Brophy Bros. Santa Barbara.com

Brophy Bros.
119 Harbor Way, Santa Barbara
Phone: (805) 966-4418

Category: American, Seafood
Hours: Sun-Thu 11am-10pm, Fri-Sat 11am-11pm
Price: $10 - $20
Serving: Lunch & Dinner
Reservations: No
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Brophy Bros. writes: Brophy Bros. was established in 1986 and is operated by the original owners. "The Bennett family." Our restaurant is a high paced, casual and social venue. Prepare to meet people and interact with locals. We have been fortunate to have received Best Seafood and Best Clam Chowder in Santa Barbara for many, many years. Brophy's is located right on the docks and the views are amazing. Due to our limited space, we are unable to take reservations and suggest putting aside ample time to wait and enjoy the surrounding area. Visit our website www.brophybros.com for things to do and places to stay in the immediate area.

Specials: Daily Fresh Fish Specials
Private Room: Our Downstairs Clam Bar is perfect for a party of 30 or less !

Reviews by the General Public

Shout out to Mikie, 2/28/2013
Reviewer: Cindy from Santa Barbara, CA
Too loud, very average food but a shout out to Mikie the young guy cleaning up tables and chairs. He does a great job with a wonderful attitude!

Fantastic food, friendly and efficient service., 12/25/2012
Reviewer: Cuneyt Cakman from London, UK
Even on Christmas Eve, 45 minutes before closing time, they made the effort to fin us a table and never pressurised us after closing time. Very good food served by friendly and professional stuff. Can't wait to visit again.

Place for fun people, 10/15/2012
Reviewer: Jeff from Scottsdale Az
Place is fun, bartenders are great and pour good drinks, food is fantastic, service was good too. Yes it's busy and loud , but friendly crowd and great view makes it all worth it

Totally Over-rated, 7/6/2012
Reviewer: Jennifer from Santa Barbara, CA
They used frozen chopped spinach and gooey cheese on Oysters Rockefeller --- not the correct way to make Oysters Rockefeller (bread crumbs & lemon & hot sauce, not gooey american cheese. If you go, order oyster shooters so you will not be disappointed. They have NO desserts. The waiter will tell you when your time is up at your table (so pay up & leave please). Do not order the Bailey's Irish Coffee, it looks like coffee, tastes like cheap booze and there is n coffee taste --- they may have started with Folgers weak coffee and added a shot of Bailey's. The cold seafood platter is acceptable, but there is not even cilantro in the ceviche, no herbs, no flavor, just a variety of cold boiled seafood. The burger & fries are unremarkable. Come on Brophy's, you can do better than this in a town full of foodies & expert chefs.

Tried it at lunch, 6/11/2012
Reviewer: Joyce from Anaheim, CA
My husband and I went to Santa Barbaara for a day trip from Orange County. I searched for restaurants and read reviews so decided on Brophy;s as they had excellent reviews on the food. What a disappointment!! Maybe our clam chowder is better in O.C but that was a bowl of potatoes and a few clams! I had steamed clams and mussels that were tough as shoe leather. I will not be returning, ever.

don't see why it won best unless it has no competition, 5/23/2012
Reviewer: Michaelina from Buellton, CA
I agree totally with the reviewer from the northeast. We also had a bunch of loud mouth drinkers bumping into our table and SO LOUD that I couldn't even hear my lunch companion. When we complained to the waitress she said she couldn't do anything. So, fine. Yes, a lovely view of the harbor, but the rude obnoxious crowd on the balconey turns you off completely to dining there. They must have been standing 3 deep at the outside bar area. It was like a frat party. When we said we were going to leave (we waited almost 1 1/2 hours for our table), she asked if we wanted to sit inside. not much less noisy inside but better. THe fish was good but the environment was a total turnoff. Drinks were watered down I thought. Crossed it off my "return" list as it seems like an overhyped tourist eatery, not a fine seafood dining experience.

Great clam chowder, not so great salmon
Reviewer: Natasha from Santa Barbara, CA
The clam chowder here was amazing. I tried my friend's and instantly wished I had ordered that instead of the salmon and avocado salad. The salmon was really dry and "fishy" tasting, and I ended up eating everything else on the plate besides the main ingredient. With such a great chowder, I see potential for the rest of the menu, but hope they work on their salmon!

Go for the view and clam chowder
Reviewer: Glenn from Buellton
Similar to the last time I went the fish is just not up to par with other places in town. The swordfish and the mahi mahi looked and tasted exactly the same, bland. You go for the clam chowder and hopefully an off hour view(they are open until 11!) and maybe drinks. Mac's Fish and Chips blows this place away on chowder though. Seems like you can get the same view at Endless Summer or Chucks too whose food has to be at least comparable though have not tried them. Servers are very nice here and food comes out fairly quick.

