California - Must see/Must eats in/around Santa Barbara?

My wife and I will be spending six nights at the Fess Parker Doubletree in Santa Barbara during the third week in October. I used to live in the Bay Area and have been to SB county before, but my memory is poor and I'm sure things have changed.

My wife is a foodie, and I'm sure she'll appreciate any restaurant recommendations. I'd like to find some hiking, biking, and anything else that keeps us out of the hotel (and away from the shopping). I'll probably end up spending some time in Solvang against my will.

Does anyone have any recommendations for restaurants and activities that are musts when in SB?

Many thanks!

Ca'Dario is tasty and inexpensive.

Ca'Dario is tasty and inexpensive.

Thanks for the tip!

If she's a foodie, she's probably already insisted you take her to La Super Rica. I also like Olio e Limone (first place I ever had burrata chese & it changed my life ;) ), Cajun Kitchen does good breakfasts. Of course, the Hitching Post of Sideways fame.

Again, I'd do a search on Chowhound.com on Santa Barbara & you'll get tons of suggestions.

Brophy Bros. on the harbor has a respectable clam chowder and other common seafood dishes and is supposedly a favorite seafood place in Santa Barbara according to citysearch.

Enjoy the trip!

If she's a foodie, then plan to go to one or more of the farmer's markets for amazing local produce, plants, and prepared foods.

Saturday is the big day, with the fisherman's market starting at about 6 am (or when the boats get in) at the marina and continues till about 10...althought the best will be gone in the first few hours, as the local Asian community will be there en-mass to buy fresh spot prawns, rock and spider crab, mussels, and whatever fish are in season right off the boats.

Saturday's also the the day for the main downtown farmer's market running 8:30am - 12:30 pm in the parking lot at Santa Barbara Street & Cota Street, typically with 40-60 vendors.


Tuesday evening's Old Town farmer's market is also very good, where they close off the 500 & 600 block of State Street for vendors. I'm not sure whether they'd be on summer (4-7:30 pm) or winter (3-6:30 pm) hours.

Restaurants: Miro - Bacara Hotel (pricey)
Opal - on State ST
31 West - Hotel Andulucia
Arigato Sushi - State St

Wineries: Santa Barbara Winery - downtown Santa Barbara
many wineries in Los Olivos

Enjoy!

Nu has nice contemporary California cuisine.

If you're into some cheaper places in Isla Vista (by the University), checkout Freebirds or Silvergreens.

For Breakfast, the SB Roasting Company and Bagle Cafe are nice as well.

Now for restauraunts...

For breakfast:
Of course, go eat at Cajun Kitchen...but the best pancakes in town are at Sambos (yes, this is the birthplace of the chain).

Snacks and beer:
Santa Barbara Brewing Company (microbrew)

Burgers:
The Habit (The Goleta one is best)

If it's beach weather, stroll the Goleta Pier and then do lunch or early dinner at:
Beachside Bar-Café

For world-class icecream:
McConnell's Ice Cream (also in Solvang)


For lunch or dinner:
Downey's - superb nouvelle cuisine, excellent service
Stella Mare's - California cuisine at its best, amazingly good service
(also for brunch)
Trattoria Mollie's - great casual Itallian, but the food is top-notch
Tupelo Junction Cafe - nouvelle Southern?!? Whatever you call it, it's damn fine for lunch or dinner.

We visited about 2 months ago. Best meal was at ELEMENTS, across from City Hall. Two other "highly rated" restaurants were OK but not really special - Wine Cask and Citronelle.

Thank you all for these tips!

A walk along the beachside walking track is great in the mornings, after the harbourside seafood market and before the farmers' market ;)

It is a very pleasant drive around some of the residential streets back from the coast, if you have time, before you leave (if that's your thing!).

Bouchon
http://www.bouchonsantabarbara.com/

bouchon santa barbara

9 W. Victoria Street phone: (805) 730-1160
Santa Barbara California 93101

This is a great adult environment to enjoy a truely fine meal. Don't miss it.

I don't know the name of it but my s.o. still talks about the fabulous fish tacos bought at a (literal) hole in the wall place across from the Hotel Santa Barbara on State steet... and that was about 6 years ago! To date no other can compare...

Enjoy!
DD

La Super Rica is a must. 622 N. Milpas. A dive with long lines, but do it anyway.
My favorite: #16...pork with pasilla chile and cheese.

La Super Rica is a must. 622 N. Milpas. A dive with long lines, but do it anyway.
My favorite: #16...pork with pasilla chile and cheese.
of Super Rica. Perhaps when it started it was unusual, but I've been several times and thought it felt like a funkier Baja Fresh.

I'd suggest a stop up at the old standby El Encanto, either for a meal or drinks or even stroll around the grounds. It's up the hill past the Mission, has a great view of the city and the harbor.

