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Olio e Limone Ristorante
17 West Victoria Street 899-2699
Olio e Limone (“Oil and
Lemon,” in Italian) is
the brainchild of the
husband-and-wife
team of Alberto and
Elaine Morello, who
rely on the integrity of
their ingredients and
the quality of the
preparation to offer
“Santa Barbara
creative, authentic Zagat-rated Italian cuisine served in an
inviting atmosphere with European hospitality.” Visible through
a glass wall is the dining room’s focal point, the wine cellar,
which represents the eatery’s 250-plus selection award-
winning wine list. Private dining in the Cucina Room is
available for up to 40 guests.
Renaud’s Bakery
3315 State Street, 569-2400
Open less than a year,
this authentic French
bakery, with its
absolutely delectable
croissants, is busy all
the time and the first-
rate, buttery, flaky
croissants are the first to
go, so get here early for
a real Gallic treat.
Renaud’s is located in
Loreto Plaza, and specializes in a wide selection of wholesome
French pastries. The breakfast and lunch menu is composed of
egg dishes, sandwiches and salads and represents Renaud’s
personal favorites. Renaud’s brewed coffees and teas are proudly
100% Organic. Come smell the air and practice your French.
Wine Cask
813 Anacapa Street, Santa Barbara 966-9463
Wine Cask is located in
the middle of Santa
Barbara’s most
charming series of
buildings, called El
Paseo. The restaurant
is situated in a large
open room with a
roaring fireplace, and,
high above, hand-
painted wood beams.
Wine Cask boasts a selection of some 40 wines one can order
by the glass, along with, of course, dinner fare, whose recent
tasting menu featured Ahi tuna carpaccio, local abalone served
with English cucumbers, and sauce gribiche, and New York
strip steak with confit potatoes, asparagus, and sauce
bordelaise.
VENTURA
Brooks
545 E. Thompson Blvd 652-7070
Husband and wife Andy
and Jayme Brooks’s
recent menu included a
choice of warm Mexican
lobster sope,…pan
seared New York foie
gras, pan seared jumbo
lump crab cake, and
puree of carrot and
orange soup as starters.
Entrees included 24-hour
marinated pulled short
ribs, wood-grilled
Shelton Farms free range
chicken breast with sautéed collard greens, saffron Israeli
couscous and sun-dried tomatoes, nut-crusted California
white sea bass, 16-ounce certified Angus Kansas City strip
steak, and more. Brooks also boasts signature cocktails and
a Wine Spectator 2008 award-winning wine list.
Harbor Restaurant
210 Stearns Wharf 963-3311
The picturesque Harbor
Restaurant on historic
Stearns Wharf offers
seafood and prime
steaks along with a
panoramic ocean view.
The Harbor, and upstairs
Longboard’s Grill,
provide full cocktail
service and an award-
winning wine list for you
to enjoy while watching
the boats in the harbor.
Weekend breakfast is
served, and private
rooms are available for special events.
Holdren’s Steakhouse
512 State Street 965-3363
The top-sirloin steak
sandwich, grilled
chicken sandwich, fresh
Ahi tuna sashimi salad,
and grilled chicken
Caesar are just a few of
the items available on
the lunch menu. Dinner
includes jumbo scallops
over risotto,
Bouillabaisse, pan-
roasted salmon,
Jalapeno and
Pepperjack crusted pork
chop, rack of lamb,
and, of course, steak
specials, all of which
are made from U.S.D.A.
Prime Midwestern corn-
fed beef, aged to their chefs’ exact specifications. Holdren’s also
boasts an extensive wine list with over 200 selections, enough
to choose from to accompany any meal.
Miró
8301 Hollister Ave at Bacara Resort & Spa 968-0100
Miró is a refined refuge
with stunning views,
featuring two genuine
Joan Miro sculptures, a
top-rated chef offering a
sophisticated Basque-
Catalonian menu that
accents fresh, organic,
and native-grown
ingredients, and a
world-class wine cellar.
Special items include oak-grilled lamb chops, pan-roasted
lobster, foie gras, and local items depending upon the time of
year and the inclination of the chef. Herbs and vegetables grown
on Bacara’s 1,000-acre ranch adjacent to the resort are used
extensively.
Moby Dick
220 Stearns Wharf 965-0549
We all miss
the late Sonny
and Al
Steinman,
longtime
part-owners/
managers of
this quirky but
charming
eatery at the
far end of
Stearns Wharf that features spectacular views of Santa Barbara’s
harbor and coastline. Moby Dick is virtually surrounded in glass,
with views from every table, but when a guest insisted upon a
“window” seat and there simply were none available, Al would
haul out a portable window and set it alongside the table. Moby
Dick offers fish, lobster, clam chowder, fish and chips and plenty
more. A great place to watch the sunset.
Bistro
8301 Hollister Avenue at Bacara Resort 968-0100
Cream-colored interior,
warmly lit wall
sconces, beamed
curving ceilings,
arched entryways,
glowing chandeliers,
large comfortable
upholstered high-back
chairs, lavender
tablecloths, lush
carpeting a tile-
encrusted curved bar, original oil paintings, and ocean views
set the stage for Bistro’s Mediterranean atmosphere. Fresh,
simple meals, including bruschetta, tuna club sandwich, even
pizza and a peanut-butter cheesecake, served al fresco with an
ocean breeze. “A little loose, a little luxurious, a lot to look
forward to,” is what they tell us.
Carr Winery
414 N. Salsipuedes Street 965-7985
Carr specializes in
ultra-premium, limited-
production wines from
Santa Barbara County.
Varietals include Pinot
Noir, Cabernet Franc,
Grenache, Pinot Gris,
Sangiovese and Syrah.
Enjoy the ambiance of
a working winery in
downtown Santa
Barbara while sipping
on delicious wines at
the beautiful barrel-top
tasting bar. Carr Winery is available for private parties
including corporate events, rehearsal dinners, birthday parties
and wine tasting receptions. www.carrwinery.com.
Elements
129 East Anapamu Street 884-9218
Across the street from,
and overlooking one of
America’s most
beautiful public
buildings, the Santa
Barbara Courthouse
and its Sunken
Gardens, Elements
serves lunch, Sunday
Brunch, dinner and
offers a lively Happy
Hour Monday through Friday. Elements is also one of Santa
Barbara premier caterers, and offers exceptional wines for sale
at its online wine store - www.elementsrestaurantandbar.com.
Esau’s Cafe
721 Chapala Street & 507 Linden Avenue 965-4416
Esau’s Café, a local
tradition since 1939,
has reopened in Santa
Barbara. Serving great
breakfasts for over 60
years, featuring what
they call their “world-
famous pancakes,”
Esau’s Café now offers
dinner in Santa
Barbara. Lunch menu
has the large selection
of burgers and
sandwiches fans
expect, but now
Executive Chef Wes
Dichtel has created a
unique fusion of Creole, Cajun, and local cuisine for the dinner
menu. Esau’s Santa Barbara serves breakfast, lunch, and
dinner daily and offers beer & wine. Carpinteria location is still
open for breakfast & lunch.
EATERIES GUIDE