The Black Sheep Restaurant + Bar

BEST dinner in SB. Superior to a number of restaurants in the area(even those with Michelin stars). I’ve been here by myself, with a group of 3-5, 20+ guests AND 120+ guests and the quality and service is consistent and incredible. EVERY. TIME. The service and the food are above and beyond. Every time I’ve come in I ask the for the 4-course meal and I have NEVER been disappointed. They always change it up and if there is ever something that sticks out to me on the menu they will accommodate the ask and incorporate it into the meal You will not regret visiting here. This is a staple to Santa Barbara and one to remember!!

Brought my mom here for her birthday and couldn't recommend the restaurant more highly. The quality of the ingredients is fantastic and everything we had was delicious. I had the duck which was especially good. Nice selection of wines and beer too!

Our family of 5 with 3 adult/teen daughters enjoyed our meal. We did the chefs tasting menu. The items selected were delicious! We would not necessarily have chosen off the menu what we were served, and we were all very happy with the selections. The bone marrow bread, mussels, and short rib were highlights. The chocolate mouse was incredible. Cocktails tasty. Service was friendly and prompt. Our family laughed and enjoyed our night. We will come again.

Apero menu is delicious! Been a few times recently for the dinner menu and every visit the food has been world class! Last night was the latest and we enjoyed duck lettuce wraps, adult bread and butter (marrow bones), curied salmon, cavatelli with an incredible mushroom sauce and great desserts to share! Try it!

Blacksheep has been the place for my fiancée and me over the past two years. From when she was my girlfriend to now being my fiancée, this restaurant has been part of so many special moments in our relationship. We've dined here seven times, always choosing their set course menus, and every visit feels like discovering a new world of flavors. Just when I think I understand a dish, Blacksheep elevates it to a level I didn't know was possible—perfectly balanced, beautifully plated, and absolutely unforgettable. Beyond the exceptional food, the service here sets a standard. On our most recent visit, Luke took care of us and made us feel genuinely welcomed and valued. It's rare to find a place where hospitality matches the quality of the cuisine, but Blacksheep delivers on both fronts effortlessly. This restaurant holds a truly special place in my heart. It's not just about the incredible food or the excellent service—it's about the memories we've created here. Whether it's a celebration, a special date, or simply an evening to treat ourselves, Blacksheep remains our favorite restaurant in the world. We’ll definitely continue coming back for years to come.

Had a fantastic experience at Black Sheep Brassie! Everything was delicious but the “Adult Bread & Butter” aka bone marrow with toasted baguette was one of the best things I’ve ever tasted. Of honorable mention was the duck lettuce wraps. We talked to owner who was so kind and involved in his restaurant. Really recommend making a stop here! We will be back.

Sunday supper cannot be beat. It was a wonderful experience of 9 courses and had various interesting flavor profiles. We spent about 2.5 hours here, so we do wish the food came out just a few minutes quicker for each course. Staff were engaging. Ratatouille playing in the background was a cute touch. This is a romantic date spot I recommend to anyone. If you make your reservations on OpenTable please note that the CORRECT parking lot near the restaurant is Lot 11 and the price is $3/hr after the first free 75 minutes. This info is outdated in the email sent and may confuse people who are not from this area (like my husband and I).

We did the tasting menu as part of a nuptial celebration and absolutely NOTHING disappointed. The service was top-notch, every dish on the tasting menu was flavorful, and the ambiance is modern and tastefully simple. Also, the short rib... I would walk 500 miles......

Recommended by my daughter, we ordered 3 set of 4 courses tasting menu, each dishes are taste good and presented beautifully. Service is good too, but we are not happy with the portion, we ordered 3 sets, for the main course, there're only 2 pieces of salmon & beef, we did confirm with the waiter, he said that's the right portion for three people. Really don't think the portion is right. Portion for others dishes are quite small for 3 people too for $70+ per person meal. Quite disappointed.

We did the tasting menu as part of a nuptial celebration and absolutely NOTHING disappointed. The service was top-notch, every dish on the tasting menu was flavorful, and the ambiance is modern and tastefully simple. Also, the short rib... I would walk 500 miles......

