A seaside breakfast at a Santa Barbara restaurant came to a violent halt Saturday morning when a giant wave smashed windows and scattered patrons.

It was unclear whether anyone was injured at Moby Dick Restaurant at Stearns Wharf.

Jill Freeland, who posted video of the wave, wrote in the caption: “High tide and big swell can make for some salty eggs!! Great front row seat for a much needed storm in our area.”

The video shows a wave bursting through the window, eliciting shrieks from some restaurant customers.


In an email to the Santa Barbara Independent, diner Forrest Buchanan described the incident that he also managed to record on video.

“The dining room was filled with the sound of glass shattering and people screaming as a wave of water rushed over the dining room carpet,” he said.

Buchanan said he helped get the restaurant evacuated, then said to the manager, “‘Do you mind if I don’t pay for my breakfast and move on?’”


Twitter: @lanow