Santa Barbara Shellfish Company

Walk up and right your name on the clipboard. It goes much faster than you think. We went on a Sunday for lunch and there were 13 parties in front of us (if I counted correctly, might have been 14). It took about 20mins for our name to be called. Food was good and atmosphere was what you would expect. Nothing was “extraordinary” where I would rate it high to come again. It was priced pretty high but it’s California after all and we are ordering fresh seafood items, so it’s kinda justified. Also parking is free for the first 90mins on the pier. You can also find street parking as well that is 90mins free.

We got the clam chowder, 1.5 pound maine lobster, ceasar salad, lobster roll with uni and onion rings. Everything was delicious, the onion rings were the crispyest I ever had and the ranch goes perfectly with them. Our server was very friendly and hard working (didn't get his name).

This place is the real deal. If you want fresh, locally-sourced Santa Barbara seafood in an idyllic setting, this is the spot! Incredible and friendly service. Beautiful ocean views from the patio. And absolutely delicious seafood! Shout out to our server Dominic for the hospitality, he was so kind and gracious and really made our experience. Everything was insanely delicious. Cannot recommend enough

This place is located at the very end of the Santa Barbara Pier, and honestly, the atmosphere is amazing. When you sit on the patio, it truly feels like you’re in the middle of the ocean. There are fewer people around, the ocean breeze is everywhere, the air is cool and refreshing — it’s a very unique and beautiful experience. Atmosphere-wise, it’s a 10/10. But the food… I honestly don’t understand what happened. Usually, at restaurants like this — especially when you’re surrounded by seafood on all sides — you expect the dishes to taste incredibly fresh. That’s the whole point of going to a place literally located on a pier. We ordered the clam chowder, a seafood bread bowl, a fried calamari sandwich with onion rings, and drinks. The clam chowder was actually really good. Creamy, flavorful, comforting — we were excited and thought the rest of the food would be just as great. And honestly, maybe it was a mistake that they brought the chowder first because it set our expectations high… and everything that came after was a complete disappointment. The seafood bread bowl was basically a bowl of bread filled with sauce — a strong tomato sauce that completely overpowered everything inside. I could taste the bread. I could taste the sauce. But the seafood? Nothing. I could see the mussels, the scallops, the crab pieces, the clams — but they had zero flavor. Absolutely none. It felt like eating bread soaked in tomato sauce, with seafood that tasted like nothing at all. The calamari sandwich was the same story. The fried coating was nice, the bread tasted like bread, but the calamari itself had no flavor whatsoever. Chewy like resin, absolutely no seafood taste. The onion rings were okay, but that didn’t save the dish. It was so strange and honestly disappointing. We came there wanting to enjoy fresh, flavorful seafood — especially in a place located on the ocean — but we couldn’t find any actual seafood flavor in the dishes except for the clam chowder. I wish the experience were different. I wish the clam chowder came last so we could leave with at least one good impression. But unfortunately, everything after it was bland, sauce-heavy, and missing the fresh taste you expect from a seafood restaurant on a pier. Atmosphere? Wonderful. Food (except the chowder)? Unfortunately, a big disappointment.

This place hits the spot. Fresh seafood, ocean breeze, and zero nonsense. You’re basically eating right on the water, which already makes it worth the trip. Prices are fair for Santa Barbara’s waterfront, and the 30-minute wait is nothing for food this solid. If you’re passing through SB, this is an easy yes.

I love this place. I’ve been twice now. And I’m sure if I’m ever in Santa Barbara again so passing by, I’m stopping here again. Expect a wait if you’re going a peak times, they get busy! Food - their clam chowder is so good. Lots clams, lots of flavor. I always ask for extra crackers and they’re also to gracious and kind with giving them. Last time I went I had a cup there and ordered a bowl to go to enjoy at home later on. Lobster roll is my favorite here. Probably the best I’ve had on the west coast. I prefer a squeeze of lemon on mine for an extra fresh kick but it’s still good on its own. Buttery roll. Capers. Chives. Not too creamy. It’s great! Cole slaw is really good, I love that they add pineapple to theirs. And I’ll never say no to onion rings. All their other dishes are good too. Go with some friends so you can order and try different things! (the place isn’t really suitable for large parties though) Service - soooo nice! Legit everyone (both times I’ve been) is nice. Great service. Fast service. Sitting at the bar top is fun because you get to see the cooks do their thing. We watched one guy have 4 pans of pastas going and it was awesome to watch the action. Parking - there’s street parking and garages before the pier. But we just go onto the pier and pay for that parking. Driving on the wooden planks is a bit trippy but it’s closer and easy. Both times, didn’t have an issue finding parking on the pier though.

