Brophy Bros.

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saritalc

Joined 7 years ago

Plan the right time to go, and it will be definitely worth it..... This is my second time at Brophy Bro's and because on our first visit there was a long line, we avoided the crowd and went a bit earlier. I think we were in and out of the restaurant in under an hour, and this being a Saturday night. Yes, people being smart and making an early dinner is a solution to those long waits. You can't go wrong with the daily special menu. The seafood definitely tastes fresh and tasty. This place is definitely a must if you're in Santa Barbara the staff is nice (I guess they expect most of the diners to be out of towners so they take their time to ask you where you're from and how you like it so far.. etc etc).

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linda651

Joined 8 years ago

Great food, great location!. This place is crowded, but the food and service were both great. We were seated upstairs, outside on the balcony. The tables are a little close to each other, but you can't beat the wonderful view. The food was delicious, especially the clam chowder. We will definitely be back the next time we are in Santa Barbara!

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Randi Schmelzer

Joined 10 years ago

Fresh seafood feasts fit to please even New England's saltiest dogs.. The Scene
Nestled among fishing boats and tackle shops, this bustling seafood joint has long been a local favorite. For a dockside table or a spot at the kitschy downstairs clam bar, be prepared to wait--and jump on any open table, even if it's covered with lemon wedges, shells and cracker crumbs. A more organized upstairs area accepts reservations.

The Food
There are always local catch-of-the-day specials, and fresh fish is flown in daily from around the country. But the real draw is the clam bar, dishing out appetizers so good, it's difficult to stop at just one. Littleneck clams on the half shell are slightly rubbery, but juicy oysters and plump peel-and-eat shrimp are perfect with piquant cocktail sauce or tangy tartar sauce. Creamy, chunky New England clam chowder is a delicious addition to any meal. Disappointing, though, is the fish-and-chips platter: two large, heavily battered pieces of snapper are very greasy.

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etbouvet

Joined 7 years ago

Easy seating outside on Monday early evening. We did not wait very long to be seated outside when we arrive on Monday at 6:00 PM. And sitting outside with a view on the harbor is what is attractive with this restaurant. The food is not better than Red Lobster and they want you to eat quickly to make room for new clients. Go for the view but not for the food and relaxing atmosphere.

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masterblair

Joined 7 years ago

Double the wait claimed, Food not as good as they claim, Good View, slow service, outdoor bar window next to seats is a nuisance. OK...so I sound negative. But after eating here we spent 8 more hours in Santa Barbara and ate at two smaller and just as busy resturants and there food and service was 10 times better than Brophy Bros. Didn't really know for sure what the wait time was...but they said many people were finishing up and should be 30 minutes (meanwhile people before and after us were complaining at how long they had been waitiing). An hour later we got served (would have gone to the two resturants next door but they barely had any customers...not a good sign, and the average age was 55 and up...so we stuck with Brophy Bros. which appeared young and fun. They sat us outside, the view was great. The waiteress said the food was all good on the menu. The clamb chowder was excellent. The bread tasty but the crust thick and tough to chew (I have all my teeth) The table was small because it was on a small balcony surrounding the building. Yet they put a bar window right outside this walkway so people are hanging out having loud drinking conversattions and people are bumpoing your knees as they walk around to get past these people. The waitress brought our food and we had to clear off the table to make room for the food. Didn't mind but the waitress just gave us dirty looks when we handed the plates to here (hey...she wouldn't put the food down because there was no room with the bread plates, the bread, the clam chowder cups. I had shellfish but now no plate to put the empty shells upon (but then again, no room to set such a plate). They were ok. My friend had Mahi Mahi with rice. The fish was thin (and I found out later...since he was being polite) very much overcooked. Mahi Mahi should be seared on the outside and pink on the inside. The flavored rice was flavorless. Service was slow, getting refills was slow. They only thing fast was getting our checks. For a fish house they sure seem to have trouble cooking it. Plus we noticed all the fish was from outside California. Not going back.

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blitz16

Joined 7 years ago

The best!. Brophy's is a great Santa Barbara restaurant. The clam chowder is to die for and the oysters on the half shell are prepared by the bartender right in front of you. The beer boiled shrimp os a great value and great tasting. The garlic-baked clams are so sinfully good. It's always hard to decide what to order, but luckily they have samplers so you an get a little bit of everything! Get there early if you want to sit at the bar and talk to the friendly bartenders, otherwise the outdoor tables are nice.

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downwithpants

Joined 8 years ago

Good, but not worth the wait. We waited for nearly an hour and a half to sit upstairs and then found out afterwards that their was open seating downstairs. Nice of them to let you know. It is a frantic, loud and exciting restaurant that dishes out awesome Bear Boiled Shrimp. It was a huge serving with gigantic shrimp that were incredibly tasty. And the clam chowder is some of the best I've ever eaten. But both of our entree's were just average. Both our Ahi and Thresher Shark were overcooked, the fries were limp and the rice pretty boring. Luckily the sauces were incredible salvaging the otherwise below average fish. It was good and we enjoyed ourselves but we think we could have gone next door and had a similar meal much quicker.

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bbagel

Joined 11 years ago

Fresh seafood at reasonable prices. Try the hot combo appetizer dish ($12.50) and the clam chowder ($3 or 4). They are the best dishes in the house, in my opinion! The combo appetizer dish comes with cocktail shrimp, clams & oysters in a broth, baked clams, and baked oysters. It's delicious! The clam chowder is excellent, even by a Bostonian's standard. We only had a so-so opinion of the sea bass... it wasn't as flavorful as we would have liked it. It's very crowded on weekends, so prepare to be overwhelmed. It is also very loud in there, and you sit very close to the next person, or the people waiting around for their table! As a visitor, I have been told this is an all-time favorite for locals. They don't take reservations.

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rvjudi

Joined 10 years ago

Highly overrated. Busy, noisy, narrow aisles, long waits for service. Food was mediocre, but fresh.

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VictorGZilinskas

Joined 11 years ago

best!. Brophy's is the best restaurant for ambience, food, service and views of the harbor and ocean. Go there!!!