Summerland Beach Cafe

Gold Seal Standards LLC Independent Audit Report: The Summerland Café Our auditors recently conducted an independent on-site audit of The Summerland Café to evaluate its accessibility, service quality, facility conditions, and overall customer experience. The findings are summarized below. Accessibility & Parking The establishment offers limited parking—approximately 20–30 spaces shared between multiple neighboring businesses. Street parking was also minimal, which may present challenges during peak hours. Accessibility for handicapped guests was limited; while one designated space was available on the side of the building, the primary front entrance requires navigating stairs. This setup may restrict ease of access for individuals with mobility challenges. Service Experience Auditors were greeted courteously and seated promptly at 12:12 p.m. However, service delays were observed. No staff member approached the table until 12:18, and neither server encountered during the visit wore a name tag—a small but meaningful detail that enhances accountability and customer connection. The first server who took the drink order was professional but lacked warmth and engagement. Drinks were served at 12:20, followed immediately by the food order being taken by a second server who demonstrated better professionalism and attentiveness. Food arrived quickly at 12:26, indicating efficiency in the kitchen. However, post-service attention declined notably. The server did not return to check on food quality, refill beverages, or offer additional assistance. After approximately 15 minutes of waiting with finished plates, auditors had to request the check directly—while observing neighboring tables receiving more attentive service. It appeared that one server may have been responsible for managing a significant portion of the restaurant alone. If accurate, this points to potential understaffing or poor table distribution, which should be addressed by management to maintain consistent service quality and prevent employee fatigue. Facility Conditions Both the men’s and women’s restrooms were found to be below standard. Observations included a sticky door, lack of running hot water, visible trash accumulation, and supplies left in open view. These issues collectively detract from the overall customer experience and reflect poorly on maintenance oversight. Summary & Recommendations The Summerland Café demonstrates potential, with staff who appear willing to serve and a kitchen that operates efficiently. However, service consistency, attention to guests during dining, and restroom maintenance require immediate improvement. Additionally, better management coordination—ensuring balanced server workloads and reinforcing accountability through name tag use—would enhance professionalism and customer trust. Gold Seal Standards LLC will continue to conduct random follow-up inspections to ensure progress and compliance in these areas. Businesses that serve the public bear a duty to uphold the highest standards of cleanliness, accessibility, and customer care. Excellence is not a choice—it’s an obligation. Gold Seal Standards LLC (G.S.S) “Where every detail matters.”

The food is delicious every time. The customer service is nice, the staff is attentive and does check-in throughout the meal. The fresh orange juice is to die for! Parking can be a little bit difficult, but if you go to the left instead of the right in the lot it'll be easier. There is an accessible entrance on the side if you can't walk the stairs.

Cinnamon rolls here are excellent. The other food is decent. I had a French toast with scrammed eggs and the eggs didn’t taste so fresh. But otherwise the ambiance is nice and it’s great spot for a bite while road tripping.

We really enjoyed our brunch at Summerland Cafe! I had the Two by Two by Two, and it was delicious and filling! French Toast cooked to perfection. Others in my party had an omelette, biscuits and gravy, and a salad… all of which they enjoyed! Such a great location with a cute atmosphere. Definitely stop in if you’re passing through!

We always stop here when heading to Santa Barbara. Everything about this place is perfect. The food service and atmosphere are absolutely charming.

Great place for brunch or breakfast. The outdoor patio is beautiful. Good food and great service. Super cozy atmosphere.

Food is great and reasonably priced, especially for the portions and location. Super cute Victorian house facing the freeway (not the greatest lol) and the ocean beyond. Friendly, helpful staff! A bit challenging to park on the weekends, no problem during the week. I'll definitely be back!

My granddaughters and I swung by for lunch on our way to Monterey, and we had the best time! The place has a cozy, homey vibe that instantly relaxed us. I love how they're dog-friendly, too—it's always lovely to see our furry friends welcome! I decided to try the tuna melt and let me tell you, the sourdough bread was perfectly crunchy. My granddaughters went for the onion rings; wow, they were huge! Our server, Anna, was an absolute gem—so friendly and accommodating. We couldn't have asked for a better experience!

