Santa Ynez Billiards & Cafe

This place is exceptional. The portions are perfect. One of the best shawarma I’ve ever had. The falafel is great too. The tri tip is also worth trying too. Order at the bar and then find a seat inside or on their spacious back patio. Good beer selection too. An amazing spot to check out if you’re in the area. A lovely mom-and-pop family owned business worth checking out. What a gem.

Our family of 4 enjoyed our lunch here. We had the chicken sandwich, chicken shawarma wrap, Greek salad, and chicken tenders—all of which were excellent. I highly recommend this place if you're nearby, especially since the service was outstanding despite the holiday rush.

This is one of our favorite local haunts. The owners and staff are absolutely wonderful and the food is fantastic. I love their falafel, hummus, kebab, soup, etc. My absolute favorite is the Greek Salad with chicken. My teenagers love the hamburgers as well as the lamb kebab. Great selection of IPA. They have my favorite Topa Topa as well... Chief Peak! Highly recommended by our entire family.

great local hangout. Low key. great authentic middle eastern + American food and beverages. Family owned & operated. Great beers & bar. Hospitality top notch!!! Pool tables.

This is some of the best food in the valley. I go here often and the food is fresh and consistently delicious. I know what I’m getting every time which to me is the sign of a good place. Low key atmosphere, great family run establishment.

The inside seating isn't comfortable but outside is nice. It's great to have a local place to get Mediterranean food. Prices are reasonable and they have a great selection of beers and wine by the glass.

Very delicious food. Service was awesome. 5 stars for everything

As someone who visits the Santa Ynez Valley often, this place is a "must stop" when I'm there. The food is fresh, healthy, flavorful and made with love by the family that runs the establishment. They take pride in their food and service as if they were serving their own family a meal. There are plenty of beers on tap and a large selection of bottles beers and beverages. The outdoor patio area is delightful with shade and firepits used in the winter months. It's a must visit, eat, drink, and play spot whether you're passing through or staying in the area.

Ok, don't let the bar and pool tables fool you into thinking this place must have ok bar food... NOT AT ALL, this food if no joke guys. this is real good quality food that taste delicious. Always enjoy coming back and knowing the food will always taste the same

The Food and drinks are great. Service is outstanding. Ambiance takes you back in time for a good time.

Cool little cafe and billiards room, sat at the bar with a couple of the locals and had a good lunch on a rainy day of my visit. The server was also my bartender, he met me walking in with a smile and warm greeting and made me feel welcome and at home. Mediterrean food is whats up at this cafe & pool hall. After a quick perusal of the menu, I started with the Hummus with pita wedges. The hummus and pita were great, fresh fresh, with evoo it was just a great way to start my meal. I added an ice cold Stella to my meal and it was a spot on add. I went for the Chicken schwarma plate it was okay, perhaps a little on the dry side. This is a hearty portion of grilled chicken pieces with lettuce and veggies. It was a good meal, not great but very good. This is a cool local hangout, with good mediterrean good and billiards. 4 Stars - good food, friendly service and pool tables what more could you ask... 00855

So unassuming and so lovely. Ordered catering for 25 people. Staff was helpful and flexible in our planning. Food was delicious.

Fun place, great food, friendly atmosphere, good service & would return next time in the area

Don't let the look fool you! While this may look like a bit of a dive bar, it is really great. If I'm being honest, the food would rate maybe 4 stars at best. It was good but not great. But the incredibly friendly staff and great service easily bump this place up to five stars. They also have a great beer selection, along with a good variety of wines and cocktails. There are also pool tables, and great seating options both inside and out. I wouldn't necessarily seek this place out for the food, though there is nothing to complain about there. But the great vibe and the incredible service more than make this a great place to visit. We were only in Santa Ynez for two nights, but we had dinner here both nights and absolutely loved it. Definitely stop by if you're in town, whether you're after a drink, some fun pool, watching a game on the TVs, having some good food, or just enjoying a relaxing seat on the patio while getting excellent service.

Really impressed with the Mediterranean food! Falafel was excellent. Also had the chicken and lamb shawarma. Both were really good. Service was great. Will definitely go back!

I try to eat at the Santa Ynez Billiards & Cafe every time I go to the Chumash Casino. It is right across the casino on Edison. I love their Falafel Wrap. It has so much flavor and is so filling. Their hummus & baba ganoush is also delicious & they give you plenty of pita bread. You order at the bar and the server is always pleasant. Food is quick and delivered to your table. The space inside the cafe isn't large and feels like the local hangout as people are talking/laughing with each other as friends do. It's not fancy but enjoy coming here for a quick bite.

