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Opal Restaurant and Bar
1325 State St, Santa Barbara
Phone: (805) 966-9676

  • Category: Californian, Fusion
  • Hours: Mon-Sat 11:30am-2:30pm, Sun-Thu 5pm-10pm, Fri-Sat 5-11pm
  • Chef: Felipe Barajas Head Chef Gerardo Barajas Executive Sous Chef
  • Price: $10 - $20
  • Serving: Lunch, & Dinner
  • Reservations: Yes, recommended
  • Map
  • Web Site
  • Menu
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Reviews by the General Public

Excellent service - great food - very reasonably priced, 11/21/2009
Reviewer: Brian from Ventura, CA
My wife and I just got back from our honeymoon and were suffering from some post-wedding blues.... so we decided to go out to dinner in SB. Based on some online research, I decided to make a reservation at Opal. When I called ahead to make the reservation, they asked if it was a special occasion... I said no, we had just got back from our honeymoon. For an appetizer we had the crab cakes... which were very good (I've had Maryland blue crab back East and nothing beats that). For dinner we orderd the smoked chicken pizza and the warm seafood salad... both of which were excellent. The service was terrific as was the atmosphere (which can get a little loud during peak hours but not overwhelming). For desert, we had the "like water for chocolate", which our server brought out on a plate with "congratulations" and a heart as part of the presentation (in a raspberry sauce).... which really made our evening.

Amazing, 11/15/2009
Reviewer: Tess from Lodi, CA
I often find it difficult to dine out as I have an extreme allergy to latex gloves and they are usually used in food preparation. I was greeted with enthusiasm and was told it would not be a problem for the chef to serve my food without involving latex gloves. I was thrilled. I had the chicken chipotle penne pasta and it was incredible! Wonderful service. Amazing food. Can't wait to return to Santa Barbara and Opal Restaurant and Bar!
Unique and delicious, 11/9/2009
Reviewer: Justin from Santa Barbara, CA
I went on Saturday for the first time. We did not have reservations, which I highly reccomend, but were givin a table on the pretence that we had an hour to dine. It worked out great since we had a limited amount of time. The food was amazing, we ordered coconut prawns and then the prawn pizza with pesto. Both dishes were very well assembeled and tasted fresh. After reading all the reviews I thought I would be underwhelmed, and I couldn't have been happier. Thank you opal!!!! :)
Wow! amazing service!!, 10/14/2009
Reviewer: Brooks from Santa Barbara, CA
Opal goes the extra mile to make sure their customers are happy. I ordered the goat cheese/prosciutto/spinach and garlic pizza (amazing btw) to go; glancing briefly into the container it looked like the right pizza, but when I got back to my office I realized it was the wrong pizza. As I was on my lunch break, I did not have time to wait for another pizza and drive back over, but the nice lady at the counter personally delivered the right pizza with a yummy dessert just to make sure I was happy!!! wonderful food, amazing service! Eat at Opal.
Went on 10/5 for the first time, 10/6/2009
Reviewer: Sarah from Santa Barbara, CA
This place is all that it is cracked up to be. We finally went last night. Husband had the basil fettuccini with tiger prawns and I had the sauteed chicken w/penne pasta and chipotle sauce. It was delicious! So good. The staff was nice and attentive, but gave us our space. Highly recommend!!! The prices weren't that bad either.
Lovely Evening for out of towners, 9/22/2009
Reviewer: Kari from Madison, WI
Made reservations thanks to the reviews of this site. It was a busy Saturday night but we were tucked in a romantic front window and it felt intimate. Wonderful, insightful service, qualified recommendations, allowed a little wine sampling before we pulled the trigger (cork). While it is a team approach to caring for the guest, felt appropriately visited by main server. Thought there would be a bit more fresh fish, but a nice selection, tried a fish special and a mainstay...actually LOVED the mainstay more. Don't miss Opal.

Happy Bride and Groom...., 8/27/2009
Reviewer: Adeline Hopkins from Santa Barbara, CA
Our wedding reception took place at Opal this past July, and if I could rate the service higher, I would. I recommend working with the staff at this terrific restaurant if you want a sweet, easy and fun event. They met every need that our tired feet and hungry guests had, and smiled the whole time. My dress' zipper malfunctioned mid-dinner and I was given a hand full of safety pins and an offer of help, without my asking. The food elicited huge praise, dessert was spectacular as always, we could not be happier. Thank you, Opal and Morgan, for being pretty much perfect. Adeline and Adam

Perfect Meal, Perfect Service, 8/17/2009
Reviewer: Margaret from Goleta
Dinner at Opal, Friday eve, once again superb! It continues to be so consistent with qualilty food and service. Every dish that I've had there has been excellent, whether it's one of their daily specials or a regular menu item.
Opal Shines Best in Listening and Responding, 8/12/2009
Reviewer: Jim Lichtman from Santa Barbara, CA
For myself, wife and friends, the food is excellent. Favorites are the Herb-crusted Filet (the Yukon potatoes in truffle butter... incredible!), and Gaspar's pizza. When, on the rare occasion, any part of the meal is below their usual excellence, owners Tina and Richard listen and respond... EVERY time. The servers listen and respond, EVERY time. Some people talk about service, Tina, Richard, Ron, Lisa, Shannon, Cari and the rest of the staff deliver!
The host was very nice, the food and service were excellent, 8/11/2009
Reviewer: Ellen from Cupertino, CA
We were first time in Santa Barbara and after our plans for dinner were screwed, I asked a local couple that were sipping wine outside cafe, what they can recommend me. They direct me to "Opal". I am glad we walked this 5 extra blocks to "Opal". The host was very nice, he seated us right away. He even promised to see so we'll get our order quick (we had only 1,5 hrs to spare, before heading back home). We ordered 3 different meals and shared (there was many interesting choices in the menu). I liked everything we ordered. And the host kept his promise, we didn't wait long for a food. Even my 2-years old daughter had fun with bread and butter, so we, actually, were able to enjoy our dinner.
excellent food and excellent personalized service, 8/7/2009
Reviewer: Patty from Ventura, Ca.
Four of us had lunch there on July 31, 09 and were delighted with the excellent food and service. The owner is very personable and cares about her customers. We highly recommend this restaurant (if something goes wrong for some reason, call the owner over and she will take care of the situation promptly and cheerfully and make sure that you are satisfied and happy about your experience there.
Awesome, 7/30/2009
Reviewer: Darlene from Fredericksburg, VA
We were in town from Virginia for a few days of vacation. A friend had your restaurant on our list of places to eat. When we were out walking we stopped in to make reservations to be sure we got in on a busy Friday night. (July 17 I think) When we arrived, they remembered us and made sure we had a great table by the window in the next room. Our meals were fabulous. I'm a fish fanatic and the Mahi Mahi on cousous (with a hint of cherry flavor) was awesome. Do you ever share recipes? I am having a dinner party in Virginia and would love to serve that dish. If you are unable to share, then just perhaps just a few hints?

