Santo Mezcal

Service was very friendly at the bar. Had a couple of different margaritas and they were fantastic.....you can really tell the difference when quality ingredients are used. For food I had the oysters stuffed with tuna, shrimp aquachile Negro and the crab enchiladas. All three were very delicious and would recommend anything that I ordered. The chips and salsa(2 different salsas) were also very good.

Great customer service, even better food, and the drinks were delicious! All around this place was hitting every area of what a restaurant should be! If you want good and flavorful food, customer service that is out of this world, and drinks that are to die for... well... this place is for you!

Came by around 4pm not too crowded, the food was delicious! I had the crab meat enchiladas and a Pacifico Michilada my server was Aldo and he was great on making recommendations and informed me to try out there breakfast during the weekends, the young lady that greeted me at door was also very informative and nice, I forgot her name 😓. But overall great experience and would recommend!

Overly hyped and was extremely average. Service was mid, was given water in dirty glasses that still had lipstick residue from a previous customer! Absolutely not...try your luck at local food trucks...surely they're better than this

I know it was busy but they first brought me the wrong oysters then when I got the fresh oysters they were not shucked correctly. lots of debris and even though I only ate one I was never asked if they were okay. Very disappointed

We stopped here just to grab something to snack on before wine tasting and then came back too take dinner home. Of course I didn't take photos because this was 2 wineries in and I totally forgot. But the 2 I do have were the best ever. The Paloma on their menu is one of the best I've ever had. We sat at the bar and had great convo with the hot male bartenders that were working that day and the folks sitting at the bar were very fun and engaging as well. My friend loved the beef ceviche style dish pictured. She said it was very flavorful and filling. We ordered steak tacos while waiting and they were absolutely delicious. My order on the way home was their way guys with potatoes and I inhaled it. I will definitely come back for the food, the service and the atmosphere!

They were out of duck carnitas and pork belly tacos! On the 4th of July long weekend of all times. I settled for the crispy tacos. It was good but I'd really rather have the pork belly tacos that the server recommended when we sat down. Oh well. Maybe next time. Service was good and attentive. Got a complimentary flan dessert for a birthday but no candle.

We stop into Santo Mezcal every time we’re in Santa Barbara, and it truly never disappoints. The food, atmosphere, and service are consistently great, making it one of our favorite spots in town. On our most recent visit, we started with the ceviche verde, which we highly recommend. The sweet crunch of the apple pieces pairs beautifully with the fresh fish—such a bright and refreshing appetizer. For mains, we had the Tacos del Mar and the Tacos de Chorizo de Crab—both were good and full of flavor. If you're visiting Santa Barbara and love modern Mexican cuisine, Santo Mezcal is a must-try!

Everything was great service and food. Julio, our bartender, was amazing we will come back, is a great place to have a drink, and they have great music too

We have been here 3 times now, and it is still so freaking good! We had a group of 6 and didn't wait more than 15 minutes to be seated. We started with the queso for the table, served with homemade tortillas--absolutely delicious. I ordered the camarones in a creamy sauce with rice and beans, and it was super fresh--I'm still craving it! I've also had the seafood enchiladas before, which is typically my go-to, but I decided to switch it up this time, and I was blown away. The camarones might just be my new favorite! They have a great selection of mezcals and cocktails, which we really appreciate, especially since we've been to Oaxaca 3 times and know good mezcal when we taste it. The service was excellent, and the ambiance is cute and welcoming, located right on State Street. Can't wait to go back again!

When they say that California California have the best Mexican food they really are right!!! And god dame it is found the best one is Santa Barbra. The ahi ceviche, was sent from heaven, along with the steak taco. I had dinner plans, and i almost cancelled and just sat there and had like 5 more tacos. What a phenomenal food. The staff is the kindest and the cutest, sweet, smily and friendly. And super clean, lovely vibe. when i move here, you ll see me there all the time.

