El Paseo Restaurant Reviews

We were lucky to have had our wedding reception at El Paseo in June of 2021. Troy and his team were beyond amazing, and we are so grateful to them for making our day so spectacular.

Troy and Alex, the lead chef, planned out our entire evening - and everything was perfect. The decor was stunning, the food was absolutely fantastic, and all staff members were kind + FUN. They truly went above and beyond.

We genuinely cannot recommend El Paseo enough, and we look forward to returning for many, many future dinners.

Choosing to host our wedding at El Paseo was the best decision we could have made! It is a great venue and they are true professionals at hosting events – Tyr is great to work with and he and his team do all of the heavy lifting. I never felt like Tyr was trying to upsell me, they gave me honest and helpful direction in the planning details. I didn’t hire a planner and I really don’t think you need to if you’re throwing your wedding at El Paseo. So many things are included in the venue (tables, chairs, linens, catering, wait staff, bartenders) that reduce the stress of planning, but you can customize the event in a number of ways to make it feel like your own. The food was outstanding – we had a Mexican menu, and even had them cater desserts (delicious churros, crème brulee, etc) instead of having a cake. It’s much better food than the standard restaurant fare they serve. The morning of the wedding, we dropped off our décor with some instructions and when we appeared everything was set up perfectly! We had 100 people at our wedding and I was a little worried it would be too big of a space but they set it up in a way that felt full. At the end of the day, Tyr and his team are total pros at throwing a great party. I think it’s the best value in town, with an amazing very-SB vibe, great food, and they just make it so easy and fun to plan for the wedding there.

Tyr and his team at El Paseo were the best! Super easy to communicate with, flexible, and great value for the space.

I seriously loved every minute, don't think twice about booking with him!

When looking for a venue my husband and I without a doubt new we wanted to be married in Santa Barbara. We toured almost every venue throughout the city. El Paseo Restaurant was a hidden gem. I stumbled across it on a Pinterest post. I scheduled an appointment right away. We were greeted by Chef Alex. His personality captured us right away. As soon as we walked in we new we wanted to be married there. The courtyard feel and the open ceiling was beautiful. The ambiance was so intimate and had the exact Santa Barbara style we were looking for. Shortly after we met with the Manager Tyr who was so detailed and patient with us. We knew we were in good hands. The day of the wedding they took care of all our vendors and assisted them in setting up. Tyr went above and beyond and made sure before we walked in for the first time that we tried all the appetizers that were served at cocktail hour. I mention that detail because with running the whole show he still made sure we experienced everything we were paying for. My guests still talk about the food. The food was amazing! Everything was so good. We also went with late night bites around 9:00 and those were delicious too. Overall great experience at El Paseo Restaurant.

We got married at Santa Barbara Courthouse. Then we walked down to the restaurant! The walk was 2 blocks away it was our choice to walk and it was a beautiful day. Tyr the manger was extremely helpful. He handle everything literally everything we didn’t worry stress nothing it was all taken care of by him and the amazing staff. The food 🤤 the most delicious! We had kid plates vegetarian choices etc.. the guest still talk about how great the food was. The restaurant itself we BEAUTIFUL!! We barely had to decorate. It is so cost effective and made wedding planning so easy! I couldn’t of ask for a more beautiful place to have a wedding reception!

The food here is out of this world! If you're a foodie or just want some amazing Mexican food for your reception, this is the place for you! Chef Alex was very excited when we met and basically told us he'd cook whatever we wanted, even if it wasn't on the online menu or a regular dish. Tyr, the coordinator, was a pleasure to work with. He set our minds completely at ease from day one that everything at the restaurant, from the time we arrived to the time we left, would be taken care of, and he delivered. For the incredible food and service this place provides - not to mention the historic and beautiful setting that captures Santa Barbara so completely - El Paseo is an absolute steal at their asking price.

Our reception was so much fun! El Paseo's aesthetic provides a great foundation for the perfect wedding ambiance.

Tyr, the Events Manager, is a top notch, experienced professional. I highly recommend considering El Paseo, especially if you are planning your own wedding, like I did.

Tyr is a clear communicator, and very patient. I'm pretty sure I asked him the same questions multiple times as I went through the planning process and he was always amiable in answering. The venue comes with almost everything you will need for your special day, including choices of table cloths/napkins, a sound system, twinkly lights etc.