Pleasantly surprised, 7/20/2009
Reviewer: Cynthia from Pismo Beach, Ca
We live on the central coast and our kids are in school in Santa Barbara, so we asked my 19 year old daughter who was turning 20 to pick a restaurant of her choice. She researched on line and chose Opal. We drove down to celebrate. When we arrived, I asked her to go in and get us a table while we parked. This gave me time to quickly call in on my cell to ask if they would help assist us in singing happy birthday as a surprise. The manager asked if we had a reservation. We didn't. I had briefly skimmed the overview of the place the day before on line and didn't remember reading anything about reservations being necessary. I was wrong, but we were fortunate for the available space, and the manager was nice enough to seat her anyway...whew! The food was excellent. I had the warm spinach seafood salad. My husband had the tomato seafood linguni, and my daughter had the fetticinni with tiger pawns (yes, we love seafood). My son said he was not hungry, but after tasting, ending up eating a good portion of each of our entrees. The server was so kind to bring him an extra plate (and bowl...she said she wasn't sure which he preferred). That was super nice since it is uncustomary in finer restaurants to share food without paying. They lit a candle in my daughter's cheese cake and with chocolate, generously encircled "Happy Birthday Casey" on her plate. We all sang (including our dining neighbors). I really wished I had more space to mention in detail the hospitality shown to us. So, I just want to whole heartedly thank the staff of Opal for helping to make Casey's 20th birthday a pleasant one. She was elated that the restaurant of her choice was a hit. I highly recommend this fresh, simple but savvy dinning.

Fantastic!!!!, 6/24/2009
Reviewer: Meg from Santa Barbara, CA
My family of 5 ate here last Saturday for my Dad's bday and also during Solstice. We were very excited that they could fit us in for a last minute reservation on a such a busy busy day. The food was all sooooo good...we each had to try eachothers plates because we all thought our own was to die for. The service was on spot and everyone was so attentive. I can't wait to go back!!!
First (and probably last) visit, 6/23/2009
Reviewer: Barbara M from Santa Barbara, CA
Met a friend for dinner last night; we each ordered an app and an entrée. Appetizer: I ordered the pesto scallops he ordered the bacon-wrapped prawns. The scallops weren’t bad; though I didn’t see any pesto and the pinenuts were almost burnt. Halfway through our apps, we swapped. I took one bite of the prawn, and stopped eating. It was incredibly salty and chewy—completely overcooked. (should have noticed a pattern here.) At this point, someone (NOT our server) brings our entrees out—with our dirty appetizer plates still on the table. Entrees: He ordered the pork shank; said it was good, not great. I had the seared duck breast. Took one (lukewarm) bite, and again, had to stop eating. The skin on the outside was burnt to the point of being blackened (and was very bitter as a result). I looked at the inner slices of duck breast—a meat always served medium rare was dark brown the entire way through. The duck's “blackberry compote” was full of blueberries and frozen strawberries; it belonged on ice cream, not duck. After being ignored, we had to flag our server down from across the restaurant, who then asked if I would like another plate with my meat “undercooked.” Lousy service, overcooked food, and no offer to remedy anything.

Opal Restaurant and Bar writes:

Dear Barbara

Though rare, it sounds like we really missed the mark and were below our usual standards on your visit. As most of our reviews indicate, your experience is not typical and it is very unusual for us to have any issues with the food, service and management, since we pride ourselves on all three.

One mis-impression we would like to correct before discussing the rest, is that it appears you felt it was a service flaw that someone other than your server brought your entrees to you. This is in fact part of our system, that any of our staff may step in to serve you as needed, which should ensure that you not have to wait if your server is busy, for service to occur. This system requires great communication to operate optimally and it does sound like that aspect was not up to par. For instance, every server is supposed to communicate to you that you can ask anyone to help you if he or she is not available, just as they should have communicated to clear your appetizers before entrée service. We also should have already noticed that you needed some additional attention to address your dissatisfaction with your meal. Usually the staff and management are scanning the floor and watching for any service needs and I do apologize for that lapse in our normal system. We do have to say it is extremely hard to imagine anyone on our staff asking you if you would like your dinner prepared again, undercooked, but I think the important point you are communicating is that your complaint was not treated with the seriousness it deserved, and this gave you the exact feeling as if the server had said that. This is so far from the way we train our staff and the way they generally operate that I am shocked and this is what we communicated to our staff in our last meeting.
We really appreciate your taking the time to send these comments, since they are so different than most of the comments we receive that it helped us to communicate to our staff that there is no resting on our laurels, and that at every moment we must work hard and constantly dedicate and re-dedicate ourselves to our mission of creating great food and service that is not only observant and prompt but also warm and genuinely caring.

We are surprised about the dishes that were unsatisfactory to you, as they are usually among our most praised and popular. But again, we appreciate your comments, and they were very useful as we discussed them with the kitchen and looked for departures from our usual procedures that could have caused them. While our basic procedures are sound, execution can be an area where deviation can sometimes occur, and your email gave us a great opportunity to reinforce correct procedure. You are correct that the duck should be medium rare and that the skin should be just crispy enough to provide contrast with the rich taste of the duck meat beneath. This is the way it should be and generally is presented, and as for the Prawns, people usually love this dish: the only saltiness should be from the bacon, which should be just enough to add a smokiness to the buttery richness of the tender prawns themselves, offset by the contrasting flavors of the accompanying salad. It may be that the prawns were accidentally salted as well, and though this is against procedure, an accident may have occurred. Again we discussed this with our staff, who all felt badly that something left their area without being as delicious as it usually is.

