Sandbar Cocina y Tequila - Santa Barbara

The end of this is...we would return.Strolling State Street on an early mid-week evening is a joy in the summer (post the 4th) since its calm and quiet. The wife and I came to Sandbox able to hear our conversation and revel in surprise bean dip.Our server was nice, but clearly new to working; I ordered a dish that said nothing about avocado or guacamole but, because I know Im at a Mexican food-themed restaurant, I always ask if there is guacamole with my order. She said no and asked if I wanted some. I said no not at all. When my dish came (see the picture)...multiple slices of avocado. To be fair, I asked about guacamole and not avocado so...In general, the food needed sauce but was tasty enough despite dry carnitas and ask for a double when ordering any cocktail and the bean dip that automatically came with the chips and salsa set things off well. The decor was crowded...I am assuming they were going for western to make some folks comfortable and arbitrary notes of Mexican style decor for...authenticity?I realize this doesnt sound great but the vibes are friendly, the seats were comfortable, and the meal not terribly expensive.Overall, would return the next time were in town, just know how to enhance the experience.

One of the best burritos I’ve ever had in my life, the frozen margarita was so good + the prices are incredible for the area. I wish I could give more stars♥️

Great atmosphere, good service and plenty of seating both in and outside. They can add some more starter food options like calamari, etc. For the drinks, I missed having more Mezcal cocktails to choose from.

Delicious food! Chips come with salsa and a yummy meat bean dip. The birria quesadilla has a little spice and is very filling. Chicken tacos were good and nice as a lighter option. The homemade corn tortillas were amazing. Definitely recommend!Next time I want to try the Horchata Pina colada, I just didnt have enough room tonight.Fun music atmosphere.

Food was good for me some people said it was ok but I liked it service was really good food came out fast atmosphere was good they had tvs with the different games on plus music. Plus the chips came out as soon as we got sat down the salsa and bean dip were really good

We were in town visiting from out of state and came with family. Jera was our server and she was fantastic! The shrimp tacos I had were some of the best I’ve ever had. Everyone loved the food and the cocktail list is massive. If you’re visiting Santa Barbara, this should definitely be on your list!

What a great find. You should go here. Taco Ruesday FTW.

My husband and I went on a Saturday night around 6:45pm plenty of seating and no wait. There’s also a bar inside of you want just bar seating. Cute place but the lighting was really dark & red making it hard on the eyes. The food was tasty & service was good. Wish there was a queso blanco cheese dip side for the chips but theres not a melted version available, I thought that was strange for a Mexican restaurant not to have. There was a yellow cheese dip that comes with the chips and was delicious as well. The salsa is spicy! Seemed like there’s a large variety of things to pick from- something for everyone.

The food looks great and taste is very good. Service was courteous and quick, food came quickly.Even with a long line, the wait was relatively short. Every table was full of people enjoying the evening. Sports bar feel w/ sports on multiple tvs above the bar and back dining area. Cozy atmosphere, nice heater distribution for breezy fall evenings. Great ambience, with street music, cocktails, and the beers are cold. The staff is dripping with pretty and hansom people. Plenty of parking in back (fee)I recommend you check it out.

Awesome dinner! Great vibe..this is a must visit when in town. Chile Rellano is the best!!!

Beautiful location with good service and lovely food and drinks menu. Definitely recommend going here, especially if you can sit outside!

I recently had the unfortunate experience of dining at Sandbar in Santa Barbara, and I must say, it was nothing short of disappointing. From the moment I walked in, I was greeted with a vibrant atmosphere and beautiful beachy decor, which initially gave me high hopes for a pleasant evening. However, my excitement quickly turned to disappointment as I sampled the food.The menu offered a variety of options, and I decided to go for a dish that sounded unique and delicious. Unfortunately, my choice turned out to be a huge mistake. The food was unbelievably spicy – and not in a good way. Ive always enjoyed a bit of heat in my meals, but the level of spiciness here was completely over the top. It felt as if the chef had liberally poured a bottle of hot sauce onto my plate without any regard for flavor balance.The sheer intensity of the spiciness overshadowed any other flavors that might have been present in the dish. I couldnt taste the freshness of the ingredients or appreciate the supposed subtleties of the recipe. It was all about the heat, which completely overwhelmed my palate. The dining experience quickly turned into a painful ordeal rather than an enjoyable meal.To their credit, the servers seemed sympathetic to my discomfort, and didnt charge me for my entrée. When I mentioned the excessive spiciness of the dish, they apologized and offered for me to order something else, but ilat that point i couldnt eat.I left Sandbar feeling disappointed and unsatisfied. While the ambiance and beachy vibes were undoubtedly appealing, the subpar food and lackluster service overshadowed any positives. I believe that a restaurant experience should be a harmonious blend of flavors, presentation, and service, and unfortunately, Sandbar fell short on all counts during my visit.My dining experience at Sandbar in Santa Barbara was far from enjoyable due to the excessively spicy food and the lack of attention to customer feedback. I cannot in good conscience recommend this establishment to anyone who values a well-balanced and satisfying dining experience. Its a shame that such a beautiful location is marred by the disappointing execution of its culinary offerings.

The food was very good,we had the chili rellenos (excellant) and seafood enchiladas. The drinks 🍸 were good, but the bartender was lacking on the service. Chandler, the waiter had really stepped it up to cover for the bartender.

I had a fantastic experience at Sandbar! The burrito was absolutely excellent, and the cocktails were wonderfully refreshing. The combination of great food and drinks made my visit truly enjoyable. Ill definitely be coming back for more!

This restaurant was recommended by a good friend and it did not disappoint. Food, service, atmosphere were all top-notch. Coming from San Diego where Mexican cuisine is an art form the food here is very good. Definitely worth your time

Whenever I am coming back from Paso Robles to Los Angeles, Sandbar is an obligatory stop. I love the food, the vibe, and their drinks are never watered down. I just learned they opened a location in Huntington Beach! I look forward to checking it out!