This gem is nothing short of amazing in all the ways it can be amazing in! Not a bad seat in the house, truly. The inside decor is stunning and the outdoor seating is perfect for the infallible SB weather and people watching. I live chasing the sun, so sitting outside and catching the rays was perfect. The food - DELICIOUS!! The drinks - delicious AND dangerous!! The service - top notch!! Definitely will be a must for any future visits to the beautiful city of Santa Barbara!

Nice restaurant to sit outside and people watch. The fish ceviche was so good! Service was great

Wow. Panicked to find a restaurant last minute since we arrived in SB earlier than expected. Wasn't expecting a lot but wow. Started with the spicy margarita which was perfectly balanced. Perfect level of sweet, salty, spicy, sour, taste of alcohol, even the level and shape of ice was perfection. The ahi tuna ceviche with sesame oil was unreal - it was good for sure but a bite with the avocado, corn, radish, and pomegranate was incredible. Then my favorite was the octopus taco. Holy. Perfectly tender smoky octopus also with the perfect amount of chipotle crema, on a soft tortilla with some amazing cheese and topped with the ideal balance of some pickled onions. Best tacos I have ever had. Would take a night road trip up here from LA just to go here for dinner. Wow.

My husband and I came to Santa Barbara for the first time to celebrate my husband's birthday, and came to this restaurant hungry and ready to eat! The staff were so kind, the location was great (we sat outdoors and it was lovely!), and the food was the BEST. I think hands down this was the best salmon combo I've ever had - and I'm very picky with my salmon since it's my fave fish dish by far! We cannot wait to come back again the next time you visit Barbara and I hope to become regulars here and make it a birthday tradition! Highly recommend!

I enjoyed pretty much everything about our experience here. It's got pleasant (though a bit cramped) outdoor seating and they were happy to let us bring our dog. Inside, it has a long bar and goes way back deep from the street. Service was attentive and friendly, and food was served rapidly. The Shrimp empanadas were fantastic-crispy and hot on the outside, perfectly cooked shrimp and melted cheese inside, drizzled nicely with chipotle mayo and a few microgreens for garnish. The cochinito was very well-seasoned, good fresh tortillas, tasty black beans. The chicken mole was also delicious and everything we had was on point. Santa Barbara prices for a quality meal-I would definitely go back next time I'm in SB.

The food here at Santo Mezcal was absolutely phenomenal. I tried the delicious ceviche, which is hit-or-miss for me, but the ceviche here was definitely a hit. I ended up ordering one chicken and one steak taco. The chicken taco was flavorful and moist. The steak taco was one of the best steak tacos I've ever eaten! It was well-seasoned, moist, and tasty. If I ever came back, I'd probably order two steak tacos. I also tried the rib eye taco, which was thick, juicy, and mouthwatering. The taco was definitely packed full of meat - and I definitely felt happy and full after the meal. The only thing that was frustrating was waiting for the hostess among the crowd to put our reservation in. She was extremely busy seating people, and then we had to keep moving to the sides as servers constantly came indoors and outdoors, and no matter where we stood, we were in their way. It's a very packed place and the tables are all near each other, but once we were seated, the server came quickly, the food came quickly, and everything was super delicious. So just try to be patient when you put in a reservation or when you're waiting to be called to your table. The entrees typically ranged in the 20 dollars range, but it was well worth it for a high quality meal! Yum!

My wife and I stopped at Santo Mezcal for a drink and small bite after riding bikes at the beach. The atmosphere was very nice and we were able to find a seat at the bar top right away. Our server was Angel and he was very friendly and attentive. My wife ordered the tamarindo margarita and I had a Pacifico on draft. The margarita was amazing! It was not overpowered by the tequila and the flavor was very delicious. After her first margarita, my wife ordered the Jamaica margarita and it was just as good as the first one. My wife is not a heavy drinker and usually she could only have one but the drinks were well made and easy to drink. We ordered a ceviche de pescado and it was also amazing. We couldn't be happier with the service and the food. We will definitely be back when we come to Santa Barbara again.

