Nuance

My husband and I had the opportunity to try this place out the day before New Year’s Eve. We decided to stop by and sit at the bar as we were exploring the area.
First and foremost, they have the best cocktails. The bartender was amazing and was able to hold down the fort despite a fully packed bar and restaurant. I had the bartender’s special made with Vodka. It was combination of spicy and sour. My second drink was the What The French Toast. This drink was garnished with a Cinnamon Toast Crunch and tasted like the best liquid cinnamon roll I have ever had. The bartender is truly a mixologist!
We had the Wood Fired Focaccia. This was crispy on the outside and nice and doughie/​fluffy on the inside. It also had a little spicy kick to it. It was truly tasty.
The only reason this place did not receive 5 stars is because we ordered the mussels and the crab risotto and we were informed that they were out of ingredients for both dishes. That was a complete let down as the focaccia and drinks left us wanting more.

This is a must see! It is an absolute gem to the community and the food couldn’t get any better in my opinion!

Such a fun place with a great vibe!
The adorable mixologist who’s name escapes me was amazing.
Great drinks and a firewood oven thing.
We were in SB for three days and went here twice.

Gotta give this spot a 5 all day! We had:
Tomato soup, Hamachi, Pork Belly, Gnocchi.
Drinks: old fashion and jalapeño business
Dessert: Beignets
You will enjoy sampling this menu as much as we did.

Lately I’ve been coming here once a week after work. Luckily I only work two short blocks away. Either I come with a friend or two who have been here and love it, or (and this is my favorite) I bring a friend who has yet to experience their delicious culinary offerings and intoxicating (figuratively and of course literally) beverages.
I think I’ve been in nearly a dozen times, and always sit at the bar. The bartenders (especially Daniel, the bar manager) take their job very seriously and are true mixologists. I find their brilliantly unique recipes along with their captivatingly scientific execution (often using liquid nitrogen to chill their glasses) fascinating.
Only having experienced the bar, so far, standards for service have always been high. No disappointment here.
And now to the nourishment…
For starters–
The Focaccia: Housemade, best you’ve ever had.
Hamachi: Delightful.
Forest Mushroom Toast:
.Gawd. That is all.
Grilled Spanish Octopus: Quite good. Love that it comes with Beluga lentils and broccolini.
Fries: I don’t suggest filling up with fries, but if you get the burger or the fried chicken they come with the most amazing fries which you could also order by themselves.
Cauliflower: Yummy as a side dish or appetizer.
For the middle…
Fried Chicken: Incredibly seasoned batter. Cooked to absolute perfection, both times I’ve had it.
Roast Chicken: Very good, very moist. The portion is smaller than you would hope, for the price.
Pork Chop: Best I’ve ever had.
For dessert…
Strawberry Shortcake: Not too rich, not too sweet. My ideal dessert.
Homemade Chocolate Ice Cream: Chocolate lovers will flip for this.
Beignets: Exceptionally fluffy and airy. You get 4 and they are the size of baseball.
There really is something for everyone here. Just try not to drool when you check out their menu…

I’ve been twice and two things were standouts: hand-​crafted cocktails and that focaccia bread appetizer.
The focaccia bread is heaven in the form of masterfully crafted stone oven bread. A pat-​on-​the-​back amount of appreciation should go to the person shifting around this loaf in the very oven Hansel & Gretel must have happened upon in the woods.
The cocktails are the masterpieces shaked, mixed, and adorned that you hope for in a spirited concoction m.
A must stop for a drink and a carb load if in the area. Order more if your stomach or throat so desires!

Came here for brunch. It’s right near all the wine tasting rooms. Always a good idea to coat your stomach with food before doing a bunch of wine tasting. Food was excellent! We had a party of 8 and literally every person was very happy with their brunch order. Service was great too! They don’t serve you tap water. They use a purification filtering system for the water they pour at the table. Coffee was strong and fresh which is a good start.
The highlight was the deep fried French toast. Best idea ever! It was crispy on the outside but warm and soft on the inside. Very very good. Carnitas Benedict was also raved about amongst our group. Fried chicken and waffle was fried bone-​in til golden and juicy. Pretty sure you can request all white meat or all dark because two people ordered this and one got white and the other got dark randomly. Granola and Greek yogurt was also a great healthier choice. The granola was housemade and had a great toasty crunch to it. Yogurt was sweeten just enough.
Would definitely come back again for brunch and maybe another time of day to try their other menu options!

Amazeballs. Excellent food and friendly staff. I came here yesterday for an early dinner prior to the Scorpions 50^th Anniversary World Tour performance at the Santa Barbara Bowl, with my dad. It was our first time in Santa Barbara. What a great way to kick off the father-​daughter night after driving five hours from SF!
Our only regret is that the octopus dish consists of more lentils and broccoli than octopus. Notice I’m not complaining about the cooked tomatoes. We love tomatoes, and those were bomb.
The pork chop was one of the best I’ve ever had. The heirloom tomatoes salad with strawberries and mozzarella was a perfect starter. The foie gras with the sweet, crunchy textural addition and cool presentation didn’t disappoint. And that gin! I felt pretty good after one cocktail ;).

