Boathouse at Hendry's Beach image

Boathouse at Hendry's Beach

Restaurant Bar Breakfast restaurant American restaurant Seafood restaurant Cocktail bar Brunch restaurant

One of the Most Revieweds in Santa Barbara


Address

2981 Cliff Dr, Santa Barbara, CA 93109, United States

Website

boathousesb.com

Contact

+1 805-898-2628

Price rating

$$ $$

Rating on Google Maps

4.50 (3.7K reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: great (15) beach (13) service (12) good (12) delicious (10) friendly (9) wait (9) view (9) seating (8) drinks (8)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 5/5 Brian P. 1 year ago on Google
    1 - Dog friendly seating. The dog friendly seating was the best seating in the restaurant. Beach front. 2 - service was excellent. Our waiter was friendly, professional and attentive. 3 - Lobster roll was delicious. Fish sticks was cooked perfectly. Crunchy tasty batter and not oily. French fries were great. Tasty, perfect cook not too soft and not too crisp. Definitely a great visit. We arrived around 2pm and the beach front seating had perfect seating with an umbrella for shade. The day was a balmy calm day.
    8 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Grant N. 1 year ago on Google
    Great breakfast place. Arrive early as there is typically a wait. We waited 30 minutes and took the dog for a walk down the beach as we waited for a table outside the glass. If you eat inside they have a dog hut outside for them! Server was friendly, food came quickly and was very tasty. Love having breakfast as hearing the was breaking and enjoying the scenery.
    5 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Ah M. 1 year ago on Google
    The food here was exceptional ! I personally got the boathouse Seafood and it was so flavorful they weren’t stingy on the seafood, and lots of sauce. I highly recommend the seafood pasta if you’re unsure this is a must. My family got the ciopinno which was a little spicy and you got huge crab claws. A more mild pasta was the linguini. And also the fish and chips was also so good. Amazingly good food, awesome staff, beautiful beach view, and totally worth coming here.
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Keith T. 2 years ago on Google
    This place is my new destination in Santa Barbara. Pet friendly, Great food. Friendly people. The service staff was excellent, attentive and cheerful. Grab a beer to go, sit on one of the many benches provided on the little plaza and people watch. Lots of pretty girls, too!
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Elizabeth B. 6 months ago on Google
    Sometimes places skimp on good food because the location is prime, but that is not the case here. Excellent service, excellent food and drinks, and excellent atmosphere. I wish I was a local so I could come here more often. We got the lobster bisque, clam chowder fries, crab cake breakfast and chilaquilles along with a selection of drinks. They also have good coffee which I'm particular about. This did not break the bank either. Well done!
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Tara T. 1 year ago on Google
    My husband and I chose Boathouse at Hendry's Beach for our anniversary dinner. As you can see from the photos, their food looks amazing! Even better is how delicious everything tasted. We started with crab cakes. I had the crab and lobster risotto with pan-seared scallops. My husband had the seafood pasta. All 3 were outstanding. We were full from dinner, so we chose our dessert to-go. We ordered the brownie ice cream sandwich. Albert was our server and was fantastic, and I taught him and the bartending staff about a B-52 coffee--yum! Boathouse does not take reservations,, however, you can order a drink in a to-go container and walk the beach while you wait. We were there on a Monday night and had about a 20 minute wait, so be sure to plan ahead.
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Ron R. 7 months ago on Google
    I’m curious how each beach scores a restaurant and bar. This is a particular good one. The view is about as good as it gets. Plenty of outdoor seating. The service was slow at first and then got better. We ordered just appetizers, drinks, and dessert. We ate calamari 4.5/5 (really nice with onions and peppers mixed in, also huge portion), coconut shrimp 4.5/5, crab cakes 3/5, and Caesar salad 3/5. Raspberry lemonade 5/5 and bananas foster 4.5/5. Above average beer, wine, and cocktail options.
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 A Google U. 2 years ago on Google
    Absolute must eat at this place if you are in Santa Barbara! The staff is very polite and friendly and they love dogs! They also make you yummy vegetarian pasta even though it is not on the menu! We ate here two days while we were in SB! It is beautiful both during the day and night. The fire pit is amazing outside and makes it very nice and cozy even on a winter evening! The drinks are amazing too! My husband enjoyed the seafood which is what it is famous for!
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Holly R. 2 years ago on Google
    The Boat House is still Santa Barbara's best kept secret! It never disappoints-ocean views are exquisite, super nice staff, love that they are pet friendly & that you can have a cocktail or other beverage while you wait for your table and of course the food is DELISH- we come specifically for the lobster rolls on brioche! Divine!
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Jen E. 1 year ago on Google
    All the food items we ordered was delicious & the service was good! The fried sliced jalapenos with the calamari was awesome, we never had that at any restaurant before, it was soooo good! Will come back when we're in the area.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Kirk M. 8 months ago on Google
    The food and drinks were absolutely amazing. That alone was worthy of 5 stars but the staff, and atmosphere are great too! It's one of the top places I've been on my travels. If you are in the area this is a must go. Also it was only a 10 minute wait for brunch on a Sunday morning.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Aaron C. 1 year ago on Google
    Came here on a Saturday during a holiday weekend and service was surprisingly quick. The drinks were great and the food was fantastic. Tried 3 different plates and all were great. Enjoyed my time here. Parking is tight but the view was worth it.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Kathy C. 1 year ago on Google
    I browsed the internet to find a good place to go to for Happy Hour. Description great place to watch sunset. Good start. Easy parking, high on cliff and immediately felt like I was at the right place. Great Old Fashion, fish and chips at the bar with great conversation with a local. Highly recommend.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 D B. 11 months ago on Google
    Boathouse right on the Beach. Can't get any closer. The restaurant has glass all around for a beautiful view. Indoor and outdoor eating. Outdoor has plexi-glass for a wind break. Lots of Locals hang out here. Beach has no and but rocks and pebbles with cliffs. A good place to bring your dog or paragliding.

