661493 Thu Oct 22 11:38:11 -0700 2009 15 3 California 0 5122984 Staying the long weekend at San Ysidro Ranch for Thanksgiving..we always go up and see friends and family but we all get stuck in the same rut with the Chase for calamari picatta, drinks at Lucky's, dinner at the Biltmore, Nugget for the patty melt and a spicy bloody, LSR for mex...drinks and app's at Plow and Angel. Is there anything new in SB that is worth breaking our traditional food and drink haunts? Thanks! Thu Oct 22 11:38:11 -0700 2009 97452 Beach Chick 1 5123018 It is nothing fancy but the best german traditional food you will get in California is at Brummis in Santa Barbara. Everything made from scratch and a nice and relaxed service. http://www.santabarbara.com/Dining/review_read.asp?pk_restaurant=1531 Thu Oct 22 11:48:54 -0700 2009 5122984 13239 honkman 2 5123557 Strong second for Brummi's, also for Jade right next door. Thu Oct 22 14:44:15 -0700 2009 5123018 18150 PolarBear 1 5123088 I think your traditional haunts are good ones. I grew up in SB and was there all last week and honestly, there may be some newer additions that have decent buzz (Hungry Cat etc) but the only thing I'd consider new AND special up there would be Renaud's bakery for breakfasts/croissants. Seriously, if you're anything like me, you have not ordered a croissant in this country for a long while except by accident- but this one is by far the best I've had this side of the Seine. They are located in Loreto Plaza on upper State next to Harry's Plaza in the space formerly occupied by Koelsch's bakery that made all the birthday cakes and Friday evening challah that I grew up with. I think they just opened up another location downtown. I think the El Encanto on the Riveria has been reopened after a lengthy remodel after years of majorly faded elegance- I haven't eaten there, but it would probably make a nice alternative to Lucky's for drinks. (just checked in on El Encanto- they are still closed for rennovations. Sorry to jump the gun) Thu Oct 22 12:06:45 -0700 2009 5122984 209317 SaltyRaisins 2 5123120 SR, I am this weekend in Santa Barbara. What are your recommendations for a good place for cocktails (preferably late night) Thu Oct 22 12:13:45 -0700 2009 5123088 13239 honkman 3 5123933 Oddly enough, the old SB standby The Paradise Cafe has a nice bar and is open after ten on occasion. Not the greatest food, but certainly a local favorite, so be careful when being honest about their menu to a local. As Beach Chick said, The Biltmore is nice for cocktails, but I'm not sure if it would be a great place for late night- an hotel bar after all. I'd be quick to recommend The Cold Spring Tavern for drinks, but for the driving involved. If you have a teetotaler along, it might be worth the trip. An overlooked part of town that it sometimes referred to as The Funk Zone (should be called The Wine Zone) is on Yanonali street between Santa Barbara and State (East of the train station)- this is a good place to sample local wines at the three wineries that make their product there from grapes from the other side of the mountains and further afield- Santa Barbara Wineries runs the most traditional tasting bar, and there's Kalyra and Oreanna with tasting rooms as well. There is also Red's- formerly a coffee house but now a wine bar that has some limited tapas-style food offerings. Late nights can be tricky in the downtown area, but Roy, if memory serves has an okay late menu and a liquor license. I'm thinking that your best bet for nice cocktail locations would be at nicer restaurants rather than actual bars- their closing hours are at times flexible. PolarBear and Glbtrtr are your sources here- as a SB native I often blank on the obvious...good luck. And do go to Renaud's. Thu Oct 22 17:24:32 -0700 2009 5123120 209317 SaltyRaisins 4 5123998 Nice call on the Funk/Wine Zone, SR. Lots to explore in that area. Thu Oct 22 17:48:36 -0700 2009 5123933 18150 PolarBear 3 5125120 How late is the bar called Perch open on the top of the Canary Hotel? (Downtown at West Carrillo and Chapala) You get sweeping city views and we glitter at night . If it is clear you can see the lighted oil platforms way out at sea which look their best at night, otherwise look like hulking aircraft carriers during the day. http://www.canarysantabarbara.com/explore/rooftop-pool-perch.php Fri Oct 23 08:36:38 -0700 2009 5123120 12522 glbtrtr 2 5123230 Too bad the gorgeous El Encanto up in the Riviera won't be open till