The French Riviera meets the American Riviera. Reader Steve C. emailed me from a packed “Bar Lou” on opening night, November 2, letting me know that Montecito’s new French restaurant had arrived. Their online reservation system immediately filled up for the rest of the week. Bar Lou at 1198 Coast Village Road, the former home of Oliver’s and the ubiquitous Peabody’s, is brought to you by restaurateur Warner Ebbink and Executive Chef Brandon Boudet who have been business partners since 2001 and operate Little Dom’s in Carpinteria and Los Feliz.
The duo, who split their time between Santa Barbara, Ojai, and Los Angeles, used companies Mahte Design and Isabelle Dahlin Design to split the space into four different dining rooms that include dark green accents, vintage French oak floors, and mirrored walls. Boudet says the new Montecito space added excitement him and Ebbink because they have been doing updated Italian-American food for the last 20 years and it would be nice to do a totally different concept. “It reinvigorated us both, me with the food, wine and cocktail program, and him with designing the place and getting it up and running.”
“We are trying the bring new energy to Montecito,” says Boudet. I am told that the space became available last April and that upon seeing the property, and feeling the vibe of the building, his instinct was to open up his interpretation of a French bistro in the south of France. Boudet loves the abundance of fresh local produce. “We have fisherman who knock on our doors and deliver it straight to us,” he added. “It’s the same thing with farmers who are just a few miles away.”
The small plates menu includes CA Caviar, Fried Zucchini Blossoms, Smashed Chickpea Toast, Chicken Gyro, Smoked Black Cod Smorrebrod, Charcoal Grilled King Oyster Mushroom Skewer, Roasted Carrots, Charcoal Grilled Beets, Harissa Spiced Beef Kofta, Crab Cake, Meat & Cheese Plate, rancho Gordo Ayocote Beans, French Fries, and Sauteed Greens. Large Plates include Cast Iron Seared Fish Provencal & Ratatouille, Branzino Almondine, and Steak au Poivre. Appetizers, Pasta, Rice, and Salad dishes are also available.
Though Bar Lou will only offer dinner service the first few weeks of opening, they will be offering lunch service along with weekend brunch soon. Boudet and Ebbink will soon be opening up an elevated Mexican cuisine eatery at the Condor Bar inside El Roblar Hotel in Ojai. Call (805) 845-5489 or make reservations at resy.com.
Bar Lou is a disaster. It’s unfathomable that they would they reinvested what as the most beautiful bar (that the previous owners spared no expense to build), and put a dated, ugly, and junky looking bar.
For starters the bar was out of Pinot noir, didn’t offer a Cabernet, and we settled for a mediocre Grenache. We ordered everything from chips/caviar, hummus toast, salad, chicken gyro, and fish- all uneventful and nothing felt cohesive or tasty. This is perhaps the worst restaurant to come to Montecito ever. The restaurant, as is, will not be in business in one year- it’s just awful.