the kitchen..we can't wait to come back!!!!

"Basque Tavern Burger" during Burger Week, available Wed.-Sun., 2/19-2/22, noon-3PM. Chef Dom Crisp has made a truly delicious and memorable halal Lamb and Blue burger with Spanish Blue cheese, saffron aioli and balsamic onion jam. We love lamb, blue cheese and saffron; Chef Dom's combination is outstanding. Don't miss this burger, dine in only, but worth the walk from the Granada-Anacapa parking lot #6. Chef Dom please put this on your regular menu. We'll be back to try your other dishes as we support great new restaurants.

Finally had a chance to dine at Dom's Taverna, one of the newer restaurants that opened last year, and it absolutely lived up to the hype. We made a dinner reservation via OpenTable before heading to an SBIFF event, and everything from timing to service felt seamless. This is a share-plates dream, so we ordered accordingly. Hongos, mussels and clams with chorizo (that broth alone is worth the order), prawns with butter and garlic that were rich and perfectly cooked, steak bites, half a dozen oysters, and Santa Barbara crab claws. Every dish came out well-paced and clearly meant for the table, which made the experience feel relaxed instead of rushed. For drinks, I tried both the Don Raj Spritz and the freezer gin martini. One was earthy and refreshing, the other ice-cold and dangerously smooth. Exactly the kind of cocktails you want before a night out. Service was attentive without hovering, knowledgeable when asked, and genuinely warm. Plates were cleared on time, drinks stayed filled, and no one made us feel like we needed to rush out the door. As for value, the quality of the seafood, portion sizes, and overall experience felt fair for what you're getting. This is the kind of place where sharing a few dishes gives you a full, satisfying meal without feeling overcharged. We missed happy hour this time, but for those planning ahead it runs from 3-5:30 pm and again from 9-11 pm, which is honestly a great deal considering the menu. Dom's Taverna hits that sweet spot of elevated but approachable, with thoughtful collaborations that show they're tapped into the community. Great food, solid service, and an easy go-to for both special occasions and spontaneous nights out.

Amazing Service!! Awesome special for a great cause (which we ordered). This could (and should have) been a five star review. The nitpicky reasons why it wasn't: 1. Three of the seven dishes we ordered (other than the special) were seasoned using smoked trout roe. While this was a treat the first time it came out with the Hongas, it quickly felt like the menu was a one note wonder with the smoked fish dip. 2. The surf and turf tartare (which was one of the dishes featuring trout roe but we expected that) was served with packaged, factory made truffle chips. These chips are overwhelming to the dish as a whole. Would suggest taking the optional shaved truffle and making it standard and then serving with salted chips. Honestly the market this restaurant is in expects this and knows the cost (tartare is not common here) would make this dish a show stopper. We will be back and had an overall excellent experience and are excited to support local businesses.

The food and cocktails were excellent. I will have dreams of the cheesecake caviar bites. They are bus and have 2 seating times- I was catching up with a girlfriend so at times I felt a little rushed. But won't knock points for that- being busy means you are doing something right. Will be returning

Loved this place! Not sure why i waited so long to try it. I didn't know they had happy hour and open late. Its always a struggle trying to find something to eat after a show at Arlington and people are constantly asking me. I had the red happy hour wine, jamon grilled cheese and fries. I can't wait to return. I saw other items on menu that caught my eye. And i loved the vibe. I would feel so comfortable popping in by myself, sitting at the bar for a glass of wine and meal.

I'm so glad I went back to try the diner menu! First time I went for lunch with a couple of friends. The smoked fish dip and Bomba was our favorite. The tartare is mouthwatering delicious! I didn't want to share with my husband. Chef Don said his Cioppino was his favorite, so we were on a mission to try it. It absolutely was the best. Seasoning was perfect and plenty of seafood. It's a pasta dish and the pasta tasted handmade. Not sure if it was. My husband is from Spain and loves Morcilla (Blood Sausage). I was afraid of it but it was soooo good we pretty much licked the place clean. We ended with the bread pudding which was one of the best ever. Robin our server was very attentive.