Love the vibe of this place. Went here for a late night dinner & drinks. Margaritas were amazing. Must try. Food was so yummy. The kitchen closes at 10:30 PM. The place is open till 2 AM only on Thursday - Saturday nights, the rest of the nights it closes at 12:30 AM.

I felt the waitresses were attentive to their customers. But I would say the food quality was not as good. Others in my party thought the same about their meal. They have plenty of TVs for watching sport witch is great and drinks are ok in price.

I was visiting the Santa Barbara Mission, and a couple others. My coworker recommended this place to eat. So my girlfriend and I decided to eat here before returning home.We walked up to the front two hostesses. Said hi, and asked if we could have a table for two. They just stared at us without smiling or saying a word. Then one girl finally said let me clean a table. She returned and said, you can sit over there. They never asked if we wanted to sit inside or outside on the street. They just put us out on the street. We were both extremely hungry so we just sat down. Although I could not believe the cold rude behavior we were shown. I was looking at the menu, and about to leave ! A waitress came with a nice smile and welcomed us. I didnt get her name but because of her we stayed. A couple arrived after us and I observed them get the same cold treatment. They sat down for one minute and left. Anyway the food was surprisingly great and full of flavor ! I had a burrito de carnitas and flan for desert. Management should get two new hostesses immediately ! That know how to smile and welcome paying customers ! Those two hostesses that were working the night of May 26th 2023. Should be Terminated asap !

Stopped in here for some lunch. They had a nice outdoor space that we wanted to sit at to watch the passerbys, but she said we could not be seated outside with a party of 5. Seemed strange because there was plenty of room. So she sat us inside. Not the vibe we were going for. Anyway we were hungry so we stayed. I had the taquitos and they were amazing.

Great ambience, quick and pleasant service and really fresh food. The only reason I gave 4 stars is that my palate was not at intrigued by the food. The Habanero Wings were too salty but not hot enough, the BBQ wings were too sugary. The wings were cooked very well, with a perfect crisp, neither too much not too little. The grilled fish taco was already too soggy by the time it came to the table and the fajita lacked character. The cooking and presentation was done masterfully but unfortunately not tastefully enough. The bar for Mexican food is pretty high, and it is not quite the same thing if it doesnt excite palate. I might go there again, but if you are looking to have a nice romantic Mexican dinner date, definitely go there for the ambience.

This place seemed like a good mix of chill yet fun, but they sat us - and everyone else who came in after us - in the inside back corner where the vibes were lacking, despite there being lots of space on the big patio. Fajita salad was yummy flavors but really watery, and the tacos and sangria were mid at best.

10/09/23 Update: Their perfect margarita is officially my new favorite. The chicken quesadilla was excellent but a bit greasy, and my chicken Chipotle fajita salad was pretty tasty but it was more of a soup by the time I was halfway through with it.Crispy shredded beef taco was excellent, chicken burrito was cold and a little bland. Good atmosphere, good margaritas.

Great SB bar for any occasion. Was fun on a Wednesday night with a live band. Everyone is friendly and having a great time.

Lilly’s Restaurant, as we are now compelled to call it, is a symphony of Mexican vibes, seamless Californian style and faultless hospitality from the start.When these three beautiful British bos stumbled across Sandbar, all we were searching for was a quick cocktail before karaoke night. We left not only having been happily filled with superb chips & dip (they don’t make it like that in London!), but with our hearts full thanks to the charms of our gorgeous server, Lilly. Attentive and friendly to the last she was, not to mention an evident expertise of karaoke prowess.We came back the next day for four and half hours, where we dined on exquisite tacos and wings, but, sadly, no Lilly.

The food here was fantastic! We tried the mahi mahi tacos and the shrimp and mango tacos and both were amazing. The chips come with two kinds of salsa which were both great as well. The outdoor seating is nice!

The food is great and the service is always a hit or miss. The food is not the most authentic but still close enough. The portions are big and most come with these sides. The prices are reasonable, around 12 to 15 a plate. I come here often and i either have great service where the server is attentive with great attitude even during busy times. Or i have a mediocre server that hardly checks in even during slow times. The drinks are always good though, you cant go wrong with most of the large selection they have.

Wow! What an incredible dining experience at The Sandbar Restaurant in Santa Barbara! From the moment we walked in, we were greeted warmly and seated promptly. The ambiance was charming, with a perfect blend of beachside casual and upscale dining vibes.We started our meal with refreshing cocktails that set the tone for an evening of culinary delight. For our mains, I opted for the filet mignon fajitas, and they were nothing short of spectacular. The steak was tender, perfectly cooked to my liking, and bursting with flavor. The presentation was impressive, and every bite was a savory treat.My wife thoroughly enjoyed her quesadilla, which was packed with delicious ingredients and served with fresh salsa and guacamole. The flavors were vibrant, and the portion was generous without being overwhelming.The service was impeccable throughout the evening. Our server was attentive, knowledgeable about the menu, and ensured that our dining experience was seamless and enjoyable. The staff at The Sandbar Restaurant truly goes above and beyond to create a welcoming and memorable atmosphere.Overall, dining at The Sandbar Restaurant was an absolute delight. The combination of fantastic food, excellent service, and a beautiful setting made it a memorable evening for my wife and me. We cannot wait to return and explore more of their enticing menu. If youre looking for a top-notch dining experience in Santa Barbara, look no further than The Sandbar Restaurant!

Good drinks, good food, good service. Been here many times, but going at lunch was much more enjoyable due to it not being packed. Every time i go to Santa Barbara I somehow end up here.

