SANTA BARBARA RESTAURANT NEWS ARCHIVE

Openings

Responding to persistent complaints about the restaurant’s lobby location, the owners of 31 West in Hotel Andalucia–now called Canary Hotel–undertook an extensive remodel. Newly reopened as Coast Restaurant & Bar, the space features “Spanish island décor” and is now completely separated from the lobby. Coast Restaurant & Bar, 31 W. Carrillo St., Santa Barbara.

Chef Renaud Gonthier has opened a Provence-inspired patisserie/bistro in the Loreto Plaza. Renaud’s Patisserie & Bistro specializes in French pastries and French-style cakes and offers an extensive menu and a retail selection with imported delicacies, homemade candies and fresh fruit preserves. Renaud’s Patisserie & Bistro, 3315 State Street, Santa Barbara.

Marmalade Café has steadily brought its California eclectic menu up the coast–from Santa Monica, where it first opened in 1990, to Malibu, Ventura County and now Santa Barbara. The new location is in the La Cumbre Plaza. Marmalade Café, 3825 State Street Suite E149, Santa Barbara.

Seagrass Restaurant, the newest venture from bouchon proprietor Mitchell Sjerven, has opened in downtown Santa Barbara. The menu focuses primarily on fresh seafood, and the space provides a lovely setting for fine dining. Seagrass Restaurant, 30 E. Ortega St., Santa Barbara, 805-963-1012.

Jean Michel and Jill-Marie Carre have opened Chocolats du CaliBressan, a chocolaterie with artisan truffles and bonbons. Chocolats du CaliBressan, 4913 Carpinteria Ave. Ste. 4, Carpinteria. 805-684-6900.

Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse has opened in La Cumbre Plaza. Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, 3815 State St., Santa Barbara, 805-563-5674.

Sesto Senso, a wine and carpaccio bar, has opened in Montecito. Launched by Alberto and Michelle Mastrangelo, the owners of Epiphany in Santa Barbara, Sesto Senso features carpaccio, cured meats and salami, crudo (raw seafood), oysters, cheese, caviar and dessert. The set up is similar to a sushi bar, and the wine program pays special attention to local producers. Sesto Senso, 1026 Coast Village Rd., Montecito.

Stateside Restaurant & Lounge opened in La Arcada. Featuring California cuisine with an Asian flair, it is a welcome replacement of Acapulco, the Mexican chain restaurant that had been in this prime downtown spot for decades. Stateside Restaurant & Lounge, 1114 State St., Santa Barbara, 805-564-1000.

Bacchus Restaurant, recently opened in Solvang, offers a seasonal wine country prix fixe menu complemented by award winning local wines. Bacchus Restaurant, 409 First St., Solvang, 805-688-1703.

Petit Valentien has opened in one of downtown Santa Barbara’s most treasured locations: La Arcada, at 1114 State St. The restaurant, which serves small plates with a French influence, is doing quite well—and deservedly so as the food is excellent. Petit Valentien, 1114 State St., Santa Barbara, 805-966-0222.

El Sitio restaurant, yet another darn good Mexican eatery in Santa Barbara, has opened a new location at 6850 Pardall Rd., Isla Vista.

East Coasters have something to celebrate: McMaster’s Steak & Hoagie, which opened at 910 Embarcadero del Norte in Isla Vista, and offers a limited menu of sandwiches like the classic Philly cheesesteak. According to Philadelphia and southern Jersey natives, they’re doing it right.

The Zaca Fire cut off Highway 154, blackened the sky around the Santa Ynez Valley, and closed the venerable Cold Spring Tavern for a time. But the winds have shifted, temperatures have dropped–and the venerable Tavern is back in business. 

One of downtown’s most treasured locations–La Arcada at 1114 State Street–will soon see the openings of two new restaurants: Stateside Restaurant & Lounge will offer Cal-influenced Asian cuisine, while Petite Valentien will serve small plates and tapas.

