Natural Cafe

Wow!!! Parking lot full = good sign. Relaxing atmosphere and hasty service. We barely waited 5 min to put in our order and got our food in less than 15 minutes. Delicious dinner was served to all three of us and we even had leftovers to take home. I was very impressed with this restaurant from start to finish. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The food is always consistently great! If their soup of the day is pozole then you are in for a treat. Definitely get the garlic bread. The nachos are a huge portion and way more than simple chips and cheese. Servers are kind and easy to talk to. All the desserts are delicious especially the cheesecake. The patio is nice to sit on and there a lots of succulents around the restaurant to look at. A well kept up restaurant all-around. Just an F.Y.I. no pork or beef on the menu at all. In Santa Barbara it's the best quality mixed with affordability that you'll find. Don't miss this place.

Our friends took us here and it was a great place 😊. My hubby and I ordered the Salmon Special with a light teriyaki glaze served alongside brown rice and lightly steamed vegetable mix of carrots, zucchini, summer squash, broccoli, cauliflower and red onion. The meal was outstanding and the surroundings were relaxing♥️👍👍👍👍😋

One of the employees there recommended their blueberry milkshake when I didn't know what I wanted. Absolutely amazing and such high quality. Great food, people and atmosphere.

The food is really good here. The menus accommodates many appetites. Good vegetarian options. It great for groups and to bring kids. The prices are $$ but worth it. The parking is plenty and free. There is also plenty of seating, inside and outside. The service is friendly and prompt. The wait isn't long. It is also clean and modern. It is freeway close.

Absolutely love the food here. It’s fresh and healthy. I’ve dined in once and taken to go another time. Both are great options if you’re looking for a quick, healthy meal. Wish I had a place like this close to my house!

I can honestly say I was surprised how delicious my food was. I got the chipotle chicken burger and it was great. I also got a hummus platter and pina colada shake. This only odd thing was that they provided carrot shavings instead of, say, carrot sticks or baby carrots with the hummus. Still, the pita was excellent.

Pure robbery What happened to this place? I used to regularly buy a one half of the Old Town Salad (and that was enough for two people!) , with a bowl of turkey chilli. By default, I was getting a nice piece of corn bread. Tonight, Jan 22, 2024 I ordered the same thing and I got the following: - a quarter of the salad, - a piece of regular bread; they asked for additional $3.65 for corn bread And, I paid the same price like I used to. Shame on you!

This was the only place that was walking distance from where I was getting my car serviced. I arrived when they opened and the cashier was unwelcoming. I ordered the tempeh burger, flourless chocolate cake, and Michelle smoothie. I've ordered the tempeh burger to go in the past so I was confident that it was going to be pretty solid. The garlic mayo that comes on it is pretty tasty. The flourless chocolate cake was decadent and had a good texture to it. I give them three stars because this place seems run down and the employees are not nice. There was maybe one worker that came around to take some empty plates and was pretty friendly. Other than that the employees seem pretty miserable here. It was also a let down this place is considered a cafe has no wifi. The area doesn't have very good cell service so using my hot spot wasn't reliable. I think this place is decent for take out, but not so great service.

Another nice meal at Natcaf. I had the half salad and soup. I ordered the natural salad with the lemon dressing and added veggie bacon bits. The vegan potato & tomato soup was great. My boyfriend had the wild teriyaki salmon. It's always a fresh & filling entree. The large bread that came with the soup & salad was dry. We asked for another piece and it was much better.

I really enjoy the soup and salad combo here. My cream of mushroom soup was not to warm. It was healthy though. The service was good. The ambiance has some nice touches with Buddha. But they could clean up the booths. It seems like they cleaned the table and wiped Parmesan cheese onto the seats.

Normally this is a go to spot for us. Not sure what's up with Natural Cafe lately, but seems like it's hit or miss with if your order will be correct or not. This time I opened my lasagna and was pretty shocked at the condition of it... looks like it melted in the box or is some kind of soup mess...

The natural cafe has my heart. I have been going here since I was a child, and I have always ordered the turkey sandwich. It is the best turkey sandwich EVER!! It is a pretty basic sandwich, but the flavors all mesh perfectly and I am never disappointed when I come to eat here. The service is always very fast, and the ambiance of the restaurant is very chill and laid back. It's always a delicious lunch when we decide to come here, I would totally recommend!

