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Brophy Bros.
119 Harbor Way, Santa Barbara
Phone: (805) 966-4418
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Brophy Bros. writes: Brophy Bros. was established in 1986 and is operated by the original owners. "The Bennett family." Our restaurant is a high paced, casual and social venue. Prepare to meet people and interact with locals. We have been fortunate to have received Best Seafood and Best Clam Chowder in Santa Barbara for many, many years. Brophy's is located right on the docks and the views are amazing.
Due to our limited space, we are unable to take reservations and suggest putting aside ample time to wait and enjoy the surrounding area. Visit our website www.brophybros.com for things to do and places to stay in the immediate area.
- Specials: Daily Fresh Fish Specials
- Private Room: Our Downstairs Clam Bar is perfect for a party of 30 or less !
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Reviews by the General Public
Best of America, 8/23/2010
Reviewer: mairead
from Santa Barbara, CA
Love it love it - great staff - great food - lovely.Real people .go there !
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Great place..., 8/5/2010
Reviewer: Kris
from Santa Barbara, CA
As a local, I love this place. Good people, good drinks, and the best fried shrimp in town.
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average at best, 8/5/2010
Reviewer: Barbara
from Santa Barbara, CA
I had heard great things about this place and looked forward to eating here. Although we had a reservation, there was a bit of a wait bc it was busy-that's ok. Wait staff pleasant and food arrived promptly but no refill on beverages till we were nearly through. Food bland, overcooked and ordinary. We had 6 in party who ordered a variety of dishes and all agreed. Sorry,not worth the price. We thought we were going to have a real dining experience but this was about the same as ordering the Friday night fish meal at your local Denny's.
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Great Service! Unbeatable Clam Chowder!, 7/3/2010
Reviewer: Jong & Cathy dela Calzada
from Los Angeles, CA
Went here as tourists on 4th of July Saturday Lunch, went upstairs and was seated immediately which was a surprise since it was a holiday weekend. I only have great things to say about the service! Our waitress Norah was quick, polite, and anticipated everything we needed before we even asked. She took our orders, brought the drinks, then came back with a glass of water for each of us (which we were going to request at a later time), and more bread since she noticed my 4yr old just devouring it. Our orders came not too long later, the Clam Chowder definitely exceeded our expectations! The fried calamari was ok, not the best, the Hot Sampler was great, and the seafood pasta was ok too. All in all a great first visit and will definitely recommend this place!
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A very busy place, 6/28/2010
Reviewer: Maurice Carpenter
from Vashon Island, WA
I stopped by Brophy Bros. recently when I was on a tour of Santa Barbara. The place was very busy on a friday night and it took our party of four a long time to get a table on the deck,
but there aren't that many tables that seat four (many more seat two). The long wait was rewarded with great food and better service. It was nice to see a casual atmosphere restuarant doing so well in an otherwise stuffy location. Santa Barbara could use more of the same.
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Awesome three years later...Why did I wait so long., 6/21/2010
Reviewer: Rebecca
from Palmdale, CA
Fathers Day, Aniversary,Happy Birthday event : Captain Jack in the down stairs bar swepts us off our feet with a special treat for our daughter and made us feel right our home. Its was pretty crowded but he welcomed us to pull up another chair to our table, with no problem. There, we waited for our table. We ordered a few drinks, and the famous garlic oysters and boy did it bring back memories. Awesome.....the french fries were pretty good too. It didn't seem like long before our buzzer when off so while my husband settled our bill. My daughter and I proceeded upstairs. First we were sitted by the entry way so when my husband approuched the gentleman greeted my husband and read his mind. Would you like to sit here. NO Problem. It was the Manager Scott who was way cool and not to mention Yashime who by far has been the best waitress that had ever waited on us. We have to say that whatever problem they had in the past it's so far gone. Our visit their was really GREAT and the clam chowder, calamari,fish & chips by far are the BEST! Mr. Bennett, I just have to tell you these workers are really representing your family proper. Thank You!
