Best Santa Barbara Restaurants for Every Appetite and Budget

Explore Santa Barbara

Also Featured In

Save This Page +

Bouchon

Item: Bouchon
Author: Geneva Ives

Cuisine: American, California

Price: $$

10Best Says

For cuisine that makes the most of regional ingredients, look no further than Bouchon. This intimate restaurant is located in the heart of Santa Barbara, and that is definitely reflected in their local-centric menu. Fresh vegetables are sourced from our daily farmers' markets, and meat is purchased from local ranchers. Typical entrees include roasted venison medallions, braised Kurobata pork shank and pan-roasted salmon. Their considerable wine list includes many California legends, available by the glass or the bottle. A private dining room with an exclusive seasonal menu is available for meetings and celebrations. Patio seating is available. Reservations are recommended.

Address:

9 W Victoria St
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
805-730-1160

Hours:

Sun-Thu: 5pm-9pm
Fri-Sat: 5pm-10pm

Website:

bouchonsantabarbara.com

EXPERT TIPS BY: Geneva Ives
Santa Barbara Local Expert

Downtown Santa Barbara's Best Restaurants: "Bouchon is very romantic. It's a great place to impress a date!"
Best Restaurants for Spring: "If you're a vegetarian, tell your server! The team here will ask about your preferences and then consult the kitchen to create the perfect seasonal plate."
Romantic Dining: "If the weather is fair, request a table on their freshly renovated patio. It's sheltered for privacy but faces the street."
Farm to Table: "Looking to hold court? Reserve the Cork Room for private dining at a a table that holds up to 20 people."
Best Restaurants: "Join Chef Greg Murphy at the Tuesday afternoon Santa Barbara Farmers Market for an informative "foodie stroll" and dinner."

Best for Downtown Santa Barbara's Best Restaurants Because: Bouchon is very "classic Santa Barbara." It has a gorgeous dining patio and an amazing wine list.
Recommended as Best Restaurants for Spring Because: Where else can you join the chef for an informative "foodie stroll" of the spring farmers market and dinner?
Best for Romantic Dining Because: Is anything more romantic than treating your date to some of the best food in Santa Barbara? We don't think so.
Best for Farm to Table Because: The menu at Bouchon results from a satisfying blend of French cooking techniques and Californian ingredients.
Recommended as Best Restaurants Because: For an inventive and delicious take on Central Coast fare, Bouchon is the place to go.

Main Menu
- Market Soup
  
  Kabocha Squash Purée
  
  Fried kale, toasted pepitas, pomegranate seeds, pumpkin seed oil. Suggested wine pairing: consilience roussanne, santa barbara - $11 ($8.00)
- Market Salad
  
  Apples & Blue
  
  Pink lady & hidden rose apples, sweet mixed greens, candied pecans, apple cider vinaigrette, bleu cheese cream. Suggested wine pairing: riverbench 'bedrock' chardonnay, santa maria valley - $13.50 ($12.00)
  
  Pears & Burrata
  
  Asian pears, lemon-scented burrata cheese, sweet mixed greens, marcona almonds , pear vinaigrette. Suggested wine pairing: roark chenin blanc, santa ynez - $10 ($12.00)
- Shared Appetizer
  
  Scallop Trio
  
  Black truffle dressed celery cauliflower pureé | seared white polenta crispy prosciutto corn pudding | ratatouille of grilled market vegetables sauce pistou. Suggested wine pairing: habit grüner veltliner, santa ynez - $13.50 ($32.00)
- First Courses
  
  Bouchon French 'French Onion' Soup
  
  Gruyere-sourdough gratin. Suggested wine pairing: au bon climat chardonnay, santa barbara - $10 ($10.00)
  
  Goat Cheese Tart & Pecan Tart
  
  House-made pecan tart shell, herbed chèvre, persimmons, frisée, pomegranate gastrique. Suggested wine pairing: storm sauvignon blanc, santa ynez - $10 ($14.00)
  
  Dungeness Crab Cakes
  
  Fennel salad, citrus aioli, ruby red grapefruit, sommers' ranch fresh avocado. Suggested wine pairing: melville viognier, estate verna's, santa barbara - $10 ($18.00)
  
  Salad 'Lyonnaise'
  
  frisée, spinach, blue cheese, bacon, croutons, red wine vinaigrette, topped with a poached egg. Suggested wine pairing: margerum m5, grenache-syrah-mourvèdre, santa barbara - $14.50 ($14.00)
  
  Forest Mushroom Ragout
  
  Roasted tomatoes, baby spinach, black truffle mini-panino, pan jus. Suggested wine pairing: riverbench pinot noir, santa maria - $15.50 ($18.00)
  