(From March 7, 2019) Did dinner during a weekend trip up to SB from LA. We arrived 30 minutes earlier than our reservation time, and they were going to seat us at a table in the middle of the room, but we were coveting the more private tables by the wall, and the hostess was able to accommodate us (thank you!). Chose the tasting menu. For $65 per person, you really couldn't go wrong. Our server was Sam, and she is AWESOME. Super attentive, friendly, had great recommendation for drinks (and advice on how to manage our stomach space throughout the night -- more on this later). So the tasting menu starts with some roasted almonds with olive oil and salt, olives, and some sort of bruschetta with fish (I can't remember what kind) on top of eggplant puree. After that was a burrata cheese salad and panna cotta with beets. And after that.....well, more food just kept coming our way, including a branzino and some scallop sashimi, roasted green beans, a cauliflower dish.... by this time, we were getting pretty full...and there pops up this amazing oxtail hash with gnocchi dish. At this point, I say out loud, "I think this is the last dish. There's been so much food already". At which point, Sam comes back over and says, "oh, no, there's at least two more dishes, including your entree." Our eyes must have bulged as much as our stomachs were...what do you mean the entree wasn't even here yet?! At which point, Sam suggested that we do little tastes of everything else (a bruschetta dish and a risotto) and concentrate on the entree. The entree was a rabbit, date, carrots, and potato dish. I hadn't had rabbit in a while, and the date and carrots and the sauce balanced the unique taste of the rabbit perfectly. Except by the time the rabbit came, partner and I were both in pain. So the rabbit arrived with the chef (I think) jokingly saying "This is the last one, I promise!" And then, dessert (oh boy) -- creme puffs and berries! Yum. Not only was Sam great at checking up on us the entire evening, but the entire staff (and someone who seemed to be the owner/manager) also came by multiple times to make sure we were doing well. Thank you all for a wonderfully memorable evening! Oh, ALSO! They have the best chopsticks. Actually, they have two kinds of chopsticks - one kind is amazing, the other kind is bleh. Ask for the good chopsticks. Good chopsticks make an awesome experience like this all the more delightful.

Ruben and do a great job offering you French bistro fair with a California twist and then absolutely gorgeous location. The interior designer really understood the space and the vibe. The menu is updated with local fresh ingredients by the season and I believe they must shop at the local farmers market Everybody finds some thing they love. . The brazino was a big favorite among my friends as well as the coq au vin. The new plant-based dosa is delicious. You can decide about it spice based upon the sauces on the side. The desserts are always great and if you're celebrating something special, you might get a little welcome bubble with a slice of lemon. It's beautiful and festive. The service of the restaurant is excellent. Some of the best I've had in Santa Barbara. There is easy parking by the lot street away, but you walked through a courtyard and then you're right at the restaurant

We had a great experience overall! The ambiance was really nice. There's a downstairs and upstairs area. The light fixtures are really cool and the seating is comfortable. We ordered items separately but they also have a tasting menu option for $75 which sounded really fun. They don't have a full bar, but there are wine cocktails if you prefer that. The wine list is really good. The service was excellent. Our server was polite and attentive and had many good recommendations to offer.

The Black Sheep is must for anyone who's loves food!!! The other night we went out and were very excited to check out this restaurant and it exceeded expectations. We started the night sharing the Crudo du Jour. This salad was a great start to the meal. The seared tuna was perfectly cooked and the cucumber and radish complimented the citrus salad dressing. For the main course we ordered the Trio of California Spring Lamb. The meat loaf was moist and the harissa sauce on top was delicious. The tri tip lamb had a perfect char on the outside and was served over kale and root vegetables. The meat was tender and flavorful. My favorite part of the trip was the lamb rib. The meat was so tender the bone slid right off the meat. You couldn't have asked for a better entree! To end the night, we shared the Passion Fruit Trifle. It was sweet, sour and light tasting. It was the perfect dessert to end the meal with. I also have to thank our waiter, John, for his excellent recommendations and service. He made the experience with his knowledge of the menu and excellent service. Between the food, service and setup of the restaurant, The Black Sheep is a perfect restaurant to checkout and revisit in downtown Santa Barbara...five stars all the way!

If you have the opportunity to make a reservation at the Black Sheep restaurant, you really should. The menu is quite amazing . We enjoyed so many tasty dishes . First of all, they carried our favorite wine from Santa Barbara that we had tasted early that day , Margerum Pinot Noir. We started off with our oxtail soup , with onions and melted Gruyere. ( seriously the best soup I've had in a long, long time.) We had their cheesecake beet salad , pretty darn tasty. We also enjoyed the Hamachi popper, little bit too much cheese for my liking, but it was extremely flavorful. Perfectly grilled salmon with asparagus was delicious . The service was a little bit slow, but we realized it's a big restaurant, we were on the second floor upstairs and those poor waiters had to come up and down the stairs with all of our dishes. I did not see any doggies and I did not see an outdoor area.. The music was great.

