A review of Jane at Santa Barbara.com

Jane
1311 State Street, Santa Barbara
Phone: (805) 962-1311

Category: Californian
Hours: Mon-Sat 11:30am-2:30pm, 5:30pm-10pm
Price: $10 - $20
Serving: Lunch & Dinner
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Reviews by the General Public

A finger of Salmon, 7/24/2010
Reviewer: Mike from Santa Barbara, CA
I have eaten here many times and the dinners have always been very good. My first lunch experience was not so good. The $15.00 salmon salad had a piece of salmon the size of my middle finger and the dressing was tasteless.

A Toss Up, 7/23/2010
Reviewer: Lauren from Santa Barbara, CA
I've been to Jane 4 or 5 times now over the course of the past year for various occassions. Overall, the food is quite good, especially for the price, the staff is friendly, and the ambiance is charming. That being said, I have had rather dichotomous service experiences here. The wait staff has: seated us promptly, or taken 40 minutes on a day that wasn't crowded; gotten an order wrong, or been very accommodating; been wonderfully attentive, or literally forgot about my party so long we'd run out of time (and patience) to order dessert. If you decide to go to Jane, just do so on a day when you're feeling happy and understanding, and give yourself plenty of time to dine there.

Excellent Food and Charming Ambience, 6/10/2010
Reviewer: Emily from Santa Barbara, CA
The most delicious burger I have ever had. The Gorgonzola burger was delicious and rich, the fries are outstanding and the staff were friendly, professional and courteous. Our food came in less than 10 minutes! I highly recommend Jane, it is a hidden treasure of Santa Barbara!

extra special, 6/8/2010
Reviewer: Grace from Santa Barbara, CA
very yummy, extra special service, will be back. oh and I love the prices. all around treat to my day. thank you Santa Barbara for being filled with so much goodness.

Great Casual Dinner (without children), 5/21/2010
Reviewer: Ixchelle from Santa Barbara, CA
I live in Santa Barbara and I love coming to Jane. It's a great choice for a nice casual dinner. The ambiance is very inviting with cloth linen, candles, a fireplace, and an intimate upstairs; I would call it sophisticated country. The food is almost always delicious although stay away from the calamari they can't seem to get it right. The pastas and sandwiches are yummy (served hot and savory) and the portions are generous. The chicken sandwich with fried brie is soooo good. I love the chicken fettuccine with mushroom cream sauce. The service is friendly and warm. The owner is often there and always greets guests on arrival (nice touch). One suggestion, make a reservation especially on busy nights. They do fill up quickly and they have no room for waiting guests inside. Unless you want to stand out on State Street waiting for someone to finish please make a reservation. Without diving headfirst in to the children dilemma please consider this. Some people love kids and some people don't. Even people who like children don't necessarily want to experience dinner out with them. It costs money to go out to dinner and most people don't want to pay to experience the joy of dining with children. Please consider other diners when taking your children to a restaurant that does not specifically cater to them. There are places appropriate for children and most restaurants are not it.

The Best We Have in Santa Barbara, 5/6/2010
Reviewer: Stan from Santa Barbara, CA
We have been dining at the Montecito cafe since 1987 as well as Jane since they opened. It is by far the most consistent and wonderful restaurant we have in terms of food and service. We are there at least once a week. We have had guests from all over the world and have entertained them at both restaurants, always resulting in a wonderful time. I highly recommend both Jane and the Montecito Cafe for anyone that is demanding of great food and great service.

I'm with Jim, 4/24/2010
Reviewer: Branden from Santa Barbara, CA
Some kids are great but a loud, picky, messy kid is no fun for the staff or other guests at any restaurant. Well, one exception; Chuck E. Cheese.

Rudest Hostess, 4/23/2010
Reviewer: Rachael from Santa Barbara, CA
Don't bother with reservations or if you do show up 30 to 45 minutes after and expect still to wait. Hostess was extremely rude when asked why the wait not going back. Bad mojo.

Dear Jim "baby hater", 4/23/2010
Reviewer: Tristin Cholewa from Santa Barbara, CA
Apparently you were never a kid yourself? Children, although never convenient, are part of every society, ever. It's time you grow up and understand that you will deal with children for the rest of your life. Yours or not.

Dear: "They don't love kids!", 4/10/2010
Reviewer: Jim from Santa Barbara, CA
My wife and I go to JANE often. The service is always excellent and the food, special and tasty. On the rare occasion when I've had any problems with a dish, it has always been handled with nothing less than complete courtesy, respect and speed. I've also been in the restaurant when families and small children were present. And yes, I've dealt with my share of noisy kids. When I was growing up, parents had the manners and good sense to only bring older kids. HOWEVER, there seems to be a segment of adults who have a sense of entitlement in bringing ANY small children to ANY restaurant expecting the manager, staff and patrons to tolerate unnecessary noise, then have the temerity to criticize others for not jumping through hoops to make the family happy. I don't blame the little ones for this. I blame the parents. Until your child is the proper age where they can respect others in social situations, parents should practice the necessary courtesy and consideration for others. There ARE other choices. They're called McDonald's and Chucky Cheese!

