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Holdren's Steaks & Seafood - Goleta
6920 Marketplace Dr, Goleta
Phone: (805) 685-8900
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Reviews by the General Public
Horrible Steak & Horrible Service, 11/1/2009
Reviewer: Scott
from Santa Barbara, CA
Mediocre service, incorrect information about specials, slow service. Asked for medium rare Kobe steak, and recieved an overcooked, flavorless steak instead. Made a mistake and brought me mash potatoes when I requested vegetables, and then told me that I would have to pay for the side of vegetables if I wanted them. Took forever to get the bill, and when it finally the waitress continued to take orders at other tables instead of processing my credit card. The manager was offering free drinks to select tables, but never bothered saying hello or checking in with us or several other tables around our table. Don't waste your time and money at Holdren's; they don't deserve your business. A nightmare experience that reminds me of some of the tourist traps along the coast.
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Compassionate failure, 9/17/2009
Reviewer: Julie Dratewka
from Santa Barbara, CA
We went to in to have a glass of wine during Happy Hour. The restaurant was completely empty (5:15pm). We said we wanted to have a glass of wine and sit in a booth. The bartender informed us the happy hour prices did not apply in a booth - only at the bar or on the patio. My husband has a vestibular disorder and needs to feel the stability of a seat in a booth. The last time we were in this restaurant, we were allowed to sit in a booth have our wine at the reduced price - and had a pizza. We explained all of this to the bartender and hostess but to no avail. Not only were they insensitive to our situation, but my husband had already taken a seat and they didn't seem to care. Obviously, we will never set food in any of the Holden's restaurants again!
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Excellent lunch and great service, 9/12/2009
Reviewer: Susie
from Santa Barbara, CA
We celebrated a friend's birthday for lunch during the week and all of us were pleased with the great food and excellent service. I had the delicious coconut shrimp salad with a nice light dressing. It was a first time visit for all of us. We ate inside which was beautifully decorated including tablecloths and linen napkins, but next time might try the lovely outdoor patio. How nice to have such a great place to eat in Goleta with easy access and parking. We will definitely return and my husband and I are looking to enjoying one of their dinner meals soon.
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Overcooked and Salty!, 9/10/2009
Reviewer: Charles
from Santa Barbara, CA
Wife ordered the filet medium and got a piece of well-done steak that tasted like paste. I ordered the NY rare and got a medium. The steak and all the sides were super salty.
The restaurant looked really nice and atmosphere was great for a quiet date but they need to work on the food. Need to back off on the salt and not over-cook everything if they expect me to go back and drop another 100 bucks.
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Didn't have to fight State Street traffic for wonderful food, 8/19/2009
Reviewer: Sharon
from Fullerton, California
Memorable for all the right reasons! The seafood was excellent served with great vegetables and wonderful sauce. They have provided great choices for side dishes, including mac and cheese! The service was outstanding, giving time for looking over the menu and visiting and yet still available when needed.
The restaurant itself is beautiful and whether dining on the patio or inside you feel like you are eating at a very nice restaurant that is very personable and comfortable.
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Excellent Brunch, 8/17/2009
Reviewer: Kristen
from Goleta, CA
Our 1st visit for Brunch. The service was fantastic. Very attentive, well-informed, responded to our requests and questions. Continually asked if we were happy, if we needed anything. Food was v. good as well. The eggs benedict was delicious; the Turkey Melt was good but a little lacking in flavor.
Very generous portions.
They were also very accommodating with our toddler - and brought her a big plate of fruit to eat while we waited. Overall, a great brunch experience: very good food and excellent service. I'm sure it will continue to improve as it fully swings into action.
