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Opal Restaurant & Bar, Santa Barbara, CA

Opal Restaurant & Bar

4.7
4.7
1839 Reviews
$31 to $50
Californian
1325 State St, Santa Barbara, CA 93101-2609

Make a reservation

2 people
8:00 PM
Booked 17 times today
Experiences are available.

About this restaurant

  • Neighborhood gem
  • Good for special occasions
  • Charming
We have inside and limited outdoor sidewalk dining. If you prefer to sit outside, please indicate that with your reservation request.
To accommodate our second seating, early parties should plan for a maximum stay of 1.5 to 2hrs, depending on party size. Please call 805 966 9676 for more details.
A popular local’s favorite, opal restaurant & bar’s Eclectic California Cuisine fuses creative world cuisine influences with American Regional touches, from a 14 oz. Herb-Grilled Ribeye Steak on Tuscan White Beans, to Fresh Pan-Seared Fish & Seafood, Homemade Pastas, Gourmet Pizzas, fresh Baked Breads, imaginative Salads, & Homemade Desserts.
We have a Wine Spectator award-winning wine list, & a full bar with seasonal Craft Cocktails.
Our entire dining room staff assists to take care of each table, enabling exceptional service in a warm engaging manner, properly nuanced to your mood & taste. Our staff genuinely cares about giving you the best possible experience!

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Fine Dining
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Californian, Fusion / Eclectic, American
  • Hours of operation
    Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 5:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–10:00 pm
  • Phone number
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Executive chef
    Felipe Barajas
  • Private party facilities
    We can accommodate 45+ guests on one side of the restaurant, and 65+ on the other : 110 total. Either side reservable for semi or private dining.To book a large group or banquet (15 or more guests), contact our banquet management team by clicking on the Banquet inquiries tab on our website and filling out the Banquet Contact Form there.
  • Neighborhood
    Santa Barbara
  • Cross street
    Sola Street
  • Parking details
    Street Parking available on Sola Street and State Street. There is also a large public lot on Chapala Street between Victoria and Sola Streets, and a lot on the corner of Chapala and Sola Streets
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Delivery, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Experiences

  • Graduation Weekend

    $82.60 - $96.60 per person

    Jun 14, 2025 - Jun 15, 2025
    UCSB Graduation 2025: Welcome graduates, families, and friends! We know you are here to celebrate, and we are here to help you have a great celebration, as we have been doing for 24 years now. Our kitchen excels in preparing wonderful meals in a timely fashion that keeps us on schedule so that we may take our next reservations at their scheduled time, but so that you have an relaxed and unhurried time dining with us, due to the well-honed skills of our service staff and managers. For parties of 7 or more, the menu we're serving is a 3 course Prix Fixe Grad Menu, w/2 price tiers, $59 or $69pp, not including tax, beverages, or gratuity. Guests need not choose their menu in advance, they may choose either menu at the table. This menu encompasses a wide range of tastes, and there is truly something for everyone. Visit our website opalrestaurantandbar.com for menu and details. We have 3 seatings, each allowing a 2 hour stay.  1st seating: 1230-230pm, 1-3om, or 130-330pm 2nd seating: 4-6pm, 430-630pm, or 5-7pm 3nd seating: 615-815pm, 645-845pm, or 715-915pm For parties of 13+ or if unable to book online, call 805-966-9676 to check availability. Ww look forward to having you join us and to creating a great graduation for the graduates and their family and friends!
    Graduation Weekend Photo

What 1,839 people are saying

Opal Restaurant & Bar reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.7
4.7 based on recent ratings
  • 4.7Food
  • 4.8Service
  • 4.7Ambience
  • 4.5Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • California Central Coast

    Californian

  • Santa Barbara

    Best Overall

  • Santa Barbara

    Best Food

  • Santa Barbara

    Best Service

  • Santa Barbara

    Best Value

  • Santa Barbara

    Healthy

  • Santa Barbara

    Great for fine wines

  • Santa Barbara

    Good for special occasions

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Opal Restaurant & Bar is a beloved Santa Barbara gem, praised for its "fantastic food" and "excellent service." Guests adore the varied menu, featuring standout dishes like the Chilean sea bass and duck confit ravioli. Located near major theaters, it's perfect for pre-show dining. "Highly recommend" for a memorable experience.