Yum........!, 3/13/2010
Reviewer: Gail Cooley from Santa Barbara, CA
What a joy to find similar food and the great value that Montecito Cafe has provided for so many years, in their newest location downtown. I love the filet for dinner, and the burgers for lunch (with the homemade buns! super yummy) The wine list is a sure thing and I especially love the upstairs/downstairs ambience, it's great for people watching. The fireplace is especially nice on rainy winter days and nights and was awesome during the holidays. Lucky Santa Barbara to have Jane!

What are you talking about?, 3/5/2010
Reviewer: Tom from Santa Barbara, CA
My wife and I have been to Jane for dinner after reading all the positive comments. I am flabbergasted: I had no idea so many people lacked taste buds in this town. The menu is uninspiring and confused. The dishes are banal and there is no clear theme. Most importantly the execution was terrible. Our onion rings had no flavor and the batter completely overpowered the onions. It could have been fried rubber and it would have tasted the same. The cheap fake "balsamic vinegar" was pathetic. My wife's fish stew tasted like thai soup, out of a can. There was little fish and little flavor. But the biggest disappointment was my duck. I LOOOVE duck, but this was the worst duck I have ever had. It might as well have been chicken. Even the cranberry sauce was bland. True, the place is cheap. But you can get better food at La Super-rica for half the price. Or at Bouchon, double the price, infinitely better food

Great Choice, 2/26/2010
Reviewer: Dorian from Santa Barbara, CA
My wife and I went for dinner last week. We are used to poor or mediocre service in Santa Barbara, so when we were seated and did not find a wine list or daily specials list we thought this experience would be like so many others. Our server quickly brought those to us along with some great rolls. The wine we chose was excellent without being overpriced. The server was very attentive and friendly. We were seated upstairs, so she got her exercise. The food was EXCELLENT! and fairly priced. I had the duck which was prepared perfectly and my wife had the Sea Bass with blackberry and ginger sauce. My wife commented that everyone in the restaurant appeared happy, to which I replied, they are happy because of the good service and food (nobody was searching for their server or waiting for their check). We had plenty of room upstairs and were not packed in like sardines (which happens quite often in SB). Hope your experience is as good as ours.

Best burger in Santa Barbara!!, 1/29/2010
Reviewer: Mike from Santa Barbara, CA
I've been to Jane twice now (maybe three times), and every time I love it more. The staff is _very_ friendly and the food is awesome! I LOVE their hamburgers!!

Overrated?, 1/20/2010
Reviewer: Freeman from Santa Barbara, CA
Had the large (gross might appropriate) hamburger for lunch. It was greasy and heavy. My wife had a crab salad which was pricey but we thought it would be worth it. It was dinky and ordinary. We saw others getting various salads which didn't look much better. Service staff was disinterested. It seems they have their crowd who like the ambience and cuteness and are less concerned about the quality of the meal. I will go back some other time to see if this experience was a mistake since so many people have told me it was a good place.

Love Jane, 1/11/2010
Reviewer: Pamela Thiene from Santa Barbara, CA
Jane is an incredibly delicious, easy, affordable, fun place in a great location. I'm hesitant to let the cat out of the bag because it might get too crowded!

Excellent, 12/20/2009
Reviewer: Dan from Santa Barbara, CA
I eat at Jane often, and can't say enough good things about it. I've traveled through much of the menu, and have been pleased with essentially everything. Slightly embarassing, but my favorite thing on the menu is the macho burger. One out of towner I brought in said it was the best burger she had ever had. Overall the food is delicious, prices fair, and service is fantastic. Great ambiance as well, perfect for a date.

Lot's of reasons why Jane is so popular!, 12/12/2009
Reviewer: Cynthia from Santa Barbara, CA
My family and I have always had a wonderful experience at Jane Restaurant! From the outstanding cuisine & wine selections, to the professional and kind staff, to the lovely Santa Barbara style decor, it is always a special treat to dine at Jane. My personal favorites, the salmon on applewood cedar plank, and the Filet Mignon with oyster mushroom sauce. And of course, the legendary Coconut Cake with creme anglaise sauce is fantasticly different! ( and I'm not usually into coconut). I highly reccommend making a reservation as Jane is quite popular, especially when there is a show at the Arlington. Thank you everyone at JANE for giving people such a great dinning experience!

I was delightfully surprised!, 12/12/2009
Reviewer: Hampton from Santa Barbara, CA
I must say I can be picky. I thought the whole eating experience was wonderful. Jane is very attentive and engaged in making the eating experience memorable. I have now gone back 4 times and can safely say, this is my favorite place. Hats off to people who really care about what they do.