Where great food and good vibes reside.Totally worth the try. Come check’em out...this place has a good taste for food (mahi tacos were delicious 😋), 20 draft options if you are a beer lover and great atmosphere. Located on Main Street this place is definitely on the list for those about to rock 😎

We took a day trip up to Santa Barbara and stopped at the sand box for dinner. The wait was brief. The atmosphere was great, service was also great. They have lots of TV’s to catch current sports games. The food was great. We tried the potato taquitos which were amazing. They also offer a cheese dip and salsa with chips. I highly recommend and would visit again.

Always a great meal. Drinks are spot on and the staff was quick to come to the table and give great suggestions. It was so delicious, we went back the next day

The food was amazing, visited not once but twice during my visit to Santa BarbaraThe service was friendly, attention to detail, and the ambiance was perfect for food and drinks. Inviting location, fair pricing, great good. Great drinks.

Good food and location in a prime location. The service especially the wait system needs to be improved. For drinks we had Moscow Mule, Pomegranate Margarita, Baja Michelada and Red wine. The pomegranate Margarita is very unique. We ordered Nachos and Guac and Habanero Wings for starters. Guac was yummy and Wings was the best - fully cooked and the flavors just fill the mouth with every bite. For main course we had Fish Tacos and it was delicious.

I had a great time, everyone there is super friendly and the atmosphere is fabulous, i will return soon to Santa Barbara and definitely it’s the only bar i will go to

Really nice time hanging with friends. Not too loud. Food was great and they make great mixed drinks.

The waitress tild us the corn tortillas were hand made. The were not. We ordered the fish taco plate with rice and beans. When we got our food, I had too search inside my taco to find the fish because it was so tiny. The rice servings were about tablespoons. Looked like a kids plate. Will nit eat there again.

Came here for a bachelorette party and had such a wonderful time! From making the reservation over the phone all the way to leaving Sandbar after a meal and dancing, our group had a wonderful time! Lily, our waitress, made us feel right at home. She was such a gem to our group and made our time at Sandbar a blast!

All I wanted that evening was to zone out with some colorful lights and eat Mexican food. This place checked those boxes. Maybe Im the target market age, but it just hit differently listening to smashing pumpkins and having tacos. My heart and stomach are full.Weird side note. I know I didnt eat a ton, but they use some dough for the enchiladas that I didnt know would expand in my stomach. I was full clean into the next day.Ill definitely be back.

Everything about this place was wonderful. Great music/general vibe. Awesome food, great margaritas, and wonderful fast and friendly service. Couldn’t ask for more!We had the vegan Picadillo tacos and potato taquitos and both were better than expected.

We just had the nachos because the kitchen was closing but they were not the best nachos they were okay. The service was not the best. I had to order at the bar and the bartender that helped me was great. We will try this place again when we visit Santa Barbara again.

THERE WAS A ROACH IN MY FOOD!!!And when I brought this to their attention all the did was say sorry and proceed to bring the check at full price.Obviously, they didn’t do this on purpose but the way they handled this was completely unacceptable and unprofessional. I’ve never had something like this happen to me and it took everything in me not to throw up on the damn floor.

Really wanted to like this place. Happy hour prices are solid, but the margaritas were really bad. Received 2 bad batches of the perfect margarita.Either too tart w/ what seemed like rancid lime juice or too sweet.

This is a wonderful restaurant I found when driving through Santa Barbara. Went with my friends and ordered some of the best Pork tacos I’ve over ever had. Received excellent service by the host and servers. Drinks were awesome too!

Your regular but good Mexican place. I liked it because it was right in downtown Santa Barbara where everything seems to cost a kidney but this place had normal restaurant prices. We also picked this over a fancy sea facing place because it was open late! Taking away a start because my margarita was really pretty to look at but tasted and felt like a slushie. They say 2 oz liquor but I doubt it. Im a light weight, and Im saying it wasnt. They do have 1 vegetarian option on the menu: enchiladas which are served with black beans and they are pretty open to modify any other menu item. Patio was pretty and dog friendly

I had the birria tacos egg Benedict and my wife had the scrambled egg bowl. Both were outstanding.

Average Mexican food, really Not as good as the reviews said.small portions, Bowls and burritos has no steak option and only comes with chicken or ground beef!! not good ground beef though. had hard time digesting it for a couple hours!!Margaritas has hardly a half shot of tequilas!!Not recommending at all.

Amazing place! Loved everything about it. Its my second time coming here. Last time I was here it was for my birthday 3 years agoIt was on a Saturday and it was packed but the service was great and so was the food. My husband and I just went last night with my brother and our nephew. Surprisingly, we didnt have to wait so long to get seated. I loved what I got and so did they. The service was amazing! I highly reccomend their wings!. We will definitely be coming back !

Looks great from a glance but as soon as i walked up i was met with frantic workers who didn’t really seem to have a clue what was going on.After waiting about 7 minutes for someone to just talk to us we got seated, waiting staff was nice enough.When the food came the enchiladas were extremely dry and the tortilla was super tough and not cooked. I just expect more from a $17 entree. I would not recommend this place.

Cute patio with an elevated faux grass platform and plants. Best fish tacos we’ve had. Crispy to perfection. Their website and other Digital platforms are not clear when it comes to brunch times or open to close times. Best to call.Brunch served on Saturday and Sunday apparently 😉 they do have a breakfast burrito Served every day. TIP: Add veggies like corn and mushrooms to it, it is amazing!Going back for dinner tonight!

Giovanni was our waiter & he is amazing! The food was great! I got a chile relleno & was not disappointed. … best i had tbh!!! And dog friendly!!!

Great food and service in a relaxing setting. Try the birria tacos benedict! Theyre so good. Its just as it sounds...birria tacos served ala eggs benedict.

Hostess and waitress were on POINT-they both deserve raises dealing w everything they had to, and staying perfectly professional, and still being so helpful and in great moods!💯🙏

Love this place. Food is always good and the ser ice is always on point and always friendly. I have never had a bad experience while here.