Absolutely LOVED this place! My son turned 20 and we came to Santa Barbara to celebrate his birthday (of course he coudn't visit us b/c he was having a party that night). i wanted to pick a nice place. Found this on Yelp...and i'm very pleased with our experiece. We had a 5:00 reservation so we could take advantage of the 3 course $39 meal. (see attached image). we had two tiny pups in tow (in a stroller) and they behaved quite well...only had to take them out once for a quick stroll. course #1: we all had cauliflower soup ...YUM course #2: 2 of us had the beef short rib, 1 had the coq au vin, and 1 had the hand rolled ricotta cavatelli. Honestly i always silently question the person who orders pasta over meat ...but let me tell you that the pasta dish was phenomenal! in fact all 3 were amazing. course #3: i think we were 2 & 2...creme brulee and bananas foster brea pudding...both were delish I wonder how often this menu changes...b/c i want to come back for another round! Excellent service....really 5 star dining experience. food was phenomenal atmosphere was upscale yet not pretentious.

Had the absolute best meal here last sunday evening. Everything from the decor, to the service, to the food / drinks, were top notch. They have an "Apero" Early Dinner Prix Fix from 5-6 that consists of 3 courses (with incredibly generous portions) at an absolute steal for $39. During that time, bottles of wine are also on sale for 30% off. We chose to order off the apero menu to try a little bit of everything. Their wine list is extremely well curated, and they even have my absolute favorite sparking rosé by Scar of the Sea (highly recommend). We ordered the endive and butter gem salad, the hand rolled ricotta cavatelli with wild mushrooms, and we each got a different dessert- brown sugar creme brulee and bananas foster bread pudding. Every single item was 10/10, no notes. Wine and water was re-filled constantly, and Travis and Ruben could not have been more hospitable and knowledgable. The ambiance of the restaurant is so inviting, with the most beautiful bar, artwork, and even an upstairs section. I can't believe it took me so long to try The Black Sheep. It will easily become a staple visit whenever I'm in SB. Can't wait to return!

Dropped in to have dinner here on a Friday night. We did not make reservations and they were able to seat us with a few minutes. The main dining room was bustling the entire time we were there-- we sat outside in the back patio and it's charming and quiet and sheltered from wind. We were comfortable outside with the space heaters. The seats were comfortable too! The brick, plants .. and lighting were like eating in a garden. We ordered a glass of Pinot, the waiters recommendation was fantastic, so much so that we had him guide us through the menu on a few things to eat. The table next to us had ordered the tasting menu of the night. It looked amazing, the presentation was perfect. In fact the presentation was perfect on every single plate. We opted to order a few small plates to get a sense of the variety the menu offered. We had the Crudo Du Jour which was local Albacore Tuna with a Raspberry Yuzo Kosho on a Radish Cucumber Salad. I would eat that dish everyday - it was light, flavorful and so tasty. Then we moved to a contrasting dish of Adult Bread and Butter. A heartier dish with a bone marrow spread like having light beef without having to really chew it. It was rich, and could have been a meal all its own. We then had the Hand Rolled Ricotta Cavatelli and Wow- it was amazing with the mushrooms. A nice compliment to the hearty toast we'd just eaten but not heavy like pasta in the least. By time we'd finished snacking away on the small plates the time had flown by, and we were genuinely sad we had to leave. It is a great place to eat, with variety on the menu- creative dishes that take food to a new tasting level. Run to try this place out- I'm sure you will see me there as it's on my go often list because I've not tried everything on the menu and I now want to. Staff A+, food beyond A+

This was a great dinner with wonderful service. We started out with a bottle of wine, I had an Endive and butter salad, which was yummy, then on to the Short rib dinner. The meat melted in my mouth. Then, for dessert, it was bananas foster bread pudding. Everything was just incredible, not to mention the great ambiance. This place is a must try.

All I can do is laugh-- why was everything so salty? We got the tasting menu for two. Table next to us got the same thing, they were raving about it. Guess it depends on your taste? Not bad by any standard but also quite far from great restaurants I've been to. We liked the second dish most, the salad and crudo. But overall underwhelming to say the least. Salmon, mushrooms, roast all very very salty (and don't get me wrong, I love salt). Dessert just ok. Kind service though. Wouldn't return-- sad!

