Peter Sklar 1962-2012
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Cafe Stella
3302 Mc Caw Ave, Santa Barbara
Phone: (805) 569-7698

Cafe Stella writes: welcome // bienvenue Cafe Stella your place to eat, drink, enjoy coffee, relax, read, go online, have a glass of wine and meet friends at the bar enjoy // bon appetit join us for happy hour french-american cafe breakfast // lunch // dinner bar // happy hour outdoor dog-friendly patio 7 days // 9am to 10pm

  • Specials: breakfast // lunch // dinner
  • Happy Hour: join us for happy hour daily 4pm - 7pm $4 special appetizers $2.50 select bottled beers $3.50 house wines $4 select cocktails
  • Private Room: inquire by email / phone for more information

Reviews by the General Public

To bad we never ate, 5/20/2013
Reviewer: erica from Santa Barbara, CA
So after a relaxing afternoon my girlfriend and i decided to go enjoy a nice glass of wine and dinner. We got to cafe stella and we sat a a table by the hostes who brought us water but that all we got that after noon. We waited for almost 30 minutes at our table no one ever came to our table. We saw several servers pass by our table as well as bus boys but no one ever showed up. Quite dissapionted the resturant was not so busy so we didnt understand why the service or no service at all i should say was slow. Being in the food and bevrage our self were understanding how sometimes resturants get busy but theis was just UNACCEPTABLE! So we just got up and left and took our money else where. i cant belive how resturant gets any good reviews let alone win any award never going there again and definly have warn my fellow f&b friends not go to this resturants!

A Few Tweaks Needed, but overall Ok/Good, 2/10/2013
Reviewer: MB from Santa Barbara, CA
After eating at Cafe Stella about 3-4 x in past year, I think that I can write a review. As you enter, you will notice that he ambiance is very nice, casual, relaxed, and comfortable. The menu is varied, with burgers, sandwiches, salads, steaks, chicken, fish choices, etc. Food to make everyone happy. The brie/chicken sandwich is a standout, though a bit dry. The fries are thin cut, and are over salted. The chicken caesar is tasty with well prepared chicken. The service is hit and miss. Though well staffed, it seems somewhat disorganized, with tables not getting cleared in a timely manner, and drink refills not occuring promptly. That being said, the servers are nice and pleasant, with good attitudes. In summary, Cafe Stella is a great choice for affordable cuisine, with a menu that will make everyone in your party happy. Service needs some tweaks, but overall, the staff tries hard.

Why recommend a salad with preknowledge of bad tomatoes?, 1/23/2013
Reviewer: Kari from Santa Barbara, CA
My husband took me to Cafe Stella for dinner after having a good meal here a few days before. I was really disappointed. The waiter raved about the Tuna (seared on the edges, raw in the middle) Salad. The balsamic dressing was tasteless, but the waiter never returned so I could request an alternative. I don't think he stirred the dressing before pouring it into my little "on the side" container. Nearly an hour later, I got up to discover him in a hallway yakking with co-workers. I did finally get an alternative ranch dressing which was quite good. When I mentioned the cherry tomatoes didn't have any flavor, he explained that is because all tomatoes are bad in January. He knew this because he grows them himself. So why did he serve them or recommend this salad? I asked him on 3 separate occasions if the tuna itself was fresh which he insisted it was. Being a huge tuna sushi fan, I was convinced by the woody dry texture and lack of flavor, it had been frozen. Certainly it tasted as if it had been frozen. Lastly, the bread was stale. Although the waiter behaved cheerfully, he just completely neglected us indicating poor management. As for the meal, I honestly believe the cooks do not taste the food they prepare. Between the lack of service & the sad food, with so many great eateries in this town, it’s not worth giving this place a second chance. If other customers are experiencing what I did, this place will surely die if the owners don't get their act together.
nice surprise off the beaten path, 7/26/2012
Reviewer: Suzanne from Los Angeles, ca
Wonderful service with waiter who had excellent knowledge of dish ingredients and customer favorites. Home style decor. Nice selection of wines for purchase home or to have there. Its nice not to be stuck on State St1
Food terrific, service finally up to par!, 6/26/2012
Reviewer: Stacey from Santa Barbara, CA
I've been dining at Le Cafe Stella since its opening, and can say with pleasure that the restaurant has worked out its new-restaurant kinks. Like many of the reviewers below, I had several experiences with not-so-good service. However, at every visit in the past three months, the service has been excellent, no matter which waiter or waitress serves us. I've been here with a party of 3, a party of 5, and a party of 7, at various mealtimes, and have enjoyed every visit. The food has remained consistently good, too. At my most recent visit I ordered the grilled ahi and was pleased to receive a generous fish portion for a very reasonable price, along with large portions of sides. Whether we're going for Happy Hour or for a nice family meal, Cafe Stella is at the top of our list these days.
Love it!!, 6/19/2012
Reviewer: Allysen from Santa Barbara, CA
The first few times I went here, I sat in the restaurant and like most reviewers, I was not impressed. Now, I sit in the bar area. The service is always great. I love the chicken brie sandwich and the burgers. The lemon tart is great. They have a weekly special drink that whenever I try, I am impressed. If there's ever a problem with the food (not often), they are quick to fix it. I go at least once a week.
Overall Good Food and Service, 6/17/2012
Reviewer: Glenn from Buellton
I liked the place. Only negative was the pork loins were too cafeteria like(they should drop from the menu) but the coq au vin was very good! Everything else was decent to good. The place was packed but service was adequate. All managers or front desk type people were bending over backwards for people so no issues there. Service was slightly slow but waiter was nice, they may need to add one more waiter for busy times. The decor is nice and there is outside seating for noisy kids and those with dogs if want to come with those needs. Seems like a converted house? It has the charm of a house.
I would go back, 5/28/2012
Reviewer: Mike F. from Santa Barbara, CA
I liked the salmon and everone in my party thought the food was a 3 or 4. There is a problem with the sun blazing in on you when seated near the window in the afternoon. Hard to believe they don't do something about this. The water served was warm and the salad is the OH so common these days limp weeds. Would help to have some romaine mixed in or even, dare I say Iceberg. OH, the staff was OK and the server was very nice. She even brought me some ice for the warm water.