Great sandwiches. My friend picked us up lunch yesterday from there and the sandwiches were amazing!

Tried this cafe for the first time. It is definitely a local gem. The house made Greek food was amazing. We ordered Greek salad, fries, lamb kebob plate and vegetarian plate. Everything was fresh and made with love. They have lots of on tap beers, wines, and bottled beers and beverages. There are billiard tables and a family friendly atmosphere.

Remains my go to place for Shwarma wraps. The best part are the pickled turnips! Ask for extra. Always the best

Tasty food and drink. Overcharged for pool by the hour. Not cool. This is why Yelp exists - be better.

Lacks basic standards of cleanliness. They got only one person, who takes orders for both drinks and food. He also brings the food to the table. I saw him moving the mop and other cleaning stuff, but he never washed his hands after that. The food was too bland and did not have any flavor.

I've driven by this place several times, but hadn't ever gone in until yesterday. They're located near the 246 on Edison with easy parking right in front. It feels like a local hangout spot for people in the area. There's a few pool tables and a bar playing games on the TV. They have a large outdoor area with fire pit tables- every table was filled with people, so clearly a popular spot. They have burgers, sandwiches, and mediterranean food. We opted for the chicken shawarma wraps and they were sooo good! The pita bread is toasted and they put pickled veggies in the wrap. Delicious! We shared the pita and hummus starter. The hummus tasted so fresh. However, I wished the pita bread was warm. They have several refrigerators filled with beverage options- alcoholic and non-alcoholic. We will definitely be back. The staff were very friendly and there are many more food items we want to try!

We never would have known this was here if it wasn't for Yelp. The food was very good as well as the beer and wine selection. The seating isn't great unless your group is very small. There were only 3 people working and the place was packed yet the service was excellent. We will go back.

Forever craving my falafel wrap (with hummus inside) LOVE this little local place and the family love that goes into every order.

Due to COVID indoor dining closed but they have tables outdoors. Their is an employee at the bar & this is where you place your order. Employee is friendly. Food will be ready in about 20 minutes. We ordered food to go chicken shawarma and tri tip sandwich. Food was ok

Fun atmosphere with games in the billiards .. food selection looked really unique & large brew choices to select from so that the evening stays lively !

Always a great stop to play pool and eat some delicious food. Play some pool and listen to music. The beer selection is plentiful and the service is excellent.

Completely unassuming we walked in after reading some reviews that they offer vegan options and it did not disappoint. The falafels were some of the best I have had. The young man who helped as was very accommodating, helpful and polite.

Great family owned spot, perfect for an easy lunch or to-go. My go to wraps are the lamb shwarma, chicken shwarma, and my new favorite the falafel wrap with hummus. The food is always super fresh and delicious. The beer and wine selection is great.

Service and food were lacking. Waited along time to have our order taken and the food was average at best

My fiancé and I had lunch here today and we were so impressed! We ordered the tri tip sandwich with fries and the chicken shawarma plate. Both were delicious and reasonably priced. Can't wait to come back!

We feel like this spot is our own hidden gem. Amazing beer selection and absolutely beautifully prepared and delicious Mediterranean food (beef shawarma plate is my goto! The hummus is delicious and the tabouli is the best we've had. Service is super and often a sports game is on inside and it's quiet outside. Love love love!

We had take out tonight and had a great meal. We ordered Falafel wraps, hummus and pita and lentil soup. The falafel wraps were great, crispy and great flavor. They weren't oddly shaped and didn't fall out of the wraps. Lentil soup was hot and excellent. Great flavor. Hummus was good too. It was a great perk that the person that helped us at the bar was from wearing a Detroit Tiger hat and we could share our Michigander stories. I highly recommend getting some falafel wraps, soup and hummus to go from here!

Hubby and I stopped in here on our way to dinner in Santa Ynez. Super friendly, laid back bar. I would highly recommend.

Friendly staff. Great beer/wine selection and lots of food choices. I had hummus and my husband has a tritip Sandwich. We will for sure be back.

always love their food. Hot, fresh and reasonless priced. A favorite for this local.

