Courtyard Cafe

As of February 2016, this place no longer has Rice Garden… Now there’s a Yoshinoya. I reviewed that separately.
Anyways, this place is located in the Engineering section of campus. You’ll feel like a nerd because you came here for food in addition for studying. But don’t feel too bad; It’s got a pretty wide variety of selections, ranging from burgers, salads fries, crepes, quesadillas, soups, wraps, and things you’d find in a Starbucks.
Service was pretty good. When I made the request for a lettuce wrap, the staff member was worried that my burger would fall apart and requested it to have it toothpicked together without me asking. Very helpful and friendly.
I personally ordered a protein style burger (Low carb, keto), so it came around to be $ 5. It’s too high, considering the quality isn’t worth the price.
Food took about 15 minutes to arrive, so don’t come here for fast food. I saw that they were grilling food to order, but the burger simply didn’t taste fresh. The meat was rather flavorless and rubbery, and the cheese was just an unmelted kraft single. I imagine the other burger styles would be about the same :(
This place seems like it’s been designed by a committee. First, you have to go to an «order» line, which you place your order, get a receipt. Then, you have to go to a «pay» line, which then you give the receipt to a cashier, who takes the receipt, and then you pay the cashier. As an engineer, this INFURIATES me of how inefficient this is, considering you need twice the amount of paper (Two Receipts), twice the amount of workers (Order, Cashier), and unnecessary crowds just hanging around the poorly designed and cramped space (Two lines). I found it really ironic that of all places, Courtyard Café manages to highlight that inefficiency the most, which is why we get such long lines and large crowds for such a small place.
Even with all my gripes, I would be willing to try this place out again due to its location to my labs in Harold Frank Hall and Engineering 2, but for now, avoid the burgers, as the price doesn’t correlate well to the taste.

Came in to get Rice Garden but got a chicken breast panini combination instead with hot tea and a banana. It kind of took a while and it was too greasy and cheesy for my taste but the chicken tasted fine. The bananas also were pretty bruised so that was a let down.
The crêpe specials that they have during the week looked good though so I’ll have to come back and try one and also I need to get the chinese food since that’s what everyone always talks about. I just wish they were open later because a sweet crêpe for dessert would be good!

This review is for the rice garden chinese food only. Get the BBQ pork, nothing else, it’s worth the trek to the engineering building just for that crisp, juicy pork.

This review will be split into two because of the two restaurants that reside here:
1. Rice Garden — *** — I think it’s a tie between this and Panda express, but what gives them the edge is the «Master Fung’s» BBQ chicken, which is delicious. The other entrees are pretty standard.
2. Nicoletti’s Café — *** — I know this expression is cliché, but looks are deceiving; the food LOOKS great, but when you taste it, it’s a few notches below your expectations. I had their cheeseburger combo and while it was aesthetically pleasing on the eyes, it was dry and bland. The garlic fries were «meh,» (pre-​frozen cut curly fries fried with garlic and seasonings on top), but they do give you a lot for your money ($ 2.50).
*** + ***/​2 = 3 stars overall. Not great, but not bad. I would say this is the kind of place go to when you just finished a test and want to unwind and not have to cook anything.

I can’t understand why this place would ever get more than 3 stars. I’ve eaten here occasionally for 3 or 4 years and the food is mediocre at best. Even for campus dining it’s not that great. Perhaps it’s «very good» compared to what else is available on campus but 5 stars for $ 5 ‘Chinese’ food? Not on their best day.

As far as eating on the UCSB campus goes, this is the bee’s knees. I would probably go here even if it wasn’t on campus. Inside they have a Chinese restaurant called Rice Garden (similar to Panda Express in style, only the food is more delicious), and also a grill where you can order crepes and paninis! (among other things)
They also function as an arm of the Nicoletti’s Café, so you can order fancy espresso drinks, or my personal fave, Italian sodas. Additionally they have things like pre-​made sandwiches, pasta salad, etc. that you can grab for a quick meal on the go.
You can sit outside or inside; both areas have nice seating. You can get takeout, or you can grab a number and they’ll bring your food to you. The outside seating is nice and benefits from the lovely ocean breeze (which is only lovely once the fog has burned off).
Did I mention the crepes and paninis?

Top notch food at a good price. You can only get curly fries, love it.

2 star for Rice Garden, 3.5 stars for Courtyard café.
Rice Garden: Very DISAPPOINTED!!! I’ve been going to this place for two years now. I used to know almost every worker that works there coz i was a regular. I loved their food and the price. But ever since they changed the manager, the food quality is getting worse and worse. most dishes are way too salty. BBQ pork (used to be my favorite dish here) just does not taste right. everything is like bleh. they gave out smaller portion nowadays too. i mean the price is still cheaper than panda. but i dont know if its worth me to walk all the way to the other side of campus now.
Courtyard: crepes, turkey cranberry croissants, burgers & paninis. i like them all. oh and then super crispy curly fries. :D its a bit pricey, but you have the beautiful ocean view, internet access and cute nerdy science-​major guys discussing physics, bio, chem etc. coffee quality really depends on the person who makes it.

This review is for the Rice Garden aspect of Courtyard Café– never tried anything else.
Honestly, I wish I had discovered this place earlier in my UCSB career. Once I started working on campus senior year this place became a regular lunch spot. They have the BEST Chow Mein and the BBQ chicken is just to die for. They cut it up for you right there into small pieces and smother it with amazing teriyaki. Their orange chicken is amazing too. DON’T GO TO PANDA EXPRESS ON CAMPUS– Rice Garden is worth the extra 2 minute bike ride!
Drooooooool… it’s so worth hanging out with crazy engineering people… please don’t miss this spot right on campus!

This place should almost be reviewed as three different locations.
First we have the University’s Dining Services catered foods you find across the campus– though the variety in salads and sandwiches here is greater than anywhere else. Serviceable, of pretty good quality, but most things are about one to two dollars too much for me to bother with. I’m not so lazy I can’t make myself a much better sandwich for cheaper.
The grill area offers sandwiches, salads, burgers, and panini’s to order, off a nice-​sized menu. Particularly good, crispy curly fries, and everything else solid. The «Panini Bread» tastes and looks like toasted hamburger-​bun bottoms. Next to it is another campus coffee location– solid as usual.
What raises this from a solid Three-​Star to a Four-​Star is the Rice Garden/​Master Fung’s Chinese fast-​food buffet. It is higher quality than it’s Panda Express on-​campus competitor, cheaper, and provides slightly greater quantity. The BBQ Pork and Chicken is a little erratic, but most of the time it’s right up there with the best in town. Do yourself a favor, and try the Spicy Chicken. It is elusive, and rarely found, but it is tasty.
Cashiers are erratic as some are old-​hands, and some are students handling money for what seems the first time.
Little known fact: The Courtyard Café is not near Parking Structure #10. It is part of it. And if you climb the stairs next to the café into the area directly above the kitchen, you can smell the soy-​laden smoke of Master Fung’s fryers. Mingled with asphalt and engine grease.

One of the Newest, cleanest, and biggest dining units of the UCSB campus, it serves breakfast foods, hot sandwiches, crepes, paninis, coffee, ready made sushi, and a hot chinese food take-​out (similar to panda express, but more authentic, having bbq pork and all)
It seems a little more «up there» in the statuses of the dining units, but it is quite far. It is right by the coast (which means beautiful view if you eat outside) and it is right by the engineering and science buildings. (so a lot of nerdy professors and grad students)
if you have time, take a nice stroll down to courtyard café and grab a bite to eat.