The Bistro - Santa Barbara

The food was outstanding, but the service from Rosemary left much to be desired. It might have been due to the busy Christmas buffet at 7 PM, but she primarily came by to collect plates, checked in on us a couple of times, and never inquired about refilling our drinks or our Perrier. We wanted more wine, but she always arrived when only one of us was at the table and would leave quickly. This was particularly disappointing because we really enjoy their wine selection. Overall, the service was by far the worst I've experienced at a restaurant like this. While the food, valet, and driver were excellent, the dining experience itself was disappointing. My boyfriend expressed sympathy for the server, suggesting that her age might have contributed to her performance. I disagree; this restaurant holds high standards, and those should be upheld regardless of age. They should consider retraining her or repositioning her to ensure that guests receive the quality of service they expect.

Fantastic spot for lunch! The service is excellent and prompt. The BLT is amazing—it's so large that it should really be shared. If you add fries to your order, you'll get a generous portion. The Bistro also serves breakfast for the hotel, though we didn’t take advantage of that. Instead, we chose to visit the café just to the left of the main entrance. They offer delicious coffee, breakfast sandwiches, and pastries. It’s similar to a Starbucks, just without the brand name and some drink options. If you're not looking for a big breakfast, this is a quicker and more affordable alternative.

I don't know why, but the Bacara doesn't have the best dining for some reason. I've been to more than one place in here and reached the same conclusion. I grabbed lunch here with a friend and she shared the same experience. The atmosphere and outdoor dining is just great and the service is top notch. Not sure why they're food isn't a reflection of their brand. It's also hard, because if you're not going to eat at the resort, there really isn't much else around that's close.

It's somewhat expensive, but given that it's located at The Ritz-Carlton, that's to be expected.

Beautiful setting, wonderful service, solid menu, creative drinks, creative food. Onestar off for excessive prices.