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Chase Restaurant & Lounge
1012 State St, Santa Barbara
Phone: (805) 965-4351
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Reviews by the General Public
AN AWFUL PLACE, 11/14/2009
Reviewer: KG
from Santa Barbara, CA
Had dinner there last. Simply terrible. Ordered the lobster special. Was told it was a 6 oz. serving. What we got was 1 oz. at best, breaded so much you could not taste what it was. To make matters worse, it was $25. Service was 1/2 Al Capone 1/2 Mexican barrio gang speak. More like a pushy used car salesman than a refined service person. $144 down the drain.......although the Chianti Reserve was good. The place was packed, I don't know why.
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Couldn't Ask For More , 10/26/2009
Reviewer: Jan & Michael
from Santa Barbara, CA
All the good comments below, repeated. Our experience was so good, I can't imagine things going so bad as the negative comments below. A magical evening. We will be back!
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Reasonably priced, lovely service - and really good food, 8/22/2009
Reviewer: Linda L.
from Santa Barbara, CA
I'm not sure what other people expect in Santa Barbara at prices approximately $10-14 per entree (except for steaks), this is a great restaurant. It stands out from the others in terms ambiance, we were seated quickly and watched the hostess give others a choice of tables - no snobbery, just prompt, unobtrusive service. However, keeping a table for hours and hours (as some people apparently want to do with large parties) doesn't seem quite right at this restaurant, which is relatively small and doesn't charge much. Wine list is basic but good, they even have half bottles of a few wines, I had a French sauvignon blanc that exceed expectations and the on tap beer servings were large and cold (Peroni). My dining partner had the homemade ricotta ravioli and really liked the marina sauce - he's a pretty good chef, himself, and picky about his marina - Chase's marinara now ranks high in his list of California marinaras. The waitress was happy to answer his questions about its preparation, and when he asked for more detail, she went and inquired and cheerfully came back with the information. I had chicken parmesan, with a Caesar salad. Bread was fresh and delicious, chicken was lightly breaded and had a great sauce (a version of the marinara). The salad dressing actually tasted like garlic and anchovies, like it's supposed to be - becoming a rarity. Everything was very fresh, nice ambiance, the other diners were pleasant - whole experience was one of our better Santa Barbara dining experiences.
And again - by SB standards, this is a very reasonable restaurant, pricewise.
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Wedding Lunch, 8/19/2009
Reviewer: suz montgomery
from Ventura, CA
When my husband and I decided to marry in Santa Barbara, we knew exactly where we were going to have the post ceremony luncheon. No question...or favorite The Chase.
As a former Exec Chef/Rest Owner, I'm very difficult to please...LOL
The Chase NEVER disappoints and always is consistent in attentive service, great quality (its all about the food !), and fun upbeat ambience.
Thank you again to the incredible Staff and Sonia for making our day fantastic !
Suz Montgomery and John Hankins
Ventura, Ca
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The veal is the best ever!, 5/7/2009
Reviewer: Matt
from Portland, OR
It's been about 3 years or so since I dined at Chase Restaurant. I still dream of the veal parmesan that I had there so long ago. The veal was so good it has ruined me for all other restaurants.
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the best, 4/15/2009
Reviewer: jojo
from Santa Barbara, CA
this restaurant has a great vibe and wonderful atmosphere the chase has wonderful service and delicious food i highly recommend it (joe merino)
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Wonderful!, 2/28/2009
Reviewer: Christine
from Los Olivos CA
We had tickets to see Anthony Bourdain- chose The Chase for a nice meal beforehand- and it was a perfect choice. Sat in a red leather high backed booth- vodka tonics to start. We could not decide between mussels or clams- so our waiter (Alphonso) suggested we get a blened order- the broth was good enough to drink- and the biovalves perfect. Calamari piccata for me and a rib eye for my husband- fettucine & white sauce for us both- including 2 small caesars. The salad dressing was perfect- my calamari was delicious and perfectly cooked. The med rare rib eye- perfect. Great vibe, clean restrooms, smiling staff. Only complaint? Loud unattractive music to start- it got softer as the dinner progressed.
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I don't get it, 2/27/2009
Reviewer: Tracy
from Carpinteria
I've been to the Chase a number of times over the years, and it's always packed and I know a few people who love it. Went the other night with one of these friends and I still don't get the rave reviews. The little appetizers of beans and the rice salad are good, but the bread served with it is lousy. My martini was very watered down. My steak (27.00) was over-cooked and boring and pretty tasteless- our waitress never stopped back to check until the end of the meal. The dinner salad was far below par. I did like the pesto (extra-charge for that) pasta- it was flavorful. Our waitress was very nice, but I guess she got too busy to check back with us that everything was properly prepared.