Thank You for Opening this Restaurant, 12/11/2009
Reviewer: jim melillo from Montecito, CA
I am a tough critic. If you don't believe me see my reviews of Cava, Breakfront and Giovannis. Jane is such a joy for the food and the location. The service is 4 stars because the wait can be a problem because it has become so popular. They have tried to solve this with the bigger tables that are shared. But it has so many nice perks it is worth it. If you make a reservation see if they will seat you in one of the balconies inside or out. they are wonderful nooks looking down on state street or the restaurant. There are only a few tables but they are unique. The food is a strong 4.0. It is comfort food with a bit of flair. The couple runs the Montecito Cafe and has learned what to cook in the damp colder winters and the warm summers and it tends toward that. The prices are in the mid range and I feel actually very reasonable given the area and the nice setting. I am sorry other people have written bad reviews. I have been here 5 times this year and the above review reflects the busy and slow times. It is just a very good restaurant. Thanks for opening.

The Best Lunch in SB!!!!, 12/10/2009
Reviewer: Andrea Buttinian from Santa Barbara, CA
Been there for lunch 3 times in ten days!!!! Can't believe I've waited so long to go. If you want a good quality lunch that has excellent value, this is the right place to go. Have to try it for dinner sometime. The trout salad and the curry scallops salad are a must! Keep up the good work!!!

If they can't seat you when you arrive, don't bother waiting, 12/7/2009
Reviewer: Anthony from Goleta, CA
We arrived for dinner at Jane with a party of 6 and were told that there would be a 15-20 minute wait. After ~20 minutes, we checked in with the hostess and were told that it would be another 10 minutes because they were waiting to give us a particular table. During this wait, we watched several tables clear out and be refilled with other parties. This included two adjacent tables that were emptied within a 5 minute time span and were seated with people that arrived after us. When the table that "will be finishing up any time now" was served dessert (35 minutes into our wait), we decided to go elsewhere. I understand that seating a larger party is more difficult than a group of 2-4, but it seems that the waitstaff and hostess at Jane need to work on their communication skills both with each other and with their customers.

Great Food- Big Variety, 11/23/2009
Reviewer: Gary Lapman from Goleta
Expecting a menu that fits into a specific category, we were quite surprised at the variety. Seafood, Italian, French, steak, chicken, lamb- very impressive. The appetizers were wonderful, the salads enticing and large. The entrees were more than adequate and scrumptious. Service was very good. Only complaint was that we didn't get a table where we reserved one, but we sat in front of a large fireplace with a warm fire. Also, the wine list, albeit short, was very good. In all, highly recommended. We will return as soon as we can.

Wonderful food, perfect service, glowing ambiance., 11/12/2009
Reviewer: Hattie from Santa Barbara, CA
My boyfriend took me out last night for a date night at Jane. We had never been there and we wanted to try something new. What a wonderful experience! We were greated immidiately after walking in the front door, the hostess seated us upstairs in the very corner and I was worried that we would be forgotten back there. Not the case at all. Our server, Megan, was charming and attentive (without being uptop of us every 10 seconds), after we got our appetizers (which were delicious) our hostess came to check on us and our experience. Come to find out it was Jane herself. The whole experience was perfect. The prices are great too, for a bottle of wine, 2 appetizers, two main dinners and a dessert it was only 100 dollars. Well worth it and it will make us come back again and again.

They don't love kids!, 11/10/2009
Reviewer: Christian Milovich from Santa Barbara, CA
I don't want to dogg the place, nor do I want to ignore the unpleasantness of dining with screaming children. BUT...restaurants serving lunch and providing high-chairs for their littlest patrons must acknowledge that children act like children. Ironically, the 'children's menu' boldly states: "WE LOVE KIDS", however, the general attitude (particularly the manager's) attitude is all but loving, or even welcoming, toward children and their parents. Underneath the "We love kids" heading, is a list of instructions for parents to follow while dining with their kids: "if you're kids are screaming, take them outside" "please ensure that your children are seated at all times" etc...etc... Not unreasonable requests, I understand, BUT the staff was rigid, cold and altogether unhelpful with regard to my two young nieces (and their mother). The attitude they gave made the mother and me feel totally ostracized and unwelcome. The chair slipped on the slick floor and one of the girls tumbled out of it, mild, BUT the manager lady walked directly past her and didn't even bat an eye, let alone lean to pick up the chair, and she continued to give the cold shoulder every time one of the babies made a peep. My nieces were not behaving in any outrageous manner, but they were treated as if they were. Its fine if Jane doesn't want kids, but be honest about it instead of treating them like they are growths, but mentioning how much you love them. Extremely put off and probably won't be dining here again.

Beautiful place, great food, terrible service, 10/11/2009
Reviewer: Donna O'Shea from Santa Barbara, CA
The place is very cute. I went with a large group and all of the food was terrific. Everyone really enjoyed it. We had a reservation but there was a table before that was taking a long time so we had to wait and happily did so. The food was really worth the wait. I can't say the same for the service. Our waitress couldn't remember where any of the dinners or salads should go. When you are paying that much to eat in that kind of atmosphere, you shouldn't have to break conversation with friends to tell the servers who had what food item. It is ridiculous at a place like that that they don't have place numbers. The rest of the service was just as bad. I will try again because the food was so great but if I have the same service experience it won't be worth it a third time.