Solvang is a goof, good for some browsing and some baked goods but it's basically a Danish Disneyland. Get thee to any of the numerous wineries just north of town; for a first timer, take the tour at Firestone. Avoid Fess Parker's winery, but his restaurant in Los Olivos might be worth a visit and definitely stop at the tasting rooms across the street.

Brophy Bros. on the harbor has a respectable clam chowder and other common seafood dishes and is supposedly a favorite seafood place in Santa Barbara according to citysearch.

Enjoy the trip!
NO!
Tourist trap type of place. Stay away.

Here's my quick suggestions:
1. Take the San Marcos Pass (rt. 154 I believe) up over the mountain. Firstly, a spectacular drive. Not far down the other side is the Cold Spring Tavern. Very, very cool place. Indescribable, really. Dinners are very good. Make reservations. If you don't wanna do dinner there, head over there for a hearty breakfast.

2. Hitching Post- EXCELLENT beef. Can be a bit pricey though. Expect to pay 30-35 for a steak. You won't be disappointed in the quality though. Make sure you and your wife get a BBQ'ed artichoke and an Ostrich appetizer. Absolutely delectable. Make reservations. If you saw the movie Sideways, some of the move was filmed inside the Buellton, CA location (nearest to SB). The Buellton location is not far from Solvang. Other lacation is in Casmalia, an additional 20 minute drive.

3. Solvang can be a neat place. Bit touristy, but neat. If your wife is the type that likes quaint store after quaint store and browsing through each, she'll love it.

4. Ballard Inn- Not far from Solvang or Buellton. Actually in Los Olivos. Small restaraunt, bujt very good. Make reservations.

5. Chumash Casino- If you and the wife are the gambling type, not far from Solvang/Buellton.

I'll see if I can think of anything else. But the Hitching Post and Cold Spring Tavern are must tries in my eyes.

I'd suggest a stop up at the old standby El Encanto, either for a meal or drinks or even stroll around the grounds. It's up the hill past the Mission, has a great view of the city and the harbor.
El Encanto is closed until 2008.

El Encanto is closed until 2008.
how come why for? That's a long time for a hotel/restaurant to be out of commission. Schrager-izing?

Hitching Post- EXCELLENT beef. Can be a bit pricey though. Expect to pay 30-35 for a steak. You won't be disappointed in the quality though. Make sure you and your wife get a BBQ'ed artichoke and an Ostrich appetizer. Absolutely delectable. Make reservations. If you saw the movie Sideways, some of the move was filmed inside the Buellton, CA location (nearest to SB). The Buellton location is not far from Solvang. Other lacation is in Casmalia, an additional 20 minute drive
it was a borderline tourist trap before the movie, now it's crazy. You have to go first thing or last thing for dinner.

I'd suggest visiting the Firestone Walker brewery, near the freeway down the street from Motel 6. Not just for the obvious reason (the many beers), but now they have a very nice sitdown restaurant. On my last visit I ate there several times, it was so good. Separate from the Firestone winery, but equally good. The bar is quite a scene in the evening.

Los Arroyos is a good alternative for Mexican food. Edomasa does good mid-range Japanese.

Here's my quick suggestions:
1. Take the San Marcos Pass (rt. 154 I believe) up over the mountain. Firstly, a spectacular drive. Not far down the other side is the Cold Spring Tavern. Very, very cool place. Indescribable, really. Dinners are very good. Make reservations. If you don't wanna do dinner there, head over there for a hearty breakfast.

2. Hitching Post- EXCELLENT beef. Can be a bit pricey though. Expect to pay 30-35 for a steak. You won't be disappointed in the quality though. Make sure you and your wife get a BBQ'ed artichoke and an Ostrich appetizer. Absolutely delectable. Make reservations. If you saw the movie Sideways, some of the move was filmed inside the Buellton, CA location (nearest to SB). The Buellton location is not far from Solvang. Other lacation is in Casmalia, an additional 20 minute drive.

3. Solvang can be a neat place. Bit touristy, but neat. If your wife is the type that likes quaint store after quaint store and browsing through each, she'll love it.

4. Ballard Inn- Not far from Solvang or Buellton. Actually in Los Olivos. Small restaraunt, bujt very good. Make reservations.

5. Chumash Casino- If you and the wife are the gambling type, not far from Solvang/Buellton.

I'll see if I can think of anything else. But the Hitching Post and Cold Spring Tavern are must tries in my eyes.


We like this area quite a bit, too. A few additional comments -

Cold Spring Tavern - It's actually off of 154 on Stagecoach Rd. Be prepared for a large contingent of the biker crowd, especially on weekends. Great country music as well.

Chumash Casino - Definitely one of the nicer casinos in California, but little to offer food-wise. Their "upscale" restaurant is definitely overrated and the only thing else is a mediocre coffee shop.

Brothers Restaurant at Mattei Tavern in Los Olivos. Excellent restaurant run by two brothers, one of whom used to be a chef at Spago. Prices are reasonable, definitely less expensive than the equivalent in Santa Barbara.