Our friends highly recommended Shellfish Santa Barbara Company, and it definitely lived up to the hype! This place has some amazing seafood, including special treats like uni and box crab. We had a wonderful experience, enjoying delicious food with a fantastic backdrop of the boats, the beautiful Santa Barbara beach, and the mountains. Our server was also great, adding to the overall enjoyment. It's a must-visit if you're a seafood lover!

Take my Wife to visit Santa Barbara pier and we ate lunch @ Shellfish zc Company. They seated us outside pretty quickly for 2. It has a gorgeous view of the water. Recommend to bring a jacket. It is a little breezy. We order some local seafood bread bowl. It was perfect for 2. It has a little bit of everything from muscle, shrimp, scallop, crab, and claims. The sauce was perfect with the seafood and the bread. As for beer, we ordered the Santa Barbara Blonde. We both enjoy the atmosphere and the food came out pretty quickly. Definitely will be back. Here are some pictures. You can drive onto the pier. Free parking for the first 90 minutes.

Came here for an early dinner and there wasn't a wait at all. We were given the option of indoor and outdoor seating and chose outdoors overlooking the ocean even though it was a bit chilly. Had a good experience dining here. I ordered the clam chowder bread bowl and my wife got the Uni Special. Both dishes were really delicious! The clam chowder was really tasty and the bread was soft. It was my first time having uni so I wasn't sure what to expect, but it was great. All of the food here was really fresh, I did find that we ran out of actual chowder pretty quickly though. The ratio of the dish was probably 30% chowder and 70% bread, which was a bit disappointing. Service was solid and you can't beat the location overlooking the pier toward the beach. A must try when you're in Santa Barbara!

Santa Barbara Shellfish Company We came to try sea urchins, but unfortunately, they didn't have any -- even though the waiter pointed out that three main dishes featuring uni were listed on their special menu! We ordered oysters, crab cakes, and a Caesar salad with scallops, along with champagne. The food was terrible! The oysters were carelessly opened and full of shell fragments, the crab cake was overcooked and dry, and the salad was drenched in vinegar -- the acidity completely ruined the flavor. The scallops were burnt! They don't even have proper wine or champagne glasses -- they serve drinks in regular water cups! Six oysters, one crab cake, a salad, and a glass of Prosecco came to $120 -- totally overpriced for such awful food and cheap tableware. The service was also very slow because the servers spent more time chatting with guests than actually working. I would not recommend this place to anyone

SERVICE: Awesome, no complaints. Read the reviews and prepared for long lines but we arrived at a good time - right as they open. Outdoor seating is always a fight, but we wanted inside which does not require you to sign in for seating. Well, not at that time of the day. Servers were helpful, professional and kind. FOOD: Fresh! And I always enjoy when it's prepared in front of you. Well, sometimes :) The onion rings could use a bit more flavor. A hair bland for me, but enjoyed how fresh they were. Everything was fresh and you can taste it. I forget why I dropped my star down for the crab cakes. Either they were a bit salty or something else - sorry. In addition when there's a lot of hype my expectations sore high. Oh, and the slaw had raisins which I don't usually do but it was a nice touch. WELL: I shall return!

I always find my way back to this restaurant and with different loved ones each time. Great place for seafood lovers. I always get the abalone and rice dish. The abalone is tender, the rice is citrusy, and i find the meal so comforting. My husband is a fan of their uni, scallop, clam chowder, and fried seafood. All are cooked to perfection. Nothing has ever been overcooked. There can be a wait during weekends, but once seated, the service is quick and efficient. The views overlooking the pier and sunsets are beautiful. But I like to get a seat inside because there's a shorter wait.

Very cute restaurant! They have a small menu but perfect for a casual lunch or dinner. The service we received was very friendly and patient with all of our questions. We all ordered shrimp tacos and lobster bisque, which was delicious with plenty of lobster chunks. We also shared their humongous onion rings and the best ever coconut shrimp. Everything was cooked on point.

Great service and very tasty food... We sat outside on the pier...beautiful at sunset. We had the clam chowder, steamed black mussels, crab cakes and the linguine & clams.... Great tasting and very good portions.