Tasty food, service uneven, 5/23/2012
Reviewer: Justine from Santa Barbara, CA
Had only been here once for happy hour and came back Saturday evening. Missed happy hour window this time, so paid a little more, but it still wasn't exorbitant. The sweet potato fries are excellent, and come in a very generous bucket! They don't offer honey-mustard (best dipping sauce for them, imho) but if you ask nicely they might whip you up some. Between my friend and I we split the fries, and an order (comes with 2) each of the chicken, beef, and lamb sliders for a decent portion of 3 for each of us. I'd tried the lamb before and both the sauce and the meat are a little too spicy for me, but the beef and chicken ones were tender and delicious. Our server was very friendly and personable, but not super-quick, most other staff was lackadaisical. For dessert, I was in the mood for a brownie sundae, which they don't have, but another server clued us in to their chocolate cake with vanilla gelato as the closest thing available, and it was FAN-tastic. Super light but also moist and not too sweet but ultra-chocolately. Recommended! I guess they didn't have a hostess on duty when we got there, but we literally stood by the podium while about six staff people passed by without even looking at us. I understand they were servers and it wasn't their job to seat us, but a quick, "Hi, someone will be right with you" goes a long way. I will likely go back but will make a point to get there for happy hour. My friend goes there a lot and calls it "Cheap and cheerful."
Not much bad to say,,,
Reviewer: Marie from Santa Barbara, CA
It was mother's day. The place was PACKED. Yes, we waited 45 mins to get a table and at least 30 mins to get our food after ordering. But it was, after all, the busiest day for restaurants out of the year. And it gave us all time to visit so no big deal for us. I highly recommend the bloody Mary; perfect spice, perfect alcohol-to mixer- ratio. I also HIGHLY recommend the mussels; fantastic as a starter- even better as an entree. The artichoke and lamb sliders (only two!), not so much; a little skimpy on the portions. Had to ask for bread for the mussels; perhaps it wasn't included but should have been as the broth was that good. I will definitely go back.

Not likely to go back.
Reviewer: Sylvia from Santa Barbara, CA
I was looking to try something different, so I ventured out to Café Stella. I found the décor to be charming. Unfortunately the food was mediocre. Happy hour had only two appetizers to choose at the happy hour price. I settled on the Flatbread with tomatoes and mozzarella. It was good, but I prefer the flatbread at the Coast Restaurant in the Canary Hotel, downtown SB. For the main course I ordered Salmon which came with veggies and mashed potatoes. The salmon was flavorful, but a little dry. My husband had the Prime Rib, with roast potatoes and mixed vegetables. His prime rib was overcooked and tough; and I’ve never seen a prime rib that was pan-fried. YIKES! When we mentioned that the prime rib should be taken off the menu if they are going to serve it that way, the waiter and hostess were very apologetic. Perhaps a new chef is in order. The server was polite and attentive.

I told you so....
Reviewer: Julie from Santa Barbara, CA
I read the review from "Amelia" dated 4/27/12 and all I could think of was "I told you so." I'm sure she dealt with the same rude female manager as we did back in December. Hope Amelia's review stays up on the website...ours was deleted. There is no excuse for rude behavior at ANY restaurant in SB let alone one that touts itself with excellent food and service.
Rude, rude, rude. Slow, slow, slow.
Reviewer: Amelia from Santa Barbara, CA
After several pleasant, but unremarkable, meals at Cafe Stella, we decided to try it again. What a waste of time and money! We asked for bread with our wine, but the restaurant had no more bread. After 45 minutes and still no food the waitress was apologizing very nicely. She offered to get the manager, who turned out to be the most insulting, vapid, unpleasant person I've ever met in the customer service industry. When we suggested that 45 minutes was a long time to wait, the so-called manager said, "Have you ever been to a restaurant before? We're busy." I think that behavior speaks for itself; I don't need to explain how unbelievably rude this was. That woman should never be allowed to deal with the public. Shame on Cafe Stella for letting such a person represent their restaurant. There was no attempt whatsoever to remedy the situation. Finally the talentless, deficient woman said, "Would you like to speak to the general manager?" The general manager was very helpful and apologetic. He acknowledged that more than 45 minutes is not the normal time for a restaurant to take to deliver food. But the problem still remains that a supposed customer service professional stood there and condescended to my party and me simply for wanting to receive the food we had ordered in a timely fashion. I suppose the food tasted okay.
I love it here...
Reviewer: Arlene from Santa Barbara, CA
Went for lunch last sunday. Food was wonderful, drinks were perfect and service was prompt - got to sit outside and not feel surrounded by tourists. The perfect place for late breakfast/lunch! - most places stop serving breakfast, only serve brunch till 3 and close btween 3 - 5. The menu offers basically breakfast, lunch & dinner and they don't close during the day... yeah!
Good Food, Good/Ok Service
Reviewer: MB from Santa Barbara, CA
My wife and I recently decided to finally eat at Cafe Stella. We ate the chicken with brie sandwich and chicken caesar salad. The sandwich was flavorful, and did not disappoint. It was a bit dry, but overall, a large sandwich, with fresh ingredients. The fries were great! My wife's salad was a bit disappointing, small salad for the price. The service was good, not stellar but not poor, just good. Overall, Cafe Stella is a solid choice for dinner.
Don't eat here if you're in a hurry
Reviewer: Bill from Santa Barbara, CA
My wife and I had a late breakfast here a couple of Sunday's ago. The food is always pretty good but the service was, once again, terrible. There seemed to be lots of staff, but it was tough getting their attention, especially when we were finished and thinking about what tip we should give them. They just walk by, never looking at the table. After 20 minutes of waiting for the check, we tipped them appropriately. If it's a nice warm day and you can sit outside and have at least an hour and a half to spend for lunch, it can be fun. Otherwise, go elsewhere.
Overpriced and Unappetizing.
Reviewer: Chris from Santa Barbara, CA
What a rip off! $26.00 for pot roast! It was BAD pot roast too, too tough to eat and not flavorful and barely warm. It was a very skimpy portion of beef and then just a couple of carrot bits and a few bits of celery. It was sad! The potato was ok but didn’t make up for the almost THIRTY DOLLAR price tag. And there was no soup or salad to go with it. No bread or rolls either. It was the special so I didn’t know the price before I ordered it and then when the bill came I was just shocked and not pleased at all. This place is a hit or a miss and this time they definitely missed it and disappointed me.