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Go for the Chowder; Hold the Fish , 6/17/2010
Reviewer: Steve
from Santa Barbara, CA
It was a beautiful late June afternoon. To have fish or a bowl of chowder? I went with the Coho salmon, and asked that the sauce be omitted. Living in SB for many years, I should have known better. Yes, the salmon was competently cooked, but it wasn't a finer piece of fish. If you go to Brophy's, I'd recommend that you stick to the chowder and the drinks. Go elsewhere for seafood. The service was good from friendly staff. Great view.
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Used to be so much better..., 6/10/2010
Reviewer: Brendon
from Santa Barbara, CA
I went to Brophy's for a special occasion and it did not live up to my previous expectations. The Fish & Chips were oily, the coleslaw was not crisp, rather wet & had far too much mayo. The hot seafood sampler was bland. Having to overhear the bartender/manager discussing a customer with the words 'are you 'f-ing' kidding me' loud and clear was very unprofessional. It is a shame because I used to recommend Brophy's all the time...maybe I will reconsider...
Brophy Bros. writes:
Thanks for taking the time to review our restaraunt. We have been family owned and operated for 23 years. Our success is a result of truly caring. Your experience is a reminder that there is always work to do and always things to improve. I sincerely aplolgize for all the negative aspects of your dining experience with us. If you choose to stop by in the future, please ask for me.
Sincerely,
John Bennett
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Good fish, curious about the advertising, 5/29/2010
Reviewer: Monte Cevalles
from Goleta, Ca
I had a great lunch at Brophy's with my girlfriend last week. I had the swordfish and she had the fish n' chips. Some of the best fish n' chips I've ever had and the swordfish was really good. The menu said there was local swordfish and local halibut. When we left we were walking around the harbor and went to the fish market. They had swordfish and I asked about local swordfish and the said that NOBODY is catching swordfish locally. It's all coming from far away. We asked another fisherman about that and he confirmed and also said the halibut isn't local because it's too expensive for restaurants to buy. Brophy's advertises sustainable seafood and both Swordfish and shark (which was on the menu) are slow growing and near the bottom of the sustainable seafood list. With the obvious truth about their "local" swordfish not being local and the possibility of the "local" halibut no being local, they owe it to their customers to be truthful and I am surprised they can get away with this kind of false representation on their menu. Very low business ethics if you ask me.
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The Best time Clam bar Bar tender was the best so cute., 12/28/2009
Reviewer: Chris aka Baddbboy2@aol.com
from Grand Terrace,CA
Day after christmas the clam bar drinks and shrimp were the best the bartender was so cute she got $30 out of me for a tip.Hope to see her again, food and sevice up stairs was great cant wait to go back.
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Horrible Customer Service, 9/29/2009
Reviewer: Jennifer
from Santa Barbara, CA
I will never go back to Brophy Brothers. Our waitress not only had a bad attitude, but she was outright rude to our entire party. When we asked to speak with the manager, he told us that as long as we paid our bill he didn't care what we had to say. Now I don't know about you, but I have never experience customer service as poor as this. I guess that Brophy Brothers does enough tourist business that they do not care about the local business they receive and therefore i will never return and I plan on telling all of my colleagues and friends to not go as well. I am truly disappointed with this restaurant.
Brophy Bros. writes:
I am sorry you had such a poor experience. I suggest contacting our office 966-2535 and leave a message for John Bennett. My family and I value the locals more than you could imagine. We all grew up in this town ! I would love the opportunity to rectify the situation.
Thanks
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What's the big whoop?, 9/19/2009
Reviewer: Francis
from Santa Barbara, CA
Perhaps it's the ambiance of the water?? The food was rather average and I was not impressed with the preparation of the fish. The server was attentive, polite and efficient that was the only real plus at Brophy's. Probably won't return.
