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Enterprise Fish Company
225 State St, Santa Barbara
Phone: (805) 962-3313

  • Category: Seafood
  • Hours: Sun-Thu 11:30am-10pm, Fri-Sat 11:30am-11pm
  • Chef: Chef Bruce Choi
  • Price: $10 - $20
  • Serving: Lunch & Dinner
  • Reservations: Yes, recommended
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Enterprise Fish Company writes: The Enterprise Fish Company, located at 225 State Street in beautiful downtown Santa Barbara, has been serving the Santa Barbara community for the last 30 years. Located in a historic building within walking distance to Stearns Wharf, the Enterprise Fish Company offers a wide variety of mesquite grilled seafood and steak entrees, prepared with the freshest ingredients available. The Enterprise Fish Company also offers a full bar, with a wide selection of both local and imported wines and beer. Our weekly happy hour runs Monday through Friday from 4-8:00 and Sunday 7:00 to close. The restaurant is the perfect location to host a party or gathering of any size, which can be arranged by contacting our event coordinator at: eventssb@enterprisefishco.com. For reservations or information please contact the restaurant at: 805-962-3313.

Lunch and dinner served daily starting at 11:30 am

  • Specials: Lobster Special: Available all Day Monday-Thursday a 2 lb. Live Maine Lobster with your choice of 2 sides for $29.95.
    Free corkage on Wednesday
    Lunch Combos: Monday-Friday 11:30 am -4pm $8.95 (includes a fish taco, half a tuna melt or sandwich, calamari, or popcorn shrimp with a cup of chowder or a caesar salad).
  • Happy Hour: Join us for the Best Happy Hour in Santa Barbara! Monday-Friday 4-8pm, Sunday 7pm-Close. We offer a variety of appetizers as well as 20 oz. draught beers, well cocktails, margaritas, & house wines all under $5.
  • Private Room: We have a semi private room that accomadates private parties of up to 35 people. We can accomadate groups up to 60 people. Please call our events coordinator at 805-965-5085 for more information.
  • Delivery: Delivery of our full menu is available through The Restaurant Connection, (805) 687-9753, www.restaurantconnectionsb.com.

Reviews by the General Public

Our Favorite Place, 8/30/2010
Reviewer: Carol from Gilbert,Arizona
We go to Santa Barbara every year for the Summer,and Enterprise Fish Co. is our favorite place to eat. We always start off with the Artichoke Appetizer,and also love their Manhatten Clam Chowder. We are always greeted with a smile and our waiters and waitresses were always very nice and made us feel special,especially Tiana we had her many times and just adored her,the manager Sean was also very nice and made sure everything was just right.I wish we had an EnterpriseFish Co. in Arizona. I would reccomend this restaurant to anyone who asked.

Don't get this place, 8/14/2010
Reviewer: jinelle from Santa Barbara, CA
Have gone to this place on and off since it started decades ago and it has gotten worse every decade. Very mediocre food, terrible coleslaw should not have even been served, friendly service and a very nice buzzy atmosphere of what appeared to be very happy diners. I don't get it - very average food, high prices and popular. Well congrats Enterprise, you have succeeded where others have failed in this town and the formula for restaurant success in this town shall remain a well-guarded mystery. Style over substance? Sense of place over sense of palate? Whatever, you made it work for you but not for me. However, I'll try you again in 10 years. I know you will still be there. Best wishes.
Great Food & Happy Hour, 8/7/2010
Reviewer: Rochelle Gisbert from Santa Barbara, CA
My boyfriend and I love the Happy Hour at Enterprise so we figured it would be a great place to take our friends when they came to town. They loved the classic Santa Barbara atmosphere and the food was amazing. We had tuna taretare, the best halibut I have ever had and their Lobster Special which was a huge lobster for under $30!!!! Our server was very welcoming and gave great recommendations, I would definitely recommend Enterprise Fish to all of my friends!