Won't be back
Reviewer: Tina from Santa Barbara, CA
The food was downright inedible (cold waffles and overcooked, improperly made omelettes). Breakfast should not be that difficult to make and serve. The place was not busy. Service was ok, but could be better. The atmosphere is beautiful, but that doesn't make a restaurant.
The servers are nice, but the service is not
Reviewer: Jonathan from Santa Barbara, CA
The problem with the service at Cafe Stella is not that the wait staff is not nice. The problem is that they have changed the traditional model that works for restaurants everywhere else - they do not have food runners or busers (sp?). So, the waiters have to spend a lot of time in the kitchen, clean up stations etc and can't spend the time near the customers to help them. Why they do it this way I don't know. But, things are very broken there. If management there reads this blog they should fix the problems or it means they just don't care. Maybe margins are better this way.
Delicious & Nice Atmosphere
Reviewer: Andrea K. from Santa Barbara, CA
We came in after the lunch rush and were treated to a delightful atmosphere and great service. We had the sweet potato fries to start which were delicious and the burgers were also very good. I will definitely be coming in again!
Good food, bad service
Reviewer: Matt W. from Santa Barbara, CA
The food was good, but our server did not have much interest in service. Delayed drink orders, forgotten appetizer and forgotten request for additional ketchup all on top of few visits to check on table. Unfortunately the service overshadowed the tasty food. The only other concern was the loud main seating area. It could use some sound dampening.

Surprisingly good breakfast and service today
Reviewer: Laurie from Santa Barbara, CA
Came here for breakfast with my parents after Renaud's was too crowded to sit inside. I was a little hesitant after reading all the negative reviews about the service, and the folks can be very picky, but they love Stella Mare's and were game to try the new place. So, deep breath and in we come. They liked the ambience right away, so off to a good start. The menu is terrific and our server, Tracy, equally good. Very pleasant, friendly and professional (and rolled with Dad's bad jokes). All of us were happy with our choices of crepes, omelette and croissant sandwich. Potato gratin at breakfast? Yum. Since Mom doesn't use a computer, and after she commented on the level of service we received, I am putting in a good word on her behalf. We look forward to coming back with our dog!
Good food, service needs work
Reviewer: Brendan from Santa Barbara, CA
They were very busy and we were told there'd be a wait of about 20 minutes. No problem. They told us more than once that we were next on the list, then apologized and said they had to give our table to another guy who had accidentally been crossed off the list. They kept talking about "four tops" and "five tops" being available (i.e., tables that seat various numbers of people). The wait in itself wasn't a problem, especially since the little lobby area is interesting in a peculiar way, with wine and little chocolates and lotions for sale. But it didn't seem like they really had a coherent system for knowing how long the wait would be, who was on the list, etc. Once we got seated, service was basically fine. The waiter had seen us waiting (har har) and took our dinner order right away instead of doing drinks separately, etc., which was nice. It took a while to get the check at the end. Overall the service was very friendly, but you kept getting the impression they were stretched thin. My food (meatloaf) was quite tasty, and my mom devoured her hamburger. I would go back, but not on a busy night. The place is pretty new (open about 7 months) so perhaps they haven't fully settled in. It seems they need to streamline their operation a bit more.
Well Worth It!
Reviewer: David from Santa Barbara, CA
Can't beat it for everything for you get. As an independent, work-from-home person, I"m always on the look out for new places to eat, drink coffee/or depending on the time of day, a nice cold cocktail, while i can get some work done on my laptop. Here's the sum up of why i think they deserve tops stars: 1) Food is good, especially for the price point. (prime rib!) 2) Portions are very generous 3) They've got something for everyone (i'm actually gluten free, and they're happy to accomodate my pickiness) 4) Working in the restaurant business for years, I know service when i see it, and though they're still working on perfecting the perfect staff, they're doing a really good job for such a new place. 5) Ambiance couldn't really be much better, especially given their location. Its clean, large, and has many seating options. 6) Two Words: FREE WIFI! 7) Two more words: FREE COFFEE REFILLS! 8) They've got excellent booths in the back that double as a desk for my laptop and breakfast. Best time to go is between breakfast and lunch or lunch and dinner, as all the crowds are gone, and i can really bunker down and get some work done. 9) They take just about every form of discount card 10) Best part? They're reasonable. The one time i had something come out I found something wrong with, they immediately took it off my table and replaced it with something i did. Being able to hold yourself accountable is big in my book. Everyone makes mistakes; that's how we learn and excel! As a side note, I do agree with Steve M. that the music selection needs to get better, but at least its not corny elevator music. A lot of Van Morrison, James Taylor, and Jack Johnson, but that has changed a few times when I've been there. Finally, I will add one more thing. If you have a group that's smaller than 15, and need a place to go that's affordable (especially for Xmas parties), this is a great place. DP
Inventive food with interesting twists on breakfast
Reviewer: SBtaste from Santa Barbara, CA
Had the omelette and potatoes gratin which was very flavorful with a gruyere that completed the spinach and mushrooms well! Coffee was strong but with flavor and not weak like you find much too often at most breakfast spots. Service was unlike the previous comments and all waiters were very attentive when a request was made. The Brioche French toast was also a treat as the bread held up well with the egg and not grainy...

