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Epiphany Restaurant & Bar
21 W. Victoria St, Santa Barbara
Phone: (805) 564-7100

  • Category: American
  • Hours: Mon-Sun: 5:30pm-10:30pm, Fri-Sat bar menu 5pm-Midnight, Bar/Lounge 5pm-2am
  • Chef: Eric Thurman
  • Price: $20+
  • Serving: Dinner
  • Reservations: Yes, recommended
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Reviews by the General Public

A turn for the worse? I hope not..., 8/24/2009
Reviewer: Josh from Santa Barbara, CA
Epiphany has for some time now been a favorite for us before concerts at the bowl and just for a night out. Now, if I was to give an honest review of the last time we went there I would have graded it much lower...I gave three stars in consideration of all the times before that we had a better experience. We ordered several of our old favorites, including the mushroom appetizer and another dish that looked like the little pancakes they used to have. Unfortunately we didn't look closely enough at the menu or something, because despite the fact we thought we knew what we ordered everything came out totally different and was TERRIBLE. The consensus at our table was that the new menu items are pretentious and poorly executed. The service was decent and our waiter didn't argue when we had to send back a drink that was prepared incorrectly. We will try again once more. Another experience like this will be our last at Epiphany.
BEST FISH TACOS EVER, 8/18/2009
Reviewer: JS from Santa Barbara, CA
not sure about the last two postings, since I have never actually had dinner here. BUT i have to say...in the bar, they serve THE BEST fish tacos i have ever eaten...ever. AND Meredith is a rad bartender. If anything go for her and the tacos.
Bad experience and not going back again, 8/17/2009
Reviewer: Tedd from Santa Barbara, CA
My how things have changed. After a fantastic dining experience about 18 mos ago, my wife & I purchased a gift certificate for our best friends. We all live out of this area and decided to come to SB last weekend together, so we made a reservation to finally use that certificate. We all had great expectations but ended up greatly disappointed. We started out fine in the bar before dinner and we were told to "just take our time, a table was ready whenever we were". We waited over 45 mins after asking to be seated, though we noticed 5 empty 4 tops available. We were told they were waiting on a large group to leave the "nice" table they wanted to seat us at, but when we finally sat down, it was at one of the several tables that were empty the whole time! Not that big a deal, but when added to other issues it becomes worth noting. On to dinner; because of the wait, we were hungry and tried to order a shrimp appetizer we'd noticed on the bar menu. The server said we must remember a dish from an old menu, because they had no shrimp dishes. In fact there was no fish at all tonight! WOW. We asked for bread and were told it was being prepared. We waited 15 more minutes for the bread. Clearly they were short staffed, as we noted only 2 servers and the hostess working and sharing all serving and cleaning duties. 2 of us ordered the 3 course chef's selection, hoping for things not found on the menu but we were surprised that, after the server took notes of our personal likes and dislikes, wine selections, etc. the selections for both people were exactly the same and no more creative than simply 3 items from the very limited menu available that night. If we had known this was what was meant by the "chef's selection", we would have saved her the trouble and just ordered! After she presented the bill, we had to remind the server to bring the 3rd course(dessert), which was exteremely small. All of the dishes we had were uninspired and very small portions. When we presented the gift certificate we were first told by the server that they could not honor it as the restaurant had been sold after it was purchased. We asked to speak to her manager. After a few minutes the Bar Manager came out and again stated they could not honor it. We politely told him that we believed they were obligated to honor the certificate and he said he would call someone to see what he could do. After another few minutes they ultimately honored the cert, but we left hungry, confused, disappointed and resolved never to set foot in there again.
