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Holdren's Grill
6920 Marketplace Dr, Goleta
Phone: (805) 685-8900
- Category: Steakhouse
- Hours: Mon-Fri Lunch 11am-2:30pm, Dinner Sun-Thu 4pm-9pm, Fri-Sat 4pm-10pm
- Price: $10 - $20
- Serving: Lunch & Dinner
- Reservations: Yes, recommended
- Map
- Web Site
- Menu
- Write a review of this location!
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Reviews by the General Public
Roll the dice, 4/16/2013
Reviewer: Nathan
from Santa Barbara, CA
For some reason I continue to eat here as some experiences are better than others. At it's worst it's pathetic. At it's best it can be a nice dinner out. Avoid "special" dinners like Valentine's Day unless you can spend three hours for dinner. The management needs to pay better attention to the quality of the food coming out of the kitchen. The last time my wife and I ate there both my wife's dinner (sea bass) and mine (salmon) were bland and tasteless. The meat entrees are generally better, although I've had pretty bad cuts (full of gristle). The wait staff is very friendly and always offers to replace entrees, so it appears they are used to bad meals coming out of the kitchen.
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Nice atmosphere-good food, 10/30/2012
Reviewer: sylvie
from Santa Barbara, CA
I have been to Holdren's many times, this was the first time that my meal was overcooked. I had the Chilean sea bass with guajillo chili sauce, it was burnt to a crisp. When I notified the server, she apologized and retuned with a perfectly cooked Chilean bass. The rest of the meal was delicious. I will definitely return to this neighborhood gem.
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Top Notch Customer Service! , 8/10/2012
Reviewer: Pam
from Santa Barbara, CA
Our office ordered take out for a meeting this week. Unfortunately, there was some mis-communication and the order sat at Holdren's for over 2 hours. When we realized that nobody from any department had retrieved the food, we called and asked them to re-make the order. They had to scrap the entire first one we called in because it contained fish and items that wouldn't keep. They were very gracious, understanding and kind. They waived charging us for the first meal and completely absorbed that cost. The server and owner were so customer service oriented and it was greatly appreciated!! The food, of course, was delicious and we will continue to be loyal customers!
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Bad News Bar, 6/27/2012
Reviewer: Sam
from Santa Barbara, CA
First time ever went there will be the last time! Ordered an after dinner drink that was so watered down it was a joke. Expensive and horrible, I felt sorry for the bartender it was not his fault he had to comp one it was so bad. Bummer it could be a nice dinner house. The downtown location should help Goleta!
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Mind Bogglingly Bad Management
Reviewer: Tony
from Goleta
If this Holdrens location goes out of business it won't be a surprise to me. It won't be because of bad service, the wait staff and servers are usually quite good, and it probably won't be because of bad food because that's fairly decent as well. The problem that strikes me as a critical concern are the management policies! Here's a prime example of the foolishness: Holdren's has gone to great lengths to develop a very good happy hour menu and cultivate a following for that segment. They regularly draw enough people to their happy hour to fill their patio and their bar, yet for some reason, they feel that its acceptable to book their entire patio for private events closing it off to happy hour patrons (on busy weekends no less) yet, at the same time they refuse to let happy hour patrons sit in the main dining room!!?? So , essentially, if you encounter this confluence of events (which I have now twice) you and the other happy hour throngs are relegated to fighting for the dozen or so seats at the bar or the 4 two-top tables in the bar area. All while the main dining room sits virtually empty!!!! This is no way to run a business folks, and the 8 or so other HH patrons who stormed out this past Friday eve will be happier at another establishment. Perhaps one that understands that butts in the seats mean money and empty tables DONT!! Normally I try to stay with local businesses but with the big chain restaurant just a few feet over... well, lets just say they weren't refusing people seating!
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Quiet, good food, excellent service
Reviewer: Betsy
from Santa Barbara, CA
We had a gift certificate to this restaurant and almost couldn't find it, tucked into the corner of the "Big Box" restaurant row. But it was delightful. The food was excellent: blackened salmon, chicken piccata, a rib eye steak... all very well-prepared. The service was unobtrusive but professional. The booths were comfortable and it was nice to be in a restaurant that was quiet enough for conversation. Prices and portions were reasonable. We'll be back.
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Unprofessional waitress and very bad service
Reviewer: John Wang
from Santa Barbara, CA
My family went to Holdren's Grill at 6920 Marketplace Dr. in Goleta at about 6:20 pm on Sept. 9th. We waited for 20 minutes for a table on the outside patio. Finally, a table became open at about 6:40 pm. The lady at the front said "there is a reservation at 6:30 pm, but they are not here, you can go ahead and take the table." So we sat down and ready to order. Suddenly, a waitress, who claimed she was a manager, came to our table and told us we had to leave. I told her we were told to sit here. She insisted that we leave because the people just showed up, 20 minutes after their 6:30 pm reservation time. We have ate at many restaurants, but had never ran into anybody so mean and rude. We will never eat at this place again. I will never take my business customers to this place again either.
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Surprise! Great meal, great service!
Reviewer: Barbara
from Santa Barbara, CA
Wandered in hungry, came away pleased! Bar fixed me a great drink; menu was enticing and the kitchen delivered! Had a petite filet minon done properly with asparagus, crispy fries and a delightful mushroom accompaniment. Left happy. What more could one ask for? I'll be back!
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Hit and Miss
Reviewer: Tally
from Santa Barbara, CA
The first time we went to Holdren's Grill, we had a great time. The service was a bit slow because they were so busy, but we were in no rush. Positive--they provided complimentary cocktails. The waiter was very attentive! The food was delicious. The second time there, very disappointing. The portions were small and overcooked and
the waiter was slow/disinterested/distracted. Advise...opt for the specials. They are delicious and well priced. If you go during "happy hour", drinks are much more reasonably priced. Seating outdoors is preferable as well. We will definitely try this restaurant again...opting for the special. Enjoy!
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The steak at sizzler far surpasses this joint, I'm horrified
Reviewer: Jeff egure
from Santa Barbara, CA
First time at this establishment. 50 bucks for a very lackluster meal. I don't know what was worse, the food, or the staffs apathetic attitude! I had the lamb and it was disgusting! From Newport, and when a brewery has better lamb than a fine establishment, I'm horrified! Go to mcdonalds, bc at least u will know what to expect!
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Not the best pricing and service
Reviewer: Garth Hawkins
from Santa Barbara, CA
If your going out to eat at a grill or steak house you would most likely expect a comfy and laid back spot to enjoy your steaks and unwind on a few beers. That's not quite the feel i had gotten from here, the place has alot to improve on including a better trained staff. If your going to serve tables treat your customers Like it's the last time you will ever see them and leave a lasting impression. Just a bit stale coming from mostly the management there. Every place needs improvement but I'm not sure how you can polish a dirt clot into a diamond over night. Wouldn't recommend this place if what your looking for is good vibes and a little fun. Try hollister brew co which is conviently next door to the grill for better happy hour prices and relaxed crowd vibes. Untill then loosen up holdrens
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Value Oriented Quality
Reviewer: Margaret
from Goleta
Too bad "Value Oriented" means poor quality. Sand dabs so coated and covered with sauce could hardly find them. Scallops wrapped in bacon some processed combination drowned in a sauce. Vegetable accompaniment drowning in a dreadful oil. Nothing fresh or natural in those choices. Ambience is nice. Cocktails good. Service attentive, though not professional. Maybe best for Happy Hour, light snacks, burgers?
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