WAITING.....WAITING.....WAITING.......
Reviewer: Julie from Malibu, CA
Three of us met for my birthday lunch at 1:30 p.m. last Friday. Service was non-existant. When our order was finally taken, we ordered an appetizer, prime rib sandwiches and a Stella burger. Food was incorrectly served at the table. Also, instead of the mushroom soup we ordered, we were served a fishy clam chowder! It took forever for the soup correction. Forget my ice tea, I never received it. The prime rib sandwich was 2/3 caramelized onions and 1/3 prime rib (very fatty cut, stringy). The only positive thing was the Stella burger (fabulous!). I knew the people at the next booth and they said if you have to wait long enough, you will get a free dessert. We thought, OK, perfect birthday timing. Well, forget the dessert, we waited forever just to see a server. Finally a server asked if we were waiting for anything and we said, "Yes, our check". If I did not have a long drive home, we would have spoken with the manager. As good as the burger was, I cannot recommend this restaurant to anyone. Management needs to focus on service!

Great Place for any Occasion
Reviewer: Ryan from Santa Barbara, CA
As it turns out this place is pretty amazing. I had a similar experience as the person below with waiting on the patio, but when I spoke with the Manager I came to realize I may have been partly to blame. When I wandered in I was so intrigued about what laid around the corner on the pretty vine covered patio that I inadvertently bypassed the front area where the hostess waits to seat people. Because it was that slowish time of day, the waiter for the patio area hadn't been circling as often (because he didn't have any tables to check on) so I waited. As it turns out, there is a small sign that says "please see hostess" but it's really easy to miss. Seems like this might be a recurring problem that could easily be fixed with a bigger, harder to miss sign? In any case, I'll let my bad manners take the blame on that one. While I'm not wildly impressed with the size of the happy hour selection, it's hard to argue with the deals. $3.50 for a glass of wine and I get to pick from something like 6 or 7 different choices? I'd call that a great deal! I love the margarita with it's fresh squeezed juices too, but it seems like maybe opening up the selection to any well drink for that price would be nice and might go towards getting some of the naysayers off your back. In any case, I love it there. Great light inside along the entire right hand wall, beautiful views of the Santa Barbara mountains and service that has come so far since my first visit a number of months ago. Plus a tv in the bar that i can sneak a peak at the scores on on my way to the restroom. I see nothing but improvements and have faith that more will come to keep this place going strong. One last note, is this the same sound track as the beginning? I feel like my Jack Johnson and Paul Simon fixes are filled.
Please PLEASE get your act together!
Reviewer: Becky from Santa Barbara, CA
There are so few places to go for happy hour uptown, that I was excited when this place opened. I've been once for breakfast and three times for happy hour. Each time, the food was good, the service bad. This last time was a deal breaker. I went with a friend Friday afternoon (around 4pm). It was not crowded. We waited 1/2 an hour just to have our drink and food order taken. We were sitting outside, near a partition with vines on it. Next thing you know, a very tame little mouse comes walking along the top of the partition, about 3 inches from my shoulder! Yikes. We waited about 25 more minutes for our food to arrive. The food here is good; I had a Cajun pork sausage slider and my friend had the flatbread special. The check was deposited before we finished eating (no waiting for that), and our server was back within 5 minutes to see if we had paid yet (hmm...), As I got out my wallet, I knocked my wine glass over and spilled wine on it (my wallet). No offer of a towel or anything to clean it up, although he was standing over us as it spilled. The last straw? Our bill was $16. 15. A great deal for happy hour, right? I gave him a $20 bill and waited for the change. I fully planned to give a 20% tip (just not return again). He brought back $3 and no change. Now. I know it's not much, but since when did waiters start just keeping the change? Am I out of it? It was such a small thing, but really annoying. So, good food, crappy service, and waiters who keep the change. It's back to Harry's I go.
LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Reviewer: Linda from Santa Barbara, CA
We had dinner at Le Cafe Stella last night and all I can say is WOW! After reading some of the negative reviews, I wasn't sure if we should go, but to our surprise it turned out to be one of the best meals ever! The food was delicious and came very quickly, (large portions), the servers were right there, (no waiting), The Happy Hour wine was very good, and the prices are very reasonable. It was a very enjoyable evening and we will be back. Congratulations Stella's!!!!!
Again, good food poor service
Reviewer: RJ from Santa Barbara, CA
Visited two different times: once for lunch and once for late night drinks/dessert. Both times the service was slow or non-existant. Cafe Stella management better get their staff trained or they won't be around much longer. It is a good location with good food. The service is really lacking. We had to flag down a server to get menus, get drinks, take our order and bring the check. Each time. Frustrating.

