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Breakwater Restaurant
107 Harbor Way, Santa Barbara
Phone: (805) 965-1557

  • Category: American, Seafood
  • Hours: Winter: Sun-Thu 7am-7pm, Fri-Sat 7am-8pm Summer: Sun-Thu 7am-8pm, Fri-Sat 7am-9pm
  • Price: $10 - $20
  • Serving: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner
  • Reservations: No
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Reviews by the General Public

Poor Food, Nice Outside eating on a warm day, 4/7/2010
Reviewer: Glenn from Buellton
The food here did seem really reheated frozen food. The outdoor eating area is preferred on a nice day. They have a smaller indoor eating area. The people were really nice here, service attentiveness was Ok. Nice that they catered to families more here with a kids meal, probably best place at the harbor to take kids. Food was just not that good unfortunately. All the food was really bland tasting to me(use more spices?) like it had been frozen before. Maybe better for lunch or bfast.
The employees are nice, helpful, the atmosphere good, 2/21/2010
Reviewer: Greg from Santa Barbara, CA
There are several waitpersons at the Breakwater who've been there for years - they are good, attentive. This restaurant is reliable for good ambience, service ample food - and it isn't crowded and noisy as some of the most popular places. Recommended by a local of four decades.
Family Atmosphere, 12/16/2009
Reviewer: Dorene Koehler from Santa Barbara, CA
I am regular at this restaurant. I visit usually once a week for breakfast, and sometimes more often if my hubby and I can sneak away for a lunch or dinner. I've always had wonderful experiences here. The food is delicious (can I recommend the "Breakwater Special" for breakfast), but the staff is even better. They are warm, friendly and diligent without being over solicitous. Thanks so much Breakwater Restaurant!
The Worst Food in Santa Barbara....Period No kidding, 12/11/2009
Reviewer: Jim M from Santa Barbara, CA
I have written about 12 reviews on this site and about 30 on tripadviser.com I have owned up to 200 restaurants in the fast food and quality food industry. This is one of the worst. There were 4 people in there on a Wednesday so I should have known. I will be specific in case the owners want to reply. Ate dinner there 12/9/09. Went because a friend wanted the crab Louie. I orderd callamari starter, clams in broth and my mother ordered the Fish and chips plus the crab. Santa Barbara is one of the largest squid fishing towns in the USA. Fresh Calamari is on everyone's menu. This was frozen, pre-breaded, greasy and tough. When I asked the waiter he said it was freshly prepared which he meant we cooked it now not that it was fresh. Very bad product do not order. My clams were old. The broth which is supposed to be wine or beer, with clam juice and some butter was the water the boiled the clams in and a lot of butter. These were the smallest, toughest and oldest manila clams I have had and I grew up in a town called Oyster Bay and was a clammer for several years. My mothers Fish was over breaded same as the Calamari so I have to assume premade and frozen or bought frozen. The crab salad was beautiful and tasteless. The crab was just not good and the dish was 80% rough leaf lettuce. The evening came to $60+ for the worst food I had eaten. When asked how was your dinner I went through this entire list. The wiater did not call the manager, did not make an adjustment. Just said "Hope you have a better meal next time". What a beautiful location and what a horrendous kitchen.
Great food, great service, great price!, 10/6/2009
Reviewer: Angela M. from Paso Robles, CA
We ate here with our 2 year old daughter at the recommendation of the gentleman at the Maritime Museum. He was right on...good food, moderately priced. My daughter and I shared the fish and chips with cole slaw. The fish pieces were big, white flaky fish with a light breading, the way fish and chips should be. Paired with good crisp fries and coleslaw dressed with a vinegar type dressing, not the heavy mayo. Very crisp and refreshing. My husband had the mahi mahi sandwich and fries which he enjoyed. Both were served HOT right from the kitchen which is always appreciated, and sadly sometimes hard to come by for some reason. The server and busser were there for our every need and very pleasant and accommodating.... we spilled an ice tea and they were quick to help.....we would eat there again without hesitation.
Not pet friendly!
Reviewer: Ana from Cupertino, CA
If you are accompanied by your dog-friend, be careful how you ask permission to let your dog wait for you OUTSIDE the restaurant’s terrace. We were ready to get sited for lunch while one of us preceded to tide our dog in the grassy and shady area OUTSIDE their outdoor section of the restaurant. And then, there was a circus evolving. An older heavy guy, manager? (I will not call him a gentleman), plus an older blond female, senior waitress? (I will not call her a lady), plus a whole 2-3 employers posted themselves to watch the spectacular procedure of letting our dog take the “down” position in order to wait patiently for us to enjoy the lunch (we would have been in an eye-contact with each other). There were in stand-by, ready to jump position, to rescue the premises from an inappropriate dog-behavior. In conclusion, at this restaurant, do not expect dog-friendly accommodation (again, outside any other clients, out of view of other customers, not in the restaurant area, etc). Do expect bulging eyes, similar with guard eyes, watching your benign gestures to put the dog out of site and reach for other clients but in a comfy position for him/her, in order to wait for you. By the way: the food is more then mediocre. And I say this not because of the incident with the dog. Just because the food was uninspired, the French fries were soggy, the fish dry and with no appropriate spices, and the beer was warm.