Daughter and I stopped by for dinner. There were a couple of salmon specials that caught our eye, so I had the blackened salmon with brown rice and mixed vegetables, and my daughter had the salmon with pesto and a side salad. The gal taking our order was friendly. I got my drink from the tea bar and we sat outside, which was very nice. We were looking forward to our dinners. Our dinners were plated nicely. Mine wasn't really blackened, but it was tender, though not especially moist. The bigger problems were that the rice was dry and the steamed vegetables were flavorless. Maybe I misinterpreted the name of the restaurant. When I read "natural" I think of simple yet flavorful food, but I'm thinking the restaurant might have interpreted "natural" as in not seasoned. I read in another review that there is a sauce bar. I suggest taking advantage of it. I probably would have put some soy sauce on the brown rice and looked at what else was available for the steamed veggies. I used a little of my daughter's lemon and herb salad dressing and it helped. I had squeezed the lemon that came with my meal dry, but it still needed that little kick of salad dressing. I'd order a sandwich if I went back.

Ordered the Ranch Salad which had a lovely presentation. Though a problem with the chicken! It's supposed to be lightly breaded and marinated. It was tasteless. No flavor, dry and so over-cooked...had a few bites and left the rest. Such a disappointment! Not sure if I'll return.

Absolute favorite place to eat. Appreciate the red wine now too. So much to choose from Staff are awesome

ordered soup and salad for lunch it's the perfect portions, and soup is always so tasty . sitting out on the patio is nice .service has always been good , however I wish they had table service .. definitely recommend this place. I went to the one on Hitchcock.

Great option for the family with lots of fun and healthy dishes to choose from. I always go for the stirfry vegetable with brown rice and chicken. a great go to when I don't know where to go.

This place is the bomb- diggity in Santa Barbara. Delicious and satiating food. I had the chicken salad and it was great. All of their portions are great and you are left feeling full. I've ordered here a couple times and highly recommend their: -tuna sandwich -karma burger -chicken enchiladas -natural burger They have wonderful vegan options too if you are vegan. If you want to eat healthy and guilt-free , this place is it and it's very easy to do take-out/ pick-up.

We go here regularly. He gets the large Caesar with chicken; I get the Ranch Salad (which, despite what it sounds like, does not have ranch dressing) with lemon herb vinaigrette. And when we are extra hungry, we get a cup of chili with a piece of cornbread (which can come with honey butter, which is great). A solid lunch or dinner choice with healthy choices. Order at the counter, the staff delivers quickly and is attentive to additional needs.

Probably one of my faves in all of Santa Barbara. While there isn't table service (you order at the counter), the finished product of food entree is usually a work of art. I ordered a shredded burrito & beer one afternoon upon leaving SB, and needed something to stay on my bones for a while when driving eastbound into Pasadena. Natural Cafe served up an entree that was a pleasant surprise, with shredded beef that seemed lightly seasoned. Even the salad was pretty good. No complaints about the beer. It took a little time for the burrito to arrive, which was ok. I had eaten one of the cookies sold at the counter as a small appetizer. While an employee indicated that there was Wi-Fi, this really isn't set up for it. I had taken a tablet out to reference something, yet had to use my network. No big deal. I love returning to this venue, and highly recommend it for a good lunch.

I love the Natural Cafe, and am so glad we still have locations in Santa Barbara and Goleta. The food is so fresh and high quality. Portions are large but you never feel heavy or stuffed after, just satisfied. I like their Mexican food options like burritos or quesadillas with the ranchero chicken--the spices and shredded texture are great! I really enjoy their grilled cheese sandwiches on that yummy healthy bread, the tuna mixture they use has an amazing flavor, and their grilled chicken is really nice quality (I've never received a rubbery piece). Their chips and salsa is so good as well and I enjoy having that as a side. I really am rooting for them to stay in business because the food is wholesome and delicious.

Didn't see any reviews on the cream of mushroom, just tried and it is incredible! I come here regularly for a delicious and well-priced bowl of soup or chilli with a side of cornbread. The honey butter alone is enough to come back. Service is usually fast and friendly, and the location provides a welcoming, relaxed atmosphere. Truly appreciate The Natural Cafe for its dedication to fresh ingredients and quality you can taste.

This is the second time Natural Cafe has been out of tofu during lunch. 2-16-24. The first time was at the Goleta store, now the Santa Barbara restaurant.

I have always loved this place but recently have been on a salad kick. I forgot how much food they give you! amazing portion size and TONS of amazing juicy grilled chicken,. and a wonderful salad menu to choose from where you will not leave hungry. The veggies are always super fresh and super tasty .the manager is super nice too.

I did like the food but the chips they gave me was a bit stingy. I tried their wine sprizers and they are pricey at $11 each and everything is overall good but a bit overpriced in my opinion.