LOVE the food. Service? Meh.
Reviewer: Amanda from Santa Barbara, CA
First I have to agree. Split check for 15 people? That's just rude and I don't know of a single restaurant that is willing to do that. Go to places where you can order at the register and pay separately that way (Fresco, Little Alex's, The Habit, etc) but don't go to a sit down restaurant expecting that. Now, I LOVE the food at Cafe Stella. The Stella Burger is amazing and the little side salad that comes with it has a simple, home made and DELICIOUS red onion vinegrette. It's simple yet so good. The service does leave a lot to be desired, but I can't help but wonder if they are just understaffed. I do feel kind of neglected when I go there, but I don't expect to be doted over either, so it's not so bad.
Sporadic service but decent bar food
Reviewer: Sophia from Santa Barbara, CA
Came here for happy hour and stayed for ages because the service was really, really bad, and I have the patience of a saint. Our server came up, scratched his head (literally), took our order and disappeared. Ten minutes later, a (nicer, friendlier, more professional) waitress showed up and asked if we wanted menus. In the time we waited for our server to return, a couple of other servers tried to help too - maybe we just got a bad apple. Plus my outside table was next to vines and plantings, and while waiting for our order, out popped a rat: not into the restaurant area, but way too close to my outside (and not very clean) table for comfort. Server eventually came back, with red wine when I had ordered white, and then disappeared again. The food is not French, as it pretends to be, but is very reasonably priced and fun to eat - Californian bar food, I would call it. I can imagine taking older relatives here, or kids, or other patient people, but until the service is fixed, the frustration will take it out of my dining rotation.
Happy Hours and Lunch
Reviewer: PJs from Santa Barbara, CA
I have been to Cafe Stella three times: twice for happy hour and once for lunch. At each Happy Hour, I was greeted, seated and served promptly, efficiently and courteously. At lunch the service was slow and mediocre. At lunch we waited for the hostess to acknowledge us. Three servers walked by without saying a word. Once seated we had to ask to have our order taken. Food arrived promptly and was very good. We didn't get return service for drinks and had to ask for our check. It was not crowded but seemed understaffed.
Give me a break
Reviewer: Alex from Santa Barbara, CA
First off, I would NEVER ask for separate checks for 15 people. That is just rude. I think the happy hour is a good deal, but haven't been impressed with the regular menu. I do really like the atmosphere and the outdoor patio, and will try it out a couple more times.
separate checks for 15 people?????
Reviewer: roger from Santa Barbara, CA
Are you joking? is this a review? If you are so rude as to torture the staff with with one of these ridiculous requests, and expect further special treatment, you are kidding! I have arranged large parties for dinner- I put up my credit card, and tell everybody what they owe, in cash. we are all friends, and split everything evenly, and yes, sometimes, somebody will pay a dollar or more than they owe. It evens out over time, you cheap clowns! Oh, yeah, I forgot everybody in America is terrified to have American Cash in their pockets. Another of these "reviews" about a fly in the room, no water refills every thirty seconds, for those too cheap to buy beverages, and no free food because you don't want cheese in your cheese ravioli!-- I'm done, forever, and I won't be missed here!
WHY WE WON'T BE BACK...
Reviewer: Jody from Santa Barbara, CA
We won't be back. No Separate Checks for 15 people. Too stressful for a group meal and also too noisy. They would not seat us in a quieter room with a long table.
agree with below review
Reviewer: jon from Santa Barbara, CA
not really the type to leave a review but- I have to agree with the last comment. there has been so much buzz about this place that me an my girlfriend tried it a while back. the food great, decor well done but service was eh. recently went again with friends and was very pleased. Goes to show what a few months can do for a new place. plan to return often- great location delicious food and as it turns out... good service. happy to have them in my neighborhood.

Improved Service
Reviewer: Russ from Santa Barbara, CA
I wrote a recent review noting the very poor service at Cafe Stella, but a group of us met at Cafe Stella for a Monday lunch subsequently. The place was packed at 1 pm, but the maitre'd found a table for six quickly and we were seated without delay. Larissa was our waitress and the service was vastly improved. Our food was served promptly and everything was great. It appears service is very much dependent upon who is serving. I will look for Larissa again on our next visit.

The Stella Burger is AMAZING!
Reviewer: Jackie from Santa Barbara, CA
What a gem! I absolutely ADORE Le Cafe Stella! Cafe Stella has a perfect location, spacious and wonderful atmosphere. It's French-American dishes are savory, delicious, and reasonably priced. The Stella Burger is absolutely the best bleu-cheeseburger I've EVER tasted! Cheesecake was perfect too. Great selection for drinks and service is always wonderful. I've been back 4 times in the past 10 days and I'm getting ready for breakfast this weekend!

Prim Rib Sandwich - good, Service - abysmal
Reviewer: Russ from Santa Barbara, CA
Five of us went for dinner on a Monday night. The restaurant wasn't busy, but the service was incredibly slow. Two dinners were served and the other three waited at least 15 minutes before their food arrived. And the irony? Two simply ordered salads, the other sliders. Our prime rib sandwiches were good, but mistakes were made on these orders as well. I am not sure how long they will survive with laughably bad service. Our waiter was a male, so maybe a waitress may be better.
Would go back!
Reviewer: Annie from Santa Barbara, CA
Went there mid-morning with a friend, so it was quiet and service was consquently very good. I ordered scrambled eggs and plain crepes. Eggs were light and fluffy; crepes very light. Coffee also very good if a bit too strong for me. Atmosphere very pleasant; would definitely go back.
Food ok, service not so great
Reviewer: amanda from santa barbara, ac
We went here for a late lunch around 3:30 and were seated outisde which was really cute and we liked the ambience of the restaurant. We were pretty hungry and thirsty after a long hike and sat there for about 15mins before every seeing anybody. I had to go track someone down and there was only like 6 people in the whole restaurant. When he finally came we ordered right away so we didnt have to wait any longer! I ordered the the Chicken burger with sweet potato fries and the burger was great, fries ok, I think i could get the same ones at Trader Jos. Friends Spinich potato soup was missing potatoes and other friends ceasear salad was missing parmesean and were both kind of average. Probably will not be going back with many other options in SB.
inviting exterior but disappointed in lunch
Reviewer: Eleanor Scott from Santa Barbara, CA
I'm a huge fan of Stella Mares at Bird Refuge thought this looked similar. BUT, we two older ladies got a table for six, had to get our own utensils from "container". Menu was ordinary, food ordinary, waitress Ok but seemed intrusive to two older ladies just wanting to have lunch and talk. The experience seems to depend on which section you're seated in. But nothing about it tempts me to return, since we have several comparable, reliable options in SB: Jeanines', Via Maestra, Los Aves, Mesa Cafe, Andersen's, Montecito Cafe (at the inn). This newbie is over hyped, I think.
3 times disappointed.
Reviewer: Allison from Santa Barbara, CA
Those who gave this place five stars are either friends or have low expectations. We've been for dinner/happy hour 3 times now and won't be back. At one point I was waving both hands in the air trying to get someone to serve us, 4 servers looked at me and I finally had to go up to the bar and make my order. The service has been consistently bad as tables don't seem to be assigned, it's just a free for all as far as I could tell. The same person never came to the table twice. I ordered the egg salad sandwich most recently which was more like an ounce of egg soup on a baguette drowned in aioli. The omelette was marginal drowned in some kind of oil and served with raw potatoes. Twice. I would go back to have coffee but they're not competent to serve much else.
Great food, view, and prices
Reviewer: Richard B from Santa Barbara, CA
We had generous portions of great steak, potatoes, and onion soup--all at a price that beats any comparable restaurant that I have been to in Santa Barbara. The view of the mountains is a great plus, and unlike so many restaurants in town, there is plenty of space between tables to ensure relaxation.

