The Ellwood at Goleta Beach - Goleta, California

Andrew

What a delightful dining experience. The interior of the restaurant is sleek and elegant without being pretentious. The staff are courteous, friendly, helpful and very attentive. The menu is well curated and leans toward a more sophisticated palate. Each dish we ordered from the a la carte menu was perfectly balanced, flavorful and delicious. We particularly enjoyed the whole Branzino topped with a zesty and herbaceous chimichurri sauce. And if you are a fan of dessert, don't miss their Butter Cake. Topped with vanilla ice cream, each decadent bite was the stuff dreams are made of.

Greg

We were seated inside the main dining room at a small table for two as it was rainy and cold outside. There was a large row of tables for two and they were all tightly grouped together. A little too tight for my taste. Our server removed a lamp we had on our table because there's little room for it when food for two arrives. You also don't get normal sized dinner plates, instead you get something closer to a bread plate because, again, the table just isn't large enough to comfortably accommodate them. The tables are fine for coffee and a muffin, but not for dinner. The atmosphere to me was more like a bustling Italian restaurant, as opposed to the relaxing beach cafe it was. The dining area is a little too congested and it's obvious they're trying to maximize the number of patrons. We ordered the branzino, and it was very good, but was a bit small for two as claimed. The chopped salad was not what I was expecting, but it was excellent. We asked if we could get some bread but the server seemed a bit baffled with this unusual order, so we dropped it. Talking to a manager later, he found a way to deliver. We also ordered a butter cake with gelato desert as our main dish was on the small side. And I would definitely order it again - delicious! Service was quick and attentive, although we had to flag down a server to fill both our empty water glasses. They still have a few bugs to work out, like getting their liquor license, and adjusting the lights up and down a few times while we were eating. You would have thought the details would have been worked out with 2 years of preparations, but they're calling this a soft opening for a reason. The bar area in the back is very nice and has a completely different feel to it. Much more relaxing. The place is pricey, dinner for two ran $120 with no drinks. But I'll come back, especially when they open for lunch and it warms up outside. And I'll ask for a larger table.

Thomas L.

The Ellwood in Goleta is an absolute treasure for food lovers! From the moment we walked in, we were greeted by a warm and inviting atmosphere that set the tone for an unforgettable dining experience. The restaurant’s modern yet cozy decor creates the perfect setting for any occasion, whether it’s a casual meal or a special celebration.

The menu is a true culinary masterpiece, featuring fresh, locally sourced ingredients and creative dishes that showcase both flavor and presentation. Every bite was packed with vibrant, delicious flavors! The seafood dishes, in particular, were outstanding—perfectly prepared and seasoned, with a freshness that reminded us of the ocean that is visible from just about everywhere in the restaurant.

The service was impeccable. The staff was attentive, knowledgeable, and genuinely passionate about ensuring guests have a great time. They were happy to recommend dishes and pairings, which turned out to be spot on.

The Ellwood is an absolute must-try. We’ll be back again and again—this restaurant truly deserves all five stars! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Cameron T.

Attractive restaurant at a beautiful location. Service is personal and attentive. The food is delicious and well presented. We really enjoyed the shared plates. Highly recommend this experience.

Mina G.

Wow so this restaurant has everything. It is on the ocean with incredible views, the build out is very very well done and the food is fantastic. I will be back as soon as I am able to make it back to Goleta!

Rebecca D.

What a beautiful location, menu selection, knowledgeable ,and friendly staff members. Thank you for making this evening special for us! We look forward to visiting again.

Ronda C.

Lauren was such a wonderful hostess to get us a reservation when we had trouble trying to work the online stuff. Allan was our 6’5” server who shared his favorites plus explain well the shared plate concept. Four of us ordered various things: chopped salad, short ribs with mushrooms, crab cake, Brussels sprouts, eggplant, calamari, whole fish (no heads), 1/2 jidori chicken on naan-like bread. One dessert to share was the white butter cake with strawberry slices pistachio pieces and ice cream. Oh, what decadence from beginning to end. Our collective vote for best of experience was the eggplant, salad, whole fish. Nothing was disappointing and we did not miss the alcohol (liquor license not yet authorized). Make your reservations in advance. Wonderful experience!!

D.C. N.