This Place is Great, Period. , 7/27/2010
Reviewer: Kevin from Santa Barbara, CA
Last week I went into Enterprise Fish Co. for the first time in over a year. This is obviously a VERY popular restaurant in Santa Barbara, because when I got there the front bar area was full of people. One of the waitresses immediately told me that I could sit down wherever I wanted. The atmosphere seemed very fun and relaxed, and when I got my table the waitress greeted me warmly and offered me a beer. The calamari, popcorn shrimp, and steamed mussels/clams combo were perfect. My favorite thing of all was the tuna tar-tar- it melted in my mouth. My Mom really loved the lobster bisque. Also, we were thanked by numerous other employees upon our exit, which I will say made me feel very welcome. Given the friendly staff, great food, and a fun atmosphere, I will certainly be going back soon.

Yuck!, 7/9/2010
Reviewer: Leslie from Santa Barbara, CA
What has happened to the food at the Enterprise!? We ordered lobster tail dinners through Restaurant Connection. They were out of lobster tails and substituted whole Maine lobsters for the same price. That was very good of them to do so. Unfortunately, both dinners were just awful! The lobsters were very tough (maybe from overcooking?) and tasteless. The baked potato was days old and actually burnt on one side. The potatos Romano, which used to be wonderful, was also awful and may have been cooked several days ago too. The key lime pie was completely forgettable. The Enterprise has been one of our favorite restaurants since it first opened. So it is very disappointing that the last several meals over the past year have been badly cooked.
Not all that special, 7/9/2010
Reviewer: Meg from Wausau WI
I'm the mother of a UCSB student. In May I stopped in during their "happy hour" for a drink and a snack at the bar. Service was lackluster at best. The bar staff seemed much more interested in talking/flirting with their fellow staff and the younger customers. I did manage to get a drink and an appetizer without a huge delay. The beer and the calamari were good, if not memorable. But I didn't feel very welcome there, and I won't return.
WONDERFUL SERVICE AND GREAT FOOD, 6/21/2010
Reviewer: JERRY from Santa Barbara, CA
I DINE AT THE ENTERPRISE ONCE A WEEK PRIMARILY DURING HAPPY HOUR WHICH IS A VERY BUSY TIME.THE BARTENDING STAFF MANAGED BY STEPHANIE IS THE BEST IN SANTA BARBARA.LINDSAY AND THE TWO RAOULS DO A MAGNIFICENT JOB PROVIDING WORLD CLASS SERVICE.THE QUALITY OF THE FOOD AND THE VALUE IS CONSISTENTLY HIGH.BUT IT IS THE FRIENDLY,WARM ATTITUDE OF THE STAFF THAT BRINGS ME BACK AGAIN AND AGAIN.
Very Poor Delivery Quality, 5/2/2010
Reviewer: Jon from Santa Barbara, CA
Enjoyed Fish Enterprise in he past and thier Jambalaya ! I ordered through restaurant connection as I wanted to stay home. Took 1 hour to get to me and I got a Plastic Fold over tray with watery jambalaya with "2" shrimp and no Rice in the base. Cornbread was like a brick, not butter provided. Looks like the desert had been dropped...It costs $7.50 for RC plus CC Charge plus tip and Got cold inedible food..
Fun times at EFC, 4/28/2010
Reviewer: Vincent S. from Santa Barbara, CA
Went on a Thursday night. It wasn't too busy and easy to get a table. We had a very enjoyable dinner for two. We both agreed that the Ahi Tuna Blackened was a terrific choice. All in all we had a great experience. Our server was friendly, helpful, and efficient. I would defintely recommend this place to anyone in Santa Barbara. Will go back soon.
Okay food TERRIBLE SERVICE, 4/28/2010
Reviewer: Lisa from Santa Barbara, CA
We have been here a few times - the kids love it because they get fish & chips in a paper boat & like the decor, but it's quite pricey so not an everyday place. Last night we went to celebrate my Husband's promotion and he ordered the lobster special (great!) and I ordered red snapper. These each come with 2 sides - we both got a tiny cup of clam chowder & a pretty ordinary side salad. When my fish came it was so underdone that it was actually cold inside. I know this is how you serve ahi, but NOT snapper. I sent it back. When our server brought the same piece back, minus the tail part FIFTEEN MINUTES LATER, it was totally rubbery, flavourless & overcooked plus burned on the bottom. I pointed that out to her and said it wasn't really acceptable for $27. She offered at this point to cook me a fresh piece which, imho they should have done in the first place, but by this time the rest of the family was done eating & I just said I didn't want it. Instead of taking it off the bill completely which they should have done - their error - they charged me the full price for the 2 sides (which I would not have ordered independently) - $8 for 1/2 cup of very average soup and a bunch of wilted leaves and stale croutons. I was so annoyed about this - way more than the issue of the fish being cooked poorly which was bad enough -that we will NEVER go back again. We'll just go to Brophy Bros or one of the other great fish restaurants in town. Very dumb move, Enterprise. And I'll be telling all the other families in town I know about your poor service, too.
Great happy hour,horrible food., 4/23/2010
Reviewer: Ben from Santa Barbara, CA
Went here for happy hour, great drinks but food needs work. I know it's a happy hour menu but some kind of pride would be great. The sliders were raw and were half frozen. The claim chowder was from a can and the shrimp cocktail was not fresh. I recommend coming here for dinner and stay away from happy hour food.
Amazing Happy Hour, 4/6/2010
Reviewer: Amy from Santa Barbara, CA