  Lobster Pot Pie
  
  Chantrelle mushrooms, fava beans, puff pastry, lobster velouté, madeira cream sauce. Suggested wine pairing: Qupé Chardonnay, Bien Nacido Reserve, Santa Maria - $13.50 ($24.00)
- Mains
  
  Pan-Roasted Local White Fish (Medium)
  
  Crisped saffron risotto with spanish chorizo, english peas and sweet peppers, littleneck clams, asparagus spears, beurre blanc ($30.00)
  
  Porcini-Dusted Yellowfin Tuna (Rare)
  
  Chantrelle mushrooms, slow-roasted tomato & potato hash, arugula, pan jus ($29.00)
  
  Maple-Glazed California Duck Breast & Confit of Thigh (Medium)
  
  Succotash of sweet corn, fava beans, leeks, applewood-smoked bacon and windrose farms butternut squash, port-thyme demi-glace ($28.00)
  
  Braised Kurobuta Pork Shank
  
  Garnet yam & brussels sprouts hash, pancetta lardons, apple pan jus ($30.00)
  
  Grilled Wagyu Flat Iron Steak (Medium-Rare)
  
  Potato-black truffle croquette, broccoli florets, caramelized red onion puree, bacon lardons, sauce bordelaise ($34.00)
  
  Wild Pacific Skin-On Salmon (Medium-Rare)
  
  Smoky beluga lentils, heirloom baby beets, wilted baby frisée, mustard cream ($28.00)
  
  Sage and Proscuitto Seared Mary's Chicken (Cooked-Thru)
  
  Mascarpone whipped potatoes, braised baby squash, sage jus ($26.00)
  
  Grilled Venison Medallions (Rare to Medium Rare)
  
  Caramelized onion farro barley, wilted dandelion greens, curried butternut squash purée, green garlic pesto ($30.00)
  
  Shallot-Glazed Rack of Lamb (Medium-Rare to Medium)
  
  White bean purée, braised black kale, crispy pancetta, sherry-shallot jus ($38.00)
- Desserts
  
  Blueberry-Lemon Upside-Down Cake
  
  McConnell's blueberries & cream ice cream, crème anglaise and berry coulis ($10.00)
  
  Medjool Date & Marcona Almond Cake
  
  Devell gardens fresh dates, lemon-whipped cream, blood orange caramel ($9.00)
  
  Crème Brulée
  
  Traditional vanilla bean ($8.00)
  
  Warm Santa Barbara Chocolate 'Molten Lava' Cake
  
  Mcconnell's vanilla ice cream ($11.00)
  
  Sommer's Ranch Lime Tart
  
  House-made shortbread shell, italian meringue, finger lime 'caviar' ($9.00)
  
  'Two Scoops'
  
  Choose from a selection of ice creams & sorbets ($6.00)
Wine Menu
- Champagne & Sparkling Wine
  
  '12 Flying Goat Brut Rosé, Santa Maria, CA
  
  ($68.00)
  
  05 Roederer Estate 'L'Ermitage', Brut, Anderson Valley, CA
  
  ($75.00)
  
  NV Louis Roederer, Brut Premier Reims, France
  
  ($78.00)
  
  NV Jacquart, Rosé Reims, France
  
  ($88.00)
  
  NV Perrier-Jouët, Grand Brut Epernay, France
  
  ($90.00)
  
  10 Brewer-Clifton '3-D', Sparkling Chardonnay Sta. Rita Hills
  
  ($95.00)
  
  NV Nicolas Feuillatte, Brut Rosé Reims, France
  
  ($95.00)
  
  NV Laurent-Perrier, Brut Tours-sur Marne, France
  
  ($98.00)
  
  NV Pol Roger Extra Cuvée de Réserve, Brut Epernay, France
  
  ($105.00)
  
  NV Taittinger 'La Francaise', Brut Reims, France
  
  ($110.00)
  
  NV Henriot, Rosé Reims, France
  
  ($125.00)
  
  NV Deutz Brut, Rosé Aÿ, France
  
  ($135.00)
  
  NV Laurent-Perrier, Brut Rosé Tours-sur-Marne, France
  
  ($150.00)
  
  '11 Sea Smoke 'Sea Spray', Blanc de Noirs Sta. Rita Hills
  
  ($175.00)
  
  NV Billecart-Salmon, Brut Rosé Mareuil-Sur-Ay, France
  
  ($175.00)
  
  '04 Perrier-Jouët Cuvée Belle Epoque, Brut Epernay, France
  
  ($255.00)
  
