Finney's Crafthouse - Santa Barbara
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I recently had the pleasure of savoring the iconic Reuben sandwich at Finney's Restaurant in the picturesque city of Santa Barbara. This timeless American classic was given a delightful twist that left me thoroughly impressed and satisfied. Nestled in the heart of Santa Barbara, Finney's is known for its exceptional culinary offerings, and the Reuben sandwich was no exception. The moment my plate arrived, I was greeted by a masterpiece of flavors, textures, and aromas. The sandwich was artfully prepared, with layers of perfectly toasted rye bread embracing generous portions of tender pastrami, tangy sauerkraut, melted Swiss cheese, and a smear of their house-made Russian dressing. One bite into the Reuben, and I was transported to a world of comfort and indulgence. The pastrami was succulent and well-seasoned, offering a perfect balance of savory richness. The sauerkraut added a satisfying tang that cut through the richness, while the melted Swiss cheese provided a creamy contrast that tied the components together harmoniously. The Russian dressing, with its zesty and slightly sweet undertones, elevated the sandwich to new heights. What truly impressed me was the attention to detail evident in the Reuben sandwich's construction. The bread was toasted to golden perfection, creating a satisfying crunch with each bite. The ingredients were proportioned flawlessly, ensuring that no flavor overpowered the others. The combination of textures, from the softness of the corned beef to the crunch of the sauerkraut, created a delightful mouthfeel that kept me eagerly anticipating the next bite. The service at Finney's was impeccable, with the staff showing genuine enthusiasm for their offerings. My Reuben sandwich arrived promptly, and the server was knowledgeable and eager to assist in making my dining experience memorable. The Reuben sandwich at Finney's Restaurant is a triumph of flavor and execution. Whether you're a local seeking a comforting classic or a visitor in search of a culinary gem in Santa Barbara, this dish is a must-try. Finney's has undoubtedly mastered the art of elevating traditional favorites, and I wholeheartedly recommend indulging in this delightful rendition of the Reuben sandwich.
Scott PuccinelliScott Puccinelli
00
We waited about 15 minutes to be seated, no big deal. My daughter has a dairy allergy so we asked if the waitress could find out if there bread and French fries had dairy in it. In the mean time we ordered a pretzel for an appetizer and asked the waitress if she could also find out if the pretzel had dairy in it. About 10 minutes later the waitress came back and informed us the bread had dairy and the fries were made in the same frier as other items with dairy, so cross contamination was an issue. Kudos to the waitress for finding out for us! When you kid gets sick when she eats anything with dairy or anything cooked with items with dairy, you have to be careful. My daughter ended up ordering two of their sliders without a bun and fruit. The manager even came out and made sure our dairy questions were answered. That was nice. After about 15 minutes our waitress came over and we asked when the pretzel was going to come out. She said, "since it had dairy in it I didn't put the order in. We told her that she never told us it did and we still wanted it, we only asked so we could know if she could have it. The waitress asked if we wanted to put the order in now and we said no thinking our food would be out shortly. One hour after arriving we had no food and saw people that came in way after us being served. Our waitress was no where to be found so we flagged down another waitress and asked to see the manager. Our waitress then came over and I complained that we had been there an hour and had not been served. The manager then appeared and made an excuse that it took them longer to make the burger to ensure it was dairy free. My daughters two tiny burger patties were burnt and inedible. We order the smoked tri tip sandwich. It didn't taste smoked and it was fatty. Very disappointing. I complained to the manager about my daughters burger and the service. They did take my daughters meal off the ticket and give us 25% off our meal. Maybe they were just having problems that day, but I would expect a lot better. I wouldn't go back considering their menu is a little more expensive than some places. The location is great though.
Scott WolfScott Wolf
00
Food is great! Atmosphere is popping, they were super busy so we had to wait for service. This is a prime location right in the middle of everything! Super busy spot all the way up until 9:00 p.m.! We thought we would miss the crowd by going around 8:30 p.m. for dinner, we ended up sitting at the bar, they will text you that a table is ready after they take your name, however I didn't hear my notification simply because it is so loud in there. I would definitely recommend putting your phone on vibrate š We happen to get seating right at the corner of the bar so we still could talk and hear each other okay although we still had to raise our voices. The bartenders are who served us and were all pretty helpful and friendly, just not readily available because it was busy. The food was great! We started off with sharing a ginormous Bavarian Pretzel (The three different dipping sauces were all pretty great!) and a margarita flight for both of us, they are very good portions so unless you're super thirsty I would suggest splitting one! šš¤£ I loved the guava, really wasn't a fan of the hibiscus at all, personal preference. Check out the photos, the presentation was beautiful! Absolutely loved my A5 Wagyu Burger! Super flavorful, the burger was absolutely scrumptious! Nice and juicy with just a little bit of crispiness on the outside edges! I got truffle fries on the side which were also great and honestly enough for two people unless you're super hungry! My partner got The Finney Burger with a side of regular fries and he really liked his meal as well! The reason for three stars was simply personal preference. It was super loud, seats were hard and not very cushy (typical bar), and we had gone there expecting a restaurant, not what felt like a bar scene. I took photos right before we left of the restaurant, and as you can see after 9:30 it really settles down. However, their kitchen was closed early that night to work on flooring in the kitchen.
