California Tacos and Taproom (not to be confused with Cal Taco which is open for business as usual) has closed their restaurant at 956 Embarcadero del Norte in Isla Vista. They opened in January 2019. This address is also the former home of Grilled Cheese Truck, Santa Ynez Burrito, Kogilicious, Korean BBQ House, Berrilicious, and Bernardo’s Ice Cream. California Tacos currently has locations in Solvang and Buellton, and will soon be opening an outlet in San Luis Obispo.

Photo by The Restaurant Guy

In January 2018, the 805 Deli at 135 East Carrillo Street closed and posted a sign that read “For all our customers, 805 Deli will be closed for the month of January for remodeling. We will be open February first.” The deadline came and went and there was no activity until December 2019 when the name of the business posted on the front of the building was changed to “The 805 Hazy and Deli” prompting much speculation on what the addition of “hazy” to the name means. By April 2022 a new floor had been added and the row of refrigerators remained in place, suggesting that an eatery of some sort was still on its way. I drove by yesterday and noticed that the restaurant days are over and that the building is now the home of Open Air Bicycles.

Photo by The Restaurant Guy

SocialEats, an Instagram-ready food concept from Los Angeles-based hospitality group K2 Restaurants, is coming to 6521 Pardall Road in Isla Vista, the former home of South Coast Deli, Dirty’s, On The Side, Tasters, The Spot, Espresso Roma, McBurley’s as well as the birthplace of The Habit Burger Grill and Kinko’s (now Fedex Office).

The renovation had been going so slowly that the slight movement of a chair and broom was big news last December. I stopped by yesterday and noticed that renovation has since gone from zero to basically complete in the last few months. I don’t yet have an opening date.

Photos by The Restaurant Guy

I.V. Pizza and Pub has opened at 6533 Trigo Road Ste. 108 in Isla Vista, the former home of Pizza My Heart which closed last August. This new eatery is a sister restaurant to nearby I.V. Bagel Cafe, founded by Doron Friedman who kept the same bakers and recipes from Pizza My Heart.

“I founded IV Bagel Café when I was 21 and since then IV has had a special place in my heart,” says Friedman. “I lived in I.V. for many years before moving to Santa Barbara and then Chicago, and I got to meet tens of thousands of incredible people while working there. When I noticed that another New York influenced restaurant was leaving IV after 10 years (Pizza My Heart ) I felt compelled to buy the business and keep another taste of New York in IV. Both Bagel Café and Pizza My Heart have another similarity in that both businesses choose to value quality and fresh ingredients over cost, which is extremely difficult during these inflationary times.”

I.V. Pizza and Pub is open Monday thru Sunday 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Call (805) 869-2264 or visit ivpizzapub.com.

Photo by The Restaurant Guy

KOZY Craft Coffee is coming to 6560 Pardall Road in Isla Vista, the former home of Campus Point Coffee, Coffee Collaborative, and Java Jones. Kozy will have a grand opening on May 19 and their menu will include traditional coffee,  teas, and pastries.

“KOZY. will be our first shop opening in the heart of Isla Vista to deliver a premium coffee experience to the community,” says their website kozycraftcoffee.com. “We believe that the coffee experience deserves elevation. Comparable to most college students, our passion for coffee began by cramming for finals and looking for a pick-me-up to get through the long hours of studying. Over the years, we have traveled to countless cafes, absorbing cultures of coffee that we look to introduce to the area. As a graduate of both UC Santa Barbara and Santa Barbara city college, we have had the privilege of experiencing Santa Barbara’s unforgettable sunsets, incredible surf, and deep sense of community. We want to reflect this energy into the atmosphere at KOZY, delivering an aesthetic that promotes this vibe.”

Photo by The Restaurant Guy

The Ritz-Carlton Bacara has welcomed Dierberg Vineyard and Star Lane Vineyard for their monthly wine pairing dinner series, celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Dierberg Family Estate. Hosting on Thursday, May 25th at 6 p.m., the evening will be in the private Angel Oak Wine Cellar below Angel Oak. Guests can enjoy a reception on the outdoor terrace, taking in ocean views before heading to the intimate cellar for dinner.

