Monthly Archives: July 2011

Today I added Sushi Ai in Camino Real Marketplace to the restaurant guide, which replaced Mika. Sushi Ai is owned by the same family that ran Mika. I also added photos to the page for Goodland Market and Kitchen. Sushi … Continue reading →

This just in from Maggies restaurant coming to 1201 State St., the former home of State & A Bar and Grill: Please note that Maggie’s will not be open until the end of the year.  The former State and A … Continue reading →

Here is a message for the webmaster of the Santa Barbara Museum Cafe: Your web site SantaBarbaraMuseumCafe.com requires a password to view anything. I could be wrong but I don’t think that is what you intended.

Here are more details about Chef Karim’s Moroccan Night coming on August 23rd: Moroccan Night at Trattoria Grappolo August 23rd, 2011  at 6PM 3687-C Sagunto Street Santa Ynez, CA 93460 For Reservation: (805) 688-6899 By popular demand Chef Karim will … Continue reading →

This just in from Goodland Market and Kitchen at 231 S. Magnolia Ave in Goleta: Dear Restaurant Guy, Here is an update on the Goodland Kitchen in Goleta: * Now open on Saturdays with Special Saturday Menu * We got … Continue reading →

Here is a press-release about an event occurring this Saturday at Elings Park from noon – 7pm. Food & beverages included. For details visit alohaspiritbash.org. 2nd Annual Aloha Spirit Bash *Live Music  *Live Dancers  *Raffle  *Beer Garden Food will be … Continue reading →

Today I added the new Norton’s Pastrami and Deli at 226 S. Milpas St (formerly Arturo’s Taqueria) to the restaurant guide.

I just received this press-release from “Nardonne’s La Famiglia Pizzeria, ” a new eatery coming to 17 W. Ortega St. in September. They are currently in the last phase of the building permit process. “Established in 1976 in the San … Continue reading →

On Fathers Day I was enjoying a nice BBQ dinner at my parents’ home in Montecito when I noticed that something was stuck in the back of my throat. Thinking it was a piece of overly-cooked chicken I tried to … Continue reading →

Cleve Clayton, owner of Jolly Tiger restaurants, has died. If you visit Roy restaurant downtown you can see the original neon Jolly Tiger sign hanging above the bar. This sign used to be located outside of 901 Chapala St (currently … Continue reading →

Santa Barbara’s 2nd Annual Tequila Harvest Festival is scheduled for Tuesday, August 16, 2011 at the Tennis Club of Santa Barbara 2375 Foothill Rd. Sample over 50 Premium and Ultra Premium Blanco, Reposado, and Añejo Tequila from 25 Labels, ranging … Continue reading →

In this section of the column I offer you a sneak peek at real restaurant news that cannot yet be published or might never be published, depending on how the story unfolds. The names have been changed to protect the … Continue reading →

This just in from Chef Karim: Hi John, I would like to share this with that I am joining together with Trattoria Grappolo in Santa Ynez on Aug. 23, 2011 for a Moroccan Night.  I appreciate it if you would … Continue reading →

Santa Barbara chef and caterer Edie Robertson will be on the Food Network show “Extreme Chef” tonight at 10 p.m. Edie and friends will be watching the episode at Jill’s Place Shalhoob’s Restaurant 632 Santa Barbara St. Feel free to … Continue reading →

Adama at 428 Chapala St in downtown Santa Barbara now serves dinner Tues-Sun from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

After intense concentration and a wave of my hand over the all-knowing Crystal Ball, my eatery oracle has revealed a list of locations appearing in your future: • Backyard Bowls La Cumbre Plaza – Oct • Brendan’s (location to be … Continue reading →

Sushi Ai has opened at 7020 Camino Real Marketplace in Goleta, replacing Mika. The restaurant is still owned by Julia & Peter Lee. Julia Lee will be the primary family member running the restaurant now. Peter Lee operated Mika. The … Continue reading →

Here are pictures from Fiesta Ranchera at Stow House last night. This event kicks off the Fiesta summer season.

Goleta Coffee Co. at 177 S. Turnpike Rd (next to Vons) is celebrating their 14th anniversary today by giving away free coffee if you bring your own cup.

The Santa Barbara International Film Festival’s Silver Screen Bash fundraiser is this Sunday July 17th at Fess Parker’s DoubleTree Resort. This is a charity event to raise funds and awareness of the Festival’s free children’s education and outreach programs. In … Continue reading →

Here is a press-release about Fiesta Ranchera taking place tomorrow: Rancho la Patera and Stow House, 304 North Los Carneros Road, is the scene this coming Thursday for the 4th annual Fiesta Ranchera, the best summer party in Goleta.  This … Continue reading →

Gary Lynd, former owner and general manager of Peabodys and State & A Bar and Grill, is the new manager of Coast Restaurant & Bar at 31 W. Carrillo St. Lynd brings over 30 years of Santa Barbara restaurant insider … Continue reading →

Chef Brian Parks at Coast Restaurant & Bar 31 W. Carrillo St. has introduced “Farm AND Coast to Table“, an ever-changing new menu focused on local, sustainable and seasonable food, whenever possible, from the Santa Barbara and Central Coast region. … Continue reading →

This just in from Ken Boxer, owner of Palazzio at 1026 State St: Hi John, Daria and I were in Chicago at the restaurant show in May and we came across the inventor (Terri Rogers) of a new alternative to … Continue reading →

Today I added new photos for Palazzio, Wine Cask and bouchon to the SantaBarbara.com Restaurant Guide.

