Vegan
American
Organic
Raw
Western
Fusion
Plant-based fine dining restaurant in Montecito by Matthew Kinney. Opened Sep 2017. Reported closed April 2024.
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1198 Coast Village Rd, Santa Barbara, California, USA, 93108
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- Outdoor seating
- Reservations required
- Wheelchair accessible
- Accepts credit cards
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Last update on 19 Apr 2024 by devonwithano
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67 Reviews
First Review by LotteDanish
Ned Harding
Points +369
Great Date Night spot - Edit
Great place to site outside - nice ambiance. The Bahn Mi sandwich is about the best sandwich I have ever had.
Read moreGuest
CharlesDugan
Points +83
Lately, Disapointing - And soon gone - Edit
I remember anxiously awaiting the opening of this restaurant during the long approval phase. Some reports said that it was going to be a Mathew Kenney restaurant, but it turned out that he was only advising them. Based on menus from the many Kenney restaurants (which I never had a chance to actually try) in LA, I wish that it had been a Kenney restaurant.
Read moreWhen they first opened, I probably would have given them 4 or 5 stars. Although expensive, they had a reasonably large menu - with some very good options. However, post Lockdown their menu size decreased, and the number of interesting dishes also decreased. Most of their best dishes (generally their pasta dishes) were ones that were easy enough to make at home that it was hard to justify the increasingly high prices (often accompanied by shrinking serving sizes). For example, their butternut squash Rigatoni went up to $36 - yes, that is THIRTY SIX dollars for a SMALL portion of Rigatoni with a "fairly good" (not great) butternut squash sauce! Therefore, I can no longer give them 4 or 5 stars.
Then, earlier this week, I was told that this Saturday (today, 4/20/24) would be their last day as they were closing. I phoned them yesterday to verify this. I was told that they were closing, but would reopen in three months under a "new concept". At first I was hoping that the "new concept" would be an improved menu. However, I asked if it would still be vegan, and was told that they would still have some "vegan options"! So, I will never eat there again as I do not patronize corpse vendors. The only restaurants that I feel are worse than your typical corpse vendors are vegan restaurants that convert to corpse vendors. When that happens they will be 0 stars.
Santa Barbara is converting back to its former vegan restaurant wasteland - after it appeared that we might be on the verge of a vegan restaurant renaissance. First, the rumored vegan pizzeria, "Vegan Werks", failed to open. Then we lost the two most affordable vegan restaurants - Vegan GreenGo, and Modern Times.
Updated from previous review on 2024-04-20
Pros: Was completely vegan, Used to have some interesting options, Great staff and service
Cons: Lately - boring and unisnspired menu, Lately - EXTREMELY expensive - with small portions, Soon - Just another flesh pedler.
Rrrami777
I share your disappointment and frustration. I went there in November 2017 and it was lovely. The “new concept” of turning away from compassion is very troublesome and, like you, I will never dine there again. I’d rather give my money to a vegan restaurant.
Read moreCharlesDugan
I saw a brief mention of the new owners in a local paper. Apparently the new owners are emphasizing "seafood" (a nice euphemism for the tortured body parts of sentient ocean dwelling beings). I was hoping that there would still be a chance to convince the new owners to improve (rather than abandoning) their vegan menu. Unfortunately, this does not seem to be very likely. Santa Barbara needs more, NOT less, vegan restaurants.
Read moreGuest
neekstah
Points +267
Delicious - Edit
One of the best sit-down vegan restos I’ve been to. Slightly “fancy” for my preference but still comfortable and portions are good-sized and delicious. Everything about the pizza crust and toppings is just perfect. Friendly, excellent service. Dog friendly! They even provided a water bowl for my dog.
Read morePros: Atmosphere (and pet-friendly), Service, Food taste and portion sizes
Cons: Not cheap
Guest
Hammonds1
Points +26
Amazing Food! - Edit
Lovely atmosphere with outdoor seating! We shares the Heirloom Salad, Brussels Sprouts and Veggie Squash Rigatoni. The presentation was beautiful and the flavors were all superb! Definitely our new ‘go to’
Read morerestaurant!
Guest
reinersmichele
Points +36
Awesome - Edit
The food is amazing !!!!