We reserved an outside table at Santo Mezcal and initially worried about fitting in with our dogs. However, the staff was very accommodating, and the surrounding tables were pleasantly surprised when they saw two dogs emerge from under our table as we left. We started with the Ceviche Verde, which was excellent. My son enjoyed the rib-eye tacos, while I ordered my usual fish taco, known here as the Taco Del Mar. The delicious and fresh chips and ceviche almost filled us up, so I couldn't finish my second taco. The fish portion was generous, and I ended up leaving the tortilla. The accompanying rice and beans were delicious. Although the salad dressing was a bit sweet for my taste, I thoroughly enjoyed the mango and other fruits in it. My partner was delighted with his Ensalada Mezcal Salmon. We finished our meal with churros, which were among the best I've ever had.

Being from the East Coast, this seemed like the most authentic Mexican food we've had!! The table does come with chips and 3 types of salsa. All the food was really good, it just seemed to be a bit pricy. Service was fast and atmosphere was nice- it was a bit loud though. We were put on a waitlist but were able to walk around, and we did not have to wait as long as we were told we were.

The restaurant was small and busy but they were still able to seat us right away. We had the crab enchiladas and octopus. Very very good and the poblano sauce was so good I want to try and recreate it at home. Had no issues with service, they were quick and attentive

Very popular Mexican restaurant near the beach in Santa Barbara. It gets busy during night and the weekends. We ordered take out because we did not want to wait, lol! I enjoyed eating their mole and guac. Fresh, delicious and enjoyable food :)

Santo Mezcal is always a fun and good time! If the sun is out on a day like today, highly recommend sitting on the patio! Starting off, we love a place that keeps the chips and salsa coming and they make sure to keep it that way! Their salsas are just so tasty, I could easily fill myself up on that alone! Make sure to stop yourself! My all time faves here are the Enchiladas Verdes and the CAZUELA POBLANA. So yummy! For drinks, you really can't go wrong here but my recommendation is the Margarita Jamaica! Thanks Santo Mezcal!

If you're out in Santa Barbara, this is a must stop place to grab a fantastic drink and tasty Modern Mexican food. Service here is always 100%, waiters attentive and friendly and welcoming. The ambiance is great as they have indoor and outdoor seating. Small restaurant next to a boutique hotel. My go to is always the San Blas Tostada and Fresa Margarita, love that they do an XL option for drinks! Salsas are scrumptious and heard their rib eye melts in your mouth from someone in the party who ordered that. Tried their queso fundido and their salmon dish, all WOW!!

We went for a quick weekend trip for Mother's Day in sb and this place was walking distance from our hotel. Everything was amazing! We were so fortunate to get In to eat without reservations because there was a long wait. Thankfully no one wanted to sit at the high top! The service and our waitress were fantastic. Our waitress was so sweet and super attentive to my 4 year old daughter who was having a tough day. She recommended these dishes and they definitely didn't disappoint! We had the enchiladas, one chicken and one beef (shredded beef not ground!). Fantastic. The rice, the beans, chips and salsa? All delicious. We wanted to try tacos as well so we opted for the rib eye and the chicken. Again both so soooo delicious! The only thing that I didn't care for was the salad because of the salad dressing. It was too sweet and heavy for the type of greens it was dressing. I added some of the cilantro salsa they give you with the chips and it helped. If you really want a salad get the dressing on the side. Dress it with the cilantro salsa and fresh lime instead. I would absolutely come back and actually am looking forward to another Santa Barbara trip! 10/10!

Found this restaurant from my walk on the way to the beach and had to give it a try. There is great outside seating which allowed me to enjoy the summer weather and to people watch. The menu had so much to offer, so it was wonderful that the waiter provided such excellent recommendations. I ordered the Shrimp Empanadas, Crab Pork Tacos and had a cocktail with lavender (forgot the name). But each was so delicious and unique in flavors. I especially loved how homemade the tortillas tasted and the flaky warm crisp of the empanadas. Definitely, recommend this restaurant for both the great food and service!