  '04 Veuve Clicquot 'La Grande Dame', Brut Reims, France
  
  ($325.00)
  
  '04 Louis Roederer 'Cristal', Brut Reims, France
  
  ($350.00)
  
  '03 Dom Pérignon, Brut Epernay, France
  
  ($395.00)
- Chardonnay
  
  '11 Roar, Sierra Mar Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands
  
  ($88.00)
  
  '10 DuMol, Russian River
  
  ($110.00)
  
  '10 Shafer, Red Shoulder Ranch, Napa
  
  ($115.00)
  
  '12 Far Niente, Napa
  
  ($115.00)
  
  '11 Kistler, 'Les Noisetiers', Sonoma Coast
  
  ($120.00)
- Syrah & Rhone Blends
  
  '10 Tablas Creek, 'Côtes de Tables', Paso Robls
  
  ($92.00)
  
  '11 L'Aventure, 'Optimus', Paso Robles
  
  ($92.00)
  
  '10 Alban, 'Patrina', Estate Syrah, Edna Valley
  
  ($110.00)
  
  '10 DuMOL, Syrah, Russian River Valley
  
  ($115.00)
  
  '11 Denner, 'Ditch Digger', Paso Robles
  
  ($125.00)
- Zinfandel & Blends
  
  '00 Chase, Hayne Vineyard, St. Helena
  
  ($50.00)
  
  '12 Turley, Estate, Napa
  
  ($78.00)
  
  '10 Ridge, 'Geyserville', Sonoma County
  
  ($78.00)
  
  '10 Outpost, Howell Mountain, Napa
  
  ($100.00)
  
  '12 Linne Calado, 'Problem Child', Paso Robles
  
  ($120.00)
- Cabernet, Merlot & Blends
  
  '10 Nickel & Nickel Merlot, Harris Vineyard, Napa
  
  ($90.00)
  
  '09 Heitz Cabernet, Napa
  
  ($95.00)
  
  '11 Frank Family Cabernet, Napa
  
  ($98.00)
  
  '11 Shafer Merlot, Napa
  
  ($110.00)
  
  '10 Ramey Cabernet, Napa
  
  ($118.00)
  
  '12 Chapellet Cabernet, Napa
  
  ($120.00)
  
  '12 PlumpJack Merlot, Napa
  
  ($125.00)
  
  '11 Duckhorn Cabernet, Napa
  
  ($125.00)
  
  '10 Cade Cabernet, Howell Mountain, Napa
  
  ($132.00)
  
  '10 Justin, 'Isosceles', Paso Robles
  
  ($145.00)
  
  '12 Caymus Cabernet, 40th Anniversary, Napa
  
  ($145.00)
  
  '02 Araujo, 'Altagracia', Napa
  
  ($165.00)
  
  '11 Duckhorn Merlot, Three Palms Vineyard, Napa
  
  ($175.00)
  
  '05 Viader, Napa
  
  ($185.00)
  
  '08 Silver Oak, Alexander Valley
  
  ($190.00)
  
  '03 Shafer Cabernet, Napa
  
  ($195.00)
  
  '05 Tor Cabernet, To Kalon Vineyard, Napa
  
  ($225.00)
  
  '97 Clark-Claudon Cabernet, Napa
  
  ($235.00)
  
  '05 Chapellet Cabernet, Pritchard Hill Estate, Napa
  
  ($255.00)
  
  '04 Chateau Montelena Cabernet, Estate, Napa
  
  ($255.00)
  
  '00 Dalla Valle Cabernet, Napa
  
  ($275.00)
  
  '05 Peter Michael, 'Les Pavots', Sonoma
  
  ($290.00)
  
  '05 Ridge, 'Monte Bello, Santa Cruz
  
  ($295.00)
  
  '08 Rudd Cabernet, Oakville Estate, Napa
  
  ($310.00)
  
  '10 Opus One, Estate, Napa
  
  ($325.00)
  
  '05 Dominus Cabernet, Estate, Napa
  
  ($395.00)
  
  '04 Araujo Cabernet, Eisele Vineyard, Napa
  
  ($450.00)
  
  '05 Bond, Pluribus, Napa
  
  ($485.00)
  
  '05 Bond, St. Eden, Napa
  
  ($505.00)
  
  '95 Harlan, Estate, Napa
  
  ($1,745.00)
  
  '03 Screaming Eagle Cabernet, Napa
  
  ($2,950.00)

Disclaimer: Always check with the business for pricing and availability of menu items. SinglePlatform is not responsible for menu or pricing changes, but the information is believed to be accurate when posted. Listing of a menu does not mean that there is any affiliation, endorsement or sponsorship between SinglePlatform and the listed business.