Long time Edhat and Restaurant Guy commenter Rex of SB has died reports Edhat: We are sad to announce the death of longtime reader and commenter RexOfSB. “Rex,” also known as John Dell, passed away early on Friday morning. He … Continue reading →

Earlier this year I reported that the space occupied by the legendary Plow & Angel at San Ysidro Ranch has been taken over by neighboring Stonehouse restaurant, though the menu still contained a few items of the departed eatery. I … Continue reading →

JJ’s Diner has opened at 413 State Street, the former home of Onus Donuts, Urkeb, The Mex Authentic, Pace, Momma Donna’s, Billies, and Lettuce B. Frank. They are a classic American breakfast diner open for breakfast and lunch daily 8 … Continue reading →

Here is a list of area eateries that have permanently closed this year. The local restaurant scene has been decimated from restrictions brought about because of COVID-19 concerns. The total number of closures this year has reached 50 as of … Continue reading →

Hi John, I was downtown watching football at O’Malley’s yesterday and was having a discussion with some friends about the history of the space that is now Sharkeez. I moved here in 2005 and the place was called Madison’s. When … Continue reading →

Celebrate the warmth of Thanksgiving with “The Gobble Song” by the legendary Spencer the Gardener.

WHAT’S OLD IS NEW AGAIN: ACME HOSPITALITY REINTRODUCES A SLICE OF LOCAL HISTORY LA PALOMA CAFÉ OPENED ON NOVEMBER 24, 2020 Santa Barbara Café Celebrates the Cuisine of the Californios with a Menu by Executive Chef Jeremy Tummel SANTA BARBARA, … Continue reading →

Here is a list of area eateries that have opened in the last year: • November 2020: Cafe Lido at Mar Monte Hotel, 1111 E. Cabrillo Blvd.; Caje Coffee Roasters, 1316 State St.; Costa Kitchen & Bar at Mar Monte … Continue reading →

La Paloma Café opens Tuesday at 702 Anacapa Street, the former home of the Paradise Café and, well, La Paloma Café. The original La Paloma was a traditional Mexican restaurant that was operated by the property owners from 1940-1983 at … Continue reading →

Cajé Coffee Roasters, which opened its first South Coast location in Isla Vista in January 2009, then added a Santa Barbara outlet on Haley Street in May 2019, has opened its third area store across from the Arlington Theater at … Continue reading →

Last summer Yona Redz Queso Tacos offered popup events at 330 State Street, the former home of Casa Blanca. Reader Steve H. let me know that Yona Redz now has their own place at 532 State Street, the former home … Continue reading →

Reader Bruce spotted signs for Teru Japanese Cuisine at 1305 State Street, the former home of Roost and Downey’s. The new sushi restaurant is owned by Teruhisa Ogue, the long time chef at Sakana, 1046 Coast Village Road in Montecito, … Continue reading →

This just in from Santa Barbara Roasting Company at 321 Motor Way: Hello John, Brolin here from the Santa Barbara Roasting Company. We currently launched a breakfast menu to help survive COVID to offer and provide a better experience. We … Continue reading →

The Lark at 131 Anacapa Street won’t be open on Thanksgiving Day but will be offering a traditional holiday meal on the day before and after. THE LARK PRESENTS A HOLIDAY FEAST FOR THANKSGIVING WEEK Chefs Jason Paluska and Logan … Continue reading →

This just in from Joe’s Cafe at 536 State Street: In case you are working on any Thanksgiving stories, wanted to send along some information about the special menu being offered from 12p.m. – 9p.m. at Joe’s Cafe, Santa Barbara’s … Continue reading →

Here is an update from Rincon Beach Bar at 3805 Santa Claus Lane in Carpinteria: Hi John! We are offering delivery and pickup Thanksgiving Meals through our Invisible Chef program. Here is the info: Large Meals: range from $260 – … Continue reading →

A few hours after I launched the annual Santa Barbara Thanksgiving Restaurant List, I ran some analytics to see where the initial viewers of the new guide are coming from (non-US sources were excluded). It appears that slightly more than … Continue reading →

After a tip from reader Kerry I called El Paseo Restaurant at 813 Anacapa Street to find out their status and was told that they continue to be closed because of COVID-19 restrictions even though their voicemail says they are … Continue reading →

Each November my inbox is swamped with the same question: Which restaurants serve a traditional turkey dinner on Thanksgiving Day? Last week, I made a hundred phone calls to find the answer. Make your reservations early because many places will … Continue reading →

Santa Barbara Restaurant Guide

Here is a message I received from bouchon at 9 W. Victoria Street: bouchon is sold out and wait list is full as well. We have guests who have been joining us for 15-20 years so fill up faster than … Continue reading →

