Nick P.
Yelp
The casualness (carelessness?) of service delivery in the seemingly upscale American dining experience has become something of a chronic infection plaguing the entire US service industry. The symptoms of this infection seem to acutely manifest themselves in "recently" opened sort-of upscale themed establishments (this place tries to be Spanish or something, but kinda fails at it) that in the last decade may have been considered novel as some Bourgeois/hipster amalgamation. Millennials (of which I am one) frequent these places, but their wine lists tend to be sub-par and often they, then, fail to deliver on basic service expectations. Indeed, Santa Barbara is littered with these places that try to wow you with aesthetics of place while failing to deliver on the basics (see, e.g. Barbareno, Black Sheep, Costa, Finch and Fork, etc.).
Regarding service, take for example the fork and knife placed on the starter plate. Starters come and are consumed. Starter plates are removed and THEN the fork and knife are taken away and replaced by a new fork and knife for the entree, right? WRONG! They are placed directly on the table, the assumption being we should pay over $40 for a few "lollipops" of lamb (that's how the server described it) and consume it with a dirty fork that has been just casually sitting on the table. Imagine this happening at a steakhouse ... the Boomers would be mortified! And so am I. The lack of couth is frustrating.
Also, you could ask if we want more wine before the main course comes out. My glass sat empty, then the food came out and we ordered drinks and waited 10 mins to get them. Snap snap! Service should be more attentive and the drinks should come out faster. No more excuses about being short staffed or taking your time to make things "special."
As for the food/ drinks ... let me start with the cocktails ... if you're into creative combinations of activated charcoal and liquor this place is for you. Indeed the mezcal margarita with aforementioned ingredients was rather refreshing! But, an old school palette may not appreciate such creative cocktail machinations: their version of the old fashioned was so syrupy that it drowned out the smoky flavor of the whiskey. Too bad.
As for the food ... it's actually the bright spot! Keeps me from giving them a 1/5. But the entire experience was frustrating and detracted from the quality meal.
I suggest that for a quality night out you avoid this place. Ca'Dario, Toma, Lucky's, Secret Bao even ... more places for better food and service than here