Finally, our management, which is usually very on top of any issues, and always determined to make sure that everyone leaves completely happy, should have stepped in to address your concerns, and it is puzzling that he or she did not, as we rarely miss the opportunity to correct a situation that is not up to our standards. You can rest assured that we met with management as well to reinforce the importance of being vigilant in the enforcement of those standards.

It is very unfortunate you did not choose to leave an email address or way to contact you, so we could really address the issues you brought up and personally resolve the situation with you in a positive way, so we hope that you will give us a call at 966 9676 or email us directly at info@opalrestaurantandbar.com so that we may do so. We would appreciate that opportunity.

Thanks again for your helpful feedback and we look forward to hearing back from you when the time is right.

Best regards
Richard Yates
With Tina Takaya
Owners, opal restaurant and bar
Is it possible to make 16 people happy?, 6/8/2009
Reviewer: Judy from Westlake Village, CA
In our case with Opal, the answer is a resounding, "Yes!" With 16 people in our party (we all belong to the same gourmet dinner group -- and with discerning palettes), I wondered if one restaurant could meet all of our expectations. The service was wonderful. (As the organizer, I was duly impressed with the owners' response to any tepid reviews on this site and their willingness to right the situation without excuse.) Everyone in our party raved about the excellent and highly attentive service. Opal's menu selection is wonderful. However, it's the food that will win you over! Several of us had the paella and really enjoyed it. The wine selection was also impressive. We had a couple who was celebrating their anniversary. (Opal was not told of this until we arrived.) They surprised them with a lovely anniversary dessert which made the evening that much more enjoyable. Thank you, Opal, for a wonderful culinary experience!
They made our evening special, 6/1/2009
Reviewer: Mike Flaherty from Santa Barbara, CA
The staff of Opal is exceptional. I think this is the first time I have left a 25% tip. OH, the food was also perfect. We were celebrating two birthdays and Opal made the big day very special. Thanks, thanks to the Host,the friendly waiter with the shaved head and the chef.

Just awesome, 5/30/2009
Reviewer: Sara from Santa Barbara, CA
I have been to Opal a few times and each times is wonderful. Tonight was no exception! We went for our anniversary. The service was awesome! The food was amazing! The warm seafood salad is delicious!

BRIGITTE'S REDUX !, 5/23/2009
Reviewer: Charles Hall from Boise, Idaho
Having been a customer of Brigitte's during visits in past years I was eager to test the mettle of the newly named site. I found everything almost exactly the same as before in respect to quality of food,service and noise level! My meal was first class,the service was prompt and courteous and the clientele was interesting! As before,this is not a bistro where relaxation is usually possible but there is no gainsaying the high level of cuisine.I will return.
5++++ stars!, 4/22/2009
Reviewer: Steven from Newport Beach, CA
I have been here twice with my date and have had an exceptional experience. The service is absolutely flawless, we were greeted at the door by the host, sat immediately, and were asked for our drink orders promptly. The food is always fresh, perfect temperature and presented very well. Both time my bill has been about $70, with one glass of wine for my date and myself; I think the price catagory may be a little off. It is well worth the price however and you really get what you pay for here. Even by Newport Beach standards this restaurant is EXCELLENT! Can't wait to go back.
Harbor House Inn Concierge favorite!, 4/8/2009
Reviewer: Allison Leigh from Santa Barbara, CA
I am the Concierge at the Harbor House Inn and was delighted with my choice to take my Grandparents, who had flown all the way from Connecticut to see me, to Opal for dinner on their one night in town. I had called ahead and spoken with the host about how important it was to me for this dinner to go flawlessly, and she was very attentive and specific with my requests; nice to not just be asked your name for once. Upon arrival, the manager was there to greet us all with a smile and opened the door for us like a true gentleman. We had the prawn appetizer which blew us all away. The dough was light and fluffy and the sauce was a perfect match. Both my Grandmother and I had the Wild Mushroom stuffed Chicken Breasts and were completely speechless. The presentation was beautifully done and the dish was perfectly seasoned, again with a sauce to match. My Grandfather had the Duck, also prepared flawlessly, and topped with a sweet berry sauce. We were too full for dessert, but the attentive waitress was sweet enough. One trip over, she had taken and re-filled my drink without me even noticing! I had also ordered a side of mashed potatoes, which turned out to be my favorite part of the meal! I am typically one to smother my potatoes in whatever I can get my hands on. This is the first time in my life to be completely content without alterations. I was very impressed and touched by their attention to detail for every single guest and personal experience. My job depends on my knowledge of the finer Santa Barbara secrets, and Opal is at the top of my list. And lastly, a personal thank you for all those who made my families night so memorable.