Started out nice but went downhill., 6/28/2009
Reviewer: Jonathan N. from Santa Barbara, CA
We started the night with the Mac n Cheese and the Foie Gras, both were great. The MacnCheese was flavorful and cheesey while the Foie Gras was done very well with figs. The flavors were complimentary and very nice. I ordered the Filet for dinner and although it was cooked nicely, the steak was very chewy and quite bland. It was quite a bit of chewing and the flavor pay off was not worth it. The mashed potatos and asparagus were good, nothing special or different. I had bits of the other meals that were ordered. The pork tenderloin was nice, as was the local white fish, even though it was a bit dry. For desert we had the Creme Brulee. Nothing to complain about, it was smooth and had a nice crunch on the top. Overall though I would say I was a bit disappointed after the good start. The server that we had was very nice and attentive, but his lack of knowledge about the food was a bit of a let down. He didn't know if the ice creams for desert were made in house or if they were brought in from somewhere else. He also had to check his notes for the tasting menu, which is not a big deal, but when there are only 5 or so starters and 5 or so entrees it seems like it isn't too much to ask to know what they are without having to check. These are all little things that can be worked on but I would still say the service was good.
they're trying...really!, 6/23/2009
Reviewer: chee from Santa Barbara, CA
I went with my girlfriend today, and the restaurant wasn't filled to the brim as it has been in the past. Our server, Brent, was super duper nice and very enthusiastic about making sure that we felt attended to and valued. He provided his personal recommendations from the menu, and the rest of the staff was very accommodating as well. They let us choose where we wanted to sit and refilled our water frequently (practically after every single sip!). They didn't hover but didn't make us feel like we had to wait for a long time before they would return to our table. With this service, I'd definitely come back again and have an entree...I only had dessert tonight, so I'll write about the food the next time I visit this place. Put aside your preconceived notions and/or previous experiences of Epiphany from the past and try it anew!
New Beginnings..., 6/19/2009
Reviewer: Epiphany from Santa Barbara, CA
For those of you who have had problems in the past... We have made the recent additions of a new Executive Chef as well as a new Maitre D'. With this, a new philosophy of service has emerged that we feel will be unmatched in Santa Barbara - we may just challenge yoiu to come and see it. It is no doubt that if you have any of the issues that some of you have mentioned below, they could not go unnoticed by our current staff. Are you up for the challenge? We look forward to seeing you soon. The Epiphany Staff....
hated the place!, 5/9/2009
Reviewer: xochilt togo from Santa Barbara, CA
i would not recommend this place. expectations were high from what i had heard and seen on their web page, but my boyfriend and i were let down when we had to wait 2 1/2 hours for our food because apparently the waiters forgot we had been in the back area. the portions were also very small and the food was not good. it was very dull and boring. appetizers were good, food wasn't, dessert okay...bill HIGH! never again will i go there!
not really worth it :(, 4/29/2009
Reviewer: Katie from Santa Barbara, CA
My boyfriend and I - both ucsb students - went there to celebrate our one year and we had pretty high expectations for this place since the reviews were all so positive. The restaurant itself is very romantic and elegant, not to mention the convenience of parking. HOWEVER, food is of tiny portions and they go too crazy on the sauce! I had the lamb, which was tough and drenched in this sweet, sticky, syrupy sauce - completely over powered the lamb taste. The boyfriend had the filet mignon and it was really boring. To be fair the appetizer was really tasty but maybe that's why we were so let down when we got our entrees. The bill came out to be about $150 - and we didn't even have any alcoholic drinks :( never again.
heaven on earth
Reviewer: louise and joe lafferty from dornoch scotland
epiphany or elbulli i have been to both and there is not alot of difference ! the food and service is fantastic the bar staff are the best. the wine list is rather poor but the cocktails are to die for ..........try them !! i love this place and hope to see the food go up and up .

An amazing find
Reviewer: Daniel from Los Angeles, CA
A recent trip to Santa Barbara found my friends and I facing a daunting drive back to Los Angeles during the evening rush hour. After deciding to stay for dinner, we managed to find Epiphany after a brief online search. We were blown away. Their six course tasting menu for $65 was a steal and everything was wonderful. Our waitress was engaging and recommended a wonderful Syrah that complimented everything wonderfully and it was the cheapest wine on the menu. It was a relaxed and thoroughly satisfying meal.