The curated four-course pairing menu will include special Dierberg Vineyard and Star Lane Vineyard wines selected by the family from the family’s cellars. The pairing menu will be created in collaboration with Chef de Cuisine of Angel Oak, Josh Kellim and will include the first vintage of Tyler Thomas, who celebrates his tenth anniversary as winemaker at the estate.

Seats are $225 per person, excluding tax and gratuity charges. Reservations can be made online.

The Santa Barbara Zoo has announced the return of Zoo Brew, the annual fundraiser that caters to beer and animal lovers alike. Zoo Brew will take place on Saturday, June 3 from 4-7 p.m., with a VIP hour from 3-4 p.m. This year’s event features 30+ skilled beverage makers from California, including beer, cider, hard seltzer, wine, and more. Food and non-alcoholic beverages are also available for purchase. Breweries, wineries, and beverage purveyors interested in participating can get more on the zoo website below.

General admission tickets are $75 per person and include unlimited beer tastings and one Zoo Brew 2023 commemorative tasting cup, and VIP tickets are $110. All proceeds benefit the animals at the Santa Barbara Zoo. For ages 21+ only. For more information about Zoo Brew and to see participating partners visit sbzoo.org/zoobrew or call (805) 962-5339.

Reader Wendy D.R. says that Goodland Waffles and Melts has opened inside Mosaic Locale at 1131 State Street. “Our waffles are unlike any waffle you’ve had before,” says their website goodlandwaffles.com. “Light, airy, fluffy, and melt-in-your-mouth tender. From classic Belgian waffles to sweet and savory creations that’ll have you drooling, we’ve got a waffle for every craving. And don’t even get us started on our melts. Imagine gooey, melted cheese sandwiched between perfectly toasted bread – it’s a match made in heaven.”

Prices for waffles and melts range from $10 to $14. The business also announces pop-ups on their Instagram, that are held at Old Town Coffee and Draughtsmen Aleworks, both in Goleta. Hours at the new downtown store are Wednesday-Sunday 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

For those of you who use Axxess for their restaurant discounts, you should know that the service has been sold and is now known as Twism. Here is an update from the founder:

Dear Friends,

I started Axxess in 1999, fresh out of UCSB, with no clue what I was doing. Twenty years later, Axxess had grown to over 1,500 participating Merchants, 75,000 Members, a company of 26 awesome humans and two offices. Yet I still can’t say I knew what I was doing!

For many years I was focused on growth. I tried (and mostly failed at) franchising. I bought another company and tried to merge it with Axxess. You never heard about that attempt because it too failed.

While doing all of this I started a family and soon realized I was spread thin. I redefined what “success” looked like for me and instead focused on my family and our community. I’m proud to say I wiped plenty of baby butts and was present as a Dad, then and now.

I’m equally proud of what Axxess has accomplished: we raised millions of needed dollars for local schools and nonprofits, while helping the merchants grow and our members save; plus we found more ways to support new businesses and mostly we had fun.

Late in our 20th anniversary year – COVID threw the world a major curveball. Thankfully, because of my amazing Team and all of your support, we persevered. COVID challenged us all, and as we re-emerged, it was clear things had changed. I decided now was the time to take Axxess to a new level.

I’m extremely excited to do just that and introduce you to Twism! That’s right…After 24 amazing years, I’m excited to announce Axxess has been acquired by Twism!

Twism is a Santa Barbara-based technology company dedicated to helping local businesses deliver great customer experiences while people shop the way they prefer to shop.

When you download the Twism mobile app, you’ll find all of your Axxess offers in your account. Please note: you don’t have to input your Axxess membership number — your offers were moved over at no cost to you.

Something new with Twism are loyalty rewards. Once you securely link your credit card in Twism, you’ll automatically be enrolled in your favorite merchants’ loyalty programs. So, in addition to exclusive local offers, you’ll also start earning great rewards!