Summerland Beach Café is such a charming spot and the perfect way to start a Santa Barbara morning. The atmosphere is relaxed and beachy, with plenty of natural light and a cozy, welcoming vibe. It feels like the kind of place where you can linger over breakfast, watch the locals come and go, and just enjoy the slow pace of coastal life. The service was excellent friendly, attentive, and genuinely kind. My server made sure I had everything I needed without hovering, and the food came out quickly but still felt fresh and made with care. I ordered the veggie omelette with potatoes and extra veggies on the side, along with a warm ginger tea. Everything was cooked perfectly. The omelette was fluffy and packed with fresh vegetables, the potatoes were crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, and the tea was soothing and fragrant a perfect balance for a morning by the beach. It's the kind of breakfast that makes you want to come back the next day and try something new on the menu. Between the great service, delicious food, and lovely ambience, Summerland Beach Café is a must-visit whenever you're in the area.

Excellent diner food. I drive to Santa Barbara several times a year and this diner is my go-to spot right before i get there. The benedicts here are better than any I've tried in LA and is a must try IMO. Service is always friendly and prices are reasonable. Highly recommend if you're in the area!

Let's start from the positive... AMBIANCE: 3/5 cute farm-themed cottage building and decors. SERVICE: 2.5/5 The hostess was friendly. The first waiter was rude and threw the menus on our table. Every time we ask him for something, he seems irritated. There was a couple other waiters are more friendly to serve us. But at the end, when we asked for the check, the rude waiter just looked at us and walk away. And nobody gave us the check for a good 10 minutes until we asked another waiter. FOOD: 0.5/5. I can't even put a star sign here. I ordered the omettle called Mayor Baisley's Choice because the friendly waiter suggested it. However, it's not really an omettle, but a thick piece of plain dried eggs wrapped some flavorless spinach and half cooked mushrooms inside. The so called "omelette parlor" (OP Potatoes) are similarly plain and nasty look like they've been sitting all day and just scrapped out of the griddle. The English muffins was covered in some sort of grease. I asked them about it, and they told me it's covered with butter even though it doesn't smelled like it. I was so hungry, I took a few bites of the food, but I just can't eat anything because of the low quality of the food. My friend ordered a hamburger. It is a thin piece of ground beef with 2 pieces of bread without mayo or any spread, or lettuce, or tomato. My friend said this is literally the worst burger she'd ever had in her life. It tastes worse than the cafeteria food. But because we both are so hungry, she ate 1/4 of the burger. When we were driving away, my friend started to feel nauseous from the burger. I generally have a stronger stomach for bad food. But even then, I started to feel some stomachs alone hour later. Beverage: I ordered a large cup of fresh squeezed OJ. It tastes bitter and is in room temperature. When I went to use the restroom, then I saw the OJ pitcher was sitting on the side table with the water pitcher under the sun. To be honest, I don't know how people can messed up a simple spinach and mushroom omettle, and a classic burger?! Our conclusion: This is a tourist trap. The location next to PCH exit and cute building attract endless customers. So they don't have to care about the quality of the food nor service.

I love this place. The atmosphere is great, service is always good, and everything I've ordered has been delicious. My partner got the steak and eggs last time and the steak was excellent. We tried to go back a week or two later because I was craving it, but they were closed for some reason (their hours said we had about an hour before they closed, and there was another couple outside wondering why as well). A little frustrating, but we'll try again.

Good food and fresh ingredients! I got the two-two-and-two, everything was delicious. The servers were friendly, and the atmosphere was great.

Loved this little gem in summerland! It was super packed when we went but we were seated in 15 mins with no reservations. The food came out really quick. I loved the cinnamon roll, it was just a bit dry but other than that it was very sweet and delicious. This place has a great view of the beach and the staff is super friendly too. I can't wait to go back.