Um restaurante requintado para ir sem crianças!Caro, porém muito bom! Badalado, com comida requintada!

Disappointing Friday date-​night dinner. Service was quite slow and the food gave the impression of being cooked by the chef’s understudy.
The heirloom tomato salad was tasty, but the inclusion of strawberries was a jarring flavor choice. The beet salad included beets that were underdone. My husband described his crab risotto as «meh,» lots of crab, but mushy, overdone grains. The lamb in the tagliatelle was delicious, but the rest of the dish it wasn’t great. Nothing special pasta, and a lot of undercooked garbanzo beans that gave it an unwelcome, hard to chew texture.
This place has specialized drinks, but BEWARE! You cannot try one to see if you like it. Unlike other restaurants, where if you order a drink, take a few sips, and don’t touch it, no one will come by and ask, «How is that working for you?»
In fact, the night we were there, the too-​strong, strangely bitter Blackstrap Buck, sat on our table, untouched after two sips. Through the whole meal. They use tall Cylindrical ice blocks in the drink, so there’s not even any hope of the drink mixing properly or getting weaker. I added some water, but that didn’t help.
By the time a waiter came to clear and I told him he could take away the drink: it was not what I had expected, he basically said (paraphrase) «yeah, we get that a lot — it’s really intense — we juice our own ginger and the rum is more than most people can handle.» Despite acknowledging this, he did not ask if I wanted anything else, and the drink was on the bill when the check came; all overpriced $ 13.00 of it.
The only reason I’m giving two stars instead of one was the beignets. AMAZING. Fluffy like clouds; crispy and cinnamon coated like the freshest homemade churros you’ve ever tasted, and the chocolate sauce was perfectly delicious.
Overall, this place is a stereotypical tourist trap: near the hotels, on a main drag. It has a ‘wacky’ menu designed to entice, that does not satisfy and is very expensive.

Great service, food, and drinks! Highly recommend this spot if you visit Santa Barbara! The lamb and steak are very tasty along with any of the fancy cocktails. The Chamomillionaire cocktail is my favorite! Rye Whiskey, Fresh lemon, Maraschino, House made chamomile cordial, angostura bitters.

The pork belly fat is a must!
Great service, lovely atmosphere, and tasty food.
Judging the place on appearance, I thought the menu was expensive and the food would be small. The prices are kind-​of expensive, but it’s worth it for the quality. I ordered the steak frites and boy do they serve a lot of french fries!

Not sure if I’m totally qualified to do full review because we only went for drinks and apps… but here’s what we experienced:
Service was lovely– we had a young man named Jeff who was a hoot and very knowledgable/​approachable.
The White Russians we ordered were amazing! Worth every penny. The best White Russian I’ve had.
The apps were a little lacking, though. We tried 5 different apps, and none of them had us impressed (at least at the price point). Although obviously totally eatable, they weren’t sensational or even memorable. Hopefully their entrée menu spices it up a bit more.
Dessert– AMAZING tiramisu! But i guess i’m always a sucker for tiramisu.

The food is phenomenal here! My dad and I stumbled upon it on our way back to the train station and I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the ingredients.
The salad is so refreshingand is deliciously refreshing. It comes with pecans and a light bleu cheese dressing. It’s an interesting combination that tastes amazing.
I also tried one of the raw sushi dishes that I think may have been yellowtail. It came with a light lemon herb dressing that is adorned with shaved Persian cucumber. It is very refreshing.
I also would like to point out how AMAZING the service is here. Our waiter was so attentive and kind. He even offered my dad another chamomile tea on the house.
If I’m ever in the neighborhood, I will definitely be coming back here again.

I agree with Sidney Z, dining in Santa Barbara has rarely wowed me. I was really excited to learn that Nuance was owned by Sprout LA, the same folks behind Bestia, Barrel & Ashes and Sotto to name a few. I was able to make reservations for 8 people for a Saturday just a few hours before (probably not a great sign).
We arrived a little early and our table out on the patio was ready. Unfortunately, there is a ton of construction happening across the street, so sitting outside does not provide much of a view.
We started with some drinks and the focaccia. The cocktail list is quite extensive but I am more of a wine lover and was happy with a glass of rose. The warm focaccia was doughy with a bit of olive oil and salt and we devoured it. This was the best thing we ordered all night. Mushroom toast with a poached egg was ok, but nothing memorable.
For mains, a friend and I shared the red snapper with caponata and a side of sweet Brentwood corn. Again, all mediocre. The fish was nicely cooked but the caponata did not complement the fish well. Others at the table were unimpressed with the lamb pasta, the chicken and the pork.
Really surprised that we were not wowed, especially based on the other reviews. Oh well… You win some, you loose some.

Holy shot!!! And by shot I mean shots! The cocktails here are ridiculous and the food AMAZING!!! Do you want a great cocktail made buy actual bartenders that know what they are doing and a kitchen staff that takes pride in their food? Then Nuance is the place for you!
The bar and kitchen staff will actually come out from the bar and kitchen and explain menu and drink items to you!
Love this place and so should you!