We had a wonderful time at this restaurant. The food was even better than Javier's, with generous portions. We especially enjoyed the crab and pork tacos, as well as the shrimp and fish enchiladas, which were incredibly satisfying. My son couldn't stop eating the chips and three varieties of salsa that were provided for the table. Also, the outside patio is dog-friendly.

The first of many wonderful meals in Santa Barbara. Came on a Thursday for an early dinner and there was no wait at all, despite being crowded for the remainder of the weekend. I split the tacos rib eye which came with two deconstructed tacos filled with heaping piles of tender medium rare steak. Usually not a refried bean girl, but I liked this one which was unusually red and flavorful. Liked that they came in these crispy little edible taco bowls too. The regular margarita was nothing too special, but the fresa margarita with muddled strawberries and powdered sugar was sweet and refreshing

Call me impressed, definitely one of my top Mexican places now! We did yelp waitlist and only had to wait 5 minutes before we were seated. We were first brought out a bowl of chips and salsa. Tortilla chips are next level coming out fresh and got. I loved that they come with 3 different salsa as well. In terms of food I tried these out. Enchiladas Verdes - Beef - This was like the best Enchiladas I've have. Texture was good and the sauces really made it pop. Beef was tender and seasons. No complaints! (5/5) Cazuela Pibil - Amazing!! The pork was so tender and flavorful. Definitely get the corn tortilla, apparently it's made fresh. Can't go wrong with this one either it's a winner. (5/5) Everything about this place was good. Fast service, fast food arrival and delicious. Really enjoyed the have yelp waitlist and definitely would be back next time I'm in Santa Barbara.

The food, drinks, and service was amazing! I loved the mezcal lavender drink. They accommodated our large family and room for a stroller which was wonderful. I just wish the music wasn't so loud and was a different genre, it felt like we were out dancing at the club, and it was only a Thursday night at 8, but that could have been a one off thing.

We visited Santa Mezcal at Sunday lunch. It took 25 minutes wait to get our table. Since it's located on State Street, the restaurant was quite busy. The food was not bad here. I love their Ahi Tuna Ceviche ($22). The Ahi Tuna was so fresh and delicious with salsa mocha and sesame oil. Must order this!! Enchiladas Verdes with chicken($20) was delicious with green sauce and cheese. The included rice and beans were very good as well. Every dish's potion is big. Soft Taco ($19), the beef one wasn't that good since the shredded beef was over grilled and burned black. I had to remove those over burned beef. The chicken one was ok. The service was great! Our server was very friendly and warm! The restaurant was very lively! Overall, we enjoyed the lunch here and will come back again.

We came here for dinner on Thursday night the 14th when in town in Santa Barbara for our kids spring break. This place is located right on State St minutes from the ocean, right across the street from a public parking garage. They've got both indoor & outdoor seating here. They also have heat lamps near the tables if you're sitting outside. We got this almost like chimichanga type item to start, it had this nice flaky crust, with meat & cheese inside and a tasty sauce on top. My son got fish tacos, I got the ribeye tacos, and my wife got the fish enchiladas. Food & service were really good.

We were recommended from a friend of a friend and we were not disappointed. Ambiance was cool and trendy, and I loved the vibes. The service was outstanding. All of the employees were so sweet to us. The food was delicious. You are given complimentary chips and salsa. We ordered Hongos Al Gaujillo (Mushrooms), Betabel Braseado (Beets) and Chile Relleno. If you are ever in the area, go and visit!

Chosen based on location and the fact that there were three of us that LOVVVE Mexican food (but, honestly it was mostly location). We were in town for a few days to do a little sightseeing and visit a new town we'd never been to before. The spot was conveniently located to the trolley stop where our sightseeing tour let us off. The staff was friendly and helpful. Sometimes I have difficulties at restaurants because of food issues, and the waiter was *very* knowledgeable about the menu and able to answer my questions. I ordered Huarache De Nopal and a side of plantains (because they are one of my favorite things in the world!), it was SO very good. I could have eaten it again the next day, but we sort of like to visit multiple places when we're out of town. I don't remember what my table mates ordered, but they enjoyed their dishes too! The place is comfortable and adorable, the restrooms were clean. If we visit Santa Barbara again, we'll definitely go again! Thanks for reading my review.

