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Hours
Sun
11:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Mon
11:30 AM - 3:30 PM
Thu
11:30 AM - 3:30 PM
Fri
11:30 AM - 3:30 PM5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Sat
11:30 AM - 3:30 PM5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Ratings and reviews
4.5
RATINGS
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
Details
Someone from this business manages this listing.
Learn More
PRICE RANGE
$15.00 – $45.00
CUISINES
American
Meals
Lunch, Dinner, Drinks
features
Menu
Appetizers
Charbroiled Tiger Shrimp
on saffron linguine with a wild mushroom cream. larger portion available as a dinner
$9.50
Venison Sausage Stuffed Mushroom
baked in garlic butter with fresh parmesan cheese
$9.50
Baked Artichoke Hearts
with jack cheese, sun dried tomatoes and a garlic cream
$8.00
Platter Of Appetizers For Two
shrimp, venison sausage, and artichoke hearts. platters also available for four or six
$15.50
Main
Sauteed Duck Breast
with roasted shallot demi glace
$25.00
Boneless Half Chicken
charbroiled with fresh cilantro, tequilla, lime marinade
$21.50
The Cold Spring Chicken
baked with our famous almond-raisin stuffing and smothered with sherry sour cream & mushrooms
$21.50
Bar-b-q Baby Back Pork Ribs
with chef's western style bar-b-cue sauce
$23.00
Charbroiled New York Steak
ten ounces of very trim u.s.d.a. choice steak
$23.50
New York Pepper Steak
same as above with black, green and yellow peppercorn sauce
$24.50
Charbroiled 14 Once Center Cut Pork Chop
with a rosemary, apple & brandy demi-glace
$24.00
Charbroiled New Zealand Rack Of Lamb
with champagne, mint glaze
$31.00
Sauteed Medallions Of Rabbit
with wild mushroom, garlic and brandy
$24.00
Charbroiled New Zealand Venison
with blackberry, cabernet demi-glace
$29.00
Is this an American restaurant?
Details
PRICE RANGE
$15.00 – $45.00
CUISINES
American
Meals
Lunch, Dinner, Drinks
FEATURES
Outdoor Seating, Seating, Parking Available, Highchairs Available, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Wine and Beer, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service, Live Music, Gift Cards Available
Contribute
4.5
397 reviews
Excellent
217
Very good
136
Average
27
Poor
8
Terrible
9
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
SgtWife
33 contributions
Sep 2012 • couples
This is a hidden gem. We stopped by for breakfast at the end of a long road trip. We were welcomed in and seated in the restaurant section which was like going back to the days when this place welcomed weary stagecoach passengers. The servers were attentive and accommodating. The breakfast was delicious real home-made food. They even offer home-made sausage. The toast was the best I ever had, it was thickly cut but light on the inside and looked like it had been toasted over an open fire (cowboy style). I would venture back just for the toast! The coffee was also very good. The fire was going outside where they barbecue meat for sandwiches. It was still early but it smelled great and made me hungry even after a full hearty breakfast. There are a few historic buildings and of course a natural spring to see. If you are ever in the area, you must stop here for a cool drink or a hot meal and a trip back in time.
Written September 20, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ilex1
104 contributions
Cold Spring Tavern is on my destination list. The food is excellent. The old stagecoach stop buildings fascinate me. Lots of history in a beautiful setting. I loved everything about it. We will return again and again.
Written September 11, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RoadTripFlavors_com
Mission Viejo33 contributions
Aug 2012 • friends
We have wanted to visit Cold Spring Tavern, located in the foothills above Santa Barbara, ever since Rachel Ray on The Food Network dined there on one of her travel shows. We ventured up the hill on Highway 154 and turned left on Stagecoach Road. Suddenly we were back in the late 1800s when stagecoaches transported people, goods and correspondence north and south from Santa Barbara to San Luis Obispo along a rugged trail through the fabulous Santa Ynez Valley.
A group of structures that date back to the original stagecoach stop still house a watering hole and restaurant. You can opt to dine and drink outside as well. We were there for lunch, so the restaurant’s famous grilled tri-tip sandwich sounded a bit heavy. Next time! At our table we shared several items: Chile Verde, Charbroiled Tavern Burger and a very special toasted cheese sandwich. Everything was excellent in a rustic and charming setting.
Written September 7, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cheri W
La Jolla160 contributions
Apr 2012 • friends
This is a great place to stop off season or during the week. It is absolutely packed in warm weather and on the week-ends.I had drinks and lunch there several times with my husband and his brother.The cozy, inviting atmosphere and wooden interior, with fireplace and perhaps hand carved furniture was a perfect place to stop after hiking.People are friendly and the buffalo burgers were great! Take a walk outside to see the historic buildings (jail and school house) just behind the restaurant.There isn't too much parking except just in front (maybe 5 places) and along the hill across from the restaurant, so try to pick an off time to eat,if you want to park near by.
Written August 13, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wacko24
19 contributions
Oct 2011 • none
Such a great stop off the windy road to Wine Country - the ribs are some of the best of Santa Barbara!
Written August 5, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
wanderingbrett
115 contributions
Jul 2012 • solo
Just wanted to comment on the pictures - one shows an ocean view but this is NOT from the restaurant. It is tucked into a shady canyon with no ocean in site. But it is a great place to be and a great place to eat so don't worry about seeing the ocean. Plenty of spots in Santa Barbara for ocean views but this is not one of them...