First time here! I honestly did not know what to expect but I had a hunch that I would have the best french toast as I was craving it. Service immediately was awesome, was greeted upon arrival. There was no wait time so basically was seated almost immediately. I had the option to choose between inside or patio/balcony but because it was such a beautiful day I chose the patio/balcony. Food omgee where should I start! French toast did not disappoint, fluffy enough and topped with fruit (banana & strawberries) I also ordered a hot chocolate to go with my breakfast. Every single item I tried was just delicious. If you're on the way to Santa Barbara this is a great cute spot to stop for breakfast!

We were driving north and stopped here for a late breakfast. I had bacon, eggs, and French Toast, . The bacon had only about 1:4" of meat on top. The eggs were good. The French toast was only crispy on top. And barely cooked on the bottom. Very disappointing.

This is my go-to spot for sure! I don't even know how many people I've referred to Summerland Beach Café for breakfast. The food, the atmosphere, the prices. Everything is on point! I always have the Two Two Two with eggs scrambled hard. And a monster hot chocolate. It's the same order every time and the same satisfaction!

Super cute atmosphere. Perfect for a casual brunch with amazing views. Food was pretty good. Service was great! Don't forget to order the cinnamon roll! Enjoy the food and the. Take a stroll along the streets if this super cute small town. Plenty of shops, restaurants, places to have a drink and even wine!

Cinnamon roll is a must do! So good. Ranchero dish was great and all the portions are so large will leave you stuffed! Atmosphere is casual. Putting our name on the waitlist from yelp ahead of time really helped speed up our wait too!

Classic environment of a cafe. The staff was a family feel right off the bat. We had Jenny as our waitress and she was a perfect blend with the family feel. Our party of 4 Ordered the onion rings (half order) and they were the best onion rings I've had in my life. Perfectly hot and the batter melts in your mouth properly. A half order gave us all 2 each (8 total). I was full after that. We split a few burgers and they were lovely. Tons of flavor. We couldn't finish. The Curley Que fries were spectacular. Sat out side with our dog and Jenny spoiled our dog. This is our 2nd time here headed up to visit our kids in SLO and this place is a must stop for breakfast and lunch.

Not sure what had happened to this wonderful Cafe ????? Been going for years and today...... had to find the host, no waiter, had to give order to bus boy, no checking on food, no refills, had to get up to find waiter for another order, had to get up to pay bill. New electronic payment method which I don't care for. Tip reduced substantially......

We love this place. Great location and always excellent service. The food is always delicious and they are very generous with their portions. We enjoyed every bite and some. If you're staying at SummerLand, I highly recommend coming here for breakfast, rather than driving to Santa Barbara. It's a real beach vibe and the food is better than most SB breakfasts. Thank you for a great time at your establishment. We will be back.

Any time I'm down near Santa Barbara, I eat here. The atmosphere is great and the food is delicious.

We were returning from vacation in Paso Robles and hadn't found a lunch option in Santa Barbara. So we drove through and my wife found Summerland Beach Cafe. It's a cute, quirky old house with tight hallways and multiple rooms. It's really a fun older house that must have an interesting history and some hidden spaces. We were seated with a window toward the south and our view could barely make out the ocean in the distance. They have breakfast and lunch options. Breakfast is served all day. I ordered the Mary Lambert Please sandwich which is a warm turkey and cheese sandwich with a side salad and my wife had a veggie sandwich with fruit. We were pleasantly surprised how good our food was. Service was really good and attentive. My only complaint was the prices seemed a bit too high for the food value and preparation. I could make the food at home and I have minimal skills. I understand the area is expensive so prices are higher. I definitely want to return to try the breakfast items.

Cute little cafe. It isn't by the water but you can see the ocean from the patio over the highway. The portions were good and the staff was friendly. I would stop here again for brunch on the way to Santa Barbara from LA! Also, they are dog friendly (:

The food was incredible. I had a omelette and it came out really well. I tried a couple bites of the big tipper and it was one of the best sandwiches I've had. Even though it was a busy place they were quick to serve. Sitting on the deck is pretty relaxing and if you're lucky you can get a good view of the ocean. The inside also has fun decorations.