Sabrina KeigleySabrina Keigley
00
Speaking as a S.B. local, Finney's has plenty of potential but they are their own worst enemy. I really held out hope for them; but after countless incidents, I have to write this review. Firstly they sometimes just forget you have a reservation or give someone else your table. The waitress staff will decide not to serve you without anyone replacing them. Leaving you for 45min to an hour (yes, I counted on three occasions) to just sit there. When another waiter takes your order, your previous waiter magically reappears. At this point they give you an attitude for getting another waitress to take your order. When you give them no tip they will argue with you in front of the whole restaurant. The management is unable to control their staff and put proper structure in place. The food is okay, but noticed a decline as well. I have had to send my food back a few times. Attached will be a picture of chicken wings that I had (they were raw). Not that eating raw chicken can kill you or anything, right? When we brought that to management we were given the meal on the house. No acknowledgement as to the gravity and the seriousness of it. This falls on poor management that has led to this estaishment turning into a circus. I've had two meals on the house and I'm not looking for anymore. I won't be coming back and will certainly not recommend it to anyone else.
Matthew DillonMatthew Dillon
00
BEST food and cocktails in SB hands down! The service is fantastic, quick to notice an empty glass and the manager Colin is on it working that crew like a well oiled machine and with a friendly smile which is always a good thing in a busy, busy restaurant. This place is packed but it is worth it 100% and right by the beach! Now let's talk food - we started with cocktails all of which were on point and refreshing with the Buffalo Cauliflower and the Carnitas Nachos appitizers. We were a table of 5 and both were both fantastic with the perfect portion size, fresh light taste and great flavors! The nachos were so flavorful and that Buffalo cauliflower has converted me. Fried cauli flower can sometimes be heavy and thick tasting but not these! They are great and fluffy! I went with the Moraccan salad and sweet potatoes fries for my main and I was not disappointed. The salad was perfectly tossed in a delicious dressing and has a fresh flavor to it - a perfect salad to be honest. The sweet potatoes fries are hands down my favorite of the meal and are TO DIE FOR. Ive never had anything like them - perfectly light, crispy and fluffy without tasting heavy or starchy. Everyone at the table raved about those fries and couldn't stop eating them even after all the other food. Hats off to the Finneys chef and crew all the way around. šš»
Shauna GustusonShauna Gustuson
00
Of all the locations we walked through on States Street and a couple blocks surrounding this place, they win the medal for most affordable. I wish I had taken more pictures and the one here is half of the salad wrap. Great service, lots of seating with outdoor, and a great price. We waited over an hour to get in, but it was also dinner time on a Saturday. The food was really good, my only issue with anything here was the fact they do not have sides. Everything was Ala carte. Most of the restaurants do that, so it's not that big of a surprise. So, because of that fact, I will not dock a star (although I should, because even 1 side like fries would be enough). We had the carnitas nachos which were absolutely delicious, even with the minimal amount of meat put in. It feeds like 3-4. They were out of burgers and sandwiches because the hood above the grill was smoking up the kitchen. Get that fixed people. Keep your vents clean and you won't have that issue. Take it from 15 years in the industry. That I could not overlook. All in all, it was a great experience, our server was wonderful, food was great, and hopefully they get the vents cleaned out so we can try some other options there. We'll be back.
Matthew SmithMatthew Smith
00
Nearby Attractions Of Finney's Crafthouse - Santa Barbara
Pier Santa Barbara
MOXI, The Wolf Museum of Exploration + Innovation
The Eagle Inn
Chase Palm Park
Beachside Inn
Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Sea Center
Hotel Milo Santa Barbara
Harbor View Inn
Cleopatra Ink Tattoo & Piercing Santa Barbara Studio
Villa Rosa Inn
Pier Santa Barbara
4.6
(2.6K)
Click for details
MOXI, The Wolf Museum of Exploration + Innovation
4.7
(713)
Click for details
The Eagle Inn
4.9
(564)
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Chase Palm Park
4.6
(504)
Click for details
Nearby Restaurants Of Finney's Crafthouse - Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara Shellfish Company
Santa Barbara FisHouse
Chadās Cafe
Sandbar Cocina y Tequila - Santa Barbara
Moby Dick Restaurant
Santo Mezcal
Loquita Santa Barbara
The Lark Santa Barbara
Bluewater Grill Seafood Restaurant Santa Barbara
Flor De Maiz
Santa Barbara Shellfish Company
4.5
(1.8K)
$$
Click for details
Santa Barbara FisHouse
4.4
(1.4K)
$$
Click for details
Chadās Cafe
4.4
(1.2K)
Click for details
Sandbar Cocina y Tequila - Santa Barbara
4.2
(928)
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Learn more insights from Wanderboat AIBasic Info
Address
35 State St a, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Map
Phone
(805) 845-3100
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Website
finneyscrafthouse.com
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Reviews
Overview
4.5
(898 reviews)
Ratings & Description
Description
Brick-lined gastropub with a copper bar featuring unique eats, local beer on tap & craft cocktails.
attractions: Pier Santa Barbara, MOXI, The Wolf Museum of Exploration + Innovation, The Eagle Inn, Chase Palm Park, Beachside Inn, Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Sea Center, Hotel Milo Santa Barbara, Harbor View Inn, Cleopatra Ink Tattoo & Piercing Santa Barbara Studio, Villa Rosa Inn, restaurants: Santa Barbara Shellfish Company, Santa Barbara FisHouse, Chadās Cafe, Sandbar Cocina y Tequila - Santa Barbara, Moby Dick Restaurant, Santo Mezcal, Loquita Santa Barbara, The Lark Santa Barbara, Bluewater Grill Seafood Restaurant Santa Barbara, Flor De Maiz
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