I debated on the stars. I'd hate for their rating to be low due to my sense of what things should cost. The sandwich was good; it was $20. After tax and tip, I spent $27 on a sandwich today. It did not come with anything: chips, garnish salad. It was a holiday lunch with friends so special occasion. On a regular basis, I don't see this being a go to for me. The service was nice. The environment is inviting. This is my third visit there and I'm still not sure of what to order when I go. As I don't speak Basque, I find the menu a little difficult to understand. So far it seems like the Basque Bowl with rice and a few little things in it could be a good choice.

My group of friends and I visited when they just opened and had a lovely time for lunch. The seafood is quality. We enjoyed the fusions of flavors and enthusiasm from the staff. I have on thing to say- GET THE GRILLED OYSTERS! It was so good, we HAD to get another order in. I dream about these oysters often, they are the best grilled oysters I've ever had.

Came here for burger week. It was packed so we had to wait about 20 min for a table. I'm not into lamb so I opted for the tartar. I took one bite of the lamb burger and it was too gamey for me (I love beef too much). The tartar has pieces of celery, green onions, smoked fish eggs on top with truffle chips. The chips had a strong truffle flavor! Most places shy away from the truffle flavor so I was impressed. I really enjoyed the fish eggs on top because they were the most firm eggs I've had and the smokiness added another layer of flavor. I enjoyed the fish eggs and truffle chips more than the wagyu beef ...

Wow. Dinner at Dom's was one of the best meals I've had in Santa Barbara in a long time. The hospitality is warm and genuine -- the kind that immediately makes you feel like you're a regular, even on your first visit. The space itself is stunning, with a beautiful, hand-milled wood bar that the owner, Dom, crafted from a tree on his family's land -- the very tree under which both he and his parents were married. It's the kind of detail that tells you this is a place built with intention and heart. And then there's the food -- layered, soulful, and deeply satisfying. The steak frites is unforgettable: perfectly cooked, tender, and finished with a sauce that's just indulgent enough. The clams are bright and buttery; the paella is generously composed and deeply flavored; the flatbread and bread service are the kind of simple things done exceptionally well. We also loved the Japanese sweet potato and the whole fish, both reflecting the kitchen's confidence in letting good ingredients speak for themselves. If you care about food and love restaurants that are personal, grounded, and generous in spirit, Dom's is a must. Santa Barbara is lucky to have it.

My friends and I were greeted by the sweetest person, Audrey. She was so friendly and gave us the rundown. I appreciated that she was honest about the wait time and recommended the bar seating (there were two seats available). By sheer luck, a reservation only had half the people show and we got a table. Thank you food gods! Raul was our server and he was simply the best! He educated us on the menu and made amazing recommendations. He was a joy to have serve us in this foodie experience. Literally no other feedback other than I hope he always serves me when I come visit. The tomat was an explosion of different flavors that meshed so well. SO WELL! We ordered a side of bread just to dip in the sauce. Fresh, delicious, flavorful...what more can one ask for? The crudo was devoured quickly. What can I say? It was exactly what it should be. Surf and turf tartare dish was perfection especially eaten with the chips. Salty, crispy, crunchy ::chefs kiss:: I would literally come back just for this. I don't think i can order this dish any where else because it will never be this good. Full disclosure, we ordered THREE rounds of this dish and had zero regrets. Lobster rice was a special (you can typically order the crab rice) and i would highly recommend it. The lobster was cooked perfectly and everything mixed together so well. The smoked shell flatbread was too much, too overpowering. I could not throughly enjoy what this dish had to offer due to the kick. I was told it had a little more spice than usual so I'll need to try it again in the future. Chicken croketas were flaky on the outside, perfectly cooked on the inside and sat in a lovely (and delicious) sauce of dill. Look, bathrooms (in general) are pretty standard however, i need to give kudos to the fact that they provide feminine hygiene products and a full length mirror. It's the small touches that really make this place great! Quick tip: make reservations. This place is a hot spot and while you can gamble with walking in, bar seating is not guaranteed and tables get snatched quickly.

