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Playa Azul Cafe
914 Santa Barbara St, Santa Barbara
Phone: (805) 966-2860
- Category: Mexican
- Hours: Sun-Thu 11:30am-9pm, Fri-Sat 11:30am-10pm, Closed Mondays
- Price: $10 - $20
- Serving: Lunch & Dinner
- Map
- Web Site
- Write a review of this location!
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Reviews by the General Public
What happened?, 5/16/2013
Reviewer: Charlotte
from Goleta
We used to love this place...not so much now. My Marguerita was too sweet and lacked Tequila, chips were cold and the salsa was sweet (tasted like canned). My crab enchilada was smothered with cheddar cheese (I specifically ordered it with no cheese). I'm sorry but cheese and seafood does not work for me. So I took it back ....big eye roll from the rude waiter. I asked if they had any other salsa, spicier, waiter said no...then he gave me some Tabasco! A Louisiana sauce in a Mexican restaurant? I asked if he had Cholula or Tapatio.... Nope. WTH! What happened to this place?
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Great Food, Great Service-CLOSED MONDAY, 5/2/2013
Reviewer: Dina
from Santa Barbara, CA
Went there on Monday afternoon, closed. Hours/Days of operation need to be updated on this website. THANKS
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Favorite Mexican Place in SB
Reviewer: Jenn
from Santa Barbara, CA
This is hands down my favorite Mexican restaurant in Santa Barbara. Everything is authentic Mexican style and their drinks are so yummy! I am a huge fan of their chips and salsa and you can always tell a good Mexican place by how great their salsa is. It has a welcoming home-like feel and the staff is great. They are working on more happy hour specials which is always nice to see since cash flow is low with some people. My favorite plate is the Cheese Enchiladas, the crispy beef taco and the Avocado salad. They have so much flavor. The albondiga soup also packs a lot of flavor and spice. Playa is a really great spot for lunch if you work downtown and it's a nice sunny day to eat out on the patio. A definite 10 in my book!
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Will dine here again.
Reviewer: Sandie
from San Diego, CA
Dinner after dark sitting outside with cool air was comfortable with their patio heaters. My fajitas meal was huge...Enough for two.
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Even Our Irish Grandsons love it!!
Reviewer: Bob
from Santa Barbara, CA
Playa is outstanding. We have gone there for years. Even our Grandsons from Ireland love the food. Service is very prompt, very friendly and we call it the BEST!! The menu is varied and food is fresh. It is a fine restaurant!!
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Good Food - Poor Service
Reviewer: Tom
from Santa Barbara, CA
Times are tough... I bought a $20 Playa Azul certificate from SB Money Savers and looked forward to either their fantastic Crab Tostada or their unique and tasty Halibut Fajitas. Fortunately, before sitting down, I asked if the certificate would be honored. The response was a stern "NO! The owner is not accepting those any more!" (as a note, there is no expiration date on the certificate). SB Money Savors promptly sent a replacement certificate (to an alternate restaurant) when asked, but it still didn't reflect well on Playa Azul. There are many options for delectable Mexican fare in Santa Barbara with friendly service. It really is unfortunate that owner puts the wait staff in such a no-win situation.
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Best Mex in all of Green Bay
Reviewer: Greg
from Santa Barbara, CA
This is a nice patio location, offering good deals on happy hour items. I enjoyed the grilled veggie quesadilla. But it seems to be catering to tourists with children from Wisconsin. The margarita was so sweet it gave me a headache. The only thing sweeter was the salsa. If you ask enough times they will bring you the "spicy" salsa. It isn't spicy, but it is much less sweet. I recommend bringing some habaneros sauce, or at least some Trader Joe's salsa.