Why have I ignored this place all of these years?
Reviewer: Mike from Santa Barbara, CA
I've passed by this restaurant countless times to other locales in the harbor but never stopped in. Tonight was the night. We had a very good meal with excellent and friendly service. Everything was hot and fresh to the table, and the food was very good. Don't expect gourmet here as the prices reflect that. Just a nice friendly bunch of people serving good food. You can't ask for much more than that.
decent, great location
Reviewer: Jenna from Santa Barbara, CA
its a very quaint place to eat. i ordered the french toast and it was pretty good but not the best ive tasted. the service was great but the location is even better. you have great views and decent food choices on the menu.
Could not believe it..
Reviewer: Amber N. Flemmings from Santa Barbara, CA
Very disappointed with the service @ the Breakwater. As a child, I went to the Breakwater almost every other day, so much so that the people who used to work there were like family. Was excited that a few years later I could bring my family to a place I grew up on, yet unfortunately it was far from what I knew and loved. Our waitress definitely needed more training in customer service. She checked on us only once and to make matters worse, it was Father's Day and I was trying to make the day special for my husband and my great-grandfather. Thank God that most of what we needed was already on the table before she served us or we would have probably been waiting on that as well. I had to find her just to get a 'take-home' box after waiting several minutes for her to return with the check. Plus, it wasn't at all crowded that day inside or out. It disappointed my great-grandfather so much he went out of his character and told me not to leave a tip. The food was good, perhaps needing just a little more seasoning. Other than that, the scenery is always so beautiful. Just upsetting to see a place I loved so much no longer be a place I'd even recommend to someone.
super duper tasty!
Reviewer: Katie from Santa Barbara, CA
I agree with LLR - the clam chowder and the fish n' chips are amazing! Definitely one of those places that makes your mouth water just by thinking about it. Although, could use a little improvement on the service. And maybe offer more than ice cream for desserts.

Breakwater Restaurant writes: Dear Katie, I wish to Thank You for sharing your experience regarding our great food, so Thank You! We are seriously commited to serving quality and consistent meals at the Breakwater which will never change, Now, the desserts available are not only McConnel's ice cream in 6 flavors but we also have and did have on your visit, Chocolate Cream pie, Coconut Cream, Lemon Cream pie, Apple, Berry, Cherry & Pecan pie as well as a Chocolate Fudge Confection cake that melts in your mouth. Tell you what I'll do for you "only". I'll buy you your choice if you will come in and ask for me, Scott, and tell me what exactly happened that concerned you in the service area of your visit, so that I can make it better for all and make it right for you. Deal? I hope to see & hear from you soon, Sncerely, "Scott R. Rufer", Breakwater Management.
Great food, bad service
Reviewer: LLR from Goleta, CA
My girlfriend and I came here Sunday evening to grab dinner (as the neighboring sushi place had closed). The waitress told us to sit anywhere and that she will be with us in just a minute. It ended up being about 10 minutes before she showed up (without menus!). Good thing the girlfriend grabbed some while we were waiting. Since we've never dined here before, we decided to grab the safe-bets: Clam Chowder Bread Bowl and their Fish & Chips. The food came very quickly and it was DELICIOUS. 100% recommend this place. Too bad the service was non-existent. I did not even get a refill on the soda (waitress never came after our food came). We even had to go to the registe to pay for our meal (the check was never brought to us). Although the service was terrible this time (i'll give them the benefit of the doubt), we will probably come back here soon. The food was THAT good!

Breakwater Restaurant writes: Dear LLR, I just finished reading your review and I look forward to having you back for the great food, it is very good. I also want you to know that I do appreciate ALL comments both good and those for which we need to have improvement, in your case the service attention you deserve at our place. We offer no excuses for the lack of attention you and your girlfriend deserved and I promise you that on your next visit that will not be the case. Please see me personally, Scott or Larry, and I will make your visit more memorable in the service department and once again supply you with the quality, killer food which we are proud to serve. Once again thank you for the response, it will be put to good use. Sincerely, Scott R. Rufer, Breakwater Restaurant Management
Pleasant Surprise
Reviewer: River Song from Santa Barbara, CA
We have often walked by the Breakwater, not thinking much about it, but after being rudely received at some of the other harbor restaurants, we decided to give it a try. We were really happy with our decision and should have gone here first. The staff was receptive and polite. The food was very good and well priced. The "Award Winning" clam chowder was worth its title (much better than the the 'acclaimed' clam chowder at the Beachside in Goleta) and the "World Famous" fish and chips was just as good. Our waitress was very polite and we had an all around good experience. We will surely be making a return visit some time soon.

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