A real gem (sorry about the pun), 3/26/2009
Reviewer: Robert from Los Angeles, CA
Sure, the food was great (had the seafood salad and let me tell you, "seafood" was the operative word; it was stuffed full of scallops, shrimp and salmon), but it's the staff that won our hearts. No less than three servers made a point of coming over to befriend our little girl and make sure that she was having a good time. The guy who brought out our food was actually sensitive to the fact that her plate of penne was too hot and, rather than just drop it in front of her and let her burn her mouth (like every single other server we've ever had in every other restaurant has done), he suggested setting it aside to let it cool. These guys were on the ball and they made what would have been a perfectly fine dining experience absolutely spectacular.
A real treat!, 3/4/2009
Reviewer: Robyne from Folsom, CA
When making our reservation, I was asked if we were celebrating anything special. I said that we were celebrating both my husband and my birthdays as well as our 20th wedding anniversary (they fall within a week of each other)and could we have a "private table" of sorts. She said that she would put us down for a "quiet table" and asked both of our names. When we arrived we were informed that the people at "our table" were finished with their meal and were just sitting there talking. Would we mind waiting or did we want to be seated elsewhere? We opted to wait. The staff were very aware of our situation and were trying all in their power to accomodate us as quickly as possible. When it became clear that the people weren't leaving anytime soon, they got us another "quiet table" not far from our original one. Our waitress, Dayon was very understanding and did not rush us, as we were hoping to be moved if they left soon. She was professional yet engaging enough to help us pass the time until we could move to our original seat. They did leave and several staff members helped set up the table and move us quickly. The food! YUM! The Phylo Wrapped Tiger Prawns were to die for! I had the wild salmon and my husband had the Paella, both excellent. Dessert was the Like Water for Chocolate...it came complete with a message scripted in chocolate "Happy Birthday and Anniversary Joe and Robyne"...nice touch. This was our first time at Opal, but as soon as we get back to SB, we'll definately be back. Thanks again for your wonderful service and delicious food.
Food Hit/Miss but a Hit is Great!!, 3/2/2009
Reviewer: Glenn from Buellton
The Asian Chicken Salad was nothing special but the Phylo wrapped Tiger Prawns with the dipping sauce was Amazing!! Service was Good except the Host accidently gave away a surprise for my wife that we were going to a show so be careful what you say when making reservations if there is a surprise involved.

Opal Restaurant and Bar writes:

Dear Glenn

Thanks for writing, and we are sorry for the un-characteristic slipup by our host. Generally our staff is so focused on creating a great experience that it is very typical for us to let a guest know we are aware of their timing needs and to assure them we will get them out in plenty of time for their show. When I looked in the reservation book I saw that it was an anniversary and that you were attending a show, but it didn't mention it being a surprise.

Most likely that was our fault not to note that detail, but I would want to assure all callers that we do generally take detailed notes and write a special occasion card for every table, and we are usually good at getting the details right. So if something is a surprise, all you should have to do is reinforce it with the person who takes your reservation.

We will remind our reservation takers to be more thorough in noting every important detail of a party, but I hope you can see it was more from a desire to give great service rather than being indiscreet that our error arose. In any case, I do apologize since I am sure it was disappointing to go to the trouble of trying to create a specific experience and not being able to have it realized.

We are glad you enjoyed our signature appetizer Shredded Phyllo Wrapped Tiger Prawns with Coconut Curry Sauce, but a bit surprised you didn't enjoy our Asian Chicken Salad more, since it is one of our most popular lunch items and actually incorporates some very hard to obtain Asian products in the recipe. We will check with our chefs to make sure there was not a supply issue on that day and to make sure all our normal procedures are followed. Thanks for letting us know because "nothing special" is not up to our usual standards.

Thanks so much for taking the time to comment on our restaurant and we would love to hear from you directly if you care to email us at info@opalrestaurantandbar.com or call Tina or myself directly at 805 966 9676.

Best regards
Richard Yates,
With Tina Takaya,
Owners, opal restaurant and bar
Great food,service and atmosphere!!, 2/22/2009
Reviewer: James Wong from Monterey Park, CA
Going in, I didn't know what to expect, but I came away with a pleasant experience. Great food and great service, got there just before our reservation and were greeted warmly and seated within a minute. Variety of dishes were just enough to choose from, not too much nor too little. Main courses ranging from beef,seafood,chicken,pork and vegetarian. Portions were adequate, presentation great, only one minor complaint, the wording on the chile encrusted filet mignon was a bit misleading. Our server was very informative and knew his cocktails. We definitely would dine here again!! Keep up the good work!!

Opal Restaurant and Bar writes:

Dear James

We are glad you had such a great experience, and thanks for mentioning your thoughts about the Chile Crusted Filet Mignon. We are not sure if what you felt was misleading was whether the crust would consist of actual peppers such as Habaneros or Jalapenos, or whether you thought our housemade Blackening spice and 5 Peppercorn blend was applied too lightly and the dish was not spicy enough.

If you do happen to read this and care to respond it will help us to fine tune our approach to this dish. Either way we will discuss your comments with our kitchen staff and definitely re-word the dish on our next menu printing, due in a couple of weeks.

Thanks again for your great comments and we look forward to seeing you on your next visit!

Best regards
Richard Yates,
With Tina Takaya,
Owners, opal restaurant and bar
Pretty good but.., 2/8/2009
Reviewer: Tiffany from Santa Barbara, CA
..Not entirely what I expected. From reading the other reviews of Opal, I expected the food to be phenomenal, but both my date and I had a few issues with our dinners. The Arborio Risotto, which he ordered, was very rich and fairly heavy. I was surprised that this was a stand alone meal because it really seemed impossible to get through the whole portion. I ordered the Wild Mushroom Stuffed Chicken and while it was good, it leaned a bit towards the bland side and needed salt. The waitstaff was friendly and fairly attentive, the we did have to stand around in the sufficiently crowded front room to wait for a table, despite having a reservation. Overall, a pretty good experience that could have been made great by a few minor changes.

Opal Restaurant and Bar writes:

Dear Tiffany

Thanks for your thoughtful critique.

First, the portioning of the Risotto, a very popular dish here, has always been intended to provide a very ample meal and while most people have appreciated its size, we have discussed reworking it despite the normally favorable response to it, so your comments helped solidify a decision for us. We appreciate this feedback and will work with the kitchen to redesign this dish in the near future.

The Wild Mushroom stuffed chicken breast is usually one of our most flavorful and beloved dishes so again, thanks for letting us know that we did not live up to our usual standards of preparation on this occasion. Generally it is cooked just right, thoroughly done but still tender, with the slight richness of the cream sauce balanced by its acidity, and the creamy earthiness of the mushrooms adding another layer of complexity to the flavors. Although this is what we would consider a one-off, still we apologize that your dinner was less than it should have been and we appreciate the chance to reinforce our standards with our staff.

Lastly I am glad you had a positive perception of our waitstaff, as we usually get rave reviews on their helpfulness and genuine hospitality.

Finally, while normally our system of scheduling tables is pretty much on the money most of the time, sometimes, despite our best efforts at anticipating a departure time, an earlier seating lingers a little longer than usual. Again we are sorry you had to wait when you had a reservation. Whenever this happens we always go over our procedures at the end of each night to see what we could improve. You can be sure we will discuss your comments in our next management meeting.

