La Paloma Cafe

Had an outstanding dinner here on the patio. One of the best cornbreads I’ve ever had. The broccolini with whipped tahini was super flavorful. The baby back ribs with side of potato salad was chefs kiss. Nice local wine selection, and the service was wonderful!

Amazing brunch!! Everything was fantastic. Service was great, food was amazing (the burger is out of this world), and the patio atmosphere is exactly what we were looking for.

We arranged a welcome reception at La Paloma the night before my daughter's wedding. It was fantastic. The staff was so helpful picking the menu and arranging things. The food was fabulous. They also were very accommodating with the children and kids meals. We highly recommend them!!!

Service was sadly very slow/ inattentive. Food was delicious: cornbread, tri-tip, half chicken. The sweet potato appetizer was just ok. Love the atmosphere which depends on where you sit. #1 preference Ask to be seated on the patio near heat lamps. Avoid inside which is strangely too dark. And definitely avoid sitting near the restrooms (which is brightly lit) otherwise you get a constant flow of people traffic (and an eyesore).

A must-visit in Santa Barbara if you love Spanish cuisine or are a foodie. The Burnt Ends Bowl is just a perfect mix with tender yet chewable brisket, rice, beans and special sauce. Add an egg to boost the flavour and smoothness. Bloody Maria is another must try cocktail. It looks pleasant and elegant. The celery salt on the glass lifts your taste buds and your mood. The restaurant offers several beautiful seating areas, including a spacious lush outdoor patio, a charming bar. The professional and friendly staff team make your dining experience unforgettable. Highly recommended.

The dishes we as a family of four were delicious. The wagyu tri-tip deserves its top billing on the menu here. The taste is deep and complex, and the salsa in the dish is an exquisite combination. My son loved how a more standard dish like chicken was seasoned. The cerviche was delectably tangy and spicy. And the roasted tomato soup -- among the best I've had, with what tastes like garlic granules sprinkled throughout. Oh and the duro starters they provide as complimentary is not your ordinary chip. Highly recommended.

walk into the restaurant around 1:20 PM on a Thursday. They were very slow. Interior was completely empty. We sat outside. They’ll accommodate your seating if you’d like. Halfway during our meal, it did get very warm. So just voice your concern if needed. Brussels sprouts - HIGHLY recommend. The flavor and char is there. The bottom with all the sauce was a bit salty for me. 9.5/10 Brisket burnt end bowl - the brisket burnt end was a bit tough. Not the tenderness I was hoping for. Flavor is there though! The salad was a good pairing with the bowl. The rice is at the very bottom which wasn’t as much as beans in the bowl. I’d give it a 7/10.

We stopped in but nothing on the menu really spoke to us so we left without eating. But the servers were incredibly friendly and accommodating. The festive decorations inside were amazing and the patio, where we were seated, was very comfortable. I have no doubt the food will be excellent. We’ll find out when we return.

Wonderful! The best part is the service, the staff there is super attentive, kind, enjoyable and on top of it. The food was very good, we will be going back. The desserts were decent but we thought it was not as good as the mains. The space was warm and cute and inviting. What we ordered and shared as a group of 4: Ahi Tuna Poke - Delicious, fresh and good portion Ranchero Salad - Very good! Get it Golden Hominy Cheesy Casserole - Yummy Carnitas - SO good! Tritip - the BEST in our opinion Lobster - it was fine, nothing crazy, but wouldn't order again Berry Crisp - like eating warm jam, nothing special Bread pudding - I liked it a lot but the rest of my group did not care for it Wine - Casa Madero 3V - VERY good! Cocktails & Mocktail - So delicious!

