Monthly Archives: October 2012

Tracy Hill will be signing her new book Delightfully Free on Saturday November 3rd at Savoy Cafe & Deli 24 W. Figueroa Street 12:30 PM to 8:30 PM. Delightfully Free is a gluten-free, dairy-free and refined sugar-free cookbook of 141 … Continue reading →

El Taco Tequila Taqueria, which opened at 14 E. Cota Street in June 2011 (replacing Square One restaurant), has closed their doors. The owners will instead try a new concept named Little Cantina with an all-new menu. Thank you to … Continue reading →

Angry Wings restaurant has opened at 6530 Pardall Road in Isla Vista, the former home of Chino’s Rock & Tacos, Eclectic I.V., China Garden and Kung Pao Kitchen. The eatery offers Buffalo Wings, boneless wings, burgers, sandwiches, salads, wraps, root … Continue reading →

Outback Steakhouse reigned supreme on October 28th at the 3rd Annual Santa Barbara Chowder Fest held at the Montecito Country Club. Chuck’s Waterfront Grill won the People’s Choice award. Proceeds from this event benefit Legal Aid Foundation of Santa Barbara County. … Continue reading →

Here is a press release from Chuck’s Waterfront Grill at 113 Harbor Way: CHUCKS WATERFRONT, ENDLESS SUMMER GARNER CHOWDER FEST AWARDS Local restaurants win People’s Choice Award at weekend event Santa Barbara, Calif. – October 29, 2012 – Chuck’s Waterfront … Continue reading →

Silvergreens (791 Chapala Street, and 900 Embarcadero Del Mar, Isla Vista) has just introduced 3 new homemade cookies to their menu: PB & J (peanut butter & strawberry jam, 200 calorie, gluten free & vegan), Snickerdoodle (100 calorie) and Blueberry … Continue reading →

Enterprise Fish Company at  225 State Street has been serving customers for 35 years. To celebrate they plan to roll prices back to where they were in 1977. Here is a press-release about it: ENTERPRISE FISH COMPANY CELEBRATES 35 YEARS … Continue reading →

This just in from State & Fig, 1114 State Street: Good morning John, It looks as if we have good weather on our side!  After a couple of successful test runs, State and Fig will begin our full service Brunch … Continue reading →

Intermezzo at 813 Anacapa Street has expanded the bar-café by opening a wall to the adjoining Riviera Private Dining Room. The eatery also has a newly appointed Chef Nik Ramirez.

The Gobble Song is a Thanksgiving tradition from Santa Barbara’s popular band Spencer the Gardener. As it turns out The Restaurant Guy also has a Thanksgiving tradition. Each November my email inbox is swamped with the same question: Which restaurants … Continue reading →

The popular Los Agaves restaurant at 600 N. Milpas Street, which just won the 2012 Santa Barbara Independent award for Best Mexican Restaurant, is in discussions with property owners to open a second location at 2911 De La Vina Street, the … Continue reading →

The second location of the French Press coffee house opened at 528 Anacapa Street on October 10th. The original opened at 1101 State Street in July 2009 and quickly won awards around town including in last week’s Santa Barbara Independent … Continue reading →

Reader Dawn let me know that Epic Bowl in Paseo Nuevo has closed their doors. I stopped by and saw that their sign is gone from the outside of the building and all of the interior fixtures have been removed. … Continue reading →

Reader Cris let me know that the newest Habit Burger Grill has opened at 888 Embarcadero del Norte in Isla Vista, the former home of Dogtown. Isla Vista has experienced a restaurant resurgence of late. In the last year eatery openings … Continue reading →

Here are pictures from the Sensational Seafood event last night at Ty Warner Sea Center, brought to you by the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History.

Over twenty restaurants both local and from out of town will compete for Santa Barbara Chowder Champ on October 28, noon -4 p.m. at the Montecito Country Club  in Food & Home Magazine’s 3rd Annual Santa Barbara Chowder Fest. Judges … Continue reading →

I just completed an overhaul of the SantaBarbara.com Calendar for the first time in many years. The text is easier to read, items are bulleted, each day is divided into sections, and the upload image size is now 2MB instead … Continue reading →

A new organic cold-pressed juice shop named Juice Ranch is coming to 33 Parker Way, next to Lilly’s Taqueria. Here is a message posted on their web site juiceranch.com: Hey everyone! We are very excited to share our process with … Continue reading →

Owner Lilia Ladjelate from Marseilles, France opened her new restaurant Le Relais de Paris on October 3rd at 734 State Street, the long-time home of Ruby’s Cafe & Spirits Lounge. The eatery is the newest location in a string of … Continue reading →

October 24 is Food Day which is a nationwide celebration and a movement for healthy, affordable and sustainable food. Gerri French, registered dietitian at Sansum Clinic, will share information on dining out healthfully in Santa Barbara to reduce risk of … Continue reading →

This just in from reader Matt: John: On my way downtown I noticed the windows of the space formerly occupied by Ultimate Bagels [at 1226 State Street] were all papered over and a peek inside revealed it has been totally … Continue reading →

Pizza My Heart opened on October 13th at 6533 Trigo Road in Isla Vista. The restaurant is open for dine-in, take-out, and delivery. Hours are Sunday – Thursday 11:00 a.m. – midnight and Friday – Saturday 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 … Continue reading →

The French Table “gastropub and creperie” has opened at 129 E. Anapamu Street, in the former home of Elements. The restaurant, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, offers waffles, French toast, omelets, sweet crepes, savory crepes, salads, pasta, sandwiches, burgers, … Continue reading →

Reader Cris tells me that Sam’s To Go deli has completed their 100-yard move across the K-Mart parking lot from 250 Storke Road to 6831 Hollister Avenue in Goleta. The new location is next door to Cajun Kitchen. For more … Continue reading →

Reader Mike tells me that East restaurant at 1208 State Street has closed their doors. I tried calling and their phone number is disconnected.  