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Decent, 2/21/2009
Reviewer: Becky
from Santa Barbara, CA
We went to Chase last night, hoping that it lived up to its (mostly) great reviews. While the food was good (eggplant parmesan, chicken piccata, minesrone soup), the service was terrible. I ordered spaghetti with my eggplant parmesan and was brought fettucine instead. My boyfriend ordered chicken piccata and was brought out some other chicken dish. After he took the first bite, our waiter brought the piccata dish my boyfriend ordered and said, "Hey, did you want this chicken piccata or do you want to keep eating what you have there?" Um..what? No apology for the mixup offered whatsoever. Also, when our waiter brought our drinks, he slammed them on the table while looking around the restaurant, not even aknowledging our presence. If you want to pay $20 for a meal, there are plenty of better options in S.B.
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Lucky Pick!, 2/18/2009
Reviewer: Michael and Melissa
from San Jose, CA
Wow! Did we get lucky! On our way home from LA we were looking for a place to eat. I came to this web site and I found this great little place. I read the mixed reviews and decided to give it a try anyway. We are so glad that we did! The drinks were great! Not just anyone can make a good Manhattan. We had the fried Ravs. Yummy! The filet mignon was so tender it melted in your mouth. The chicken picatta was delicious! The manager came to our table and introduced herself and was very pleasant. Our Server was good and the decore was adorable. My only regret is that I didn't get to try the tiramisu as they ran out. :( Oh well it gives us another reason to go back. This was a great lesson. Don't always believe what you read in reviews as you might miss out on something wonderful.
~Kind Regards,
M&M~
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Fantastic Find!, 1/19/2009
Reviewer: Michele Yano
from San Jose, CA
We were visiting Santa Barbara this past weekend and came upon Chase during a leisurely stroll down State Street. It was early afternoon and the restaurant did not seem crowded, so we stopped in for an early lunch. Since the weather was so beautiful, we opted to sit at the bar and truly enjoyed the open air dining experience. The food was wonderful, and the spinach and veal ravioli's were fantastic. After the delicious experience with our meal, we just had to try dessert. Sonia makes an incredible Tiramisu parfait, and the only complaint I have is that my husband made us share one ~ It's that good! We talked about Chase nonstop during our drive back to the bay area and can't wait to return. Thank you for a remarkable dining experience...we are eternally grateful!
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Take out food quality with 4-star price, 12/12/2008
Reviewer: Camarila
from Newport Beach, CA
Walked in to the restaurant last week for early dinner. What a great atmosphere, the decoration for Christmas really make this a cozy place to have dinner at. All these thoughts faded away when we got a taste of the service. After it took 10 minutes to be seated when no one was ahead of us a waitress kindly took our drink order. The menu is vague and does not go in to detail as to how the more expensive items are cooked, the wine list is limited and their best bottle of champagne was Veuve.
The waitress did not know the menu in detail as one should for a restaurant that offers these kind of prices, ie $30 for veal, $25 for lamb, etc.
The first item to come out was salad, something along the lines of a Denny's restaurant. Next came our overly salted, overly cooked chicken. The pasta was way too buttery. Clearly the chefs in the back have never had an experience with culinary school.
To summarize: overly seasoned food, poor service, expensive prices. Next time I will stick to restaurants with a Zagat rating (this one did NOT have one)!
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Amazing food
Reviewer: Edna Sizlo
from Santa Barbara, CA
I used to go to the chase a lot a few years ago...their homemade chicken soup is to die for as well as their creamy potato soup (sadly those are only made on one day a week). But the service there is lacking, the blonde manager(?) is a really unhelpful person. Not sure why she is working in the food/hospitality industry, it makes me not want to go in there anymore, hense thats why I havent been there for a while.
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Decent food, loud and crowded atmosphere
Reviewer: Luke
from Oceanside, CA
Got a recommendation from a local, went at around 8:30 pm. It was packed and the hostess did her best to try to get us seated, which took 15 min (didn't have reservations). Standing room only when waiting for a table. There are some booths, but the tables that are not in a booth are about a foot apart. So you get to see what (and how) your neighbors eat. With so many people packed in such a small place, it's loud. Seats themselves were not comfortable. French onion soup was excellent. House salad very average. Chicken marsala was good - VERY rich. Chicken above average but not excellent. $5 split charge includes an extra cup of soup or salad so that's fair. Anchor Steam on tap is great! Service was adequate.
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Worst Experience I've had at a restaurant ever!