Chili Town has come to the Eastside, moving into the former location of the DogHouse on Milpas. The restaurant has all the usual burger stand suspects–fries, corn dogs, onion rings–but they raise the bar a notch, making items fresh, including their char burgers, the chili, even the buns. Chili Town, 730 Milpas St., Santa Barbara, 805-730-7373.

A new tasting room has opened in Santa Barbara–well, new to this side of the mountains, anyway. Kalyra has been a star of the Santa Ynez Valley for a few years now, ever since it was the only local winery mentioned by name in the movie “Sideways.” Kalyra, 212 State St., Santa Barbara, 805-965-8606.

Mediterra Café & Market has brought a touch of Greece to Goleta, serving quality Mediterreanean food and stocking the shelves of their market with everything from dolmas to olive oil. Mediterra Café & Market, 5575 Hollister Ave., Goleta, 805-696-9323.

The new Fish Market at the Bay Café Seafood Restaurant & Fish Market has opened. In addition to such local fare as thresher shark, halibut, sea bass and red snapper, they fly in seafood from Japan and sell all the fixings to make your own sushi at home. Bay Café & Seafood Market, 131 Anacapa St., Santa Barbara, 805-963-2215.

Lettuce B. Frank has opened for business at 413 State Street. The restaurant marks the evolution of the popular DogHouse, which closed late last year. This time around, the owners have added salads, rotisserie chicken, sliders and fish & chips to their menu, in addition to their well received East Coast style hot dogs. Lettuce B. Frank, 413 State St., Santa Barbara, 805-453-6625.

Santa Barbara has welcomed The Hungry Cat with open claws. The hip Hollywood export doesn’t stray from its proven formula: a small seafood and rawbar menu with East Coast influences served in a contemporary urban atmosphere. The Hungry Cat, 1134 Chapala St., Santa Barbara, 805-884-4701.

The Bay Café Seafood Restaurant & Fish Market is back, and at the same location as before: the old Castagnola building in Santa Barbara’s “Funk Zone” (which lost most of its funk years ago). Like much of the area, the restaurant now features a revamped Mediterranean look. Here, just two blocks from the ocean yet off the tourist path, the Pecorari family serves fresh California-style seafood. Bay Café, 131 Anacapa St., Santa Barbara, 805-963-2215.

There’s just something charming about a restaurant run by its namesake. Thankfully, Jake’s Cottage Cuisine Café has an actual “Jake” running the show, greeting guests and making sure everything is just right. Jake’s serves breakfast and lunch seven days a week. Jake’s Cottage Cuisine Café, 2911 De La Vina, Santa Barbara, 805-898-2233.

The microbrew revolution continues. In Goleta, Marshall Rose and his son Eric, along with restaurateur Larry Kreider (co-owner of Elements and former co-owner of Santa Barbara Brewing Company) recently opened Hollister Brewing Company, which makes beer on-site and offers a variety of hearty food. Hollister Brewing Co., 6980 Marketplace Dr., Goleta, 805-968-2810.

Meanwhile, in Santa Barbara, the Downtown Brewing Co. opened a new branch on upper State Street. (Their flagship brewery is located in “downtown” San Luis Obispo.) Downtown Brewing Co., 3755 State St., Santa Barbara, 805-682-7803. 

American-Asian food and live entertainment in a lounge atmosphere is the plan for a new restaurant in the old Acapulco location at 1114 State St. Stateside On State is scheduled to open in late summer or early fall.

The masterminds behind Alcazar, the Mesa hotspot for Spanish fare, have opened a similar tapas bar downtown, Milk & Honey. Small plates are served in a decidedly trendy ambiance. Open Mon.-Fri. 4:30 p.m.-12 p.m., Sat. 5 p.m.-12 p.m. Milk & Honey, 30 W. Anapamu St., Santa Barbara, 805-275-4232.

