Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: great (18) good (16) delicious (12) scallops (12) view (11) time (9) seafood (9) service (9) nice (9) fresh (9)
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  • 5/5 Kamuti K. 2 years ago on Google
    First time at Bluewater Grill in Santa Barbara, not to be confused with the one in NYC that recently closed that was an institution. We were in town for a few nights stay and our concierge recommended it if we were looking for a place with a view of the water and great seafood. I have to say, I wasn’t expecting much in terms of the food and we were thoroughly impressed! Great good and equally great service. Everyone, and I mean everyone, went out of their way to make sure we were taken care of. The quality of the food from appetizer to dessert was amazing and it was very reasonably price. I highly recommend sitting on the top floor balcony so you can be outside and see the water. Whatever you do, make sure you get the scallop appetizer and key lime pie. Both were worth the visit! The salmon was delicious too. We will be back next visit to Santa Barbara.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Jeremy L. 2 years ago on Google
    We love the outdoor dining at a patio in the second floor with a great ocean view. The food is excellent. The cioppino is the best and its soup taste is very authentic. Be sure to come for happy hour. The prices are excellent with big portions, and the waiter Justin is outstanding.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Rodney 2 years ago on Google
    Really tasty food. We ordered the Mussles which came in a delicious broth, a Scallop appetizer and Garlic fries. To make the experience even better we sat on the patio where we could enjoy a nice sunny day looking out towards the beach.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Poly G. 11 months ago on Google
    This seafood spot overlooking the beach and Stern's wharf is fantastic! Everything is made fresh from scratch and our server Ava was professional and polite. I had the Pan Seared Salmon and it was delicious with a nice crispy outside and soft tender inside. Also the Fish & Chips and Fried Calamari were fantastic plus the Clam Chowder had lots of clam pieces! Definitely check this place out if you're in the area.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Kris R. 1 year ago on Google
    Fantastic food, staff, and drinks! Incredible selection of sea food. Lots of other choices as well if seafood isn't your jam. They had burgers, sandwiches, pasta, etc. Decent craft beer selection. Really nice selection of cocktails. All of the staff was courteous, kind, cheerful, and quick! I had the Gemelli pasta and it was delicious. Highly recommend this place to dine in!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Max I. 8 months ago on Google
    Amazing place to taste variety of seafood. We visited on Sunday night close to their closing time and they were able to accommodate us even without a reservation. We were happy with all our drinks and food. I was blown away by Idaho Trout Amandine and this dish wasn’t even very pricey for their menu! Highly recommend
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Fatos Pinar (. 10 months ago on Google
    Ponzu scallops, seared tuna, garlic fries and snapper. All was very simple, fresh, tasty with a good service. I am happy that we have it a try, it is worth both for the view and high quality food. We ordered the scallops the second time they were so delicious 🤤
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Christine B. 10 months ago on Google
    Great location across from the Santa barbara Beach. The half and half chowder was good, a combination of Manhatten chowder and Boston chowder. The seated area scallops with goat cheese grits, sweet corn, and asparagus was nice. They bring fresh sourdough bread with butter and have a nice selection of wine. The surf and turf with scalloped potatoes and asparagus was done well too. Bread pudding with vanilla ice cream is a great way to end the dinner.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Clara Krisch T. 8 months ago on Google
    Absolutely impeccable! We were drawn in by its great location by the water but will definitely return because of the food. Everything was fantastic, but we were particularly fond of the Prawn Linguine. Might have been the best prawns we’ve ever had, despite having lived in Spain for many years. The kids menu was also great. Service and staff was so attentive and lovely. And the bread! The bread was delicious. Thank you Bluewater!

  • 5/5 Ashley F. 1 year ago on Google
    Delicious food and great service! The steak was cooked just as ordered and the scallops were perfectly seared. The view from the upper patio bar and the comfy seats we had for dinner on the patio made our night. We will definitely be back!

