News for Restaurants in Santa Barbara
December 2011 Archive

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RESTAURANT NEWS

Openings

Ventura's ironically named Top Hat Burger Palace has reopened in midtown. The original location, a wooden shack downtown, was a lowbrow icon of Main Street for 63 years. The new eatery replaces It's In the Sauce, a barbecue joint now operating out of a food truck. Top Hat Burger Palace, 2050 E. Main St., Ventura, CA 93001, 805-643-9696.

Nicky D's Wood-Fired Pizza has opened in Santa Barbara. After a decade of success serving classic Italian style New York pies in the L.A. hipster haven of Silver Lake, the pizzeria is taking a crack at a laidback California beach town. Nicky D's Wood-Fired Pizza, 2840 De La Vina St., Santa Barbara, CA 93105, 805-898-2222.

It seems you just can't be an upscale Italian restaurant in Santa Barbara without an adjacent mid-range pizzeria. Following a trend sparked by nearby Olio e Limone Ristorante, Ca' Dario will open a pizzeria a few doors down from its 37 E. Victoria location. Ca' Dario, 37 E. Victoria St., Santa Barbara, CA 93101, 805-884-9419.

Petros is opening in the former home of Café Buenos Aires, located opposite Santa Barbara's historic Arlington Theatre on State Street. This Greek restaurant chain already has locations in Los Olivos and Manhattan Beach. Petros, 1316 State St., Santa Barbara, CA 93101, no phone.

The former Hob Nob space in downtown Santa Barbara will be turned into a new restaurant called Arlington Tavern. The venue is still under construction. Arlington Tavern, 21 W. Victoria St., Santa Barbara, CA 93101, no phone.

News Bytes

Ca' Dario to Open a Pizzeria
Italian trattoria Ca' Dario is going to open a pizzeria near the restaurant's downtown Santa Barbara digs. Ca' Dario, 37 E. Victoria St., Santa Barbara, CA 93101, 805-884-9419.

Chef Shuffle

Chef Onofre Zuniga recently came on board at Casa Blanca on State Street. He was previously the longtime chef at Cava Restaurant & Bar in Montecito. Casa Blanca, 330 State St., Santa Barbara, CA 93101, 805-845-8966.

Closings

CLOSED FOR GOOD
Take your taste buds on a walk down memory lane! Check out our exclusive closed restaurant database for Santa Barbara to virtually visit your favorite dining spots from the past. Aja, R.I.P.

In a sad turn for food lovers from L.A. to Santa Barbara, Brooks restaurant will shutter after service December 31. Chef-proprietor Andy Brooks cites a poor economy as his reason for closing Ventura's most highly acclaimed New American eatery, which had an ill-timed opening in May of 2007 that coincided with the start of the recession. Brooks, 545 E. Thompson Blvd., Ventura, CA 93001, 805-652-7070.

Asian fusion restaurant Jade has shuttered. Jade, 3132 State St., Santa Barbara, CA 93105, no phone.

CULINARY EVENTS
Want to learn to cook? Try new dishes? Meet a foodie friend for fun? Check out our compilation of culinary events in your area.

View our calendar of Wine Dinners & Tastings in Santa Barbara

BEYONCE INSPIRED LIBATIONS

Try these whiskey cocktails inspired by Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter album.

Check the recipes.

BOURBON IN YOUR AIOLI

This cashew aioli recipe gets a kick with bourbon.

Get the recipe.

GAYOT'S RESTAURANT AWARDS

Over the years, we have been electing restaurants to be on GAYOT's Yearly Restaurant Awards.

Check the list.

News for Restaurants in Santa Barbara December 2011 Archive

News for Restaurants in Santa Barbara
December 2011 Archive