The highly acclaimed restaurants at San Ysidro Ranch in Montecito have re-opened. At the property’s fine dining establishment, The Stonehouse, Chef John Trotta prepares regional cuisine with a palate of herbs and vegetables harvested from his on-site garden. The restaurant is open daily from 6 p.m.-10 p.m. At Plow & Angel, locals and out-of-town guests enjoy exceptional comfort food in a convivial atmosphere. Open daily from 5 p.m.-10 p.m., bar service Mon.-Thurs. from 5 p.m.-11 p.m. and 5 p.m.-12 p.m. Fri. and Sat. The Stonehouse and Plow & Angel, 900 San Ysidro Ln., Santa Barbara, 805-565-1724.

In March, Cynthia Miranda and Scott Schonzeit, the people behind Santa Barbara’s Mondial Catering, re-opened their popular restaurant Quantum, this time expanding the name to Quantum Kitchen & Cocktails. Diverging from the small plates menu of old, the overhauled eatery offers a contemporary American grill-inspired menu and full bar. Lunch Mon.-Fri. 11 a.m.-3 p.m., dinner Wed.-Sat. 5 p.m.-close. Quantum Kitchen & Cocktails, 201 West Carrillo St., Santa Barbara, 805-962-5999.

Trattoria Vittoria, an Italian restaurant, has opened in the former location of Pascual’s Restaurant. Despite the change in name, the owner remains the same. Giovanni Comini, who was proprietor of Pascual’s, and his wife, Sofia Gallina, serve Italian food in a cozy atmosphere, energized by live music some evenings. Trattoria Vittoria, 30 E. Victoria St., Santa Barbara, 805-962-5014.      

In March, a Haley Street hole in the wall was transformed into the Greek House Café. The menu is limited, and the ambiance decidedly casual. But with homemade baklava and all the usual Mediterranean suspects—Greek salad, lamb gyros, falafel and feta—the Café fills a void left by the recent closing of State Street’s Italian & Greek Market. Greek House Café, 5 W. Haley St, Santa Barbara, 805-560-0809.

Tastes of the Valleys (a Sideways Wine Bar) opened in Solvang on January 12. This spot offers selections from over a dozen wineries as well as daily tastings from more than fifteen Central Coast producers. Open seven days a week until 10 p.m. Tastes of the Valleys, a SIDEWAYS wine bar, 1672 Mission Dr., Solvang, 805-688-7111.

The small chain, Left at Albuquerque, has re-opened their Santa Barbara location. Now in the former La Dolce Vita space, it looks more like Cabo San Lucas during spring break than the New Mexican chic it once exhibited when located a block higher on State St. Southwestern dishes and a myriad of tequila choices are available. The restaurant is open 11 a.m.-11 p.m. daily. Left at Albuquerque, 700 State St., 805-564-5040, www.leftatalb.com.

Jill and Mark Brouillard both left the venerable Citronelle in 1995 to start their own venture, Fresco, which has turned out to be one of the tastiest success stories in town. Their tale recently came full circle when they decided to add a beach location in the space left vacant by the now shuttered Citronelle. Fresco at the Beach’s menu includes the salads, soups, sandwiches and baked goods that earned their loyal following, as well as a tapas-style, small plates menu. During dinner, Mediterranean dishes such as coq au vin and bouillabaisse are showcased along with regional wines and cocktails from the full bar—destined to become the hip new après beach spot. A Sunday brunch with live music is also offered. Fresco at the Beach, Santa Barbara Inn, 901 East Cabrillo Blvd., 805-963-0111, www.santabarbarainn.com/dining.

News Bytes

The End of Sevilla’s Siesta
Sevilla has been remodeled and is scheduled to reopen on Valentine’s Day, February 14, this time with help from Amy and Katie Scott of Tupelo Junction Café.

Joe’s New Look
It took a little longer than expected, but the remodeling of Joe’s Café is finally complete. The look is true to the restaurant’s 1920s origins and has met with widespread approval from the regulars, who you’ll find bellied up to the bar.