Seems to be a nice cafe to grab a quick bite to eat while also being affordable. I would give it another try since the sandwich I got was not good. The Chopped Chicken Pita sandwich was very dry. It was dry chicken with the Pita pocket and a little bit of mustard. It was hard to swallow since it was so dry and the bites almost got stuck in my throat. I would suggest they put some type of sauce to moisten up the sandwich.

We drove up to Santa Barbara 100 miles since my girlfriend was nostalgic about her last experience at natural cafe, as of now they only have one vegan option a vegetable bowl or taco, she opted for the vegetable taco.. it was slow quality it asked like frozen food. She had a stomach ache , she would of rather ate at el Pollo Loco.

Driving from wine country back to LA and ended up stopping in for a quick lunch. The place is definitely built for corporate lunches, plain with no frills. I got the fish tacos, which were fine. Their guacamole is fresh and delicious and the service was very friendly. Wouldn't go out of my way to come back here but if I worked or lived in the area, it would probably be part of the rotation.

Came here for lunch on the way back from some mountain adventuring. The building is older but the inside is really clean, airy, and spacious. Menu has lots of variety, and I had a good selection of vegan options. I chose the Hungry Planet vegan burger and an ice tea. The Mr ordered the same thing. Food came out pretty quickly. I love the hungry planet Patty and I like how natural café serves it on a light wheat bun. The sandwich comes with veganaisse, lettuce, tomato, and a little bit of grilled onions. Honestly the only thing I wish was that maybe there was a little more grilled onion to give it that delicious flavor that only grilled onions can do! But it really was a good burger. It didn't feel like a brick in my tummy afterwards, so that was nice! Also, natural café serves blue chips with salsa on the side instead of french fries. I don't love the chips but do appreciate that they're offering healthier sides than most places. Bill was about $35 total, fairly priced for this quality of food. Oh! And I wish they had vegan desserts! I'd probably bump my rating up to 5 if I had some yummy dessert options. They have desserts, just not vegan. Would definitely eat here again when in the area.

Five star meals! Can't complain about a single one! My mother and I come frequently now. Big portions great prices and it's never super packed. Mushroom soup was delicious as well! Just forgot to take a photo of it. It also comes with a slice of bread. Such a deal! Will definitely be returning. :)

Had not been here in a while but since hearing that the downtown location got shut down because of rats we decided to try the one uptown. 4 dishes tasted strongly of vinegar. Corn bread was cheese bread and fish tacos bland and dry. Turkey burger dried out. Grilled cheese was cold and crust was not cut off. Salsa was old decomp flavor. Poor quality control. Cute seating and lots of nice plants inside.

Been coming to the Natural Cafe once a week recently before an evening meeting. I like the spacious dining area and the healthy food options. The wild salmon special last week was delicious. This past week I ordered a grilled veggie bowl. Description on the menu Fresh vegetables grilled with balsamic marinade served over brown rice. Topped with grilled corn, hummus, feta cheese and smoked chili and lime pepitas. Garnished with fresh parsley. The vegetables were plain, no balsamic. No grilled corn, pepitas or parsley. When I asked the waitress she said "oh, I guess we ran out of corn." $13.49 and missing three components, and no real apology. A bit disappointing...

Disappointing experience. 12:47 P.M. 8/1/2022 We are into Natural Cafe twice a week, and generally the Goleta location, which is certainly the better of the two. We spoke with Madeline about our concerns. We were served two pesto pasta dishes. Both had almost no sauce which left us tasting bland noodles. The salad covered half of the plate, which generally we are served in a separate dish in the Goleta location. All of this could have been avoided if the Manager, Madeline, would apologize for our experience. Instead, I felt ignored. Madeline was dismissive about our experience.

Great, guilt-free food in a peaceful setting. Natural Cafe has been one of my favorite lunch spots for quite some time. Their food is a healthier alternative to your standard takeout lunch, and the menu is full of exciting choices. I love their Gobbler Burger along with just about any of their soups, and the smoothies are delicious as well. Just about anything on their menu will be sure to please. This restaurant is in a huge building with multiple outdoor seating areas. It appears to have been built in the 1970s and offers a very contemporary feel. It's open and spacious yet quiet and peaceful. Any seat in the house is a good one. I also am a fan of the pseudo self-serve style of Natural Cafe. Go up and order, take a number, and help yourself to water with lemon and ice as you find the perfect table. All in all, a great local eatery with an menu and atmosphere equally as divine.

Food was good but the service was terribly disappointing. We were told the manager would NOT come to our table and that "this is not a restaurant". If you're looking for a restaurant please go elsewhere. Sad because I've been a customer since they opened on lower state street 30 years ago Update: Management/owners have reached out to us since this posted. They listened to our concerns and demonstrated a sincere desire to resolve the issues while letting us know that the behaviors we encountered are not acceptable to them. This seems much more in keeping with the restaurant we all have known and loved. Thank you.