Firstly our waiter seemed rushed did not smile and was neither polite nor friendly throughout our visit secondly the food was entirely tasteless and lacked any flavor Finally to make matters worse a 20% gratuity was automatically added to our bill for a party of six with the explanation that this constituted a "large party " given the poor service and horrible food we felt this tip was undeserved

We went to breakfast the other morning and I'm sorry to say but the food was ok. The Rigoberto's Rancheros tasted like the beans came out of a can and the potatoes were frozen and out of a bag. The Belgian Waffles were covered in fresh fruit but not much to talk about after that. Overall the food was bland. The highlight of the place was the service. The staff was attentive and was very friendly.

Cute little spot to come get brunch! We sat outside, perfect weather! Our food came out pretty quickly and it was really good. I ordered the two, two, and two with sausage instead of bacon. The French toast was so so good, I actually ordered it because a table next to us ordered French toast and it smelled so good, that we all decided we wanted French toast! Haha. The eggs were nice and runny like I ordered and the sausage was a good choice!

It's breakfast all day but the Croissant Breakfast (meh) ordered at noon came off a very hot griddle that partially scorched the egg scramble and the fried potatoes as well. The croissant was a bland mass market supermarket type that wasn't inspiring. My companion ordered Steak and Eggs and it arrived perfectly to order. Our coffee was wonderful. Service excellent and friendly.

Dry salty eggs Benedict. The English was burned as you can see. I asked for crispy potatoes, not burned. Won't be back here. Friendly waiter.

I brought my family last Sunday morning. No one to greet us at the entry. Finally a person seated us. I ordered apple juice which tasted like soapy. The breakfast was subpar. Bacon half cooked. The sausage patty was dead cold. The eggs were over cooked. The Waffle was good with fresh strawberries and warm maple syrup. Something is wrong with the restaurant. I've been there before and said I will never come back. Now I'm done with Summerland Beach Cafe. Your staff looks grunge...Hire a staff that looks clean.

How have I never reviewed this place?! Been coming here with my family for 20ish years and we just love it. Such casual beachy vibes but still a nice beautiful setting. When my recently passed dog was a pup we loved stopping here with him on our way up the coast as they are super dog friendly. I especially love dining on the little patio area to the left of where you check in. Their can be a long wait during peak hours, especially on the weekend during the summer, and parking can get a little difficult at times but it is worth the wait. The food has always been delicious and never had an issue with the service. One of my favorite items is The Big Tipper - turkey cranberry sauce and brie grilled, yum!! I always add avocado and sub the fries for their breakfast potatoes. My mother loves the LaRosa sandwich with grilled eggplant and orders it every time.

We love the summerland beach cafe! We've gone there quite a few times now and always leave impressed by the food. The breakfast burrito is great, sandwiches are fantastic, and I just tried the antique hot salad with teriyaki chicken. SO good. Lastly, want to call out how nice and upbeat the staff are. Feels very local and small town vibes.

Great customer service with a smile. Thank you! The place is adorable and has a cool layout with ample choices for seating indoors and out Ordered the Tuesday burger special to go Major issue: Please note that medium rare does not mean raw. My burger is raw inside and it fell apart because it is raw. Just browned on the outside does not mean it is medium rare. I hope your burger meat is clean and fresh. Last time I was served a raw burger was infected with food poisoning for over a week (elsewhere). Please ensure your kitchen crew reviews what meat temperatures mean. Medium rare is NOT raw inside

Have eaten here monthly for decades and the food is ALWAYS perfect. Huge portions. Menu has great flavor variety. I have tried nearly everything. If I could nominate a restaurant for a Michelin star, this diamond in the rough would be the one! Service is god tier too! They keep their great staff long term because they treat the guests with love and patience. Ambiance, is a stone throw away from one of the most beautiful little parks and beaches in California. Very consistent weather, we almost always sit outside. Very dog friendly Nothing cozier.

Delicious food, great service, friendly and attentive staff, great place with lots of character.

We go to this place several times a year. The service, food and layout of the whole restaurant is awesome. I find a new little treasure every time I go. The pictures on the walls tell the story.

