Montecito Coffee Shop Awards

Montecito Coffee Shop Restaurant Review:

Ensconced in the Upper Village of Santa Barbara’s most exclusive community, the Montecito Coffee Shop is an anomaly, an intentionally casual place where the local diamonds-and-fur set goes to decompress. No other eatery in the 93108 would dare call itself a “coffee shop.” The down-home character is the appeal for most patrons. And the menu matches the moniker. Dishes like the basic breakfast --- bacon or sausage with a couple eggs, potatoes and toast --- tell the story of an establishment bent on keeping things simple. It’s cash-only here, and cell phones are prohibited. Resident celebrities are frequently sighted, often eating alone, quietly reading; to ask for an autograph would be an unforgiveable faux pas by Montecito standards. Like the breakfast menu, lunch is decidedly straightforward and includes a nice selection of salads and sandwiches, most of them available for less than $10.