Great place for fresh seafood cooked any way you would like but they do a great job their way! Sitting outside over the water what a sight!! Service is great!

absolutely the best uni i've had in my life! and the steamed clams were great too. better lobster rolls than broad street. the restaurant is much smaller than i had anticipated with counter seats indoors and limited tables outdoors. wished the outdoor seating had more umbrellas for shade. we were definitely baking in the direct sun. they maintain a paper wait list but skipped over our party without calling us so we had to be placed back on. auto gratuity for parties of 5+. came out to be a steep lunch but worth the food quality. service quality could use some help, maybe it's the costal influence of the laid back slowww. parking at the pier was comp which was a steal!

My bf and I lunched here last week during the Santa Barbara 100 cycling tour, and we had such a nice experience. I think we got lucky because when we walked to the wharf and to the restaurant, there were all kinds of lines outside. Lines for people waiting on their take outs and lines of people waiting to be seated. The wait list (you write your name on the board), had about 3 pages of half crossed out names. I think we were lucky because we were only a party of 2, but I swear to you, prob not even after 10 mins that I put my name down and was looking on Yelp again for an alternative option, that the lady went down the list so fast, looking for a present party of 2, that she called my name. We got a table outside and it was perfect!! Their seafood was so good! I'm not a fan of crabs, and esp not of the work involved in eating crabs so the most I would order is the crab Louie salad but all the blue crabs are sold out and not available so we opted for scallop ceviche, shrimp cocktail and shrimp Louie. Since I'm a fan of big shrimp, both the ceviche and louie salad were delicious! The shrimp were huge and cooked just right! You can taste how fresh those shrimp were! The scallop ceviche was good too. But I wish it was a bit more. It came out looking super full but it was a lot of cabbage at the bottom half. Their shrimp cocktail also had a lot of cabbage at the bottom half of the cup, and the cocktail sauce came mostly from a separate cup and not inside the glass cup as most places. Our waiter was super nice and attentive and we could not ask for a more better experience! I def would recommend this place and I hope you get the same luck as we did on a crazy crowded Saturday!

I've been wanting to try this place out for a while, so I decided to stop by with my wife. We ordered the spiny lobster and one oyster, it came with uni and caviar. Overall it was a great experience. Food had great flavor, service was on point and the view was nice. If you're a fan of seafood this place is a must!

WOW! We stopped in Santa Barbara on a cruise stop and we walked to this amazing restaurant for lunch. As soon as I walked in and saw the giant tanks of fresh fish I knew we were in for a treat. From fresh Uni to amazing fish and chips we tried it all. The service is just as good as the food and the location is perfect for sharing a meal in the perfect weather. Go get some of this goodness!

Located right on Stearns Wharf, this spot delivers the full Santa Barbara seafood experience. I'm a big fan of seafood but never quite know what to order, so I took my time soaking in the atmosphere. There's indoor seating, but I'd recommend sitting outside -- with the September sun, ocean breeze, sailboats, kayaks, birds, and even a dog paddleboarding with gymnast-level balance, it all adds to the mystique. What convinced me to try this place was seeing a large group of Asian diners already settled in -- and as someone who trusts that Asians know their seafood, I figured this was the right call. The setting itself is worth the stop: ocean and mountain views that could easily steal the show. I was tempted by the lobster roll (it looked like a Maine/Connecticut hybrid), but since I'm not a fan of cold seafood, I asked the guy at the counter whether I should go with the lobster tacos or the lobster pasta. He recommended the pasta -- and it turned out to be one of the best meals I had not only on this trip, but anywhere. The linguine was tossed in a creamy, buttery sauce, brightened with lime and onion for a citrusy, slightly acidic pop. Generous chunks of lobster throughout, and the sourdough bread was the perfect vessel for mopping up every last bit of sauce. My dad, who's vegetarian, ordered the onion rings -- large, crisp, and golden, with a tangy horseradish dipping sauce. Classic pier food, done right. Around us, other diners were digging into bread bowls, coconut shrimp, clams, oysters, and even uni (sea urchin) -- so there's plenty to explore if you come with a group and want to share. Seafood isn't cheap anywhere, and while locals might consider it pricey, I thought the value here was reasonable given the quality and the unbeatable location. I had a wedding to attend later that evening, otherwise I would have sampled more of the fried seafood bites. Do not miss the lobster pasta! I was literally dreaming about it on the flight back home.