We just hosted our wedding reception at La Paloma Cafe over Labor Day Weekend and it was simply amazing. We had a reception for 54 people out on the back patio and it was perfect. It was such a beautiful space and fit our needs exactly. Working with Megan was a great experience and she made everything very easy for us. She was very accommodating and informative and was willing to work with us on our various needs and requests. On the event day, the space was set up perfectly - exactly according to our specs. The food was AMAZING - we got so many compliments on everything, especially the brussel sprouts and hominy. The drinks were superb - especially the margaritas - and the wait staff was so patient, kind and responsive. I'm so so glad we went with La Paloma. It was perfect for our wedding. We can't wait to come back and visit again so we can have another meal here and relive our special night.

La Paloma is hands down one of my favorite spots in Santa Barbara. The ambiance is warm and inviting, and the drinks and food are consistently fantastic. Whether you're stopping in for a quick bite or settling in for a full meal, you can always count on an exceptional experience. The flavors are vibrant, the presentation is on point, and the overall vibe of the place is just perfect for a night out. A special shoutout to Jorge, the best bartender in town--his cocktails are nothing short of amazing. You can really tell he puts his heart into every drink he makes. And I can't forget Atiana, our server, who was tremendous! She's attentive, friendly, and really made our dining experience unforgettable. La Paloma has it all: great drinks, delicious food, and top-notch service. Highly recommend!

I was up in SB for my birthday and my friend treated me to dinner here - we both loved it! The tuna poke was sooo fresh and tasty - loved the sesame dressing that it came tossed into. We also had the delish potato and zucchini fried tacos which was also a huge hit for us - and I'm sure the vegetarians would love them! My fav was hand-down the santa maria style wagyu tri-tip which was cooked perfectly - a must order! It's also a lovely space w a beautiful outdoor patio - nice for a date or a GNO!

Check out this spot during happy hour. And Food was not great besides their tater tots and extremely overpriced for the size portions. It was so loud you couldn't hear yourself even breath def needs to improve their bar area for sound. It was a cute spot. We tried their taco $10 for one and it was over smoked. Their Brussels were decent but I ended up with heart burn. Service was decent. Now I don't know about their drinks but looking at the menu and those that walked in and left after their first drink said a lot.

Cute of them to have a holiday decor draw this year but the space is too small for it IMO and the waits too long! Yummy hot cocoa cocktail. Friendly service.

Visited Paloma cafe after a graduation ceremony at UCSB. We ran about 45 mins late and they kept our table. Their menu was limited but all the items sounded so delicious. I wanted to try the breakfast tacos but they were out. So decided to go for the burnt ends bowl topped with an egg ($22+3). The bowl wasn't huge and maybe I expected something bigger however it was tasty and was a great combination of flavors. The burnt ends were nice and meaty. My son got the eggs and bacon which was four strips of bacon and two eggs with fingerling potatoes. We sat outside which on a sunny day it is a nice treat. Highly recommended and will stop by next time we are in SB.

La Paloma Cafe was the perfect venue for our private cocktail hour and dinner. We had a beautiful 3.5-hour event on their stunning two-tiered patio, which offered an intimate and breathtaking setting for our guests. The food was absolutely amazing - each dish was delicious and beautifully presented. The service was top-notch, and we received so many compliments from our guests on how great everything was. A special shout-out to the bartender outside, who was incredibly friendly and made everyone feel welcomed while serving up fantastic drinks. We even had our first dance on the patio, which made for such a magical moment. I highly recommend La Paloma Cafe for anyone looking for a beautiful, welcoming venue with amazing food and exceptional service!

Overall pretty solid for a dinner date. Food was good (there's a very good reason why the brussel sprouts and waygu are so heavily pictured in all the reviews.) I made a reservation on the same day and was seated upon arrival. Service was nice. My only regret is not requesting a patio table. It was a really lovely summer night and it would have been nice to have taken advantage of the weather and outdoor ambiance.

Great lunch spot. The chicken wrap and Brussel sprout side was fantastic. For drinks, we had a hibiscus marg and Mo IPA. Service was excellent. We'll be back!

Wonderful all the way through! Our dog get salmon skin treats we had amazing margaritas and don't miss the Brussels Sprouts!! We will be back!

