THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Montecito Wine Bistro

THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Montecito Wine Bistro Restaurant Review:

Montecito Wine Bistro sits strategically in the heart of Montecito and offers a pleasant, sun-washed terrace filled with window boxes and flowers. From this spot, one can watch tout Montecito pass by in their shiny BMWs, Mercedes Benzes, and Rolls Royces. Inside, among the wine-themed lighting, mirrors, and seascapes, it is obvious talented hands are at work in the kitchen. They belong to chef Ernest Romero, who is taking bistro cuisine to a more sophisticated level. For lunch there are the expected soups, sandwiches and salads and also warm homemade chips with Gorgonzola cheese, crab and rock shrimp cakes with fennel slaw, and semolina-crisped calamari with blackened tomato horseradish. Dinner is more serious with potato-crusted salmon, stroganoff, pan-roasted chicken, and a sizzling filet mignon with local greens, red onion confit, walnuts, and cabernet vinaigrette. A fine selection of fresh cheeses is available daily. There are always ten to12 red wines and a dozen white wines by the glass; the wine list for bottles is a treat to read. The mood is casual; many diners prefer to order fresh oysters and sit at the copper-topped bar. Next door is a small wine and cigar shop under the care of the restaurant owners.