Flight of the Pelican
The County of Santa Barbara has put out notices requesting bids to operate the oceanfront Brown Pelican. The restaurant’s 25-year lease is up this December. Secreted away at the edge of Hope Ranch, the Pelican enjoys one of the city’s most spectacular settings. The food has rarely matched the ambiance, though there have been sporadic periods of creative, quality cuisine. Here’s hoping another good period is imminent.

New at La Cumbre
The rather nondescript La Cumbre Plaza on Upper State Street will see the openings of two new restaurants in November: Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse and Marmalade Café.

SideCar Offers Gourmet Burgers & Martinis
The SideCar Restaurant in Ventura is now offering Gourmet Burger & Martini Nights every Thursday. Specialty cocktails are available for $10 and are made with house-infused vodkas in flavors like blueberry, pomegranate, blackberry, plum and even beet and lavender. Their gourmet burgers are also $10 and feature toppings like Point Reyes blue cheese, black truffle cheese, bacon, avocado and mushrooms, as well as sauces such as basil aioli and honey chipotle barbecue. The SideCar Restaurant, 3029 E. Main St., Ventura, 805-653-7433.

Miramar Redo
The scheduled reopening of the Miramar Hotel in Montecito is sometime in 2009, but that hasn’t stopped the rumor mill from cranking. The primary dining room, with seating for 120 people, is said to be planned for the second floor. Breakfast and lunch will be casual, while dinner will be more upscale. There are apparently plans for two other eateries as well: a 138-seat poolside restaurant and a snack bar at the beach.

Milestones
Downey’s, which has become a fine dining institution in Santa Barbara, is celebrating 25 years in business, while Sambo’s on the Beach–the original and last remaining site of the classic pancake chain–hits 50. (Sambo’s, by the way, is owned by Chad Stevens, founder of Chad’s restaurant and grandson of the founders.)

Steinman Sails On
The venerable Al Steinman, former owner of Moby Dick Restaurant on the Santa Barbara Pier, has officially retired. Al’s character and the restaurant’s prime location combined to make Moby Dick a favored gathering place for local movers and shakers.

Showtime!
The Food Network was about town recently, filming smiley hostess Giada De Laurentiis as she dined at several local restaurants, including bouchon, Elements and Trattoria Grappolo, among others.

Barcliff & Bair (and Shoemaker & Bozzini)
Connie Barcliff and Alicia Bair have sold their namesake restaurant, Barcliff & Bair, to Shelley Shoemaker and David Bozzini.

Some Things Do Change
For the first time in decades something has changed at Joe’s Café. Not bartender Frankie Calvillo, who’s been serving ludicrously strong drinks there for nearly 40 years, but rather the décor and kitchen. Owner Gene Montesano has completed his remodel of the venerable café, using a 1928 photo of Joe Ferario (with his bar in the background) as the inspiration. Joe’s Café, 536 State St., Santa Barbara, 805-966-4638.

50-50
Every Monday night at Chad’s, owner Chad Stevens flips a coin. Call it right and he pays for your table’s entrées. Chad’s, 625 Chapala St., Santa Barbara, 805-568-1876.

Top Chef…Almost
Local chef Clay Bowen was selected from thousands of applicants to compete on the Bravo channel’s popular TV show Top Chef: Season 3. Unfortunately, the sous chef at the University Club of Santa Barbara, who prepared his “wild boar chop with a side of scorpion fish and corn bread,” was eliminated in the first round.

Sing Along with the Parkers
Fess and Marcy Parker are a happy couple, known to occasionally break into song. You can join them on Thursday evenings from 8:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m. at Fess Parker’s Wine Country Inn & Spa, where dinner service and music begin at 6 p.m. Fess Parker’s Wine Country Inn, 2860 Grand Ave., Los Olivos, 805-688-7788.