The venerable Summerland Beach Cafe is still going strong. I'm here for my birthday freebie: thank you! I had the veggie burger with curly fries -- the bedsprings of fried potatoes. They served the classic Gardenburger: mercifully NOT the fake-meat Impossible Burger. All with the old-house ambience, an ocean view, and with great old historical photographs covering the walls. A garden's in the back, sea views from the balconies, but I chose a cozy window seat inside. Trivia: Jonathon Winters ate here. And in the distant past they had FREE TELEPHONES at some tables, so you could actually call your friends while you ate! This was, of course, WAY before cellphones! So you can see they have a real history here.

The moment we sat down today, our server Jenny remembered us from several months ago. And we were back at time before. Plus, she is always so friendly and service oriented. I have about 30 years in customer service background, and this kind of detail she provides must be acknowledged. We're having another pleasant experience with her. These days, service is dwindling down across the board. And that personal touch is becoming few and far between. So thank you Jenny for being so great and an asset to Summerland Beach Cafe!

Stumbled upon this charming little breakfast and lunch place while spending a day in Summerland. We were looking for a quick lunch somewhere dog-friendly and Summerland Beach Cafe fit the bill! I got the veggie patty on their patty melt and it was delicious. Side of perfectly cooked curly fries and I was absolutely satisfied. My friend got one of the breakfast platters and it was huuuge! Friendly staff, reasonably priced and tasty food, gives the feeling of a diner working out of a quaint country store. We were a little sad that the highway blocked the view of the ocean, but it was a small disappointment when the overall experience was delightful. Will definitely be back again!

Great food, great value, and most of the time good service. Not this time. We were sat 1st, but the bigger parties had their orders taken 1st. We definitely didn't get the kind of engagement we normally get. I give them credit, it is a holiday weekend. And they could use some house cleaning. Despite this, my family and I really love coming here.

Felt like the French toast was from the prior day warmed up. Hints were it came out real quick and wasn't hot

A coworker who grew up in Santa Barbara recommended this cute cafe to me. My husband and I came here with our daughter for brunch during a visit with her. We ordered the Two Two Two, the crab cake salad and a sourdough burger. I thought the crab cake salad was just okay but everyone else thought their meals were really delicious! The coffee (both hot and iced) were good. All of the servers were amazing and friendly. They kept our coffees filled and made sure we had everything we needed: Outside seating is available on nice days (which is almost every day in SB) or if you have dogs.

Nothing special given the price point. Sorta meh Eggs Benedict. Good potatoes, eggs cooked perfectly But a slice of ham vs Canadian bacon Very bland hollandaise sauce- the key ingredient

Basic breakfast choices, the staff was the best part - my buddy said the portions he wishes they were bigger and we both agreed that the concept of having a house turned into a restaurant was fun.

Great food and service!! Great atmosphere and vibe at the beach! Well prepared meals

We paid about $80 for 3 adults and a child for breakfast. It was a special occasion so we didn't mind. We sat outside and had a great view of the coast. Our server was great and we were very happy with our first time visit.

There was a little bit of a line to get in here but once we got to the front we were seated. The service here was outstanding. It was our first time here. I would highly recommend their French toast. The ambiance is nice. It is outside on two porches. The tables were well spaced out too. Our waiter was very nice too

The food came out very fast. However the quality of food was poor. I ordered eggs over medium and the egg yolk was almost as white as the white part, cheap qty eggs. Bacon was cold and way too much paprika on the potatoes. We will not eat here again.

What a wonderful, hidden gem! Beautiful homey environment with the friendliest service. Big portions.

I've visited over the years but have yet to write a review. I love coming here for the laid back ambience and the wide assortment of breakfast menu items. It offers pretty much anything you might want for breakfast- from huge omelettes to slimmed-down eggwhites to granola & yogurt to sweet waffles and pancakes, and of course if you like bacon or sausage, it can come with anything. My order is pretty simple-- I like fresh eggs with fresh fruit with some toast and coffee that keeps coming. I admit that I probably get about 4 refills while I'm there. And while its not a fancy coffee-- I think its plain Folgers-- it's brewed fresh and strong, so it hits the spot. Our server was great-- very attentive and chatted us up with a smile. I can only imagine the many variations of breakfast orders that they receive, so they must have a huge tolerance for picky people. We sat out on the deck facing out towards the street and the sun-- so very perfect for a Sunday morning. Next time I"m there I hope to stop by.