Reviewer: Christine
from Santa Barbara, CA
This was my first time trying Chase. We walked in about 9PM were seated by a hostess and then were ignored for 20 minutes. The hostess returned and asked if we had been helped, we hadn't. She decided that she would try to take the order but then she told me that they were no longer serving "specials" when I asked about the dinner specials. All of a sudden the server appeared and the hostess left to grab the specials board and plopped it down next to me in the booth I was sitting in. The server took my food order and our drink order. He brought our drinks then dissapeared for 40 or more minutes. Never brought water or bread like he said he would. He appeared then to ask if all was okay, I asked him about my food then he proceeds to tell me that I never ordered food. He then goes to the kitchen and brings my food order that is now cold and never brought my salad that was included with dinner. He re-heats my food and then comes back with my bill and forces me to pay for dinner on the spot and harrasses me because he doesn't want me to complain about the service. Never have I had such a terrible experience at a restaurant.
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Excellent food & service
Reviewer: Tim Reynolds
from Napa, Ca
We popped in during mid-afternoon and had no problem being seated and served. Staff was very friendly and prompt with everything from water to our entrees. Best chicken picatta I've had in years. Will definetly go back next time we're in SB!
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I guess everyone is entitled to their own experience...
Reviewer: Justin Reuben Avery
from Santa Barbara
I thought they were great. food was great. I keep going back repeatedly and they have still given me no reason to believe otherwise... I might also recommend Palazzio's just a few doors up the street. they're great too....
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Terrible Service
Reviewer: Jessica
from Santa Barbara
Customer service is an issue at this restaurant. The atmosphere is certainly appealing, but a restaurant is nothing without accommodating staff. Not once, but twice in the past week, we have tried to have a single drink. We walk into a seemingly open door to only be turned away by an apathetic and condescending manager who conveniently decides they are closed- TWO times in a row. Yes, there are people still dining and the lights are on, but "ummm, yeah, we're actually closed," is how she decides to approach us. Not a good technique. Rest assured we will NEVER come back (though the bartender is great). If you aren't able to attain a different manager, please instill some people skills into the current one, as it would be advantageous to your business.
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Melts in your mouth !
Reviewer: Andi ^..^
from Santa Barbara Goleta
Living in Goleta going downtown is a treat and well there is nothing like stopping in on an old favorite just to find it is still one of the best bets in town.
Found John ( JR ) at the bar to be a delight and glad to see him at his new spot and he knows what he is doing with the XXXRTA Durty Martini...but the Filet Mignon was the greatest find.
That first bite says it alland melts in your mouth. My dinner partner could not resist the..LOBSTER Piccata.. and the portion was enough to take home.. Cheers to the Chase !
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90 minutes or move out
Reviewer: Stan
from Santa Ynez
I was recommended to eat here by a friend, said the food was very good. I have a group of 3 other people and we are trying to finalize the details of my daughters wedding. However when I read that there is a 90 minute table limit, that is a big turn off. I called Holdren's and made my reservation and asked and was told to dine with pleasure and take our time. 90 minute limit, not for me when I am spending my $. Typical tourist restaurant mantality.
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Service needs improvement
Reviewer: Mike
from Santa Barbara
Okay, okay...yes, it's a wonderful spot. There seems to be a trend with these so called Santa Barbara dining "institutions" where the service is just plain bad and that ruins the experience. It's nice seeing folks you know, and the atmosphere is great here. But the twinkly lights and all the trimmings don't make up for poor service. Presenting dirty silverware with crusted on food is not a great start. The food is very good. However, no fresh ground pepper was offered with salads or main course. There was no return to the table to see if we needed anything else or to inquire as to how everything was. Another round and more water would have been nice. We will eat here again as we enjoy the food. We can only hope that the service will be better next time.
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Read the Menu!
Reviewer: Tara
from Santa Barbara, CA
The review below me is absolutely off. If you read the menu it clearly states 90 min. maximum per table. Other than the limited time, Chase has the BEST french onion soup I have ever tasted. And their halibut piccata is to die for! If you have 90 minutes to spare I highly recommend Chase.
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Rude staff
Reviewer: Maria
from Los Angeles
We took some family members from Florida to Chase after a great day in Santa Barbara. They rushed our check after we finished our dinner, but we still had half a bottle of wine to drink. They asked us to leave, because "they needed our table", but when we walked out there was no one waiting to be seated. We go to Santa Barbara often when we have people visiting, but will never again go to Chase.
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Reservation Policy
Reviewer: Ken
from Santa Barbara
Has been one of our favorite restaurants in Santa Barbara for years. Good food, great service. Very disappointed now by the fact that when you make a reservation, they make you guarantee them you will vacate your table in 90 minutes max.
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