VEGAN EATERS HERE....First of all, the Middle Eastern/Mediterranean food is AMAZING, every item hand crafted by people who have been making this "Legacy Food" their whole lives. There is also an expansive menu of more traditional burgers/sandwishes/tri-tip, etc, but the real STAR is the Syrian food, no question. Amal and Riyad Abdulaziz and their son Matthew, originally from Syria, full of life and so charming, have surprised more than a few who, like us, have lived in Santa Barbara County for years and had NO idea what waited, patiently, inside this busy billiards parlor, for anyone willing to venture in. In fact, the only reason we stopped was the tiny sign on a tree, out in front on Edison Street, discretely announcing "FALAFEL". As far as we're concerned, this is the beginning of a Food Affair with this remarkable family! When I read comments from a few who clearly don't understand the very nature of "hand-made" food, all I can see is the gracious Amal, in the kitchen, hand chopping dozens of bunches of garden fresh parsley and other vegetables for the "light as air" tabbouli, the way my mother, grandmother, aunts and millions other Syrian/Lebanese/Israeli/Egyptian (and so many countries) women do each day, all over the World. This is exhausting work, as is the hand rolling of the "warra areesh" (stuffed grape leaves), which take hours to prepare and taste like it. The hummous is silken and garlicky, in the way that takes a long time, as is the Baba Ghanoush that Riyad makes, with eggplant first grilled over a wood fire to give it the perfect, smokey taste. Or, the reason we stopped, the hot, crispy outside/puffy inside falafel that first brought us in. If you know Middle Eastern food, you know exactly what I'm talking about. It is a gift. It is made with love and care and generosity of heart and so much more. We've driven many times, to Los Angeles just to go to our large, Lebanese family favorite Carnival in the Valley, THIS will be our go to place now. BTW, even Amal's great, huge basket of French Fries (a little za'atar would make them "Syrian Fries" note to Amal) are delicious to the last one, which was used to scrape the rest of the hummous and baba from the ramekins! The bar has a HUGE range of beers and other drinks. I'm quite sure it is a scene at night or for games. The beautiful patio is going to be my hang going forward. THE TAKEAWAY? Never, judge a book by its cover. Thank You for all your work, for your soulful food and your kindness, Amal, Riyad and Matt. We're probably coming back today!!! Shukraan Jazilaan

Very friendly staff and a lot of stuff to do in a small building. The food was decent and so were the beer selection. We got the lamb shawarma plate which was okay. I just wish the meat were sliced a little bigger and more of it for the price but maybe the wrap is a better version of it. Otherwise, the environment and activities available is awesome!

This is exactly the type of spot you hope opens near you. The ambiance is wonderful, the beers are varied and top class, the service is excellent, and the food!! The food is amazing. I never thought I'd get such good middle-eastern food in the SYV! The falafel wrap is delightful, especially with the tahini sauce. The lamb Schawarma wrap is pitch-perfect (who knew pickled turnips were so good?). The middle eastern food is great, but they also have burgers, sandwiches and fish and chips. Also, don't forget to order a Turkish coffee and baklava! This is a great spot for a beer, for meal, or for shooting a few rounds of pool. I can't recommend it enough!

The food is delicious!!! I typically get the chicken salad however everything I've gotten has been good.

Talk about another local favorite! Go see Matt and Ray, make sure you try the tri-tip. Their specialty is Mediterranean middle eastern cuisine; my favorite is the vegetarian Falafel with tabule inside the rap.

We visit Los Olivos on a regular basis and hadn't tried this place yet until today. Damn I it was SO good! We ordered a lot cause we were hungry- hummus and pitas, grape leaf wraps, a swell as lamb kababs and a beef kafta wrap. All of it was top notch, really delicious and filling. (They give you a lot of food). They have a great on tap beer selection and a good wine list so we were definitely happy. :) The service was fantastic as well! Clearly this is a family owned business which makes me like it more because you can tell they take pride in their food and service. We highly recommend it and will be back for sure! Our local friend says their patio is a lot of fun at night so we'll have to check that out on our next visit!