Breakfast at Esau’s?
It appears that Esau’s Café, one of State Street’s most popular breakfast restaurants, will return to Santa Barbara after closing its doors last year. The return of this local favorite is tentatively scheduled for October or November, and the new address will be 721 Chapala St.

Wine Cask Update
Speculation has been rampant ever since Doug Margerum confirmed rumors he was selling Wine Cask. The premium provider of food, wine and spirits has, since 1981, been at the forefront of Santa Barbara County's culinary scene, distinguished by a singular commitment to the art of food and wine. The transition is finally complete: the new owner is Southern California healthcare mogul Bernard Rosenson, who also owns and operates The Sky Room in Long Beach.

Meet Mrs. Parker
Fess Parker opted not to renew the lease for Wine Cask Los Olivos, the restaurant in his hotel, Fess Parker’s Wine Country Inn & Spa. Instead, he has opened his own restaurant there and named it after his wife. As of now, Restaurant Marcella is home to the former chef and staff of the Wine Cask Los Olivos and the menu remains the same.

Et tu, Joe’s?
An odd hush at the corner of State and Cota sent some locals into a state of panic, fearing the venerable Joe’s Café had gone the way of other time-honored downtown institutions. Thankfully, the closed doors are temporary and due only to a remodel. Joe’s will re-open July 1, 2007. Joe’s Café, 536 State St., Santa Barbara, 805-966-4638.

Yo, Vinny! (and Tony)
Tony and Vinny’s East Side hotdog stand, DogHouse, burst upon the Santa Barbara restaurant scene as only a hotdog joint run by a couple of East Coasters named Tony and Vinny could. The community loved it. Now, it seems, the boys have gone native, adding salads and chicken to the menu and moving to a new downtown location, having closed the original (see Closings). Lettuce B. Frank is scheduled to open in early June. 411 State St., Santa Barbara.

Midnight Sweet Tooth
Goleta’s Zaffiro restaurant has added a dessert bar that’s open until midnight. In addition to desserts and after dinner drinks, coffee and espresso are available. The restaurant also plans to start serving brunch this summer. Zaffiro, 6920 Camino Real Marketplace, Goleta.

Wine & Carpaccio
Owners of the elegant Epiphany restaurant in Santa Barbara are putting the finishing touches on a new Montecito wine and carpaccio bar, Sesto Senso, where a large selection of wines offered by the glass will focus on local labels. In addition to carpaccio, Sesto Senso will serve charcuterie, artisanal cheeses, caviar, shellfish, light appetizers and homemade chocolates. 1026 Coast Village Rd., Montecito.

Fresco Trio
A public notice has been posted at 1130 State St. (next to the S.B. Museum of Art) indicating a new business applicant: Fresco Museum Cafe. This downtown spot will fill the gap between the popular California style restaurant’s beach and uptown locations.

Sushi and Cell Phones
Sushi aficionados have just found a new reason to wait for a table to turn over at the always crowded, ever-popular Arigato restaurant. The Santa Barbara hotspot now offers to call your cell phone when your table is ready, allowing guests to stroll State Street in the meantime. Arigato, 1225 State St., Santa Barbara, 805-965-6074.

A Lucky Find
Lucky Jeans mogul and Santa Barbara restaurateur Gene Montesano has hired Alex Castillo to serve as a culinary consultant for the various restaurants Mr. Montesano owns. Chef Castillo’s most recent task was updating the breakfast menu at the iconic and neon sign-bedecked Joe’s Café on State St. Joe’s Café, 536 State St., 805-966-4638.

Cat’s Meow
Seafood aficionados are eagerly awaiting the opening of The Hungry Cat from chef David Lentz, who opened the original branch in Hollywood a couple of years ago. Word is, the restaurant won’t stray from its proven formula: a small seafood raw bar menu with East Coast influences served in a contemporary urban atmosphere. The Hungry Cat, 1134 Chapala St., Santa Barbara, www.thehungrycat.com.