We were looking for a late-night spot in Santa Barbara with good food and drinks and found out that Dom's Taverna had just opened recently. The restaurant was buzzing with people and energy. We ordered several cocktails: Night Vision, Don Raj Spritz, Espresso Eroa, and D'Alizia. I really appreciated that their drinks had a more sophisticated flavor profile rather than being overly sweet. For food, we pretty much ordered the whole menu (except the chicken croquettes, which had sold out for the night). We had the oysters, steak bites, brochetas de hongos, chistorra glizzy, jamon grilled cheese, taverna smash, and russet fries. The standouts for us were the oysters, jamon grilled cheese, chistorra glizzy (Basque hot dog), and the grilled mushrooms. The oysters were impressively fresh, even late in the evening. The jamon added incredible depth to the grilled cheese, the chistorra burst with bold Basque/Spanish flavors, and the mushrooms -- grilled in the Josper oven -- had that perfect earthy aroma while staying juicy and tender. Honestly, every dish was excellent. You can tell they put real thought into sourcing quality ingredients and preparing them with care. The restaurant is brand new, with a modern, chic, yet relaxed vibe. The open kitchen is gorgeous. Dom's Taverna is now officially my favorite spot in Santa Barbara -- it fits right in this lovely coastal town. I hope they keep up with the great work and I will be back again and again.

This is my favorite restaurant in Santa Barbara. Every single time I go, the experience is exceptional from start to finish. The staff truly makes this place special. Mark, Chloe, Ben, Chef Dom, and the owner Raj all go out of their way to make you feel welcome and taken care of. They don't just serve you, they genuinely check in to make sure everything is perfect. You can feel how much they care about the restaurant and about their guests. The food is amazing (consistently!), the drinks are so good, and the vibe is fun, lively, and welcoming without ever feeling overwhelming. It's the kind of place you go for one dinner and end up staying way longer than you planned because you're having such a good time. If you're in Santa Barbara and want incredible food, great drinks, and the kind of hospitality that makes you feel like a regular, Dom's Taverna is it. Couldn't recommend it more.

Celebrated a friend's birthday at Dom's Taverna during their opening weekend in August. Dom's is a hop, skip and jump away from the State Street main drag. The kitchen is helmed by Chef Dom Crisp (Dom's Taverna EaterLA). The inspiration is basque cuisine with California , but I find it a loose interpretation with the menu covering a swath of pretty familiar dishes. Dishes were solid. Brunch/lunch dishes were very family-friendly as we had kids with us. We ordered a variety of things and I didn't get a chance to snap shots before everyone dug in.I think this is probably my favorite daytime meal in SB. Things were well-executed. Bar program was great. I had a few very refreshing cocktails...perfect for a warm summer day. Service was spot on. The team took great care of us even though it was a challenging opening weekend...the AC died on Friday with no hope of repair until the following week. Everyone was still welcoming and gracious even though the conditions were a little warm. The service team even slipped us some candy for the kids. I could see this being our brunch/lunch spot next time we're in town. Dinner menu looks even more promising than brunch/lunch. I think more of the Basque and Spanish influences are more evident in the evenings. Definitely looking forward to revisiting.

Dom's Taverna is THE spot. Every time I come here it honestly feels like I'm walking into a close friend's house, everyone is beyond kind, welcoming, and just genuinely good people. The energy alone makes you want to stay. Now the food... insane!!!! We had the Surf & Turf Tartare, Taverna Burger, Ensalada Rusa, and russet fries and not a single miss on the table. Lunch and dinner both go hard here, everything is balanced, and clearly made with intention. The cocktail menu is one of a kind, and if you love mezcal, this place is going to make you very happy. Creative drinks, great options. Dom's is one of those rare places where the vibe, the service, and the food all line up perfectly. Easy favorite. Will always come back.