  • 5/5 Saood 8 months ago on Google
    Went out on a whim to Bluewater Grill. I just so happened to be walking by it and it looked like a nice place to grab lunch. You can’t go wrong with getting lunch at a beachfront restaurant. Walked in to a really elegantly designed bar, open kitchen concept, and dining room. Decor was nautical and really set the place well. Everything on the menu looked great. Ordered the Salmon sandwich without tomato. While we waited, our server brought out a freshly baked sourdough loaf with butter. Bread, delicious. The bread would’ve been better had it been served with salted butter or a compound garlic butter, spice things up a little. Sandwich came out shortly after and it was fantastic! Fresh perfectly cooked salmon filet, none of that minced up mystery meat. Sandwich came with arugula and tartar sauce. Another slight adjustment to the dish would be to include a spear of pickle. Yes having the slice of heirloom tomato in the sandwich does give it the fresh crunch to bite through the richness of the fatty salmon, but the acidity from the pickle would serve it better, at least I think. Finally, I wish the used a heartier slice/loaf of bread or just toast it a bit more. It’ll help keep the bread from going soggy sitting on the plate. These are just nitpicky things. Don’t let this take you away from how fantastic of a sandwich it is. It comes with a side of fries. Portion size is just perfect. Trust me, order this sandwich for yourself, and you’ll see why I love it so much. I’ll definitely be back again and if the rest of the menu is as good as that sandwich, this might become one of my favorite restaurants in the area.

  • 3/5 Petr S. 5 months ago on Google
    It was my first time in SB and I picked Bluewater grill based on good reviews and location. I was craving for fresh seafood after all day at the beach. Restaurant was half empty but we couldn't sit at the patio since it was reserved only. We had 4 course meals and it was terrible. Ordered grilled shrimp with mushrooms and it was basically 4 burned shimp with oil soaked mushrooms. Second was grilled octopus and it smelled spoiled. Lastly we had seafood paella and the mussels and clams tasted also bad. Best one was the clam chowder. We will not be back. Such a disappointment since there is plenty seafood restaurants around.

  • 5/5 Stian K. 7 months ago on Google
    Great location and fantastic view from the terrace. We were lucky and got placed outside with a view of Stearns Wharf with the palm trees and Carbillo Boulevard as a backdrop. Great service with super friendly staff. We got our drinks and food really quick and there was a very nice atmosphere with the other guests. Would really recommend this place, but be sure to book a table in advance. There were several people waiting in queue for a table without a reservation.

  • 5/5 Oded K. 4 months ago on Google
    This is a great place to have a delicious seafood meal in a nicely designed restaurant with awesome and friendly service. We had 4 dishes and they were all delicious. Surprisingly even the chicken was cooked to perfection and we enjoyed it very much. The place is right on the waterfront and makes for a pleasant experience.

  • 4/5 Tori Z. 4 months ago on Google
    Good location. I liked second floor outdoor, it has pier view. Also the indoor interior very good. Friendly and fast stuff. The waiter went to confirm there is table for us upstairs, for us not to bother going up and down just in case, and while we were waiting for this waiter another waiter came and asked if we need any assistance. Which was very nice. Food was delicious. Paella reminded me of time in Barcelona, very good quality.

  • 4/5 Michael D. 4 months ago on Google
    I am not traveling in the US very often. Had been in Santa Barbara a few decades ago and had the time and opportunity to kind of revisit places. I found the restaurant through a search for a seafood restaurant close to the SB marina. Booked a table. Only after the booking I read all those not-so-positive reviews... I went anyways. And I was really positively surprised! OK, lighting is a bit harsh, music is a bit loud... The service was very attentive and competent. I ordered a Margarita, received it within a few minutes, and it was a good one. The bread and butter were good. Warm crispy bread, good but not outstanding butter. Ordered 6 oysters, asked for the options, got a competent answer. The oysters that I received were fresh and very tasty. You won't get other/better ones at Michelin star restaurants. The leaves in the green side salad that I ordered looked a bit dated, but still alright. Just not crispy fresh. The local swordfish main course was good. The fish was perfectly cooked and juicy, absolutely not overcooked. The accompaniments were a bit too complex and too aromatic for a relatively 'neutral' fish. In Europe, one would probably left out the guacamole or the corn or the olives in the rice. But altogether the was a very good meal!

  • 4/5 Emily W. 10 months ago on Google
    We loved the view as we sat on the the 2nd floor deck. The service was excellent. However, the food was a 'hit or miss'. The artichoke dip lacked in flavor and the chips were old- not crunchy at all. Seafood was fresh,but not seasoned... Everything does look great,but I adding some herbs here and there would really help elevate their dishes. The restaurant does know how to prepare fish, nothing was overcooked or dry; I do hope their chef decides to be more creative in the seasoning department as the presentation portion does not disappoint.