Written July 16, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stacey D
Follansbee178 contributions
Jul 2012 • none
Acool piece of history, I can only imagine what it was like back then. The food was excellent, best quiche I ever ate.
Written July 12, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
N_MOOD4TUNES
Santa Clarita27 contributions
Jul 2012 • couples
My boyfriend and I just returned from our annual 5 day trip to SB and were very excited to stop here as we saw it on Rachel Ray Vacations a few years back. When we arrived on Sunday July 8th for breakfast, we could tell how popular the place was as there were many cars parked on the side of the very windy road on the mountain. Being this used to be a stagecoach stop, the tavern also doubles as a museum enticing everyone to walk around the historical premises for a better look around. First and foremost, the place in and of itself is very rustic looking. It's something right out of Little House on the Prairie or maybe even Bonanza. This added to it's old charm appeal and was on a really beautiful spot on the side of the mountain road that made for a wonderful rest area even if you weren't stopping to get something to eat.
There is alot of history here with the old rustic buildings that sort of made you feel as if you were in another time entirely and when we walked inside the restaurant, the decor was no different. The website for this placed proclaimed it as one of the most romatic spots in Santa Barbara. Although I would say by the look and feel of this place they would be accurate yet the service and food was sub par at best. My boyfriend and I walked in and were seen several times by wait staff yet recieved no greeting or acknowledgment for at least five minutes. I was very annoyed by this especially since eye contact was made several times and I finally asked one of the wait staff "do you want our business or should we leave to another establishment"? The waitress said she was sorry and sat us down right away with no menus and once again no service for another 10 minutes. When someone finally came over, we noticed another couple sitting behind us complaining that they were there first and no one had stopped by to help them as of yet after waiting for at least 10 minutes. I told the waitress she could help them first, but after thanking us they said there was no need as they got up and left out of frustration.
Well needless to say the waitress just shrugged and proceeded to take our order. I order the french toast and my boyfriend ordered the chicken friend steak. The chicken fried steak was nothing to write home about and the french toast was AWFUL! It was a soggy mess, with the egg batter still left somewhat uncooked and the home fries were cold. I'm not talking lukewarm, I'm talking cold as if they came right out of the fridge. My boyfriend was wondering if they even bothered to cook them as there was no warmth to them whatsoever. I informed the waitress and she replaced them with hot potatoes which you could tell were just microwaved.
Overall, this place was very unimpressive food wise and there is definitley no desire for us to ever go back again. Nice place, bad service and bad food.
Written July 10, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
asorenson
Fayetteville22 contributions
Jul 2012 • family
Good, food, good service, cool history, nice drive up the pass.
Written July 8, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Anna G
Los Angeles12670 contributions
Jul 2012 • friends
We enjoyed very good buffalo burgers, tri-tip sandwiches, and venison steak sandwich, as well as pretty sensational three types of chili all served in a woodsy, old California setting patroned by bikers, tourists, young and older.. Half the fun was getting there!
Written July 8, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
tandmsimmons
Tracy6 contributions
Jun 2012 • couples
You can't go here too often because the menu is fairly static a few trips and your eating the same old meal again. What you get is very good but you pay a hefty tab just like any other decent place in SB. If you have not visited then go and check it out, there's nothing better down on State St.
Written July 3, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ann K
33 contributions
May 2012 • none
Awesome mountain cabin with so much ambiance and amazing food. Live music on weekends, a real step back into time.
Written June 22, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MDF_U2
Irvine80 contributions
Aug 2011 • family
We were staying in Santa Barbara last summer and wanted to check this place out. We had seen it on the Best Thing I Ever Ate on Food Network. It is located up in the hills above Santa Barbara and offers a gorgeous view. We were seated in a small room in the back with a fireplace. We spent almost 3 hours here, even with our 2 young children. I had some wild game chili that was incredible. I also tasted my in-laws Venison and Rabbit. It provided a unique dining experience that I do not get very often. Would love to come back again.
Written June 21, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KiwisLA
Lahaina186 contributions
Jun 2012 • family
We stopped on the way to Solvang for lunch. Good excuse to avoid driving over the high bridge and follow the original route through the San Marcos pass. Interesting history on the walls/menu in the restaurant about how the coaches used to stop here, and you can walk around a few small outbuildings to find out more about the history of this little oasis of shade in the sunshine too. Just be aware that it is a thin windy 2 way road, with trucks, so keep your wits about you on the blind corners. We visited midweek for lunch but it was still crowded. I imagine it will be overcrowded at weekends as it is a bikey hangout.
Lunch choices were the usual American fare, but with a venison burger that added a gamey dimension. The chilli was good, potato salad creamy, and the grilled cheese sandwich with caramelized onions/chutney sublime. It was our favourite thing on the lunch menu. Service was great, nice chatty waitress, who was attentive. It is a quirky place which looks as though it was decorated by ElliMae Clampet/Walt Disney, comfortable wooden chairs and tables, old photos and taxidermied animals glaring as you eat at a red checkered tablecloth.
There is no electric lighting so at night this would be a very romantic place to dine.
Parking is on the side of the road or up a dirt track but free.
Well recommend you visit for the ambience and the food.
Written June 18, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sgbslo
San Luis Obispo178 contributions
Jun 2012 • couples
This is an interesting spot with lots of creaky charm. We had lunch here and the food was good--basic pub sort of fare. Our server was pleasant and attentive.
For a unique experience, this is a good choice.
Written June 14, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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