G&Y
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Outstanding happy hour experience
Reviewer: steve
from Santa Barbara, CA
Saw their happy hour advertisement in the Independent. $3.25 for a margarita?-But that's no good if it isn't a GOOD margarita.-But my wife and I remember they always used to have nice TASTY(good fruit flavor) strong ones. They still do! Was suprised, -the manager came over and said they like to make them a bit stronger because they taste better,-nicely presented too in a charming curved Mexican hand-blown type blue glass. My wife looked at me and said...the chips and salsa are really good....yep, they were.
Then came a Really Tasty platter of 4 doubled-tortilla(you can make 8 small tacos)Rajas mini tacos=$4. First Rate Tasting...as good as La Superica's. Chicken quesadilla had a wonderful Grilled aroma with a BIG dollop of Guac. and sour cream =$6. We ordered another round of Margs...and yes they were as pure and strong as the first.
We told the waiter "We'll be Back"..which we don't find ourselves saying that much lately.
We liked it inside by the window, a bit away from the music boxes, they are just a little bit too loud, please turn them down a bit.
We later strolled out, looking at each other, saying "Wow, yummy food,I'm full, and 4 great drinks, -it was only $25 including tax?
Crazy. Don't tell anybody.
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Always Perfect!
Reviewer: Richard
from Santa Barbara, CA
Lived in Santa Barbara for 42 years and I know my food, we have a special relationship. Playa Azul is far and away the best Mexican food I've even eaten. Start with the atmosphere, it's great. Very nice people and great service, lots of staff there to help you. As for the food, starting with the chips and salsa, they are completely addicting. If I could hook up a salsa IV drip I would, trust me it's good! Their food is always excellent and I have never left Playa Azul disappointed. Simply the best secret spot in SB.
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WORST LUNCH IVE EVER HAD IN SB IN 20 YRS
Reviewer: Lynn
from Santa Barbara, CA
I havent been there in a while. Last time I remember going I dont know what I had but I enjoyed it. Weekend before last BF and I went for lunch. I had the tostada salad with shredded chicken. At least that was what it was supposed to be. The chicken was awful, with veins and too much dark meat, thrown on top of lettuce that was too lightly tossed with some kind of not so good tasting vinaigrette that had no place on a mexican style salad. The meat and lettuce were laid upon runny, watery beans with a corn tortilla somewhere underneath. Just awful, I really wanted to ask if I had to pay for it because it was pretty much inedible. My BF had the Seafood enchiladas, they looked OK but the fishy smell coming over the table sorta ruined my appetite (which is good I guess given I couldnt eat my salad). He seemed to think it was "OK" "but would have been better off getting enchiladas at a real mexican food place". The albondigas soup (meatball soup) that came with his meal (which he handed over to me after eating the 2 meatballs) was also very mediocre. You can tell they didnt peel the "horse" carrots and left them in huge pieces and the broth was clear and very bland. What a waste of our hard earned money, Ill never go back.
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It was good 20 years ago and it still is
Reviewer: UCSB87
from Pleasant Hill, CA
I remember eating here as a UCSB student and we recently came back after 20 years and the place was as good or better than before. I had the tacos de camarones and they were excellent. Veggie soup was a bit salty but it just made my margarita that much better. Service was bueno as well.
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One of my five favs in SB - B U T beware of Sundays
Reviewer: Kelly
from Santa Barbara, CA
I've been eating at Playa Azul since - gosh - the late 80s early 90s. It used to be in a real small house on the corner of Canon Perdido and Santa Barbara Street. Some places are just a good fit. I've ALWAYS been happy with what I've ordered, I've ALWAYS had great service, the owners are wonderful people - but lately...just don't go on a Sunday afternoon. There is one waiter in particular that we've had two times in a row and he is downright rude, super grouchy, acts like he is doing you a favor by taking your order, and gosh...even when we tipped him well to spite the attitude the first time (thinking it would help us out the next time) he was still the same way. Maybe he's waiting too many tables at once? If I was the owner I'd send in a few friends unaware and see if they had the same experience. If so, a little more training? You definitely don't want one employee driving away customers.
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