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Mgr won't seat me till the "other party" arrives????, 9/16/2009
Reviewer: Christine
from Los Olivos, CA
Arrived at 12:30 (lunch) today for a meal with my sister. The mgr/host/do----bag questioned me if and when my lunch date will arrive. I said she'll be here momentarily and he said he can't seat me until she arrives. While he seated 2 other parties, I asked the hostess to seat me and she did. It's my sister's b'day and I wanted an outside table and it looked like the outside tables were quickly filling up. I nearly opened a can of whup-ass on the mgr for his condescending and unwelcoming attitude but decided against it.
My cioppino was generous & tasty, but more than a little sandy. My sister reported that her mahi was good, though the portion was small. The server was attentive and did a nice job. Unfortunately, the mgr/host/do----bag took the luster off my experience with his jerky attitude.
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Seafood is Tasteless!
Reviewer: Brad James
from Stevenson Ranch, CA
I have been here twice. The location and view of the Marina (if you have an outside table) is THE ONLY reason to go to this very touristy restautant. Tables are stacked one next to the other. I am shocked that it is not a violation of the fire code. Those waitaing to be seated stand around in every available location, hovering over you while you eat. I have tried 4 different types of fish. All were bland and tasted the same. The rice clearly came out of a box. I have written two restaurant reviews in my life. When I saw this place won for best seafood, I knew the voting was either rigged or Santa Barbara truly has NO good seafood. The Palace Grill has amazing food and seafood. Head up to Cota Street!
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I'd give this restaurant another try.....
Reviewer: Cherie
from Anchorage, AK
I was excited to try the food and although the clam chowder had delicious flavor, it was less then hot! The salad was bitter from the over use of garlic. This comment is coming from a garlic lover. The service was OK but nothing great. No one bothered to ask why I left the salad - my plate was just swooped away. Perhaps staff is a bit too rushed. Better attention to detail would be helpful.
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Great baked clams...crummy bar service
Reviewer: Taryn O.
from Santa Barbara, CA
We hit up Brophy Bros. at LEAST once a month and we've never had such un-friendly service. We sat at the bar like we usually do, and our waitress really could not be bothered to serve easy going locals with even a half-smile. The multiple 'eye-rolling' incidents when asked for water or for even a 2nd round of drinks during dinner seemed to be too much for her trouble. We'll be back that's for certain, but we'll choose to stand at the outside bar or sit in a section with staff that appreciates the local flavor.
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busy for good reason
Reviewer: ChrisC
from Santa Barbara, CA
We were at the harbor and decided to grab a bite at Brophy's last evening. The chowder was as good as usual, and the warm bread a course in itself. Oysters and clams made for a nice chaser. Anyone who frequents this popular restaurant knows it can be noisy and a little hectic upstairs - busy bar, low ceilings. What's always amazing is the way the staff handles the tight quarters. Service this trip was excellent - prompt and attentive despite a dinner rush. More than that, the staff was having fun - sort of like a Southwest Airlines flight crew when they were at their peak.
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yummo
Reviewer: Susan
from Santa Barbara, CA
it was my first time eating here and i expected it to be great and it did not disappoint. the clam chowder was hot and pretty decent compared to other places around santa barbara. the salad wasnt anything special but good service. a good place to eat when at the beach and willing to pay a little more.
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Management Does Care!
Reviewer: Ed and Carol York
from Lompoc, CA
Surprise! we received a personal call from the owner of Brophy Bros two days after our visit and review. He was sincere and apologetic for the way we were treated and indicated he had talked to the manager on duty and instructed him of the way All customers should be treated. He indicated he cared about all customers and wanted them to be return customers and have a great experience at his restaurant. We appreciated his call and based on his sincere approach to our complaint, we will be back. After all, as we said in our first review, the food was excellent and the wait service as well. More owners of restaurants should check up on there places and be more responive to their customers. Cudos to Mr. John Bennett!