Read moreI would STRONGLY recommend this restaurant next time your going through Santa Barbara #Veganuary
Guest
SarahS88
Points +2926
Best vegan meal in SB - Edit
We had a lovely dinner here New Years Eve - the ravioli was a favorite as was the flatbread! Our non-vegan friends came with and they loved!
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2024-01-09
Guest
mangiamelon
Points +31
Plant Based Dining! - Edit
It’s very exciting to be able to experience an all vegan restaurant that isn’t casual. The ambiance is beautiful, sit outside if the weather permits. Get the Roman Style artichoke hearts and the scallop bucatini! Next time I’d skip the spinach and artichoke flatbread, the flavors were a bit odd together.
Read moreGuest
pauldyson
Points +186
Proper plant-based food - Edit
Really excellent food with not a meat substitute to see. Especially loved the oyster mushroom ‘scallop’ spaghetti
Read moreGuest
KeithO
Points +32
Lovely high end vegan restaurant - Edit
Great to be able to order anything on the menu. The overall concept is to share all dishes and best work to 3 per couple. Each one (artichoke flatbread, brussel sprouts and cauliflower) were great. I managed to eat a desert (apple crumble) but not as good as my wife’s! Lovely to sit outside and enjoy our food.
Read morePros: Good selection on menu , Reasonable prices for the location , Excellent service
Guest
stprevic
Points +152
Great… - Edit
…but didn’t blow me away. Was expecting more from Matthew Kenney. Pad Thai was on the bland side and Kung Pao cauliflower was watery.
Read moreGuest
alienvegan
Points +5035
Amazing food - Edit
Amazing high end vegan food. I love the flavoring of this food, it’s seems like Asian fusion. All the desserts we tried were also heavenly.
Read moreGuest
beetsrock
Points +875
Wonderful atmosphere - Edit
Beautiful deck dining under a tree canopy strung with hanging lights and surrounded by jasmine. Our group had the mushroom ravioli, Thai bowl, and Oliver burger. And finished with key lime pie. Delicious.
Read morePros: Excellent service, Beautiful setting , Insta worthy presentation
Guest
gsteiner
Points +384
Terrific - Edit
We had flatbread, Cobb salad, roasted potatoes, and dessert. Everything was outstanding, including ambiance and service. As good as any top vegan restaurant--comparable in quality to, say, Crossroads in Calabasas or L.A.
Read moreGuest
sguzman052
Points +98
Best vegan food around - Edit
Everything we had was so delicious. Kung Apia cauliflower, curry and chocolate tart.
Read moreGuest
spout
Points +56
Great Vegan Restaurant - Edit
$$$ but worth every penny. It’s hard to find a plant based restaurant where every dish has a unique profile and exquisite flavors. Our wait staff was very attentive. Food served quickly. Nice wine and cocktails menu to boot. Even dessert did not disappoint.
Read morePros: All vegan
Cons: Expensive
Guest
SeanBerger
Points +1963
Great for a date night - Edit
A lovely atmosphere and special menu. All the food was delicious but everything did seem just a little under seasoned. The mushrooms on the scallop pesto bucatini tasted ever so slightly undercooked and the oat apple dessert was ever so slightly too sweet. Given I would classify Oliver’s as fine dining, I’d prefer just a little more complexity to the taste of the dishes.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2023-03-26
Pros: Unique menu items, Great atmosphere, Perfect for a date night
Cons: The food felt just a little under seasoned, Pricy but not too bad if you’re not drinking
Guest
JulianS.
Points +28
Nice restaurant - Edit
Oliver’s is a small, nice vegan restaurant. The food is great and the choices are unique and delicious. Despite the price, I very much enjoyed my experience at Oliver’s.
Read morePros: Vegan options, Great food, Unique choices
Cons: Expensive, Crowded
Guest
00misha
Points +459
Delicious and high-end - Edit
They messed up my reservation, but were still able to get me seated thankfully. The wait staff were nice and helpful. The cocktails were all great, nothing super special but still done well. The food was delicious! I absolutely loved the cauliflower dish, the sauce was incredible. And although my pad thai was FAR from traditional/authentic, it was still a joy to eat (granted it was more “healthful” than I was hoping for). Portion sizes are pretty big, so sharing plates is definitely a good idea. All my non-vegan friends really enjoyed their dishes, including the impossible burger, veggie burger, banh mi, and ravioli. The restaurant is pricey, but definitely worth it for a nice dining experience.