The Santa Barbara Shellfish Co is a pretty small place on the Stearn's Wharf with great views! We stopped in once we saw they had a special on uni and it was so fresh (they were preparing it there in-house). There is a no frills place and there is very limited outdoor seating. If you'd like to sit outside, you put your name on a list that is hung outside on a clipboard and then wait to be called. We ordered two beers and the uni which came out still moving (literally) which shows how fresh it was. The uni was served as a lime slice, a scallop with the uni on top and it tasted great. The staff was very friendly and happy to answer questions although sometimes they didn't fully know and seemed to make assumptions. We had to fact check some of what was said as it was a bit wild (ex. scuba divers going 800ft down to get the sea urchins) but regardless it made it fun to learn on our own about the process. All in all, this was a reasonably priced stop with incredibly fresh seafood. A fun little stop if you have time!

This place is always packed.....at least on the weekends/holidays. We've had take out from here before, but I've always wanted to sit down and just enjoy my food fresh. Today we got that opportunity because we came as they opened on a weekday/non-holiday. Negatives: -Price, the food is pricey though expected as you're eating with a great view, the ocean breeze in your hair, and extra fresh live seafood. That aside, we did really enjoy our food and I would do it again. I put this here so others would be aware who are more price sensitive. Positives: -food, we got lobster pasta and a cup of clam chowder. The pasta was great, perfectly seasoned and had plenty of lobster. The clam chowder was very good too, it had plenty of clam chunks and also perfectly seasoned with just the right amount of creamy. -service, friendly and very attentive. Our server checked on us often and he made sure we got everything we needed. -ambiance, eating at the pier with an ocean view. What more can I say? Overall 5/5 I'm glad we finally got a chance to sit down and eat here. The hype is justified

Santa Barbara Shellfish Company is a restaurant on Stearns Wharf. They have a sit down restaurant service and a walk up order window. I ordered from the window. I ordered the lobster roll. It was not great. The lobster roll was made of Maine lobster. But this lobster meat was tasteless, and chewy. It should have been sweet, and tender soft to the chew. The lobster chunks were barely seasoned and dressed. Very bland and tasteless. Possibly it was an anomaly, someone may have forgot to properly prepared the lobster. Also instead of a hoagie roll, it looked like a slice of bread folded over and pressed grilled. It was $37.95 for this, adding insult to injury. The side of cole slaw and two pieces of onion rings couldn't save this. The slaw was also tasteless; wet mayo tossed shreds of cabbage. Hmm. This doesn't jive with the other reviewers food experiences. I sat on the picnic tables close to the take out window along the pier railings. The tables were public for everyone to use. Even the birds used them. They flew onto the table and walked under the table, all the while pestering for food. Good grief. But at least the views were gorgeous.

I love this place. I've been twice now. And I'm sure if I'm ever in Santa Barbara again so passing by, I'm stopping here again. Expect a wait if you're going a peak times, they get busy! Food - their clam chowder is so good. Lots clams, lots of flavor. I always ask for extra crackers and they're also to gracious and kind with giving them. Last time I went I had a cup there and ordered a bowl to go to enjoy at home later on. Lobster roll is my favorite here. Probably the best I've had on the west coast. I prefer a squeeze of lemon on mine for an extra fresh kick but it's still good on its own. Buttery roll. Capers. Chives. Not too creamy. It's great! Cole slaw is really good, I love that they add pineapple to theirs. And I'll never say no to onion rings. All their other dishes are good too. Go with some friends so you can order and try different things! (the place isn't really suitable for large parties though) Service - soooo nice! Legit everyone (both times I've been) is nice. Great service. Fast service. Sitting at the bar top is fun because you get to see the cooks do their thing. We watched one guy have 4 pans of pastas going and it was awesome to watch the action. Parking - there's street parking and garages before the pier. But we just go onto the pier and pay for that parking. Driving on the wooden planks is a bit trippy but it's closer and easy. Both times, didn't have an issue finding parking on the pier though.

One of my favorite places to eat in Santa Barbara!! I've came quite a few times now and it's consistently delicious and fresh. We get the lobster rolls, clam chowder and oysters and plan to venture out of of usual soon! But it's amazing and I definitely recommend it!