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Great Food and Service but bad management
Reviewer: Ed and Carol York
from Lompoc, CA
We recently had out of towners visit us and took them to Brophys for lunch. I must say the food and wait service was excellent! The management of the restaurant on the other hand leaves much to be desired! My wife badly sprained her ankle and was on cruches when we arrived. They said 30 minutes for table and when I requested a chair they hemmed and haed and then sat her at an empty chair only to ask her to give it up 5 minutes later. At no time did they offer her another nor indicte they were sorry for the inconvience. We would have left if not for our out of town guests. We will not be back good food or not!
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The best thing was the clam chowder
Reviewer: Todd
from Lompoc, CA
I got there early and the service was good. I got the calimari to begin and I've had better at Red Lobster, of all places, all I tasted was old burned oil. Then I had the clam chowder and it was very good. Next I had the fried shrimp, big mistake, it to tasted like burned oil, maybe if they tried changing the oil more often, and the shrimp did not taste fresh. This was my first and last time I will dine here.
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Hit(clam chowder)/Miss food/service
Reviewer: Glenn
from Buellton
I would recommend the Clam Chowder, beyond that it may be hit/miss for you. Some of the fish we got was undercooked, beer broiled shrimp just kind of tasted like shrimp to me so I did not get the "beer" taste. The food took too long and once the crowd hit the waitress was overwhelmed.
I recommend getting here at 11am if you want the outdoor seating and prompt food/service. Nice to try at least once to experience it. Maybe just get a big bowl of clam chowder with a side would be my advice. Rice and cole slaw are good.
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Mr. Underhill's 30th Birthday Kickoff at Brophs...
Reviewer: Jackie Treehorn
from Aliso Viejo
On a weekend of fires, we still decided to take the train to SB for some R&R. We kicked it off with some Brophos accompanied by Santa Barbara's own, Landon "The double dippin squid" Hess. Seating location, solid. Bartender, Solid. Food, Solid. Service, Solid. The only thing missing was nothing...Well played Brophy Brothers, well played.
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It was only fish and chips, but....
Reviewer: Mike
from Santa Barbara, CA
the fish was slimy and had a very odd texture to it. We all ate on the cheap that night and all had slimy fish. On the other hand, the chowder was good as usual and the service stellar. Love this place, but the fish and chips is not what it once was.
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Have you got any Grey Poupon?
Reviewer: Anne
from Santa Barbara, CA
I am a diehard Brophy's fan! Discovered them after moving here in the late 80's and still jump at any chance to have their garlic baked clams and a big spicy bloody mary. Sure, it's tiny and noisy and one can generally expect to wait a while for a table, but the food is always delish and you can hang at the bar windows with a cocktail while you wait (or take your pager and head to Endless Bummer for a cocktail until your table is ready, just steer clear of the food!).
The title of my review derives from an early experience at the restaurant, while seated on the balcony with some friends on a beautiful summer day. While we were dining, a truck towing a boat to dry-dock passed by and there was a man on the boat at eye level with us and as he went by he said "pardon me, have you got any grey poupon?". That is one of my two favorite Brophy's memories. The other one is not fit for public consumption, but it involves the cioppino and an anatomically correct muscle....
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Don't believe the hype
Reviewer: J.J. O'Malley
from Pasadena, CA
The overall quality of the food was poor. The Garlic Clams Appetizer were soggy in texture (wet bread crumbs) and microscopic in size. I had a much better serving 3 days later from a street vendor at SF Fisherman's Warf. The Cioppinne was in a campbell soup tomato base with overcooked shrimp and various other types of day old seafood. There was a saving grace with the Fish and Chips. It was a fresh, well prepared and reasonably priced. The final dissapointment was the overall cost for lunch with a couple glasses of wine. Good thing they have Jack the Bartender downstairs to keep you spirits up during the excessive wait
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great view, a must for visitors
Reviewer: Ron
from Del Mar, CA
This is one of my favorite places to stop when I visit Santa Barbara. The view from the balcony is first rate. I usually get a light meal there- clam chowder, beer boiled shrimp and a beer or a glass of wine along with the beautiful backdrop of the harbor, palm trees and the mountains make for a special moment in lovely Santa Barbara.