The food at santo mezcal was amazing for our party of 7. We got the picana, Cazuela pisca and many other entrees. Everyone said their food was amazing, they also serve chips with sauces at the beginning of the meal, which is always great. The food was delicious and drinks were good. The only one downfall we had was that the orders for drinks seemed to be messed up. I ordered an XL margarita and instead of bringing me an XL of the blueberry margarita I was given an extra regular margarita that they had made an extra of, I was under the impression that the extra cup was in replacement of mine not being made into an XL. Upon seeing the bill it seems they put in the order wrong and charged us for 3 extra drinks, after explaining the situation to the waiter he revised the bill, but they still added the gratuity and tax to the original amount, making our bill about $10-12 higher than what it should've been.. honestly this left a little bit of a sour taste in our mouths but my friend called and got this sorted away. This place is usually very busy and popular so I'd expect a wait.

After waiting for 90 minutes with a reservation for five on busy Memorial Day weekend, I was just about going to throw in the towel and move on to somewhere less popular when we were suddenly seated. The restaurant has loud acoustics and is situated closer to the wharf in downtown on State Street. The server was nice. Given the significant wait, my expectations were low. And then I took a bite of the food: chicken, rice, beans, and nopales. It was delicious! So well-made! The dessert was described by the waiter as a "cornbread dessert." The pan de elote is a supremely amazing, lightly fried sweet-tasting dessert. If I had to do it over again, I would have gotten my own. The portion is petite sized. Santo Mezcal is worth the wait. 100% would return.

I love their sister ages and I didn't know they were even had the same owner until I left. The food was amazing. Every single thing was perfect. The cocktails the beans the rice and the meats were incredible. I love the salmon tacos. I feel like the service was just OK, but it was a very busy Saturday afternoon.

Fabulous small restaurant in and out! Started off with that Ahi Tuna Ceviche and it blew us away with the flavors and finished off with that sesame oil. Honestly four people could have shared it! We ate everything! My daughter (11) licked the appetizer plate when no one was looking. ;) Super close to the Santa Barbara downtown train station and across the street from the newer and small McConnell's ice cream shop. For dinner we loved the chicken mole poblano (sans beans), and the ribeye on mole negro with bone marrow and mushrooms and arugula. It is possible to eat delicious Mexican inspired food without all the carbs!

Visited this restaurant during my day trip to Santa Barbara and it did not disappoint! It was the perfect spot to stop for lunch in the midst of wine tasting. We were able to join the waitlist in Yelp which made it really easy since they don't do reservations. The service was amazing, our server was really nice and attentive to us, especially because it was for my birthday. We ordered guacamole for the table as well as the shrimp empanadas. The empanadas were so good we ordered another round! I got the crispy tacos, one beef and one chicken. The chicken was way better than the beef. Everyone else enjoyed their food very much! I would definitely stop back by here when visiting SB!

From the complimentary chips down to their cup of coffee, Santo Mezcal was absolutely DELICIOUS. Their complimentary salsas were complex and flavorful! I wish I could've taken some home. I suggest you keep some extra, or ask for more, because it paired perfectly with all our dishes. My Recommendations: - Ahi tuna ceviche: yay. very tasty with lots of delicious elements! It is a bit more tame in flavor at first, but if you pair it with the salsas it's a game changer! - Short Rib Sopes: Hell Yaaaaaa. Yay!! These were delicious, and while there are three and they may seem small, don't let them fool you. They are filling and topped high with meat. - Camerones Mezcal: Yay!!! The shrimp were cooked perfectly, and the sauce rocked our world. My only regret is that I came for breakfast and wasn't quite ready for one of their margaritas...But I will be returning and exploring their cocktail menu extensively :) I recommend you get a few plates and share amongst your table for all the tasty flavors! Till next time!