My wife and I recently went to Dom's Taverna in Santa Barbara for date night and it turned into one of our favorite dining experiences in town. We kicked things off with some tasty cocktails, which immediately set the tone for the night. From the moment we walked in, the entire staff made us feel genuinely welcomed, but a special shoutout goes to our server Raul. He absolutely nailed every recommendation and guided us through the menu like a pro. We started with the crudo, which was bright, fresh, and perfectly balanced. Then came the smoked seafood flatbread, rich and flavorful without being heavy. For our main, Raul suggested the steak txuleta, and it was phenomenal. Cooked to perfection and beautifully paired with the tomato salad, it was one of those combinations you don't forget. We wrapped things up with "La Cuchara," a spoonful of Basque cheesecake topped with caviar. It sounds unexpected, but it was pure magic, creamy, salty, and just the right amount of indulgent to end the night.

Stopped off at Dom's for lunch today. Would have gotten 5 stars but they were out of their crudo after selling me on it. If you are looking for something new and different, this is a Spanish Basque restaurant and the menu changes regularly based on local ingredients. They specialize in seafood and beef dishes. They are relatively new as they opened March 25'. Omar was very helpful at explaining the menu and highlights and he made a great mescal drink, Txolo Squiggles. Since they were out of the Crudo, I had the Jurassco sandwich and I thought it was going to be small but it was quite filling. Also tried the grilled oysters to start and they were tasty. Overall, if you are in Santa Barbara near State Street, give an a try. I hope to make it back soon.

I believe Dom's is a new restaurant, so my wife and I decided to try it out. The atmosphere was great, it was very busy for a Tuesday night. We got lucky with a table right when we checked in with the host. (Great Host). The food was amazing especially the crab claws. They had great flavor and tasted very fresh. The drinks were on point too.

It was nice and fancy - but not too fancy. The menu was full of many interesting dishes that reminded me of Spanish tapas and quinine. The food we ordered was well-prepared and delicious and left us totally satisfied. Bonus was the great service and warm atmosphere.

We had the Papas Julien and (2) sandwiches: the Submarino Española and the Churrasco. Everything was really flavorful - the Submarino Española was really unique and really tasty, highly recommend. The staff was friendly and attentive. I will definitely be back!

I had high hopes for this place after hearing people talk about it but I have to say I was very disappointed. Order the shrimp and garlic appetizer. That was good and had great flavor and the bread was nice. That was probably one of the better things we had. Also ordered the bread appetizer with three butters. All of the butters tasted weird and didn't appeal to us at all. The bread was different than the one with the shrimp and it was just dry and heavy and harder. I would not get that again. Our waitress never came back to ask us if we wanted another drink. We only had one beer and she never offered us anything else. While we were trying to ask questions she would leave in mid discussion to tend to something else. It was very scattered. The dessert we ordered was Brulé but tasted burnt. The steak and fruits was good. Definitely not a place that would be memorable in a good way.

Food is perfection every time I dine there! Staff are incredibly friendly and very knowledgeable about the menu. Also some of the best cocktails in town

I will start by saying that the ambiance at Dom's is 10/10. This spot felt relatively new in terms of process/waitstaff/whole experience. The small dishes were incredible, though the steak frites were a bit disappointing. We asked for medium rare on the steak and it was quite rare. We asked what they could do about it kindly and they took it and just put it back on the grill for a bit longer. A manager came over and told us "don't worry we will take care of you guys" but didn't do anything about it. The steak cooked longer also didn't taste good, which I think had to do with the type of meat it was. I was so hopeful for this place and it is good but it wasn't special sadly. Also they need to get a front door that swings closed because we were frequently cold when someone would walk in and not shut it. Sadly I'm not sure I'd be back but it was still solid to give it a try!

Impeccable service, bustling restaurant, and memorable food. I mostly came here to make sure that everyone tries the Smoked Shell Flatbread! The sobrasada with the smoked mussels, the hot honey with the salty pork-- it's a flavor bomb. The toasted bread is soft and chewy. It was hard not to order a second after we finished the first! The Albariño was light, crisp, and the perfect accompaniment. The chef was a gracious host. I can't wait to try more.

Food was exceptionally tasty, the service was also very warm and hospitable! We both would return in a heartbeat. Fun place to check out and want to return for late night happy hour too.

