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Arts & Letters Cafe
7 E. Anapamu St, Santa Barbara
Phone: (805) 730-1463

  • Category: Californian
  • Hours: Lunch: Mon-Sun 11am-3pm, Dinner: Wed-Sun 5:30pm-9pm, Fri-Sat 5:30pm-10pm
  • Chef: Cosmo Goss
  • Price: $10 - $20
  • Serving: Lunch & Dinner
  • Reservations: Yes, recommended
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Arts & Letters Cafe writes: The Arts & Letters Café serves classic California cuisine with an emphasis on local seafood, all set in our beautiful courtyard in the heart of Historic Arts District in downtown Santa Barbara. We serve lunch seven days a week and dinner Wednesday through Sunday. In all of his menus, Chef Cosmo Goss participates in the Santa Barbara First program to ensure the freshest ingredients. He uses farmers, ranchers and vendors with local ingredients and sustainably raised seafood to prepare his fare in the California tradition. Range fed, antibiotic and steroid free, pesticide free, and organic are our buying preferences. The Café is also pleased to offer a fine selection of California Wines and a Full bar.

  • Happy Hour: Wednesday through Sunday 5:30- 7:30
  • Private Room: Private dining for small events up to 35 people

Reviews by the General Public

Unfortunate Wine List, 7/17/2010
Reviewer: Margaret from Goleta
Three recent visits to Arts and Letters, same wines on list unavailable. After going for fourth choice, which was considerably more expensive, overcharged on bill. Seems an easy fix to update available wines as the list is just an insert in the menu. Ten dollars minimum per glass is high for the type of restaurant it is, as is the general bottle prices. Santa Barbara has many wonderful wines at quite reasonable prices, even considering twice retail or three times wholesale. A new wine rep and definitely more care in servicing the list is needed. Wine and beer are good profit makers for restaurants if marketed properly. Wine glasses very nice. Food and service was good. Waiter was prompt to adjust bill, when the overcharge was pointed out.
Our new favorite lunch place, 7/3/2010
Reviewer: P&B from Santa Barbara, CA
Simply fantastic from a chef & rest. manager- Cosmo is extremely talented!!!
A bit pricey at lunch, 6/27/2010
Reviewer: Larry from Santa Barbara, CA
Nice setting. A pit pricey. Had a so so turkey sandwich for $16.00 served with a small salad. In fact all the lunch items with the exception of a hamburger ($15.00) were $16.00. At those price points I was looking for a bit of wow which was lacking.
Pretty great, 6/23/2010
Reviewer: Carrie from Santa Barbara, CA
Tonight was probably the 4th or 5th night we've been here and it's been great every time (especially with the 2 for 1 coupon)! They change up the menu frequently and everything tastes fresh (although my husband always goes for the burger because it's so good). The courtyard is lovely, the service is pretty good, it's never too crowded. Thank you ALC!
Wonderful atmosphere & food, 5/12/2010
Reviewer: Ashley from Santa Barbara, CA
My family and I had the pleasure of dining at the Arts & Letters Cafe this last Sunday. I have lived in Santa Barbara my whole life and never knew there was such a beautiful outdoor eating area hidden in this art gallery. My ALC Benedict was absolutely to die for! The service was also phenomenal, not only did our server make sure we were well taken care of, but at least two of the other servers came over & filled our beverages. The chocolate torte and a coffee were the prefect way to end our meal. We will be back this weekend!!
Lovely patio, food and service left much to be desired, 5/10/2010
Reviewer: Jenn from Santa Barbara, CA
We arrived at our reservation time and gave our name. They pointed to a table on the patio and said they just had to clear it. I thought great something on the patio opened up. Our reservation had been for indoors. They didn't come into the gallery to get us when the table was ready I had to keep checking on it. My disabled mother and my 90 year old grandmother and the rest of our party were finally seated on the patio. It took us several minutes to get settled. Someone (I believe the manager) then came up to us to ask our names. When we replied, she said, "Oh no you were supposed to be seated inside, you're going to have to move inside." I refused to move. I used to work in hospitallity, and when you make a mistake you hustle to fix it without anyone knowing. You don't inconvenience your guests. Our lunch took 50 minutes to be served, my omelet was cold and potatoes were undercooked.

Easter Delight, 4/5/2010
Reviewer: Tony Bliss from Santa Barbara, CA
Wow. We got there a little early, before 5 - can you believe it? The hostess checked with the kitchen, seated us, got some wayout drinks that she said were house specialties. Try the Blood Orange Gimlet. Then we launched into a 3 hour feast. The home-made charcuterie was the best we ever had - ever, ever, ever. Then we tried a Pork Pot thing that was one of the finest main courses I have ever had. My date had the home-made noodle. She was totally impressed. Then we waited awhile and had more to drink. Then we started on deserts. One at a time. We realized that nights like this don't come along very often. We were there for a little more than three hours. The waiter was terrific and

