It’s exactly 55 minutes from SB Airport in Goleta to Los Alamos (Flatbread). I made this drive for 3 years. Allow yourself 10 more minutes from Downtown SB.
And I agree with Greg. Plenty of great restaurants in SB without having to make that drive and back. Cops suck in SB county. Take a cab if you’re drinking.
A friend of mine has arranged a bike trip with a number of friends, ending in Santa Barbara in a couple of weeks. We’ll have a dinner at Bouchon on the last night (after showering, hopefully). He asked me to suggest some wines from their list:
http://www.bouchonsantabarbara.com/pdfs/bouchon_wine_list.pdf
I’m not terribly familiar with many of the local wineries and some of those that I do know like Arcadian are not represented. Does anyone have suggestions for favorite wines with good value on this list? I’m thinking of around the $60 range but it could go higher or lower.
I think my friend and I have similar tastes. A majority of the wines we drink are French. In CA I really like Chardonnays from Copain and Rhys. He is even more on the crisp side, for example he preferred Arnot-Roberts Santa Cruz Mountains Chardonnay to Copain Brosseau. For Pinots my favorites from the US have been from Kutch and Arcadian. Recently my favorite Syrahs have been from Copain and in older ones I’ve liked Dehlinger and Havens. These grapes aren’t a must. I’m willing to consider anything.
Brewer-Clifton and Evening Land probably a safe bet for your palate.
Will be spending a long weekend in Santa Barbara in little over a month visiting some friends. We’re going to see the Liquid Farm folks, and do some other tastings (probably walking around Los Olivos), but wanted to see if there were any new restaurant recommendations anywhere from Lompoc east to Santa Ynez and/or in the Santa Barbara/Monteceito area.
We’re staying at the Fess Parker Doubletree on Cabrillo. Thanks in advance!
Hey Matt -
New dining spot in Santa Ynez - Santa Ynez Kitchen. http://www.sykitchen.com/ (web site sucks but food, service, and wine list were quite good) Definitely worth more than a look.
For wine tasting in Los Olivos, go see Mikael at Kaena Wines (they have a killer Viognier just released in addition to their always outstanding Grenache and an anniversary Syrah).
You could also walk down to Dragonette and Tercero wines. Down the same street and around the corner is Blair Fox wines. (a veritable Bermuda triangle of great wines!!)
Bouchon is always a favorite when in SB (Ca Dario is pretty tasty, too - http://www.cadario.net/dario.htm)
Will always throw a shout to the folks at Sanguis wines (http://www.sanguiswine.com/) in Santa Barbara. They rock and the wine kills it
Figueroa Mtn Brew just opened in the “Funk Zone” which is down by the beach on Anacapa and Yanonali Street for a very nice cold beer
Cheers
If you’re visiting LF. why not go the Wine Ghetto? Also Loring/Carg has a new tasting room in Buelton. I also recommend Clos Pepe and visit with Wes, perhaps the best experience in Sta Rita. I wonder if Los Olivos Grocery still does the weekend BBQ? If so, that’s a nice way to breakup the day.
walking around the ghetto is definitely planned…should have mentioned that. thanks for the other recs too
I like hitting up Palmina in the ghetto. Jeff & Nikki at LF are great people. I think you’ll be imnpressed with what they’re dong. Enjoy!
Absolutely!! GO!
Anybody stayed at El Encanto?
Arcadian has a new tasting room at the Ghetto. Went last weekend and the staff were quite friendly.
El Encanto just recently re-opened. Pretty damn plush from what I hear. The landscaping is top notch and it really is a sweet view.
And only $800/night… ![[swoon.gif]](/uploads/db3686/original/2X/f/f425e8dac3e7344bee264da02e55428971be23a9.gif "swoon"){kind=small}
I found this thread looking for recommendations for hotels in Santa Barbara, and just am blown away by the cost of hotels in the area during the summer! We’re wanting to go there for our anniversary, and any of the good hotels is easily over $400/night! Wowsers.
Todd -
If you’re heading this way, lemme know and I can make some calls to friends, hopefully hook you up
Thanks
Mike
I have not stayed there, but I have seen the re-mod and it looks great.
My wife and I have stayed at the Hotel Santa Barbara a while back and really enjoyed it. It is not a plush resort like the Bacarra or the Biltmore, but it is a great hotel with a lot of history and charm. It is right in lower state street so you can walk to many great restaurants and bars as well as the newly created Funk Zone. I think their rates are now in the low $200’s, still pricey but not as bad as properties like the Biltmore.
Good friends from Atlanta stayed for 4 nights and loved it. They moved out of Bacara after 2 nights due to too much going on there. We had wine on their patio and dinner 3 nights at the restaurant, all good. It`s expensive and worth it for those who have the means.
Bump.
Anyone been to El Encanto lately?