Monthly Archives: February 2013

Mike and Kathie Gordon, the owners of Toscana restaurant and Bar Toscana in Brentwood, are planning to open a two-story SY Kitchen (or perhaps “SYK“) at 1110 Faraday Street in downtown Santa Ynez. Bar Toscana chef Luca Crestanelli will oversee … Continue reading →

A new restaurant named Kaptain’s Firehouse BBQ has opened at 6545 Pardall Road in Isla Vista. The eatery offers chili, tri-tip, sliders, sandwiches, pulled pork, baby back ribs and a veggie burger. The BBQ is always grilled with mesquite wood … Continue reading →

Noozhawk is reporting that owner Paul Dargan has purchased the Dargan’s Pub & Restaurant building at 18 E. Ortega Street that he has been operating since 1997. The purchase price was $2.9 million.

If you can help reader Natalie please leave a message in the blog. Hi there! I just heard a rumor that there is going to be a Menudo Festival at Franklin School on March 23rd to benefit the Santa Barbara … Continue reading →

This just in from reader Charlotte: So today I drove by Ye Olde Butcher Shoppe [at 4317 State Street], which became a deli and is now Ye Olde Deli and Thai…..say what!!??  Are they competing with Eller’s Donut Shop next … Continue reading →

Readers Mike and Ray let me know that The New Black BBQ food truck, that opened for business in November 2011, has stopped serving the Santa Barbara market and hopes to reopen in Los Angeles. Here is a message The New … Continue reading →

Plow to Porch Organics, presently located at 3204 State Street, will be adding a second location at Patterson Plus Self-Storage, 5329 Calle Real near Patterson Avenue. Plow to Porch provides a local organic/pesticide free produce delivery service to members who … Continue reading →

This just in from reader Pam: I saw out of the corner of my eye – and didn’t double-track to see more clearly because it was raining – but something is afoot at 1129 State – where Nu used to … Continue reading →

Ahead of this Sunday’s Academy Awards, here are links to some pictures and videos that I shot during the Santa Barbara International Film Festival. Ben Affleck: 20 photos + video Sally Field and Daniel Day-Lewis: 49 photos + video Amy Adams: 44 … Continue reading →

Award-winning pizzaiolo and executive chef Glenn Cybulski along with chef, founder and president Joseph Baumel have opened Persona Neapolitan Pizzeria at 905 State Street in Santa Barbara, formerly The Taj Café. Baumel tells me that their Neapolitan style (thin crust) … Continue reading →

Here are the winners of the SantaBarbara.com Restaurant Guide online poll. Survey participants considered 100 different food & drink categories. Click here for The Best of 2013 A few items of interest: “Best Overall Restaurant” for the second year in … Continue reading →

This just in from reader DN: Hi John- There’s a new food truck in the area that I don’t believe you’ve reported on yet (& it hasn’t been added to your food truck list) that your readers may be interested … Continue reading →

I might be wrong but it is looking like Santa Barbara’s mobile gourmet O Street Truck, which launched in April 2011, is no longer in business. Here are the clues: They do not respond to my emails (perhaps they are … Continue reading →

If you have any leads for Walter please leave a message in the blog. Good day, My name is Walter.  I am a well “seasoned” Chef and I am looking to relocate to Santa Barbara in the very near future, … Continue reading →

This just in from owner Jeff Lauer at Wahoo’s Fish Taco, 511 State Street: Hi John, I wanted to let your readers know that Wahoo’s has started doing Taco Tuesday at our 511 State Street location (plenty of free parking … Continue reading →

This just in from reader Alex: As a regular at Arnoldi’s [600 Olive Street]  I’ve heard that the legendary bartender, Willy Gilbert, will be coming back to work at Arnoldi’s on the 25th of February. He’s been out for three … Continue reading →

This just in from Anacapa Vintner’s which opened a wine tasting room in the Funk Zone on February 11th: The new Anacapa Vintner’s tasting room at 116 E.Yanonali is totally cool! The 30 foot long hand drawn chalk board map of … Continue reading →

The Restaurant Gal and I enjoyed a nice lunch today at Spa Cafe at the Bacara Resort. It was my first time to visit. We tried a variety of dishes including the Grilled Herb-Crusted Naan Bread, Ahi Tuna Tartare, Edamame … Continue reading →

Owner’s Tom & Vicki Dolan are opening Toma Restaurant & Bar, at 324 West Cabrillo Boulevard, the former site of Emilio’s Restaurant which closed last April. The food will focus on Italian Mediterranean inspired dishes using ingredients from local farms … Continue reading →

As you might be able to see I added some buttons to the Restaurant Guy blog today which makes it easy to share news stories via email or Facebook. I’m not sure if the buttons will stay because they do … Continue reading →

Sources tell me that Sojourner Cafe, 134 E. Canon Perdido Street, is now offering gluten-free bread. It is baked in-house, just like all their desserts.

