Dinner in Santa Barbara County

[liamdc]

My eGulleteer girlfriend, another eGullet friend, and I will be touring the Santa Ynez Valley one Saturday in mid-April. We're looking for a nice dinner spot somewhere between Los Olivos and Santa Barbara.

Based on a review of past recommendations, is there any reason to consider places other than the Wine Cask in SB or Brothers in Los Olivos? Both sound wonderful. Any thoughts?

[edited addition] What are the best sushi places in SB County?

Edited March 22, 2004 by liamdc (log)

[Carlsbad]

We had dinner at the Wine Cask for my son's graduation from UCSB. It was terrific. The room is very pleasant, with an historic feel. The food was excellent and the wine list was very large and had many local wines. It was expensive, but well worth it for a special occassion. I;ve never been to Brothers.

We used to go up to Santa Barbara quite a bit and went to several other good restaurants. One of our favorites is the Palace Grill. It has very good New Orleans cooking and a very lively atmosphere. The Oysters Rockerfeller are divine. They feature two kinds of martinis, the spicy Cajun and the "Dean Martini", which is a very good, standard gin martini. They put them in pint and quart jars (don't worry, most of it is ice), and bring you a chilled glass and a strainer to pour it. If you like beef, the blackened filet, with a side of the Cajun hollandaise with artichoke hearts is the thing to order. I've ordered that exact meal- the Dean Martini, the oysters and the filet, the last 3 times I've been there. It's just off State Street, which is a very nice main drag, full of good restaurants, shops, and night spots. The Borders Bookstore in an old bank building is fun for books and music.

[Juanito]

You've picked some winners with Wine Cask and Brothers, either one would be hard to beat. Since you are going to be in the Santa Ynez Valley, Brothers would be the logical pick.

Some others to consider: the Ballard Inn, includes a small restaurant formerly known as Cafe Chardonnay - recently purchased by a very talented chef, formerly sous chef to Ming Tsai at Blue Ginger in Boston - he's doing some nice things there, and you might find it of interest if that sort of food appeals to you

Chef Rick's Santa Ynez, Trattoria Grappolo, the Willows (in the Chumash Casino) are some other spots worthy of your consideration.

Me? I'd go to Brothers

[Juanito]

Oh - and as to sushi....in the Santa Ynez Valley, Buellton specifically, is a great place called A-ru - the owner goes to Los Angeles five days a week to hand select her fish - and it shows in the final product.

In Santa Barbara, Pirhana is pretty popular, and Arigato, I think, is another popular spot, but I haven't eaten at either one - and I've also heard good things about Sushi Teri House

[bbq4meanytime]

Spent much time in SB and Santa Ynez. One of our favorite restaurants bar none is Sage and Onion in downtown Santa Barbara. We always try to dine there while in Santa Barbara.

website here

[sara]

Hi

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. After a long day of wine-tasting at Melville, Sanford, the Los Olivos Tasting Room, Beckman, Babock, and Andrew Murray, LiamDC, mazman and I enjoyed some snacks at Mattei's Tavern. The kobe beef burger ($12) was quickly devoured by the boys, and I loved the chicken wings.

We also hit a great little taco stand in SB, near the Goodwill, but I don't have the name--perhaps Mazman will fill it in for me.

We headed back to LA--to AOC--for our actual dinner.

Edited April 22, 2004 by sara (log)

[liamdc]

We also hit a great little taco stand in SB, near the Goodwill, but I don't have the name--perhaps Mazman will fill it in for me.

La Super-Rica Taqueria, 622 N Milpas St, Santa Barbara

[bong]

Looking at this thread and the thread here and here, looks like here are the recommendations for Santa Barbara:

La Super Rica Taqueria

Via Vai

Sage & Onion

Olio e Limone

Downey's

Wine Cask

Bouchon

Citronelle

We will be in Santa Barbara visiting for a few days, and we will have a one-year old baby with us. Which of these restaurants are child-friendly? (the kid is not going to eat, but the kid will have to be tolerated by other patrons, so a real noisy place is somewhat child-friendly. An upscale place is a no-no).

It seems to me the last four in the list are probably not child-friendly at all, is that correct?

Any other suggestions for a place with good food and lots of noise so we can take our "talkative" kid there?

Thanks!

[Juanito]

Truthfully, none of the above, save for Super Rica, are child friendly.

Via Vai has a patio - that might work.

[bong]

Truthfully, none of the above, save for Super Rica, are child friendly.

Via Vai has a patio - that might work.

Juanito,

Thanks for your reply. What about the following places, do you think they are child friendly (for lunch)? :

The Brown Pelican

Cafe Del Sol

Aja Restaurant

Are they any good?