Too bad, 9/29/2009
Reviewer: Sarah from Santa Barbara, CA
I have been to Jane before and always loved it. My boyfriend and I decided to have a birthday dinner there with several friends so I called a week in advance and reserved the upstairs area and was told we could have the space as long as we didn't have more than 14 people. I called to confirm on the day of the reservation and let them know we would have 13 people and made sure that we would get the upstairs area. They asked me if it was a special event and I told her that it was for 2 birthdays. When we walked in the door for dinner the girl at the front said "unfortunately we cannot seat you upstairs, I hope that's ok". I specifically reserved that area because we wanted to sit there so we were not very happy with being seated in the center of a very noisy restaurant with no warning. Also, my friend told our waitress that it was my birthday and she said "THAT'S GREAT!!!". That's it- no dessert or candles or anything. I like the restaurant but am not happy with where we were seated seeing as I called twice to confirm that we could sit there.

Amazing Restaurant & Service
Reviewer: Kelly from Santa Barbara, CA
I don't get the mixed reviews on this place - it is the one staple in town that keeps me and my boyfriend coming back time and time again. The food is amazing, and very fairly priced, unlike the rest of downtown. The service is good, waitstaff is friendly, and it's a really hip, contemporary environment. Everyone is a critic I suppose, but you can expect a few bumps at all restaurants - this one is far above the average State Street spot on all accounts.

Was expecting more....
Reviewer: Cici from Santa Barbara, CA
So...my friend and I were walking down state and caught of glimpse of their menu...all sounded really great! I ordered the seared ahi salad with butter lettuce,watercress, cucumber noodles, and jumbo shrimp. Firstly, for the price of $16 bucks for a salad I was expecting really fresh ahi and somewhat generous portions. but nooo...my salad mainly consists of lettuce with some shredded cucumber on top, they gave me 2 shrimp, and 4 tiny pieces of Ahi(which did not taste as great as I was expecting-the ahi tuna salad at sushi teri is way fresher, cheaper and they have generous portions!). The direction was good but not so much the execution of the dish. It needed something...sesame seeds, green onion, ginger on top,anything. The shrimp were delicious but really had nothing to do with the asian themed dish. hopefully, they will change up the menu and bit to be more for your buck!

Excellent!
Reviewer: Sarah from Santa Barbara, CA
I went to Jane for the second time and loved it just as much as the first. This time I had the steak sandwich, LOVED IT! The fries were cooked perfectly and were perfectly seasoned. The coconut cake was to die for! Thank you Jane for another great experience!

Do you have a new cook!?
Reviewer: Candy from Santa Barbara, CA
I go to Jane a lot since I work down the street. I always get the fish and chips because the fish was always battered lightly and it was flaky. The past two times the fish and chips tasted different the batter and frying was different. It was like what you can get in the frozen food isle and microwaves it. The fries should be a little thicker cause when it cools it does get limp. I do LOVE the chipotle ketchup though. I want the old fish and chip cook guy to come back!!! The service is always attentive.

Solid effort
Reviewer: Mark from Santa Barbara, CA
Went to Jane Friday looking for an early, easy dinner within walking distance. We didn't give them much heavy lifting with our order of onion rings, burger and fish and chips. All were cooked correctly with the exception of our french fries. French fries lose their life quickly as they cool and these were warm and limp. They tasted fine and the chipotle ketchup was excellent but they were limp. The service was exactly as it should be... uneventful. The hostess was pleasant and our waiter quick and and attentive. A good dinner with a possible return next time we're in town.

Margaret does it again
Reviewer: Jim Melillo from Santa Barbara, CA
I am rough on restaurants. If you don't believe me take a look at Mollies or Cava. This one is excellent. Take the Montecito Cafe's tried and true menu, add a bit of downtown and Margaret's capability and you have Jane the restaurant named after her mom. The food is lighter than Monecito cafes and also a younger feel. The inside is great with a choice from a big communal table to wonderful balcony tables, a lot of thought went into this restaurant and it shows. The food is good to very good. The prices are set for that quality and they deliver right on target. They are surrounded by much more upscale restaurants - Downeys (one of my favorites) but their prices are significantly different. Margaret the wife owner has always had amazing desserts and this is no exception. This is a great midtown, reasonable price very good food with nice people.

Wonderful place for a book club!
Reviewer: Dolores McQuary from Carpinteria, CA
Loved the friendly atmosphere, great service and food. Our book club of 5 women met there for the first time and loved the noisy chatter from all the tables, not afraid we were making too much noise. The portabello mushroom sandwich was the best I've ever eaten and I had to give everyone a bite, who loved their choices too. We all shared a piece of coconut cake which carried over from the Montecito Cafe. (thank you) What more can I say.