Such a great date night spot! My boyfriend & I celebrated our four year anniversary here and it was just a perfect dinner! Reservation highly recommended! For drinks, I ordered wine and he ordered the East 75. If you're looking for a semi sweet drink, definitely recommend that cocktail, so tasty & refreshing! The food was 20/10!! We ordered the cauliflower soup which was so creamy, flavorful, and tasty! We also ordered the Steak Frites (only can be ordered med rare or med..if you ask nicely) and Coq Au Vin. Three perfect dishes that you need to try! Lastly, our server were so amazing! He gave us all of the best recommendations and we got a tiny glass of champagne as they heard we were celebrating! I can't wait to come back here as this place is everything!

I was over the moon to finally indulge in the incredible offerings at Black Sheep. The ambiance was warm and inviting. Service was absolutely impeccable. I went for the " Hamachi Popper" with Sashimi and Tempura Fried Poblano Pepper and it was heaven on a plate. They had an exceptional selection of wine and cocktails. Every person in my party was blown away by the flavorful perfection of their dishes. I will absolutely return on a special occasion.

Our New Years Eve dinner celebration! Four course set menu was a perfect size and always delicious for us! Love the ambiance of this space with the high ceilings and arches. Our waiter and staff was very attentive. Even got a nice photo with the owner who was super busy.

Awesome dining experience!! We had such a fun and professional staff and had a really pleasant time. Made a reservation ahead of time and got seated immediately. We decided on the set menu for $68/person and advertised as family style, four courses. We weren't expecting too much but we were completely blown away. We ended up getting served 12 dishes total, which consisted of a soup sample, two salads, the daily crudo, 5 entrees, and 3 desserts. My parents also got the spritz cocktail and a local IPA and enjoyed them. Really great and elegant vibe, overall one of the best food and dining experiences I've had to date. They rotate their menu with the seasons, so we will definitely be back soon :)

This was such a great event with wonderful food and drinks! The vibe and atmosphere of The Black Sheep was super hip, cute, and romantic. The service was spectacular. I really loved the trout and caviar cracker bites and also the steak frittes. AMAZING!!! I am definitely coming back here for the full menu.

(Overall: 90% | A) - I realized I forgot to post my review of Black Sheep from 2019 when I revisited four years later in 2023 so I will be comparing the past and present. The cute and intimate vibe of the restaurant is always a draw, and the service is quite reasonable. In terms of food, they definitely excel with some specialties like the bone marrow bruschetta, so definitely worth trying those items! (Bone Marrow Bruschetta: 102.5% | A) - The 2019 edition of this was simply outstanding on all fronts that easily makes it their signature dish. The richness of the marrow is elegantly contrasted by the beauty of the herbs and the pickled pear that I have not been able to remake to this day. The colors and the playing was also phenomenal and I really hope they bring this rendition back. (Adult Bread & Butter: 92.5% | A) - In 2023, this is the sampler where you can find their bone marrow bruschetta. Alongside, there is an uni canape that speaks luxury and elegance and a duck / toast combination. The duck is interesting and the toast helped pair it, but I found that more toast could've balanced better and the flavors here are simply less desirable than the other two on the plate. (Duck Confit: 95% | A) - The 2019 edition of their duck dish was a roasted duck leg with peaches and potatoes. I didn't expect this combination to work, but the peaches added a nice sweetness and the potatoes added a balancing starch. (Cassoluet: 90% | A) - The beans are very tender and the duck is well cooked. I think its an interesting comfort food item, which this new black sheep is going for, but also in an elevated manner. (Coq Au Vin: 95% | A) - Another very homey dish that has been elevated -- roast chicken! I love how the chicken is tender and falling off the bone. It pairs well with the root vegetable selection as well as the tender potato, making this very warm and comforting food to eat in during a cold night! (Pork Sliders: 77.5% | C) - The 2019 version of Black Sheep also had some Asian influence, but perhaps that was a bit misplaced because, while the flavors were interesting, its clear that Asian food is not the emphasis of the restaurant. Hibiscus Cider - I am quite disappointed that the new Black Sheep does not have any cocktail offerings. However, this hard cider option does develop some interesting notes and come in a cute bottle. (Sunset Mocktail: 95% | A) - The gradient of this drink is soothing to the eye and develop some aromatic fruit-filled flavors! They should bring this type of drink back to the menu! (Chocolate Mousse: 72.5% | C) - The chocolate mousse is light and fluffy and displays good technique. However, the dessert felt incomplete and missing some notion of substance.

I had the best Sangria here and had a really friendly and experienced bartender. She put extra special fruit in mind. Came here back in 2018.

There's reasons that this place requires reservations - it's crowd worthy. Between the calming and lovely ambience to French food prepared with utmost delicious care, I'm already negotiating how my hubby and I can return! Divine!

