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El Encanto
800 Alvarado Place, Santa Barbara
Phone: (805) 845-5800
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Reviews by the General Public
Nice place for cocktails!, 5/2/2013
Reviewer: Frank
from Santa Barbara, CA
We took some out of town friends here for a drink one evening when it was foggy and chilly. Valet parking only ("complimentary" - but hard not to tip). The bar had a nice fireplace that actually put out some heat. The drink selection was creative, albeit more pricey than others. The complimentary munchies were tasty (olives and mixed nuts), and the service was professional. Next time, we'll stay for dinner, but will raid the bank first, based on others' comments.
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Was expecting better for wedding, 4/30/2013
Reviewer: Mildred
from Santa Barbara, CA
Our family would frequent the El Enconto before the remodel and could not wait to attend a friend's wedding. The drinks were well made and the wine was good. The ceremony looked beautiful, but the sound system did not work. You would have thought that the person in charge would have tested this. Vallet was provided, but we had to drop off our car below and walk up the hill. Our food was cold and dessert came at the end of the wedding so most of the guest had left; lots went to waste. Very dissappointed and feel bad for our friends who spent so much money for this event. Glad all our children are married. :/ The staff did not know where and how to direct us to the reception!
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Not Ready For Prime Time, 4/17/2013
Reviewer: OM
from Santa Barbara, CA
Was very excited with the re-opening as we used to dine at the old El Encanto regularly. Still a great location with view. Very disappointed in food and service.
Service: Sat on veranda for a predinner cocktail and it took over 10 minutes for help to arrive. they hired a lot of servers from San Ysidro Ranch (our regular spot) which is good, except they didn't hire and train their backup bus staff: expect slow service; ask for water refill and it may take 10 minutes, slow to clear table after finishing. Our server who we knew from the Ranch was good but was getting buried by incompetent helpers and slow kitchen.
Food: Needs to change. Food was very fussy and doesn't stand up to quality of Lucky's or The Ranch. Thought the chef had some "french attitude" on his appearance on Budi's cooking show episode. Bread basket was average: not the selection of the Ranch or warm basket at Lucky's. Abalone app was a 6 compared to Lucky's 10. Lobster/gnoci app: plated in a very small bowl and "where's the lobster?" for this price. Forget the lamb main, Lucky's beats it hands down. Halibut was fussy with foam all over the place and undercooked risotto.
BIG DISAPPOINTMENT: The Famous Floating Island. Menu says it's the original, but it's not! Pretentious Chef just couldn't keep his hands off it because he knows best! It's no way close to the original: just two squares of overly sweet pieces of merrangue on top of some anglace. Bad advertising and execution. Baked apple was ok but sitting on top of a dried out biscuit.
I'm sure the service problems will get straightened out over time; but don't see this chef working out unless he steps up his game with great preparation and cuts the pretentiousness.
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What a disappointment!, 4/15/2013
Reviewer: Marilyn
from Santa Barbara, CA
Waited forever for this restaurant to reopen and was so pleased with the atmosphere but disappointed in the staff and service; very slow. Food quality and presentation are mixed. Have been in twice. A mediocre lunch; the hamburger was great, the panini pitiful. Returned another day for dinner; risotto with chicken- awful. Be prepared to pay a small fortune.
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Pretty Neat, but some odd problems too, 4/13/2013
Reviewer: steve
from Santa Barbara, CA
Just had the lounge menu.
To start...wonderful complementary olives and pure nut mix...just first rate French-like!
Amazing...no draft beer..daft is so much purer tasting...considering a chef who prides himself on the best of everything. ....unless there is a good logistical reason not known.-So you are stuck with bottles at a reasonable $7. considering the lovely atmosphere...it is reasonable to pay a bit more for everything here...their investment was high...and the place is a delight to be in. Mixed drinks were well commented on by our group and reasonable 13-16 range for such a nice place.
The $22. hamburger, believe it or not...was worth it...both of us agreed everything about it was great...just baked bun...1 1/2 thick patty of the best tasting meat in a long time...cooked perfect.Nothing much served with it.
Another person had Fries with their entre...tasted one...was amazingly poor and undercooked...which is just so odd...considering how nice some things were.(have you tasted Realais de Paris fries downtown?..now those are Profound...but not an atmosphere like El Encanto)
Other food items were not bad...but a little uninspiring too...and then the price kind of stung a little...paying a lot for ho-hum...so watch what you get. Wish they would keep a current menu online...but they probably won't..don't want the prices to scare away folks?
Place was packed...waiter told us it has been packed every day early and late.