1,839 Reviews
  1. Dennis VIP

    Central Coast26 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Excellent food and service. No wonder it’s so popular. Certainly a favorite for locals.

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  2. Brian

    Las Vegas4 reviews

    1.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 4
    Charming ambiance with abysmal food. We were promptly seated in a charming indoor room, which was well decorated. The music was perfectly unnoticeable. We ordered the Mushroom Risotto and the Paella, both arrived in 8 minutes. The risotto was wildly undercooked, nearly crunchy. In no kitchen on earth can you cook risotto in <8 minutes, it takes a minimum of 20 and we were willing to wait. Very disappointing risotto indeed. The Paella was more of undercooked rice in broth, lots of broth. The seafood was lackluster and anything but “fresh”. The fish in the paella had been boiled to erasure rubber, and the “bay scallops” were from a very small bay, very small. Cisco Shrimp. Of the 5 mussels served, 2 had beards and were simply uncleaned, grit included. We had very high hopes for Opal and we were really disappointed. The kitchen needs to SLOW DOWN and start serving proper food. A great room with poor food.

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  3. Michael

    Central Coast2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Fantastic service (per usual) and great food. Looking forward to our next dinner at Opal.

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  4. Brian

    Central Coast3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    First class operation, there is a reason Opal has stood the test of time. Top to bottom great experience. Thank you Richard for doing things right at a time when so many are not. Bravo!

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  5. Beth VIP

    Central Coast4 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Terrific meal, excellent service. Great vibe. Wonderful bar. Highly recommend.

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  6. Rob VIP

    Central Coast4 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 14, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Always good. Our go to place for a nice dinner out for many years.

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  7. Claire VIP

    Central Coast86 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on April 13, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Food was a big surprise! Ahi was fresh and very tasty salad with it. Halibut dinner special was delicious. Very enjoyable. We’ll be back.

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  8. Lori VIP

    Los Angeles8 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 9, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Matt and Loruka (sp) made a wonderful experience even better. The food was delicious, we felt so welcome.

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  9. Guy VIP

    San Francisco8 reviews

    3.0

    Dined on April 7, 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 1
    We came in as the reviews on Open Table were great. 4.8. Maybe because it was Sunday at 8pm or something else, the place was almost empty, and the dishes were underwhelming. I hate to dunk on a place especially given so many people love it according to the review but we didn’t have a great experience.

    1 person found this helpful

  10. Susie

    Denver1 review

    5.0

    Dined on April 6, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    What a delightful dining experience! Service ( Rachel) was outstanding start to finish. The food was absolutely delicious! The scallop / Spinach salad was one of the best salads I have had in a long time! The pasta dishes were flavorful and filling.. Duck pizza was unique and tasty and the salmon was cooked perfectly and was enjoyed! We had two desserts. The strawberry cheesecake was to die for and the lemon tart was light and absolutely delicious! Our first time here and we will definitely be back soon!!

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

Opal Restaurant & Bar offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (805) 966-9676.

Opal Restaurant & Bar is rated 4.7 stars by 1839 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. California Central Coast
  4. Santa Barbara
  5. Santa Barbara

Make a reservation

2 people
8:00 PM
Booked 17 times today
Experiences are available.
Google Map for Opal Restaurant & Bar

1325 State St, Santa Barbara, CA 93101-2609

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Cross street
    Sola Street
  • Neighborhood
    Santa Barbara
  • Hours of operation
    Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 5:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–10:00 pm
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Californian, Fusion / Eclectic, American
  • Dining style
    Fine Dining
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Parking details
    Street Parking available on Sola Street and State Street. There is also a large public lot on Chapala Street between Victoria and Sola Streets, and a lot on the corner of Chapala and Sola Streets
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    Felipe Barajas
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Delivery, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Phone number
  • Private party facilities
    We can accommodate 45+ guests on one side of the restaurant, and 65+ on the other : 110 total. Either side reservable for semi or private dining.To book a large group or banquet (15 or more guests), contact our banquet management team by clicking on the Banquet inquiries tab on our website and filling out the Banquet Contact Form there.
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