Was honestly hoping for a lot better overall experience here. Customer service was kind, ambiance was great. The food just didn't really wow us. We ordered a medium filet mignon and it came well done. After the 45 minutes it took for us to chew through it, the rest of the meal was subpar. I ordered a mock tail that tasted extremely watered down (I think it was just pretty water?) The highlight was just the sweet potatoes, we enjoyed those but that was about it. The duck noodles were subpar, (who puts seaweed salad in noodle soups!) Cries.

Incredible food and service. Came here for our anniversary and it was perfect. Highly recommend the 4 course family style tasting menu which came with 9 different dishes. Pricing was worth it for the quality and taste of everything we had, and it was more than enough food sharing each dish with my husband. We would love to come back again

I have such mixed feelings about this place! Some of the dishes are mind blowing and others are a hard pass. They also charged $15 for my husband's Diet Coke?! That's unethical and ridiculous in my opinion. Probably a 99% mark up for fountain soda?' Nonetheless, we didn't want to punish our very nice waitress, Asia. The ahi tuna was overcooked 3:5. Then came the beets 6/5. Oh my...tangy, crunchy, and happy!!!!! The ricotta dumplings were next and EXTRAORDINARY!!!!!! 6/5. I would come back for those alone. We were told that the tasting menu included chicken. Instead we got the duck as the next entree. I'm a duck confit lover, but it's definitely not for my husband. It was ok. 3/5. My husband ate the beans. The short ribs were aso a pass. They should be super tender. However, they were pretty dry. Crème bulee was good but the chocolate torte was literally one of the worst things I've ever eaten'! Overall, the place is cute and if you order right, your meal will be fabulous. Thank goodness for the tasting menu, as I would have ordered the duck and ahi and written this place off. But I do think that you can have an amazing meal here if....you order my recommendations. Still, everyone's palate is different.

This place is one of the top restaurants in SB for a good reason. Exceptional menu and food presentation, high quality ingredients, and relaxing atmosphere. Quiet enough that you can enjoy each other's conversation. Seafood was amazing, and the burger and fries seemed liked a great option as well. Would certainly return. Service was great, but expect a more leisurely meal. They aren't in a rush, so plan to stay a while.

I just couldn't wait to write a review for The Black Sheep. It was one of best eating experiences I have had (granted I was with good company already). We couldn't decide on what food we wanted because I read so many good reviews so we landed on the tasting menu which was the best choice over. The tasting menu included seven appetizers/ dishes with two different desserts. Every dish brought excitement to our mouths, many with many exquisite complexities of taste but were balanced so well. Our server Asia was amazing and provided a great dining experience. We appreciated the rest time between the courses which resulted in us staying until closing time. Highly recommend the Black Sheep and their tasting menu! Would definitely come back when in the area. Amongst our dishes: - squash soup - a fantastic start to our meal. So many wonderful flavors. One of our favorites. - Crudo du jour - refreshing course with slightly seared fish and crunchy veggies. So many good textures. One of our best dishes. - Brussels sprouts Cole slaw - smoky and flavorful: a bit bitter. It was good but wasn't my favorite in the tasting menu but my friend's favorite. - Cavatelli - soooo good!! One of the best dishes, prepared so well. - Short rib - this came as the last course before dessert and we were pretty full. The short rib was tender and most but it wasn't as interesting as the other dishes. - coq au vin - cooked so well that the meat was falling off the bone. Just like the short rib, it was good but nothing special (although I don't usually order coq au vin so don't have much to compare it to). - Fish du jour - seabass, medium rare. So well prepared. One of our favorite. - Chocolate ganache - nice crunchy shell with moist cake inside. Good texture. Very rich. Delicious! - brown sugar crème brûlée - so good as well! On another note, we ordered Marrow Toast on top of meal because of the reviews. It was good but wasn't what we expected. The toast was too buttery.

This is a gorgeous restaurant; not only is it spacious, with ample, well spaced seating, it is decorated beautifully with modern and comfortably lush furnishings; it also has a very seductive French vibe. The owner is very friendly and accommodating! The staff is also very well trained and friendly. The food runners are great and efficient. I ordered the Early Three course Happy Hour Prix fixe, which is a great deal for $39 and 30 percent off of wine by the glass and bottles of wine. My dining partner and I both had the very delicious endive and butter gem salad; crunchy and deliciously studded with pepitas, chevre, and dates. Next I ordered the heavenly hand rolled ricotta cavatelli with wild mushrooms, this dish is so delicious and and creamy; definitely one of my all time favorite pasta dishes! My partner ordered the beef bourguignon, which he also fell in love with. Instead of a dessert my partner ordered the cauliflower soup, which he was not that impressed with because it was very loose and didn't really have much cauliflower taste. For the dessert I ordered the bananas Foster bread pudding which came with an amazing cinnamon gelato; simply superb and over the top decadent! This has become our favorite dining destination!!!