Excellent New Restaurant!
Reviewer: A&B from Santa Barbara, CA
I’ve been to Le Café Stella a few times now and each time had a fabulous experience. The restaurant is spacious and beautifully designed! Great bar area, dining room and patio overlooking the mountains. I’ve tried multiple items from the café’s menu. I must say my favorite are their mussels with a glass of the very reasonably priced Patch Block Chardonnay or Patch Block Pinot Noir (yum!) but you can’t go wrong with anything you order; including some nibbles, juicy burgers, or salads, any of the roasted or grilled items, or the French inspired dishes. Don’t forget dessert they certainly have a delicious selection (my recommendation; the chocolate cake)! My next visit will have to be to try their breakfast. I’ve heard it’s amazing!
CAFE STELLA -- Great Place to Santa Barbara
Reviewer: Comran Hojabrpour from Santa Barbara, CA
I am a big fan of Cafe Stella. Great service and management with a reasonably priced menu when you consider the quality of food that you get. The patio is gorgeous and is pet friendly. Its a great place for all occasions, quaint and relaxing.

Outstanding ... and then Disappointing!
Reviewer: Cherise Beard from Santa Barbara, CA
Went here with some girlfriends for breakfast on Monday morning and it was phenomenal! Light and fluffy eggs and waffles, sweet fresh berries, great juicy sausage, good coffee and yummy bread (we were sad that they no longer sell chocolate croissants, so our waitress brought us a cup of nutella to compensate). Waitress was thoughtful and accommodating and the food, as I said before, was amazing. I raved about it to my husband all week, so we went there on Saturday for breakfast and we were horribly disappointed. I ordered the exact same dish because it was sooo good the first time. But this time, the croissant was burnt! (yes, burnt to a crisp in a bad way. black on the bottom), the eggs were rubbery, the waffle was dense and overcooked and the sausage looked like it had been sitting under a heat lamp. When I asked the waitress about the fresh berries that go with the waffle, she said it didn't come with fruit. Not a deal breaker. But it took me a while to flag her down to get butter for the waffle and when I asked for it, she said, "Oh, you want butter for your waffle??" like it was the strangest thought ever. To top it off, the coffee was cold when it arrived and refills were never offered, although the waitress brought refills to all the tables around us. Very disappointing. Maybe the manager/chef on duty that morning was having a bad day or the heat was too high on the stove??? Not sure if we'll go back after this experience. Sad, because the first time was so good and I love the thought of having a good restaurant near our house.

Amazing menue and great outdoor dinning
Reviewer: m taylor from Santa Barbara, CA
We enjoyed an amazing breakfast on the quiet, sunny patio. My husband had the cheese and herb omlette, while I had perfectly cooked poached eggs, pastries and the best bacon we've ever tasted!!! We are looking forward to returning for lunch and dinner! On our way in we bumped into one of Santa Barbara's most established caterers and she could not say enough about how incredible her meal was. Cheers to the chef and all the considerate staff at Cafe Stella!
Great for families or lunch with the gals.
Reviewer: Laurie Stone from Santa Barbara, CA
We've had dinner and breakfast at Cafe Stella several times and loved it. Great atmosphere, good service and our food was excellent every time. I'm also impressed with the childrens menu as usually the kids menu has 4 options, all fried. We were thrilled to have the choice of salmon for my son and the huge helping of veggies. He gobbled it down so fast I didn't even get to steal a bite. It's great to see a healthly option for the kids. I highly recommend the ratatouille with basil & goat cheese or the 3 cheese ravioli and of course the chocolate mousse. We are looking forward to many return visits.
Disappointing at BEST
Reviewer: Lisa from Santa Barbara, CA
First thing we noticed was how pretty the place is. I'll give it that. Service was STRANGE. Four different people asked us if we had any questions about the menu--I don't mind that too much, but then when we were ready to order, no one came around. A total of 6 different people served us, so we weren't sure who our server really was to flag down when we finally received our food and there were no napkins or utensils. The food may be fairly priced, but the coke came in a bottle for $2.80. That's steep as it is, let alone no refills for a bottle. Diet coke came in a can. That's just unacceptable for the level this restaurant portends to be. Chicken brie sandwich was just ok, bread very good, but not much flavor. Burger was disgusting. They put onions inside the meat which they don't tell you on the menu I HATE onions. Then we waited so long for our check that we actually had to get up and find someone to take our order. The wait people were friendly and pleasant, just clueless.

Love!!
Reviewer: Koko from Santa Barbara, CA
Been here a multiple times with friends since they opened. Every time we go the food has been amazing. The "nibbles" section of their menu is my favorite- great for sharing with large groups or to make your own meal with. The decor is beautiful & with the outdoor patio we've been able to bring our dog with us a few times, which is a nice change since so few restaurants in sb allow them. we will continue to return may times again- and with the prices and killer happy hour how can you not? Cafe Stella = A+ Thanks for finally bringing a nice causal cafe to uptown!!
Parking Lot
Reviewer: Barbara from Santa Barbara, CA
This is the fourth time I have been to Cafe Stella...parking is a problem..... Breakfast was lucky as got the last spot. Lunch time had to park waaaaay down the street....Dinner - drove in and drove out..... As for service and food....Average.... - ..pleasant but slow...had to keep calling a waiter over to refill ice tea, as the glasses small..... Just wasn't paying attention to our table...... Actually stressful.... This place does not impress me..... au revoir.....