Cool Mexican place. We should have waited for a table for 10-15 minutes on Saturday evening, but we could sit at the bar, which was great. We got free nachos while waiting for our food. They serve exotic margaritas.

The cheese on top of the burrtio was to crispy to eat so didnt really add to the flavor but other than that it was still a very good burrito I also had the steak fajitas and that was also a great spicy dish. Would came back to this place.

The service A+The chip were stale it killed the vibeSalsa and bean dip fabulousIt was a buzzing local hot spotSports bar themeFood was mouthwatering.Just the stale chips kinda killed the 5 star review.

The tacos here are amazing! They were cooked just right and were perfectly seasoned. The service is great too, all the staff were friendly and made me feel welcomed.

Holy mackerel these are the best fish tacos Ive ever had (fried cod, not mackerel)! I grew up on the beach and I can honestly say Ive never had any this good. The awesome waitress warned me about the spiciness, which was sweet, but I loved every bite. If you dont want the heat just order it without the jalapeno cabbage! I must say I was pleasantly surprised by the food at a place Ive only ever visited for the late night clubbing ;) great service, great food, great vibe, and they offered a bowl of water for my thirsty dog.

I come here every time I come to Santa Barbara. Love the food and service. Can go heavy or light and the Tequila is always on point. Highly recommend if you are ever in town.

Definitely the spot you want to end your night at. Complimentary chips and salsa are bomb. Nacho are very tasty. Loved the atmosphere and the ambiance.

We were told the wait was 30 minutes and it is my friends birthday. It is now over 2 hours later and we still have not been seated after checking in multiple times. This is ridiculous service and has waisted our night.

The ambiance is superb, boasting an excellently decorated space. However, the food quality is rather average.

The food was great I tried the new birra burrito and the meat had so much flavor and the meat had enough juice but not to much where the burrtio got soggy. The cheese on top of the burrtio was to crispy to eat so didnt really add to the flavor but other than that it was still a very good burrito I also had the steak fajitas and that was also a great spicy dish. Would came back to this place. .

Nice laid-back ambianceWelcomingA bit cleaner restrooms would be niceFriendly bartendersNjoy our trips everything were here

Been here a million times. Its pretty good. Ive had ups and downs here. Food is super tasty, pretty fresh, a bit pricey. A few years back my credit card was stolen here. Always save your receipts here. But recently a waitress let me charge my phone here, that was really nice. Also this place is a lot of fun as a sort of a club at night.Overall, I recommend, with some hesitation.

Fun and colorful ambiance! Great bar area and fire pit. Yummy Mexican food at reasonable prices!

Amazing food, great service

We were here at night when it turns more into bar / night club thing. And it was pretty amazing: loud music, people dancing, long waits for your drinks, fire pits.They ask for ID at the entrance

Great vibe, food was unexciting and bland but nice service and good location. Will try different food next time

Really cute spot on State Street! Loved the outdoor dining area. The margaritas were pretty good.

Delicious food. Staff was attentive. Turns from food n drink to night club atmosphere.

This is a great little spot on State street and Experience here is nice. We ate outdoors on state street which was very cool. Food was ok took a little while for our drinks to come once our food was served. Lots of heating outdoors at night.

Our food was amazing! We had the Taqueria tacos carne. The tortillas are hand made & super thick. Delicious. I also had a Chile Relleno ala carte. It was huge! Crunchy exterior with a small drizzle of ranchera sauce. One of the best rellenos Ive ever had. The patio was perfect & the decor is great. I will for sure be back.

My favorite restaurant in Santa Barbara. A true standout. My favorite dish is the steak and enchilada combination. Its hard to try anything else, because its so good.I have to tip my hat to the creativity of the chef. The spices in their red and green dipping sauces that automatically come to your table are unique and fabulous. If they werent actually hot sauces, a mild version of each would make amazing red or green gazpacho soups.Another example of the chefs creativity is the eggs benedict they offer for breakfast. The dish is not a benedict in the least, so get that out of your mind for maximum enjoyment. Its unique and there just is no other term for it. Instead of English muffin, they start with sweet tomalito corn mash. Instead of Canadian bacon, they top the poached egg with mild chile verde stew. The flavors blend superbly.Either breakfast or dinner, Sandbox is a reasonably priced and yummy place to watch the pedestrians on State Street and vice versa

Food was good, nice friendly staff and great location for food, shopping and site seeing.

The service and food are both great! Our waiter Justin is very attentive and polite.

OMGOSH!!! This is my first stop after a 5 hour drive, when I get into SB for the last 9 1/2 years. The staff is always wonderful but Brandon is ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.

Probably the worst customer service neglect Ive ever experienced in my 52 years of life.First the waitress that met us at the front just gave us a menu and then told us to sit wherever we wanted and left.Then we waited at least 30 minutes for a waiter/waitress, nobody ever came. Mind you, there were many of them working and a handful of tables had people at them. No reason for service issues, staffing was abundant.Then we took our service into our own hands, went to the bar and ordered our own food.They didnt even bring silverware with the food.Then didnt ask if we needed anything else and walked away.Then we went to the bar again to get silverware and order water. Get this, they gave me a pitcher of water and no glasses. So, I drank from the pitcher to get their attention, and still no service.The food was decent but not something that would bring me there again due to the service issues.Would NOT recommend.

Exceptionally underwhelming fajitas. Decent vibe

Delicious places, starters and entrees. I will definitely return on my next business visit in Santa Barbara. Massive and tasty drinks beautifully presented. Courteous service.