Super cute outdoor and indoor seating. Friendly staff. Simple but flavorful menu. I ordered their famous tri tip plate but it wasn't the greatest. It needed more flavor and the meat wasn't soft and tender as you'd expect for the price point. The horchata is probably the best I've ever had! They have really good desserts including spiced horchata! I LOVE their ceviche style ground beef appetizer. It's so amazing I don't know how they do it but I want a huge bowl of it.

La Paloma went above and beyond to make our wedding day reception memorable. From the service the decor the food everything was amazing!! The staff, manager, and chef did a great job checking in on us congratulating us and making sure everything was perfect. We couldn't have chosen a better restaurant for our wedding day. Thank you La Paloma Cafe for a very special day!! We look forward to dinning here again in the future.

Came here on a Sunday around 1230pm to a half full (if that) restaurant. Our server took forever to even acknowledge us and bring us water after looking at us multiple times. She finally came over and took our drink order. We then proceeded to wait 30 more minutes while she was just walking around helping all other tables except us. I normally would think that maybe she forgot about us (not that it makes it okay) but she looked at us and even made eye contact multiple times! She never came over or checked in on us. Hard not to think that racism came into play as we were the only asians in the establishment and there really was no other reason she couldn't help us. Never brought us our drinks, never came back to even take our food order so we just left. We will not be returning.

Decent food with ok prices . Guacamole good. Chip's and salsa good. Fajitas pretty good. Margaritas good. Pina colada not good. Service ok. Outside seating.

Pros: -Amazing outdoor seating setup with greenery all around and plenty of seating outside -Conveniently right across from Tesla Superchargers Cons: -Limited menu, especially for vegetarians. Even the beans have meat in them! There is literally no entree for a vegetarian. You're stuck with salads pretty much -Mediocre service for the price -For a place that has "Cafe" in their name, all they had to offer was drip coffee We were enticed by their outdoor seating setup since it was a nice day outside and we had our dogs with us. Thought there would be more options for making things vegetarian but there weren't really. Sad because the ambiance outside is great! By the way, the Burnt Ends Bowl, which is apparently what they're most known for, was okay. Some of the meat was not tender enough and difficult to chew. For the price point, I would say it was not worth the visit.

I was super excited to come here. The ambience and location is nice. Our waitress was pleasant. Now what I didn't like was my watered down margarita. The salmon fries were unique and delicious but very misleading you only get two fries. The soup was delicious. I left wanting more but I ran out of options because there were no other dairy free savory options.

Always a a great time here. We have tried morning breakfast with Mirmosas and now HAPPY HOUR! We sat at the bar area this time. Our drinks were very tasty. Atmosphere was pleasant. Hospitality was great, we are definitely coming back again!

My boyfriend and I love coming to Paloma. The food is amazing, but it's the atmosphere that keeps us coming back every time. The chef always brings treats for my dog and takes time to chat about the dishes. The staff are consistently attentive and welcoming, and the manager Kristy is incredibly kind. She recognizes us every time we visit and goes out of her way to accommodate our needs. This is my favorite spot in SB!

Too many great brunch choices on this menu. Bartender talked me into the biscuits with chorizo gravy. Dang! Finished with chocolate stuffed churros. Be back tomorrow.

I always love La Paloma. All the food is great. Definitely sit outside - the patio is awesome and has tons of heaters. They have the best dog treats - salmon skin.

I didn't know it is closed between 2:30 - 5 pm. I arrived at 3 pm and had a long time window shopping on State street. And of course I might be the first one who had a fabulous dinner at 5pm that night. I tried the entree swordfish and the drink aqua fresca. Everything was great! My server Christine was nice and energetic. The vibe was good and there was an igniting candle on every table. Maybe next time I will try the tri-tip which is absolutely my favorite.

