Brophy Bros. - Santa Barbara

Now, onto the review... I initially expected a touristy, upscale restaurant, but to my surprise, it turned out to be a casual beach bar/restaurant upstairs, boasting stunning views of the boats in the harbor, even after dark! The atmosphere was lively, with a mix of young and older patrons, and a lot of University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) students. We started with two martinis with olives, and a Glenlivet 12 – both poured generously. For our appetizers, we ordered calamari, and for the main course, we had grilled sea bass and steak. The entrees came with a choice of salad or New England clam chowder, along with rice or fries. Now for the food review... I can confidently say this was one of the best meals I’ve ever had at a seafood restaurant. Everything was cooked to perfection and absolutely delicious! Our service was excellent, and our second round of drinks, thanks to our attentive waiter/bartender, was impressive in its pours. The prices were quite reasonable too. A special mention for the calamari—it was so fresh that it seemed like it was caught just minutes before being cooked! Perhaps it was just a lucky evening for us, but this place truly is fantastic. I would definitely say that taking a train ride from Seal Beach or Santa Ana station to Santa Barbara is well worth it for this meal!

The food was delicious, but the service was the worst I’ve ever experienced! Our server only checked on us once, and when we ordered cocktails, they never arrived—she completely disappeared, leaving our drinks sitting at the bar. Another server noticed us looking around and came over; she brought us water, to-go boxes, and our check. We will definitely NOT be returning to this location!

The view is undoubtedly the main attraction here. On one side, you can admire the boats, but be mindful of the odor that comes with it. On the other side, especially during busy hours, the place is packed with people enjoying drinks, which means your meal may be accompanied by an unwanted view of behinds. Next time, I might just opt to stand at the bar for a beer, as I'm not entirely convinced that dinner is worth the cost. The restaurant is quite small and feels cramped, although mirrors on the walls give the illusion of more space. The food was decent—the salad and calamari were good. However, I was disappointed with the clams that I had wanted for dinner, as they arrived with bits of bacon mixed in (which wasn’t mentioned on the menu), making them inedible for me. There are plenty of seafood options in Santa Barbara, and nothing about this place really stood out to me. It seems to be a local favorite and a relaxed spot for a drink, as long as you don't mind waiting.

I had a reservation for Brophy Bros after a sunset sailing ride nearby. The restaurant has a beautiful view and open ambiance for dining. The service worked efficiently and was friendly. Unfortunately I was not able to get pictures of out entrees, but the seafood dishes we tried were excellent. I may have to return specifically for more of the clam chowder. My only hope for the menu would be to have more cocktail options! Overall a great experience!

No recommendations on parking as we took a ride share to the location. The restaurant had a great ambiance and a great view right along the Harbor (as long as you get a patio seat). Claim chowder was definitely fantastic and recommended. We also had the calamari, which was good but maybe try a different appetizer if something looks more appealing as they had a vast menu. I had the seafood past which again was fantastic and a pretty good sized portion. The other thing we had was the salmon, which was prepared well not overcooked. In the area definitely stop by for a meal. Try to get there before sunset so you can view the harbor on the patio and avoid some of the crowds. By the way great beer selections also.