Came here for a date night and really enjoyed it! The restaurant had great energy and the service was excellent. Our server recommended a Spanish white wine that was perfect. It was light and refreshing and paired well with the variety of dishes we shared. The food was fresh and tasted good, but nothing really stood out as especially memorable. That said, the menu had a lot to offer, and I have a feeling we may have missed a standout dish or two. I'd definitely be open to coming back to explore more of the menu and cocktails.

Such a nice addition to Santa Barbara! Open, airy and makes you feel like you're visiting the Basque Country. The food was incredible and I really enjoyed all of the different options. The crab rice was definitely my favorite. Grab a group of your friends and try as many pintxos as possible. For it being the second night of opening, service was outstanding. So happy to have a new Spanish restaurant here!

Had a beautiful lunch at this new spot on Victoria St. The atmosphere is fresh and welcoming. The staff was on top of it! We also met Dom who is the nicest guy and as busy as he is, took time to say hi to guests. The food is unlike anything I've had in SB. Spanish Basque. Lots of seafood on the menu, plus other options if you don't like fish. The highlight for me was the Tomat. Amazing appetizer! Whether you love tomatoes or not, get it! So much going on in this dish that I'm already thinking of popping in for another one again this week. The cioppino and crudo also excellent. Priced just right too.

A Basque Culinary Revelation I'm still thinking about the hongos dish--and I suspect I will be for a long time. This was easily one of the most transportive dining experiences I've had in recent memory. From the first bite, it was clear that this kitchen isn't just preparing Basque-inspired food--it's honoring it with real reverence and remarkable skill. The hongos (grilled mushrooms with a raw egg yolk, bottarga, and roe) was a dish that genuinely left my partner and me speechless. Earthy, silky, briny, and perfectly restrained--the flavors came together with such harmony it felt almost alchemical. The yolk pulled everything together like velvet, while the bottarga and roe brought just the right saline brightness to make each bite feel layered and alive. If you only order one dish, let it be this. It's quiet brilliance on a plate. And then--Grappa's Tarta Vasca. I didn't expect dessert to linger with me the way it did, but it was absolutely divine. Creamy, caramelized, just the right touch of sweetness... it was heavenly enough to inspire me to attempt my own Basque cheesecake at home (which, I'll admit, still doesn't quite compare). It's that good. There's a quiet confidence to the cooking here--nothing feels showy, and yet every plate delivers nuance, precision, and soul. This is food with heritage, cooked with heart. Already dreaming of my return visit.

I gave this restaurant 2 tries.......1st - the menu was confusing and unfortunately our waitress didn't give us much help trying to understand it. Food was very good, but we did not recognize many of the food items. And I really hate it when an appetizer only comes with 3. Of course there were 4 of us, lousy marketing ploy to get you to buy 2 orders. 2nd try.......my husband ordered the fish special (snapper) and it was only the fish, no side, vegie or even garnish?? The kicker was when we got the bill.......$75 for snapper!!! That is absolutely ridiculous. We will not be back.........

Fantastic restaurant. Delicious food. Extremely professional, friendly staff. We participated in a dinner and a movie night. Great experience, highly recommend. Funny night great atmosphere. 10/10 Going back to try their usual menu which looks amazing

Firstly, congratulations to Chef Dom & the team. The ambiance is amazing. It's definitely Spain meet Santa Barbara without being too much. The contrast of the oak and blue tile is so eye pleasing. Menu is great for snacks at the bar or dinner with a whole crew at a table. It was my boyfriend and I and we felt we had an amazing meal at the bar top with drinks for a very surprisingly great price. Hats off Chef! We'll be back.

This is a tough one. Dom's is doing a lot of good things. I feel like the burden of the restaurant business in the US, the bottom line, in general is playing out specifically at Dom's--small plates, big prices, arguably not enough servers. With that, I loved the blood sausage, great but small steak with meh fries, squid and beans being served as fried calamari with just ok beans is not great, dry sweet potatoes. Whole fish was small (although I saw a plate that was not small) at $80 with burnt garlic is a sad. Times have changed, expectations must too. I still might try the chicken one day.