late next year..that would of been an excellent alternative to Lucky's which they can be full of themselves. I'll check out Renaud's..I only eat croissants at my favorite Pain d'Epis in the 7th..and the pain au raisins is to die for too.. honkman..thanks for the Brummis rec! Thu Oct 22 12:53:34 -0700 2009 5123088 97452 Beach Chick 3 5123624 I have a feeling the El Encanto is a long, long, long way away from opening. Really looking forward to your report on the Renaud's croissants. Please to get back to us on that little gem. I always liked Cold Springs Tavern up off San Marcos Pass Raod for Thanksgiving. It smelled and creaked in an old fashioned way in the wintertime, with its roaring fires and smell of wet bay trees if it had just rained.. Second Brummis for comfort food if German food is to your liking. And Jade - both casual places but where we locals like to check in away from the highend or tourist places. Some good new reports from Square One (have not been there myself) and Julienne's (also not been there either but will shortly). Might be worth a try for the more high end creative dining category. My wonderful old standby for solid classic dining will always be Downey's for the sheer tradition and quiet elegant service. Thu Oct 22 15:11:37 -0700 2009 5123230 12522 glbtrtr 1 5143205 Thank's everyone for your great ideas!!! Hope all of you have a wonderful Thanksgiving! Fri Oct 30 10:40:35 -0700 2009 5122984 97452 Beach Chick 1 5143344 Came back from a great longer weekend in SB - Brummis is as good as ever for traditional German food. (Schnitzels are great, nice german potato salad with a little mayo as it should be, homemade braised red cabbage and spaetzle (which could use a little bit more salt). The fresh Kartoffelpuffer as a started is also really good. Only the Schwarzwaelder Kirschtorte wasn't as good as we hoped). It's also always nice to talk to Veronica. Dinner at Hungry Cat was also great with outstanding, creative food and very good service and don't miss the cocktails. We even went the next night at around midnight for some late night dessert and cocktails at the bar. Bouchon was our third dinner. First some confusion because we had asked for tasting menus but they didn't have any on that night but they let us make our own 6-course tasting menu which was good as ever. Some cocktails at Indochine Nightclub were also surprisingly good. Fri Oct 30 11:17:15 -0700 2009 5122984 13239 honkman 2 5143634 Love the range of your weekend dining experiences in SB- you packed in some winners and nice to know one can be happy going from casual Brummis to our top of the line buchon. I was also in Brummis last week and am now stuck on the Bockwurst with the saurkraut and potato salad as my must have favorite. Love that place. And I always take home the other half of her very generous portions, which are as generous as her hospitality. If I could look that good wearing lederhosn, I would too. Fri Oct 30 13:13:09 -0700 2009 5143344 12522 glbtrtr 1 5171581 Can't wait to go to Renaud's... http://renaudsbakery.com/ Tue Nov 10 18:59:59 -0800 2009 5122984 97452 Beach Chick 2 5171973 The croissant were indeed very outstanding but skip the espresso or cappuchino which were below average. Tue Nov 10 23:19:31 -0800 2009 5171581 13239 honkman 2 5174279 I am finding the croissants at the downtown location are not as over the top fantastic as his original location in Loreto Plaza where they seem a bit crisper/crunchier in the perfect croissant way. Soft and delicate but with just a hint of buttery crispness to the outer skin that makes for the heavenly contrast in textures of the perfect croissant. That is the Renaud's croissant at the Loreto Plaza location. The two I have had at the new downtown location were softer, with not as much snap to the outer skin on first bite. Is it me? Is it my imagination? Are they made in two different locations? Is the weather damper with more marine layer downtown? There has been more cold and fog the two days I had them downtown. Is the display case different? Do they get transported longer from the ovens? All of the above, could matter. But what does not change is the delicate buttery flavor which is non-existent in other versions of a croissant which must be made with hyrogenated vegetable fats. Not pure, high fat, plugra rich butter. Yum. I remain in love. I also love their root beer - a very old brand in glass bottle. Lovely tang. Wed Nov 11 17:24:22 -0800 2009 5171581 12522 glbtrtr