Thanks so much for your constructive comments, and we would love to hear from you directly if you care to email us at info@opalrestaurantandbar.com or call Tina or myself directly at 805 966 9676.

Best regards
Richard Yates,
With Tina Takaya,
Owners, opal restaurant and bar
Best Meal Yet, 1/30/2009
Reviewer: Zoe' from Santa Barbara, CA
I have eaten at Opal many times and last night was hands down the best meal I've ever had there. I had the salmon which I have often but this time it was extraordinary. The waitstaff was also exceptional. We arrived late after a film and they were more than accommodating. Our waiter, Ethan, was the icing on the cake. He was pleasant, informative and made us feel welcomed despite the late hour. Thank you for a great night out!
Great Experience, 1/1/2009
Reviewer: Steve from Santa Barbara, CA
My wife and I went to Opal for New Years Eve dinner. The food on the NYE menu was great and the service was good too. We will definately be going back. On the nit-picky side and given the quality of everything else, the bread that was served before dinner was not good and the coffee really was not good.

Opal Restaurant and Bar writes:

Dear Steve

We are so happy you had a great experience NYE. We had a great time as well.

And thanks so much for the compliments on our service and food. But because we are always aiming for perfection, we are a little surprised that you did not like our bread or coffee as we always get great compliments on those two items. It would be great to know what exactly you did not like about them, in case there was a procedural mistake someone made, so we can correct it.

Our homemade Foccacia and our homemade Multigrain breads are baked fresh everyday, with a satisfying and balanced flavor our guests frequently praise. But tastes differ, and temperature and texture could also play a role in your experience. As the saying goes, "some like it hot" however, we generally do not serve it hot unless it just finished baking and is straight out of the oven. And the texture of our bread, while firm, is softer than that you often get at, say, Italian restaurants, and a style preference can certainly influence your experience as well. So please let us know your thoughts as it is helpful to get other view points and these can often lead us to new and better procedures.

Regarding our coffee: We researched a lot of coffee until we found Caribbean Coffee Company. We found that with this coffee, what we especially liked is that we can brew it stronger for a richer fuller flavor withour adding bitterness. It is so popular that many guests ask us if they can purchase some.

So we were thinking that possibly there could have been an error in brewing it. For instance, sometimes if the filter is not put in securely, the side can fold over and then the water does not directly hit the grounds. We will definitely reiterate this with our staff.

We appreciate the feedback as we are always committed to improvement, so please feel free to email us at info@opalrestaurantandbar.com and let us know your thoughts.

Thanks again for your complimentary and thoughtful critique and we look forward to hearing from you.

Have a wonderful New Year!

Best Regards
Tina Takaya
With Richard Yates
Owners, opal restaurant and bar
Perfect for Lunch!
Reviewer: John Thyne from Santa Barbara, CA
Opal Restaurant is a perfect lunch spot. Not only are you able to rub elbows with Santa Barbara's leaders dining their often, but the Warm Pesto Bay Scallop salad is positively fantastic! Service is always top notch and the atmosphere is exciting! Great bar and outstanding dinner spot too, this is a definite stop for any night at the Arlington!
What a wonderful surprise
Reviewer: Steve from Santa Barbara, CA
I and my partner love, and take pride in, our cooking. By not stinting on ingredients and by taking time, we usually feel we do better dining in than out, even when spending a lot more than we spent with you. Your food this evening was perfect for us; the bacon wrapped shrimp and carpaccio wrapped salmon filet were mouth watering delights and the lamb chops were excellent. We will try to recreate this at home but I think it will be a real challenge. Thanks for a lovely evening.

Yet Another Great Visit!
Reviewer: Francesca from Santa Barbara, CA
Had dinner with my partner last night at Opal. As always, service was friendly, efficient and professional. The food was fresh and tasty. Opal is definitely one of my favorite establishments in SB!
Owners of the CHEERIO, in Opal’s location from 1954-1976
Reviewer: Jan from Santa Barbara, CA
Our family assembled together this past weekend and decided to have dinner at the location of our former family restaurant of 22 years, the Cheerio. It ended up being a very meaningful and perfect experience. My father, Felix Riedo, who ran the restaurant from 1954 to 1976, is now 93 years young, and enjoyed seeing the decor and thought it was great. My brother and I (who spent much of our childhood in that building and frolicking up and down State Street and playing in the Arlington Theatre planters), accompanied by our spouses, were impressed with all aspects of your restaurant. My mother, Evelyn, along with the rest of us, thought everything we ordered was simply delicious, and we all enjoyed reminiscing about experiences in that very location. My parents raised my brother and me with an understanding that in order to run a successful business, you need to take good care of your customers so they will return and encourage others to become your customers. They always served quality food in great portions and doted on the patrons. In those days, we had glass shelves with many coffee cups that actually had names of regular customers imprinted on them. It was always a place where guests could come and count on a great meal and a comfortable atmosphere. It was very special for the four of us, with our now extended family, to realize that our livelihood and focus of so many years has transitioned to others who are now also finding enjoyment and pride of ownership and quality service in the heart of Santa Barbara. I wish you lots of success and happiness, which is clearly well deserved. With best regards, the Riedo family

Opal Restaurant and Bar writes:

Dear Jan and Riedo Family,

What a nice surprise to receive your email and hear that you enjoyed your experience. It always warms our hearts to hear that. My partner and I truly have love and passion for this business. We feel that in life, the main thing we have is our exchanges with people, We love to see people happy and enjoying themselves. We are extremely fortunate to do what we love.

I really enjoyed seeing the picture of your father then and now. Thank you so much for sharing your history (and therefore our history) of this restaurant site. It is great to know more and share more with our guests. I am happy to know that your family also had the same passion.

I hope that Richard and I will have a chance to meet you all some day. And again thank you so much for taking the time to email us.