This is our must go to restaurant when in SB. The food is outstanding, but the service cannot be beat. Mostly because Ruben the owner is the best. Our first experience there we were humbly served by Ruben but had no idea it was his restaurant. He treats everyone like family and it shows.

I made reservations just to be sure we got a table, but ended up arriving around 30 minutes early. They greeted us and graciously sat us right away (table for 2). As they were starting dinner service, they also turned down the lights as we sat down (which does set a nice ambiance, don't get me wrong, it's just hard for some people to read the menu LOL, it's me). Nevertheless, we decided to do their "famous tasting menu", served family style. Let me tell you, for the amount of food alone, it is worth the price. Now some dishes stood out more than others, and a few little things we didn't care for (didn't like the lamb sausage, the steak while the flavor is on point, it was too chewy) That trout was pan seared to perfection. And I've never had beans so buttery and tender and flavorful. The only unfortunate aspect is they change up the tasting menu (or maybe fortunate, depending on how you look at it). I can come back another night and try a bunch of new dishes. Service was wonderful. Our main waitstaff was able to recommend a great wine, even gave me a taste before I committed to just a glass. Also note, if you're from Silicon Valley Bay Area, no, this restaurant isn't related to the Black Sheep Brasserie in Willow Glen. I asked just because I was curious.

In fairness this was a pretty special event dinner that SAMSARA WINE put on. It was extra special because it was the wifeys birthday and we drove up from Pasadena. Fantastic space, beautiful old building in the heart of Santa Barbara. i envy those that live in such a beautiful part of California. This six course meal prepared by owners chef Jake Reimer and delivered by Ruben Perez was by all accounts another level of cuisine i had not experienced in some time. Outstanding is a word i would use. And paired with Samsara wine really was just an out of this world experience. We were told the menu was curated special for the wines which made the chef effort that much more complicated. (Chefs) hat off to the owners for pulling off this amazing dinner. it will be impossible to match and hard to beat! we will certainly be back for a dinner as soon as we can. SB locals (i'm looking at you Sussexes) you are very lucky to have this extra special restaurant in your backyard.

Outstanding! Get the early 3 course dinner special. Each course I had was tiptop and the girlfriends agreed. Great place for women especially.

Amazing meal. The tasting menu is a STEAL. The food and value is worth every cent. Love everything.

One of the best dining experiences we've had. Everything about it, the service, ambiance, and of course the food. Everything was a 20/10. Every dish we ordered, 4 total for a party of 2, was absolutely delicious. We've had many great dining experiences and this is probably top of my list. Must try, we will definitely be going back.

If you have to cancel everyone's reservations, please make an effort to contact everyone with reservations or at least put up notice on your Instagram, yelp, etc. Very disrespectful of you to have us drive to your restaurant in the "dangerous" rain that you tried to protect your staff from but not your customers.

Such an incredible experience at Black Sheep. It's not common to have a creative and unique experience while dining with wine pairings and Santa Barbara for under $100 per person. At Black Sheep you can get a delicious five course meal that is innovative and different every time for a reasonable price. You also get a nice amuse Bouche and two different desserts to try. This is why I think it's a great place for a date, because you never know what to expect, and dining becomes an experience rather than just eating out. I thought the service was incredible, the staff was really passionate and clearly well-versed on the menu, and how it changes. I will definitely go back. I loved the space! The wine pairing is also a must try, they give you plenty of wine and two different glasses per course!

The 4-Course Tasting Menu was an absolute Epicurean Delight!!! Great Service to complement!!

Mixed feelings about The Black Sheep. Ambiance and staff are wonderful but the food isn't as good as we had hoped. I love that thier dishes include classics such as coq au vin - which I may add was cooked beautifully, but the other dishes missed on a technical level and or they were far too salty. The Hand Rolled Ricotta Cavatelli was overly salted and cooked more like gnocchi while the Slat Rosted Beats lacked balance. The texture and mouth feel were amazing but the tartness of the coffee was overpowering. It wold be nice if the prefix was not chef's choice. A few adjustments in the kitchen could make a world of difference but not worth the prefix price with so many other options in the area.

