Clark's Oyster Bar - Montecito — Restaurant in Santa Barbara

We had a great experience dining at their Austin, TX, location, which inspired us to visit their Montecito, CA, branch. During our visits, we consistently received excellent service from Jen (with a long ponytail), Drea, Josh (possibly a manager), and Tylor (possibly a manager). Jen, in particular, stood out for her professionalism and attentiveness.

Unfortunately, our experiences with Jerry (General Manager) and Charlotte (Manager) did not meet the expected standard of customer service. Additionally, in passing encounters with former employees, concerns were shared about their management practices, including their inability to support strong employees, showing favoritism, and potential age and race discrimination. They also noted that, given these circumstances, they were not surprised by the high rate of employee turnover, including managers.

As a former owner of several fine dining restaurants on the East Coast, I value not only exceptional service, food, and ambiance but also the fair treatment of staff and ethical business practices. Many of my employees, including managers, remained with me for over 40 years, starting from the very beginning. I hope this review helps prospective and return customers make informed decisions and encourages management to take these factors into consideration, as this location has room for improvement.

I would have given it five stars if not for the disappointing interactions with Jerry and Charlotte and the concerns raised by former employees. Additionally, the review system asks, "Which dishes do you recommend?" but only allows Clam Chowder as a selectable option. So far, we have enjoyed the dishes we’ve tried for...

Big fan of Clark’s Aspen, which is why it pains me to be so underwhelmed with the new Montecito location. First half a dozen visits were pretty awful… service and food timing was underwhelming for what we’ve come to expect from the Clark’s brand. Over the last couple months service has consistently improved, although timing with the kitchen and bar seems to continue to be a challenge at times. Like most locals, we are rooting for Clark’s to improve over time… knowing the edges are always a little rough when opening a new restaurant. That said, the staff has never offered any make goods when service has been an issue… which has been pretty surprising given the level of service Clark’s aspires to offer. The remodel is fine… although the bar is an acoustic nightmare. Careful what you talk about… you can hear everyone’s private conversations due to a cavernous ceiling with zero soft materials to soften the echo. Appreciate the added patio space… never enough good patios in SB. Cocktails and seated bar service have improved dramatically since opening… was a little worried the first few months that they had hired kids off the street at UCSB. All said, still looking forward to many more visits in the future…. And optimistic that things will continue to improve with time. Separately a 1 out of 5 stars for that bright vibe killing blue lightbulb in the front...

We had dinner at the newly opened Clark’s and wow is this an exciting new place in Montecito. Beautiful interiors, warm and inviting with a really nice outdoor seating patio area where we sat. Our server, Drea was very attentive with a friendly greeting and cocktails were quick to arrive after ordering. I enjoyed an amazing peppercorn Paloma tequila infused cocktail. My friend and I shared a crudo platter with some of the freshest fish tuna and salmon. I had a delicious lobster roll —nice and warm with drawn butter with the french fries really out of this world. Drea recommend the scallops for my friend and they were top notch. We were celebrating some great news and Drea brought us the best Keylime pie we’ve ever had. Drea was personable, kind, and funny. I will request her every time for sure!! What a great start for this exciting new restaurant. The whole menu looks amazing and I will definitely be a regular to try it all!! Welcome to the...