But wait, there’s more! When your current Membership expires–it automatically renews–for FREE.

We’re working closely with the local merchants to ensure a smooth transition and will keep you updated as we progress. Watch your inbox for more exciting news from Twism.

Thank you for so many years of support. Cheers!
-Karim

Karim Kaderali, Founder
The Axxess Card

Reader Claudia W. tells me that Corner Tap on the Mesa appears to be temporarily closed. Their Instagram says: “Sorry we are closed starting April 24 for a little renovation. A new decor and new menu! We are so excited to share with you soon! Thank you for your patience and understanding.”

Reader Claudia W. noticed there is a sign in the window on Calle Real, Goleta, for a new cookie store named Crumbl. This is located right next door to the UPS Store. Crumbl Cookies is a franchise chain of bakeries that specializes in baking a variety of cookies and serving ice cream. Based in Utah, it was started in 2017 and now has over 600 stores across the United States. Visit crumblcookies.com

Creamistry, a high-end dessert destination at 935 State Street has closed after being in our neck of the woods since July, 2018. Fortunately, there are still 9 other locations in California plus a few in Georgia, Arizona, Louisiana, and Texas.

Readers Stephanie S. and Sara tell me that Pokéwaves restaurant, offering sushi and poké, is going fill the vacant unit at Turnpike next to Starbucks at 4791 Calle Real #102 in Noleta. The eatery is owned by Shu Foods Inc. of Santa Barbara.

Photo by Stephanie S.

A Mother’s Day Brunch will be available at Bacara’s Angel Oak and The Bluff restaurants. It will be available from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m and costs $125 per adult, and $55 per child.

Reader Nobiak says that there is a sign for “Happy Cat Eats,” a new restaurant coming to 23 East Cabrillo Boulevard, next to Oku. This space was originally going to be a restaurant named “Leadbetter” and is the former home of Wheel Fun and L.T. Cinnamon.

Lama Dog Tap Room has announced the return of its Charity Tap program, which donates 10% of proceeds from the charity tap to a local nonprofit. During the months of May and June, Therapy Dogs of Santa Barbara will be the recipient of this philanthropic donation. The Charity Tap is lucky #17 and features a rotating selection of lagers and pilsners.  “Tap #17 is one our most popular and we are stoked to be partnering with Therapy Dogs for this spring promotion,” says Owner, Peter Burnham.

Lama Dog, located at 116 Santa Barbara Street in the Funk Zone, features local wine and beer and welcomes dogs and kids along with their adult chaperones. Visitors can enjoy  food from The Nook which operates on premise and has a selection of tacos, burgers, salads and more. Therapy Dogs of Santa Barbara was founded by Santa Barbara native Karen Lee Stevens in 1997 to teach children how to safely and respectfully interact with animals. Over the last two decades, the organization has grown to focus on education and mental health programs with the assistance of trained therapy dogs.

El Encanto’s signature restaurant, The Dining Room, will be offering special menus for brunch and dinner on Mother’s Day. Moms can enjoy a brunch buffet that includes a raw bar with caviar, made-to-order eggs, a carving station, and a selection of sweet treats, as well as complimentary Champagne. The dinner menu will be prix-fixe with a standard and plant-based option, offering dishes made with seasonal ingredients like prime rib with Asian spices and whipped wasabi cream and farro risotto with root vegetables, hen of the woods and El Encanto herbs. Call (805) 845-5800.

Here is an observation for you from reader Lynn:

I’m not sure if this is still true, but I went by The Habit a couple weeks ago and they no longer have ahi tuna sandwiches nor do they have tuna melts, and I’ve heard this from a few of my friends that they aren’t going back for that reason. I understand it’s sold so the menu was getting changed. I’d like to go back but they don’t have my favorites, and I ate there once a week.

Reader Christie says that she recently ordered a tuna sandwich at the La Cumbre location.

Reader Lynn then included a clarification: “They changed to ahi tuna and no longer offer albacore. The ahi is not as tasty. Not sure why they would change something that wasn’t broken. The albacore was the best! Plus tuna melts are no longer offered.”

