801 Shoreline Dr.
Santa Barbara, CA 93109
(805) 568-0064
Hours:
Winter
Monday – Thursday, 9 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Friday – Sunday, 8 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Summer (Daylight Savings)
Monday – Thursday, 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Friday – Sunday, 8 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Food ***
Service ***
Ambiance ****
$$
Feeling clammy — in the best way possible
As tourists begin to flock to the South Coast, it was time to play one for an evening, heading to Shoreline Cafe at Ledbetter Beach, a go-to place for many in the Santa Barbara community.
And there’s good reason why locals go back for more, as the ambiance is top-notch and atmosphere super positive. The food? Let’s just say that you need to stop by to have the steamed clams. Maybe even two buckets.
Here’s a quick look a few items that are worth taking a look at:
Chips & salsa
Yes, it’s a basic starter, but it was nearly half-price for happy hour, so decided to keep it simple. Very solid offering here, as the salsa was incredibly fresh and the chips plenty flaky. A nice touch was delivering the chips with a bit of Tabasco, in case you want a bit of an extra kick.
Steamed clams
By far and away the big winner of the evening, as the clams were super plump, steamed to perfection. Have had them all over the country — including a pair of Santa Barbara establishments — and Shoreline is the best to date. Delivered with nice, toasted slices of bread (which tastes great dipped in the salsa), the 1.5 pounds of clams are fresh and downright tasty.
Shrimp & chips
Upon delivery to the table, you are on one hand ready to dive in, yet also wondering if it will be enough food. The fries are outstanding, they are fresh and will be what everyone wants to steal off your plate. The shrimp were fresh and flavorsome, there just weren’t nearly enough of them, especially for just under $18. The meal went by too fast.
High points: Dipping your toes in the sand or smelling the ocean breeze while enjoying seafood is quintessential Santa Barbara, and Shoreline has it in spades. The bucket of clams is arguably the best of its kind in Santa Barbara, giving Shoreline more than just good looks to return to.
Low points: Portion size is an issue, as you’d expect to get a bit more for the price. It’s necessary to get a starter and main course in order to leave full. While the servers themselves are incredibly friendly, the service itself was a bit sluggish considering the restaurant was not at capacity.