The Best Service Ever Experienced
Reviewer: Frank vanEs from Buena Park,CA
I proposed to my wife at this restaurant and the people there did an amazing job of taking care of every detail. I cannot say enough about the hospitality and what an incredibly memorable evening we had there. I would highly recommend going here if you are looking for a memorable evening.
Unexpectedly Disappointed
Reviewer: Roy from Santa Barbara, CA
Upon a great recommendation, we came for dinner on Oct. 1 for my girlfriend’s birthday. Atmosphere was romantic and we sat in a cozy corner booth in the back area. Food: Ahi was good but tortilla chips were oily; ceviche was very good. Ordered the duck and fillet upon waitress’s recommendation which, to our disappointment, were both unavailable that Wednesday at 7pm. Ribeye and quail were a tasty second choice. Service: Waitress was decent but unapologetic for the unavailable entrees. She never brought an ice bucket to chill the bottle of chardonnay and did not bring clean silverware after the appetizers. Overall, the food was average relative to price but because of the poor service and absence of two entrees from an already smaller menu our visit was a disappointment. Had the server been more attentive, professional and apologetic our visit would have been enjoyable and recommendable.

the scots loved it
Reviewer: louise lafferty from scotland u.k
my husband and i went to epiphany a year last june and loved the food the people and the late night's in the bar with great cocktails . we loved it that much that we are coming back to santa barbara for a month in november this year so we can do it all over again ! can not be that bad if we are coming from SCOTLAND !! can't wait xx
A Romantic Celebration
Reviewer: Rob D. from Santa Barbara, CA
My wife and I celebrated our 7th anniversary @ Epiphany last night, our first visit there. The place was very slow (Monday night) which made for a quiet, romantic evening. We opted to do the Limo Ride w/ wine pairings, and what a ride it was. For a special occation where you are open to splurging a little, this is the way to go. The food, 6 courses, was spectacular, and the service was very good. The wines served were paired perfectly and greatly enhanced the experience. My only complaint might be that our server could have had a better knowledge of the wines that were served. Other than that she took very good care of us without being overbearing. This was by far the most I have ever spent on dinner for 2 ($250 w/ tip), but it was worth every penny. We are sure to dine there again.
summertime dinner
Reviewer: chee from sb
today my friends and I went to epiphany for dinner and the ambiance was warm and inviting. we ordered the raw flight, duck two ways, lamb loin, and roasted chicken. the ceviche and the oyster were mediocre, however, the ahi tartare and carpaccio were pretty good. the bread that they provided was pretty tasty (though slightly salty) and went down well with the balsamic vinegar :) otherwise, the duck confit was good (breast was okay, but overdone), the lamb was nice, juicy, and tender, and the chicken was well-seasoned and tender as well. as for service, our server didn't sound too enthusiastic about the food--almost as if he didn't want to be working there. he was pretty abrupt and seemed pretty dismissive to my friends and I. his demeanor left a bitter taste in my mouth (actually, this is a slight exaggeration, but I wanted to use the pun). we'd go back...hopefully with a different server.
Decently Disappointed. Not for large dinner parties!!