I'm still not sure how I feel about dinner here. The server was great. They were actually very accommodating, and let us be seated before our reservation time. It was really hot inside and there were several pesky flies that wouldn't go away. I ordered the filet, the gratin potatoes, and profiteroles. I was never given the gratin potatoes, but wasn't charged. The filet was amazing. They did not have cocktails available so I just had water. We happened to be seated next to a table of men who had strong opinions on all things political. That was quite entertaining. And nauseating. The restaurant seems very dog friendly. Several people had dogs inside, which is nice, but weird for such a seemingly high end place. It was an interesting experience, for sure.

4 of us came for a celebration dinner last Sunday. The service was warm and friendly. Since I had a long drive back to San Diego that night I ordered a soda which never arrived, no big deal. We ordered a number of dishes to share. The skin on the Duck Confit was not crispy, the large beans were creamy & well prepared. The chicken was good but I love parsnip & enjoyed the side of mashed parsnip. 1 person loved the gnocchi with mushroom sauce. The salad with trout was delicious. Bone Marrow Bruschetta was sadly not 1 I would repeat. The other dishes were all good. Good place for a celebratory meal. We were seated upstairs, it was cozy. Thanks for a nice dinner.

We visited The Black Sheep on Saturday, April 22 with a reservation at 8pm with our party of two. What a lovely little restaurant, that is still quite open, spacious and a nice upstairs as well (even though we were sitting downstairs close to the bar). Modern, but yet relaxed and laid back. It is the type of place where you can come dressed up or come casual and still feel like it is appropriate. There were so many seemingly good things on the menu; however, we ended up doing the tasting menu. The tasting menu (without beverages) is $65 per person. We found that to be a great value for the area and for other similar tasting menus. The menu says four courses (which it is); however, comes out in a series of 9 plates for you to share. I'm not going to list all of the dishes here, as it does vary from time to time; however, all of our dishes were good. We had 1 amuse bouche, 2 appetizers, 1 pasta dish, 3 entrees and 2 desserts. I mean, we were absolutely stuffed by the end of the 6th plate; however, we powered through to finish. My two favorite dishes were the Cavatelli and the Scallops. Good service, great food! A great night just off of State Street, and I would definitely return again.

We were so lucky to come in on the day they had new items on the menu. Wow! What an explosion of flavors! Our local favorite and absolutely exceptional flavors. We sat at the bar and it was so much fun. Took pictures this time since we usually get to the eating right away. I'm going to dream of the crudo du jour and that banana fosters house made brioche bread pudding dessert. Out of this world!

We went for the $39 prix fixe and it was phenomenal! Also my boyfriend got a wine cocktail that was so good that I ordered the same one after originally getting a mocktails. If we lived in the area, we would be there often! Don't miss this place! Our entrees were excellent (coq au vin and short rib) as weee the desserts (crème brûlée and bread pudding).

I don't leave reviews..well ever. But I was in Santa Barbara for my birthday. After much research I focused on black sheep!! The couple that was to join me ultimately could not make. So I sat at the bar. There I met the owners wife and "Jess" who waited on me with diligence. While there early the place picked up and was standing room only, to which I can only attribute to the great food. So I would suggest to make sure you make your reservations and be prepared that if you are in the second seating to have little wait. But it's worth it! It's limited seating and the decor is trendy yet inviting. The bar is spacious and if a couple allows for dinner and drinks without feeling rushed or pressed. I did an off menu sampling of 8 courses. A bit insane but it was my birthday. Each was amazing but among the amazing I have a ranking. To enjoy the offerings I encourage you split the discuss to enjoy them w a friend(s). 1. Marrow toast. Astounding and unique. A must try 2. Beet and chèvre cheese cake. I was like omg why did you give me this ?? But then....it was like could I have another. All in. Must try. 3. Coq au vin. Who would have thought it would end up #3. Simple but just outstanding. 4. Ricotta gundi cavatelli. I the mushroom sauce. Just wow 5. An off menu salmon. Like butter. If they have it when you are there...it's definite. 6. Short rib. Another offf menu item. The issue is that the other items above it were so good it seemed unhonorable to rank it here but it's was only because of the other items being that "tasty" 7. Crudo du jour. albacore with this amazing raspberry yuzu kochi cucumber radish salad that was off the hook. Again. Ranked here only because the other items were that good. 8. Crème brûlée. Solid offering. But overwhelmed by the dinner options. Jess at the bar was amazing. I highly encourage the visit. Was truly worth it. 1. Crudo du jour.

The experience here did not meet their prices. Not sure if it was because they were so busy or if they wanted quick turnover, but service felt very rushed. The server spoke to us briefly about the menu and then ran off only to rush back for our order and take off again. We ordered a beer but the can was dropped off at the table and spilled over when we opened it. The oxtail soup had a large chunk of cheese that wasn't fully melted, just on the surface. Their famous steak frites came out at lukewarm temperature and the fries were not well seasoned. The cavatelli and salad were the most tasty items we ordered. Perhaps we caught them on an off night.