I just returned from a vacation and will start posting all the news I have collected during the last week or so. I missed you!

This just in from reader Vincent:

Hi John,
Having lunch at Sushi Bar 29 today & find out they will be offering a great deal menu for upcoming Cinco de Mayo during May!! Along with appetizers, wine & house cold sake . This offer will be served both lunch & dinner.
$5 Sapporo tap beer
$5 Large hot sake
$5 Tempura sweet potato….and more

I have heard from a reliable source that Ty Warner’s Biltmore deal with Four Seasons is officially over as of today though apparently the resort is still listed at fourseasons.com. Four Seasons has been managing the Channel Drive property (where my parents spent their wedding night) since 1987. I am told that this doesn’t mean that the resort will open anytime soon, or that the Biltmore has signed with another management company, but it does mark the end of an era.

Speaking of local resorts, back in the day my family was a member of Miramar Hotel Beach & Tennis Club (just down the street), a time when the membership cost was about $150/mo. During that era several of my friends were members of the Coral Casino Beach and Cabana Club next to the Biltmore Hotel. As I recall, membership to this facility was significantly more expensive than the Miramar, and included a heft entry fee if you were even invited, but that was a drop in the bucket compared to the cost of joining today’s vastly improved club. Via friends’ memberships, as a kid I visited the Coral Casino often and remember that a restaurant was in a nook on the north side of the property, about as far away from the ocean as you could get.

Fast forward to 2008 and as part of an extensive remodel of the Coral Casino by owner Ty Warner, an all-new restaurant debuted named “Tydes.” Unlike it’s predecessor, Tydes was spectacular, right on the edge of the ocean with an expansive view from the second floor. I was given a private tour of the then-new restaurant just before the grand opening and was blown away to say the least (see photos below). Unfortunately the story I wrote about Tydes 15 years ago had a sad ending. The last sentence in The Restaurant Guy that week included the dreaded words: “Tydes is open to resort guests, members and guests of members only, and is not open to the general public.”

Fortunately that is about to change. I was at the South Coast Chamber meeting last week at the Hilton and was told that a big story had flown under my radar: Tydes restaurant will be opening to the general public, in addition to private club members and their guests. Apparently visitors staying at the Biltmore will no longer have access to the Coral Casino except for the restaurant. The Coral Casino and Biltmore hotel have been closed since March 2020 and it is unknown when they will reopen.

Photos by The Restaurant Guy in 2008

In January I wrote that the Santa Barbara City Council is allowing restaurants to continue using parklets on the street but they will no longer be free. Prices were originally to range from $3 per square foot per month to $9 depending on configuration of the parklet. Today I was at the pre-opening party for the Santa Barbara Fair and Expo that begins Wednesday at Earl Warren Showgrounds and ran into Councilmember Oscar Gutierrez who told me that today the council voted on a final price of $2 per square foot per month for parklets regardless of configuration. There will still be standards for various parklet configurations but the cost will be the same no matter which style a business uses and it is lower than anyone expected.

Draughtsmen Aleworks has opened in Solvang as of April 24 and will celebrate the grand opening of its third taproom on Tuesday, May 2 from 4-7 pm. Draughtsmen is a local maker of beer, wine, cider and hopped teas based in Goleta. They are celebrating the opening with an official ribbon cutting with the Solvang Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday, May 2nd at 1631 Mission Street in Solvang starting at 4:30 PM. All are invited to attend.

The Solvang tasting room will eventually feature the full variety of Draughtsmen made beverages with a diverse selection of beers (ranging from porters to pilsners, IPAs to stouts). These will soon be joined by Star Pine Cellar Wines (made with local varietals), Mad Hat Cider and Steepworks Hopped Teas. The new law which Draughtsmen co-sponsored with State Assemblyman Steven Bennett allowing wine and beer producers to sell their products in their own satellite tasting rooms was only recently signed into law in August of 2022. It will allow Draughtsmen to sell the wine, beer and cider that they produce in their Solvang taproom.