Wow. I have no words. This was truly one of the best dinning experiences I have had in a long time. If I could give this place more than 5 stars I would!!! If you are a local or just visiting town, La Paloma is a MUST! We went here on a weekday for my friend's birthday and upon being seated, were given complimentary drinks in champagne flutes and a handwritten birthday card. A few people in our party have severe food allergies (which was noted upon making the reservation) and the staff went above and beyond to accommodate them. This is one of the few restaurants I have been to where dietary restrictions are treated as a priority and not as an inconvenience. All of the dishes we ordered were fresh and packed with flavor. Being vegetarian, if there is anything I can recommend it would be Brussels sprouts and the crispy potato tacos. Definitely on the pricier side but worth every penny! Go to La Paloma!!! You will not regret it!!

The most amazing Margaritas here. Smoky and refreshing. The food at this restaurant was my favorite of our five day trip to the central coast. They had something for everyone. Food was appropriately spiced and just incredibly delicious and fresh. Service was very good prompt and with good information from the beginning anticipating our questions. We enjoyed a chicken bowl, burnt ends bowl and a BLT with tomato soup. All were very good. We sat outside on the patio and it was lovely. Recommend

Best lunch! the tostada and burnt ends were amazing. The patio and garden are absolutely beautiful! Local wine to round out the lunch, great experience

Had a couple happy hour drinks and appetizers in the bar area. Everything was so good and the quality is top notch. All the staff was really helpful and nice. I will be back :)

We held our wedding reception at La Paloma in May 2024 and it was absolutely amazing. Our wedding was on the smaller side -- 55 people -- so we needed a space that was intimate and the La Paloma patio was perfect. First off, the service is incredible! The manger Christy, who is a gem of a human, made sure we were taken care of all night long. Not only was she extremely attentive on our wedding night, but we had dined at La Paloma multiple times prior and she was always making sure we were taken care. The food and drinks are 10/10. Our guests and vendors were telling us it was the best wedding food they've ever had. The entire night was flawless and the staff was so attentive and kind. I definitely recommend holding your event here, or just stopping by for a meal if you're in Santa Barbara. Thank you to the La Paloma team, Christy, and Megan at ACME who helped us coordinate the event.

La Paloma is a nice, casual restaurant near downtown Santa Barbara where you can have a nice spritz or two along with some elevated fare while enjoying the Santa Barbara weather outside. We stopped by a bit before closing and were able to snag a table outside. Spritzes were refreshing and easy to drink. For a snack, we got their smoked salmon fries - wasn't sure what I was expecting, but we got a decent amount of salmon slices on top of their thick fries. Was still an enjoyable eat. Service was topnotch. There's some street parking or public parking lots across the street.

Food is soooo good. 10/10. Service was so nice. Would definitely recommend. The tri tip was cooked to perfection, the brussel sprouts were also amazing.

We hosted our wedding dinner at La Paloma and we could not have picked a better place! The venue is beautiful, drinks were amazing, food is outstanding and the service is unbeatable! The whole process was seamless and hassle free! A couple of our guests had allergies and this was handled with such care and attention. We also had a number of guests who did not drink alcohol and the non alcoholic specialty cocktail was a hit! Even with the kids! We were not planning on getting a cake but the restaurant partners with Helena avenue bakery who was able to make a ceremonial cake for us and that just put the cherry on top of an exceptional evening. If you are considering an event, I could not recommend La Paloma enough!

Wow. Rarely does a place live up to the hype in the way La Paloma did. Our group enjoyed our meal SO MUCH. We got margaritas, the tuna tostadas and brussels to start. We got the tri tip and carnitas as entrees and WOW. So incredible. Also had to try the flan and enjoyed it. Our server Erik was great and recommended great dishes! Overall great food and experience so I'll definitely be back!

