Reader Jonathan tells me that he was driving down Carpinteria Avenue in Carpinteria, passing what use to be Cielo at 5096 Carpinteria Avenue and saw posters on the windows for The Nugget. Reader Annie offered the same news. Reader David sent the following photo:
Photo by reader David
Can someone please tell me who goes to the Nugget? How are they (seemingly) so successful? Don’t they have three different locations now? I don’t know a single person that’s eaten there. I actually walked in then back out of the Goleta location. Are there SB residents who think they are cowboys? What is the demographic of a Nugget patron?
I have been going to the Nugget for years and years. It is a warm comfy place to go for dinner with or without kids especially for those of you not looking for gourmet food and gourmet prices. The Nugget has long been a hang out in Summerland for local people and for people passing through. I am so happy they opened on Calle Real too. I just saw they have a new location downtown on Victoria in the former Arlington Tavern. They should do very well there. David, it doesn’t sound like you even gave it a try if you just walked in and then walked out. Maybe it isn’t your style of food or whatever but I don’t get the “cowboy” vibe – do you mean by that big meat type dishes?
Location in Goleta is always busy
As is Summerland
I don’t get it either. all their food is generic. Appetizers for happy hour are all pre made frozen “fry and go” crap.
I guess that they just drop the seared ahi and the steak bites into the deep fryer as well? So do you live in Summerland or Goleta? They have great bartenders and pour a good drink.
And what’s wrong with hamburgers, onion rings, chicken wings and potato skins? Not everyone is looking for Kobe beef sliders and foie gras fries with black truffles. Served on a bed of organic, locally sourced blah blah blah. And don’t even get me started on the whole authentic tacos made authentically thing.
I live in SB city. It’s all been done, many other places. It’s not even done well. At their newer location on Victoria the servers were just awful. It was as if they had zero desire to be pleasant. It’s the only time I’ve tried a Nugget and I’m not interested to try again.
You’re touting onion rings and wings like they’re God’s gift but you just happen to name-drop ‘seared tuna’? Which is it?
I would beg to differ with the naysayers. I have eaten at the nugget since the Summerland location opened and I could tie my horse up in front and go in for a burger. The Goleta Nugget is probably the busiest restaurant on Calle Real, the food is of a good quality, the menu is wide ranging, the prices are reasonable, the drinks are very strong and there is a great outdoor patio where you can eat and have your dog with you. Have never had a bad meal at the Nugget and every new person I take there leaves saying “I wish I would have tried the Nugget a lot sooner, can’t wait to go back”.
The hamburgers are the best in the South County, but I stopped going there when they started playing fast and loose with change. No matter what the bill is, if you have any metal change coming, they won’t give it to you unless you ask. I guess they figure that either you won’t notice or you just won’t say anything about it. This has happened to me at all three Nugget locations and the manager at the Goleta Nugget actually lied to me and said they “never do this.” The following week it happened to me again. Last week I was shorted 74¢ on a $10.26 transaction at the downtown Nugget. The fact that this is very obviously a deliberate act makes it thievery.
A lot of complainers here, first Cajun Kitchen and now the Nugget. Cajun has consistently been voted best breakfast for years. Both are able to garner 4 stars on Yelp and Trip Adviser so I guess these are the “who goes there” you are asking about.
If you like being ripped off by not receiving the right amount of change, I’m sure the management loves you. I have no gripe with the Nugget’s food, but I don’t think it’s right that they arbitrarily decide to keep nearly 10% in excess of my bill just because it’s pocket change.
I didn’t mean to reply directly to you Rex but, you already made your point, no need to repeat it. Since you did I, have to say I charge our meals out so I don’t get ripped off and get free flights from my United Visa. So chillax, this is not Edhat.
I have lived for 5 years and have never got the interest to try out the Nuggest. Goleta/Santa Barbara have many local restaurants that serve food similar to national chains. Rusty is like your typical national pizza chains, Pascucci is like a typical national Italian chain, Nugget seems like a national Shorty Smalls/Texas Roadhouse. You get my drift. Cajun is just ok for me. Its a really good value, huge portion size, and I think people are just in love with the idea of a huge breakfast, but the flavor wasn’t that great.
Relax, Rex. They expect you to take it out of the gratuity. Servers don’t deal in coins.
Funny–every other restaurant in town deals with coins. If what you said were true, it would also work the other way. If your bill were $10.82, you’d only have to give them $10. Try THAT and see what they’d say! No, the money thievery only goes one way, I’m afraid.
I agree with Barry & Rex. My wife and I frequent the Nugget in Goleta. We usually sit at the bar and enjoy cocktails and their variety of good food. Even better , it is very much a neighborhood place with lots of regulars, good conversation, even friendly arguments. Its a lot like Cheers.
I’m with the fans of Nugget and have been one for years. The food keeps getting better, too. Try the wedge salad and ribs, but you’d better share. A big pile of them and tasty! Never, never have had any change problem nor service problems. I guess no restaurant fits all!
Agree on the burger; used to eat at Summerland. A really good burger and I loved their skinny fries. Also fried chicken, simply because I don’t fry at home. It’s just plain ole diner-type food, not a gourmet adventure.
The Nugget and Cajun Kitchen both serve 97% frozen/pre-made fare delivered from the Sysco truck. Not uncommon and not necessarily a bad thing for a lot of folks. When you serve cheap mostly prefab food your margins are better and you are able to expand.
Kind of like the frozen catfish from Viet Nam and canned clam chowder at Brophy’s that every raves about.
I have heard of so much negative publicity regarding swai that I was too scared to try them. Then I went to visit my parents who live in a land locked state and got to try swai and was pleasantly surprised. It was not at all muddy like Southern catfish. It actually has the perfect lean tender texture for Asian fish stir fries. I will be using it a lot for certain dishes.
Yay yay yay. Those of you who don’t like the straight forward, tasty American dishes that the Nugget offers DON’T NEED TO GO. And please don’t drive out to Carp to check if this one is any different. We don’t need the traffic.
I have been going to the one in Summerland since we moved here 4 years ago and almost always talk to some interest old local COWBOY. Yes, COWBOY. In case people have forgotten, this area used to have many active ranches/large plots of agriculture. If you are hanging in Summerland you will most likely see someone riding their horses down to the beach.
I used to love walking to Cabo’s with the dog and enjoying a drink on the patio, and I can’t wait to do the same at the Nugget!
I agree! Don’t come to carp if you are a hater! I’m excited to have another cool place to get a cocktail, sit in the sun with my dogs, and people watch. Cielo failed because they tried too hard to be something carp didn’t need or want. Cabo’s was awesome and not neccesarily for the food but the vibe. I love the Nugget in Summerland and so does my horse.
Well Raquel we will see you and you fur children there!
The Crunch burger is awesome and try the Beef Stronganoff. Very happy to have The Nug in Carp
“The Nug?” Yikes.
According to their Facebook page they opened today!
Celebrate or commiserate, but as of today at 3:30 the Nugget in Carp is closed for business.