Lama Dog Tap Room + Bottle Shop — Restaurant in Santa Barbara

As an out-of-towner, I had a really terrible experience here tonight. The location seems really cool because there are multiple food/beverage establishments within 20 meters of each other - like a cafeteria where friends can buy their food of choice and then come together in the common seating areas. And, each of the independent establishments have nice vibes and great drinks. But, the three separate drinking establishments (Lama Dog, Topa Topa, and Fox Wines) apparently have separate liquor licenses and drinks from one establishment can not be taken into another.

My friends were in the outdoor seating at Lama Dog, and I went to buy a wine at Fox Wines. There is a sign saying no Topa Topa beer in Lama Dog, but nothing about the transfer of wine. I assumed it was because they wanted you buying beer in their own establishments - I didn't know it was a liquor license thing. When I tried to take my wine over to my friends' table at Lama Dog, the man guarding the walkway was incredibly rude. When I asked about their lack of signage and asked what was going on, he said "Are you really going to be THAT woman tonight?" And, another bouncer-like man came up behind him. It felt like they were going to kick me out for asking why I couldn't drink my wine with my friends. I said I was from out of town and wasn't familiar with their rules, and they said "Well, that's how we do things here." It was a very unwelcoming establishment, and I think the situation could have been handled much better. And, each of the individual establishments should make this policy more clear, as the Waterline feels like an common meeting space between multiple businesses. A more physical barrier between the establishments could be helpful.

I don't usually post reviews, but this was a really negative experience. Hopefully other people can avoid something similar by knowing these...

Great beer selection, but pricey. Also, 4/5 green stars. Lama Dog had 18 beers on tap when I visited. I tried four of them – 4 oz. pours for $3 each. Note that this translates to $12 per pint, while a 4 oz. pour from Figueroa Mountain Brewing down the street is $2. Would be nice if it was a bit cheaper or if they had a flight deal for $10 or less. Here’s what I had: Island Hop Hefner (Hefeweizen from Carpenteria) – a decent hefe. M.Special Dozers Brown (American brown ale, Goleta) – very rich and tasty, perfect for a small pour. Boochcraft Ginger Lime Rosehips (San Diego) – great choice for a hot day, highly recommended. The Lost Abbey, Lost and Found (Dubbel with raisins, San Marcos) – also recommended.

I also had truffle parmesan fries from the Nook. They were $7 but I had to admit that they were worth it, just not every day. Overall, staff members were very busy but fairly friendly. The alleyway has nice outdoor seating. Definitely worth a visit for their interesting beer selection which changes frequently.

I’m also giving Lama Dog 4/5 “green stars” for social and environmental impact, based on these reasons: • Of the 18 beers on tap, 11 were from California, 3 from other states, and 4 from overseas. • Their walk-in cold room sounds like an energy-hog. Hope they get solar panels! • Of the beers I tried, I think Boochcraft stands out for social and environmental impact. What they make is actually alcoholic kombucha, and it’s made from locally-sourced, organic ingredients. They also donate 1% of proceeds to local charities related to sustainable food. • Overall, glad to have been introduced to a new sustainable brewery, Boochcraft, at Lama Dog.

Find out more about the other green star thing at Green Stars...

I'm from Colorado but visit family in Santa Barbara every winter and I'm an unapologetic beer nerd. So you beer lovers out there- this is the spot you're looking for. This bottle shop/tap room has 20 some odd rotating taps.. and they rotate very frequently. You can check their website ahead of time for what is live on their taps at the moment. The beers are very thoughtfully curated and offer a lot of variety. In addition to some of the better local beers they often obtain highly allocated and extremely hard to find brews and not just from California but across the country from the Pacific NW, Colorado, Vermont, and other states/countries as well. Usually one or two medal winners are on tap and their walk-in beer cooler is loaded with candy. So, if you love beer, this is the place in Santa Barbara to visit and as an added bonus you can bring your dog out on their patio. I'm a low maintenance guy but I've always had great service (Steve and Greg at the bar are awesome- thanks guys!) and lots of folks from all across the country drop in so you feel pretty comfortable the moment you walk in. The food at the Nook is also good and they have a really good wine selection if you have wine drinkers in your party. So five stars from the human and 5 bones...