Tag archives: restaurant

The Monarch Closes at Montecito Inn
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   October 24, 2019

The owners of the Montecito Inn on Coast Village Road announced last week that a new restaurant concept will be coming to the historic hotel, expected to open in Spring 2020. The announcement comes after the closure of The Monarch and Silver Bough, two restaurant concepts by Scratch Restaurants, a Los Angeles-based restaurant group, which […]

Once More for Mollie
By James Buckley   |   August 22, 2019

She’s been the toast of the town, friend of Oprah and Ellen, been to the White House with President Obama. Her list of notable customers ranges from Katy Perry, the aforementioned Ms Winfrey and Ms DeGeneres, Kirk and Anne Douglas, and, well let’s put it this way: they didn’t come for the publicity; they came […]

Try the Chowdah
By Richard Mineards   |   July 18, 2019

To the Bluewater Grill, with my trusty shutterbug Priscilla, when the popular eatery launched its new Maine tasting menu, which runs through the end of August. Having been a frequent visitor to Dark Harbor on the island of Isleboro in Penobscot Bay over the years, I was transported back to my sailing days with Marshall […]

Ain’t it Grand?
By Richard Mineards   |   July 18, 2019

The Stonehouse, the San Ysidro Ranch’s award winning eatery, has added another accolade to its long list. Under the direction of Todd Smith, wine director, the restaurant’s robust collection has just earned the Wine Spectator Grand Award for the fifth consecutive year. The underground wine cellar houses nearly 12,000 bottles of the most premium and […]

Anniversary at Alito’s
By Richard Mineards   |   May 30, 2019

Social gridlock reigned at restaurateur Ali Ahlstrand‘s new State Street eatery, Alito’s, when John Thyne and Kevin Goodwin celebrated the 15th anniversary of their real estate company, Goodwin & Thyne Properties. More than 270 guests turned out for the boffo bash, with 1,138 properties sold in the last decade and a half. “It is amazing […]

Merci Montecito Opens
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   May 23, 2019

Saturday, May 18 marked a grand opening celebration at Merci Montecito, the newest eatery at Montecito Country Mart, located in a portion of the space once home to Xanadu Bakery. Owner and chef Elizabeth Colling had a smaller iteration of the concept, a pop-up called Merci To Go, a few years back in the 168-ft […]

Roost
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   November 29, 2018

The State Street locale that was home to Downey’s for 35 years has been quietly operating as a fresh new concept since May of this year. Owned and operated by Jim Mishler, Roost offers a fresh and simple menu for both lunch and dinner. Mishler has been a mainstay in the local restaurant scene for […]

Khao Kaeng Opens on Coast Village Road
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   November 15, 2018

Khao Kaeng, the newest concept from the owners behind the widely popular Empty Bowl Gourmet Noodle Bar at the Santa Barbara Public Market, has opened on Coast Village Road. The eatery is located in Coast Village Plaza (1187 Coast Village Road), in the lower space formerly occupied by Here’s the Scoop.  “People are excited we […]

Just Warming up
By Richard Mineards   |   July 19, 2018

The Monarch is ready for its closeup! The 45-seat eatery, which replaces the iconic Montecito Cafe at the Montecito Inn, has been dogged with problems, including the Thomas Fire, the mudslides and, more recently, the heatwave that caused an electricity transformer to explode, knocking out power to the eatery and its neighboring nosheteria, Lucky’s. The […]