La Paloma is a bit off the beaten path, tucked away from the hustle and bustle of State Street, making it a cherished local gem. The ambiance is relaxed and a bit more sophisticated, with guests in slightly dressier attire. This place has delightful double-deck seating, perfect for indulging in al fresco dining. Their staff is nothing short of kind and accommodating, and I appreciate their welcoming attitude towards dogs. My dog was even treated to a fish skin, making him feel right at home. (Meaning, spoiled). The menu is full of fresh, health-conscious, and inventive options. We ordered their beef ceviche, so delicately prepared, it could easily be mistaken for raw tuna. The hominy was comfort food at its finest, reminding me of mac and cheese, while the black beans packed a flavorful BBQ punch. I loved the white fish, and it was served in a bowl with a wonderfully warm and appetizing sauce. The only downside: the drinks seemed slightly pricey. The $10 canned drink and $7 ice tea felt a bit steep. Nevertheless, the combination of the delightful meal, pretty views, and friendly servers made for an enjoyable dining experience. I would definitely recommend La Paloma for its healthy and unique culinary approach and casual, yet inviting atmosphere.

Sweet location, great service, good portions. We all tried each other's food, so yummy.

This place was so delicious! Everything we had was absolutely perfect. The flavors were out-of-this-world and our server was very sweet. The carnitas were tender and juicy and the salad was my personal favorite! Everything was fresh. I couldn't wait to take the next bite!! The only thing I will say that was a little disappointing was we wanted more ranch for the fries and our waitress told us it would be an "extra charge". For a nice place like this it felt very cheap to charge customers for extra ranch when it's already a fairly expensive establishment. It felt like they were nickel-and-dime'ing. Just felt off. But we will definitely be back- the food is so delicious and again the service was phenomenal!

Wonderful food, funky atmosphere and fun neighborhood! We liked it for a special Mother's Day brunch.

We were anticipating a fun and fabulous Old Spanish Days Fiesta in Santa Barbara and knew that the comfy-cozy patio at La Paloma would be THE place to be . . . and sure enough we were right. With their wide selections of wine, cocktails and beer, being on the patio was all the more fun. Our server Miles was there to make sure we got our dining experience started promptly, and his drink and food recommendations were spot-on once he heard what we all enjoyed. We can't thank him enough for being so kind and hospitable. As we could hear the Mariachi Music coming from State Street, and the rock 'n roll from De La Guerra Plaza, we explored the House Cocktails and Specialty Margaritas, all of which were delicious. Top favorites were the La Paloma and Hibiscus Margarita. For starters we devoured the Crispy Brussels, Vegetable Pozole Verde, and La Paloma Salad. Miles kept the evening flowing nicely and his recommendations of Santa Maria Style Snake River Farm Wagyu Tri-tip, Pork Shoulder Carnitas, and Crispy Cauliflower and Potato "Chorizo" Tacos were excellent. And didn't want to miss out on the sides, Hominy and Cheese Casserole, CA Red Chile Rice, and Slow Cooked Local Pinquinto Beans. Yes, this sounds like a lot of food, but as shared plates we all enjoyed each dish equally. Definitely will make a reservation for any upcoming special occasion events. And remember to make reservations. You don't want to miss out.

Very very good, ordered the house salad and the carnitas. Came in a large portion, suitable for a hungry teenager.

This restaurant is not what it used to be. We used to go there for the Cobb Salad and delicious Black Bean Soup. This time, there were no salad options, no BB Soup, and the entrees lacked the "wow" factor. The Yellowtail and Roasted Brussel Sprouts were pretty good and the ambiance is still very nice. Unfortunately, while we expect a Saturday night to be busy, we had to wait almost an hour for our dinner.

Stop scrolling the reviews on La Paloma and just get over there. 10/10 in all aspects. We were taking a tour of the top 15 restaurants in Santa Barbara. La Paloma was not on the list. The location we went to, from the list, was close out of business. So we started wandering the streets and came upon La Paloma. The best dining experience of the entire week. Each dish was full of flavor. Server Bobby was memorable and had a distinct way with words. Example - his introduction is. My name is Bobby and I will be with your table this evening. Who talks like that? The owner even stopped by to say hello because we recognized him from the website staff line up. This needs to be added to the list of Top restaurants in Santa Barbara. Divine!