The happy hour here is amazing! You have to work to find a table or a small piece of the bar to belly up to, but once you do it's totally worth it! The food is awesome, espcially for the price, and to get a 20oz beer for $4?! Amazing again. The atmosphere makes it even better with the mix of young professionals just off work, and locals. Definitely give it a try!
Inconsistent Service, 1/4/2010
Reviewer: John from Santa Barbara, CA
My wife and I had dinner on both Christmas Eve and New Year's Day. Definite difference in level of service. We were seated immediately since we had reservations. However, on our second visit, we were seated at a table for two that was closest to the cook/prep area and on the route for the men's room. Every time someone would whoosh by, my wife could feel her hair blow. Also, it was so loud that we couldn't carry on a conversation. We asked for another table. There was a table for four available nearby. We were told that it would require four people. However, two minutes after we were seated, two other people were seated at this table for four! No one greeted us to say they were our server for 20 minutes. It took awhile for drinks to arrive, too. The scallop risotto on our first visit arrived lukewarm and pasty. Definitely a re-heated meal. However, the service was much better on our first visit.
wonderful!, 10/14/2009
Reviewer: Jenny from Santa Barbara, CA
The staff is fun, friendly, knowledgeable and most importantly well timed. I was immediately welcomed by a smiling host, seated promptly and offered beverages and appetizers in a timely fashion. In addition to the staff, the food was delectable. I started off my meal with the SPICY calamari (very tasty) followed by the lobster special (only 30 bucks for a whole lobster)! The only downside to my night was the portions which are very generous, so go hungry! All in all my experience at Enterprise was superb and I would highly recommend it!
Extremely bad experience...Total Occassion ruiner!, 9/14/2009
Reviewer: Jigni from Santa Barbara, CA
I wish I had the option of giving negative stars for the service provided here. Me and my husband went there to celebrate his birthday (because he is very fond of sea food). The bill that we received had an error in it and we were overcharged. So we confronted the server and requested her to recheck the bill total for us. The attitude of the server and the manager was so humiliating that it ruined our entire occassion (that of celebrating my husband`s birthday). The server treated us like we were some cheap individuals. And the manager only supported her further instead of correcting the situation at hand. I have never seen such insensitivity and indifference in a service industry before. Whatever happened to the mantra of Customer is King.... it sure doesn t exist in this place. Hopefully they will read this review and stop being so indifferent about the service provided. Their mantra seems to be "Server is Queen." Please at least show some humanity to your guests who specially come there to celebrate a special occassion in their lives.
Waiting forever
Reviewer: Dr. Douglas S. Shearer from Santa Barbara, CA
I come to Santa Barbara for medical conferences. Another one the week of June 8th, 2009. I went to Enterprise at noon of of 11th,...and sat at the bar, for 45 minutes without even so much as a glass of water being offered!!! Apparently, an employee meeting was going on. If this was going to occupy a large segment of time, this establishment should have had the common courtesy to put a sign on the door stating "closed from noon until one." To make me sit there at the bar for that long is unacceptable! By the way, the midday menu has many of the same items at the supper menu,...but about 40%+ less! The service on a "normal" day...is less than great, but this latest insult to a customer (me) is "the last straw." I will no longer being going to Enterprise Fish Company for ANYTHING.
EXCELLENT FOOD!!!!!!!!!!
Reviewer: Dr. Yvon Araktingi from Santa Barbara, CA
May 25, 2009 We enjoyed the food. Our Fish tasted very fresh and was well prepared. The service was very good and friendly. We highly recommended this restaurant. Next, time we wil try the Santa Monica location. Dr. Yvon Araktingi
Good food, better with adults
Reviewer: Dylan from Goleta, CA
I frequent this restaurant. The food is always good, though the clam chowder varies in runniness. They are also very accomodating on making substitutions. My only problem with this place is the dramatic difference in service there is between visits with my UCSB friends and visits with my parents. They all but ignore my friends and I when we come in, almost acting as though we somehow matter less as customers. Management really should impress on their staff that young adults are customers too and won't be coming back later if they have repeated bad experiences with their younger friends.
excellent food and service
Reviewer: jane from miramar, fl
my husband and myself came here in september it was brilliant very enjoyable
Not Impressed
Reviewer: Donato from Hermosa Beach, CA
I just don't understand the hype about this place. I'm up here on business and I've eaten there twice in the past week. I don't think I'll go back since there are better seafood options nearby (Brophy Bros for one). The clam chowder looked and tasted like it was out of a can and the lobster bisque was as if it had been run through strainer...zero lobster. I had the grilled salmon and ravioli, and while the ravioli were very good, the salmon low grade...I felt like I could have gotten that at Sizzler. The servers and bartenders were great though.