The food prepared for events is off menu from El Paseo's standard fare and was noticeably tastier and unique.

The staff will set up all of the tables, acclimate other vendors that drop off stuff or arrive before the reception (think cake delivery and DJ/MC) so you don't have to worry about those things the day of.

The service the day of was great. Our guests had a fabulous time. The only oddity was that the staff mixed up some name cards and tables. We left them a map and clear guide so I'm not sure how this happened. Close family members were put at a table with business colleagues, a few name cards were never brought out, but it ended up that friends were made at the mixed up tables so I suppose it happened for good reason, in the end!

We can't say enough about how amazing our wedding reception was, thanks in large part to El Paseo. Tyr, the manager, is so warm and genuine, very helpful and knowledgeable (he has done a million wedding receptions and tons of other events), and is really responsive. Alex, the incredible chef, has cooked for three presidents, is so friendly and very talented. Because I'm celiac, they made everything minus a couple of desserts gluten free and provided meat and vegetarian options that were all so delicious! We had so much fun at the tasting, and Alex was so nice to come out and talk to us during it. Everything was perfect at our wedding, and people kept coming up to us saying how much they loved the food. We also decided to have them provide our dessert since we wanted creme brulée instead of cake. So they gave us a packaged deal of 4 desserts so that people could choose between creme brulée, cheesecake, churros (fun for kids), or chocolate mousse. The best part: for our sweetheart table, they delivered some of everything for us so we didn't even have to choose! In addition to the food is the perfect downtown SB location and beautiful atmosphere of El Paseo. It's like a little enclosed courtyard with a magical glow from the white lights that come on at night. The Spanish mission style adds to the aesthetics, as does the fountain and the title in the built in bar area. It was the perfect amount of space for our group of about 100. I could go on but I'll just end with this: book this place - you will be thrilled that you did!

We recently hosted our wedding reception at El Paseo and we cannot recommend it enough! We hosted 130 guests for a formal plated dinner and everything was perfect - the food, the service, the space, the lighting, the sound system, the dance floor, the bar, the price, and on and on! We worked with the manager Tyr and head chef Alex and both did a fantastic job making the food and service at our reception outstanding. Tyr and his crew set up for us and made sure the service was impeccable and the night went smoothly. Chef Alex did an excellent job with the food and created a custom appetizer from one of my husband's original recipes. We were also told by multiple guests that it was the best food they had ever had at a wedding! We agree! El Paseo feels like it was made to host wedding receptions. I don't think you can beat El Paseo for the value you get as a wedding reception spot. Thank you to Tyr, Chef Alex, and the entire staff at El Paseo for such wonderful memories!

We considered El Paseo Restaurant as the venue for our wedding reception

because it was more convenient than renting a site and then having to get a caterer,

party/event rentals, etc. We also considered it because of the positive reviews we had

seen on various websites. We met with the manager, Tyr, and knew, at that first meeting

with him, that this was the venue for us. Tyr, in his quiet, efficient, professional manner,

explained everything to us at those initial meetings (like 10-11 months ahead of the

wedding date), and everything went exactly according to what he told us. No unpleasant

surprises and we ended up saving a lot of money doing it here. Guests loved the venue

with its historical and architectural significance and, of course, its Santa Barbara charm.

And they also raved about the food that Chef Alex prepared—even our very discerning

Persian relatives from Brentwood! We are soooo happy we chose this beautiful, quaint

spot for our wedding reception.

El Paseo is beautiful and the food was really good. We did more of an Italian style and Chef Alex and his team did a fantastic job, everyone said it was the best they've ever had at a wedding (and there was a lot of it!). The service was excellent and the planning process was very easy. Chef Alex came up with the best menu ideas! I certainly recommend a venue that already has the catering, bar, staff, equipment and linens on site - so much easier and a better value then having to rent every little thing.

We had a small 30 guest wedding reception at El Paseo and they were great at allowing us to set up our tables and get everything ready to make our reception special for us and our guests. The food and drinks are amazing and we had great service.