Great Food...Fantastic Views...Fun Atmosphere
Reviewer: Alan from Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
Last time dining at Brophy Bros. we had a wait of about 1/2 hour so we went downstairs to the bar. We had drinks and several appetizers. The appetizers were great. When we got seated the service was perfect. The fish (I had Halibut) came out perfecto and was very tasty. Nice seafood restaurants are hard to find in southern California. We had a great time. Next time in Santa Barbara I will definetly go back.

Seems like a good bar, restaurant, maybe not so much.
Reviewer: Andy from New Haven, CT
Food was nothing to write home about, I'm from the Northeast and consequently am spoiled by the abundance of great seafood to be found everywhere. Perhaps the west coast is not so hot on seafood but the locals seem enamored of it. Not a fan of a place that seems to cater to local drink pounders over folks that want a decent meal, eaten in relative peace. We were seated upstairs on the porch, the tables are crammed in and so are the bar folks. We ate with a crowd of loud drunks backing into our table until I stepped up and asked that they pay a little more attention to standing upright and if anyone wanted a fork in their posterior all they had to do was bump me yet again. The view was great though and I'm guessing that that is factored into the dinner price, it's certainly not the food overall. Service was quick and the table bussing was something to see, those kids really hustle non-stop. Perhaps if we had enjoyed a few cocktails before hand it would have been more enjoyable overall and the food less bland perhaps? I think the wait staff probably suffers overall from smaller tips from the diners that I hope the drinking crowd makes up. I think overall from a dining perspective better handling of the drinking crowd, somehow giving the dining room folks a better atmosphere to enjoy their meal would be a huge positive. So much potential given the real estate aspects of it all I can't see how some minor changes would but help it be a win win for all concerned.

Slammed in like sardines! : (
Reviewer: Virginia Paxton from San Francisco, CA
Very disappointing. While we TRIED to eat, people were backing their chairs into ours (not their fault), we were all way too squeezed in together. Server had to talk REALLY LOUD to us as there were sooooo many people crammed into the place. ( It was like a cafeteria-gone-mad). We were so anxious to get OUT of there as the overcrowding and overwhelming "loudness" of the place was truly miserable. Our server was nice, but we were very sadly disappointed with everything else.

Great!
Reviewer: Jim from Irvine, CA
First time at Brophys, and it was great. Attentive and fast service, along with good food, in ample portions. Nice experience... Thanks

Making a Special Night Unforgettable
Reviewer: Sean Ebadi from Santa Barbara, CA
I have lived in Santa Barbara for 20 years and have owned a local business here for 10. Brophys has always been a favorite of mine, but this weekend, they went from one of my favorites to the BEST EVER! I held my wife's 40th Birthday party in the Clam Bar downstairs. Words cannot describe the level of food and service we received. Brophys is always good, but they made this evening Magical. Anyone looking to do a small get together or party should consider this venue. It was nothing short of perfection. Special thanks to the entire BENNETT family, Alyssa, and the rest of the crew for making this evening so amazing for us. We will never forget it! Thanks you!!!

Just a Thought
Reviewer: Richard Lambert from Santa Barbara, CA
I wonder why so many, like James, enjoy eating at a restaurant for "years" and then feel compelled to write a review following a single bad experience. Human nature, I guess, to complain aloud and be silent with praise.

What Happened?
Reviewer: James Monroe from Santa Barbara, CA
I have always liked going to Brophy Brothers for a nice meal with great atmosphere. I have been going there pretty regularly for the past few years and have no complaints until this last time. I have always fancied myself on the most delicious sour dough table bread they serve. I always really cant get enough of it. The flavor, the crispiness of the crust. That was until this last time i went, it was utterly flavorless and was no longer that dense bread that I have come to crave. I actually didn't eat over half of what they brought out. Usually there isn't a crumb left on the table. I guess price cutting has hit the harbor here too.

Standard Seafood Restaurant, Horrible Service
Reviewer: Sarah from Santa Barbara, CA
I have lived in Santa Barbara for 6 years and am a frequent diner at most restaurants in the Santa Barbara/Montecito area. I have eaten at Brophys probably a dozen times (always come back for their chowder). Their food has never been too impressive but you can't beat the location. Unfortunately one thing I have observed almost every time I go there is their abysmal service. On my last visit, from the second I walked into Brophys to the second I left, I was appalled at the attitudes/demeanor of the entire staff. The bartender ignored my friend and I for a good 10 minutes while she chatted with other customers. The hostess was rude and lied about how long we had been waiting (I almost walked out at this point but my friend and I had been waiting over an hour and were pretty hungry). Lastly our server was inattentive and unaccommodating. She even stood with her back to our table talking to friends at the bar for, I kid you not, 12 minutes while we sat there with our credit cards in our check presenter. The only people who work hard in this restaurant are the bussers! I wish I could say that my disappointing experience was only the first time, but I find the terrible service to be a common occurrence at this restaurant and they are lucky of their location because otherwise there is no way this place would stay open. I even tried to talk to a manager after dinner but was told she was "not around, probably in her office across the way." I'm sorry... I'm pretty sure there should be a manager on duty or available at all times in a restaurant. Work on your service Brophys, it is just as important as the food!