Santo Mezcal has been a Local favorite and also high on the list of our out of Town guests. I found it to active with early afternoon diners enjoying the wonderful drinks and Awesome food. Our Bartender Edgar was very attentive with suggestions for our choices. We also found their Happy Hour to be also a great choice. Thanks Edgar and the entire staff for taking such Great care of us. Be sure to give them a try you won't be disappointed Santo Mezcal! Ronnie S

I want to start off by saying that we didn't dine here - only had drinks before dinner across the street. Even though the place was packed (Saturday night during MLK weekend), they still managed to seat us at the bar by asking a couple if they didn't mind scooting down one seat, which was super nice. Our bartender, Angel, was really nice and made drink recommendations and made sure I liked it after I tried it. He made an excellent mezcal martini. The vibe was great and the food that the people around us were having looked really good, and I can't wait to come back and dine. The complimentary chips and 3 salsas were delicious and addictive.

The location is fantastic, just a few minutes' walk from the beach, and the staff is friendly. The vibe of the place is great. However, we ordered all vegetarian dishes, and unfortunately, they were quite bland. The drinks were also too strong for my taste. While the selection of salsa was good, the rest of the food was disappointing.

We were staying at the attached hotel and wanted something walkable for dinner. We were surprised that it was actually just downstairs! The host told us that it would be faster if we ordered room service but since it was my birthday, we wanted to dine in. Time estimate was 40 min but we waited almost 90 min. It was super crowded, but it was the Tuesday before Thanksgiving so I guess people were on holiday. We just stayed warm in the hotel lobby, but they have heaters on the sidewalk. We got a high top table just in the middle of the room. It was very crowded and busy in the restaurant. There were people waiting for a seat at the bar that were just leaning up against our table it was weird. We got alot of food, but it was delicious and we finished alot of it. We got the tuna ceviche and the green ceviche for apps, and I went for the octopus for my main while my fiance went for a steak platter. The mains were not as good as the apps and dessert. My octopus was fishy and a bit on the burnt side, while the side salad had a weird sweet orange Creamsicle type dressing. The steak was chewy and quite done well instead of medium rare. For dessert we got the churros and the flan, both were yummy. I had to remind our server to comp the birthday flan. The highlight was probably the drinks at this place, I can see why they're popular for drinks. The food was good, mostly, and the service was OK.

The ambiance is nice. The service was good. However, my daughter and I did not care for the food even though the presentation was beautiful. She ordered the salmon tropical and it was covered with a super sweet sauce. It was layered with many large chunks of mango and oranges along with a too sugary dressing. I ordered the chile rellano with salad for the side. The salad also came with gobs of fruit AND similar SUGARED dressing. We couldn't even eat it. The chile rellano was fine. We started with guacamole and chips... even the guacamole was sweetened with mangos. We do love sweet, usually... but this over the top sweetness was NOT good. We tried to scrape off the dressing but, it was still almost too much to even eat just the salmon.

Place was packed on a Friday night but a quick sign up on Yelp's waitlist does the trick as you're finding your way around the Funk Zone or from the beautiful pier. They start with free chips and salsa (who even does that anymore??? Such an underrated gem of a start) and both the Fresca and pepino margaritas were great- super fresh. We split the ahi ceviche and the mole negro with fresh corn tortillas. Such a filling and authentic meal with fresh flavors. Service was great too, always very fast and attentive. Inside is very cute too with open bar seating. Really would be back for a solid mexican option with many choices for anyone

Has their shrimp dish and the crab enchiladas. Both were to die for ! The sauce on the shrimp was the best I've ever tasted and the shrimp was cooked to perfection with a slight smoky flavor. The enchiladas were over stuffed with delicious crab. Highly recommend