We had an early reservation (630), and we were wondering why the restaurant was not full. By the time we finished (8), it was packed. So plan accordingly. When we go back we will try to get a later reservation because it was a lively and friendly scene - which fit the food. We had the tomato salad with cashew butter, then the steak bites and the squid with beans. Our main course was a whole pacific snapper, broasted in their special oven. Our friendly and helpful server coursed everything perfectly. Every bite of our meal was extraordinarily delicious. The combination of tastes and textures, the perfect firmness (moist and sweet) of the fish was magical. The restaurant was nicely decorated for the holidays and the open kitchen was really interesting to watch. We sat along the wall, in a row of "date night" tables which we normally don't like, but our waitress and the hostess suggested we turn the table so we could sit side by side. That was much better. It is a noisy restaurant which I don't usually like, but in this restaurant, I enjoyed the people watching. We were older than average, but were treated great. We shared a slice of Basque cheesecake (I don't usually eat cheesecake) and it was the best dessert I've had in ages. Got to say hello to Dom. He was right there in the middle of the kitchen, working hard. I watched him portion out a strip loin into steaks, which was good to see as most places buy their meat pre portioned from Sysco and the beef has no flavor. Not here. An outstanding experience all around.

My girlfriend and I sat at the bar at this new restaurant. The décor is fantastic, and the bartender was extremely kind and respectful. Unfortunately, part of the charm of the Basque region is the traditional service of Txakoli (Chocoli), which is poured from high above the glass to help aerate the wine -- a fun and memorable ritual I enjoyed while in Basque Country. The bartenders here didn't seem familiar with that tradition, which was a bit disappointing. The croquetas were also a miss; in Spain, they're typically very creamy on the inside, but these didn't quite capture that texture. On the other hand, Dom's Louie Salad was absolutely delicious -- a great play on a California favorite and beautifully executed. Overall, this is a very good restaurant with lots of potential. With time, I think they'll nail the seasoning (especially on the gambas) and hopefully embrace some of the Basque techniques a bit more authentically

The food was pretty good! The hostess booth is in the middle of the restaurant, so don't forget to walk all the way into the restaurant, as they may not notice you if you stand right by the door. Great seafood, great wine list

Went last night--excellent cocktails, very good food, and attentive, knowledgeable service. One of my better meals in SB in some time.

I was a little skeptical. I'm from Chicago where we have fabulous restaurants. But Doms exceeded our expectations. Not only is the food great but the atmosphere is lively. The market fish (red snapper ) was very special and our server was amazing. She guided us in the right direction without overselling. We will be back with friends!!

The Wagyu steak with french fries but I substitute for a salad. Phenomenal food, great atmosphere good wines with a lot of good local friends.

Had a great time! The staff was very accommodating and everything we ordered was amazing.

had dom's bookmarked for quite some time now been wanting to try this place out the ambiance was nice upon entering, was greeted by warm staff, and we were happy to find out that they were willing to seat us on a saturday at 8pm with no reservation. Jorge the bartender was awesome ordered 2 drinks at the bar and two apps before proceeding to being moved to a table. the service from our server the older white lady could've been better we felt like her presence a little bit nonexistent. throughout our meal, she probably only came to our table twice and we had to request for our server from other servers multiple times. the two other young ladies were great they were able to help us by taking additional orders when our server wasn't present and also provided us with the check and packed up our leftover meal and dessert for us. idk if it's bc we're a younger crowd but we ordered quite a bit for two people. towards the end of the night our server clocked off and left and she didn't even notify us that she was leaving and that we would be assisted by a new server so we sat around waiting for some time. Now moving onto the food, the steak bites and oysters were good. The ganbak had good flavor but was missing salt. I know that you guys have been having issues about certain foods being oversalted so you guys had dialed back on the salt but it was missing salt to balance the whole dish. The tomat was great. The cioppono pasta was probably one of the best cioppino pastas I've had. Everything was good about the steak frites the only issue was the steak was too burnt it wasn't overcooked but it was overseared on one side which made the whole thing taste very burnt and the burnt flavor was overpowering the entire dish I should've spoke on it then and there but I wasn't sure what it was exactly until I brought the leftovers home and tried it again later. And lastly the dessert the grappas tarta vasca was bomb

