With all the exuberance of Mardi Gras, this N’awlins-style grill makes totally addictive baskets of housemade muffins and breads, and ginormous (if so-so) plates of jambalaya, gumbo ya-ya, blackened catfish and pecan chicken. Stiff cocktails and indulgent desserts make the grade. Act unsurprised when the staff lead the crowd in a rousing sing-along.

Mardi Gras energy, team-style service, lively music, and great Cajun, creole, and Caribbean food have made the Palace a Santa Barbara icon. Be prepared to wait for a table on Friday and Saturday night, though the live entertainment and free appetizers, sent out front when the line is long, will whet your appetite for the feast to come.

Way more than just a pretty face — although the sparkling ocean views at the Boathouse at Hendry’s Beach are certainly extraordinary — the fresh seafood selections, excellent cocktails (including a terrific happy hour), and brunch delights keep us coming back again and again. Try the crab cakes, lobster and truffle mac ’n’ cheese, smoked salmon eggs Benedict, and huevos Hope Ranch, not to mention the award-winning Bloody Mary, and enjoy the view. If you were any closer to the water, you’d be in a boat!

Every day is Mardi Gras at The Palace Grill, easily one of Santa Barbara's liveliest spots for Southern charm and Louisiana's Cajun and Creole-inspired dishes. Enjoy crawfish etouffee, creole crab cakes, gumbo, and chicken and andouille sausage. Specialty drinks include everything from hurricanes to Caribbean rum punch, but the real winner here is the Cajun martini, which is marinated with a fresh jalapeno pepper and served up extra cold.

Once frequented by Julia Child, La Super Rica Taqueria serves straightforward Mexican food in a bright little shop. Thanks to its cheffy reputation, a line starts forming right when the restaurant opens, with locals and tourists alike waiting for their taste the Especial. Just down the street sits one outpost of the family-owned local chain, Los Agaves.

Laissez les bons temps rouler," is the motto at The Palace Grill, a phrase that translates to: Let the good times roll!. A night at The Palace isn't complete without a sing-a-long (just one song, don't worry) and rousing group toast. With a menu that reads like a roster of Southern and Creole favorites, you're guaranteed to leave with a full belly.

Palace Grill: Santa Barbara restaurants don't get much better than this. The Palace is a downtown eatery with a never-ending line of folks waiting on the sidewalk to get in, so make a reservation. Not a terrible thing to wait, though, because the restaurant provides free entertainment while you mingle.

Padaro Beach Grill (Carpinteria beachy restaurant with casual menu located next to the ocean. This place is very entertaining for little kids due to an oversized sandbox in the middle of the outdoor dining area and the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner coming by once in a while)

The Palace Grill offers a variety of new American cuisine with a Cajun-Creole twist. The Palace offers various fun and unique cocktails including a habanero martini. On the food side, a favorite dish is their gumbo; critics say it is “perfectly spiced”.

Experience the flavors of New Orleans and the American South, serving authentic Cajun and Creole cuisine. Our carefully served dishes cater to various tastes, with attention to detail from the spices used to the presentation.

It has very good New Orleans cooking and a very lively atmosphere. The Oysters Rockerfeller are divine. They feature two kinds of martinis, the spicy Cajun and the "Dean Martini", which is a very good, standard gin martini.

This is one of the best places to get classic southern dishes like gumbo and crawfish. Pair these delicious options with the fun and relaxed environment and you have the perfect place to get a bite to eat with friends.

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account. A post shared by The Palace Grill (@palacegrillsb). Let the good times roll is practically the motto of The Palace Grill.

Palace Grill is rated 2 stars and serves American and Cajun food. They are located a half block east of State Street at 8 East Cota Street. They are open from 5:30pm to 10pm.