Santo Mezcal appears on a number of Best of Santa Barbara lists, so my boyfriend & I made a point of having dinner there on a recent visit to celebrate a dear friend's wedding. We'd walked by the previous day, quite by chance (on Cinco de Mayo), & it was packed to the rafters, so we were glad to find it lively (but not as crazy) on a Monday evening. I cannot say anything negative about the food. When a variety of salsas are presented to me, I usually gravitate towards one, because others tend to be too smokey or too green (for my taste), but all three of Santo Mezcal's house salsas were delicious & I kept going back & forth between them, unable to decide. While they don't have a ton of vegetarian options, do they even need to with a chile relleno that tantalizing?! The rice & beans--the latter served in their own, lil' mini tostada--were also top notch. & don't forget the tamarind margarita...chef's kiss! IMHO, the only failings relate to the awkward lil' counter that runs parallel to the bar for about six seats & the service. When we arrived, the hostess was on the phone, taking a to-go order & did not acknowledge our existence at all. After a few minutes, a waiter or runner came over & sat us. Throughout the evening, the runner, who dropped our dishes rather unceremoniously in front of us & took off in a flash--my boyfriends entrée was not even squarely on the counter, but rather about 75% on/25% off--proceeded to bump into us every time he walked by, which was largely due to the aforementioned awkward countertop--which could easily be replaced by 3 2-tops, to avoid this issue--& partly due to his inattention to where he was going. The waiter & bartender, however, were both friendly & charming. There is amply public parking across the street--first 75m free!.

RUDEST. SERVICE. in the UNIVERSE!!! Food is DELISH, and nice ambiance by the Pacific. It was agains my better judgement to return for a second time after the service was HIDEOUS the first time. I really loved the food, but I walked out the second time I visited because the service is BEYOND F'ing RUDE! WILL NOT RETURN! And I highly recommend you find somewhere else to dine because NASTY service is UNACCEPTABLE!

Santo Mezcal is a beautiful restaurant in the cool area of downtown Santa Barbara. It is right on the edge of the funk zone and is know for killer drinks and all around good Mexican food. We stopped in after our long drive from San Diego for a late lunch. When you walk in, you are immediately impressed by the expansive and beautiful bar set up. We opted for a table and were immediately served light and crispy chips with three different types of salsas. Each salsa was unique but I was partial to the green salsa and the roasted salsa. Honestly, their chips were some of the best I've had in a while. Not greasy at all and really delicious. We started with the shrimp empanadas and they were fantastic. The empanada dough was actually really light and did not feel heavy and thick like some empanadas at other establishments. Next we ordered the ceviche verde, and let me just tell you. Wow. It was a TON of food. Like enough for several people to share. They make it with fresh halibut and mango with cucumber, pineapple, and smothered in this delicious basil sauce. It was so refreshing and filling. I wish we had an opportunity to try more food on their menu but we did have early dinner reservations so we stopped there. I would highly recommend coming back to this restaurant next time I'm in Santa Barbara. I can't wait to try more of their food.

Came by to have lunch with my mom and sister. It was a nice day so we opted to sit outside. Our waitress was wonderful and took great care of us. We ordered everything to share and got guacamole, tuna ceviche, beef enchiladas, and halibut tacos. I would say the beef enchiladas were the star of the meal, but everything else just fell flat. Halibut was bland, rice was too salty, and everything else was just meh. Maybe it was just an off day but we were all not super impressed by the food.

Sweet spot to visit! I thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of my dining here. Upon getting a nice outside table, I was delivered delicious chips with 3-types of salsa. I mainly came here because I love mescal and I ended up trying two of their mescal cocktail specials: Margarita Mora made with house-made blood orange syrup and bitters, and their La Flor Ahumada made with house-made honey-lavender syrup. Both are of these were fantastic! For food, I had their Tacos Del Mar, which were also fabulous. I asked for whole pinto beans for a side and they were some of the best I've ever had. The dish is also served with a beautiful side side with mandarin slices. All of the staff I interacted with were extremely friendly, knowledgeable and welcoming. I highly recommend!