Because I published a single-day record number of posts yesterday (11), I decided to do something different today and write about goats. I was walking through a forest near my childhood home in Montecito over the weekend and came across … Continue reading →

Traci Taitt, Vice President of Commercial Properties at The Towbes Group, called me today to say that a new lease was signed for 2,048-square feet at 5701 Calle Real, the former home of Pick Up Stix. Sunny Pujji, owner of … Continue reading →

During the 4th of July weekend I didn’t have any fireworks on hand to ignite so I tried plugging in the old, rusty Rumor Machine to see if it would generate an explosion or two. As it turns out the … Continue reading →

Way back in quieter, gentler, simpler times (June 12, 2009) I wrote that the The Pub will be opening at 224 Helena Ave and may have some sort of food component. A gay bar with the same name used do … Continue reading →

McDonald’s at 1906 Cliff Dr on the Mesa has joined the elite club of 24-hour eateries on the South Coast.

Sources tell me that the building at 6547 Trigo Rd in Isla Vista, the home of  Super Cuca’s, is scheduled to be demolished. In its place will be a new structure with apartments on the top and retail space on … Continue reading →

Little Asia at 6527 Madrid Rd in Isla Vista has closed. The current plan is for it to become the *temporary* home of Super Cuca’s.

Participating 7-Eleven‘s are giving away free slurpees today. Why? Because the date today is 7/11. The promotion is only available today. Tomorrow you must pay. Here is my free slurpee. They are small, about the size of a dixie cup, … Continue reading →

Reader Cynthia sent me a tip that Norton’s Pastrami and Deli at 18 W. Figueroa St. is opening a second location at 226 S. Milpas St., the former home of Arturo’s Taqueria. I spoke with owner Bill Klein and he confirmed … Continue reading →

In this section of the column I offer you a sneak peek at real restaurant news that cannot yet be published or might never be published, depending on how the story unfolds. The names have been changed to protect the … Continue reading →

I am receiving word that Arturo’s Taqueria at 226 S. Milpas St may have closed. This has not been confirmed. The phone number is no longer in service. Reader Sandy tells me: “I went there this afternoon at 5:15 and … Continue reading →

Handlebar Coffee Roasters (handlebarcoffee.com) is planning to open at 128 E. Canon Perdido St., the former home of Three Pickles Deli. After I received a tip from reader Steve I sent an email to the owner inquiring about it and … Continue reading →

It appears that several TV stations including NBC will be visiting Mac’s Fish & Chip Shop at 503 State Street Friday to interview locals about the pending arrival of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge William & Kate this weekend … Continue reading →

In case you wish to see the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge William & Kate this weekend at the polo fields (and don’t have a ticket to attend) Montecito Journal columnist Richard Mineards tells me that there is a small … Continue reading →

I am hearing word that demolition is complete at 3851 State St, the future home of Panera Bread in La Cumbre Plaza, and that the business should be up and running in 6-8 weeks.

The 2nd annual Chowder Fest is coming to the Montecito County Club on October 23rd. I was a chowder judge at last year’s event and took some photos. Here is a press release about it: Santa Barbara, CA – Restaurants … Continue reading →

A new mobile eatery named Sugar & Salt Creamery has rolled into Santa Barbara. I added them to the food trucks guide this morning. Here is a description from their web site: “Welcome to Sugar & Salt Creamery. We are handmade. We are … Continue reading →

The new eatery named “Cielito” coming to 1114 State St (formerly Stateside & Acapulco) is going to be a taqueria.

Here is a list of local food & drink destinations that have closed in the last 6 months: June 2011: HobNob Tavern 21 W. Victoria St; Ruth’s Chris Steak House 3815 State St; Sweet Tooth 6549 Pardall Rd, Isla Vista … Continue reading →

A new American restaurant named Meat n’ Potatoes has opened at 4444 Hollister Ave (next to Creekside Bar & Grill), formerly Zaffron and JR’s BBQ. I am told that the new eatery is brought to you by the owner of … Continue reading →

Today I added the new Meat & Potatoes restaurant on Hollister Ave and their menu to the restaurant guide. Italia Pizza & Pasta at 149 N. Fairview Ave, Goleta was also added to the guide today. Additionally, I scanned the … Continue reading →

This just in from reader Benjamin: Went to the San Ysidro Ranch last night to try to hit Plow and Angel.  Was turned away.  Only info we could get was that someone had taken down the entire ranch for the … Continue reading →