milk & honey

I am honestly mind-blown that this restaurant has a 4.6 rating. This was one of the worst dining experiences I’ve had , especially when it comes to Spanish food. We took a day trip to Santa Barbara to celebrate my mom’s birthday. We originally planned to dine at Loquita, but couldn’t get an earlier reservation since we had to head back home, so we decided to give this restaurant a try. When we arrived, I specifically asked the server before being seated whether they had paella. He showed me the menu and pointed out two types. After we placed our order , including seafood paella, calamari, and several tapas, I asked how long the paella would take, knowing it typically requires time to prepare. The server went to check with the kitchen and came back to inform us that they actually didn’t have paella available. On top of that, several of the tapas we ordered were also unavailable. I was extremely disappointed, but since we were short on time, we decided to stay — which, unfortunately, turned out to be a mistake. The food was unbelievably bad. I’ve had tapas in many restaurants across different states, and I truly didn’t think it was possible to get every single dish so wrong. What disappointed me the most was the service. The server was completely indifferent. They knew we were celebrating a birthday. They knew they had misinformed us. They could clearly see we were unhappy but still chose to stay and yet there was no effort to make up for the inconvenience. Not even a small gesture or acknowledgment. At the very least, you try to make your guests feel valued when things go wrong. Unfortunately, that was not the case here.

We dined on New Year’s Day. There was only one server - the host told us as soon as we arrived - but you would not have known. She was calm and pleasant and on top of everything. We had the most delicious tapas with cocktails. There was a big party of 16 people split over two tables that arrived while we were eating, which made it a little noisy, so we did not linger. I would definitely visit again.

Even though I made it there 15 mins before closing, the staff was kind enough to let me in and didn't act annoyed. I was very thankful as this is one of the very few places with decent food open until 10 on a Tuesday in downtown SB, most places close at 8-9. I already knew what I wanted and they had it ready almost immediately. Lamb sliders were very good, but the black mole confit tacos were just straight up baller. Melt in your mouth flavor. Would definitely go again to try some entrees!

I've never been so disappointed. I waited in anticipation for 2 days for this place. It is not authentic. It's a twist on Spanish tapas. Medicore. The paella was a huge let down. Chicken was dry. Everything was overcooked. The rice was not crispy. I don't think I would come back.

Love the ambiance of the restaurant, I like the fire and wood elements. Staff was attentive and very friendly. It felt upscale but relaxed. We got the bacon wrapped figs, lamb sliders, mole tacos, and the brie n jam bites. The only thing I didn't care for was the brie. Texture and flavors were not for me. Lamb was cooked perfectly with great flavors, tacos were tasty, and I could eat two plates of the bacon wrapped figs. Bit pricey for portions, but what you would expect for quality at a tapas place. Gave 5 for overall experience.