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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
  • Price: $10 - $20
  • Serving: Lunch & Dinner
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Reviews by the General Public

WORST LUNCH IVE EVER HAD IN SB IN 20 YRS, 6/2/2010
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.

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.

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.
Could Be Great
Reviewer: Krista and Tony from Goleta, CA
I've been dining at Playa Azul for over 20 years, and that in itself says something about the place. Any restaurant that can survive in this town for that long has to be doing something right. But that's just it, every time I eat there I realize, with a few improvements this place could be truly great. The one element that is perfect there is the setting. They've got one of the best dining patios in town and even when you're inside you feel like its a very classy place. Of the other three elements, food, service and cost they get passing grades but they're not at the top of the class. Food wise they are fairly strong, they've got a good selection and variety of dishes but many times I wish for more spice and more dynamic flavors rather than the very-good-but-not-great style I usually receive. On the service end they're pretty middle of the road. Orders are taken and brought out just fine and they are certainly ready to replenish your beer or margarita quickly but water refills are slow and requests for extras such as a side of sauce or dressing get forgotten more often than they should. As mentioned previously, the staff look like they've been there for a while and are really professional waiters/servers, the service should be near perfect under those circumstances. Price wise, most dinner entrees will run $15-16. I don't find this outrageous and it seems similar to what you pay at Carlitos but definitely a bit more than places like the Rose or Del Peublo, both of which I would identify as similar style establishments. I guess you do pay a little extra for the nice patios and views. C'mon Playa Azul, take the extra step and become Great. T
A Santa Barbara Must
Reviewer: James from Sacramento
My wife and I visit Playa Azul every time we venture to Santa Barbara for its food quality, service, and environment. We particularly enjoy the outdoor patio while dining. Any items we have tried are great, but we especially like the seafood or shrimp salad along with some sabrosos chips and house-made salsa. It isn't spicy, but is has a taste of homegrown goodness. I can also recommend the margaritas. As for the service, we often see the same staff again and again over the years. There is something to be said for that.
Yummy Mex near the Presidio
Reviewer: Rob from Fullerton, CA
This restaurant is located in Old Town Santa Barbara, so any logical and reasoned individual can naturally assume some basic things. 1- Its going to be EXPENSIVE. 2- The weather is going to be "coastal". 3- Parking is going to SUCK. 4- Your server might (choose from one of the following) a. Have a limited English vocabulary, b. Be a starving UCSB student, or both a and b. OK, so now are we all on the same page and by the way, if you live in Los Angeles County or anywhere in the Valley, your reviews don't count anyway. OK this restaurant was good, not great, but good! The sever was really cool, I could understand about 73% of what he said, but hey, we're in California baby! The food came quick, the drinks were kept full, and the chips were warm and yummy! I had the Verde Pork Burrito and my lovely wife had the Carne Asada Burrito (I was drooling over all the Asada she had!) I WOULD go here again, and I would recommend this place to friends!
excellent, authentic
Reviewer: Cari from Santa Barbara, CA
I highly recommend this restaurant for those who want to avoid the bigger/chain Mexican restaurants that have bad service and mediocre service. The setting is charming and the servers are extremely attentive. All the sauces are authentic, not just spicy tomato-based. The chips and homemade taco shells are such a treat next the the usual pre-made ones you find at most places. It is like Rose Cafe, but I think the sauces, salsa, chips, beans, etc are WAY BETTER! Definitely try this hidden gem.
excellent in all respects
Reviewer: Joe and Jane Trabucco from Santa Barbara, CA
our entire family has been frequenting playa azul since it was in the "little house" we have had large family gatherings as well as just simple lunch "gettogethers" The food has always been something to look forward to and the service prompt as well as friendly. The atmosphere is such wonderful compliment to the "Santa Barbara tradition" THANKS,

blah food in a lovely setting
Reviewer: Nancy from Santa Barbara, CA
I love the patio, the art on the walls, the location... The hostess was friendly, good service, but their food is so bland and boring. Don't order the shrimp enchilada - it consists of those tiny, and I mean tiny, little "salad" shrimp (ie cheap) and some very bland uncooked "sauce" on top which was more like salsa. The shrimp were too small to grill and with the tomatoes on top it was more like something you'd have at an English tea than Mexican or southwest style that I expected. For what I paid I could have had two great shrimp tacos at Wahoos. Very dissappointed.

Great food...service could use some work, but its worth it!
Reviewer: Megan from Santa Barbara, CA
I have been going to Playa for years and it is hands down my favorite Mexican joint!! I can't stand places that slap some beans and rice onto a plate and call it Mexican food! At Playa everything is fresh and delicious. I will agree that the service is not the best in the world, you do have to sometimes look around for your server, but the servers are polite and very helpful. The decor is clean and romantic, even in the day. The salsa is delicious...in fact maybe I will go there for dinner tonight :)
Good food, POOR SERVICE
Reviewer: Julie from Santa Barbara, CA
Been going here for years & always liked the food. The service used to be good. The last 3 times (over 3 mos.) the service has been zero! After food delivered, we were totally ignored, until finally went in search of a server, busser, anyone! No one came to check on us for anything. Never looked in our direction when we tried eye contact, waving, etc. Finally had to get up & look for a server to refill water glasses. Check served WITH after-meal coffee, but server never returned to see if needed refill. This lack of service has now happened 3x in a row. Restaurant was almost empty, so busy & understaffed was not the problem. Altho I like the food & ambiance & close proximity to Ensemble Theater, I will not go back until I hear that service has improved. I wonder if owners ever read the reviews, because I do not see improvement in restaurants where I see criticisms. I guess they just don't care. Too bad. BTW, we purposely left NO TIP for the 1st time...since it's an extra for good service.

Great chimichangas!
Reviewer: Naomi from Santa Barbara, CA
I have to admit, I've only eaten one item from their menu, but I just can't stray away from the chimichanga, it's too good! It also comes w/a simple salad, and their ranch dressing is killer! I can't figure out what makes it so good, I want the recipe!! A coworker and I have been here for lunch a handful of times and have been very satisfied w/their service as well - they are very good w/faces I've noticed - there was a waiter there that just moved back (apparently lived out-of-state for a couple of yrs) and instantly recognized my coworker. I was impressed!
Disappointed
Reviewer: Richard from Santa Barbara, CA
We had heard that this was a must place to eat. The restaurant was not all that busy. The main dish was good. However, the salsa tasted like it was cut with ketchup. When we asked for some real salsa, we finally got the most bland stuff I've ever had. We waited and waited for service. The service was slow and apathetic. Folks from the table behind us had to go hunt down the waiter. I had to do the same to pay the bill!

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