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Woody's BBQ
5112 Hollister Ave, Santa Barbara
Phone: (805) 967-3775

  • Category: BBQ
  • Hours: Summer:Mon-Thu 11am-10pm, Fri-Sat 11am-11pm, Sun 11am-10pm, Winter: all the same except Mon-Thu close at 9pm
  • Price: $10 - $20
  • Serving: Lunch, & Dinner
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Reviews by the General Public

More California barbecue misses the mark., 7/27/2009
Reviewer: Dustin from Santa Barbara, CA
I'm a Texan, born and raised on great barbecue. That said, I have no problem with what California has to offer. Tri-tip done right is some of the best meat you'll ever eat, and I've had great chicken out here. They had neither at Woody's. Basically, unless you're a restaurant owner that's a transplant from the solidified barbecue states, stick with what you know. The sausage was dry and grainy. You should be able to put a fork in it and pull it out without first having to hold it down with a knife to do so. Everyone eating had the same experience with their chicken meals. Too much time over heat, moisture simply gone. The sauces are good, but they're supposed to be complimentary of the meat, not something you use to make what's on your place worth eating. This was my third shot at Woody's, and I think I've had my fill. My experience has been very much the same each time out. Also, even on a day when it wasn't packed (I've never seen it as such actually) the garbage bins were overflowing to the point where you couldn't put your trash in without pushing what was already in there back with your hands. Also, flies. There were a LOT of flies all over the place. In the end I wasn't sure why I was trying so hard to protect the food I wasn't really enjoying from them, but still...gross. I will say that the counter help was pleasant, but your interaction with them is limited to begin with, so that really isn't saying too much. Either way, more negatives than positives by far.
Not Authentic Barbeque, 7/2/2009
Reviewer: Jessica from Santa Barbara, CA
The atmosphere is horrible - wood shaving all over the floor. I know that having peanut shells or a distress flooring is desirable in a barbeque joint, but this seemed dirty. I am from the southeast and I feel like I know good barbeque. This however was far from good! The food was edible, but the flavors and textures seemed off! My husband and I felt like we wasted $25 for lunch and were hungry when we left because we could barely eat out meal. I will not return here.
Gotta Get Woody's, 5/11/2009
Reviewer: Gabriel from Santa Barbara, CA
Woody's has that dank down home barbeque style. If you want your world changed, try the smokehouse stack with some of their homemade bbq sauce, tres delicious:)
There is no place like this one!!!!!!, 4/24/2009
Reviewer: Mari from Santa Barbara, CA
The place is great for the food that they sell.The food was great, I always get the baby back ribs. The service is great the pit boss was very nice and atentive. I am from Santa Barbara and I dine here once in a while. But this is the place to eat ribs. Thank you so much. I will be back soon.
best? more like the only bbq in town, 4/14/2009
Reviewer: pablo from Santa Barbara, CA
woody's wins best bbq year after year because no one else bothers to sell bbq in santa barbara. This is a fun place to get drunk and eat a bunch of meat. If you're sober however, you will not find yourself coming back often. I LOVE bbq and tend to avoid this place. Nothing in the menu really stands out. Everything just taste like their bbq sauce. Everything on the menu is not worth the cost (especially the ribs). For those of you who have ever tried smoked meat (Tennessee style), please hold on to your favourable notions of what bbq is and avoid this place.
Nothing to Try for a first, 4/1/2009
Reviewer: Dean from Santa Barbara, CA
I heard great things about Woody's and when i tried it for the first time I was very disappointed. I ordered the pulled pork sandwich and an order of ribs, but to tell you the truth I wish I would have just stopped in to Burger King for those burger shots. The pulled pork was very bland(I did not even see any pink smoke ring), and the ribs had way to much cartilage and gristle. The meat that I ordered was not very good, but I thought the beans were good. (I also had to laugh at the person who typed that this was a close second to your father's bbq restaurant, because I can only imagine what the food is like there, sorry if that was mean).

Once a favorite, Sad Condition , 3/19/2009
Reviewer: Jon from Santa Barbara, CA
Spent many an evening at woodys in the past, enjoying the great ribs and Salad Bar. Place has gotten so worn out.The Staff is borderline rude, act as if they could care less about your business.Food was cool on receipt and Fries were super greasy. Tables with trash on them were never cleared when we were there for almost 1 hour.$75.00 for the 5 of us way to much for this quality of food and environment. Hope that someone reads this and takes some action to bring this place back to its former glory as the best place for BBQ in town.
Man, how long can keep this up?, 3/18/2009
Reviewer: Andy from Santa Barbara, CA
Woody's is dirty. Woody's is over-priced. They do not provide any kind of service to speak of, for instance they just shout at you when your food is ready while it gets colder, they shout louder.... All of the employees my wife and I encountered in our recent visit seemed very unhappy to be there, much less to serve us, or pay us any more attention than they had to. I don't know if it's the recent changes in management or cooks, but whatever is happening to Woody's is really sad. We used to eat there and enjoy great times and good food at this place, and now horrible service and dried-out, overpriced food is what to expect at this restaurant.