Delicious food/warm atmosphere/friendly service. I'll b back
Reviewer: David from Santa Barbara, CA
We had to wait 25 minutes or so past our reservation time to be seated, but the server immediately offered to comp our first round of drinks to make up for it. it was a really generous offer that we sincerely appreciated. for appetizers, we enjoyed calamari & a delicious prawn salad; for dinner i had the fillet with a mushroom cream sauce with potatoes & broccoli. it was delicious & memorable & i'll definitely be back to sample one of the amazing burgers i saw being delivered all around me.

Recommended
Reviewer: D from Santa Barbara, CA
I'm very rarely impressed by food, but I'm still fantasizing about my amazing hour-long tryst with their cedar plank salmon, tantalizingly flavored potatoes, tender but firm green beans... My date ordered the fettuccine with lamb sausage and thoroughly enjoyed it as well. I read the coconut cake was a highlight of the restaurant, so I ordered that for dessert, but then I remembered that I don't like coconut. My date really liked it though. I thought it was a bit too sweet... and coconut-y. Jane is a great balance of formal and casual, and it was perfect for our romantic night out on a budget--two entrees and dessert for under $50. Service was fine, noise level no worse than at a school cafeteria. I don't like eating at the same place twice, but I would go back!

LOVED IT!!!!
Reviewer: Julie from Santa Barbara, CA
Went for a office Birthday lunch. There was 6 of us and we were able to make a reservation. Our table was ready when we got there. The food was wonderful as was the service. They got us out in less than 1 hour. I have been thinking about my hamburger all day long....yummy. Can't wait to go back. I'm ding to try the Coconut Cake Job well done Jane!!!

Disappointing Lunch
Reviewer: Alan from Carpinteria, CA
After reading all the glowing reviews here we went to Jane for lunch today. My girlfriend was deciding between the clams or mussels linguini and we asked the server for recommendation. After some stumbling and mumbling he steered her towards the mussels. Half way through the meal my girlfriend told me the mussels didn't taste right. I tried one and right away I knew this was not the freshest mussel I've had, to put it mildly, especially for a $17 lunch dish. But by that time I figured it's too late to call our server's attention and we were in a hurry. I'm just glad that I found out before booking a table for dinner.

Delicious Choclate Dessert
Reviewer: Kristen from Santa Barbara, CA
I ate at this play a couple weeks ago because I'd been wanting to try it. It was very good. Their fries are delicous! Also, we ordered the Coconut Cake and the Chocolate cake and the Chocolate was to die for! MMMMM! And when you took a bite of each together, that was better than either of them alone! I would definitley recommend this place!

Fantastic Lunch
Reviewer: Ash from Santa Barbara, CA
I had a great meal at Jane twice in March. The Blue Burger is soo delicious and the coconut cake....oh the coconut cake! It is to die for - especially with the sauce the put with it. Yum! It seems that the time to go to Jane is during the lunch hour. It is very small in there so it must get very packed at dinner, which may be causing the service to lack a bit (per the other reviews below).

Won't go back
Reviewer: Angela from Phoenix, AZ
My husband and I found JANE from just walking by, after OPAL told us they had a minimum 35 minute wait. The hostess at JANE said it would be a 10-15 minute wait. It was almost 30. She sat as at this cute little table in one of their balconies. We absolutely LOVED the ambiance..the interior decor was perfect! However, I can't say the same about the service. Our waitress was O.K...it took 30 minutes just to get our appetizers (shrimp bisque & salad) and over 30 more to get our entrees. So we were at the table for over 1 hour before we got our food. In the meantime, another table of two women were seated, ate and completely finished with their meal BEFORE we even got ours. On top of that, another table next to us, that was sat while we were eating our appetizers, got their dinner before ours. When we told the waitress & hostess, both of them said, "well the kitchen was really backed up...I'm sorry, there was nothing I could do." We told them that we'd probably never come back and all they could say was "we hope you change your mind". NO customer recovery...nothing. There are too many other great restaurants in SB for us to waste our time at JANE!

My first vist to Jane....won't be the last
Reviewer: Sarah from Santa Barbara, CA
We had a reservation and were seated immediately. The restaurant is a little noisy, but most restaurants in Santa Barbara are. The food was amazing. My date ordered the prime rib, which I have to say is the best I've tasted in Santa Barbara. The coconut cake came highly recommended and is a must to finish of the meal! I will definitely be going back! Thanks Jane for a great experience!

Not worth the wait
Reviewer: Lara from Santa Barbara, CA
Heard great things about this place. The food was pretty good but nothing to rave about. The service however was pretty bad. Servers were nice enough but clearly rushed. We waited over 1/2 an hour for our appetizer and at least that long for our entree after that. Won't go back.

I'll wait if treated right
Reviewer: Duncan from Santa Barbara, CA
After having a wonderful lunch at Jane, I made a dinner reservation to take my wife and daughter. After waiting over 30 minutes beyond our reservation time, my wife asked if they could push together two small tables and was told they were saving them. I called Ca Dario from my cell and they held a table for us while we walked over... and had a wonderful dinner there!

