On The Alley — Restaurant in Santa Barbara

This wonderful restaurant never misses a beat when it comes to service and quality. Only one time in hundreds of times eating here have I ever received an order that “didn’t taste right” and since I order it all the time I just asked if they could simply remake it and they did without a hassle. I think they serve the best clam chowder in town, and definitely the best fish & chips of all time, so if you’re visiting Santa Barbara for some sea food, this is a must stop. (The fish & chips is way better here than at Lure or Fishhouse!) I always order the Baja fish tacos, but the shrimp tacos look amazing. The food is really wonderfully put together and high quality and not “fishy” it’s casual, affordable, easy to take to-go on a picnic lunch and they even have a rewards program that saves me $ pretty often. I love this place and I’m a huge fan and super thankful to the excellent service! (Aisha has been working here as long as I can remember, shout-out to her!) It gets super busy here so order online in advance if you’re in a hurry. (Great tap beers here too! 🍹) In my opinion this is the best spot in Santa Barbara!...

On the Alley is just that, a counter, grill and soda machine located between a couple buildings right on Santa Barbara's beautiful harbor. Seating is all outside on picnic benches. If you don't like lots of birds around you, like a woman sitting next to me at lunch, then you might not like OTA. It's an alley but it's pleasant and clean. The service was stellar for this type of place. I don't know if the guy at the counter was a manager or what, but he was super friendly, asked us several times if we liked our meal, and generally made eating there a welcome experience. The food, regretfully, was the let down. The fish and chip/Fish sandwich were well prepared, attractively presented and served piping hot. I love that. The problem is that the fish sandwich was a bit bland. I had to perk it up with tartar sauce. That said, we plan to return soon and try something else. This place is popular for a reason and we want to...

Well first off I want to say good luck finding parking. There is paid parking but no one wants to pay when it's free. I was craving fish and Chips and a local recommended I try On The Alley. We arrived and placed my order right away. I spent $20 for fish and Chips and a drink. We luckily got a table, (you will struggle for seating) and as everyone got their food, I didn't. I went up to the front desk and inquired about it. There was a mix up and they refunded my order and still gave me my food. Less than 5 minutes later I received my food and I must say it looked delicious. The batter was crunchy as can be and when you dip it in the tartar sauce, the flavors just melt in your mouth. With great customer service and great food, this restaurant is a must. I haven't had such great fish and Chips in a while and I must say, On The Alley, you have exceeded my expectations and I will find my way to your restaurant in the...