server made the day
Reviewer: dimitri brown from Santa Barbara, CA
my wife and i ate at the restaurant and the food was quite good but the server, who's name was brett, absolutely made our evening. he was top notch.
Small portion of fish and chips
Reviewer: Leana from Santa Barbara, CA
About two weeks ago I went to Enterprise with three friends for drinks and to order food to go for a beach picnic. Luckily we went to the beach nearby because when we saw our portion size of the fish and chips we figured something was wrong with the order since there were 3 strips of about 3 inches long for the entire order. This would be fine if the fish and chips cost around $7, but it cost $17 at Enterprise. We went back and said that we thought there was a mistake with our order because there was no way it was supposed to be so small. Our original waitress helped us and gave us four more strips to split between the three of us who ordered fish and chips. We did not believe this was fair, but we weren't in the mood to continue with it. The waitress was very nice though. I would go again for drinks and I would just steer away from the fish and chips for fear of being ripped off again.
Enterprise has gone downhill
Reviewer: Trisha Smith from Santa Barbara, CA
My friend and I were in there for Happy Hour Appetizers the other night... We sat for about 15 minutes with no one paying any attention to us, even though the bartender kept making eye contact with me. She wasn't busy, she was cleaning bottles and I suppose that was too important and she couldn't get us menus. We ended up flagging down the manager for menus. Another 5 minutes passed and the busser brought us some water and bread. Keep in mind we hadn't seen our cocktail waitress at this point. She finally came by and just asked us what we wanted to eat, no greeting or anything. Our food took forever, probably 30 minutes for some apps, and the restaurant was not busy. She never checked back with us when the food finally came, and our drinks were empty half the time. Having waited tables myself for years, I can safely say this is some of the worst service I've ever had. Enterprise used to be so much better. They could do with a staff turnover.
A Pleasure
Reviewer: Cindy from San Diego, CA
We were happy with the food and service. Of course there is always some place better but we would go back the next time we are in Santa Barbara. Its very close to the Amtrak Station so we just happened to come across the place. When we entered we where sat right away and there was very good mellow, good old rock and roll playing. We had some oyster shooters, chips and salsa a glass of wine and a margarita. We where going from place to place in Santa Barbara to discover and explore on our first visit. The third day we went there to have a tuna sandwich before we departed on the Amtrak back to our long time home in San Diego. Both times we where there they put fresh hot bread with good butter on our table while we waited for our server. We will go back again to the Fish Company when we are in Santa Barbara.

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