My friends and I stopped here during the busy lunch hour. We got street-side seating under the beautiful sun. We got complimentary chips and salsa on arrival. But after that the servers were swamped with the influx of customers so the rest of our dining experience spiraled down pretty quickly.We ordered the fish tacos, chicken tacos and ceviche with shrimp for the table. The food came out fairly quickly but the kitchen had not considered our dietary restrictions when we placed the order. Our server took the plates back and replaced them with our correct order after several minutes. For a long time we did not get any plates, napkins or cutlery for the table even after requesting the server. One of us had to get up and get it from the bar area. At this point we were not interested in placing any further orders so we decided to leave after having the tacos and ceviche.Overall the atmosphere was great but the food and service left us disappointed.

Really good food. The salads are excellent and very large. I also recommend the ribeye enchiladas. The seating (both inside and outside) has a great atmosphere, my wife and I really enjoyed sitting on the couches outside.

Honestly freaking delicious. The chips and salsa were so yummy and the food was incredible. Highly highly recommend. Great happy hour deals as well!!

Great food, great location and service. But a bit pricey.

We tried the different tacos. They were okay but we also had better ones. Still can recommend them.

Very good ambiance. We had tacos. Spicy, fresh, and tasty. For us the tacos were sufficient for dinner. Drinks were good, the margaritas were very well done. It’s a combination of sports bar and restaurant

Drovee up on Thanksgiving day from LA, nice drive, food was good... appetizer before the big meal...outdoor type of set up, clean restrooms and its along the state street shops...:) Good $!

I cant say enough about Sandbar, service, food and one of the best bloody Marys Ive had! To top it off our waitress was drop dead gorgeous 😍

Bland food, dirty floors, weak drinks. My margarita tasted like it had no tequila in it and that the mix was bought from a liquor store that was going out of business.To be honest, I wish I would’ve stayed home and just made a margarita there.

I would return when Im in for cocktails. My chicken enchiladas were standard fare microwaved mexican, but perfect chips and salsa, expert mojitos, and cool vibe. Staff was very friendly and attentive with zero attitude.

Stopped in for a few drinks. They took a while, so when I ordered a second drink, I was sure to also ask for the bill. The bill came, I paid, but my second drink never came. We finally asked and the server said that the drink must have been ran to another table. From the time I ordered the drink, to the time I got the check… forty minutes! And no drink! If we didn’t ask, the server would have never checked in on us to realize we didn’t get our drink.

Stopped in for lunch on a Wednesday while driving through the area and sat at the bar. Wyatt was our bartender/server and had great suggestions along with exceptional service! Can’t stop thinking about the hard tacos that are sprinkled with Cotija cheese on the outside of the shell… yummmm!

The service, food, drinks are impeccable impressive. I have been travelling around America and the sand bar is the best service I’ve had in America.

Great people watching from the patio (we sat out front and chairs were quite comfortable). We came around 11 on a Sunday and did not wait. Homemade chips and salsa (complimentary) are delicious. Abundant adult beverage options including some fresh and handcrafted. We were surprised at how cheap our bill was. Staff was friendly and attentive. Food was very good. I got the potato hash, my friend got the Benedict.

Tortillas were so good! Cozy, pub vibes inside. Good winter dining option for open air, but heaters.

Touristy area of Dwtwn Santa Barbara but highly recommended so we stopped..place was empty when the 5 of us arrived. All food was loved..

Our waiter was Graham and our service was great considering it was busy. The food isn’t authentic but close enough. The alcoholic drinks were great.

Food was ok. The portion size was smaller than we expected for the price, but I do get that it is downtown. The water given to us tasted a bit strange. In one glass it was ok, but in the second one it was not. Not sure if it was water quality itself or the glass was not clean. It spoiled the whole experience.

Food is amazing beer is cold and atmosphere is relaxing 💪🏼

Fresh and Delicious Food, Good beer selection and Great Atmosphere , Friendly service and Fair price, What more could i ask for?

It was kinda late.. its mainly gen z but overall the food was super delish.

I wish I lived closer, I would probably have their asada bowls EVERYDAY! 😂 make sure to not pass on the complimentary chips and salad with phenomenal beans! The great service was just the cherry on top. Thank you all soooo much

One of the best spots in Santa Barbara plus they have the Dodgers game which is about the only place in SB that shows it. Great drink menu and food was wonderful!!

Ordered take out. Got blackened Mahi Mahi bowl. Bean and cheese burrito and Birria tacos. Everything was packed legit good. With all the wet stuff separate so nothing gets soggy. Gave chips and salsa (2 kind). Everything tasted amazing. I personally got the Berria tacos and they were GOOD.

Very expensive for mexican food, I couldnt really tell if it was upscale restaurant for the very little food they serve.

Just as fun and prettier than I remember it! Always will have love for this place!! Cant go wrong here, whether its brunch, or a fun dinner. Sandbar a great place to have some fun 😜💃

This guy is the rudest piece of trash I have ever seen. He runs the place. The guy likes harassing people on the street for having cameras out, like some kind of maniac.https://youtu.be/NIpvqrngM4c?si=HN_aVCJlt_6erxgI

We were utterly disappointed at the service and staff’s behavior.Also, please write the type of meat along your dishes - not everyone understands Mexican terms. We assumed we’re ordering a non meat enchilada, but turned out it had beef.

Great place to dine in the day or night. The Evening is when this place comes alive.Reggae on Wednesday. We had great service from Jamie and Jada !! Theyre great and helped us make great food choices. All smiles.

Great service, attentive waitresses , cute outdoor sitting, good food, and great margaritas . There is a waiting time but worth it.

Absolutely the best restaurant we have ever been in Santa Barbara!

Sand bar great place to chill and have some fresh margaritas thank u J

My husband and he came here 3 years ago during our honeymoon and now we are back again for my birthday drive from Newport Beach, brings back memories. Great place for food and drinks. Will be back another time to celebrate a different occasion.