What a weird and disappointing experience. My husband and I decided to try this restaurant over the weekend, and I was excited because it looked so cute online! Even though it was extremely loud inside, I was still optimistic since the menu looked good. We were quickly given water by someone who wasn't our server, and then waited about 10 minutes before our waiter came to take our drink order. We knew the place was new and a little busy, so we were patient. But after our drinks arrived, our waiter disappeared again for another 10-15 minutes. By then, we'd finished our drinks and were getting hungry. When he finally came near our table, he spent several minutes chatting with another table about sports before even glancing our way. When he finally approached, we ordered everything at once--drinks, appetizers, and entrées--since it seemed like we might not see him again for a while. Our appetizers came out, but no drink refills, and we didn't see our waiter for another 20 minutes. When he returned, we asked for refills, and he said, "So, would you like to put in your main course order?" My husband and I looked at each other and laughed - we said we had already ordered our entrées at the same time as the appetizers. He said nothing and walked away to put them in. It took another 10-15 minutes for our food to arrive--brought out one plate at a time. In those 10-15 minutes, we had various people check on us (a manager, another server, even a cook), to which we just told them we were simply waiting for our entrees. My husband's steak frites came first and was cold by the time my cioppino pasta arrived. His steak was drowning in sauce, making the fries soggy. We ate, disappointed, but understanding it's a new restaurant with kinks to work out. Afterward, we sat for another 15 minutes before anyone checked on us again. When a cook came by, we asked for the check, which took another lengthy amount of time to arrive. Finally, the manager came over. My husband asked if certain items were comped because of the delay, as items were missing from the check, and had told her she should ask our waiter what was missing, as he had written down everything we ordered. She looked confused, then suddenly defensive, saying, "I will not be asking your waiter, as he said you were mean to him." We were completely taken aback. We barely interacted with him and were unsure as to what made him feel that way. My husband asked what he supposedly said that was mean, and she couldn't answer--just said she'd bring the owner. When the owner came, we explained the situation and our confusion. We told him how no one, aside from when there was an issue, had checked on us or acknowledged us throughout the meal. Nothing was really resolved--he offered to comp our meal, but it felt like he was just trying to make the problem go away. We declined, paid our bill, and left. I'm honestly so bummed. The restaurant itself is adorable, but the service and handling of the situation were awful. We had high hopes, but after that experience, we won't be returning.

Went to Dom's with a friend and had a friend and had a great time and meal. We started with gin martinis and it is by far the strongest martini I have ever had. Followed by steak frites and the fried artichoke. Both were fantastic and would recommend both highly!

Audrey was amazing and barely surpassed the amazing food! Will be back many times! Try the tomato especially, the whole fish, clam pasta and the basque cheesecake was to die for

Unfortunately, I had high hopes prior to eating here based on the menu and the photos... but it was a bust- the crab claw was cold to the point that it was almost frozen, the baguette was impossibly tough, the carpaccio left lots to be desired. The menu seems to be good in concept but poorly executed.

Food was excellent, the octopus and tomat were delicious. I had a glass of basque white wine that was delightful. My mate had the fish carpaccio with chips and we shared the tomat. It was small but intimate even as crowded as it was. Because it was 'Jerry Seinfeld' night at the show, the restaurant was packed and servers were a bit overwhelmed resulting in us getting a delicious bread with sauce and steak bites in error. We assumed the bread was free and the bites were an amuse bouche..... They were gracious and did not charge us and our server, James, was so very nice and accommodating! We will definitely go back!

Best steak in Santa Barbara. Best seafood in Santa Barbara. Dom, the chef owner has it going on!!!!! He's doing it right! This might become the best in SB!

Wowza Dom's--what an evening! You made our celebration of a birthday and life a joyous and delicious one! We loved all the creative and flavorful food, attention, warm welcome and service of these gifted chefs and Audrey and her team. Thank you for such a fun and memorable evening. Can't wait to come again soon!