Best Regards
Tina Takaya
With Richard Yates
Owners, opal restaurant and bar

Consistently GREAT!
Reviewer: Kat from Santa Barbara, CA
I am never, ever disappointed when I dine at Opal. I just returned from lunch there and was thinking how great it always is, so wanted to share. The food is always fresh, paired beautifully, and delicious. The services is always friendly, polite, and appropriate. The specials are good, as are the regular menu items. Opal does a great job, over and over again!
I Love Opal - Can't Beat Their Service!!
Reviewer: Kimberly from Santa Barbara, CA
I am an SB local & LOVE Opal. We frequent the restaurant & are always warmly welcomed & taken care of with A+++ service. They only have professional waiters - I am always impressed! The food is great. I crave the warm seafood salad (YUM!) and prosciutto & goat cheese pizza! The wine list is fabulous as is the ginger mandarin martini. Great restaurant and immpeccable service. Thank you Opal!
Excellent!!
Reviewer: Kuru from Santa Barbara, CA
We went to Opal, on a Saturday night, with a party of five people. The food was simply outstanding and very reasonably priced. Many of the items were so good, that I would have gone back to Opal for just any one of them. I had a salad with goat cheese that was a fantastic, tangy, start to the meal, followed by the wonderfully cooked duck breast. One of my friends had the chile crusted filet, which was honestly on par with a steak from Holdren's (and 1/2 the price). My girlfriend had a pasta dish that really impressed me with its flavor. The appetizer of phyllo wrapped tiger prawns was another highlight of the evening. This meal was made all the better by perfect service. My only complaint would be that the deserts, while acceptable, were a letdown after such a fantastic meal.
What a Disappointment
Reviewer: Laura Kranzler from Santa Barbara, CA
A girlfriend of mine frequently comes up from Camarillo to dine at Opal. After all her rave reviews we decided to try it out with our parents. For starters we ordered the mix green salad & pan seared crab cakes. The salad greens were fresh & the vinaigrette was spot on. The crab cakes were another story. The greens again were excellent, but the crab cakes didn't taste like they were made to order. They tasted like they were left over from the night before & re-heated in the microwave. What a complete waste of nine bucks. They were so awful after a couple of bites, I ditched them. For our mains we ordered: Sauteed Chicken Penne w/Chipotle Cream, Wild Mushroom Chicken Breast, Chile Crusted Filet Mignon & the Herb grilled Filet Mignon. The penne was overcooked & the sauce didn't taste as good as it sounded on the menu. The steaks were both cooked to perfection & extremely tasty. The chicken was dry, cold, & the stuffing was way over seasoned. All of the side vegetables were cold & the mashed potatoes were also over seasoned (garlic & salt.) Dessert was another disappointment, given our previous courses, we should have known better, & skipped dessert. The Dark Chocolate Pecan tart tasted stale. The pecans were chewy lacking that crunch that a pecan tart should have. The Creme Brulee tasted good, but again tasted old & lacked that crunch on top. I wanted so badly to fall in love with Opal, but it just fell way too short. We will definately not be back.

Opal Restaurant and Bar writes:

Dear Laura

Thanks for taking the time to write your review. We wish you had included your email address so we could contact you personally, hopefully remedying the issues you raised. However, we appreciate your taking the time to elaborate on them, because what matters most is the experience of our guests.

We are glad you apparently had a great service experience, though sorry our staff didn’t pick up on your disappointment with your food. It is surprising to hear so many food issues below our usual standards. As the majority of guest comments on this website (and your friend’s own experience) will attest, most of our guests leave extremely happy with both food and service very consistently. And our managers are trained to be watchful of any issues as they arise, so we wish you had felt comfortable to mention something to us at the time. We are extremely responsive and committed to “turning things around” if we are aware of a problem.

Re the Crab cakes: a favorite of many of our regulars, but what you may have experienced is the firmer texture of our crab cakes: virtually 100% crab, with only enough filling to act as a binder, they have a texture different from most crabcakes, which typically contain a fair amount of breadcrumbs or other filler. We don't pre-cook our crabcakes and re-use them, nor microwave them. Careful ordering ensures all our food is delivered and prepared fresh daily and, as a busy restaurant, we use our food so quickly we avoid having a freshness issue. However your perception is the important point here, and our staff both failed to inform you about our different style of crabcakes and didn't respond to your not finishing them, and ask if they were to your liking or not. We have reinforced these points with our staff.

We are glad you enjoyed the steaks, but sorry you didn’t have the same experience with the Sautéed Chicken Penne Pasta with Chipotle Cream, and Wild Mushroom-Stuffed Chicken Breast with a Tomato Marsala Cream, two wildly popular dishes. The Penne Pasta Sauce is normally just as good as it sounds, and the pasta should not be overcooked. Likewise the Chicken should have been tender, hot, and, accented by the herbal earthiness of the mushroom stuffing and the rich Tomato Marsala Cream Sauce, should have been, in the words of a recent guest: “the best chicken dish I've ever had”. That you didn’t have this experience, combined with the vegetables and potatoes, sounds like we had an execution problem that night. We take this very seriously and after conferring with our head chef, have isolated the situation that caused this issue that evening and corrected it.

Desserts: All of our staff is well-trained to properly caramelize the creme brulee so it is puzzling how that could have happened. Although new staff members undergo extensive training, there is always the possibility of someone new making a mistake. If so, we apologize for that, as you are 100% correct about the “crunch” on top of the Crème Brulee. However, our Pecan Tart is not made in a style where there is a “crunch” on the top. Though the pecans are firm and toasted, the Chocolate in the recipe contributes to a different kind of texture.

Despite the execution errors on the night of your visit, our recipes are tried and true, delicious, and well loved when properly executed as they normally are by our amazing kitchen.But human error can creep into the best of operations, and sometimes a situation can develop where things do not go as usual. Please contact Richard or Tina at 966 9676 or thru our website so we can properly discuss and rectify the situation with you.

Sincerely, Richard Yates and Tina Takaya, opal restaurant and bar
Locals' Consistent Favorite
Reviewer: Marina from Santa Barbara, CA
I often come back to this page to look up Opal's phone number to make a reservation, but I've never actually paused to comment. I just got off the phone after making a reservation, and I just wanted thank Opal for consistently providing the most excellent food and drink, paired with excellent service, for years now.