Local Color
Summerland’s architectural icon The Big Yellow House is scheduled to re-open in September 2007, one year after it was purchased and closed. Better known for its storied history and ghostly inhabitants than for the quality of its food, the landmark restaurant has for years been a gathering place for locals. The Big Yellow House, 108 Pierpont Ave., Summerland.

Name Game
Italian restaurant Paoli's has changed its name to Bougainvillea, but its menu and owner remain the same. Bougainvillea, 202 State St., Santa Barbara.

Asian History
The recent closing of Jimmy's Oriental Gardens marked the end of an era. Located in the historic Presidio District, the Chinese restaurant will be preserved and become part of the El Presidio de Santa Barbara State Historic Park. There’s even talk of turning it into a center to showcase the history of Santa Barbara's erstwhile Chinatown. 126 E. Canon Perdido St., Santa Barbara.

Changing Hands
Doug Margerum has sold the Wine Cask restaurant, wine bars and wine store after starting it with his family more than 25 years ago. The new owner— reportedly Bernard Rosenson, who also owns The Sky Room in Long Beach— plans to keep the current menu, the staff and chef Tummel, and will add his own impressive wine holdings to the restaurant's cellar.

Swanky Supping Space
Cynthia Miranda and Scott Schonzeit, the masterminds behind Santa Barbara’s Mondial Catering, were quick to shut the doors on their blink-and-you-missed-it restaurant, Quantum. However, they’ve turned the space into a private dining room, complete with a swanky lounge, which can accommodate up to 60 people. In addition to custom menus, the experience includes gracious service, hand-selected wines, music, flowers and place cards. Quantum also hosts special event “dinner & a conversation” meals once a month, as well as cooking classes and the occasional wine tasting. Mondial, 201 W. Carrillo St., 805-884-0885.

Chef Shuffles

Sevilla has a new chef. Apparently, Rémi Lauvand, who came to Santa Barbara by way of New York City’s Montrachet, didn’t share the same vision for the restaurant as its owners. His former sous chef Nathan Heil has stepped up to replace him–as he did when original chef Michael Reidt wandered south to cook at The Penthouse at Huntley Santa Monica Beach.

Rémi Lauvand, known to locals as the former chef at Miró, has taken over the position of executive chef at Sevilla. The restaurant needs a good shot in the arm, having gone down in quality on a number of different levels since the departure of its original chef, Michael Reidt.

Shannon Cummins, formerly the sous chef at the Bacara Resort & Spa’s Spa Café, has taken over the kitchen at Fess Parker’s latest venture–Restaurant Marcella in Los Olivos. Restaurant Marcella, 2860 Grand Ave., Los Olivos, 805-688-7788.

James Sly has left Montecito hot spot Lucky’s. In his place is Rene Gonzalez.

David Garwacki is the new chef at Miró, the fine dining restaurant at Bacara Resort & Spa in Goleta.

Rémi Lauvand, formerly of Miró, is now the chef at Sevilla.

It’s official: Sevilla has taken on a new chef, Nathan Heil, who has a mighty big toque to fill now that Michael Reidt runs the kitchen at The Penthouse at Huntley Santa Monica. Reidt’s bold menu is the highpoint of the dining experience at Sevilla.

Jamie West is no longer chef at Plow & Angel, the casual dining establishment at Montecito’s San Ysidro Ranch. Executive chef John Trotta now oversees both Plow & Angel and The Stonehouse, the resort’s fine dining restaurant.

The Bay Café Seafood Restaurant & Fish Market has a new chef, Siobhan Major, who has been at the helm since January 2006. Major was a private chef until recently, and now she gets to showcase her New England roots to the public. Some of her signature dishes include bacon-wrapped scallops with maple cream sauce or hoisin-laced, ahi or house-smoked salmon tacos. Bay Café Seafood Restaurant & Fish Market, 131 Anacapa St., 805-963-2215.