They have a vegan menu! Was so happy to find this while exploring the Santa Barbara area. I had the potato taquitos, which were very good. Dined outside and it was very pretty. Will definitely be back.

We had a wonderful experience at the Sandbar on 7/8/22. We sat outside in the shade and had the pleasure of being served by Jamie. She was so polite, friendly and thoughtful. The food was excellent and so was the house margarita. We had the nachos and they were excellent. The hostess, Bella, was also very nice and helpful. Great service, location, food and experience. We will definitely eat there again and highly recommend this restaurant. Thank you for a wonderful time.

Brenna and the staff at Sand Bar were incredible not to mention I had the best fish tacos I’ve ever had in my lifeeeeee !!!!! Add it to your stops in California ☺️☺️☺️

An excellent watermelon margherita, and some of the best shrimp tacos I have ever eaten await you at this festive Mexican eatery in Downtown Santa Barbara. For the area it is in, the price is definitely fair and worth it for what youre getting. Be sure to ask for the special hot sauce they keep in the back, it added a whole new level of flavor to my tacos. Will definitely be back here again for lunch.

This is one of the coolest places on state street but the drinks were awful and the DJ was a tragic mess - what are these transitions my dude. This is definitely a middle of the week visit but notttt the vibe for a Saturday night. (Referring to bar only as it was 10p)Edit 1: changing from 2 starts to 3 stars, the DJ read my Google review and the music got way better. S/o my dudeEdit 2: back down to 2 star, still having music transition probs - you got this, we believe in you!!!! You can get this up to at least a 4 star!!!!Edit 3: back to a 3 star, gots the crowd dancing again!!! And he played Brittney. You can’t not give that another starEdit 4: bumping us up to 4 stars, there’s 3 dudes on the dance floor right now carrying this place. 10/10 performance and they could honestly be a commercial for this place - like it feels like I’m watching footlooseEdit 5: back down to 3 stars unfortunately, the latest rounds of drinks tasted like dishwater. Will report back soon. Dj is still doing good atmFinal edit - leaving this as a 3 star. Will come back but prime time really was like 10:45-11:30Edit after that final one. We came back the next night and the dj suckssssss sorry leaving this as a 2

Had a great skirt steak taco. Service was first rate too. Great location as well.

New manager is an idiot. Prime time football game on tv and she refused to turn sound on. She claimed, “no sound during dinner service.” It’s a damn bar! It’s in the name! Why do you have 20+ tv’s and refuse to have any volume? Every customer was looking up trying to hear the game! Very disappointing after coming here for years. Time to find a new spot for weekend football.

Drinks were delicious. The bartenders were super friendly. Did not eat anything.

Sat at the bar. Good drinks and good service. Food came fast but left much to be desired. Would come again for pre meal drinks.

Happy hour rocks. On vacation with a friend, $5 margaritas! We had several, and our server TJ was very attentive and also the hottest thing wed ever seen. 5 million stars

Tried the Jalisco shrimp quesadilla and the mahi burger . Both tasted good. The portions are quite large. The restaurant seems to be popular and was packed on a Saturday night.

Great place!! Drinks are refreshing and strong, food was pretty decent and would definitely come again

Stopped in after some wine tasting before heading home to Ventura Co. We just needed a little bite but decided to try real food and were pleasantly surprised by how yummy our dishes were. We were happy to be seated quickly but, if we had planned ahead, we would have preferred a better seat because we were next to the bar. But we will absolutely return!

Good, large, semi-open-air-patio daytime spot for food and drinks. Nighttime crowd isnt for everyone, but is lively, and frequently features local music acts.

Really good margaritas, the chips and salsa are also great. They have a whole fancy vegan menu which is not a lot of items but theyre all pretty good. I would definitely go again for food and/or drinks.

The Mexican cuisine is not mine - until now. Great fresh food, fantastic flavor absolutely awesome.

Wonderfully delicious shrimp- and fish tacos, preferably enjoyed together with their house Margaritas that are served in generously big glasses. The staff was quite busy but still managed to be friendly, attentive and welcoming to each guest, very impressive! And we loved the atmosphere sitting outside in the sunset.

Place was busy for lunch...normal...a line to reach the hostess and we waited our turn...when we reached the hostess I greeted her with a smile...her reply was dry lifting her finger to say one moment please...no hello...just a finger to shut me up and tell me to wait....she proceeded to ignore me for about 2 minutes...until I again with a smile tell her I only have a question...can I sit at bar and order food? Her answer a dry yes. Once at the bar a nice bartender greeted us. I ordered a bloody Mary that was very salty but overall was good. I wanted nachos and was told no nachos u til after 1pm...ok no problem. I ordered shrimp tacos. They were cold and undercooked. Husband wanted ceviche dos manera but they didnt have ceviche blanco so it was ceviche una manera....I didnt like the food. Prices are ok food is not.

My experience tonight at sandbar Santa Barbara was extremely sub-par. The food was good, but the service definitely did not make up for this. A couple of things I would like to share regarding our waiter Arturo. First of all we were seated at the same time as another group of people, and he got their order and delivered their food before we were even asked for our drink order. On top of this we asked for Diet Coke. He brought us normal coke and we sent this back. We then again asked for Diet Coke and he brought us normal coke again. And on top of this didn’t even ask if our drink was correct that time, not cool. In addition to this, i asked for a side of limes several of times and he didn’t bring those over either. I ended up having to use the ones that were served with my tacos that were covered in the birria broth, again not cool. Another thing I would like to mention is that he seemed to have been purposely avoiding our table, as he walked by us several times and wouldn’t even make eye contact…he didn’t even ask how our food was, and i had to ask for a refill on water, was expecting to just have it filled up without asking, as that how is should be in any restaurant. We ended up having more interactions with the hostess and food runners, which is extremely abnormal in this type of restaurant environment. Writing this as I am still drinking normal coke.