For the past 20 years, the California Lemon Festival has been the biggest celebration in the Goleta area and it takes place again this year October 13 (10am-6pm) & 14 (10am-5pm), 2012 You’ll find food, a family atmosphere, a variety … Continue reading →

One day each October, the Santa Barbara Harbor and Seafood Festival draws seafood lovers of all ages to Santa Barbara’s popular Harbor for one of the community’s most unique and beloved events. The free event is being held this year … Continue reading →

The Santa Barbara Sustainable Seafood Program invites you to join them for an evening of sensational and sustainable cuisine Thursday, October 18, 2012, 5:30 -7:30 p.m. at the Ty Warner Sea Center on Stearns Wharf. Experience ocean-friendly seafood at its … Continue reading →

Restaurant Mimosa, which moved to 714 State Street last November from their long-time home on De la Vina, closed their doors on Tuesday, October 9th. Here is a message to the public from owners Derrick and Chris Melton: As heart … Continue reading →

Paseo Nuevo has welcomed the arrival of a new deli named Pickle and Swiss which opened October 6th at 811 State Street. Pickle and Swiss is run by husband and wife team Mark Keen and Karyn Montgomery along with Karyn’s … Continue reading →

Itsuki restaurant has opened at 7127 Hollister Avenue (formerly Baja Fresh). The eatery has moved from their previous location at 4020 Calle Real which is now closed. Restaurant hours are Monday – Saturday 11 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. and 5:30 … Continue reading →

Kingston’s Candy Company at 3415 State Street closed their doors on September 29th. The dessert destination opened for business in October, 2010.  

Here are pictures from Taste of the Central Coast, a benefit for the Family Care Network that was held at the Bacara Resort on October 7, 2012.

I stopped by Itsuki restaurant at 7127 Hollister Avenue (formerly Baja Fresh) and was told by the owners that they hope to open this week. The eatery has moved from their previous location at 4020 Calle Real which is now … Continue reading →

One day each October, the Santa Barbara Harbor & Seafood Festival draws seafood lovers of all ages to Santa Barbara’s popular Harbor for one of the community’s most unique and beloved events. The event is being held this year on … Continue reading →

Reader Shelby tells me that there is a story about 5 guys from Santa Barbara in this month’s Costco Connection magazine, adjacent to the back cover. My friend John Wardlaw (on the left in the photos) was interviewed by Costco … Continue reading →

Today I launched a mobile version of The Restaurant Guy. Visit the web site (SantaBarbara.com/dining/news) from a smartphone and the display will be formatted for your device which makes it easier to navigate with just your thumb. On your phone … Continue reading →

This just in from Fresco Cafe: Greetings John, News from Fresco Cafe. Mark and I have partnered with our friend and former Santa Barbara resident Sarah Aquino to open up Fresco Cafe Reno.  It is a new twist on the … Continue reading →

Three Pickles Deli at 126 E. Canon Perdido Street, which currently occupies the left side of the Jimmy’s Oriental Gardens building, will turn the right side in to The Pickle Room. I called the deli and was told that The … Continue reading →

I stopped by iGrill Korean BBQ, coming to 3132 State Street (formerly Jade) . I was told by the owner on May 28th that she hoped to open in 3 weeks. At the time it looked like they were nearly … Continue reading →

I stopped by Itsuki restaurant at 7127 Hollister Avenue in Goleta (formerly Baja Fresh) and it appears that construction is nearly complete. There are a lot of new tables outside on the patio ready to be moved indoors. In today’s … Continue reading →

Cafe Zoma at 918 State St. was sold last June to the owners of Good Cup at 1819 Cliff Drive. As of this week the State Street address officially became Good Cup’s second location. Hours are Monday-Friday 7 a.m. – … Continue reading →

Here is a list of local food & drink destinations that have closed in the last year: October 2012: Itsuki Restaurant, 4020 Calle Real (moved to 7127 Hollister Ave., Goleta) September 2012: Café Zoma 918 State St.; Jack’s Bistro & … Continue reading →

The 26th annual California Avocado Festival will be held this weekend on Linden Ave in Carpinteria. This year over forty non-profit groups will benefit by catering to 100,000 avocado visitors. Hours are Friday, October 5, 11am – 10pm, Saturday, October … Continue reading →

Jack’s Bistro & Bagels in the Galleria at 3891 State St closed their doors on September 27th. Have no fear: you can still find a friendly Jack’s at 53 S. Milpas St. and 5050 Carpinteria Ave. in Carpinteria.

The 25,000th review was added this week to the SantaBarbara.com Restaurant Guide which was launched in April 1996. The public review system was added in 2001. The milestone review was written about Saigon 1230 State St. by “Elizabeth from Santa … Continue reading →

As part of the October Epicure.sb culinary events, brought to you by the Santa Barbara Downtown Organization, “As Seen on TV” will be held at the Lobero Theatre 33 E. Canon Perdido St. Tuesday, October 9 at 6:00 p.m. Meet the … Continue reading →

Reader Chris tells me that “Bash“, a new wood-fired oven ‘gastropub’, is getting set to open within the Uptown Lounge on Upper State St.  I’m told they will use local and seasonal ingredients on their wood-fired, thin crust pizzas, piadinas, … Continue reading →

This just in from the Crocodile Restaurant at Lemon Tree Inn 2819 State St.: Crocodile Restaurant and Bar in The Lemon Tree Inn has just introduced a brand new breakfast menu which is being served 7 days a week. We welcome … Continue reading →