Usually really good at the Natural. In this case, a picture is worth a thousand words. This was "The Albacore ". In this case, the albacore was a condiment. If it were "The Lettuce", I would have been giving a 5 star review.

The Natural Cafe is an excellent choice for the health-conscious foodie. They have taken on the noble and difficult task of providing healthy food without sacrificing taste. Though mostly a vegetarian place, they also have chicken, fish, or turkey for the omnivores in your life. The ordering process is super easy. They take your order at the counter. Then, you pick your own table and wait for them to bring you your food as you grab your own utensils, condiments, and water. You also bus your own table. There's plenty of seating in their large dining area and patio, so no worries there. We tried out the Zen burger and roasted turkey sandwich. Both of which were pretty decent sandwiches. They were filling and "tasted" healthy and clean. I was surprised the Zen burger, with its vegetarian patty, wasn't dry at all and I would 100% order it again. I also greatly enjoyed the blue corn chips and mildly spicy salsa that came with our meal. Excellent and friendly service to boot!

I recently had a very bad experience at The Natural Cafe and feel that it is worth sharing here. I ordered the appetizer chili for lunch and about halfway through my bowl, bit down on something incredibly hard.... it was a rock. I immediately took the rock to the counter to let the restaurant know so that they could throw out the remainder of the vat of chili. I was treated so disrespectful by the staff, I felt like they were implying that I put the rock in my chili to get a free $8 appetizer (I did not). They rudely asked that I hand over the rock (sure - it's covid and had just been in my mouth but I gave it to them) so they could show the manager, a manager who never came out to apologize or help with the situation. I let it go at the time but the more I think about it, it was a terrible experience. I've been having some pain in my mouth and am very nervous that the rock chipped my tooth. We are a local family and eat at Natural Cafe a few times a month but will not be going back after that terrible experience.

I come for the grilled chicken on a natural salad. Very good. One of the few restaurants in sant Barbara that I know uses healthy whole ingredients.

Love love love I can't wait to be back to natural cafe. Stopped here on my way back from socal and it's conveniently located right off the freeway, behind the auto malls. Kind of a weird location for a restaurant but there is lots of parking and a ton of space for seating. The patio is very cute and lit up with lights. Head to the register first to place the order and then choose a table or have your food to-go! Many healthy options here, and it's clear that they cater to a wide variety of dietary needs. I tried the turkey sandwich, fresh baked cookies, and tried a kombucha. I wanted to try so much more but I was in the middle of a road trip! Luckily for me, I often find myself in the central coast. I can't wait to be back and enjoy my time here once again. Honorable mentions: amazing service, cheap prices for healthy food!! +gender neutral restrooms

We stopped here on the way through town and I had picked it thinking it would be a healthy spot to accommodate our allergy family. Unfortunately the menu is not allergen labeled, so the only thing I felt safe ordering was the soup of the day, which was labeled. My kids ordered the kiddie pasta, which I was hoping would include some veggies, but it was just plain noodles and cheese. My husband's portabella sandwich was was good.

Great for a quick healthy meal, the grilled veggie and local favorite sandwiches are delicious! Convenient locations and staff are always friendly. State street location is great for people watching!

fast, tasty, reasonably priced... seriously can't get any better! This food hits the spot! the portions are great, definitely get what you pay for, AND the food is so so tasty and good for ya! we couldn't have asked for more! we recommend the mexican inspired food! burritos, enchiladas, and tacos are all so fresh and good! but also can't go wrong with any of the vegetarian stir fry or sand which options!

Great ceasar salad. Their homemade dressing is refreshing for a ceasar. Highly recommend

This is one of my all time favorite healthy restaurants in SB! I've been coming for years since they only had 1 location in old town Goleta. Glad to see they have grown! Love their soups and salads! I've had a couple of their other meals but they may be a little too healthy for me and I'd rather opt for the real thing if I'm going to have a burger or a taco. My all time favorite salad is the Ranch Salad with ranch dressing and chicken. The arugula is also one of my favorites. And their soups are always the best in town served with a triangle of freshly baked honey oat bread. Since I'm on a health kick to loose some of my Covid weight, I'll be having a lot of salads from here for lunch and dinner when eating out; they are filling and taste great. My only wish is that they would offer a new salad of the day special for regulars that have been coming here for years (like me) and want something a little different. I would come more often if there was a little more variety for people like me that only come for the soups and salads. Also, they used to serve some great vegetable juices (beet and carrot). Wish they brought them back. Overall, great restaurant!

