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News for Restaurants in Santa Barbara
May 2011 Archive

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RESTAURANT NEWS

Openings

The owners of Ojai's popular Osteria Monte Grappa have opened a new Italian restaurant in the Arcade downtown. La Fonte is a casual offshoot specializing in light, thin-crust pizzas. Also available are panini, fresh salads and an assortment of seafood appetizers like mussels in a basil and garlic pesto broth. La Fonte, The Arcade, 242 E. Ojai Ave., Ojai, CA 93023, 805-646-5435.
 
Cafe Stella has opened in Santa Barbara The owners of Stella Mare's have opened a new French-American restaurant in Santa Barbara. Café Stella offers American food alongside French classics likes crepes and croissants. It's open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. CafĂ© Stella, 3302 McCaw Ave., Santa Barbara, CA 93105, 805-969-6705.
 

News Bytes

More Wine?
Further establishing the El Paseo complex as Ground Zero for wine in Santa Barbara, Au Bon Climat---Jim Clendenen's highly regarded operation, recognized for producing top-quality Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Blanc from locally grown grapes---is opening a tasting room adjacent to Doug Margerum's Wine Cask restaurant and its associated wine bar and tasting room. Au Bon Climat, El Paseo, 813 Anacapa St., Santa Barbara, CA 93101, 805-937-9801.
 
Tinkers Goes Gourmet
Tinker's, the iconic beachside burger restaurant in Summerland, a place so casual it's practically sandy, now offers a line of burgers billed as "gourmet." Hamburger purists will be relieved to see toppings like roasted Ortega chiles and onion rings on the menu, rather than foie gras. Tinker's, 2275 Ortega Hill Rd., Summerland, CA 93067, 805-969-1970.
 

Chef Shuffle

Chef Chad Minton has replaced Jamie West at Maravilla, the fine-dining restaurant of the Ojai Valley Inn & Spa. Most recently, Minton helmed the kitchen at Jer-ne Restaurant + Bar at The Ritz-Carlton, Marina Del Rey. Maravilla, Ojai Valley Inn & Spa, 905 Country Club Rd., Ojai, CA 93023, 805-646-1111.
 
Chef Jamie West has returned to Stonehouse restaurant, the fine-dining establishment at Montecito's San Ysidro Ranch. Stonehouse, San Ysidro Ranch, 900 San Ysidro Ln., Montecito, CA 93108, 805-565-1724.
 



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.

Square One, a downtown Santa Barbara restaurant known for serving sustainable food in a fine-dining atmosphere, has closed. Square One, 14 E. Cota St., Santa Barbara, CA 93101, 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

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