Read morePros: High-end food, Variety of options, Attentive staff
Cons: Pricey
Guest
ScottCline
Points +3693
Delicious food, friendly staff but….. - Edit
I found the food delicious, and the staff very friendly, but I am not so sure that the food was worth the price. Several of the items on the menu are fairly common at many other restaurants at a much cheaper price. I enjoyed my meal, the atmosphere was nice, but I just don’t think it was worth the high prices. Sorry! I would rate Oliver’s 3.5 stars.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2023-01-09
Pros: 100% vegan, Friendly staff, Delicious food
Cons: Very expensive
Guest
emshaph
Points +19
Blew me away - Edit
I’ve been here three times and have loved everything I’ve tried. Their Oaxacan Old-Fashioned is the best cocktail I’ve ever tasted. Service tends to be a bit slow, but the food/drink quality more than makes up for it
Read morePros: Delicious
Cons: Expensive, Slow service
Guest
abbyg
Points +374
amazing food, top tier ambiance - Edit
oliver’s was such a wonderful restaurant!! i enjoyed the atmosphere just as much as the food. felt like we were eating dinner in a fairy garden. the food was truly plant based. i loved that they weren’t trying to use all these meat substitutions and trying to imitate the flavor of meat. they created amazing flavor using fruits, vegetables, and grains. i left feeling so good!! satisfied with the food and happy about what i had put into my body. the kung pow cauliflower is TO DIE FOR. number one would recommend!! also try the truffle fries and their flatbreads. the restaurant is a hit with vegans and non vegans alike. would highly recommend! enjoy!!
Read morePros: lots of plant based options, delicious , beautiful ambiance
Guest
jersam1
Points +203
Had high hopes for amazing grub - Edit
Don't get me wrong food was great tasty just far from what I hoped from other higher class vegan food joints.
Read moreThe dragon fruit ceviche was the best item.
Crab cakes were good, Bahn mi was lacking heat, the bite from the vinegar radishes meh at best, would pass on the Kung pow cauliflower.
Drinks were good.
Pros: Tasty
Cons: Lack of protein in bulk of the dishes. , No innovation
Guest
plumshine
Points +163
Overpriced and Underdelivered - Edit
Our dishes were just not good. The chef needs to rethink the menu and how to combine ingredients and the owner needs to reconsider the price range.
Read morePros: Beautiful patio, OK service
Cons: Disliked the food, Disliked the prices
Guest
archaeofiero
Points +1635
Overpriced - Edit
It's easy to rack up a huge bill here so make sure you really want a $100 light meal. I feel like the food was good but the experience was not worthy of its price.
Read moreGuest
C.Relingo
Points +22
Amazing food and atmosphere 😍 - Edit
Reservations are a must if you want to eat here and I suggest calling well in advance if you are traveling. For vegan foodies, this place is a must. You won't be disappointed. The food was phenomenal and the ambiance was amazing.
Read morePros: Plant-based restaurant, High end cuisine, Locally sourced and organic menu items
Cons: Expensive but well worth the price
Guest
FavVeganGal
Points +42
It was very good! - Edit
I definitely liked it a lot! Very fancy!
Read morePros: Everything’s vegan , Very nice indoor/outdoor dining, When I went it wasn’t packed or crowded at all
Cons: It’s really pricy, I feel like it was a little too “fancy” for me, We got a lot of food but I only liked a few
Guest
MicaVegan
Points +24
5 Star Restaurant. - Edit
My new favorite restaurant. We drove up from LA to celebrate my birthday and looked for some place a little more special.
Read moreIt’s always great to find an all vegan spot, where you don’t need to ask questions and can order whatever you want. The food was amazing! Even our picky kids loved it. We devoured everything they brought- from the soup to the appetizers and main course and chocolate cake. The food was elegant and flavorful.
Besides it being very busy with a wedding reception going on, the staff were incredible. They made us feel welcomed and were extremely attentive.
What an amazing experience! I would love to visit Santa Barbara again, just to return to Oliver’s.
Updated from previous review on 2022-05-02
Pros: Elegant vegan food, Beautiful location , Friendly service- went above and beyond
Guest
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