VIDEO: Storm Wave Crashes Through Moby Dick Restaurant

Forrest Buchanan was enjoying a rainy Saturday morning breakfast at Moby Dick Restaurant on Stearns Wharf when a large wave slammed into the popular Santa Barbara eatery, breaking windows and soaking stunned customers. Buchanan, who said no one was badly hurt by the impact, captured the moment on video and emailed it to The Santa Barbara Independent. See the footage below, along with a play-by-play of the dramatic scene in his own words:

“[I was eating] my breakfast at Moby Dick Restaurant while filming the large storm surf breaking on the pier. The swell increased with every wave that passed. I recall telling people at the table in front of me that the pier will likely be closed soon due to the high surf. One minute later, I see a set of waves approaching and pick up my smart phone to film. The video shows the wave breaking through the restaurant window. 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. Everyone froze, including the staff. So, I rushed over to make sure there were not any major injuries. I proceeded to warn everyone of the danger that could follow with the next wave and to evacuate the room. We got the room evacuated without the anymore injuries. I then looked at the manager and asked, ‘Do you mind I don’t pay for my breakfast and move on?”‘

Calls to Moby Dick were not immediately returned.

[UPDATE, 2:35 p.m.]: Another YouTube video of the incident was just uploaded by user Max Rosenberg. See it below.