Staying the weekend in Solvang. The four of us needed something to do on New Year's Day. What would be open? We found Chumash Casino. We left Chumash Casino. We were about to call it a night when we remembered there was hookah to be had. A quick u-turn later, we found ourselves at Santa Ynez Billiards and Cafe - live DJ, ping pong, pool, beer, wine, and hookah. Gold mine! This place looks like it was a convenience store converted into a billiards and cafe. Several TVs were mounted on the walls (3-4?) playing news and sports. Hookah is on the back patio, with a nice heat lamp to keep us warm. There are three billiards tables, a regular and a 9-ball rack, and plenty of cues and chalk. The billiards table is converted to ping pong by placing the ping pong table boards on top. There was a dance floor that we didn't take advantage of (place was lit a tad too bright for that), but we loved the DJ! We also were coming from dinner or I would have tried the shawarma. All the more reason to return. Note that there is no hard liquor here -- they serve beer and wine. This place has a very laidback vibe. Staff are attentive and friendly. They gave us a rec on the hookah flavor. Delish shish. Other patrons were also friendly and enjoyed themselves. Friend mentioned that this was a trifecta of everything he loved in college -- pool, beer, hookah. 2.5 hours of entertainment. With the 20% off Yelp check-in discount, it was about $50 bucks well spent. Will definitely be back if I'm in Solvang.

The Mediterranean food here is outstanding!! A friend of mine invited me to try it out, and was I ever happy! We tried s variety of dishes. The falafel were cooked to perfection. The hummus was delicious. Give it a try if you are in the area and want to avoid an overpriced lunch or dinner. 5 stars from Phish!

Best spot in the central coast to get together with friends and family. Shawarma plates was a great choice, baklava and Turkish coffee are must have as well.

The food here is delicious! Falafels are moist, not dry at all. Dolmas are perfect. This place looks unassuming but the food is amazing! Homemade and you can tell it's cooked with love!

We went there today & had great food & service. My friends got a cheese burger & fries. The menu offers both middle Eastern fare & deli foods. They have sandwiches, wraps & plated meals. Anyone could find a dish that would please them. The fries were the best we had ever eaten. I got a falafel wrap & fries. I loved the pickled veggies. My husband got the chicken kabob with rice pilaf. He said the rice was the best ever. We loved the food & will return in the near future. They had a large wine & beer selection too. Also many TV's with views from all of our seats. They have a nicely furnished patio area with a TV & pool tables too. A very nice family-run business. Support local businesses. The gas station attendant even gave us a review of the foods he buys there on a regular basis. He also raved about the fries. Our friends took photos & I hope they will post them. This place is clean & very nice. I ordered two baklava & ate the both myself! I will also order the lentil soup next time as a side with my falafel. .

Best beer selection in the area, most chill place to hang out and watch sports. The lentil soup is phenomenal, everything else I've had is good.

I love this place for Mediterranean food & hookah! We always try to stop in when we're in town visiting family. The soups are really good and so is the fattoush salad! My boyfriend loves this place too but says the food's just ok... he gets the beef shawarma. Probably the best Mediterranean food in this area but we're spoiled used to LA. Super chill spot overall & nice staff. Super glad it's here in this small town. Do wish they had heaters outside now that it's cold at night and wifi would be amazing.

If you're in Santa Ynez and looking for a great shawarma sandwich you have to stop by Santa Ynez Billiards and Cafe. I have tried many shawarma restaurants and this is one of the top ones. Flavor is excellent. I just wish I had ordered two. Their tabouleh, hummus and babaghanouj are very flavorful as well and fresh. It's a family run business and they are very nice. Try it. Perfect to pick up for a picnic in the valley.

If you're looking for Yes a great Tri Tip sandwich or even Fish & Chips this is the place to go in Santa Ynez doesn't look like much but the food is excellent.

Interesting place. Billiards, darts, foosball, big TV's, good beer and wine selection. The food was okay at best though. Good selection but just not very tasty. Had the Lamb Shawarma. Rice was good. Lamb was not flavorful. Not enough tahini sauce. The pita was just bad. May try again. There are salads, burgers, and sandwiches on the menu.

Really nice staff, the Falafel wrap was delicious and beer selection is great. The outdoor patio is comfortable has a beautiful view of the mountains. I recommend giving SYB & Cafe try!

One of the best tri tip sandwiches in the area. The pistachio baklava and homemade hummus was delicious. Service was great too!

Every time in in the SYV I stop by to get some food. Amazing food and really nice family.

Great place. Nice outdoor space. Indoor is open as well. The people who work here are friendly and kind. Fantastic food. Lots of vegan options on the menu. Very good falafel and grape leaves, and some of the most delicious babaganoush I've ever had.

One of the best meals in SY. It may look deceiving from the outside but this place throws down. Best Tri tip in town. But the real stars are the fresh Mediterranean food and the kick ass wings. Everyone I've taken has said it's the best wings they have ever had.