Santa Barbara has never been a culinary haven for good food and drink. Yes it has its good Mexican food dives and their ethnic cafes are up to par, but a real gourmet restaurant; not since Michel Richard, Citronella (which closed years ago)
Well, there is a new sheriff in town!
Nuance, this hip, new, exciting restaurant in the Funk Zone is making its mark with really well thought out and tasty dishes. The sophisticated flavors coming out of this kitchen rival any restaurant in it’s Big Brothers Los Angeles.
Their mixologist blends these smart cocktails to start off the evening. They are real good. Our table, we had a Cunning Stunt a Painkiller and a Nuance Old Fashioned. All of these are way too complicated to explain, but they all worked.
The in house homemade bread baked in a brick pizza is to die for. But don’t fill up on this.
For appetizers we had beef tartar, froie gras, tomato salad and mushroom toast. What can I say, except we could have stopped here.
Our party of five all shared entrees. We had the roasted chicken, the glazed pork chop, an order of Loup de mare and the steak pomme frites. Nuance nailed all of the main courses. Maybe, because it was late on a Saturday night and the next day was Fathers Day we were given an order of fried chicken (nice touch). It was as good as Roscoe’s.
We had deserts and coffee and left this establishment very sate and happy. All of us Angelinos swore to come back!

Great Food, Less than great service!
Finally after 3 tries over the last two years, they, ve got a great chief and the food is fabulous. Try any of the apps, they are great to share and amazing.
The staff, not so great. They are pretentious and act like you’re bother them. Also, it’s extremely loud inside and the tables are crammed together. We spent all night shouting to each other and getting slammed into by the wait staff. One of the waiters dumped some leftovers down my wife’s back. He did apologize and bring her a towel to clean up, but very sloppy.
Big Tip: Ask to sit outside on the patio, you can here your date talk and the tables aren’t so close to each other.

They’ve been open 8 days in a completely cursed restaurant location. I would say they are doing just fine.
The bar staff is new and much better than the likes of Anchor or Blue Tavern (previous establishments at this location). I think the best thing to happen here is their chef. She is amazing and if you sit at the bar you can see her and her crew at work.
I began with the seared foie gras. It came with a rhubarb-​strawberry jam on a brief piece of toast and pistachios. This is the best foie gras dish I have ever had in SB. This is how you would find it in SF or Las Vegas or NY. Exceptional.
Then I had the steak frites.
…
Intermission.
No Bueno. I mean, the hangar steak was great quality and the fries plentiful and the bernaise a treat. But $ 38??? No way. I will never order that again.
I had a bite of the mushroom risotto from a generous unknown neighbor and it was amazing! I would definitely order that again and the foie.
I hope this place makes it longer than its predecessors.

Nuance is so aptly named. It is all the subtle Nuances that take this restaurant and bar to the next level.
Chef Courtney created a beautiful menu. I enjoyed every dish that I had! I started with the Focaccia; hot and fresh out of the wood fire oven. It was slightly crispy on top and warm and fluffy on the inside. So good! It melts in your mouth. Topped with a pinch of course salt, fennel seeds and garnished with olive oil for dipping — perfect!
Next, I had the Foie Gras, pan seared, (exactly the way I like it), with a caramelized, crusty exterior and smooth, buttery interior. The house made strawberry-​rhurbarb jam and pistachio butter underneath complimented the foie gras wonderfully. I love foie gras, and I have to say this is my preferred preparation of foie gras to terrine.
We tried about half the cocktails on their current menu at our table and I would order every single one again! The preparation of each drink is nuanced to perfection! After talking with George, the bar manager, I had an even greater appreciation for all the details that went into creating my fabulous drinks, right down to the size of their hand carved ice! There is a drink to match every palate.
Want something sweet and tropical? Order the Pain Killer (house made coconut cream, fresh squeezed pineapple and tangerine juice, nutmeg, RUM!)
How about something refreshing, slightly smokey and spicy? Get A Diving Bell made with mezcal.
Rather have something on the creamier, richer side? Try their take on the classic White Russian. It tastes like tiramisu in a glass!
Or maybe you’re looking for something a little fruity? Then go with the Paper Plane.
Are you a vodka person who enjoys a tangy drink? The Obligatory Vodka Drink for you it is! Grapefruit, Rhubarb, lemon, vodka, yum)
Maybe you like your drinks neat? I recommend the mezcal! Incredible selection of rare mezcals.
We finished the evening with dessert. Strawberry Shortcake and House Made Chocolate Ice Cream with Blackbird Cocao Nibs to be exact. Delicious! The shortcake is not too sweet and the strawberries are juicy and fresh — excellent combo!
There was no room in this belly for entrees so we will definitely have to come back! I have a really good feeling that Chef Courtney’s Nuance is here to stay. A much needed culinary addition to lower State Street.

Only one word needed to describe Nuance… Extraordinary!
Chef Courtney Ladin is one of a kind. Be prepared for an amazing experience.