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just another disappointing restaurant in Goleta! , 8/16/2009
Reviewer: Charlotte Klein
from Goleta
Last night we ate at the new Holdren's in Goleta and I must say that the whole evening was a total waste of our time! The kitchen was painfully slow and the food really suffered as a result. It seemed the cooks took a lot of short cuts just to get the food out, for example, things like the sauteed mushrooms were not sauteed but merely steamed tasting, no color and the sauce needed to be reduced. The Halibut was very "fishy" and again the sauce was not reduced! The biggest disappointment was the steak! I had to take my N.Y. strip back twice! First it was well done and then the second attempt was practically raw! So finally when I got a med. rare steak, I really questioned the authenticity of the PRIME grade of this steak. It was tough and lacked sufficient marbling which gives a PRIME steak it's flavor AND it was swimming in a pool of a doctored up Knorr pre-fab sauce, shame on you! Needless to say, we were very disappointed. Please, never underestimate the palate of your clientele and if you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen!
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So Disappointing , 8/16/2009
Reviewer: Sarah
from Santa Barbara, CA
First of all I was seated at a dirty table, and after 15 minutes it was finally cleaned. The service was very poor, including our table not receiving our food at the same time or even my whole meal at the same time. The club sandwich was the worst I have ever had but the BBQ beef was good. In addition other patrons were sat at dirty tables, there was no hostess, and servers kept bringing food out walking around the 10 tables and going back into the kitchen. With all of the high standards of the downtown Holdren's this one dropped the ball.
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A most welcome addition to the Goleta scene!, 8/15/2009
Reviewer: Frank
from Santa Barbara, CA
We had our first dinner at Holdren's Goleta this week, but it certainly won't be our last! They have a great weekday dinner special - that night it was a combo of top sirloin and bacon-wrapped shrimp for a mouthwatering $20. It was a no-brainer!
The only semi-weak spot was the Caesar salad - relatively tasteless (no anchovies) and watery dressing. Other than that, we both gave it an A+. Especially good was the service - Casey was professional, knowledgeable, and pleasant.
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Great food and service!, 8/10/2009
Reviewer: Ed
from Santa Barbara, CA
My wife and I have been there 3 times since its opened and have not been dissappointed yet. The Stuffed Bacon wrapped shrimp and the crab cake appetizers are amazing. The bacon wrapped scallops are also a must-try! The service(Chris)is also top-notch. Finally a fine dining establishment in Goleta!!
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I'm Happy - It's almost as good as Jasper's!, 8/9/2009
Reviewer: Maureen
from Goleta
Mom, son, a friend and I went on opening night. Service was excellent. Food perfect. Excellent steak. Great wine. Mom and I went back a week later. Food again was excellent (my sirloin, her prime rib). She was most disappointed that they did not fix a proper Bacardi Cocktail. Friend and I went for lunch another day. French dip sandwich is the best I've had in years and the french fries are to die for!! Not sure we need a bread basket when ordering sandwiches - we did not touch it. Server attentive but did not hover. Bonus - we were not referred to as "You guys". Almost like having Jasper's back.
If only they had a salad bar....
We will definitely be back.
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Fabulous Birthday Dinner!!, 8/7/2009
Reviewer: Malinda
from Santa Barbara, CA
Went here for my birthday dinner. Had some trepidation, since it had only been open for a few days and it usually takes new restaurants awhile to "get the bugs out" (not literally!) and make sure things are running smoothly. We were extremely pleased. Everything was top notch! Food was fantastic (the bacon-wrapped scallops are phenomenal!) Drinks were excellent; service, attentive. The ambiance was warm and welcoming. This will be a favorite spot to bring friends for a long, long time!
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Great Sevice & Big Portions, 8/5/2009
Reviewer: Taylor
from Santa Barbara, CA
We went to Holdrens for lunch and were seated right away. Everyone was very friendly and very attentive. Had a good lunch. The sandwhiches were huge enough for 2 people to share. Overall a great experience and cant wait to go back for dinner!!