Reservations Availible
Reviewer: Anton from Santa Barbara, CA
Jane does accept reservations for dinner, they are best made a few days before you wish to dine. Also, no reservations are required for lunch for parties of 6 or less people.

Great Service and Very Good Food
Reviewer: Krista and Tony from Goleta, CA
We dined at Jane recently pre-show at the Arlington and it was packed. Even so the staff was fantastic. We had reservations and were seated in the larger upstairs room. In respect to previous reviewers mention of the noise, I must say it sounded quite loud downstairs but upstairs was just fine. Everything about the service was flawless and I can say that I've rarely had such perfect service. My wife had the cedar plank salmon and I had the filet mignon. The Salmon was excellent and cooked just right. The filet was very good but not quite reaching the excellence of the salmon. We both really enjoyed the scalloped potatoes and found the portions just right. Prices were reasonable especially for the quality of the food and service, 2 entrees, 3 drinks, dessert tax and tip were all for well under $100.

Great Place To Dine
Reviewer: Lisa from Santa Barbara, CA
I love the concept, the menu is fun & refreshing, and the service was great. All around excellent experieince. We will be back!

Awesome coconut cake!
Reviewer: Jess from Santa Barbara, CA
Went here recently for my roommates birthday and the food was pretty good. What was truly excellent was the dessert! The coconut cake was outstanding. It changed me into a coconut lover. It has nice atmosphere as well.

$3.25 for a diet coke
Reviewer: karen from Santa Barbara, CA
I have had lunch twice and dinner once at this restaurant. The food was good and the service great. The last time I had lunch, I looked over my bill more closely and noticed that I was charged $3.25 for a diet coke. I think that is ridiculous. The menu does not list beverages or their prices.

Great restaurant and baby friendly!
Reviewer: Crystal from Santa Barbara, CA
My husband and I took our 9 month old baby to have lunch at Jane and just had a great experience. We sat by the fireplace and the waitress and hostesses were very sweet to our daughter. The food was great, but perhaps a little on the expensive side. We will definitely go back!

Great experience
Reviewer: Kelly from Santa Barbara, CA
Friendly staff, seated promptly upstairs, so cozy and warm in the restaurant. We shared the wedge salad and flat bread with tapenade.... so yummy! Then we special ordered the steak sandwich with a few modifications that they were happy to do. Steak cooked perfectly. Service was attentive and pleasant, definitely be back!

I've seen this menu before...hmm
Reviewer: lemonjelly from santa barbara, ca
Eating here reminds me a lot of the Montecito Cafe...wait a minute, they're both run by the same people! Mystery solved. That said, the menu is simple, and the dishes I've had have been prepared and served flawlessly. Simple. Elegant. Yum. During a weekday lunch I had the papaya and dungeness crab salad with perfect crisp lettuce and nicely ripe papaya. Others at the table had seafood penne, the toasted brie sandwich (you must really love brie, because there is LOTS of it), and chicken salads. No complaints across the table. People also raved over the red onion rings, and I enjoyed the appetizer pancakes with salmon and caviar, too. This place is also Book Club Ladies Heaven. If only I could have listened in on all the other table conversations, I'd be completely up to date on the current fiction literature and maybe some side gossip about their daughters and husbands. Alas, the crackle of the ginormous fireplace provided plenty of auditory privacy.

Two Visits
Reviewer: Landon from Santa Barbara, CA
Maybe it's just not my place. Both times we had reservations and ended up waiting over 1/2 hour. The food was just not all that good. The salad greens were wilted and gross and the fish was completely dry. Both times the entrees were completely salty. The menu isn't anything special either.

Great place for lunch!
Reviewer: Liz from Santa Barbara, CA
After hearing and reading rave reviews about this place, I had to try it. I must say I was not disappointed. The food was excellent, the staff was attentive and the decor suited the space. The large fireplace is a welcome site on a cold and rainy afternoon. I will eat here again and again.

Nice addition to State Street
Reviewer: Karen from Santa Barbara, CA
Had lunch here recently...the cedar plank salmon was very good. I do have to say that I still prefer the Montecito location. The noise level here is quite high and the room just doesn't feel as intimate as the original. That being said, I do feel that the food and service are on the same level. Prices have gone up, but they are still fair for what you get.

Our first visit to Jane...
Reviewer: Elaine Jacoby from Santa Barbara, CA
Food was quite nice. Liked the salad bowl options. Sitting upstairs was private and we weren't bothered by the noise. Charging for hot water and lemon felt really absurd to us. Come on now! You shouldn't charge 75� for a pot of hot water, especially when our bill was over $100 for four of us. That's really cheap and that's what sticks in our mind after the eating experience. And the waitress felt really awkward explaining to us that Jane has to charge for hot water, so she asked us if we were sure we really wanted it. She was clearly uncomfortable with that policy too. So, please don't charge for hot water if you want our return business.