Woody's used to be my favorite place, 3/10/2009
Reviewer: Les P from Santa Barbara, CA
I have been a customer of Woody's for many years, but my visits here are becomng less and less frequent. The biggest turnoff is the group of guys (and big dog) that hang out at the table just outside the door to the left. They are always drunk and rude. They don't work there, just hang out and get drunk. Second reason for not going any more is the food quality has diminished as the prices have gone up, up so much that it is not a good value anymore. Third, I am getting too old to enjoy eating while kids run around, sliding on the sawdust, and pounding on the video game machines. Woodys - get rid of the drunks and video games. Those belong in a bar, not a nice family restaurant.
Love this place!, 1/23/2009
Reviewer: Stacy Weldom from Santa Barbara, CA
The service here is amazing! I'v benn coming here for years, and I have never had a problem with the food or the service.
Could use that Hell's Kitchen makeover guy., 11/26/2008
Reviewer: Dave from Santa Barbara, CA
The place has a funky atmosphere, but so do some of the great bbq joints in America. This is not on of those, it was just dirty. I can only assume the 5 stars come from friends. They must be the one's who vote it "Best BBQ in SB" because the food was really awful. A simple burger was cooked into shoe leather. The ribs were gristly and not good quality meat. The sauces were sugary and boring. And I had to wait 40 minutes to get this "food" on a Tuesday with few customers in the place. It's like they gave up trying...
Ok food. Its more BBQ fast food.
Reviewer: Glenn from Buellton
This place is more of a family/fast food bbq place with video games etc. I would recommend JR BBQ up the street for better BBQ. This place tries to be a Bubba Gump or something of the BBQ world with really funky insides. I would recommend coming for lunch at least to experience the inside decor. Only thing that drives me crazy is the video game of guys fighting and screaming on them. Please lose that one or you lose my business. It would be interesting for us long time customers to see new decoration inside.
I don't know what you all are complaining about.
Reviewer: Leigh from Santa Barbara, CA
I honestly believe that all the food at Woody's is very good. I've eaten there several times, trying something different every time, and I can't ever think of a time that I was disappointed with my choice. I've been to many BBQ places in my short 21 years and before I tried out Woody's, no place had even come close to my Dad's; After eating at Woody's, I have to say that it's a close second now. I love how they smoke the ribs and most of the meats before they're put onto the grill. YUM! As for the service, for everyone saying "It's a BBQ place, what do you expect?" is not the correct response. I think the service is very good at Woody's. I just think that a lot of the first-timers to Woody's are put off by the "order at the counter and pick up your own food at the counter" way they do it there. One time they accidently gave me fries instead of the baked potato I ordered, they apologized and quickly brought me out a baked potato. I recommend any of the sandwiches which include the onion "un-rings", the tri-tip or the pork spare ribs. And if you like super hot and spicy sauces, try the Devil's Kitchen BBQ sauce.
Meh
Reviewer: Steven from Santa Barbara, CA
The place has a sticky, unclean feeling to it. Which in some instances is fine, but the food isn't amazing enough to excuse it. I paid $16 for ribs and a drink, and it was definitely too much. The sauce was bland and I got the feeling they were day old ribs or something. I was glad I finally tried it, but I won't be coming back anytime soon.
Overpraised
Reviewer: Kevin from Goleta, CA
There's a fun decor and casual, laidback atmosphere. Orders are placed at the front counter and you carry the food to your table yourself when its ready. My friend and I each ordered 2-item combo dinners but we both thought the food was just mediocre. Woody's plays up the fact that they were voted SB's best BBQ for 24 years in a row. After eating there, I could only conclude that SB's options for BBQ have been very limited over the years.
Won't be back
Reviewer: Joe from santa barbara
Nice atmosphere, food was not good at all. I ordered the tri-tip and it didn't even taste like barbeque, more like oven-roasted. What's more the tri-tip portion was very small. Not worth my $.
Best BBQ in SB!!!
Reviewer: Holden from Santa Barbara
The food is great it is the only BBQ real bbq in SB I've been there at least 5 times and it's never the same, and yea everyone says the service is horrible DA!!! it's a BBQ place of course the service is bad who cares it all about the food
Too many other places to go...
Reviewer: Don from Goleta
I go to Woody's periodically for a burger. My daughter got me there this time. Not going back. The last few times have been unimpressive, but this time not good. We were between the lunch and dinner crowds so I'll overlook the unkept tables, of which there were many. My burger was dry and tasted processed, the fish & chips were ok and chicken strips tasted reheated. I might even get past this as a one-time bad experience, but it was dirty feeling of the place that did it. I'm sure there are good experiences still to be had, but it won't be by me.

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