So I got the 16oz Steak Pommes Frits and it was excellent. My wife got the Coq Au Vin which she said was flavorful and presented really nicely in a ceramic pot. The only reason this place didn't get a 5th star is because even though I had made reservations and there were plenty of open tables in the restaurant... I was seated next to the bar. Even though there were only three or four people at the bar, they were extremely loud and boisterous, as you'd imagine a bar would be. Thing is, if I take the time to make a reservation in advance, and you have the open tables I expect to be seated in the main portion of the restaurant. Not to mention that after we we're seated we saw walk ins seated in the main dining area. For the price of this meal for two, with a couple of bottles of sparkling water, appetizers, main course, wine and dessert, I expect a nicer ambiance. Not the TGIF effect of being sat next to the bar. Otherwise the food and service was excellent.

Most reasonably priced high end meal in town! Unpretentious and delicious, I have yet to have a single dish here that wasn't amazing. The "Apero" Early Dinner Prix Fix from 5-6pm is a great way to get your feet wet, the portions are very generous and the options change seasonally.

Black Sheep is located at the old Mousse Odile location on Cota. Couldn't be more appropriate- the food is a delight, the wine selections excellent, the service impeccable and the owner Ruben gives every table his personal attention. Will certainly be one of our 'go to' spots.

I tried this restaurant out for a friends birthday celebration and the decor and presentation of the restaurant was absolutely beautiful. Our waiter was good but definitely seemed like he was very busy managing most of the tables. The acoustics in the restaurant were not great as I couldn't hear people at my table 2 feet away across the table. Overall I think the service was okay. Lastly the food tasted great and quality and presentation were also great. However I knocked this review down to a 3 star because after ordering the boat catch of the day, I was told I would receive a New Zealand Salmon fillet with a side salad. Upon arrival, it basically was about 2 oz of salmon on top of a bit of green sauce with a few bits of greens next to it at the bottom of a large bowl! I would not describe this as a main dish at all. Compared to the other dinners ordered at the table, the cous cous which was truly a full plate and the filet mignon which was also substantial and tasty. The catch of the day was definitely lacking in quantity especially for the price point of $50 for a main dish. Recommend at least a 3-5oz salmon fillet as part of a main dish and a true side salad not a garnish or a portion of local vegetables promoting Santa Barbara's local farms.

This is an excellent restaurant. Even though it's relatively new, it's one of the best in Santa Barbara. Do the 4 course (actually 9) meal if you can. Every dish is perfection. It's comparable to the few Michelin recommended restaurants in the area, so it wouldn't be surprising if The Black Sheep were to make it on to their list soon. Go there before it makes it on to the Michelin guide and becomes really difficult to get a reservation.

You can tell the owner, Ruben has a genuine passion for giving people a memorable experience and serving great food with wine to match it. This was our second time trying this place out after a less than stellar first experience where things went wrong for a number of reasons, but everything was made right and more. Our second time was so enjoyable that I can be sure our prior experience was a one-off. It happens, things go wrong, and I think a desire to make it right is what distinguishes great establishments worth returning to. The tasting menu took our tastebuds on a journey and everything was delicious. Highlights this time around were the bone marrow bruschetta, smoked trout, the braised short rib, and the cassoulet. I also LOVED the ricotta cavatelli with mushroom sauce we tried last time we were there. We received outstanding service from Ruben and his staff in such a a warm and comfortable setting so that over two hours flew by without us noticing. I would absolutely recommend the black sheep to anyone looking to celebrate a special occasion and will definitely be back. Im looking forward to trying their "apéro" with discounted wine and small bites.

This place has a lot of potential but just did not live up to it. The service and ambiance were great. The staff was welcoming, attentive, and accommodating. The food was the issue... We started with the Five Spice Pork Belly as a shared app and it was fantastic. I would happily order that any time. The Cavatelli was so salty that it was hard to eat and left the mouth feeling raw. This was particularly disappointing because other than the salt the dish seemed fantastic! We were told that the burger could only be cooked rare or medium rare because it was Wagyu. We ordered medium rare, but when it came it was more rare. It was sort of like eating warm tartare and not very enjoyable. It was sort of wet feeling and was pretty bit bland as well. I wish they would have let us order it cooked medium. Not thrilled to pay around $100 for three dishes and not really enjoy two of them at all.