The folks at the front house are too busy chatting. After 20 mins, nobody showed up to take any food orders, and seeing other people leave, I left myself. The place used to be much more efficient when I came before several months ago.

Great Happy Hour ... and its margarita Monday! Great service and reasonably priced!

Amazing place!The food, The service, the drinks!Everything

My lover and I both ordered the rib-eye fajitas. Everything was good but the most important item. The rib eye steak had more c(h)ords than a 12 string guitar and was a tuff as shoe leather. I needed the jaws of life in order to chew it. I really do not believe that it was actually rib eye. We told the server and she was like oh well I am sorry. We got the feeling that she could care less about us being satisfied. I suggest they make a Costco run and get some real rib eye.

We went to Sandbar to have great night but unfortunately we got rippen of at the entrance. We were 3 peolple and it was $10 to get in, we payed $40 and they didnt give any change back. When we asked the girl at the entrace, she said she wont give us anything back in a rude tone. So although its great inside on the weekend, this still kinda left a bad taste for us.

Great ambiance. Lets you really soak up the Santa Barbara State Street experience.

Food was delicious and came out quickly after we ordered. Thank god for a great chef and efficient food runners because our server was very slow and pretty awful. We waited 15 minutes before getting our drink orders in and then another 20 minutes for refills and our check took forever to get. The saving grace of our visit was the delicious food and atmosphere.

Nice ambience, perfect for outdoor seating. Service was quick and hospitable. The food was ok though.

The slowest service we have ever received. Our waitress was nice but the food took an hour to get to us. Got my salad order wrong 2x! Party of two, we were served 20 min apart. Kitchen staff and it chef is horrible! Food was subpar and way overpriced for what you get honestly👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼

We had just ordered drinks as the bar would be open till 2am according to their website. However we got aggressively requested to move away from the bar as they were calling the night. Upon request if we could finish our drinks another aggressive response was given for us to move. This all happened while tables and chairs were being thrown in the club to be finished as fast as possible. The guy with the mullet gave our experience a 1 out of 10.Could have asked politely and been a bit more lenient when customers just spend over 100$ on drinks…

Not my vibe but the food was good and the price was decent.The bar smelled gross, like a dingy old bar.The bartender was at best friendly, but not overly social. The person next to me made a comment about our interaction. It was just underwhelming service.But great food! Good job to the kitchen crew!!

Great food and drinks and friendly service

This place deserves 5 stars. Good food, a bit spicier than usual, huge mimosas, nice atmosphere.

Great restaurant, very lively with a large outdoor seating area and good music.

Great service, very attentive and friendly staff and fab menu.

Good happy hour prices and food good. Fun place to hang out on a sunny afternoon.

My go to Mexican restaurant when I am in SB. The food is always fresh and delicious. It is partly outdoors and they play music so on the weekends it can be loud - but very fun!!

The server who handled us was not very proffessional with the way she communicated to say the least. When my spouse said that she cant do cheese, she said Then Choose something else!..the phrase and the delivery right of the bat were rude. Then the order was wrong first time, then with cabbage that had mold the second time. Most of the other food was bland ... just not the best choice for Mexican food there..

Classy atmosphere, great service and drinks. Didnt try much of the food other than some tacos that did not disappoint. The salsa is pretty good here too. The hostess who helped us, Ava, was extremely professional and patient with our group!! Shoutout.

Been wanting to go in for years, and for whatever reason, just havent!This was our first time in, had a great experience from the line to get in all the way till our exiting!Great service, food, and drinks!Chandler took amazing care of us but everyone at Sandbar were great!Had the Fajitas &, margaritas!Will be back for sure!Thank you Chandler & Team!

Great atmosphere and a huge side of chip and salsa

Our group of 4 enjoyed their margaritas and appetizers. Their potato taquitos were very yummy, lots of garlic in the potatoes and the fresh jalapenos were spicy. We really liked their quesadillas. The queso flameado with chorizo was a surprising hit as well.

This was our second time back and this place is phenomenal. The chicken chipotle fajitas are wonderful. The serrano ceaser Salad was out of this world. The gucomole and chips are amazing. The fajita Salad was just perfect. My husband got . The el suprem bowel with carne asada he loved it. Five stars for food and serves. The servers and hostes are pleasant and friendly and offer such a an easy fun time. Chandlier is a blast !

Good food, decent service, but pricing is deceptive. Went for a birthday dinner with my wife and friends and our drinks were all exactly $1 more than what was advertised on the menu. Furthermore, gratuity was only added after our cards were ran... not on the original bill.Server pointed out the tidbit about pricing is subject to change, which we get, but it wouldve been nice to either have updated menus or a note about the price increase. Be wary of this.Decent food all around though.

The food was everything I wanted. The drinks were large and refreshing. Really fun scene. My server, Ivan, was beyond delightful and his recommendations were spot on. If I ever find myself back in Santa Barbara, will be stopping here again.

Not bad! Great environment, awesome service, good food. Seasoned chips are delicious

Good service waitress was friendly and came to check our table often to make sure everythingwas good. The food was good had a shrimp quesadilla. The salsa is flavorful but not hot, assuming they have a hotter one if you ask for it.

Chicken enchiladas are fabulous and the environment is fun!

Great spot for food and drinks servers were very nice and ensured your glass was never empty

Dope spot to catch some games. My girlfriend and I stopped in and grabbed a margarita, beer, and guacamole. Salsa and chips are good but definitely has a kick to it 🥵 🤣

I only ordered a breakfast burrito to go but it was delicious! The chips and rice that came with my to go order were good as well. It was super busy that day but I got my meal pretty quick and Ill be back whenever I visit Santa Barbara again. Looks like a super fun atmosphere to spend some time in and I believe the have live music nights.