Had lunch here yesterday. A beautiful patio, the service was very friendly and welcoming, and I very much enjoyed my grapefruit spritz. The Brussels sprout starter was excellent and I loved my ranchero salad with burnt tri-tip ends. My husband ordered the tuna melt which was not at all like a classic deli tuna melt, the tuna was a little too fishy for him but probably suited to more gourmand tastes than ours. (Some things we just want the classic version of, is what I'm saying.) Still, a delightful spot and glad we tried it.

Dinner for four was outstanding. Lovely cocktails, fried Brussels for an app. We shared sides and apps, and each was outstanding. Dessert is a must. Chocolate tort will be memorable . Service was far above par. Quickly seated and had drinks while deciding our choices. Throughout the meal, our server and her back staff were attentive, knowledgeable and friendly.

Amazing fish sandwich! Bloody Mary's were a tad spicy for our taste. Great ambiance and very kind servers

Stopped in for dinner here while on vacation. As it was around the holiday, we wanted a place to eat that would not be too crowded for the July 4th festivities. We sat outside, which was a perfect setting with privacy and lots of greenery around. Wait staff was solid despite the restaurant quickly filling up and the food and drinks came out with equally spaced time. I had the potato and zucchini tacos which were solid. My husband had the Oak Grilled Local fish which he enjoyed. As a side we ordered the chopped cabbage and cilantro slaw which was amazing! I wish this place was in my neighborhood as I would be back to try the tri tip or the carnitas as I heard after the meal that these are what the restaurant is known for!

I've been to La Paloma about 5 times. The atmosphere is laidback/ cozy chic vibes. During my last visit, our server was friendly, the host almost barred my husband from coming in which was weird. The apps are great - Brussels and corn casserole were standouts. The Paloma chicken was served on a bed of cauliflower that was under done and the sauce was too sweet and didn't go well with the savory chicken. The vegetarian pozole lacked flavor, and was watery and disappointing. The vegetarian main ( mushroom) was also underwhelming. Overall, decent atmosphere, disappointing food, and questionable service. The place has so much potential they should pay chef Ramon from Corazon Concina to take over.

(Overall: 82% | B) - La Paloma is a restaurant with a beautiful patio to take advantage of the spring time sun! I ordered the Almond Waffle, which is paired with a chicken hash, smoked maple, and creme fraiche. The play on chicken and waffles was quite intriguing and I thought it was quite smart to use the chicken skin for texture. Some areas of improvement I found was that the creme fraiche was sour and very overpowering with respect to the rest of the dish, and I felt like the dish could be elevated with some source of freshness. Furthermore, the service was slow in every aspect possible from order taking to printing the bill, despite it not looking particularly understaffed.

What a fantastic experience we had this morning! We took a good friend to brunch here for her birthday this morning, and the entire experience was perfection. The location is super cute (they have a beautiful patio; however, we chose to sit inside because it was a little cold), the staff is super friendly and attentive, and the food is out of this world. Their pozole were outstanding, as were their blueberry banana pancakes. They even brought out a plate of delicious chocolate-stuffed churros in celebration of my friend's birthday! Highly, highly recommend...I genuinely can't wait to go back and try other items on their menu!

The heat of passion drink was really good. The place is clean and the service is great. They also change the artwork often as they are part of first Thursday

This place is amazing and the staff was so friendly and attentive. Service was great and the vibe here was so positive and good. They even have custom chef dog treats. My Snowball is so picky and he ate the swordfish treat like nothing. I ordered the Chile verde pork shoulder and the meat cut through like butter. The supervisor or waiter even gave us a free side of the hominy casserole to eat with our taco. Sooo delicious. I definitely recommend coming here for a night out or date night, especially if you have a dog!

First of all the place is really clean , nice and nice ambiance . Our server and all of them are very nice and vey welcoming and warm the food is great and very well plated When I'm in Santa Barbara I'll deffo comeback !!!!