Bad food. Awkward ambience.
Reviewer: Shandy from Santa Barbara, CA
The food was really bad. The lamb sliders were super greasy and tasteless. The prime rib was very tough. The Caesar salad was overdressed and the croutons were very chewy. The fries were ok. Drinks so so. The people working there seemed nice and service was fine, but it just really is not worth a second visit. Even having drinks isn't tempting because the lighting is harsh and the decor feels vaguely cafeteria-like. Too bad because location is great.
Stick with A Burger - Not A Serious Dinner Restaurant
Reviewer: SBM from Santa Barbara, CA
Four diners, four hanger steaks. Four disappointed foodies. The hanger steaks were $18 each. They came with frozen French fries and nothing else. We had to ask for catsup. The server did not keep track of steak doneness so we we ended up with a big plate swap and we got three mediums when we ordered three medium rare and one well done. The Malbec wine was French and excellent. Service was amiable, but amateurish. We had to grab silver and napkin from another table as they set us up with three. Won't go back unless friends insist.
Really tasty!
Reviewer: SLV from Santa Barbara, CA
I've been to Le Cafe Stella a couple of times now, once for dinner and once for happy hour, and have sampled a fairly wide array of their very tasty food. I'm pleased to have this kind of menu available in this neighborhood (aka my neighborhood!) and I love the spacious, comfortable atmosphere inside. The wobbles I've observed have been on the service end. The first visit, we were not given utensils and napkins until several minutes after our appetizer arrived, and our finished dinner plates sat on our table long after dessert had arrived. The second visit, the service was not bad, it was just very uneven and at odds with the delightful food and surroundings. I have high hopes these things will smooth out as the staff grow more experienced, and I will be returning to Le Cafe Stella as soon as I can.
Not impressed
Reviewer: Diana from Santa Barbara, CA
I noticed most of the good reviews are for lunch or breakfast. Dinner was a disappointment. Upon being seated, I noticed the water glasses were upside down on the table. It didn't seem very hygienic considering tables are usually wiped down with rags. The Caesar salad was served with dressing on the side, which I've never seen done that way before, and it pretty much tasted like bottled dressing. The croutons were chewy and there was very little parmesan cheese. I had the prime rib, which I was told was excellent. It turned out to be more fat than meat. The service was so-so, as the waiter didn't seem to care if we were there or not. The greeter was very friendly and welcoming.

Stella's got her uptown groove!
Reviewer: Jill Brouillard from Santa Barbara, CA
Everyone......Jason Banks is a good chef and we welcome Cafe Stella uptown. We make good food in this part of town and we are all about locals! Jason, you are family forever!
Great food pleasant serves
Reviewer: Melanie from Santa Barbara, CA
My friend and I decided to try out this new spot after hearing good reviews. We came in for drinks and appetizers the other night and had a wonderful experience. The Sliders where delicious and happy hour prices hard to beat. The waiter was attentive and friendly. The restaurant is casual and elegant. I'm also excited that it is dog friendly! We will be going back many times over.

Big Let Down
Reviewer: Jennifer from Santa Barbara, CA
I was very enthused to try this place. Parking was a bear because it's new kid on the block and everybody was there. They would not take reservations--bummer because we had a show to make. We got there an hour and 15 mins. before our show and were told we would have a table shortly. 45 mins. later, we did not have a table and the unfriendly bartender, where we were waiting, was pushing us to have dinner at the bar. When we tried to talk with the manager, she was beyond pretentious, and--I kid thee not!--told us we would be better off leaving because they wouldn't be able to serve us before our show. Her attitude was unnecessarily rude and I got the clear impression from her that she would greatly welcome our departure. We left to another nearby restaurant where we were served promptly with no attitude. On a positive note, the drink was tasty and the smells from the kitchen were delightful. I'll think about giving this place a second chance.
Not what we expected.
Reviewer: Dylan from Santa Barbara, CA
The decor was a very nice country French. The food,was mediocre at best. What we were the most disappointed in was the service.Friendly but more of an order taker than a sever. Our son's meal was suppose to include a option of juice or milk, his one slider & fries and an ice cream sandwich.($9) He was never asked what he wanted to drink and as soon as we were done with our salads the check was presented, with no ice cream sandwich. He was disappointed and our order taker was no where to be found. We would of liked to try some dessert there but it was not offered. Saddened that people find this place so great.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner. Fantastic!
Reviewer: Rebecca from Santa Barbara, CA
I had the pleasure of trying this restaurant for the first time for breakfast with friends a few weeks ago. The food was delicious. I went back during the week for a quick lunch with my husband. The Stella Burger was so good. My husband had the egg salad sandwich and a hoegaarden beer. He was in heaven. Friends came to town last night so we went to dinner before the Buffalo Springfield concert at the Santa Barbara Bowl. 3 for 3. Great food. Great service. Great location. This is my new favorite restaurant.

Wow-this can't be happening
Reviewer: steve from Santa Barbara, CA
Great large, easy to get in parking lot. We knew something was up from all the great reviews. The minute we walked in the hostess was neatly engaging asking how she could help us. When we walked into the restaurant we were surprised how large and upscale decor was. New Nora Jones Music playing lightly in the background. Bartender gal was interesting and informative in a refined sort of way...super comfortable. Looking around...the place just feels so right...sort of like the way Jeremiah Towers Stars was in San Francisco years ago. We just came for happy hour, but were amazed at the variety of choices on the that menu. We had superb Sweet Potato fries(oil used was VERY fresh and light, not like the old smelling oil most places do their fries with) Lovely Euro-style hotdog-that looked different and smaller...but the taste was way amazing. The Beef Brushetta was yummy and bread VERY FRESH-not the half day old most places try to get away with.)these were all only $4. ea. Absolutely amazing house wine. They are called Patch Block. The Chardonnay was med. thick body yet fruit rich ripe nose and Real White Burgundy quality. Patch Block Pinot was a real show stopper...even richer than the Hob Knob we usually like...I asked the waitress..."this tastes so pure and kinda Burgundian...any chance this is French Pinot?"....she went and checked...returning..."You guessed right...they are grapes from France" (We're talking $3.50 a glass on special!) (later at home we checked and found out George DeBouef from France puts them out.Yum. PLEASE KEEP THESE AS YOUR HOUSE-HAPPY HOUR WINES. We normally don't get deserts, but our waitress gal said to for sure try the creme caramel($4). We did along with their Vanilla Gelato. All we can say is WOW...BIG WOW.We just got back from Spain..and this was as good as the best there. At last a true Mega-Outstanding restaurant in Upper State. And so refreshing inside with French Posters and the works. We commented to each other, -this is one of the reasons we moved to Santa Barbara was to have great restaurants. This new one is at the top of our list. Amazing.

