Hi! I am trying to find a restaurant I used to go to in the late 90s to early 2000s. The location is 12 W. De la Guerra Street, Santa Barbara. The website lists a restaurant located there closed at 2005, but that was a Mexican restaurant, there should be an Italian restaurant there prior to 2005. Is there any information of restaurant located there before 2005? Thank you very much.
– Cedric
I took this photo March 29, 2005 and it was indeed a Mexican restaurant by then, named “Los Arcos.” This was the days when that address had a recessed patio. The mural, however, looks more Italian than Mexican so it might be a remnant from the eatery you are looking for. By November 2005 Los Arcos had closed and was replaced by an Italian restaurant named “Tiramisu” which itself closed in September 2007 and was replaced by a burger placed named “Kahuna Grill” (the business that enclosed the formerly-recessed patio) which itself closed in November 2014, and so on…
– The Restaurant Guy
Was it Mona Lisa? I can’t remember if it was “Cafe Mona Lisa” or “Mona Lisa Cafe” but I recall pastas?
https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-07-16-vl-3610-story.html
I think Christine_Z28 is right: Cafe Mona Lisa, mentioned in this LAT article from 1992: https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-07-16-vl-3610-story.html
“Active Diner” has a listing as well: https://www.activediner.com/mona-lisa-cafe/restaurant/santa-barbara/ca/us/map/389108
Wasn’t it at some point a Mollie restaurant? Her website has a photo of her standing in from of a “12” near a movie theater marquee which I believe is the space in question.
https://www.chefmollie.com/
Good eye! However 1218 State Street was the home of Mollie’s
That spot is cursed. Nothing last
It’s a tough spot in part because State Street pedestrians don’t walk down that alley much after sunset, a former tenant told me. That was a shock to their business model.
yeah I don’t’ remember the name, I used to go there for pastas and Tiramisu, great Frutti Di Mare!!