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Good, Moderately Priced Restaurantw/ a Great View
Reviewer: Carlos
from Santa Barbara, CA
I've been eating at Brophy's for over 20 years and have always found it to have great, friendly service. The food is well prepared seafood, nothing great but with good ingredients. Even at rush hours the servers rarely lose their cool and are always professional, unlike some other restaurants in Santa Barbara. I'm always amazed at the equanimity of the servers considering the cramped quarters and the lovely general public. It's a popular place and things gets hectic.
Their beer boiled shrimp is my favorite dish, great with a beer. I haven't eating anything here that I did not like. Of course, for better seafood, the Beachside in Goleta is a good contender.
As far as having wheelchair access, that would be nigh impossible due to the building structure and the adjoining business. Plus it would be a prohibitive sum for Brophy's management to justify building for a restaurant that already does great business. I'm sorry about the poor gentleman who could not dine in the upstairs area but we really can't make every place wheelchair accessible
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Always Great!
Reviewer: Jan & Don
from California Natives
My husband and I have been regulars at Brophy Bros for 13 years. We like to arrive at opening (11 am) and get our favorite seats at the bar and relax with a Bloody Mary - Brophy's makes the best Bloody's! then have some oyster shooters and clam chowder, fried shrimp, you name it, it's all delish! And the service is always good. Pete, Ira, Nate, Adam - you are all the best! Sometimes we'll hang out for lunch and then dinner in the same day, they don't try to rush you out the door, you can stay as long as you want. We live in Texas now, and we really miss Brophy's!!!
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Best Clam Chowder Ever!
Reviewer: JGrif
from Nashville, TN.
I am from Tennessee and ate here on recommendations from locals. I truly enjoyed everything we ate. The clam chowder was amazing. The outside veranda upstairs could use a little widening quite the tight fit to enjoy a beer at the bar with your body all up on and eating patron, other than that I have no complaints. The views and food were the best I had on my trip to So. Cal. as far as resturants go.
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work on seating
Reviewer: Christine
from Santa Barbara, CA
They have a nice location. Perhaps a restaurant with slightly better management deserves the spot. Their menu is fine. Clam chowder is made with fresh ingredients.
When we arrived and there was a short waiting time, we felt the hostess sized us up visually and sent us to the bar downstairs where they only serve appetizers, even though I didn't want to drink. They offered the people behind us a regular table with the full menu. I think they should better explain the bar situation as an overflow spot when they are crowded, and offer a chance to wait longer for a table rather than sending young or less fashionable people over there.
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Yummy!
Reviewer: Lulu
from Santa Barbara, CA
GARLIC BAKED CLAMS OMG!!! Sooo good. This is our favorite place!
oh the building is a city building and there is a downstairs dining room where they cater to everyone, including people in wheelchairs and disabilities. There is no room for an elevator and the view is still grand from downstairs!
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Best of Santa Barbara?
Reviewer: Erin
from Santa Barbara, CA
How can a restaurant who claims the Independent magazine's titles of "Winner of Best Clam Chowder, " "Winner of Best Bloody Mary," "Best Seafood Restaurant" and "Best Restaurant with a View" NOT offer access to wheelchair bound patrons? What, do these people not deserve access to one of Santa Barbara's "Best" restaurants?!?! A friend of mine recently attempted to dine at Brophy's, one of his favorite Santa Barbara restaurants. He hasn't been there since the tragic accident that took the use of his legs and ability to walk, so he was looking forward to dinner with friends. But after arriving and discovering that Brophy's did not have wheelchair access to the upstairs dining patio, the only accommodation offered was to bring his food down to him. What? Was the rest of his party supposed to go upstairs and eat without him? Wow. I guess until everyone (including the owners of one of Santa Barbara's "Best" restaurants) has to live their lives in a wheelchair, nothing will be done to provide access for wheelchair patrons, whose money is just as good and green as those of us who can walk! Good luck, Brophy's, and maybe someday you'll get your building up to ADA code. Please?!?!
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