It's about time!
Reviewer: Shannon Trotta from Santa Barbara, CA
For years we have needed a restaurant like this in San Roque!! It's so nice to walk into a place that has windows, is clean and well designed. It feels "upscale casual". The staff is attentive and the food is delicious. The lamb sliders are the best in town and the chicken and brie sandwich is amazing. The prices are what I'm the most excited about. Very rarely do you get the ambiance, quality of food and great service for this price. Happy Hour makes it even more affordable and the cocktails offered are creative recipes that I've really enjoyed. Been back here close to a dozen times now and every time I've gone it just keeps getting better. It's nice to be recognized by the staff and greeted with such warmth. This is definitely our new local favorite. We plan on being regulars! Love the idea of selling the wines and fancy chocolates etc in the lobby too...well done!!

Great food & Service & Price!!!
Reviewer: Ed from Santa Barbara, CA
Went there for the first time today. The place is really nice inside. The food was great and the service was excellent. I Will definitely go back.
Great waitstaff! Amazing food!
Reviewer: Liz from Santa Barbara, CA
This place is great! Stopped by when I was on my way to grocery shop at gelsons. Very welcoming. Smells amazing. Great bar. The service was excellent and the beef burgunion is superb. Good selection of wine by the glass. Need to advertise more. I have no complaints. The staff is friendly and almost too attentive. I'll definitely come back with my hubby for happy hour! And my kids and dog for breakfast outside!

Best mussels in town!
Reviewer: Ryan from Santa Barbara, CA
Been in five times since they opened and only once did service lag during the peak of their first Friday evening happy hour. Food has been great. Found my favorite sliders in town. Can't go wrong with the lamb or the beef sliders. The mussels have been my favorite item from the "nibbles" menu so far. Epic broth. Make sure you get some fresh bread to soak up the juices. All in all a great addition to the food scene in Santa Barbara and nice to not have to endure the chaos of the parking and the "scene" of downtown.

Great addition
Reviewer: Alisa from Santa Barbara, CA
Really good food made with fresh ingredients. loved the clams, fried artis, chicken&brie sando, burger, fries. Salad dressings are housemade. Service very friendly although still working out the bugs when we dined right after opening. Beautiful atmo, too. We'll be back often.
new favorite
Reviewer: John from Santa Barbara, CA
I was so pleased to find that a new restaurant was opening in my neighborhood. After reading some reviews I was a little uneasy about coming, but my wife was very adamant about going so I went with my wife and her father yesterday for lunch. To my surprise it was very lovely. The wait staff was not a problem at all like the reviews had said, maybe they had gotten better, new people, or different wait staff but i was very pleased with my waitress. The food did take a little bit longer than i had hopped but only by maybe 10 minutes, but when it came to us it was worth the wait. We had the fried artichokes and the onion soup to start, both fantastic. Then I had the stella burger, which was one of the best burgers i have ever had. My wife had the salmon salad which she was very pleased with and my father in law had prime rib hash that he kept saying was very full in flavor. I will defiantly be going back soon.

Great Happy Hour!
Reviewer: Arlene from Santa Barbara, CA
Came for happy hour - wonderful food, beautiful place and Natalie was a wonderful bartender - service was great! A little out fo the way for us, but we'll be regulars anyway!
Food and service is great but very slow with growing pains
Reviewer: David from Santa Barbara, CA
My friend and I went here for lunch yesterday. We were surprised to find the entire parking lot full, save for two spots, by noon. We thought we might have beat the rush! We were seated promptly and our orders were taken soon after. Then the waiting game began. We had no appetizers, just mains. And we waited for quite a long time. The server as well as a manager (owner?) apologized every time they passed the table. That was pretty nice that they acknowledged the issues with the back of house. A co-worker likened it to Fresco in terms of pricing, dishes, vibe, etc. However, I think it's a bit nicer. The view, depending where you sit, is actually quite gorgeous. It's slightly higher than State Street so at a certain angle you don't even see the city buildings and are treated to a view of the mountains. The decor is very nice as well and feels a bit upscale. The place is quite large and does not feel stuffy or crowded at all. There's outdoor seating and a sign implies they are ok with dogs. When the food finally came it was quite good. My friend went for the Coq Au Vin and I had the prime rib sandwich. I also had an Arnold Palmer which surprisingly came out in a glass bottle. I was bummed thinking it would be homemade. Who buys bottled iced tea + lemonade? Anyway, all said and done we paid $20 a piece and that included tax and tip. It's not an everyday thing but also not a big deal to come here for a lunch date or dinner on the weekend either. I am glad they opened and I can see myself eating here often. I just hope they fix their speed issues.
got tired of waiting to be acknowledge, much less served
Reviewer: Nancy from Santa Barbara, CA
Went for dinner Friday night but left after being ignored for quite a while... I understand they are newly opened and there are always kinks to be worked out, but how about at least an acknowledgement of our presence? Where was the manager? The host staff were very pleasant and seemed to know their jobs, but the waiters in the lounge and the restaurant seemed completely lost. The table next to us, (who actually got some food), asked why there was no rosemary on their Rosemary Fries. The waiter said something like, "well if you WANT me to get some...." Yikes! Very attractive restaurant, now hire some experienced waiters! I hope to return someday....well in the future when they get it together. (By the way, the huge dining room had about 10 occupied tables when this happened!)

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