I used to go in fairly often, and even though I only make it in once every couple months these days, I'm still greeted with a smile, and the service is still excellent. Tina and Richard have created an atmosphere in which service is always personal and friendly above all else, perfect for any situation - casual lunches, a first date, business dinners, mellow nights out with close friends...

I often go to great lengths to get good, fresh ingredients in interesting and flavorful dishes. It's not wholly unheard of for me to drive up to Los Olivos just for a glass of wine and a sandwich at Patrick's, or down to Saladang for Thai food in Pasadena. Opal, which is now only three blocks from my house and a far more convenient trip, never fails to tempt, delight, and more than satisfy!

One request...keep serving Nonino grappas! By far my favorite dessert in the whole world is the Crème brûlée at Opal with a single-varietal grappa to wash it down! (or is it the Crème brûlée that washes down the grappa??) If you don't know much about grappa, ask to speak to Richard and he'll likely be more than happy to explain why this historical Italian drink is so interesting, and why it varies from bottle to bottle in the same way that wine does!
Another Great Experience!
Reviewer: Betsy from Santa Barbara
Took our mother-in-law to Opal for Mother's Day. As usual, food and service were fantastic. They even handed out roses to all the mothers!

Very Satisfied!
Reviewer: John and Carrie from Lompoc, Ca
My husband and I went to Opal for our Anniversary. We had never been but I was impressed with the menu and pictures online. I was happy from the first phone call when we made our reservation. The guy on the phone was really made an effort to connect with me. When we arrived, we were seated right away and were congratulated on our Anniversary. We were refilled with ice tea numerous times without having to ask and our food arrived promptly. We ordered dessert (berrie creme brulee) and they had written 'Happy Anniversary' around the rim. I felt like it was a cute touch. Thank you Opal for such a great meal and we will be sure to keep you in mind for next time. Oh, and the food was fantastic!!! (Chicken pizza, very fresh ingrediants and filet mignon.. so tender!!)
Fantastic!
Reviewer: Kuru from Santa Barbara
This place is fantastic! I went there with my girlfriend a while back, and have been meaning to get around to writing a review. The food was excellent and reasonably priced. Our server was very attentive, and checked on us frequently. This is the place to go for a great dinner with excellent service.

Fabulous - as always
Reviewer: Jackie from Santa Barbara, CA
I have been a downtowner for 25 years and enjoy going out for a nice meal. Opal consistently serves up great food, with good service and a warm and friendly atmosphere. I often take visitors there and they are most impressed with the food, the presentation and the price.
Always a great place. Ambience and energy is a 10!
Reviewer: Vanessa from Santa Barbara
First i would like top start off by saying that i dine out a lot! Being a food and wine critic i consider myself to be a reliable source for info on restaurant dining. I love Opal! It is consistently pleasant and a wonderful experience. When i dine @ Opal i feel emerged in art, exquisite food, amazingly eloquent yet fun service, and a well chosen wine list makes it a restaurant that you know will last in Santa Barbara. I have been to Opal about 8 times and it has an energy that is swanky and sophisticated! I hope they keep it up as i am constantly pleased. thank you. Vanessa
So disappointed...
Reviewer: Nicholle from Santa Barbara
We chose opal for our belated Valentine's dinner. We have heard fabulous reviews and couldn't wait to see what everyone was talking about. Our server was very friendly. Our drinks and appetizers came out promptly and we were quite taken with the tuna appetizer and crab cakes. Lovely start. From there, things went downhill. First, our waiter did not deliver our food, even though we were his only table at the time. Second, he approached us a couple minutes later to inform us that he had input the wrong order, and instead of getting our 9 oz filets, he had ordered us the 6 oz. Okay, no huge thing... Two bites into my meal, I came upon a foreign object in my food. The waiter must have seen the look on my face, and was at my side instantly. He took the plate and went back to the kitchen. The manager (?) came up and asked if I would like a replacement. I said yes. (Great, I thought, now I'll get the 9 oz. that I had wanted!) Nope. Brought out a replacement 6 oz., and along with it, a dirty fork. Moreover, my replacement meal took so long that my boyfriend ate his entire meal by himself and then sat as I ate mine. The staff was nice enough to comp our two drinks, which was nice. Sadly, we won't be back.

Opal Restaurant and Bar writes:

Dear Nicholle

Thanks for taking the time to let us know of your experience. I do wish you had contacted us directly or left an email address so we could really address your experience personally and directly.

We always appreciate feedback, but especially when someone has an experience that is atypical of our restaurant as their first experience it is disappointing for us not to get the chance to correct a misunderstanding, apologize for a sub par performance or mistake, and get a chance to regain your esteem.

Firstly we are glad the initial service was prompt and you enjoyed your drinks and appetizers.

One misunderstanding we would like to address is your perception that the server was at fault for not bringing your food. We actually have a team service method, where everyone on the staff is available to serve all tables, and frequently we have a specific staff person (called an expeditor) designated to bring out the dinners. So this was a normal function of our service style. We do apologize if our server failed to mention it to you, as everyone is supposed to do so to avoid just this sort of misunderstanding.

We are truly sorry that your server did not address the issue with the size of your steaks. Generally there is a speedy solution to most problems, and that is our normal operating procedure, but it appears the communication between server and manager broke down at this point. This is against every principle we teach our staff, and we appreciate your letting us know about this- as we have used your example at our most recent staff meeting to reinforce the importance of properly handling these kinds of situations.

We are also very sorry about the incident with your steak. Despite our best efforts very rarely sometimes this can occur, and we have a specific policy to handle this, which was not followed in this case. We have, again, used your example to clarify with management our policy. We wish we could have served your steak in a timelier manner but unfortunately Medium Well takes a specific amount of time that can't really be speeded up.

Thanks for letting us know your feelings. We are sorry that this one experience was disappointing enough to preclude a future visit, but please know that we are very responsive and if you reconsider your decision and would like to discuss it personally with either Tina or myself we would welcome a phone call (966 9676) or email from you to really address the situation.