the art of food, 4/3/2010
Reviewer: Steve Cushman from Santa Barbara, CA
Our City has an abundance of lovely, small restaurants. Our local chefs have a vast choice of fresh products from our farms, ranches and the ocean. I am always delighted to dine at Frank and Trisha Goss's Arts and Letters Cafe because of their insistence on using the finest local ingredients in their food. Now that their son and daughter, Cosmo, the new chef, and Tyler, the night manager and mixologist, have joined the staff, we not only have the great ingredients but we get an artistic and experimental approach to the cuisine. Everything is made "in-house." I mean, where else can you get a drink with bourbon, cognac and bacon? This isn't a restaurant for the timid. Try the lamb, the shark and the sausage. And....the art is pretty good, too.
Favorite place in Santa Barbara, 4/2/2010
Reviewer: Calina Marie from Santa Barbara, CA
I lived in Santa Barbara for 8 years and every time I come back I always eat at Arts and Letters. I was so happy when I heard they were opening for dinner, it also seems to be getting better and better. The last time we went in was in February and they hired a new chef who is doing amazing things with the menu. The food is all fresh and seasonal which I just LOVE. I had the shark escabeche and the beet salad. They were to die for!!! To the reviewer below, the pumpkin soup is a staple and has been on the menu since they opened, I think there would be a riot if they took it off =) I will, of course, be back!
You Had One Chance to Impress, 3/31/2010
Reviewer: Tyler from Santa Barbara, CA
We decided to take advantage of a buy-one get-one coupon to try dinner at Arts & Letters. We have enjoyed lunch there in the past. No amount of savings makes up for sub-par food and service. Our server, Chelsea, was very sweet and she meant well but she is not qualified to be a server at a high end restaurant. Basic things like spacing out courses and removing finished plates were not attended to. We tried the cafe's famous pumpkin soup and figured it was a sure thing. No flavor whatsoever. Even with salt and pepper there was no point in eating it. This should not be on the menu when it's not in season. We also tasted the soup of the day, broccoli-leek, and that was flavorless as well. My wife's entree, the bouillabaise, was the high point of the meal and the only reason 3 stars are warranted. The halibut and shrimp were great. My local rock cod was quite good as well but it was served with a pile of machaca. First of all, the pairing of these flavors were not complementary in the least. More importantly, the machaca was really boring and unsavory. I came home and made a smoothie to cleanse my palate. The experience felt like a waste of time and money.
Creative and delicious, 2/24/2010
Reviewer: Kris from Denver CO
We ate here for a large group family reunion/memorial and the food was consistently creative, flavorful, and surprising. It was one of the treats of our visit to Santa Barbara.
Good to Great, 1/30/2010
Reviewer: Tricia from Santa Barbara, CA
I work two blocks away and lunch here once a week or so. Always good, always fresh, always reliable. However, something has changed. Big menu revision, lots of new dishes. But the good news is that the place went from good to great. Every dish I have tried is new and delicious. We went the other night for dinner. A first for us. Wow, even better. I will be back.

Normally Im sure its exceptional, 12/8/2009
Reviewer: Nate from Santa Barbara, CA
The food was excellent, which is to be expected for the price. They did seem to go overboard with the cracked pepper, but that may have been an anomaly. There was something wrong in the kitchen and for our table was very slow to get food, however ours was the only table and the waitstaff was very apologetic and kept us informed. Would try it again with the expectation that the problems the first time around were the exception to the rule.
Unexpectedly DIVINE!!!, 10/25/2009
Reviewer: Mrs.Lovett from Santa Barbara, CA
Having never been to Arts & Letters Cafe, I didn't quite know what to expect but I was pleasantly surprised. Not only did I feel like I was encompassed by a lovely atmosphere but I felt like I was transported to another era on their gorgeous outdoor patio with a lovely fountain in the center. A lovely light dinner and definitely a must if you need a place for lunch after going to the art museum. This is a hidden gem of Santa Barbara.

awesome experience..., 9/22/2009
Reviewer: prue from Santa Barbara, CA
we went for dinner and everything was perfect! the rock crab + cauliflower soup was super yummy, our entrees were delicious, the wine list is smallish but offers quality boutiquey choices, the setting was private and romantic, our server was professional and attentive, but didn't hover...it was a great experience and we will definitely return!
THE EXTRA MILE
Reviewer: John Downs from Santa Barbara, CA
On Tuesday I brought my mother and father to The Arts and letters Cafe for my moms 70th birthday. I did not mention it was my mothers birthday to our waitress although she must have picked up on it. She surprised my mother with a birthday cake at the end of our fantastic meal. I did not get her name blonde gal 30ish. Thank you to our waitress, and thank you for a great experience. We will be returning soon.
great coffee
Reviewer: Jay from Santa Barbara, CA
A really nice environment and friendly staff. Fun to hang out inside or out
Usually love this place
Reviewer: Mattie from Santa Barbara, CA
Have been here on numerous occasions for lunch, this time, it took literally forever for the waitstaff to even notice us, then it took twice as long to get our food (mind you I had a salad...what were they doing, waiting for the lettuce to grow?) Many patrons who came after us, were already being served. Then getting the check was a chore, geez, I was 20 minutes late back from lunch!. The food however, has always been superb. I've never experienced such bad service though.

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