Best food on State Street
Reviewer: Denny from Santa Barbara, CA
We have eaten at Jane over ten times since their opening. Having tried a wide variety of their dishes, I can say that I have never been disappointed and most often very impressed. The service is friendly, the ambiance classy and the fireplace beautiful. I highly recommend it.

great value- good service
Reviewer: Beth from Santa Barbara, CA
I have eaten here twice since it opened and each time I have had great food and good service. Yes, in the evening it can be a bit loud but all the cafe's on State that have brick walls, and wood or tiles floors share that trait. The food here is as good or better than Montecito Cafe (that is saying something). My service was excellent. I'll be back.

A wonderful experience all around!!
Reviewer: Shelly McDonald from Santa Barbara, CA
I dined at Jane tonight with some friends and had the most wonderful experience!! Our waitress Ariel was so attentive to our needs and her cheerful disposition was very refreshing. What we appreciated most were her recommendations as we were not familiar with the menu. Was a bit noisy, but would take that over bad food and service. Will definitely be back soon.

Fabulous way to spend New Year's Eve
Reviewer: M. Becker from Santa Barbara, CA
What a great way to spend New Year's Eve. We were a party of 7, and were seated at a lovely table by the fire. The restaurant was lively, not bothered at all by "noise". Our water glasses were never empty, and our waitres Emma, was constantly checking on us. The petrale sole was wonderful, as were the burgers and steak sandwich. The coconut cake was to die for! We didn't want to leave! We will, without a doubt, return.

a brilliant new restaurant...
Reviewer: Natalee from Santa Barbara, CA
My first time at Jane will not be my last! I brought a date here for his birthday, and we ended up having a very nice time. The food was very fresh and delicious, from the red onion rings & filet mignon, shrimp salad, and the big blue burger... Our server was very nice, and the atmosphere was perfect. Best of all, the bill was very affordable and we left super full! Cheers to Jane :-)

It just wasn't great...
Reviewer: Eric David Greenspan from Santa Barbara, CA
Atmosphere and service were solid. The food was good, but not great. Tomatoes on the salad were boring and ordinary and the Veal had a weird crunch to it. I'm a huge fan of Montecito Inn, so I'm hopeful they will work out the bugs. You simply cannot beat the price and I have a feeling this is a restaurant that will solve its problems and survive. I hope so!

If it could have wrong, it did.
Reviewer: Steve Sherwin from Santa Barbara, CA
We had 7:30 reservations and did not get sat until 8:05. The hostess (mgr.) stated that our table was almost ready once we walked in. Many people that I did not see or notice in the restaurant got sat prior to us. The minute we sat down my wife ordered their onion rings...it took 45 minutes to get this complicated dish. I guess they had to change the oil then heat it up in the middle of a dinner rush. Appitizer salads were huge, big enough for two people to split. My Fish & Chips were awful (cold,batter mushy,fries were cold as well); pasilla chili stuffed with crab meat, the pepper was to hot; burger meat tasted awful. The problem was poor communication from staff. The cooks could not keep up with the amount of business. I'll try them again, but not for another 6 months.

Still a few kinks to be worked out...
Reviewer: patrick from Santa Barbara, CA
We made a dinner reservation and still had to wait an extra 20 minutes to be seated. We were seated upstairs in the back, next to the bus station. The staff kept reaching across us to grab silverware, etc, which was annoying. The walls in this room are painted green, and I am not sure if it is the green walls or the lights, but the room has a very unappealing green cast. My wife looked downright sick and our food didn't look very appetizing. We were served our appetizer 10 minutes before our drinks arrived. Our dinner didn't arrive until we had already been seated for an hour. I had a hamburger (nice bun, gristly meat, no flavor, should have been seasoned prior to cooking) and my wife had the portobello sandwich (just fine, not great, could use pizazz). The staff was very nice, but really stretched thin. Not a great experience, but since we have a gift certificate, we'll give it another shot in a month or two.

Yummy
Reviewer: Laura from Santa Barbara, CA
I've been to Jane a few times; the food is fabulous. The folks with whom I've dined said the same. The service is impeccable - attentive without hovering, and no one takes your plate while your fork is mid-air. Others had issues with the noise level, but I haven't found it to be a problem, even on a weekend night. Prices are very reasonable. I'll be back for more.

perfect, delicious, great value
Reviewer: kirsten Cavendish Weston-Smith from Santa Barbara, CA
I had lunch with a girl friend and am returning today with another , it was that fabulous! We had a lovely cosy table by the fire, with nice linen napkins, it felt "special" immediately. Our burgers with the gorgonzola and french fries were delicious, we both pronounced them the best burgers around. The owners embody Santa Barbara's best qualities, a warm welcome and great value, in a small town. Thank you

Jane
Reviewer: George from Santa Barbara, CA
Every morsal was delicious. The service was top notch. Our waitress was very knowledgeable about the menu and always aware of our needs. We sat up in the "upper back" section and there was no noise at all. We met Janes daughter who greeted every table. Felt like being home away from home. A must for anyone. We will be back!

