Validation Ale — Restaurant in Santa Barbara

Loved this place! We were planning on going somewhere else and when we walked by we decided we had to go here instead - the vibe was so great and the menu looked delicious. World Cup (USA) was playing, so it was busy but we never had trouble getting the bartenders attention to order and our orders came out quickly (which was great because we had a moody two year old with us). The menu had great hearty options (burger, fried chicken, lobster roll, tots/fries, etc) - but also had great healthy salad options (& zoodles!) so you could eat healthier if you wanted. I had their new autumn salad and it was delicious & filling. They even had a kids menu, which was appreciated. I loved my lager and my husband was happy they had a couple wines on tap too… The concept was super cool and I wish we lived a bit closer so we could try out all the new beers they release - but we’ll definitely be back and make it one of our go-to’s when we’re in the area. I also can’t believe I’m commenting on a bathroom - but it was very modern and cool. I wish they would’ve had a diaper changing station, but they’re still really new so it’s probably in the works. All in all - they’re an awesome new place in the...

We hosted a wedding celebration at Validation Ale, and it was absolutely perfect for what we wanted! The space had such a welcoming vibe and was ideal for our family to relax, mingle, and celebrate together.

It’s dog-friendly, which was a huge plus for us, and there was plenty of room for the kids to run around and play cornhole while the adults caught up. The atmosphere was laid-back but still felt special enough for the occasion.

The food and drinks were awesome. Everyone found something they loved. And the communication leading up to the event was super smooth. Reserving the space was easy, and the team was helpful and responsive throughout the process.

We’re so glad we chose Validation Ale! it made our celebration feel easy, fun, and full of great memories....

I wanted to have a flight of their kombucha (and other non gluten drinks such as seltzer, cider and kombucha). They won’t pour flights of their kombucha that is on draft. When I asked why not, a single bartender could not tell me why nor could they understand a rational reason. You can get 13 ounces of kombucha or more but not a taster. You can get a sample which is the same size as a flight size. But not a flight. It makes no sense. Stupid rule. And stupid rules get bad reviews. The owner or manager has responded questioning why I would want a flight of 4 of the same kombuchas. That was not accurate. I should have indicated I wanted a flight, with one of them being a kombucha. The rest being a seltzer, a cider, a kombucha, and...