  • 5/5 Charyn F. 1 year ago on Google
    Great location, great service, great atmosphere, really good food, and DOG FRIENDLY! We had the baked crab and artichoke dip (good, not great, will try something different next time) and the sourdough bread with butter (amazing), the Gemelli pasta with shrimp & sea scallops (hot, fresh, and very tasty), the pan seared sea scallops (nice flavor but the sea scallops looked just above bay scallops so not very big) and had a glass of Storm Winery's Sauv Blanc (delicious) to compliment it all. Overall we had a great time and enjoyed our meal immensely!

  • 5/5 Chris A. 1 year ago on Google
    Beautiful restaurant right across from Stearns Wharf with great views of the beach and pier. For the appetizer we ordered the Calamari Fritti and for the entrees we ordered the Black & Blue Ahi Tuna and the Lemon Pepper Mahi Mahi. The food was amazing and cooked to perfection. I absolutely loved the view from the restaurant. The staff were very friendly and I will definitely come here again the next time I'm in Santa Barbara.

  • 4/5 Ivonne S. 1 year ago on Google
    The ceviche was not my favorite. The scallops and the bronzine fish was excellent. The drinks were refreshing. The serve was slow due to how busy it was. I was cold, the air was right across us.

  • 3/5 Adrian A. 1 year ago on Google
    It's an ok place to eat, and it's reasonably priced for what you get. I wouldn't say to avoid it, just have realistic expectations that it is average food. While the Baked crab and artichoke dip and the Grilled Spanish Octopus appetizers were enjoyable, both had little of both crab and octopus and more of the artichoke or fingerling potatoes in each case. The Gemelli pasta was over cooked and too soft (I don't expect al dente, neither I particularly like pasta too hard, but it shouldn't be mushy), and the Fisherman's Platter just had too much oily batter that didn't allow to enjoy the scallops or fish. However, staff was very friendly and professional, food portions where good and the food felt hearty in general, hence I'd still recommend to give it a try but not expecting spectacular food.

  • 5/5 Diana N. 1 year ago on Google
    The food here was amazing. And we had the best server! She was great, even helped us move to a table outside after being inside for a bit. I wish I remembered her name because she was so sweet and checked in on us to make sure everything was great. The food was amazing. I had the Gemelli pasta with shrimp and scallops! And wow it was amazing! My partner had the fish and chips and that was just as great! I can’t wait to come back and eat here again. There is many indoor seating and some outdoor.

  • 5/5 Dagmar D. 1 year ago on Google
    Great experience. Awesome view. Tasty food. Friendly staff. Probably one of the best view locations in Santa Barbara if you can get a seat at the top balcony.

  • 5/5 Ycel D. 2 years ago on Google
    Excellent experience and service! Foods were delicious. I loved the SF Cioppino! One of the best Cioppinos I’ve ever had. I can’t wait to go back! If you’re visiting Santa Barbara, you may want to dine here. Restaurant is clean.

  • 3/5 David W. 1 year ago on Google
    My branzino was good but I felt it was small. My wife had the scallops on risotto. It was a beautiful presentation but the risotto was essentially tasteless atop a bed of oil. Great atmosphere but food was mediocre at best.


Call +1 805-845-5121 Open on Google Maps

Amenities


  • Pets
    • ✓️ Dogs allowed
  • Parking
    • ✓️ Free parking lot
    • ✓️ Free of charge street parking
  • Payments
    • ✓️ Debit cards
    • ✓️ Credit cards
    • ✓️ NFC mobile payments
  • Offerings
    • ✓️ Beer
    • ✓️ Wine
    • ✓️ Coffee
    • ✓️ Alcohol
    • ✓️ Spirits
    • ✓️ Cocktails
    • ✓️ Comfort food
    • ✓️ Small plates
    • ✓️ Organic dishes
    • ✓️ Happy-hour food
    • ✓️ Healthy options
    • ✓️ Happy-hour drinks
    • ✓️ Vegetarian options
    • ✓️ Private dining room
  • Popular for
    • ✓️ Lunch
    • ✓️ Dinner
    • ✓️ Solo dining
  • Accessibility
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible lift
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible toilet
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible seating
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible car park
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible entrance
  • Dining options
    • ✓️ Lunch
    • ✓️ Brunch
    • ✓️ Dinner
    • ✓️ Dessert
    • ✓️ Seating
    • ✓️ Counter service
  • Service options
    • ✓️ Dine-in
    • ✓️ Delivery
    • ✓️ Takeaway
    • ✓️ Kerbside pickup
    • ✓️ Outdoor seating
  • From the business
    • ✓️ Identifies as veteran-owned

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