Santa Barbara California, with its wide beaches, Spanish architecture and outstanding wineries, is an perfect city to vacation in. There is no denying that , when one is traveling , an urgent decision to be made each day is this: ” At which restaurant shall we eat?” As luck would have it , you are fairly spoiled for choice in Santa Barbara . As a native Santa Barbarian , I recommend The following restaurants, listed, more or less, in descending order of cost .
For high class French/Californian food, the best choice is Bouchon, which serves what they have named “wine country cuisine.” The Bouchon website explains that:
“Only the freshest, high quality local ingredients find their way into the Bouchon Santa Barbara kitchen. Working closely with local produce growers, fishermen and game ranchers we have created a menu we believe captures the unique spirit of California’s Central Coast.”
Bouchon’s speciality is duck breast, and they also serve rack of lamb, venison, and seafood, with an unequaled selection of Santa Barbara County wines.
Another restaurant of deservedly good repute is Louie’s California Bistro. It is located on the first floor of the the historic Upham Hotel, which is housed in an old Victorian built in 1871. At Louie’s, you can savor epicurean California cuisine–paired with Santa Barbara County, Napa, or Sonoma Valley wines–on its attractive porch or in the cozy wood-floored dining room, served up with friendly elegance.
The Seagrass Restaurant is owned by Mitchell Sjerven, who is also the proprietor of Bouchon. Seagrass serves fresh seafood and the evening specials all conveniently have suggested wine pairings of, for the most part, local wines. Here is a description from the website:
“The ambience at Seagrass was designed to be incredibly easy on the eyes and ears. Beautiful Seagrass wall covering, plantation shutters and whitened wainscoting are enjoyed in luxurious chairs, while high vaulted ceilings and carpet underneath keep the noise level to a comfortable hum.”
The moderately priced Italian restaurant Ca Dario was chosen by locals as the best restaurant overall in Santa Barbara in 2010. It has toothsome Italian food and a slap-up wine list offering both Californian and Italian wines.
For atmosphere at family-friendly price, it’s hard to beat The Breakwater Restaurant. Located in the harbor, their food is good (I recommend ordering the Catch of the Day) and the view of the marina from their terrace is stunning . This is a popular breakfast spot, but it’s also a good place to go for lunch or dinner. After a satisfying meal, you can enjoy a walk along the breakwater and take in views of the marina and the Pacific Ocean.
If Mexican food is your thing , La Playa Azul Cafe is a moderately priced restaurant with sun-bathed patio and an unresistable menu of Mexican standards and more unusual fare such as “callo de acha con cebolla y jalapenos,” which is scallops sauteed with onions, tomatoes, tomatillos, and jalapenos. They also make great margaritas.
Another place popular with locals is a funky little taco stand known as La Super Rica Taqueria. It is renowned for being a haunt of Julia Child’s. She even extolled its virtues it in a piece she wrote about Santa Barbara for National Geographic’s Traveler, in which she named La Super Rica, “one of the most authentic Mexican home-cooking restaurants around.”
If you visit Santa Barbara, one place you should not overlook is Stearns Wharf. The best place to eat on the wharf is the Santa Barbara Shellfish Company, a crab and shellfish shop were you can get steamed crab or lobster with a pint of draft beer to enjoy on a picnic table at the end of the wharf. If you just want to grab a burger, the best place to go is Char West, also located on Stearns Wharf. They have tasty grilled burgers and a much better ocean view than a burger joint has a right to.
The best place to go for a good cup of coffee is The French Press, conveniently located on State Street, Santa Barbara’s main drag. The French Press simply makes the best cup of coffee in town.
One local treat you must try is a McConnell’s ice cream cone. If you’re in the mood for something cold, sweet and delicious, McConnell’s in the place: they make the best ice cream I have ever tasted anywhere.
As far as nightspots go, I suggest Joe’s Cafe. Joe’s has been a Santa Barbara institution since 1928. It is a massive place with great tasting, down to earth food, a raucous atmosphere, and the stiffest drinks in town.
Well, I think that is at least a good outline of a very important subject for visitors to Santa Barbara, or any other town for that matter: whare the best places to eat are. If you’d like more free information about this idyllic city located just 90 miles north of Los Angeles, Santa Barbara California, just click on the link.