Best Regards
Richard Yates
With Tina Takaya
Owners, opal restaurant and bar
Opal is great.
Reviewer: Michael from Santa Barbara
What a great meal, the seafood salad and the pizza were amazing. Fresh, perfect combination, and the server made a delicious wine pairing. Only complaint is the server was a little too sexy and the girl I took out kept wanting to make out with him. I really like the ambiance and prices are very reasonable.
Finally got to experience the divine Opal!
Reviewer: Huyen from Santa Barbara, CA
Me and my girlfriends went for a belated birthday lunch, and were seated promptly in the corner booth in the back - perfect for me because I love to see everything going on around me and I have a thing for booths! I've been wanting to try this place forever and they did not dissapoint. I loved the artwork, and funky, sophisticated atmoshphere. Diverse, unique menu with too many delicous options - my friends had the Oven Roasted Chicken stuffed with prosciutto & smoked mozzerella on a bed of spinach salad, and I had the most amazing Aborio Risotto w/wild mushrooms, artichokes, asapargus, giant walnuts, fresh and hot grated parmigiano cheese cream and truffle oil..although described as a "heavier dish" it was perfection. Not too thick - just creamy and full of fresh flavors. Dessert was the famous "Like Water for Chocolate" mousse cake and strawberry cheesecake. I can't believe how fast those were gone..ahh, yes I can!
I also thought this kind act spoke volumes of restaurant's genuine vibe - As we were leaving and trying to take a group picture - not only did another customer offer to take the picture, but also 2 of the waitstaff and the owner, Tina. Then as we were leaving I believe the other owner, Richard, made a point to run out and thank us for dining there, and wish us a nice day. I told him it was my first time and an absolutely fantastic experience, and he says "Good! So we'll see you tomorrow then?" ..Definintely very soon! A new favorite for a number of reasons - 2 main points being hospitality and simple dishes prepared with gourmet ingredients and reasonable prices.

A Breath of Fresh Air
Reviewer: Mark from Santa Barbara, CA
This is the place I've been looking for. We dined here the other night and were highly impressed with the quality of food and service. Everything is reasonably priced: finally a place in SB where you don't need to take a second mortgage to enjoy a classy meal. Make sure you have a reservation, though, or you aren't likely to get a table. One oddity I found was that they wouldn't sit people who had a reservation early. That is, we had a reservation for 8:00 and arrived around 7:45. However, they asked us, and the other people who had 8:00 reservations to wait in the "lobby" until 8:00, despite the availability of at least 10 tables. This wouldn't normally raise my attention too much except where we had to wait is right next to other tables that were occupied, it was uncomfortable for me, I can only imagine how uncomfortable it would be to have a bunch of random people milling about your table when you were trying to enjoy your dinner. Odd? yes, though when all is said and done, this place is great and I plan on returning.
Best food and service we had in SB
Reviewer: Penny from Wayzata, MN
We found this little gem while buying tickets for the Orchestra and decided to try it(a woman walking by said it was one of her top 3 favorites in SB). The service was amazing and our food wonderful. We could not have asked for nicer people taking care of our dining experience. (Joseph, Rosanna and Eric were very welcoming and helpful) My spouse and I agree the lemon grass salmon was the best salmon either of us have had. The Risotto was also incredible. We have been back twice on this short trip to SB taking friends. Each time we have been just as enthusiastic.We feel a great value as well. We intend to go back again when we return to this area.

This place is legit
Reviewer: Thuy from Santa Barbara, CA
Great food - been here many times (mostly for lunch) and i have always been happy with my experience. Chipotle Chicken pasta and the thai curry prawns are high points for me. Service is great, especially cori who always makes sure we get taken care of.
Great flavors-- they have a really talented chef!
Reviewer: Wendy from Santa Barbara, CA
My friend and I decided to go to Opal on the opening night of the Film Festival. She was in jeans and a UCSB sweatshirt, and I was in my work clothes... while everyone at Opal was dressed for the Film Festival. We walked in, feeling a little self-conscious, but we were greeted with warmth and seated immediately! --No pretention or disrespect for being young and dressed down (this happens). The waitress checked on us often, in very short bursts. --She wasn't very caring towards us, but she did her job well by meeting our needs. The food was not just good, it was excellent. It was like the chef LOVED his creations and put real care into making them uniquely amazing. I've only had food like this on 2 other occasions: when Camille Schwartz was head chef at Mimosa, and at a restaurant called Cafe Santorini in Pasadena, CA. Opal has TRULY good food (and fabulous, smooth wine)! In fact, I'm going there tonight for my anniversary!
Fabulous!!!
Reviewer: C.S. from Goleta, CA
Last night, my brother from LA was in town to visit, so I wanted to try a new dining experience and chose Opal after seeing all the great reviews here. They were indeed true!!! We made reservations for 9:30pm and showed up about 30 minutes early. Although the place was busy with large parties, they promptly seated us upon our arrival. The martini list is great; I ordered the Flirtini and it was a winner. Try their phyllo wrapped tiger prawns with coconut curry dipping sauce for an appetizer - our waiter recommended us with that and we LOVED it! For our main, we tried the basil fettuccine and the paella. SO GOOD! All are reasonable price with good portions. The staffs are genuinely friendly, polite and attentive. Thank you so much Opal for a wonderful experience! I'm definitely coming back :)
Will Definitely Visit Again!
Reviewer: Bethany Sobraske from Templeton, CA
My husband and I were looking for a nice place for dinner that would have a pleasant, hip atmosphere and great food. We were not dissapointed! The service was fantastic from the moment we sat down until we left. Our waitress was very helpful in aiding both of us select from the menu and dinner specials. I had the lobster and scallop fetuccini (something I would NEVER consider trying unless someone recommended it!) and was blown away by the taste. Our table was fantastic (made a reservation), service impeccable, and food incredible. The manager came out at one point to see if I was enjoying the pasta (he had heard I'd never tried scallops before). We will definitely be visiting again!
Believe all the reviews!
Reviewer: Karen from Santa Barbara, CA
We tried out Opal after reading all the glowing reviews, and the restaurant met our expectations! Yummy cocktail, great food, nice wine and superb, unobtrusive yet attentive service! We'll be back!

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