When we walked in the door of El Paseo we knew it was the spot for our wedding. We had eaten there many years ago and stopped by on a whim while touring Santa Barbara locations. The venue is absolutely beautiful and perfect for planning a stunning wedding. Paul and his team were very easy to work with and had many good suggestions. They are true professionals at hosting a grand event! The food was amazing on the day of our tasting and was exactly the same on the day of our wedding. We got rave reviews on our wedding food and the venue from all of our guests. All of the staff was attentive and friendly. The waiter for our sweetheart table even found us in the crowd and made sure we were ready to eat and that our food was not sitting out getting cold and gave us a friendly reminder when the food was set out to be sure that we got our 10 minutes to eat. :) I would highly recommend this venue for anyone considering a Santa Barbara wedding. I can't think of a better, more reasonable priced venue in the area.

We had our wedding reception at El Paseo earlier this month and I could not have been happier. The food was excellent -- we opted for Mexican food (mole and camarones al diablo) -- and the margaritas were amazing. Alex, the chef, worked with us to customize our menu and created the most delicious hors d'oeuvres you can imagine. Paul was extremely helpful in assisting us with the ideal table settings and it was so easy to set everything up!

The venue is simply gorgeous... everyone loved the indoor-outdoor feel and the small lights made it feel truly magical. The service was excellent, excellent, excellent.

A wonderful place for a Santa Barbara wedding!

You simply will not find better quality for your money in the Santa Barbara/ Tri county area. The food, prepared by superstar chef Alex (Alejandro) is amazing, Paul (the GM) is phenomenal, and the price is just about half of anything that even comes close. All of this, and you would be hard pressed to find a more beautiful and iconic location. Our guests raved about the food, and the buffet option was perfect for us, which allowed everyone to try everything at their leisure. Both Alex and Paul were great with making sure that guests with diet restrictions (Celiac, diabetes, vegetarian) had ample choice, and that any one would enjoy the amazing food. When we first met with Paul, he told us that we just had to take care of the ceremony, and he would make sure the reception went smoothly. He was right! We were well taken care of, and enjoyed our reception entirely worry-free thanks to the professional staff that went above and beyond for us.

I have always been a fan of El Paseo Restaurant and was thrilled to find out they do weddings! I quickly booked my wedding reception there as they book up fast! Paul, the owner, is an AMAZING wedding coordinator and will help you with EVERYTHING. You really don't need a wedding planner because El Paseo handles everything. The only thing you need to provide are: Cake, decorations and DJ. Other than that, they take care of it all and will give you advice on how best to plan your celebration for the type of reception you want. I was beyond impressed by their professionalism, efficiency, willingness to accommodate, and helpfulness. Even when I asked a lot of questions they were happy to answer and never seemed annoyed. In fact if anything Paul and his team ease your anxiety and lets you know everything is going ok. It is also very reasonably priced and you can decide how you want to do the bar (cash, open, beer/wine, signature drinks) which is great especially if you are on a budget. I was very pleased with everything and would book my wedding there again in a heartbeat!

Paul, Tyr and everyone else at El Paseo made our wedding reception perfect! The staff did an outstanding job and we couldn't have been happier. Nothing was overlooked, Paul and his team handled every detail making the day so easy, fun and memorable for the wedding party and all our guests (who continue to praise the food and service). Everyone agreed it was the best buffet anyone has ever had at a wedding! Paul's experience was so valuable and helpful for planning the flow of the night, the setup and operation of the event. He had so many amazing suggestions and took care of everything, from set up/take down to coordinating with our vendors. It was perfect and stress free.

I would recommend El Paseo for anyone looking to have a classic Santa Barbara wedding and wanting to work with a staff that will exceed your expectations and allow for a flawless night for you to enjoy!

Our wedding reception at El Paseo was amazing, beautiful, and memorable. My (now) husband and I knew we'd found the right spot pretty much as soon as we walked in. The space - a courtyard restaurant - is gorgeous - open-air, two story, with a fountain and trees filled with twinkling lights. It's romantic, historic, and unique. Paul, the owner, was wonderful to work with. He was so knowledgeable, friendly and helpful, and he made everything easy for us from the beginning stages of talking to him, to planning the menu, to taking care of us and making sure everything ran smoothly during the event.

