Char-West is not what it was back in the day. The burgers are not Char- Broiled like they used to be and the burgers are very small now with absolutely no flavor. I would not waste your time or money eating at this restaurant as there are so many better choices out there at better prices!
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 2
Recommended dishes: Cheese Burger
Bill Elliott
Great service, Great tasting food, Fast affordable. Picnic tables outside available.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Roger Núñez
Good breackfast.We ordered the pancake combo, with bacon and eggs.The waiters were so kind.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Disguy
Flavorless frozen fish covered in thick breading served with thin stringy tarter sauce and no alcohol options. I ate here because everything nearby had a line and ended up throwing away our food. Great views and no wait, but the food is downright bad.
John Pedersen
Decidedly average food. Fish was OK but the chips were barely warm. My partner had the ceaser salad which was just lettuce with a tiny sprinkling of cheese. I think better options are available.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
Dari P.
This little restaurant is on the wharf. They have breakfast, salads, fish, burgers, coffees, and drinks. Prices are reasonable and the food is good. The employees are very friendly.
Jonna G.
Their fish & chips were very fresh. The fish was flakey and piping hot. The batter wasn't super thick and it was crispy as well. The portions are huge and we also liked their tartar sauce. The fries were a crispy as well. I wish I could have asked for more lemon but since we were all starving we just gobbled up our food. I wish we got the fried clams since someone just talked about it. Maybe next time when we come back.
Vincent Raroque
The boardwalk was very peaceful and the Pacific Ocean is gorgeous. The scenery and atmosphere is perfect. The staff is nice as well. The food was good. Gordo burger is two patties and the patties were juicy but not greasy juicy.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Fred T.
I was leaning between 3 stars or 4, but settled on 4. Char West is located at the Santa Barbara Stearns Pier. It is tucked into one of the many businesses on the south side of the pier.Actually, since they serve Peet's coffee I was going to settle for a cup but noticed this order on the counter. A basic house salad that looked very tasty. Since one of their main dishes is fish and chips I opted for the salad and fish and chips (fries).The order was nicely prepared. The only hiccup was the fish, which was very tasty however the batter was a bit thicker than I expected.Overall, a good meal. Service was quick and there is plenty of seating inside as well as outside.
Anna R
Delicious fish and chips made fresh in a beautiful location - at the end of the pier. Can’t ask for much more than that. Very kind people working here and decent prices for what it is. Loved eating our meal on some of the tables outside Char West overlooking the ocean!
There was three of us and we all got one of the daily specials. The TriTip Sandwich on the daily special was the worst TriTip Sandwich that I have ever had. Another person had the TriTip Tacos, they were so bad that she couldn't finish them. I cannot recommend this place at all.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 3
Christal Kasdin
I’ve lived here in Santa Barbara for 20 yrs and by far the worst experience ever. My husband and I went around 10am on Sunday, June 4th. Left without even ordering anything.We were sitting outside, on one of the Stearn Wharf’s many public seatings and tables. Looking through the menu online, we didn’t want to walk up to the register and not know what we wanted to order. When 2 older white women with like 3-4 dogs, walk up to us looking annoyed and bothered that we were there. They asked us if we were going to stay because this is the table they use all the time. We brush it off because there were 6-8 other open and available public tables around us. A few moments later, they come back with the server, a Mexican woman with an accent, and asked us to move because THEY wanted to sit here. We just surprised and responded, isn’t this a public seating ? and there are more tables around us? They asked us to leave. Extremely disappointed and not surprised by that service. Again, we didn’t even get the chance to order. They obviously only serve certain types of people here.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Charles Collier
This is a one of a kind location with great food and service. We arrived just before the end of breakfast at 11 a.m., and they quickly loaded the grill and accommodated all seven in our party. They were very fast and courteous, and the food was very good. Char West has stood the test of time with its consistency and great service.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Don Frasco
Free 90-minute parking on the pier. Menu is simple yet perfect for its location. Love their crispy fish and chips. Staff were friendly and helpful.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
jose fowler
Nice food great location and value for money other restaurants expensive and for me the views and outdoor seating make it a better place
Char-West is not what it was back in the day. The burgers are not Char- Broiled like they used to be and the burgers are very small now with absolutely no flavor. I would not waste your time or money eating at this restaurant as there are so many better choices out there at better prices!