  • 5/5 Alexander P. 10 months ago on Google
    Great place to enjoy lunch in Santa Barbara. Fantastic ocean view from a patio. Patio is sheltered with glass, so not windy. Kids can run around on the beach after lunch. Food is delicious and service is quick. Steam clams appetizer is almost the size of the meal!

  • 4/5 Brenda M. 10 months ago on Google
    Food is very good, but options are limited, so the menu is not for everyone. I ordered a pasta dish and asked to swap sauce and one of the seafood elements. And I got an $8 upcharge without warning. I was non-specific about what the replacement item should be...if I knew about the upcharge, I would have asked the options, and I would not have chosen what I was given. I personally prefer outdoor seating, but I was not in charge of that decision. We were seated in the middle of the dining room, and lots of people were walking past my chair. At times, it was annoying. Sitting in the booth style seats along the wall is a very nice option. It was also VERY loud indoors, so I often couldn't hear the person across the table (5 person group), and I was speaking above normal volume myself. The experience can be great, but I recommend waiting for the seating that best suits you. Also, check the menu to make sure you like what is offered. Going for a walk on the beach after is a nice experience, but be aware of tar on SB beaches! (Baby oil and paper towels will do the trick). Eating just before or during sunset can be nice or blinding depending on whether you have sunglasses or are angled away from the sun. There are outdoor heaters and glass protection from wind in the patio area. We have gone there about 6 times in the past 12 years. It is a great location, but control your environment to get the most out of the experience!

  • 5/5 Hyunseok G. 3 months ago on Google New
    Had an amazing experience at the Boathouse at Hendry's Beach. The location is perfect, right next to the beach, offering stunning ocean views. The food and drinks were exceptional, with a great variety and quality. Service was top-notch, with friendly and attentive staff. Plus, no parking fee was a nice bonus.

  • 5/5 Lingling W. 4 months ago on Google
    The lobster roll here is stunning! The toasted sliced bread strikes the perfect balance, achieving a crunchiness that adds to the roll's overall perfection. The fries are well done too. Despite a lengthy wait in the line, opting for takeout proved worthwhile, and we enjoyed the nice weather in Santa Barbara County while waiting—about 20-30 minutes after placing the order. If you have the patience for a bit of a wait, the lobster roll is definitely worth the anticipation.

  • 5/5 Lindsey M. 1 year ago on Google
    Amazing location! Great service and food. We came here two days in a row for brunch/lunch. The omelette, crab cakes, mahi salad…everything was fresh and delicious.

  • 4/5 Monica K. 3 months ago on Google New
    Lovely restaurant right on the beach in Santa Barbara. Amazing food, the crabcakes were delicious and so was the Moule Frites, one of the best I have ever had, made with a tomato base. Still dreaming about that dish now a few weeks later. Main course, grilled fish👌🏼 Would love to come back, great service too.

  • 5/5 Andrew S. 2 years ago on Google
    Came here to celebrate my wife's birthday. Our server, Alejandra, was an absolute gem! She was attentive, gave her advice on her favorite dishes, and treated us like family. The food was so flavorful and quantities were plentiful. We would definitely come back, not only for the food, but the great atmosphere, and the fantstic view.

  • 4/5 Erica Y. 6 months ago on Google
    A really wonderful ocean view, good food and friendly service. They have a few tables for 'ocean side seating', right by the water! They don't take reservations, so just walk in to check with the host regarding wait times. We dined around 11:30am on a cooler Tuesday. There was no wait for the table and we were provided both the lunch and breakfast menu to order from. The dog watching there is great. Because the nearby beach is an off leash dog beach!

  • 5/5 Sam B. 7 months ago on Google
    Fantastic atmosphere on the beach, great views, excellent service, and delicious food. Their crab cakes and calamari are delicious, although a little pricey, is made up for by the great view. You can walk directly out of the restaurant down to the beach and walk in the sand, and you can even take your drinks out there as well! Unfortunately service out there is spotty and they have no Wi-Fi, but not a big deal.

  • 5/5 J D. 1 year ago on Google
    I've come here and enjoyed the view a few times before, but tonight the food was extra delicious. So delicious, I didn't even think to take pics first 🤦 The dining room is closed for renovations right now, but the heated patio is wonderful. An absolute must try if you're in the area. Ask for Alex, she's a wonderful waitress!


Call +1 805-898-2628 Open on Google Maps

Amenities


  • Parking
    • ✓️ Free parking lot
    • ✓️ Plenty of parking
  • Payments
    • ✓️ Debit cards
    • ✓️ Credit cards
    • ✓️ NFC mobile payments
  • Offerings
    • ✓️ Beer
    • ✓️ Wine
    • ✓️ Coffee
    • ✓️ Alcohol
    • ✓️ Spirits
    • ✓️ Cocktails
    • ✓️ Comfort food
    • ✓️ Small plates
    • ✓️ Happy-hour food
    • ✓️ Healthy options
    • ✓️ Happy-hour drinks
    • ✓️ Vegetarian options
  • Popular for
    • ✓️ Lunch
    • ✓️ Dinner
    • ✓️ Breakfast
    • ✓️ Solo dining
  • Accessibility
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible toilet
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible seating
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible car park
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible entrance
  • Dining options
    • ✓️ Lunch
    • ✓️ Brunch
    • ✓️ Dinner
    • ✓️ Dessert
    • ✓️ Seating
    • ✓️ Breakfast
  • Service options
    • ✓️ Dine-in
    • ✓️ Delivery
    • ✓️ Takeaway
    • ✓️ Outdoor seating

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