“We could not be happier about opening in Solvang.” said Scott Stefan, Draughtsmen’s cofounder. “We have been selling our beer, wine and cider in the valley for a number of years and we have been listening when that community visited Goleta and asked us repeatedly when are we opening in the valley.”

Santa Ynez Valley’s Alisal Ranch has announced the second iteration of its BBQ Bootcamp experience for 2023 to be held May 7-10. The tri-annual event brings chefs and grill masters to the ranch, where they will prepare barbecue feasts, demonstrate their approach to grilling, and share their barbecue secrets, tips, and tricks.

• Craig Riker (Alisal Ranch’s Executive Chef) – Riker will kick off the festivities with a cooking demo teaching guests who to properly cut and prepare steak for the grill, followed by a hands-on opportunity for guests to grill alongside the chefs and an al fresco barbecue dinner featuring local wineries and distilleries.
• Valerie Gordon (Valerie Confections) – The celebrated Los Angeles chocolatier and James Beard finalist cookbook author for 2013’s Sweet, founded Valerie Confections in 2004. In addition to MCing the bootcamp, Valerie will also be conducting her own cooking demonstration, sharing recipes and tips to grilling breakfast.
• Paula Disbrowe (Thank You for Smoking) – The award-winning chef and cookbook author will lead a cooking demonstration, sharing with guests tips for smoke-infused grilling recipes, followed by lunch.
• Burt Bakman (Slab BBQ, Trudy’s Underground Barbecue) – The chef behind “LA’s best-kept barbecue secret” and brisket, Burt Bakman returns to the ranch for a cooking demonstration.
• Jordan Kepler (Sasquatch Survival Gear) – Recognized as one of the Season 8 champions of the History’s Channel’s “Forged in Fire,” Founder Jordan Kepler will lead a knife making workshop, guiding guests through the entirety of the process from forging, heat treating, and tempering, to shaping and handle making, for guests to make their own creation to take home.
• Rachel Greenspan & Brendan Smith (Bettina Pizzeria) – The local Montecito neighborhood restaurant, offering farmers market ingredients and sustainable cooking, will put on a woodfire pizza demo and lunch.
• Joy Culley & Taylor Facha (Solvang Spice Merchant) – Co-owned by this female duo, the local spice shop will guide an interactive spice blending seminar, where guests will learn about the flavor profiles of various spices and create their own signature spice blends and rubs to take home.

For details and prices visit alisalranch.com.

At Finch & Fork at Kimpton Canary (31 West Carillo Street) Executive Chef Nathan Lingle has created a special 3-course pre-fixe brunch for Mother’s Day. Cost is $76 (not including alcohol) and brunch hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Mother’s Day. Special dishes include fresh oysters, a seafood display, Chilled Pea Soup with Crab Salad, Central Coast olive oil and Calvisius Caviar, Lobster & Asparagus Quiche, Crab Avocado Toast, Petit Filet, Shakshouka, freshly baked pastries, and more.

At Caya restaurant at The Leta (5650 Calle Real, Goleta) for Mother’s Day Executive Chef Phillip Stein is offering brunch dishes that range from a Challah French Toast Sandwich with cheddar, bacon, arugula and chipotle aioli; Almond & Orange Stuffed Crepes, Seafood Blintz; an array Benedicts, Prime Rib & Eggs, and more. Mother’s Day brunch will be served from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Here is an update for you from reader Brendan:

Pizza Online Company appears to have closed. The website says “closed until further notice”, but I just went by the place and it’s empty, all the kitchen stuff gone, signage down, etc.

Pizza Online Company (and Woody’s Boba Drinks) opened at 5756 Calle Real in Goleta in December 2018.

This just in from Pascucci at 509 State Street:

Hi John,

A special thanks to all of our loyal customers for making our 30 year anniversary celebration so successful and busy. Just wanted to thank all of our local & loyal patrons with a “happy Cinque Maggio“ celebration… in honor of Cinco de Mayo for the first 5 days of the 5th month we will be offering 5 popular menu items for $5. Good for dine in or takeout, lunch or dinner Monday through Friday, May 1 through the 5th.

