Felix Ngo

Very chill and cozy place. The burgers are amazing and filling! Also my partner and I shared a banana sundae which really hits the spot for a dessert. The price is decent and not overpriced. Would definitely come again.

C B

Updated 7/4/25 Unfortunately, this most recent visit to Benchmark Brewery in Santa Barbara was a real letdown. The service was underwhelming, and the food left a lot to be desired. We started with the spinach dip, which was extremely thick, dry, and paste-like—honestly, it made us feel a little queasy. I ordered the pozole, and it may have been the worst I’ve ever had. It was served cold, and the broth was completely flavorless. Even more confusing, the bowl was overwhelmed with toppings,mostly cabbage and radish, which took up nearly half the bowl. If you do decide to try it (though I wouldn’t recommend it), ask for toppings on the side. The chicken dish also arrived cold, as did our French fries. Oddly, the extra side of fries we ordered came out colder and noticeably smaller than the ones served with the burgers. The one bright spot was that my nephews enjoyed their burgers. All in all, this experience was disappointing enough that I wouldn’t recommend eating here, at least not based on this visit. We were all really disappointed after a $200 lunch for a group of 6. We would have told one of the team members but they never returned to our table. So disappointed and taking this off the list of places we eat when in SB.

Jason Thoman

Had about an hour and a half to kill before a show at the Granada Theater, so my wife and I decided to stop into Benchmark Eatery—and we’re so glad we did! She went with the chips and salsa plus two beef tacos, and those tacos were incredible. The homemade corn tortillas took them to another level—so fresh and flavorful. I ordered the burger sliders and they were cooked to absolute perfection. Juicy, seasoned just right, and super satisfying. We also each got a drink, and let’s just say they don’t skimp on the pours—definitely a bonus in our book.

+1

Sarah D

This is a great spot for lunch & dinner! I had the BBQ chicken salad and my fiancé had the BBQ chicken flatbread, and both were really good. The setup is super casual—you order at the counter, and they bring the food out to you. The staff was very friendly when greeting us and quick to bring out our order. It’s a great spot for a laid-back meal with tasty food and great service. Definitely worth a visit!

Elena Yee

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect; however, their fish and chips are actually the best I’ve had in some time. The fried fish was tender, plentiful and not at all oily with a crunchy crust. The chips albeit french fries were of the thin type and super crispy, which is my preference. The coleslaw seemed more homemade and lightly dressed. There’s never enough tartar sauce so I asked for more, which they were happy to provide with no hesitation. My friend ordered their fried chicken peas appetizer, which was quite yummy and only $2. BTW, the fish and chips was only $16.95 which is a bargain these days.

Mei Chi Siu

Surprisingly very good! Walking around SB and wanted to eat a light/light-ish lunch. We came across this busy joint. Place was easy going and the seating outside was breezy for a sunny day. We enjoyed their pozole soup, calamari, shrimp kale salad and pesto pasta. We came to restaurant again and had different foods; still delicious and orders were nicely prepared.

+3

RivailsLogan

"Located on State Street, we enjoyed an early dinner before the Independence Day fireworks. We ordered burgers and burritos. Despite the holiday crowd and limited staff, the employees did their best to provide service. It had a real local vibe."

M Mui

An absolutely delicious lunch here with a vast menu from salads, to burgers. Portions are generous and everything is so tasty. I had a salmon salad and ordered the appetizer of chick peas. The chick peas were a touch salty on its own but made a great topping to my salad. The salmon was perfectly cooked and the salad was hearty. The staff are really friendly and the ambiance is great. Spacious, open dining both indoor and outdoor, great selection of alcoholic/non-alcoholic beverages and quick service.

Michael Beener

Absolutely fantastic! Order at the counter, take your number, and they bring it out to your table. Ordering was simple and the employee who took my order couldn't have been more professional. She also stopped by my table to check how my meal was. The manager also asked if I needed anything a bit later. The double cheeseburger was spot on. Cooked perfectly with just the right amount of condiments added to the burger. Not to mention fries that came right out of the fryer that were nice and crispy. I don't give many five star reviews, but Benchmark Eatery, you deserve these stars!

Andreas Aristidou

The food was so good, fancy and super friendly staff. We got two salads - the cobb one and the kae one. They came in looking so nice and tasting even better. My girlfriend got sparkling water which came in a fancy New Zealand bottle. The staff were super friendly and talkative and we had a great experience overall, for a reasonable price. Well done!

+13

MC

Service as others described below is horrible. Also the prices reflected on their website is inaccurate to the menu at the restaurant. This place is nothing less than a high end Burger King. You order at the bar and the food is brought to you. Anywhere from the management to the cashiers lack basic customer service skills and initiative. 3 cashiers who also sub as a bartender stand in front of the iPad just staring at you and wait for YOU to approach them so they can tap on the screen and take your order. No greeting, no smile and wave or hey, I’m open over here and directs you to come forward and place your order. One would rather have the iPad face the customers and customers place their own order to have to endure a blank face cashier. Asian female Management rang me up today and no wonder why the other cashiers can care less about customer service bc the very same demeanor comes from leadership. She literally rang me up and not a smile or eye contact in sight, all the while talking to a coworker. Apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Unfortunately, I come here often since I work in the area and no what to expect as far as service. They also never get a tip from me bc they do nothing more than provide subpar standards. BEWARE OF THE PRICES ON THE WEBSITE COMPARED TO IN PERSON. BIG RED FLAG.

Harnoor Mutneja

Service and atmosphere was fine. The food was GOD AWFUL tho. We got the fried calamari and spinach and artichoke dip. Thank god we ordered a little bit before we ordered more. I was SO turned off by their frozen ketchup which had the water separated from it. Didn’t feel like eating anything after looking at that