Excellent food,great service. Atmosphere is super fun! Grab a drink and hang a while

Phenomenal food. Great service and nice vibes. We got birria tacos, shrimp fajitas, and fish tacos. Everything was extremely delicious. Love the chips and multiple salsa choices too. Jalapeno margarita was very tasty. Great, attentive service was the cherry in top. Great establishment!!

We only had brunch there, but wasnt impressive

Overall great experience but, could use a little fine tuning. The staff is friendly, helpful and happy you are there. This venue is lively and a place to meet up with friends or make new ones.Now to the food. Chips and salsa; fantastic. Some of the most flavorful chips Ive ever had at a Mexican restaurant and salsa that you just want to drink its so good. Food presentation was great. I had the crispy fish tacos. They were good but could use a touch of something to bring out the flavors more, maybe a little salt or a squeeze of lime.We tried two different spicy margaritas. Delicious flavors with the right amount of spice, but extremely WEAK in alcohol content. To be honest, I question if there was actually any Tequila present. I say this only because I drank on a completely empty stomach and am a bit sensitive to effects of Tequila. Hmm... Ill definitely try again on a future visit.

This place has now completely moved to outdoors during this pandemic. their seating area is super cute. Still has high quality service. The food is amazing, very generous. The drinks were also delicious. If youre craving a good Mexican plate, this is your spot.

Super lovely spot. Was greeted with chips & salsa and a smiley friendly server. Margs are way yummy and food came super fast and we ate it even faster, it was so good. Wish I could take this place everywhere I go. Not sure what they’re paying the chef but he needs a raise. Get one of everything. That’s all.

Just wanted to shout out bartender Brandon- I had an incorrect order delivered, so I went to the restaurant in-person to see if I could get it switched. It was college night, so it was packed and the music was cranked up. But even so, Brandon took care of our food in the middle of the chaos, and expedited my re-make.Thanks so much, dude! I hope they’re treating you well.

I have gone to Sandbar multiple times… and months later next thing I know some random worker comes up to me out of absolutely nowhere as I’m just dancing with my friends and kicks me out of the bar because my ID is “fake”. First of all this guy has never even seen my ID so I have no clue what led him to say that, second it was obviously real enough for them to let me in in the first place. I am very conflicted about this bar. Now every time I go in there it is a problem and it is a very weird situation because this does not happen to my friends the way it does to me even though we are all the same age.

Never go to this bar. The head general manager named Dustin has inappropriately touched women while asking them to leave. After being asked to leave, my friend respectfully said okay and made their way out, but while leaving he proceeded to shove and grab her in inappropriately places. This is the worst bar you could ever go to, with the most horrendous and inhumane service. The way female customers are treated here, especially by Dustin, is absolutely not okay and should not be tolerated.

Great service, great drinks at average state street cost. Food was alright but not incredible. Really the only gripe was table space. It was pretty cramped and uncomfortable and it seemed like its a common (but understandable) theme throughout. Our waitress Jamie was really attentive and kind. Food came out hot. I ordered the Mahi Mahi burrito and though it wasnt bad, I might recommend trying something else.

Excellent food, service, and very dog friendly. 🐕

The food was delicious I have the ahi burrito It was super good and the chips were great with the salsa.

Wanted to have a drink and dinner but was told that I needed to wait for a server to come first, reasonable right? The waited for one to come even though there were several there standing around talking, hostess was rude and seemed bothered being there too.Perhaps this is a one off but if not management should talk to staff, perhaps other good customers are being treated the same.To many other choices to consider in this area.

Chile Relleno, Street Tacos & Sandbar Margarita with house chips & salsa. So good. Recommend it!!!!

Soooo poor service today!! Bartenders were ignoring us for a long time, when served other people who came after us. Bartender was rude, unrespectful, drinks made in poor way, even not filled up.

They have the best skinny margarita! Service was great and the atmosphere was perfect. Outdoor and indoor, we sat outdoors

Great atmosphere, and great service. If you have time in the weekend, this is definitely the place I would recommend. The weekend breakfast special from 9-11 is the best in Santa Barbara. I always order a huge breakfast burrito, and two pieces of French toast. A bunch of nice TVs to watch the game on. Definitely worth it.

We had the chicken nachos which were good but some of the chips were a bit salty at bottom. Chicken taquitos were delicious and so was my guava goose drink and the strawberry daiquiri. The chips alone were seasoned too much BUT the salsa (red and green) were so good! The customer service was great! Next time Im here Ill try something different off the menu. 👍

Yes, this is a state street tourist magnet. But the dining area has a party Cancun/Acapulco cantina feel which is fun every now and then. The service was thoughtful and friendly despite a shortage of servers. I dont know how authentic it is, but the chorizo Fundido was really good. We tried some shrimp tacos and beef tacos and they were both very good. Healthy? Nope. But packed with flavor. Weve avoided this place over the years because it is touristy and there are so many good Mexican places in town, but we are glad we stopped in and we will return.

Had the fish tacos which were decent. Margaritas seem to be light on the tequila. Hostess did not seem to care as folks were lined up even though tables were empty. Server was great and really prompt. Overall it was a 3.5.

Dustin is the general manager and the reason I will never come to sandbar again. The man is on a power trip. Very rude attitude and kicked out a girl very aggressively. I did not like the way he touched her. The whole experience was very off putting and I would not recommend coming to this bar.

For as many employees they have at this establishment you would expect to get stellar service. The hostess was better than the male servers. Tacos and margaritas good. Asked for the fried ice cream to go and they brought it on a plate. They said they would put it in the freezer...Hoping it’s not melted by the time I drive 15 minutes.

Sat at the bar enjoying the baseball game with great tasting margaritas. Staff was quick and always attentive. Ask for some chips and Salas and they gladly provided freely. Great place to hang out.

Very delicious food drinks and such a great vibe all around.