I'm definitely not one to seek out the healthiest of options but the natural cafe is always on my list when I'm in Santa Barbara. Believe it or not their grilled cheese is the best I've ever had and their cheese quesadilla is amazing with their blue corn chips and fresh salsas and guacamole. They have a huge assortment of smoothies as well and a fun little gift shop next door for people into stones and all that jazz.

Great Vegetarian Options Visiting from out of town decided to go with the Natural Cafe because great reviews on Yelp. The other option would have been the Buddha Bowl. Food was delicious and shakes were yummy. Service was not the best and due to service could feel like a fast food restaurant.

I like this place. It's consistent and pretty healthy. Kind of like healthy fast food. And what could be better?!! I mean some things could maybe be more exciting and if that's what you're into, there are other options, but let's give thanks and appreciation where it's due. They're open at convenient hours and and the staff always seems happy enough to be serving you and it's a clean well lit place. The food is pretty darn good. And they have smoothies! What else do you want? Four and a half stars

My wife and I absolutely love the Natural cafe! You can always count on there high quality, great tasting, healthy food... at a reasonable price. Tonight 10/3/2021 (The natural café at the Hitchcock location), I would like to thank the entire crew that was working this evening. I know that they had a very difficult time. I was in line and this woman was being the ultimate "Karen!" She was giving the staff an extremely hard time. Demanding things calling the staff weird for items that were on the menu!!!??. She was completely put out that she had to serve her self water! It was embarrassing to watch an old lady throw a tantrum!! (I thought at any moment her facelift was going to come undone she was so mad) It was completely uncalled for & absolutely unfair, not to mention, horrible to watch. I would like to acknowledge that the entire staff kept there cool facing this ancient dragon lady!! I just want to salute everyone that was working and I hope the manager gets this message & acknowledges that they have a wonderful staff. Thanks guys! You should be proud of yourselves!!!!

The Natural Cafe has healthy, tasty, large portions with both pleasant outdoor and indoor seating areas. I had the Veggie Stir Fry with added tofu. It had a good variety of perfectly cooked veggies over brown rice with a tasty ginger-soy sauce (order light & get extra sauce on side) that complements the dish well without over powering it. The added tofu is firm and was a good addition. Hubby had the ono bowl and it was really good as well. Order at counter and they bring food to you. Gets busy at noon.

The Natural Cafe has been around a long time and does a great job supporting the community. They use high quality, healthy ingredients and usually end up with a pretty good product. It's not really my style, as I prefer real ranch and more cheese on my burritos, but it's a great fit for folks looking to eat clean and healthy. This location in particular has great seating space in the front and back, and is tucked away nicely from the hustle and bustle. We went there Sunday night and had the flatbread, which was pretty good. In true Natural Cafe fashion they had hired local teens to run the place, which would be a lot cooler if they were better trained. Still a nice place to sit down for a meal.

Delicious! Very fresh. Good, prompt service. Always feels good when you eat a healthy meal made from Nature's gifts without processing it too much.

The closure of the SLO Natural Cafe location left a gaping void in my dining out repertoire. We stop in at this Natural Cafe location once a month on the way back from LA. The food is as delicious as I remember! Their sautéed tofu is still my go-to. Hubby swears by their Zen burger. Natural Cafe is as good as it gets!

The chicken Caesar salad is good, half salad and it was still a good portion. Parking gets busy, clean inside, nice and chill establishment. We celebrated birthdays there

This rating is based on suitability for plant-based consumers. There are several plant-based options, they will gladly omit cheese or sour cream upon request. Vegan chili is good, so are the veggie tacos, burritos and enchilada. It's not great food but pretty darn good for Santa Barbara. Order at counter, food brought to your table. Plenty of seating and parking.

Ordered several meals today. All was good except my son really didn't like the nachos (he usually loves nachos) I told the lady at the front and she refused to replace or compensate in any way. She didn't offer and when I asked she said no. Very bad customer service

Our last dinner in Santa Barbara looked for a vegetarian restaurant for Mary found this place on yelp got allot of good reviews. It was a very busy joint with counter service. Mary got the vegan stuffed baked potato which she said was allot of food and was quite satisfying I got the wild Alaskan salmon with brown rice it was quite tasty they said fish was the first of the season . Salmon is my favorite fish it was a good size portion that tasted quite good. Place was very busy with allot of satisfied customers. Parking was a little tough but I have rear view camera which came in handy. If you are crowded in Santa Barbara on Friday night you got to be good. This place has many GMO free and organic options and everything is cooked to order. Worth checking out would give 4 stars but no waiters,