Came here yesterday and it was amazing! The wait was pretty long but that is a given for restaurants in piers. Once we got seated, service was really quick and our waiter was really nice. We got a lobster roll and clam chowder bread bowl. Both were absolutely soooo delicious and was perfect for lunch! I loved the bread for the lobster roll as well it was so yummy! Overall would come back again:)

This is the place I will go back again and again for my uni fix! Their fresh uni has great presentation on raw scallop for $36! It's a great deal! The uni shooter has ponzu and raw quail egg which is tasty! We tried the fried combo appetizer that has calamari, onion rings and oysters! It's also a great deal for $23.

Beautiful family lunch! At the end of the pier. We waited for a heated outside booth o relooking the ocean. Could have ordered to go and sat on other outside umbrella tables too. Ordered rick crab cane with some onion rings. Ordered side stack of rings! Bread Biek with the tastiest red cream clam chowder! The cheeeeese pull! had some raw oysters and washed down with Arnold Oalmer and rootbeer soda. Great service tgey even opened up ted umbrellas when the sun came out. Very fresh will highly reco this place.

Best lobster roll ever but soooo expensive!! We stopped here for lunch with a party of 9 on a Saturday. 1 hour wait (and it was raining lol), and when we were seated at the bar 2 of the previous party was still eating so we had to stand. It was weird. My boyfriend and I ordered 1 beer, a lobster roll, their uni special and split half a dozen oysters. We spent $130... which is way pricey in my opinion. The lobster was really good though, best I've had! Uni was whatever and so were the oysters. Service was good, they brought out a live crab for us to pet LOL. Bathrooms were clean. Would recommend you visit just once for the experience

Happened upon this spot while walking Stearn's Wharf a few weeks ago. Take-out was easy, order through an exterior window, wait about 5 minutes and you're off. The Lobster Roll - 4 1/2 stars. I had asked if they could remove the capers from the lobster roll but was informed it was premade and could not be removed. This roll was served cold on a delicious brioche like bread and definitely hit the spot. It was served with 2 warm onion rings for garnish, they were delicious -- I would have ordered a full order if I knew how good they were. This came with a side of Cole slaw that was on the creamier side and quite good, a solid 4 1/2 stars for that as well. Interior seemed very casual and cozy, would definitely dine here if back in this part of Santa Barbara. This spot has such a charm to it!

Came here through a recommendation from a friend. The wait was pretty long, but once you sat down and ordered, the food came out pretty quick. The service was very good. They provided great recommendations and were friendly. We sat outside and the dining experience was awesome. Prices were really reasonable for the quality of food. Highly recommend this place.

Casual, no-fuss spot on the pier with fantastic seafood options. The live uni was buttery, not fishy, and served on a scallop and lime. The crab was one of the best I've had, it didn't really need seasoning because the pure flavor was perfect as-is. The shrimp and scallops pasta was very simple and flavor was good, but wouldn't be something I'd get again. We waited around half an hour, and our server was very quick and friendly. They have overhead heaters if you sit outside but there are indoor seating options as well. Parking is easy on the pier's parking lot, I believe it's free for 90 minutes. If I come back to visit the area, I would definitely come back just for the crab and uni!

Was a fun experience dining here-- it is all the way at the end of the Pier. We got the: Oyster - very fresh, they didn't tell me what region the oyster was from though if that matters to you. Was good with the sauce and lemons though. Clam Chowder Bowl: Very thick but had a lack of potatoes and clams within. Calamari, Oysters and Onion Rings: Loved this dish, the calamari sauce in particular. The batter was very flaky however and fell off when dipped in the tartar sauce. Clam Linguini: Very very salty and buttery. I felt it was too buttery at many times. I needed to keep drinking water while eating this as it was really good but salty, and there were no refills offered. Moderate on the Parmesan is my rec as it makes it so much fattier. Staff seemed nice but very tired. A lot of canaries in the background making it a bit so intimate setting. The view in the wharf was nice while eating. Overall, $128 after TT and it was a filling meal. Would come back as it was very delicious.

Still our all-time favorite and must eat everytime we are in SB!!! Excellent service and the best seafood all around. Love seating outside by the bay enjoying the seabreeze and sunshine. Can't beat the vibe. Years later and they are still a big hit! A job well done. Thank you for the consistency in a well run business! Love this place.