Persona Neapolitan Pizzeria at 905 State Street closed in mid-March at the beginning of the lock down and never reopened. Their website eventually went down but no official announcement was ever released. Mail piled up inside. Reader Brendan recently let … Continue reading →

Root 246 restaurant at Hotel Corque, 420 Alisal Road in Solvang has closed permanently. The restaurant opened to great fanfare by the Chumash Casino in April 2009 and closed temporarily last March due to COVID-19 restrictions. The Casino then decided … Continue reading →

Hotel Californian’s Blackbird at 36 State Street had a soft reopening last Friday after being closed for months because of COVID-19 restrictions. Though it started out as a restaurant when it was launched in September 2017, Blackbird is now a … Continue reading →

The recently remodeled Mar Monte Hotel at 1111 East Cabrillo Boulevard, which is owned by Hyatt, has introduced two new dining options. Costa Kitchen & Bar offers a mix of coastal Italian cuisine and modern southern Californian fare, created by … Continue reading →

Like many dining establishments, the Treehouse Restaurant at 3860 State Street, closed their doors last April when new COVID-19 rules went into effect. Periodically I called the Pepper Tree Inn, where Treehouse leased space, to find out the status, and … Continue reading →

My annual list of local restaurants that serve a traditional Thanksgiving meal on Thanksgiving day will be published next week. I am in the process of making a hundred phone calls to gather information for my most popular column of … Continue reading →

Last August I reported that iconic German restaurant Dutch Garden at 4203 State Street, which closed with great fanfare and long lines last June, planned to reopen under new ownership. Proprietors Charlie Fredericks and brothers Matt and Daniel English originally … Continue reading →

Persona Neapolitan Pizzeria at 905 State Street closed in mid-March at the beginning of the lock down and has never reopened. Their website eventually appeared to go down but no official announcement was ever released. Mail piled up inside. Here … Continue reading →

Hustle & Grind Coffee Company has opened at 11 West De la Guerra Street, the former home of Live Culture and Pierre Lafond, sharing the same location as ParadICE Hawaiian Shave Ice. Hustle & Grind Coffee Company is bringing locally … Continue reading →

Readers Christine, Cris, and Ted let me know that Santa Barbara’s popular Neighbor Tim’s BBQ has announced plans to pack their bags and move the business out of California. Order at neighbortimsbbq.com while you still can. Here a message to … Continue reading →

Reader Primetime tells me that local wedding and events caterer Tondi Gelato is opening a walk-in store at 723 State Street, the former home of Wetzel’s Pretzels that closed at the southern end of Paseo Nuevo last August. Tondi Gelato’s … Continue reading →

Most voters don’t need an incentive to cast their ballot in this year’s general election, but reader Primetime tells me they will get a perk if they are wearing the popular “I voted” sticker when they order a meal at … Continue reading →

Pearl Social, an intimate cocktail and music bar with food created by Executive Chef Jason Paluska, has reopened at 131 Anacapa Street, Suite B. Guests will need to call the host stand at The Lark and request Pearl Social seating. … Continue reading →

Golden Line has started making appearances at 618 Anacapa Street. “We are a new weekend, pop-up Coffee and Tea Bar located inside Villa Wine Bar in downtown Santa Barbara,” says owner Chris Brocco. “Our goals are to provide modern, excellent … Continue reading →

Th Acme Hospitality restaurant group has announced a new partnership with biosafety company, R-Zero, incorporating hospital-grade UV-C to daily disinfection protocols. Beginning at The Lark, Lucky Penny, Helena Avenue Bakery, Pearl Social and Loquita, and with plans to be implemented … Continue reading →

Last June I retired my A-Z restaurant directory after 25 years to instead focus on Featured content with photos, descriptions and web links that wasn’t really possible for all the 600+ listings in the directory. Since that time, what started … Continue reading →

Olio Crudo Bar whoch opened at 11 West Victoria Street in March, 2014 has completed transformation Olio Bottega. The change occurred because of uncertainty surrounding when Olio Crudo Bar would be permitted to reopen in the small space after being … Continue reading →

Local restaurateur Aaron Petersen – owner / operator of Solvang’s CHOMP | Burgers, Fries, Shakes, brekkies by CHOMP, and The Coffee House by CHOMP – has opened the second of his two new food and beverage establishments on Santa Barbara … Continue reading →

Reader Primetime says that the lights are back on at the famous Intermezzo, 813 Anacapa Street, in Santa Barbara’s Presidio Neighborhood. I am told that there is a new menu, decor, spacing, and upgrades in the famous patio next to … Continue reading →