A few gripes...Nice looking uniforms on the guys...pathetic looking grey on the gals...even people around us were commenting on how poor a decision...whoever made it..to have every other thing in the place so nice...and then have these lovely gals servicing in geriatric grey...Well..it is a good laugh I guess...or a study in contrasts. Still, would like to be able to know the persons thought that made such a decision.
Other terrible thing....the only bathroom I saw for the men...was only big enough for 1 person at a time. There were 6 of us waiting IN LINE...for a long time... What POOR POOR planing. did they have some bathroom somewhere else..it was not pointed out when I asked? Wonder if the same person doing the gals outfits also designed the boring backed-up restrooms?(although they did have nice individual cotton cloths for drying hands.)
Go back?..you bet...Wonderful Piano starting at 6 on thurs. fri. sat. Too bad..I could only count 8 tables in the lounge now..vs. I think over twice that in the old lounge...so it is hard to find a place to sit and hear the very good piano player...this is a big design error for Piano-enjoyers..kind of makes the whole affair more of like just a pseudo walk-by of music...unless one just stands uncomfortably around..
Amazing views...wonderful detail...even lovely perfectly balanced expensive silver plate silverware.
Great wine list...easily by far, the best in town. A lot of expensive ones(margaux $3200....Leroy $800...another great burgundy for almost a thousand)and a LOT of near a hundred dollars and much more. But in the mix...they also have placed very nice $30.to $40-ish wines for us mere mortals...
Water glasses were not rubbed after they had been washed...because several of us noticed bad smell from the glass..even though the "house water" itself tasted really good.
Wine glass was lovely in Medium size and HAD obviously been clean-towel dried...it was perfect...and clean smelling...the lovely red wine was also amazingly chilled to a perfect cooler cellar temperature when brought to us(by the glass!!)--this is amazing class...can't recall anyone else in SB who does this..classy.
This place kind of feels like the old Stars Restaurant up in San Francisco...and that is a complement...and it was just as LOUD that night.
they could enlarge the men's bathroom into the "office room" right next to it..or I guess they will just have to give out "Wait numbers" for the bathrooms...sort of like Baskin Robbins.
See for yourself...an amazing place despite faults... for a special birthday, occasion, or anniversary.
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Re think the menu, 4/12/2013
Reviewer: Ann
from Santa Barbara, CA
Food was artistically presented but disappointing to consume. Too bad. They should be able to do better regardless where the chef is from. More vegetables included with the entree would be nice. The "small plate" seafood offerings were the best of the meal.
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Lovely ambience, so-so food and service, 4/6/2013
Reviewer: Jod
from Santa Barbara, CA
The restaurant and hotel look fabulous. However, the staff were slow in coming to take our order, but were friendly enough. We ordered the steak, but were then told that they had sold out of the steak. The appetizer of chicken wings was OK and the gnocchi with lobster had a pleasant sauce, but the gnocchi was slightly over-cooked and poorly presented. All-in-all I would say good for a glass of wine and the great view, but the menu wasn't especially inspired or well-executed.
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Wonderful service, wonderful location... , 4/5/2013
Reviewer: Maria
from Montecito, CA
I am a first time diner at El Encanto. I was instantly charmed by the attentive service and attention to comfort and detail that we were paid. The place itself is breathtaking... Very romantic and ethereal... Our server was very knowledgeable about wine and recommended a superb bottle that I will buy again. The only disappointment was the food. I didn't quite understand the menu but I am hoping this is because the chef came recently from Japan and is just now learning California Coastal Cuisine?!? The afore mentioned blue cheese gelle is clearly died with food colour and not something I would consider eating. I thought the portions to be very small and while everything was good, nothing was great. I will give it a few months to grow and return!
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Back...and better!, 3/23/2013
Reviewer: Michael
from Santa Barbara, CA
I'd say the O-E hit it just right with the remodel.
Reception at all points (valet, hotel lobby, restaurant hostess, servers) was friendly, polite and not rushed even as busy as they were with opening night.
Ambiance was fantastic with folding doors opening out onto a much expanded terrace. This will be "the" place to sunset cocktail.
Food was very good but not quite as imaginative as I'd hoped with a chef of his caliber.
Asparagus puree with blue cheese gelee (different combination but it works...unfortunately served right as gnocchi was arriving)
Poached lobster with chive gnocchi (excellent...could have used a couple more gnocchi, think there were two..but plenty of lobster for a starter)
Braised Kobe beef cheeks (wonderfully rich...appears smaller but more than enough for one person.)
80% ChocolateTart (its chocolate nuff said). 11 desserts BTW.
Service Very attentive and surprisingly polished for just opening.
To top off they have a fantastic Sinatra singer Luca Ellis who I've seen at the Standard. Yes the piano bar is back.
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