Best salmon , 11/11/2013
Reviewer: Michael
from Santa Barbara, CA
I eat out often and have been to almost every fish restaurant in SB. Dutch Gardens gets my vote for the best salmon. The other people in my party all liked their meals.
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Big disappointment, 4/28/2013
Reviewer: Charlotte
from Goleta
The Dutch Garden is one expensive disappointment, from the slow and thoughtless service, dirty tables, sloppy mustard caddy (big Healthcode violation). The menu is really limited and expensive for what you get. I don't want a trough of food on my plate but for a $10 sandwich, potato salad or Rotkohl and pickel should be included, instead they charge an additional $3 for a modest scoop of potato salad. I like the forest like outside seating, if only the surrounding tables had been bussed. I had to remind the waitress twice for my mother's coffee refill, and when I asked for cream and sugar she looked confused and said she would try to dig some up!!!??? WHAT! Ten minutes later she came back with one sugar packet and one creamer....Sigh... How I miss the European Deli.
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Can I Please get my order!, 4/26/2013
Reviewer: Bethany
from Santa Barbara, CA
I arrived with a friend for lunch. After waiting 20 mins I expressed to the waiter that I was working on a timeline and orders a cold sandwich. 30 minutes later I had to flag down the waiter and tell him I had to leave. He asked if I still wanted my Sam. Uh no. I have to leave. He then cancelled the order to the owner (wifey) who yelled out "what she doesn't want her liverwurst?" Evidently it had been sitting there for some time while they catered to a large table. No. I can't afford time to dine when you make me wait 30 minutes for a cold sandwich particularly when it's a non flame dish and I expressed that I only had one hour total. I get understaffed. I get that big parties cause stress but I need a cold sandwich people. I've been a customer for 20 years. Handle it.
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Friday night dinner
Reviewer: Lil
from Santa Barbara, CA
Dined here for dinner this Friday evening. Remarkably underwhelmed with the service. Disappointing because I typically look forward to the Garden! Arrived before sunset and there were exactly five other tables occupied, most of whom had received their meals. Bus boy took our beer order and we received our drinks. After fifteen minutes or so the waitress took our order. After OVER ONE HOUR of sitting in the pitch black my salad was delivered along with a candle. About one minute later (no spacing between courses) our entire dinner arrived. All items were quickly and silently delivered by the bus boy because our waitress was busy standing in the corner of the restaurant. I was disappointed for several reasons: 1) There was absolutely no communication from the waitress or bus boy informing us that perhaps the kitchen was on break for 45 minutes or possibly serving everyone that walked in after us at the bar. 2) My boyfriend's tomato lentil soup ($7) tasted mostly of the aluminum can that perhaps most or all of it was poured from. 3) My favorite Weisswurst sausage (which is pretty good) that is $9.95 for lunch suddenly became $18 during dinner time for the exact same plate minus the sad, hurried dinner salad. 4) After lingering long after we were finished my boyfriend had to ask the kitchen for our check.
I reluctantly write this review because I do want to support the Garden. I would have rather expressed my complaint to our waitress but could not because she DELIBERATELY avoided us. After we asked for our check we watched her walk up to the bus boy 4ft away from us and hand him our check which he quickly dropped off before running away. We are loyal, local customers who were genuinely insulted by our dinner experience. I hope that the Dutch Garden can improve their communication skills before we give them another chance.
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I loved this place!
Reviewer: Sean
from Santa Barbara, CA
So unpretentious that you would almost think they were not trying to get you in the door by the decor. But the service was great. It's not fine dining and you won't be treated that way, but the servers are fast and they care. The food is phenomenal. Authentic and delicious. And the Beer selection is as unique as it gets for around SB. We will be back many times.
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excellent place to enjoy german food and attmosphere
Reviewer: Kelly Kyle
from Redmond, Wa.
This place. Is AWESOME...my cousins live here and brought us here to enjoy the food and fare. Lovely waitresses and fantastic food. Just PERFECT. We came after the lunch rush at 1:30pm...so we had time to sit and relax.
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A must try 10/24/10
Reviewer: Robert
from Santa Barbara, CA
The food is very good - best fish in town, but go early, they buy fresh, smaller amounts and run out - EVERYTHING I've had there has been excellent, try a German beer! "This Bud" it is not... you haven't tried beer, until you've tried one of theirs...
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Still great
Reviewer: sbo
from Santa Barbara, CA
Well I don't remember the date of my last review which is listed below but I'm happy to say that this place has stayed true to form. Smagelijk (tasty) and Zeer goed (very good) are 2 Dutch expressions that fit perfectly. Try the Scnitzel with mushroom sauce it makes an excellent dish into an outstanding one! The Eisbein (pork knuckle) is scrumptous and the potatoe pancakes are delicious. We like sitting in the garden but the inside decor is nice too. The waitstaff is very friendly and efficient. The beers are unusual imports, strong and flavorful.
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Why Dutch?
Reviewer: Bobby
from Santa Barbara, CA
I believe that the reason that it is called Dutch Garden is the same reason we have salisbury steak (which is just hamburger): there was a lot of anti-German sentiment around and after the World Wars (the restaurant being post-WWII era). Naming aside, the schnitzel is fantastic, on it's own or in a sandwich, and they have a fantastic selection of beers.
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Dutch?
Reviewer: Anneke
from Santa Barbara, CA
What is Dutch about it? It should be called Deutsch gardens.
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Locals with taste know a great place
Reviewer: Dan Montello
from Santa Barbara, CA
Ok, it's not elegant or chic, so probably not a place to impress a date or a client. It's got charm, kitsch, and outdoor seating. The food will stun you with its simple quality and freshness. Yes, those non-dairy veggie soups really are that good, and you can't believe they are non-dairy. And I have taken Germans there on more than one occasion, and they have all been very pleased. One crooned about the lightness of the schnitzel. And this could well be the best beer selection in any restaurant in the county.
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Sorry we intruded!
Reviewer: Juanita
from Santa Barbara, CA
I used to go to this restaurant about 4 times a year when I lived nearby. Last night tried it again after taking a break from it. The food was good, especially the snitzel plate. But why does it happen that every time I eat here I feel like I was an intrusion? The chef/owners only acknowledge people who come there weekly or more often. Apparently my patronage is not good enough for them. Last night's waiter, the "beer specialist" was down right rude and ignored us as soon as someone came that ordered beer instead of the wine we had. I really don't know if I want to spend my hard earned money at a place that obviously doesn't care about all of it's customers equally.
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