Stella Mare's

"A fantastic hidden gem in Santa Barbara, Stella Mare’s offers a great selection of French country style food with a little bit of California flair. You will find a few more traditional dishes on the menu, including escargot and frog legs. For the slightly less adventurous there are plenty of “American friendly” yes solidly French options on the menu. The food and drinks are wonderful and reasonably priced. Located in a historic house built in the 1870s, this out-of-the-way eatery blends dining room charm with excellent service. The property is adjacent to the Andreé Clark Bird Refuge, and a two minute drive to East Beach, the Santa Barbara Zoo, and Coast Village Road. With several seating areas to choose from - including outdoor seating, indoor seating, and atrium seating - it’s likely you’ll find a space that suits you in the moment. This is also a great location for special/private events."

"Superbly prepared classic French bistro dishes served in a quaint 150 year old California residence setting. Service was professional yet not pretentious. A must visit while in Santa Barbara."

"There is no place like it. It’s beautiful inside and out. In a bucolic, beautiful nature setting, with plenty of outdoor seating. (Across the street from a lake which is a wildlife preserve, I believe.) It is a restaurant in a beautiful maison. The chef makes impeccably prepared French country cuisine, and the tables inside are situated in large rooms that are decorated in the French Provençal style, with taste and no tackiness. It’s a beautiful restaurant, and a beautiful experience."

"I have been coming to Stella Mare’s for years and everything is just superb. My favorite dish is the muscles and fries (Mules frites) as they have a cream with perhaps tarragon in it that is just divine. I recently had the vol au vent with scallops and loved it. Cheesecake is not your typical (Made with mascarpone?) and one of the reasons I say yes to dessert even if in am full! Great wines and service. Our favorite brunch spot. Photos just don’t do service. The fancy photo is of the cheesecake ❤️ Just go and thank me later!"

"We were first-time visitors after seeing so many stellar reviews and recommendations. Everything was exceptional. We dined for lunch, which was quite reasonable for being the rare fine dining lunch spot. I'm excited to return for dinner and brunch. It was a great French/Cal Riviera fusion overall!"