Love it all... except the noise
Reviewer: Tina from Santa Barbara, CA
We love the Montecito Cafe and were delighted to learn that Jane would be opening up in our neighborhood. (Same owners - Very similar menu with some additions/alterations.) Love the new look of the place!!! Only issue - noise. The hardwood floors and high ceilings are gorgeous, but it was painfully loud. We had to yell at each other to be heard. The salmon on the cedar plank is exquisite!!! Filet was superb, perfectly cooked and extremely tender. Appetizers and drinks were delicious as well. (get the pasilla chile!!) Sitting upstairs is lovely, however, I recommend sitting on the "back" upper level - the upper level on the front of the restaurant is near the open doors that lead to the outdoor tables. While romantic, the cold breeze from outside made dinner a bit uncomfortable. The guests at the table next to us actually went to their car to get a blanket, as the doors out to the patio cannot be closed during business hours. Love the place, love the food, love the friendly service. Maybe hang some tapestries to absorb some noise, and consider ceiling heaters for the upper level near the balcony. Can't wait to go back!!

A rarity in SB - good food, good service
Reviewer: David from Santa Barbara, CA
I took a friend here for her birthday at lunch today. It was maybe 30% full. I would agree with the other comments that it is very loud, due to the architecture and the wood. Anyway, the menu is awesome. There is so much to choose from and although the food is not super innovative, it's by no means boring. She had the salad with broiled prawns and ahi, and I had the fish and chips. Everything was great. The chipotle ketchup with my fries had a nice kick. We finished with a slice of coconut chiffon cake. Amazing. I don't think it came from any of the lame bakeries in town.

You won't be disappointed
Reviewer: Liza and mark from Santa Barbara, CA
A good eats place. Good food, presented well, but the food service needs faster service. Fifty minutes for the main meal is not fast enough for a Wednesday evening. The noise is only a problem for romantic couples. We'd try again for lunch. The hamburger beats all in SB!

Ditto!
Reviewer: Mary from Santa Barbara, CA
Good food. Much too noisy.

nice addition to mid-State Street
Reviewer: Valerie from Santa Barbara, CA
Glad to have this new restaurant in the neighborhood, attractive and reasonably priced. Nice, solid menu with lots of choices. Only negative: WAY too noisy. This seems to be the trend with SB restaurateurs who insist on hard surfaces for their interior design -- to the detriment of the customers' dining experience.

wide ranging menu good service
Reviewer: Bruce from Santa Barbara, CA
This is a restaurant run be people who know their stuff. So the experience is a quality one. I'm actually writing this because I am curious over their choice of fish for their fish and chips. I was told that the fish was "Vietnamese Sway Fish". After looking at fishbase and googling up the fish, I cannot find this. I'm concerned that they are using a non-sustainable fish, and wonder why they made that choice. I would hope they would give their staff some additional direction to explain this to customers (Santa Barbarians are an eco-curious lot). Also, since Alaskan Halibut is now a very sustainable fishery, and tasty as a fish and chip... it might be a good alternative. I would recommend that whatever fish they choose, they should be able to point out that it is sustainable and not farmed in a manner that could involve other issues.

Fun place, good prices and great menu!
Reviewer: Amanda Milholland from Lompoc, CA
I went to Jane for my b-day with a few girls and it was great! dont expect a quite intimate atmosphere, its very loud with people everywhere. They have a great menu with lots of different options, great prices for food and for wine! The cedar plank salmon is great and so is the chicken sandwhich with the fried brie! Can't wait to go back!

Great food at reasonable prices
Reviewer: alisa Haley from Santa Barbara, CA
Great new restaurant on State St. Friendly service, and expertly prepared food at prices that are quite reasonable for Santa Barbara. Jane, the dining room manager, is very well versed on the thoughtful, well-priced wine list. Plenty of choices from main course salads to burgers to steaks & seafood make this a good choice for the entire family. Beautiful Spanish-syled interior is very warm and welcoming. On the night we dined, there was a lovely fire burning in the big, beautiful fireplace. We'll be back soon!

really good food 'very good service-but--
Reviewer: Nancy States from Santa Barbara, CA
My friend and I went to Jane's last night for the first.time. They were very busy-good for them. We had a delicious dinner, My friend had a wonderful duck cooked just right. We both had the goat cheese pancakes with salmon and caviar. That is just the best. I had a pasilla chili stuffed with crab. huge! But it was cold. Good though. The service was excellent. now the big but-- the place is so noisy we couldn't talk. I came home with a huge headache. We decided we would not go back even though we loved the food. They have wooden floors and a huge ceiling. We sat upstairs and the roar was awful. I am sorry.

Jane for lunch
Reviewer: Meridith from Santa Barbara, CA
We've waited a long time for Jane to open and it was worth the wait. The food was delicious, there are a few kinks, but they'll iron them out. Service excellent. Prices not too high. I think this is going to be a successful lunch and dinner spot.

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