Reviewer: Mari from Santa Barbara, CA
I chose Epiphany for my graduation dinner party because, not only from its rep, but because I wanted to celebrate in a gourmet restaurant that boasted good intimate atmosphere as well as fine dining. Graduation parties (12) can be difficult to handle, and I know that. I believe that Epiphany was under-prepared to handle several big parties at a time even though I had made reservations two months prior. When we first arrived, this was an excuse (other parties) given due to immediate chaos perceived. I called several times in the month beforehand to make sure things would run smoothly, even personally showing up to inquire about how the menu would be decided. I was always assured everything would go well, and was never given a concrete answer on the menu selection; but when we arrived- not only were someone else’s names printed at our reserved table- but there was indeed a plated menu that set an basic menu of steak, chicken and tuna. It would have been nice to know this beforehand when I asked about it and to see if I had any input or just to know what would be the menu for MY night. I have a more gourmet palate and would have appreciated a better selection. I'm sure that I didn't really “taste” Epiphany’s gourmet food, so that was a disappointment. Our waitress was superfriendly, but somehow they ran out of bread? Seems unheard of really but even owner, Michelle, affirmed this too!!! Appetizers came quickly and promptly and were delicious. Major thing was the wait for entrée. Our reservation was for 830-we weren’t served until 11:15 and did not get out till well after midnight. The entrée was nothing special, tuna reportedly overcooked and steak was a little gristly for my taste. Overall, I think that service and culinary performance could have been better from a management stance and I don’t blame our waitress. However, when you are spending well over $1000 dollars on a special meal, I would have chosen another place that can still promise service and excellent food on “chaotic” nights. I’d prob recommend Epiphany perhaps for those calm, intimate dinners. PS- They should have also kicked out some random drunk man who kept interrupting and making obnoxious comments to my friends and family during dessert.

BEST MARTINI EVER, CHARMING BARTENDER!!!
Reviewer: JANICE ANN from SANTA BARBARA, CA
THIS WAS NOT MY FIRST TIME TO EPIPHANY, BUT I HAVE TO SAY THIS WAS MY BEST OVERALL EXPERIENCE.FOR DINNER I DECIDED TO DINE AT THE BAR WITH MY TWO GIRLFRIEND'S. WE EACH HAD THE BEEF CARPACCIO TO START WITH, WHICH WAS QUITE DELIGHTFUL.WE FINISHED WITH A COUPLE ORDERS OF THE "MAC DADDY," BEST MAC N CHEESE IN TOWN!!!THE BARTENDER BRUCE, MADE US SOME OF THE BEST MARTINI'S EVER, THEY WERE CALLED "EPIPHANY KISS."BRUCE MADE ARE EVENING, HE HAS TO BE THE MOST CHARMING BARTENDER IN SANTA BARBARA. I HIGHLY RECOMMENED EPIPHANY FOR ANYONE LOOKING FOR A ROMANTIC BAR TO BRING A DATE, THE OUTSIDE PATIO IS A MUST!! SEE YOU SOON EPIPHANY!!
Excellent food and very good service
Reviewer: Michael from Dallas, Texas
I Took my girlfriend and her daughter here for my girlfriend's birthday dinner. The food was perfectly cooked and presented very artistically. My half roast duck was probably the very best I've had in many years. My girlfriends braised lamb shank was so tender, it was actually difficult for her transfer a piece to my plate without it falling apart. We also appreciated the "amuse bouche" served after we were seated at the "chefs table" which I had reserved in advance. With so many good wines on their wine list I (wisely) chose a bottle of Hitching Post Pinot Noir. It was perfect with all that we ordered. And, many thanks to their thoughtful and caring staff for helping make our special evening so enjoyable.
When it's good, it's good!
Reviewer: Jean Louis Durand from Santa Barbara, CA
We wanted to give Epiphany a second chance after a less than enjoyable first experience. And I am glad we did. Food well prepared, attentive service. A plus for the balsamic fig dressing; should be bottled, marketed and sold at Gelson's! Very pleasant evening, to be repeated.
Excellent Place for a Quiet Dinner
Reviewer: Mel from Takoma Park, MD
My wife and I just had dinner at Epiphany, and every part of the experience was first rate. The complementary "teaser" appetizers, the delicious house-made bread with olive oil and balsamic vinegar, the apple bib salad, perfectly done rib-eye steak and a delicious locally caught white fish (sea bass)--and the wine, too. All were just excellent. The service was attentive but not overbearing. A quiet Wednesday evening in the restaurant, and a great experience for us. Highly recommended.