I recently had a couple of hours to spend in Santa Barbara before flying home from a business trip, and was meeting up with a local friend for lunch. We ended up at Santo Mezcal and it was fabulous! First, the sidewalk cafe-style setting in the heart of one of Santa Barbara's most historical and beautiful neighborhoods set the stage for the wonderful meal that was to come. We started with a couple of their scratch-made house margaritas (which you can order with your choice of tequila or mezcal), and moved on to a wonderful lunch. I chose the Tacos Toro, which consisted of two seared peppers stuffed with a creamy concoction of shrimp and octopus. They were served with a generous portion of rice and a delicious, fresh salad. My friend got the Cazuela Poblana, which featured tender chunks of chicken in a creamy, peppery sauce, and let me have a bite - it was equally delicious. The service was also fast and fantastic, and bonus points that we could use Yelp Waitlist so our table was (almost) ready when we arrived. Parking is a challenge here, so plan for a bit of walking if you can't find a spot nearby. Can't wait to return to SB and visit even more amazing restaurants!

This restaurant was absolutely amazing. I would move to Santa Barbara so I could be a regular here. The service was very attentive and friendly. The drinks were amazing but the food was phenomenal! I highly recommend you try this place, it seems like it gets packed so it's best to make a reservation!

I feel a little let down by this place. It's fantastic for the sidewalk dining view of the the surrounding hotels and breweries with the Spanish architecture. There is a-lot of foot traffic that passes by including a-lot of homeless people that are heavily populated the closer you get to the wharf and harbor. Our wait for sidewalk seating was 20 minutes. Our waiter, Omar was fantastic! The other wait staff was also great as we received chips and salsa as soon as we sat down. The chips tasted stale to me. I love that they gave us a roasted salsa and a regular mild salsa. I enjoyed both of the salsas but preferred the roasted one more. I ordered the Tacos Del Mar (shrimp tacos) that comes with either rice and beans or house salad. I do not recall being asked if I wanted rice or beans which I would have preferred the rice and beans but when my order arrived it was with rice and the house salad (odd together but okay). Although the house salad looked beautiful and fresh, I am sensitive to vinegar and I could not see what the dressing was so I did not eat the salad. I didn't bother to address it with our waiter as I would have felt bad if he had to send the plate back and we were already exhausted after a long day visiting SB. The shrimp had a weird taste to me that would hit after a few chews. The only way I can describe it is it tasted like "barn". I did ask my sister to taste it and she did not get that but I kept getting an odd flavor in the shrimp. So needless to say my experience here was not great. I would love to give it a second try on another visit to SB to see if it truly was just an off night.

This place is phenomenal in every aspect. We come here every time we go to Santa Barbara

It was lunch before we took off on the train back to LA. Santa Mezcal was located on State street right next to the Santa Barbara Train Station. All restaurants require a long wait time and found it has quicker turn around and closer to the Station. We reserved it on yelp and got there and waited 25 minutes before our table was ready. After sitting down a friendly waitress approached us and provided us with tortilla chips with salsa, menu, and asked what we would like to drink. We have ordered the following dishes: - Tortilla Chips with Salsa (complementary) - Good, salsa was really good with the chip and guacamole enhanced it. - Guacamole - Good, it was made with some chunks still left for texture, hard to go wrong with guacamole. - Ahi Tuna Ceviche - Great, it is a must have appetizer. It was tasty and Ahi was fresh. - Cazuela Poblana - Great, I was surprised this chicken dish is pretty delicious and tender. The melted cheese and sauce mixed really well. - Pollo Al Grill - Ok, big portion but chicken a little bit too dry. - Combo Soft Tacos (Shrimp and Fish) - Good, it has a good light taste for both shrimp and fish taco. - Tacos Del Mar (Beef and Chicken) - Good, both tasted good but beef burned badly. Our waitress was super friend and informative. We have asked and she has suggested a great appetizer and Cazuela Poblana dish. It is definitely a good Mexican restaurant choice at this busy Santa Barbara State Street. We visited Santa Mezcal for Sunday lunch. It took 25 minutes wait to get our table. Since it's located on State Street, the restaurant was quite busy.