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Simply Amazing , 8/3/2009
Reviewer: Nik
from Santa Barbara, CA
I had the top sirloin with a Ceaser Salad and a double baked potato. Amazing I tell you. I also had a glass of the best wine ever. It was one of their special recommendation wines by the glass. I forget what it was. Not the Pinot Noir. But honestly the best steak dinner and wine I have had. The service was top notch. My waitress was very attentive. I very highly recommend this place
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The TOP Steakhouse in SB/GOLETA, 8/2/2009
Reviewer: MikeB
from Santa Barbara, CA
We are so sorry we missed the soft opening on Monday, but Saturday>>>Many, many steaks around SB, This filet was the best tasting, prepared and presented in a long long time. My wife had the special with prawns and they were prepared perfectly. The Ceasar salad was one of the best I've had. The wine list is extensive, could use more whites, and bottles are pricey. The service was outstanding, attentive but discrete, we were wanting for nothing. Overall I feel it is a VERY WELCOME addition to the local dining scene.
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Finally, fine dining in Goleta..., 8/1/2009
Reviewer: Steve
from Santa Barbara, CA
We were seated right away in the red room and really enjoyed the atmosphere. Our waiter was a bit odd, but the service started out really good. Salads arrived quickly, a bread refill was offered. Once our food was delivered though we were a bit forgotten (maybe because we in the red room and out of sight?). Took a long time for out plates to be taken, desserts offered, then ordered, then pay. The food was great. I had the special, filet mignon and bacon-wrapped prawns. They were delicious, and the steak was seasoned very well. My partner also loved his sirloin. Potatoes were fine. We ordered the brownie sundae for dessert and the waiter charged us $2 for the ice cream, explaining that it didn't come with it. First sundae where the ice cream costs extra. If that was a mistake (which after checking, it was), it was a lazy one. Will be back because of food though, that's for sure.
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Big Expectations, Little Payoff, 8/1/2009
Reviewer: Axel
from Santa Barbara, CA
I had some high hopes for Holdren's, being one of the only places around to go for great (supposedly) steak. I won't lambaste the restaurant, because it wasn't awful, but I have to say the service was lackluster (inattentive server, EXTREMELY slow service out of the kitchen, not all of our food arrived at the same time--the table's or all of each individual's). The biggest let down was the steak, though. I'm not a connoisseur, but I've had my fair share of steak in my life and what I had at Holdren's was A) not the best cut I've ever had, it was fatty and fairly tough; B) not the best seasoned, it was bland and simply lacked any flavor, originality, or creativity; and C) not a very good portion for the exorbitant price. For charging an arm and a leg, you only get a few fingers of steak.
On the plus side: the mashed potatoes were to die for and the wine was great. A fellow diner in my party got the seafood bowl (forget the actual name of the dish) and it A) looked marvellous, B) smelled marvelous, C) apparently tasted marvelous, and D) was humongous.
In the middle: Cocktails were nothing to write home about, but a fair portion at good strength: doesn't wow you, but they don't disappoint.
All in all: service might have been bad luck, everything was good, okay, or able to be overlooked; except the steak. I had a better cut at a better price that tasted better a different local establishment. Holdren's: come on, work on the steak, it can be so GOOD!
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Great for lunch, 7/31/2009
Reviewer: Cris
from Santa Barbara, CA
Went there for lunch today, great food and good service. I really like the redesign they did inside. It feels far more cozy and warm inside than the two previous restaurants established. It is a bit expensive for lunch, but it's a small price to pay for a good experience.
I will be going back to this location soon.
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MEAT!!!! MMMMM, 7/31/2009
Reviewer: Candy
from Santa Barbara, CA
LOVE THE FOOD, SERVICE, ATMOSPHERE, EVERYTHING...I've haven't been to the one on State Street, so I decide to go here for the grand opening and it was a perfect date place and the steak melted in your mouth. the rice pilaf...yummy...the steak bites you have to try. I'm glad they have two in town, now!!! I hope they do good there. I'm going to try the Italian place next door too.
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