Bluewater Grill — Restaurant in Santa Barbara

My husband and I are on vacation. We usually try to find 1 nice place to eat to top off our trips. Tonight we chose Bluewater.

I ordered the Filet (med rare) with marble potatoes and sautéed spinach. My husband had the Norway salmon (medium) with marble potatoes and dirty rice.

The prices were a bit higher than we would usually indulge in but we decided to splurge.

Our waitress got our drinks and answered questions we had about the menu. She then asked if we'd like bread while we wait. We acknowledged that we would. As we waited, nothing... no bread, no refills, no service. Another waitress brought our food and it looked spectacular. We had to ask her for refills as our glasses had remained empty. We also inquired about the bread (she checked and said they ran out... that would have been nice to know, rather than being left in the dark.)

We readily dug in to our entrées. His salmon was cooked to perfection and the rice was done well too. Both of our servings of marble potatoes were unevenly cooked, some were still crunchy (undercooked) and some were crispy (overcooked). My spinach was sautéed beautifully. By now you might be wondering about my filet..Filet... well, the cook (doneness) was close to what I ordered. About 1/3 was med rare, and the rest was medium except the opposite edge which was completely med well. I didn't complain as it was all still tender. My biggest problem was there was no seasoning... if there was salt/pepper it was absolutely undistinguishable. Thankfully there was salt and pepper at the table. When our original waitress returned over 1/2 way through our meal to ask how it was. I pointed out that the drinks had been empty for quite some time and that I needed something for my steak. I couldn't bring myself to put A1 on a filet so I asked for horseradish. Well she walked away, someone else brought the refill and I was left waiting. I finished the spinach and potatoes... and my filet was sitting there. Yes, the flavor of the meat was there but it needed something. My husband was finished with his meal and gets I was still waiting. She finally came back around and I mentioned that I hadn't gotten my horseradish yet and that my drink was empty... again. Finally after that, the horseradish came out but it wasn't the same as my steak was room temp.

We finally finished dinner and we're waiting to order dessert. The busser came along and took the plates and my glass. Our waitress came by a few minutes later and we ordered dessert, i also mentioned that the busser took my glass. She asked if I wanted another... (I'm thinking I wouldn't have brought it up if I didn't). She brought me another.

After what seemed like quite a while, our desserts came. He ordered the key lime pie and I got the creme brulee,. Even with the wait, the desserts were the best part of the meal.

Now, we did arrive at (20:10) but when we were through (21:40) there were still other tables besides us. So being later wasn't an issue.

It's also important to note that we observed the wait staff socializing whilst drinks were empty and also with there being a complete breakdown of communication.

I can confidently say that we will not be returning and I'm hopeful that some other patrons will take the time to read this and make an informed decision for themselves.

Typically with excellent food/service, we've added gratuity of 20-25% in the past at other establishments, but we've also gone to the lowest of extremes with the opposite as well. Tonight, we left an 11% gratuity and imho, that was generous.

Considering the menu prices and food quality, I can only end this detailed review by...

Good place for seafood.

Went to the Santa Barbara for the day and mom wanted seafood by the ocean. Found this place Bluewater Grill.

The restaurant was across the street from the beach and pier and had a great location. They have indoor and outdoor seating. The restaurant has 2 floors and the patio seating was upstairs where we sat to enjoy the view of the ocean and enjoy the Santa Barbara weather.

The location has 2 bars…1 upstairs and 1 downstairs. Place is probably great to have social drinks.

But we were there for dinner. We came a little early. So the restaurant wasn’t too busy which was nice.

I had the Wagyu burger and I substituted my fries with a salad. The salad was great. The burger was a good burger. But I won’t lie…it didn’t wow me in any particular way. It was good. Just not great.

My wife had the Pan Seared Sea Scallops. While she said her scallops were delicious she said her side, the grits I guess, weee cold compared to the rest of the dish. Her words not mine. I’m not a seafood person and I don’t really know about those kind of dishes.

My mother and aunt split the Seasonal Special, (staff was nice to split the meal) the Seafood Paella Valenciana. While they enjoyed the protein in the dish (which was a lot) they had complaints of the rice served with the dish. My aunt compared it to Uncle Ben’s rice. Be aware the dish is called “A Taste of Spain “ and her daughter lives in Barcelona so she knows how this dish is supposed to taste. Like I said the protein was great the rice was meh.

My son had the Kid Grilled Cheese menu and thanks to Bluewater Grill my son now loves ranch with his fries. Oh kids grilled cheese came with sandwich, fries, carrots and oranges. Great little kids meal.

My drink was a margarita on the rocks. Solid drink. Nothing special. But they did not have Red Bull so I couldn’t have my Redbull and Vodka.

Sad we didn’t get any bread when we were sat. Wife said the bread that my son’s grill cheese was served on was excellent and wanted to try their bread. This was a minus for the service.

The service was okay. Serviceable at best. Not like they were busy(they weren’t) never offered refills. Never asked if I wanted another well drink. They did ask if everything was good with our meal and the server’s assistant did offer to clear plates throughout our meal. Greeters were nice, Server was nice and Server’s asst was great as well.

I will say the atmosphere of the restaurant is great. Totally recommend for couples and groups of friends. Amazingly they have a decent menu for young ones.

I would like to come back here again without the kids. Even though I’m not a seafood person this place seemed nice. Also I would like to take my dad here and try out their oysters and have my mom try their clam chowder. So maybe next time.

I’ll admit…not a perfect trip but worth another look. Come try them out.

Verdict. Probably will go back if I’m with people who want to...

Bluewater Grill in Santa Barbara is a must-visit for any seafood lover. With its stunning waterfront views and delicious menu, it's no wonder that this restaurant is so popular.

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Bluewater Grill, and I was absolutely blown away by the sea scallops. They were perfectly cooked, seared to perfection on the outside and juicy and tender on the inside. The scallops were served on a bed of creamy risotto with a light lemon sauce, and it was all absolutely delicious.

The scallops were so fresh and flavorful, and the risotto was perfectly cooked and seasoned. The lemon sauce added a touch of brightness and acidity, and it all paired together beautifully.

I also had the opportunity to try a few other dishes from the menu, and they were all excellent. The calamari fritti was light and crispy, the crab cakes were packed with crab flavor, and the lobster roll was piled high with fresh lobster meat.

But the sea scallops were definitely the highlight of my meal. They were simply outstanding.

In addition to the delicious food, Bluewater Grill also has a great wine list and a friendly and attentive staff. The restaurant is also beautifully decorated, with a nautical theme and stunning views of the Santa Barbara harbor.

Overall, I had an outstanding dining experience at Bluewater Grill. The sea scallops were the best I've ever had, and the other dishes I tried were also excellent. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for a delicious seafood meal in a beautiful setting.

Here are a few additional things that made my dining experience at Bluewater Grill so outstanding:

The service was impeccable. Our server was knowledgeable about the menu and wine list, and he made sure that we had everything we needed throughout our meal. The atmosphere was relaxed and inviting. The restaurant was full, but it didn't feel crowded or noisy. The prices were reasonable, especially considering the quality of the food.

I highly recommend Bluewater Grill to anyone looking for a delicious and memorable seafood...