Lunch in Santa Rita AVA

[LA_food]

Looking for aq lunch place either in Buellton or west towards Lompoc.

We are going to taste pinots in the Santa Rita AVA Babcock, Melville, Lafond & Sanford

A votre sante

[Juanito]

There's nothing west TOWARD Lompoc - you have to go INTO Lompoc to reach anything. Once there, you have some choices.

Saletti's (weekdays only)

Sissy's Uptown - some nice food here

Thai Cuisine - you'll have to hunt for this one - but it's worth it - it's behind Walgreen's on H Street

Mad Mack's BBQ

Taco Loco - Mexican in a fast food setting

Back to Buellton, A-Ru sushi is very good. There's also the Firestone Tap Room, but their menu is a bit limited at lunch.

Ellen's Pancake House is typical rib sticking diner/coffee shop food, and across the street is Taco Roco - see Taco Loco, above

Have fun tasting.

[Chris Cognac]

Are you not going to partake in at least 1 little bowl of pea soup from Andersons?

[LA_food]

Thanks again Juanito! You ARE the authority on dining in the Santa Ynez valley.

Going to the Ballard Inn resto & Brothers during our stay thanks to your recommendations!

Chris, 1000 posts! Damn you've been prolific!

Last time we went to Andersons it was not that great!

[Juanito]

Going to the Ballard Inn resto & Brothers during our stay  thanks to your recommendations!

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Great. No pressure.

Seriously, I'll be interested in your impressions, so I hope you'll report back.

[LA_food]

Juanito,

went to Taco Roco for breakfast, Ellen's was packed at 11:30. The chorizo & eggs was excellent, nothing fancy just great food.

Sunday night we at the Ballard Inn resto. It was apparently unexpectedly full (some movie people were there & did make reservations) and as a result I don't think they were NOT at their best. We had the seared tuna & venison apps, both were excellent if a little small. I was not impressed with the wine list. I was hoping to try some of the cult pinots that are ungettable. My wife had the monk fish osso buco w/ risotto. The fish had a large piece of cartilidge (sp?) in it & was quite tough. The ristto was quite delicate & delicious, though the sauce made it watery. The table next to us tried to order monk fish & apparently we got the last piece, usually not a good sign!

I had the filet, the meat was properly cooked but the sauce overwhelmed the taste of the meat, quite hard to do with a seared filet. The sides were ordinary

Everyone we taked about restos raved about the Ballard Inn resto, so I guess they were just unprepared. I believe the exec chef was there!

Went to Panino for lunch. It was ok, I think we were expecting panini (the hot pressed sandwich kind) so we were a little disappointed but that was our fault.

Brothers was fantastic!!. We ordered a bottle of Seasmoke B? Pinot . They had several Seasmokes & Brewer-Clifton pinots. Again the resto was packed (one of the few open on Monday) so they were out of things. We ordered the Kubacha squash soup & the tuna tartare apps, both excellent. My wife had the filet served with a bit of blue cheese under the steak & a very good complementary sauce. The side was many layers of thinly sliced potato & onion & gruyere stacked to create basically a solid french onion soup. Very ingenious & delicious. I had the veal chop that was so good I don't even remember the sides.

So the short version is:

You should dine early (we ate at 7:30 both nights) & they were out of some dishes

Brothers was superior to the Ballard Inn resto which suprised most people that live there, so I assume we just got a really bad meal

Thanks again for all your advise, it made for a very enjoyable get away!!

[chaud-froid]

Brothers was fantastic!!. We ordered a bottle of Seasmoke B? Pinot .

B? = Botella

[LA_food]

Botella it was. Thanks

Really great pinot for $50. This is their least expensive pinot

Cris Curran is the wine maker.

There is a Curran Wines (syrah & sangiovese) also, though I am not sure it is the same person

[Juanito]

Cris Curran is the wine maker.

There is a Curran Wines (syrah & sangiovese) also, though I am not sure it is the same person

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Indeed, it is.

Someone was bound to get a bad meal at the Ballard Inn. Why did it have to be on my recommendation?

I'm glad you had a good time. Come back soon!