A review of Woody's BBQ at Santa Barbara.com

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

Just Plain Nasty Food and Rude Service, 7/12/2010
Reviewer: James from Santa Barbara, CA
I ate here recently, and I can't tell you how unpleasant it was. I went here on the recommendation of a friend and ordered the 1/2 rack of beef ribs. The sides were ok but not awful, but what was truly unpalatable was the ribs themselves. The ribs were clearly cooked quite badly. When I got them, they were half-burnt/half undone. Parts were so tough you couldn't even bite into them, and other parts were so uncooked as to be almost raw. When I went to complain, the girl behind the counter said, "that's just the way they come" and refused to return my money (since you pay in advance). I then asked for the manager, and she replied he wasn't there, so I just left. Let me say that I've had good bbq before, and this was unpleasant with extremely rude service. Just avoid it.

Disappointed, 4/19/2010
Reviewer: Rami from Santa Barbara, CA
I was expecting "the best bbq" and tried the lunch special bbq beef sandwich today... so disappointed. I was hungry (and in a hurry) so I took it on the go. I ate about half until I started to actually taste the bbq, very bland without the spicy, smokey, or flavorful taste Woody's claims it has. I would've given the sandwich by itself an average rating if it weren't for the terrible fries they gave me. I wish I saved my money and went to a fast food place instead - at least then I'd get fries that are not brown, wilty and lukewarm.

you call this REAL BBQ??, 3/25/2010
Reviewer: Mike from Santa Barbara, CA
Woody's in my eyes was great during my childhood but as your tastebuds get better with age you realize it's not the same as 15+ years ago. How is this overpriced, poor serviced, taste lacking place still in business? Santa Barbara needs a REAL BBQ joint. The Tri Tip was very dry, the ribs had very little meat, and the chicken was dry and tastless. When asking the employees for something fresher all I got was attitude like I didn't know what flavor was. I will give them credit on their BBQ sauce but like others have said it should compliment the food, not dip everything in it just to give it flavor. I hope Woody's will improve this and soon

Very Disappointed, 3/5/2010
Reviewer: Rick from Los Angeles, CA
I travel a lot and because BBQ is one of my favorites I often search out different BBQ restaurants. I just had a two meat combo at Woody's BBQ which I chose their St.Louis ribs and their sliced tri-tip. I was EXTREMELY disappointed with a few things such as their portions served which were 4 or 5 small ribs, 3 small slices of tri-tip, a baked potatoe and a small cup of beans for a whopping $20. I was also disappointed with the fact that it was obviously old reheated food. The ribs and tri-tip taste as if they had been microwaved... and the bbq sauce I'm assuming has a ketchup base. The service wasn't horrible as long as you're cool with straight faces and very few smiles. The atmosphere was actually nice, so maybe going there for a beer and just hanging out would be nice, but NOT THE FOOD!

Good lunch specials but the place needs cleaning up, 2/13/2010
Reviewer: PJ from Santa Barbara, CA
Come on, lose the sawdust on floor, paint the benches and fix the broken tables. Also, the stack of dirty dishes on the trash cans is not pleasant. Some of the clutter has been cleared out in recent months. It might make the food taste better. The lunch menu is good. I wouldn't make a special trip but decent food. The servers at the counter could be a littel more friendly.

24 years of award winning BBQ? Doesn't set the bar too high., 2/12/2010
Reviewer: Jesse from Santa Barbara, CA
So another trip to the Carpinteria area for work. The entire trip is expense so we try to make the most of our meals. We did a quick internet search and see this place recommended so we decided to try it out. Got there and the place had no hint of smoke in the air, not a good sign. We get inside, see they are trying the typical BBQ theme, sawdust (just a small amount), signs everywhere, old wood. Walked up the counter and ordered St Louis style ribs, tri tip, spare ribs and the 22 oz smoked prime rib, we were planning on trying a bit of everything. The ribs were dry and tough, could barely tell they were smoked, very dissapointed. The tri tip was dry, flavorless, and tough. The prime rib was tender but tasteless, no hint of smoke, not even a smoke ring, it tasted like they didn't even season it, not even with salt or pepper. We saw the sign stating 24 years of awarding winning BBQ, well, our assumptions are that no one knows what real BBQ tastes like in Santa Barbara. This has been the third place over several years that we've tried in this area. Well long story short, we have decided never to do dinner at another BBQ place in the sorrounding area. All I can say is "thank you" Woody's for your lackluster performance and how the heck can you get an award for the food?

More California barbecue misses the mark.
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
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
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!!!!!!
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
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
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
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?
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
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!
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.
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.

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