Dine Out
Gracies Wows in the Waterfront
Gracie, occupying the former Breakwater Restaurant space, has brought fresh energy to the Santa Barbara Harbor since opening in September. Co-founders Dudley Michael and Grace Austin, the duo behind The Shop Brunch and Rodeo Room, wanted to fill what they saw as a gap...
Belmond’s bellissima ‘Bossa Nova’ Brunch
Stunning Views and Dining at El Encanto’s Bosa Nova Brunch
The New Moby Dick
Rebranding and rejuvenating the forgotten Stern’s Wharf eatery, Moby Dick, into a seafood culinary destination.
The Perfect Bite
Scarlett Begonia founder, Crista Fleming, opened her restaurant 13 years ago and the shrimp and grits were one of the original dishes that lasted to present day. Composed with Bob’s Red Mill stone white grits that are finished with cream and Beemster cheese,...
bouchon
A quarter-century celebration of fine wine As I walk into bouchon on a Tuesday evening, the place is joyously hopping with the clink of wine glasses and the laughter of guests, with waiters adroitly gliding between the full tables where diners are enjoying the...
Ethiopian lunch at Petit Valentien
By Raymond Bloom If you’re looking for a new and fun lunch option for your weekend afternoon, you might enjoy the special Ethiopian menu at Petit Valentien in La Arcada, downtown Santa Barbara. The combination platter (above) features six items from the a la carte...
A nod to the journey
Photo Credit: Carter Hiyama by Jeff Miller Everyone knows the restaurant business is about as steady as a bucking bronco. So why open a string of restaurants and one meal-prep service in and around Santa Barbara in a short amount of time? That’s the question posed to...
Sip + Sushi:
Doug Margerum is at it again, this time with a gem of a new tasting room in Santa Barbara Wine Country’s charming Los Olivos. The spot offers a new twist on wine-pairing: a bento box with your vino tasting.
Margerum has been raising his glass to customers and friends for over 40 years in Santa Barbara’s hospitality trade, as a restaurateur and winemaker. Known for impeccable wines that he fashions for his own label, as well as consulting gigs to budding and wannabe winemakers, his talents have consistently set a high bar and earned respect for his Santa Ynez Valley estate wines.
A natural winner
The first step to success is often failure. Failures like Walt Disney, Thomas Edison, and J.K. Rowling all agree on that. And you can add Kelly Brown to that list.
For Brown, the watershed night was May 7, 1993. “I screwed up,” he recalled.
Restaurant Roy: Santa Barbara’s arty eatery turns 30
This summer marks the 30th year that chef-owner Roy Gandy has operated his eponymous Restaurant Roy (restaurantroy.com) at its location on West Carrillo Street in downtown Santa Barbara. A fixture in the community since its opening in 1993 with a menu offering soup, salad, and an entrée for $10, the eatery that feels like a comfortable combo of neighborhood bar, cool nightclub, and corner diner continues to thrive.
Gandy carved out a niche early on with his approachable prices, live music, and late-night dining. “We’re open until midnight,” says Gandy. “We get a lot of people after a show or a movie, or checking in late at a nearby hotel.”
Squaring up at Bossie’s Kitchen
by Jeff Miller Among other things, the corner of Milpas and East Canon Perdido streets has long been famous for a cow. Not just any cow, but the beloved plaster “Old Bossy,” on her proud perch atop the 1939 building since the creators of the Live Oak Dairy put her...
A smashing success!
by Jeff Miller What you see is a beautiful burger. What you don’t see is the effort that went into making it appear on your plate at Third Window in downtown Santa Barbara. “When you smash a hamburger, grease goes everywhere,” said Kristopher Parker, who runs the...
A culture for excellence
by Jeff Miller What’s the toughest challenge for a restaurant? Attracting customers? Creating a delicious menu? Those count, for sure, but topping the list is getting and keeping a great crew. And one of the best ways to do that is to hire good people, bring them...