I came up to Santa Barbara with my wife for a weekend getaway and to do some fishing and our first night here we decided we really wanted seafood and the Santa Barbara to fish company was the ticket for one reason...uni. I absolutely love uni and often judge sushi places by how fresh theirs tastes. After having it here it will be hard to top. They have a tank of sea urchin so it is always fresh and it was to die for. They were it over a raw scallop which sat atop a lime wedge with their own ponzu on the side. We also sampled their garlic Parmesan baked clams which were super tasty, we also sampled their coconut shrimp which was really good. For the main course I had the rock crab which was steamed and served with onion rings, cocktail sauce and drawn butter, the crab was super fresh and delicious as they had them live as well. My wife had the shrimp scampi which was really good but a little heavy on the wine. The service was excellent and the only downside is the best seating is outside and it was pretty windy. Overall I would definitely come back just for the uni alone. As far as ambiance it is I'm at the end of the wharf in Santa Barbara and very much a seafood shack vibe with open air seating.

Great casual fresh seafood joint on the pier. Beautiful views. Great service. A bit pricey but it's fresh seafood! What do you expect? The Latino Staff works super hard & fast the kitchen. Great service

Hands down the best tasting lobster roll! Came here on the way home from a visit to Santa Barbara. We were lucky to bear the rush and got a really good seat outside. They have outdoor heaters for chilly days. Parking - highly suggest parking on the pier by driving in unless you want to take a 20 minute stroll from the beach parking. The clam chowder was delicious, pretty hearty and full of goodness. The uni was fresh and melt in your mouth tasty and went well with the cucumber slices. The pasta was okay. And the star of the meal was the lobster roll - buttery French roll filled with seasoned real lobster salad, yum.

Uni special lots of delicious uni and nice ponzu for dipping the scallops , mussels and broth top notch , garlic bread excellent and so so good for dipping in broth , lobster bisque killer and with tons of huge chunks of lobster amazing place . Santa Barbara seafood lover must

This place is really freaking expensive like EXPENSIVE that being said they give you so much meat in your food. They are not skimping out on anything, you are paying for what you're eating. Also the clam chowder is divine. Unlike 99.9% of restaurants that use canned clam this place uses fresh clam (I presume) in their soup because MAN YOU CAN TASTE THE QUALITY. Get the lobster roll and the clam chowder if you're not really a seafood person the other ingredients in the plate hide the fishiness. You need to love seafood and lobster to eat the pasta. Overall, 10/10 no questions

Update for today. They had my steamed clams in white wine sauce! Tasted just like my memory of them from so many years ago. Server was super kind. Fantastic time! Outside was lovely and ambient and temperate. Definitely come when you can sit outside and around 2pm-4pm range. Booths fit plus sized people and worked even with my cane and bad leg.

This has to be the best seafood experience I've ever had. Came up to Santa Barbara for our anniversary and this meal was the capstone of the trip. You can't beat the setting considering you're overlooking the beach eating the freshest seafood imaginable. Out of everything we ate, the lobster bisque was the hidden gem, absolutely luxurious. Service was fast and friendly as well, was able to get in and out in about an hour. Already planning our next trip up here just for this.

Amazing seafood restaurant at the end of the pier with plenty of parking. We arrived around 7 on Sunday with a short wait. There's a sign up sheet by the front and they'll call for you, so make sure you're waiting nearby. They offer counter seating, indoor seating, and outdoor deck seating. For the two of us, we ordered the Clam Linguini, Cioppino, uni special, and a side of onion rings. Still thinking of the clam linguini as I'm writing the review - absolutely a must order! The dish was so creamy we used the bread from the cioppino to soak up the remaining sauce. The Uni special contained 6 pieces of uni served with raw scallop and lime wheel. A must get!!

Food is very decent but pricey however the servers are pretty great welcome and they deserve the good tip. I didn't get the table inside the restaurant because we wanted to spend time at the outside environment near the live band musical. It was a great experience. I brought my homemade sauces so we could enjoy our styles. Kids had so much on the pier, it was great day and great weather that we could not ask for more. I got some sea urchins from the next door sea food market.