Bruschetta
Small Caesar salad
House margarita (Made with fresh lime juice and Rancho Alegre 100% agave tequila
Glass of house wine (Chardonnay or Cabernet Sauvignon)
Tiramisu (All of our desserts are homemade

Thank you!

Two weeks ago Anchor Rose restaurant at 113 Harbor Way started a weekend brunch. The menu includes:

HUEVOS RANCHEROS: Crispy corn tortilla, refried beans, chorizo and eggs. Topped with salsa casera, made with yellow chiles, melted cheese, guacamole and sour cream. Served with fresh fruit.

CRAB CAKE BENEDICT: Poached eggs with crab cakes on a coasted English muffin, copped with hollandaise sauce. Served with fresh fruit.

SPRING VEGETABLE QUICHE: Baked pastry filled with seasonal vegetables and egg, copped with cheese and tomato. Served with mixed greens and blackberry vinaigrette.

EGGS BENEDICT: Poached eggs and Canadian bacon on a coasted English muffin, topped with hollandaise sauce.

Courtesy

Here is a message from reader KD about Bettina pizzeria which opened at 1014 Coast Village Road in Montecito in October 2018.

Buried in an article entitled “15 Destination-Worthy Restaurants in Santa Barbara” on la.eater.com was a tidbit that Bettina would be opening a Carpinteria location in 2024. I wonder if that will be in the new complex currently under construction in the heart of downtown, on Linden? Here’s the link: https://la.eater.com/maps/best-santa-barbara-restaurants-california
Thanks, KD

Reader Steve W. sent me a photo of a food and beverage ABC permit now on display at the harbor for a business named “Captain’s Cove” with a DBA of “Anchor Rose” which is a restaurant next to the Maritime Museum. I spoke with owner Amy Rose and she told me that Captain’s Cove is the name of her LLC, and that the sign is just a formality related to their permits for Anchor Rose.

Photo by Steve W.

Here are a couple of press releases from Rosewood Miramar Beach:

A Taste of the Central Coast at Caruso’s

In honor of Earth Day, Caruso’s welcomes resort guests and locals to experience a special tasting menu exclusively available for one night only. The fish-forward 8-course menu highlights the team’s partnership with local fishers. A portion of proceeds from the night will be donated to the James Beard Foundation, which has honored the restaurant for its commitment to serving seafood fished and farmed in an environmentally responsible way, earning the property recognition as both an Oceanwise and FishChoice partner.
Date: April 22nd, 2023
Cost: $295 pp
Link: Caruso’s

————

A Morning Dedicated to Sustainability

In honor of Earth Day, spend the morning with the chefs of Miramar Beach as they share the ins and outs of the resort’s award-winning sustainability efforts. Embark on a visit to the local Santa Barbara Farmer’s Market and meet the local purveyors that support the resort’s culinary offerings. To follow, enjoy breakfast at The Revere Room, including freshly sourced strawberry bellinis, before visiting the Miramar Beehive for a honey harvest alongside Executive Chef Massimo Falsini
Date: Saturday, April 22nd
Cost: $495 per person
Time: Experience begins at 8am
To book: please email miramar.events@rosewoodhotels.com

The lodging window for the April 8, 2024 total solar eclipse opened last weekend for many hotels. The city in the U.S. with the very best chance of clear weather on that date, that is also on the eclipse center line, is Eagle Pass, Texas. So I booked a room there and they are already nearly sold out. Numerous other places across the country might have a great view of the 2024 total solar eclipse if Mother Nature cooperates and it is not cloudy. Weather is everything to eclipse chasers. The next total solar eclipse in the continental U.S. will be in 2044.

Here is a press-release from a new frozen dinner delivery services called Kitchenette:

Local Santa Barbara start-up, Kitchenette, is here to make dinnertime easier than ever – quicker than meal prepping, cheaper than takeout, and healthier than fast food and traditional frozen meals. It’s more flexible than meal kits, and less wasteful than all of the above. Kitchenette is an innovative, family-style food company that brings family favorites right to your freezer door, launching online orders and local deliveries on April 12th, 2023.