Great dining experience
Reviewer: James Wong from Diamond Bar, CA
This was the first time we had gone to Epiphany and it won't be the last. We had a table near the fireplace, simply romantic. Restaurant isn't very large, but nice and cozy. Service was very attentive and food was very good. The only complaint I had was the rib-eye steak that I had, I was hoping to get a trimmed steak, I got a piece that had a lot of fat. I've had better steaks elsewhere. My girlfriend had the "Fish of the day"; which was sea-bass; very tender and nicely portioned. Our other guest had the Ahi Tuna, which wasn't really cooked to order, he wanted the Tuna cooked a bit more but it was good. Desserts were simply to die for. Worth every penny and would definitely return for another joyous occasion.
Not bad...but not good either
Reviewer: Ella from Santa Barbara
I went to epiphany last night with my mom and boyfriend, and didn't have the best experience. The food was ok, but lacked much flavor and didn't seem to match the price. Not only that, but when we ordered our "fire & ice" dessert, all three of us tasted a distinctly "fishy" taste. Now, for a chocolate dessert, that just isn't pleasant!

Start of a great Year!
Reviewer: Doreen from Montecito, CA
My husband and I chose to go to Epiphany for our New Years celebration/dinner. A change in our 5 year tradition of going to the Four Seasons. With our expectations high we were delighted with our experience. I love the restaurant and its feeling of history and charm, cozy but very conversational. We started with soup Butternut squash - Im still thinking about that soup- best ever! WOW creamy, smooth with a ting of ginger.MMmm. My husband had the lamb shank which he gave thumbs up to, and I had the filet mignon which was better than my favorite steak house Mortons. We did splurge and get a side of their famous Mac n Cheese- wow the best Ive ever had. We then went to the bar and although very crowded it did manage a good spot to stand and toasted our New Year in with style. Love the place, great local hangout. Walking in that place just makes me want to celebrate something even if its not New Years Eve. We will be back again and again. Thank You!
Holiday delight
Reviewer: Lindy Stockwell from Springfield, OR
We were visiting Santa Barbara for the holidays and knew we wanted to eat at Epiphany. We all had the Chef's Tasting Menu which was AMAZING! As busy as it was, we were sure that the service would be slow. Much to our surprise, the service was spot on and so amiable. We will surely eat at Epiphany during our Spring visit.
Romantic and Wonderful !
Reviewer: Doreen Sales from Montecito, California
I do not often write reviews, but my experience at this restaurant really prompted me to do so. My husband and I were celebrating our Anniversary and wanted to go somewhere "local" not a chain restaurant. I actually called the Four Seasons resort and asked the Concierge there where they would recommend and Epiphany Restaurant was mentioned. We LOVED it! The decor is welcoming, and seating is good conversational seating. The waiter was A+ ( I wish I remembered his name) . We started with their Tuna Tartar and Im still thinking about it. Seeing another table ordering their Macaroni & Cheese prompted us to just try a small sampling of it- and WOW that was incredible. Our entree was their fish special which was also superb! Great wine selection also. When you celebrate a special night you really want everything perfect, and this place really delivered that. The bar was also a happening place we ended up there after dinner because we didn't want to leave! Thanks for a great night!
Follow up on 11/22
Reviewer: J L Durand from Santa Barbara, CA
Following my less than glowing experience and review of 11/22, I had the unexpected and pleasant surprise to receive a call from the Lady owner who seemed genuinely interested in solving the issues. For that reason, I am upgrading the service and will reassess the food upon my next visit. I am now convinced that the problems could have been avoided by simply addressing them on the spot.
Overated and not worth it.
Reviewer: J.L. Durand from Santa Barbara, CA
First time here for Thanksgiving inspired by good reviews. Good atmosphere but extremely poor service and mediocre food. Service; 20 minutes to place order, waiter not knowledgeable about availability of items and never refilled wine glasses from bottle. Waiter innatentive to guest's needs. Food; duck plate cold and tasted frozen, other dishes acceptable but not extraordinary. Somewhat embarassing to have brought friends to.

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