Solid food, great location
Reviewer: Jonathan Epp from Santa Barbara, CA
The location on the 2nd floor with view over the harbor, especially at night, is truly great. We were a party of 3 on a Sunday night at around 9pm and got seated right away, but I can see how the small dining area causes long waits at peak times. We preferred the inside since it was a little chilly, but saw on our way out that there are radiators in the patio ceiling, so next time that will be a better option. The food was solid, my cajun seabass was tasty, my company's salmon and swordfish a little bland, the fries and clam chowder very good, and I'd say the prices are reasonable given the location. The service was friendly, too, so it was an enjoyable night. One word on the parking though (which is not Brophy Bros' responsibility): Don't park on the paid lot, use the 90min parking! Not only is it very likely that 90min will be plenty, we also got treated rudely by the lot attendant who charged us $2 to watch his computer reboot, the 2nd hour of "parking" started while we were waiting on that. The city of SB doesn't seem to care either, so I'd assume that's normal.

i dont understand previous reviews of bad management
Reviewer: cynthia from los angeles
i was at brophys when the night "in question" happened with danny. i was actually seated at the table directly next to them. all i can say is that the whole restaurant started applauding when that table left.

MOOOO!
Reviewer: charlotte klein from Goleta
I usually don't frequent tourist traps, but I was invited to have dinner with friends (from out of town,that really wanted to try Brophy's). I warned them about how this place has been resting on it's laurels for quite some time...but they had made up their minds..fine. I told them to call me when they were seated! (as I know how long it can take!) Not to my surprise, it was a total waste of my time! Food that I can make at home, (chowder was good, not great) and the service...what service? And it was EXPENSIVE! for simple food and S*** service! My friends were very disappointed ( Hey, they were warned! ) and the manager of that place should be sacked for his utter lack of the whole concept of Hospitality Service! The place is a factory....get em in...get em out! MOOOO! We should have gone to Endless Summer! ZING! POW!

DO NOT GO
Reviewer: Fadi Nazzal from San Diego, CA
8/27/2011 - First Timers Our party of six drove up from San Diego, at the recommendation of a friend. it was a HORRIBLE experience! DO NOT EVER GO HERE. We arrived at 7:00 PM to find out that we would have a 1.5 hr wait for dinner. We spent that time walking downstairs enjoying their house white and Cambria Cab. So...this takes us to dinner. Our waitress seemed kind Once the food came, we found it to be very bland and not tasteful at all. I had the steak, the wife scampi, and our other group members had various types of Brophy seafood. Granted, the clam-chowder was tasty, but I think it ended at that. I talked to the manager and told him that my steak was dry. He told us to leave the restaurant. It was the most shocking thing that had ever happened to ANY of us. Danny was by far the rudest and unrefined manager of any eatery establishment that we had ever experienced. Unbelievable! Our party consisted of a naval officer, a lawyer, small business owner,a supply chain consultant, an educator and a stay-at home mommy. We had a horrible experience and buyer beware.

They do push you
Reviewer: Jon from Santa Barbara, CA
I love Brophys, but on more than 1 occasion I have been rushed badly out the door, the last time the server was flat out rude. and Im talking at least a $3-400 Tab. I don't care how popular they are they are in the hospitality business. And Remember I love Brophys !

New Staff?
Reviewer: Savannah from Santa Barbara, CA
I've been going to Brophy's for the past 20 years and have always loved the food and experience. The service has been off and on over the years but when I sit at the bar, I've always been taken care of (thanks Adam!!!). Last week I went and the was food was AMAZING as always!!! Although, had to ask the bartender for a drink, and bread, and to order food. Shouldn't it be the other way around?? And he was chewing gum which was a huge turn off. There were two bartenders on shift (one on the seafood bar), and it was when they first opened so, it's not as if they had a huge amount going on. And if they did, they should have shown up on time for work and gotten their prep work done on time. Side note: best chowder in SB, HANDS DOWN!!!

Loved the hot appetizers
Reviewer: Elena from Santa Barbara, CA
I usually get fish and chips and a cup of chowder but this time my friends and I shared their combo plate of cooked shellfish, etc. Wow, it was generous and delicious and fun to eat. As always the chowder is as close to New England-style as one can get in town. The service was excellent even as she told us she had a long day. We stayed until it closed and she had a great attitude the whole time.

Best on the West
Reviewer: Matt Freier from Los Angeles, CA
Im originally from Ct. and this place reminds me of home. If you have lived on the eastern seaboard, you know what seafood is and this is the only place on the West coast i love. I reside in los angeles but frequently make day trips to sit at the Bar for hours eating my beloved baked clams, clam strips, oysters, chowder and drink some bloody marys/beers looking out over the wharf. Love the bartenders, these guys have been there for years and are amazing. People writing these horrid reviews of this place need to loosen up and enjoy the laid back coastal environment, because these 'Bros'are the best around!! See ya Friday!

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