Sophie McNally, the founder of Kitchenette and a local resident of Santa Barbara who cut her teeth in Manhattan’s restaurant world, shared “After so many years working in restaurants, there are certain non-negotiable from my time in the hospitality industry that I wanted to bring with me to my work at Kitchenette: Exceptional ingredients, outstanding customer service and a serious commitment to deliciousness. By never compromising on quality and making the experience an easy and joyful one, I know that I can bring Santa Barbara families the ultimate nutritious and tasty dinner in a pinch with as little hassle as possible.”

Not only does Kitchenette help solve your dinner dilemmas, but it also helps our community cut down on food waste, which is a huge contributor to climate change. The team at Kitchenette, which includes alumni from Thrive Market, Good Eggs, and goop, are passionate about having a net positive impact on our planet, and have been tracking its footprint from day 1 with our partners at Planet Fwd.

Customers can easily order online and enjoy Kitchenette’s convenient local delivery in the Santa Barbara area, scheduled every Wednesday and Sunday. Once the food arrives, it can be stored in the freezer until ready to heat and enjoy for up to 3 months without losing an ounce of flavor!

Kitchenette’s launch menu will feature four main entrees to choose from, each paired with delicious side dishes. Meals will be frozen and packaged in a single pan, with four servings per dish, priced at $48 per family-size meal ($12 per serving).

Launch Menu Includes:
• Santa Maria BBQ Chicken – a combination of savory and tangy BBQ chicken, ranchero beans, yellow corn-sweet pepper mix, succulent garden pea succotash, and buttered broccoli
• Turkey Meatballs and Spaghetti Squash – tender turkey meatballs and roasted spaghetti squash with braised kale, herbed ricotta, pine nuts and lemon pangrattato
• Chicken Tinga Burrito Bowl – juicy chicken, succulent black beans, buttery rice, fresh fajita veggies, sour cream and guacamole for a fun build-your-own experience
• Harvest Lasagna – layers upon layers of brown rice lasagna sheets, asiago and mozzarella cheese, butternut squash , creamy gournay greens, slow roasted tomatoes and nutty parsley-walnut pesto

Visit getkitchenette.com

Reader Peter T. sent me this ad from Restoration Hardware, coming to the Old Firehouse in the Montecito Upper Village. Apparently there will be a food component to the business.

Jared Squire and his wife Patricia Squire have opened Sweet Reef Boba at 620 State Street. “We have opened our 2nd location in Santa Barbara at the previous frozen yogurt shop ‘Rockin’ Yogurt’ next to the movie theater on State street.” says Jared Squire. “We started our shop in Morro Bay with a focus on making Boba tea with fresh ingredients creating a natural healthy flavors that you can taste the difference. We are a fresh alternative to traditional boba making our drinks with real fruit, dairy and non dairy and freshly brewed tea’s! We are excited!”

Photos by The Restaurant Guy

This just in from Barbareño restaurant at 205 West Canon Perdido Street:

Hi John,

I wanted to share with you an exciting, experimental dinner we’re doing at Barbareño. We’re calling it Taste the Music: Spring 2023. I have a small posted attached below.

We are hosting a very special dinner at Barbareño on Sunday, April 16th blending food, scent, music, whole-body vibration, technology, and science into a one-of-a-kind cross-sensory experience.

This endeavor is a joint collaboration with composer-researchers Dr. Alexis Story Crawshaw and Professor Samuel Shalhoub, as well as the Santa Barbara Center for Art, Science and Technology.

With this ensemble of expert artists, we have crafted an original menu and body of music (including vibrational seating), engineered from research on how music and vibrations impact and change the multisensory construct of flavor. The result of our collaboration is a new kind of aesthetic experience where each course changes character in realtime in response to the varied music and sensations. The musical score features live voice, guitar, electronics, and whole-body vibrations.

Paired wines from our friends at Scar of the Sea are included, providing for an even more dynamic sensory experience.