Reader Bob recently discovered a local restaurant that I had never heard of (and that rarely happens): Hey John – How this one slipped under my radar for so long is a little bewildering since it’s 2 blocks from my … Continue reading →

This just in from husband and wife owners Marisa Moran and Patrick Casey: John, Welcome back, we are glad to hear you are well rested and fully recovered. I wanted to send you an update on the dinner status at … Continue reading →

This just in from reader Valerie: Hi John, Not sure if you saw that the drive up coffee shop, Twin Cups [5329 Calle Real] is now closed. There is a sign on the kiosk saying something about Plow to Porch … Continue reading →

If you think you can help Daniela please leave a message in the blog. Hi, I have been trying to find info on a restaurant , half a block from State, that use to serve soup and bread at lunch … Continue reading →

Sources tell me that Book Ends Cafe will be opening soon at 602 Anacapa Street in downtown Santa Barbara, upstairs at Antioch University

This just in from the Bacara Resort: The Spa at Bacara launches new Spa Café menu The Spa at Bacara, recognized as one of the finest spas in the world, is further enhancing its wellness experience with a new dining … Continue reading →

I stopped by to check out the status of some restaurants on De La Vina Street and here is my report: Los Agaves, coming to 2911 De La Vina Street (formerly Jake’s), appears to be ready to start remodeling. I … Continue reading →

Reader Steve tells me that East Beach Wines in La Arcada Court is now closed after having a retirement sale. Their phone number is disconnected.

This just in from Chef Brian Parks: John, We are very excited about Georgia’s Smokehouse.  Paint’s not quite dry on the truck so we will be launching at the end of this month and ready to commit to stop/events by … Continue reading →

Each year I publish the names of restaurants open on Thanksgiving and Christmas. I don’t maintain list of eateries that plan a special Valentine’s Day meal. If your restaurant is scheduled to have Valentine’s Day menu, please post details for … Continue reading →

See if you can help reader Karen find buckwheat pancakes at a local restaurant: Hi John, My husband is in search of buckwheat pancakes (not crepes) in Santa Barbara or Goleta.  Any ideas?  He had them on a bike trip … Continue reading →

Reader Ed writes about Los Gallos at 2009 De La Vina Street: Hi John, There’s a sign in the window saying the restaurant is “closed for renovations” and reopening date is not set. Have you heard anything else? Hope they … Continue reading →

Burger King at 3707 State Street was dethroned last July and fast-food chain Chick-fil-A opened at that address today. Chick-fil-A is the nation’s second largest quick-service chicken restaurant chain with more than $3.58 billion in sales in 2010. The eatery … Continue reading →

A periodic food event named Dishcrawl has begun touring the South Coast. At Dishcrawl’s events ticket-holders visit four restaurants in one night, sampling each restaurant’s specialties and meeting the chefs or owners. It’s like a pub crawl but with food … Continue reading →

Owners Jeff Appareti, Andrew Elia and Geoff Jensen have launched the Genuine Bread Company with a tag line of “Bread Worth Breaking.” The products can be currently found at C’est Cheese, Goodland Kitchen and other places across the South Coast.

Reader Steve tells me that Isabella’s Gourmet Foods, a boutique artisinal grocery, is coming to 5 E. Figueroa Street (in La Arcada Court). Here is a description from their web site: “Isabella Gourmet Foods is Santa Barbara’s whimsical answer to … Continue reading →

This just in from reader Brian: Hi John, I’m not sure if you’re aware, but I stopped by New China restaurant [at 5764 Hollister Avenue] in old town Goleta expecting to get some Chinese food on my lunch break and … Continue reading →

Marsha Matanick, manager at vegan restaurant Adama, 428 Chapala Street, tells me that the eatery is now completely gluten free.

At the end of February local chef Brian Parks, formerly of Coast restaurant, launches a new food truck named “Georgia’s Smokehouse,” based at 3400 Calle Real in Goleta. I am told they specialize in Southern Smokehouse BBQ and American Comfort … Continue reading →

A new food truck named “Sam Choy’s Pineapple Express” has rolled into the South Coast. Here is a message from their web site: “Aloha, mainlanders! Welcome to Sam Choy’s Pineapple Express, the first rolling restaurants to bring the food of … Continue reading →

After a month of renovation Eladio’s restaurant has reopened at 1 State Street. For more information call 963-4466.

This just in from readers Krista and Tony in Goleta: Hi John, Hope you’re recovering well. The last blog post has become too clogged with well wishes ( a good thing) so any new news gets lost. When you’re feeling … Continue reading →