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 2
Recommended dishes: Cheese Burger
Great service, Great tasting food, Fast affordable. Picnic tables outside available.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Good breackfast.We ordered the pancake combo, with bacon and eggs.The waiters were so kind.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Flavorless frozen fish covered in thick breading served with thin stringy tarter sauce and no alcohol options. I ate here because everything nearby had a line and ended up throwing away our food. Great views and no wait, but the food is downright bad.
Decidedly average food. Fish was OK but the chips were barely warm. My partner had the ceaser salad which was just lettuce with a tiny sprinkling of cheese. I think better options are available.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
This little restaurant is on the wharf. They have breakfast, salads, fish, burgers, coffees, and drinks. Prices are reasonable and the food is good. The employees are very friendly.
Their fish & chips were very fresh. The fish was flakey and piping hot. The batter wasn't super thick and it was crispy as well. The portions are huge and we also liked their tartar sauce. The fries were a crispy as well. I wish I could have asked for more lemon but since we were all starving we just gobbled up our food. I wish we got the fried clams since someone just talked about it. Maybe next time when we come back.
The boardwalk was very peaceful and the Pacific Ocean is gorgeous. The scenery and atmosphere is perfect. The staff is nice as well. The food was good. Gordo burger is two patties and the patties were juicy but not greasy juicy.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
I was leaning between 3 stars or 4, but settled on 4. Char West is located at the Santa Barbara Stearns Pier. It is tucked into one of the many businesses on the south side of the pier.Actually, since they serve Peet's coffee I was going to settle for a cup but noticed this order on the counter. A basic house salad that looked very tasty. Since one of their main dishes is fish and chips I opted for the salad and fish and chips (fries).The order was nicely prepared. The only hiccup was the fish, which was very tasty however the batter was a bit thicker than I expected.Overall, a good meal. Service was quick and there is plenty of seating inside as well as outside.
Delicious fish and chips made fresh in a beautiful location - at the end of the pier. Can’t ask for much more than that. Very kind people working here and decent prices for what it is. Loved eating our meal on some of the tables outside Char West overlooking the ocean!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
There was three of us and we all got one of the daily specials. The TriTip Sandwich on the daily special was the worst TriTip Sandwich that I have ever had. Another person had the TriTip Tacos, they were so bad that she couldn't finish them. I cannot recommend this place at all.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 3
I’ve lived here in Santa Barbara for 20 yrs and by far the worst experience ever. My husband and I went around 10am on Sunday, June 4th. Left without even ordering anything.We were sitting outside, on one of the Stearn Wharf’s many public seatings and tables. Looking through the menu online, we didn’t want to walk up to the register and not know what we wanted to order. When 2 older white women with like 3-4 dogs, walk up to us looking annoyed and bothered that we were there. They asked us if we were going to stay because this is the table they use all the time. We brush it off because there were 6-8 other open and available public tables around us. A few moments later, they come back with the server, a Mexican woman with an accent, and asked us to move because THEY wanted to sit here. We just surprised and responded, isn’t this a public seating ? and there are more tables around us? They asked us to leave. Extremely disappointed and not surprised by that service. Again, we didn’t even get the chance to order. They obviously only serve certain types of people here.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
This is a one of a kind location with great food and service. We arrived just before the end of breakfast at 11 a.m., and they quickly loaded the grill and accommodated all seven in our party. They were very fast and courteous, and the food was very good. Char West has stood the test of time with its consistency and great service.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Free 90-minute parking on the pier. Menu is simple yet perfect for its location. Love their crispy fish and chips. Staff were friendly and helpful.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Nice food great location and value for money other restaurants expensive and for me the views and outdoor seating make it a better place