The dinner will be held in two seatings: 5pm and 7:30pm. Guests will sit at one communal table.
Tickets for the evening must be purchased in advance ($200 per ticket).

For information and tickets, visit barbareno.com/music.

Cheers,

Jesse Gaddy
General Manager | Owner
Barbareño Restaurant

Last month I reported that Los Altos Mexican restaurant at 318 North Milpas Street is opening a second location at 5892 Hollister Avenue in Old Town Goleta, the former home of Mariscos Santa Barbara, Wingman Rodeo, Gimeal Cafe, and The Natural Cafe. I stopped by and was told that they plan to open on April 30.

Photo by The Restaurant Guy 4/6/2023

Last December, while talking with Project Manager Andres Velasco at the new downtown eatery Corazón Comedor, which is one of a series of restaurants being opened by Corazón Cocina founder Ramon Velazquez, I learned that they were planning to open Beast Taqueria inside M. Special Brewing Company at 634 State Street. The restaurant finally opened this week though the brewery will continue to be the star of the show. Since M. Special opened downtown in September 2020 their food service had been called “M. Kitchen” and was been run by Chris Chiarappa, co-founder of Mesa Burger.

After intense concentration and a wave of my hand over the crystal ball, my eatery oracle has revealed a list of food and drink locations appearing in your future:

• Azul Cocina, 7 E. Anapamu St. (formerly Arts & Letters Café)
• Belching Dragon Tavern, 800 State St. (formerly Starbucks)
• Bettina, Linden Ave., Carpinteria (second location)
• Chick-Fil-A, 4765 Calle Real, Goleta (formerly IHOP)
• East Valley Kitchen, 516 San Ysidro Rd. (formerly Montecito Wine Bistro)
• The Ellwood, 5905 Sandspit Rd., Goleta (formerly Beachside Bar-Café)
• Everytable, 1001 State St. (formerly Saks 5th Avenue)
• Kin Bakeshop, Turnpike Center
• The Landing, 5690 Calle Real, Goleta (formerly Outback Steakhouse)
• Lilac Patisserie, 1209 Coast Village Rd. (formerly Mesa Burger)
• Little Alex’s, 3987-B State St. (formerly Fresco)
• Los Altos, 5892 Hollister Ave. (formerly The Natural Café)
• Luna Grill, Isla Vista, Montecito
• Pavilions, 1040 Coast Village Rd., Montecito (changing from Vons)
• Restoration Hardware dining room, 1486 E. Valley Rd., Montecito (old firehouse)
• Santa Barbara Fish Market, 7127 Hollister Ave. Ste. 18, Goleta (near DMV)
• Shalhoob’s, 5112 Hollister Ave., Goleta (formerly Woody’s BBQ)
• Silvers Omakase, 224 Helena Ave. (formerly Seven Bar & Kitchen)
• SocialEats, 6521 Pardall Rd., Isla Vista (formerly South Coast Deli)
• Tacos Roma, 1024 Coast Village Rd. (formerly Little Alex’s)
• Teddy’s on State, 3102 State St. (formerly Yanni’s Greek Deli)
• Terra, 5490 Hollister Ave. (inside upcoming Marriott Hotel)
• Trattoria Del Sole, 1027 State St. (formerly Tamira)
• Unnamed cantina, Turnpike Center
• Unnamed Italian, Shepherd’s Place, Carpinteria (a Mollie Ahlstrand eatery)
• Unnamed seafood, 703 Anacapa St.
• Unnamed, 1212 Coast Village Rd. (formerly Cava)
• Unnamed, 28 E. Ortega St. (formerly Black Sheep)
• Unnamed, 1800 E. Cabrillo (near Bird Refuge)

Reader Primetime provides an update about 1436 Chapala Street:

Three Pickles Deli has – shhhhhhh – quietly opened on Chapala St. at Micheltorena. The soft opening will be a grand opening in a couple of weeks when some final equipment is in and everything is checked out. The third site for Three Pickles.

Photo by Primetime