We drove to SB for the weekend and while waiting to check-in we went to the marina. We came across this restaurant. They have lots of live rock crabs and sea urchins as their featured special menu. So we put our names on the waiting list coz the place is small but lots of seating outside with heaters( it was a chilly day). We ordered both their listed special with mixed fried seafood platter and a clam chowder in the bread. It was pricey but it's worth it. They prepared the food well. So if you are in the area you should try them.

really fresh seafood. the lobster roll was great, it came with onion rings and coleslaw. there was a special with scallops and uni that was good too. there's 90 min free parking by the pier

On my last visit to Stearn's Wharf, we had eaten at a different restaurant, then we walked down the wharf. This place was buzzing and I promised myself that I would be back! This time, we got here about 30 minutes before they opened and there was already a line. We jumped in quick and got to talk to some regulars. They said, get the clam chowder and the shellfish. The restaurant is bigger than you expect as there is patio/pier seating on the other side of the building and indoor bar seating. We ended up sitting at the open kitchen bar seats. This was so fun as we were in the middle of the action! Plus, we got to see all the tanks of live seafood (lobsters, dungeness crabs - my fave, uni - other fave, and abalone). Clam Chowder Bread Bowl - the clam chowder was pretty good, but was light on the clam flavor. The bread was not great. Maybe I'm spoiled from Disneyland's Clam Chowder (way better) in Boudin's Sourdough Bread Bowl (soo yum!). Scallop Ceviche with Uni - we were super disappointed with this. It was very mediocre ceviche with way too much onions. Dungeness Crab Cocktail - how can you say no to dungeness crab (my fave) that has been shelled for you? This was really good! The crab was super fresh. Scallops with Uni - oh my favorite! Love raw scallops and uni. Can't miss out on this! The lime gives a great freshness. Definitely get this. Now, don't forget where is restaurant is located, at the end of Stearn's Wharf, where you get the beautiful beach views! Service was good. Recommended!

Probably the most popular restaurant in this area since it looks like to be the only place with long wait list for a table for a Friday noon lunchtime. Uni on scallop is pretty good, they are very fresh and they'd better be, it's $36.95 for 6 pcs. Chowder is not bad, lots of chunky pieces of clams inside. Do not order the combo of fried platter though, I didn't enjoy any of it except for the onion rings which were crispy and lightly breaded. Parking for the first 90 mins is free then it's $4/hr. There's indoor and outdoor seatings, the outdoor is windy with beautiful sea views.

my husband and I make it a tradition now whenever we visit SB to eat here. The crab is so fresh and we love the vibe. The first time we went 2 years ago, we got the rock crab and we loved it so much that's why we went back again this year. This time we got the box crab and man, it was soo worth it!!! It was meaty and delicious. You can let go wrong with the rock or box crab. I used to not eat crab because it was difficult to eat but im glad the restaurant gives not only crackers but sharp scissors and it's a game changer. We also got the shrimp And scallop linguine, it was delicious and the perfect Al dente. Service was wonderful. Our waitress always checked up on us. We even had a mix up and originally ordered the rock crab and changed our mind after we put in our order and ordered the box crab. However the rock crab stil came out. But our waitress was so kind and she immediately put in the order for the box crab and didn't hesitate to take the rock crab back to the kitchen. On top of the food being yummmy, it's dog friendly!! The waitress brought out a bowl of water for my pup. So sweet.

Lobster roll and lobster tacos were great. Clam chowder was also very good. They serve shellfish only so no fish. The view from the pier is amazing with the marina in sight. Can get a little breezy and chilly in the evening so bring a jacket. Service was great. Be sure to sign in on the waitlist when you arrive.

This place is amazing! We have been here before and we remembered howwelcoming the staff was especially Johnny. But, what put the icing on the cake was Bernardo the Cook who recommended the Abalone dish... which was absolutely delicious!!! He mentioned how everything on the menu was fresh and local! Absolutely will come back thanks to Bernardo!! Also.. The vibe was immaculate!

Had to check this off my bookmarks list as it is the most popular seafood spot in Santa Barbara. The restaurant sits at the end of the pier and provides gorgeous views of the ocean and surrounding scenery. I came around sunset and it was chilly, so we sat indoors near the windowsill. Scallops and Uni (4/5): Each came on a lime and presented with a half uni shell. Very pretty and fresh dish. Dozen Kumamoto Oysters (4/5): Went well with the garnish and was shucked clean! Lobster Pasta (2.5/5): Bland, lobster meat was chewy, and no flavor to the toasted bread on the side either. SB Shellfish does claim their spot here offering the prettiest sunset views! Their food is nothing top notch but I would eat something small and venture out for something else but I still appreciated the scenery the most!