What a great spot for breakfast and lunch. Food is excellent. And the service was really good. Don't sleep on the onion rings. But be warned they are huge. But so good. The place is very cool and we got to sit in the famed Johnathan winters booth.

This place is amazing definitely will be back! Service was amazing and attentive and the patio was perfect!

Summerland Beach Cafe is a lovely little restaurant to come to for breakfast and lunch. We'd always wanted to try this spot but the lines can be long, so if you notice it isn't too busy you definitely need to stop by. The restaurant is a charming house type vibe. The outdoor seating is where it's at! It's just so lovely sitting outside and you get a nice breeze. A total local spot with good vibes. The menu is extensive! Can make it hard to narrow it down on what to pick, but that's a good problem to have. Who doesn't like a big menu with lots of tasty looking items? Also the pricing is really reasonable. They serve you a lot of food so you definitely get your Moneys worth. All big plate items seemed to be $15 or under so a good value for how much food they serve. The food is 5 stars! We all ordered breakfast and everyone's food came out fantastic. Waffles, pancakes, bacon, sausages, eggs - the works! We all agreed the food was really really good. Next time we want to give their lunch items a try. Great looking sandwiches and burgers. The service had some hits and misses. Friendliness 5+ stars! Our waiter was so lovely and in good spirits. All smiles from him and all the staff we came across. Very nice people work here. The only "miss" with the service was it did feel like the food took a little while to come out and when it came to getting our check we had finally got to the point that we tried flagging people down to ask for it. Also there were little things that needed fixing, asking for extra crispy bacon and it coming out limp. They easily fixed it but you wonder why you go through the trouble asking it a specific way in the beginning and then needing a second correction. At least the good news is they were willing to fix it and it came out fine the second time. Again, super nice staff though and the vibes and food definitely have us wanting to come back. If your in Summerland this is a wonderful spot to stop for a meal and enjoy the beautiful weather.

Visited my Girlfriend for the Summer in Ventura & was going to Santa Barbara Zoo. Before heading there. My girlfriend planned a brunch spot for us to grab something for our tummy. This Cafe was located right when we exited the freeway. Isn't hard to miss it. There's Parking available next to or in front of the cafe or either across from the cafe. Right when you make a left. It's located on the left had side. Had a small hunt that sold fresh flowers. The cafe have lots of seatings indoors and out on the patio deck. It has the vibe of a beach house indeed. Really cute & especially in a small town vibe. Not far from the beach. Across i might say. Lots of greenery and succulents decor in a pot on the shelves or hanging on the patio. Love that they serve breakfast and lunch all day. The entrees are really huge and shareable. What we ordered... The onion rings battered up is so delish. Highly recommended. I got the Two, Two & Two and shared it w my 5 year old daughter. My boys got the Chicken tenders & Grilled cheese. They liked it. We had 12 kids with us and 5 adults. Came here around 10:15 a.m. and took about 10 mins to be seated. Sat on the outdoor patio deck and had 2 servers help assisting us. They were really friendly & accommodating with our large parties especially with so many kids! Highly recommend this cafe for brunch. The kids menu was great because it had various different items that every picky kid can enjoy. ~Cons...negative was there's only 2 bathrooms. ~Tip...they offer waitlist on this YELP...YAY!

What a delighful place to eat breakfast! Whenever Im in the Santa Barbara area I make a point to drive over here for a nice breakfast. The staff is so friendly and all the food I've tried here is outstanding. The banana French toast is amazing, as well as the eggs benedict and pancakes. The fresh squeezed OJ and iced tea are also great. Parking is always easy and the outdoor seating is plentiful with nice views. Its across the highway from the ocean but you can still get a peek! Come check it out, you wont be disappointed.