Closings

31 West in Hotel Andalucia–now called Canary Hotel–has closed. Following an extensive remodel, the restaurant has reopened as Coast Restaurant & Bar.

Owners Jill and Mark Brouillard have closed Fresco at the Beach, but will continue to operate the original restaurant, Fresco Café in the Five Points shopping center, located at 3987-B State St., Santa Barbara.

Steven Giles excellent Sage & Onion restaurant on Ortega Street has closed. In its place, however, another respected local restaurateur–Mitchell Sjerven–has opened a promising seafood fine dining restaurant called Seagrass Restaurant.

Apparently one downtown location was enough for Pierre Lafond Bistro, which closed its doors for good in the Paseo Nuevo Mall. Pierre Lafond’s State Street and Montecito locations remain open.

With the closing of its restaurant on Milpas Street, La Tolteca is officially done in Santa Barbara. The original, on Haley Street, closed several years ago.

Giovanni’s restaurant on Coast Village Rd. in Montecito will be closing. According to owner Alex Normand, the property owners envision a more upscale eatery in the location, a celebrated strip of mainly high-end boutiques.

The Brown Pelican, which for 25 years has had a unique oceanfront location in Santa Barbara–on the sand at Hendry’s Beach–has closed. The Fish House restaurant will open in its place in early 2008 and continue to operate its other location near Stearns Wharf.

The simply named Asian Café, a Vietnamese restaurant in Old Town Goleta, has closed.

The popular Cajun Kitchen on Milpas Street lost its lease, but blackened catfish, shrimp po boys, file gumbo and other southern favorites are still available at the restaurant’s five remaining Santa Barbara County locations.

Perhaps the concept was just too cosmopolitan: Couchez—known for its couches and somewhat pretentious atmosphere—has closed its doors.

The community is still trying to figure out what happened, but the rumors are true: Gene Montesano’s El Cazador del Mar in De la Guerra Plaza has closed.

Saigon Express has closed. Perhaps the bizarre combo of Vietnamese food and smoothies wasn’t the key to success in Isla Vista.

Like myriad other small, Mexican cafes in Santa Barbara, Café La Luz on Chapala Street served excellent food. But, alas, it has closed.

The high price of Santa Barbara real estate has dealt a lethal blow to yet another local restaurant. The property owners at 1129 State St. evicted restaurant Nu, along with all of their other tenants, in order to remodel the building, which enjoys a prime downtown location.

In spite of a solid reputation as one of Santa Barbara’s hidden gems, Bogart’s Café in the La Arcada shopping mall has closed. Perhaps it was too hidden.

Italian & Greek Market, the simply named mainstay of State Street, has closed. A perennial favorite of tourists and local lunch-breakers looking for a quick bite, the market had been a fixture on the corner of State and Ortega for over 30 years. It will be replaced by a Verizon Super Store—which may be able to afford the astronomical rent, but can never match the Market’s gyros. Former owner Sofia Gallina has, along with her husband, opened Trattoria Vittoria, an Italian restaurant (see openings).

The DogHouse has closed, but fans of Tony and Vinny’s joint can find hot dogs and more at their new place, Lettuce B. Frank (see News Bytes).

Restaurant Nu will close on May 28, 2007, but not before a Tribute to Julia Child, to take place on May 24. The event is open to the public. Restaurant Nu, 1129 State St., 805-965-1500.

For every Mexican restaurant on Milpas St. that closes, another two open. But Julian’s Mexican Café will be hard to replace. 421 Milpas St., Santa Barbara.

Pascual’s Restaurant closed its doors, but quickly re-opened as Trattoria Vittoria (see openings), which is run by the same owner, Giovanni Comini, along with his wife, Sofia Gallina, who previously owned the Italian & Greek Market (see closings).

The Japanese restaurant Taiko closed, having never gained traction with local diners or out-of-town visitors, despite a prime location on State St. 

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