We had a 180 person reception, and El Paseo made it feel like a special, intimate event. The food was delicious, and the drinks (especially the margaritas and sangria) were great. The staff did a great job of making sure everything ran smoothly, and everybody was so kind and helpful throughout the event. The pricing for the catering and the event itself was really reasonable, especially considering the amazing service and beautiful location.

I feel so fortunate that we found El Paseo, and I'd recommend it to anyone. Paul and the staff helped make our wedding so special and memorable, and I know we'll enjoy going back to the restaurant and reminiscing for many years to come.

I had my reception at El Paseo. Paul and his team were so helpful and great. From the linens, decor, delicious food, pacing of the schedule, and customer service El Paseo made the night perfect! Everything was so easy to plan and so much fun to experience. Unique Santa Barbara venue with character.

Paul, the owner of El Paseo, and his staff made our wedding reception an absolutely unforgettable experience. Our guests could not stop complimenting the space, food, drinks and staff. Paul was very helpful and hands-on with every detail. We are so happy with the experience we had with El Paseo Restaurant.

El Paseo is beautiful and charming venue that is realistic in pricing. We loved it as our venue and enjoyed working with the whole team there. The place is stunning and the price is great!

We hosted our wedding reception at El Paseo and it was perfect. We had around 140 people, passed appetizers and a plated dinner. Everyone loved the food! Tyr was very helpful with planning the reception - with his help we didn't need to hire another coordinator, even though we were planning the wedding from across the country. The setting is beautiful and very distinctly Santa Barbara, being a restaurant made all of the planning and logistics super easy, and it was great value!

Paul, the owner, was a great guy to work with while planning our dream wedding. I am an incredibly detail oriented person and because of that, called him numerous times to make sure all of the details were ironed out. He answered all of my questions and was extremely accommodating - even when I wanted a signature margarita in a flavor he didn't carry - he ordered the syrup and the fresh berries. The day of, he worked wonderfully with my planner and her team to execute the wedding of my dreams.

The food and the drinks were amazing! The staff was awesome and there were absolutely no complaints from the guests.

For as beautiful of a location as the restaurant is, I can't imagine why every Santa Barbara bride doesn't want to be married here!

The venue was able to make a 200 guest wedding feel intimate and romantic. With the friendly staff, scrumptious food and beautiful courtyard setting (it has a retractable roof depending on the weather) our wedding was perfectly magical. Everyone was smiling, laughing, enjoying the reception. The food was so good I saw some people go back to the buffet a third time! The venue is already so beautifully decorated we hardly had to do a thing and the staff helped set up all of the decorations on the tables, which was a huge help. My husband and I were well taken care of with a staff member completely devoted to bringing us refreshments and taking care of our bridal party, as well. No one went hungry, including us.

Highlights:
-Food was out of this world. Four months later, our guests are still talking about how amazing and flavorful the food was and how they couldn't get enough of the appetizers and Sangria. I think what made this key was the tasting we did with our parents a few months before the wedding. This ensured the cuisine which we selected as Latin Fusion really reflected our palate. I have to mention that my very traditional father came to taste the food and he is the pickiest eater and even he was impressed and got to joke with Chef Alex about the salsa tasting. Such a great time!

-Ambiance and lighting was amazing! El Paseo has old beauty, history and everything you need to host a beautiful wedding.

-Location-In the center of downtown Santa Barbara and super close to the church where we were married, Our lady of Sorrows.

-Staff was super friendly and ensured our guests were taken care of with all of their needs when asked

Lowlights/Feedback/Tips:
Preparation: We went by the venue the day before to drop off some stuff and show a family member where all the decorations would go and touch base with Tyr whom I was working with. Try did indicate he would not be there but someone else would be-though that communication didn't quite get passed on but the staff that was there still helped us. Seems like the lack of communication continued the next day-none of the staff was available in the morning to help set up the tables as was promised. Kind of a let down since my aunt and cousins had to rush to do it all on their own.

We had a little hiccup with an intoxicated guest during happy hour and our own guests spotted this and took on their own to kick out this person because at the time of the happy hour---yep---that fast--none of the staff was available or around to spot this or point it out to the the Best Man or Maid of Honor. We did not have a wedding coordinator since Tyr said he would be the wedding coordinator so i'd recommend tight communication.