A must must visit restaurant if you are in Santa Baraba. They are well known for their Seafood platters, ESPECIALLY: Fresh Uni . Wait time can be between 30-40minutes, but you can walk around Stern whalf and taking photos :). There are patio seatings. Scallop Unis: 4.5/5: picture cannot describe how good the quality of these SB unis were, you just gotta try this out Uni shooters: 4/5: refreshing, mild sour taste. Fun to order in groups Seafood pasta: 3/5: good but small portion We ordered some crabs and clam chowder to try and this was one of the best chowders I've had. Simple, creamy texture yet filled with the clam meats and fullfilling. Fast service :)

Clam chowder craving satisfied! Any time we are in a beach town, we are looking towards the wharf/pier for clam chowder and seafood. Had a lot of good things about SB Shellfish Company. Even came highly recommended by one of our Lyft drivers. There seemed to be a small wait for the outdoor, waterside seating so we opted to sit at the bar table along the windows. The bar seating was full as well. Seriously fast service. Everyone was quite friendly and attentive. Was greeted and check on by several employees which was nice. What we ordered: -Clam chowder in a bread bowl (thick, creamy, chunky chowder in a soft, flavorful sourdough bread bowl...hit the spot) -Fried seafood plate (calamari, shrimp, scallop, and oyster. calamari and shrimp were our faves. Scallop and oysters had a little too much breading) -Lobster pasta (we were in a hurry and had to take it to go but it was delicious even after throwing it in the microwave the next day) Of course we paired our meal with a couple local IPAs. Will make a return visit next time we are in town.

I'd say this place is closer to a 3.5 given the wait time and it definitely is a tourist trap as a local favorite. It was interesting to see the mix of folks that were willing to wait in the cold to dine here. I'll say we waited around ~40 mins when we came at 7PM on a Saturday weekend. They do try to work through the list quickly by breaking up some of the outside tables but the inside is fairly small. Parking on the boardwalk is free for the first hour but then you'll need to pay the rest of your visit. As you're waiting it's good to check out on the board to see their specials for the day. I also noticed if you don't want to dine in they have an order window on the side to go with a more limited menu, but if you just want the standard fare it might be a good option if you want to decrease your wait time. Once we were finally seated we got lucky to get seated in a booth with a heater and had to try the Santa Barbara rock crab, clam chowder, seafood sampler and onion rings. All in all the food was okay but nothing too memorable. The clam chowder had an Italian spices flavor and the sampler was a good way to try everything. The rock crab was good to try once but don't think I will order it again since it wasn't really that meaty. Tempted to get the scallops with uni but ended up opting out of it this time since we ordered quite a bit but I would be open to come back to try it.

My boyfriend and I always pick this place as a spot to get lunch. It's always the best portions for the price. We did not like the oysters, so we ask if we could switch it up to something else, he said they will doubled up on everything else. Which was really nice in my opinion. It came with a coleslaw, good coleslaw either. And the clam chowder was really good too! We got the one with the bread bowl, my boyfriend loves the sourdough. The soup though, it has a lot of clams in it, they did not skimped out at all. Very good! Will always be back here.

It is no secret that I visit Santa Barbara often, just to have lunch. In this context, I have tried most, if not all of the well known seafood establishments. If you are looking for good lobster, I can unequivocally say that the Santa Barbara Shellfish Company is the best in this department. It is situated at the end of Stearn's Wharf and a short walk from the Amtrak station. The vistas, the fragrance of the sea breeze and the stunning ocean views accompany you as you walk the pier heading to this seafood haven. In my opinion, they also have the best lobster roll in town, a feature that also leaves them unmatched, so far, even if you consider the eateries in Santa Monica. This time, I wished to try the whole Grilled Spiny Lobster. It comes out fresh out of their tanks in the restaurant, is halved, then boiled and finished up on the grill. It is well plated and comes with large onion rings (superb), Cole slaw (also made really well). Before ordering my one and a half pound lobster (at $64 a pound), I reminded them not to dry it out by over grilling. The resulting dish was succulent, flavorful and fresh. The food, the ocean ambiance and the attentive service makes this restaurant a "must return" stop for my visits to Santa Barbara.

Great spot on the pier. The service was really good as well. Seafood was fresh and my favorite was the hand-breaded coconut shrimp! The clams were pretty awesome as well! This is a great spot albeit a little windy.