Restaurants in Central Coast
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La Super Rica
This low-slung, unmarked shack - the one with the happy hordes spilling out the door - was culinary guru Julia Child's favorite Mexican restaurant. Who are we to argue? Make your choice from the 20 meals written on the board overhead, order from the window, then join local families at the picnic-style tables for authentic south-of-the-border cooking. Avoid peak meal times, when the place gets packed and searching for a seat is an Olympic sport.
Try one of their creative daily specials, or on Friday or Saturday get their famous tamales. One downer: vegetarians won't starve, but options are slim.
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Big Sur Bakery & Restaurant
This funkily decorated, warmly lit house has offerings that change through the day and season. Wood-fired pizzas and stellar burgers share the lineup with more refined - but just as satisfying - dishes like wild salmon with succotash. The bakery pours the best coffee in Big Sur and sells its own house granola. In the words of one local, 'their ham and cheese croissant is...mwa! Tasty shit.' Poke around the spirit garden next door.
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Wine Cask
Two-story-high gold-leaf-stenciled ceilings, and elegant fish, beef, and pasta dishes make every guest feel chic. It's Santa Barbara's hottest table for serious eating. On balmy days or evenings, feast on the invigorating New California menu in the romantic garden courtyard. The wine list brags 2500 labels, with vintages dating back to 1900, but verify the price of the bottle before you let the sommelier pick a wine for you.
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Pascucci
Don't let the sight of tourists deter you from palazzo-style Pascucci. Despite occasionally spotty service, locals love the filling pastas, pizzas and paninis here, not to mention the bargain prices. For a taste of Italian heaven, try the Bellagio: smoked chicken, mushroom, red onions and sun-dried tomatoes in a roasted garlic-parmesan cream sauce over bowtie pasta. Sit at the bar for the quickest service.
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Chuck's Waterfront Grill & Endless Summer Bar Café
For someplace dressier than Brophy Brothers, reserve a table in the nautical-theme dining room or outside overlooking the sailboats. Come between 17:00 and 18:30 for around US$15 to around US$17 sunset dinner specials, such as an 8oz steak or grilled salmon. Upstairs at the publike Endless Summer, the scene is Jack Johnson-casual (and cheaper), with fish-and-chips, burgers, billiards and beer.
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Arigato
Out-of-towners drive an hour and a half for the swoon-inducing sushi at this bustling but breezy State St hotspot. Settle in on the sidewalk patio or grab a seat inside at the L-shaped sushi bar where friendly sushi chefs will steer you right. One can't-miss is the jalapeno yellowtail nigiri. Hot dishes are also available. No reservations, so expect a wait.
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Natural Café
The lunch line - stretching 10 deep from the counter - can look daunting at this beachy, mostly vegetarian bistro in the thick of things on State St. But no worries, the line moves fast. Options range from spinach salads to tempeh veggie burgers to black-bean enchiladas. Grilled chicken pitas and turkey sandwiches available for carnivores.
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Bouchon
The perfect, unhurried, follow-up dinner to a day in Wine Country, convivial Bouchon's bright, flavorful California cooking uses only locally grown small-scale-farm produce and meats, which marry beautifully with the more than 50 local wines available by the glass. For romance, book a table on the cozy candlelit patio.
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Sojourner Café
Vegetarians rejoice - the food is fab and the menu extensive at this upbeat, mostly veggie café, which gets creative with vegetables, tofu, tempeh, chicken, fish, rice, seeds and other healthy ingredients. Outdoor seating, too. The tempeh taco salad is delish.
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SB Roasting Co
Lads with laptops fill the tables in this exposed-brick, industrial space. Poets? Day traders? Hackers? Who knows. All come for the potent java - this place roasts its own coffee - and casual vibe. Try a 'flattened' bagel for 75¢. One block off State St.
reviewed
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Paradise Café
Everything you'd hope for in a hometown corner café - fantastic oak-grilled burgers (the best in Santa Barbara), great salads, and a respectable brunch. Sit outside on the big patio (no smoking). Great wine list that's reasonably priced.
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D'Angelo Pastry & Bread
Come in the morning for a fresh-from-the-oven flaky croissant, poached eggs and big cups of strong coffee at this sidewalk café and bakery off Lower State St. The best pastries go quick, so get here early; the bakery closes at 14:00.
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Santa Barbara Shellfish Company
[ourpick] Santa Barbara Shellfish Company 'From sea to skillet to plate' best describes this end-of-the-wharf crab shack that's more of a counter joint. Great lobster bisque, ocean views and the same owners for 25 years.
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Tupelo Junction
Southern-style comfort food is the specialty at this busy downtown storefront café, showing off fresh takes on good ol' standards like cinnamon-apple beignets, vanilla-dipped French toast and gouda mac 'n' cheese.
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Los Arroyos
For lunch, nab a spot on the red-tile patio at Los Arroyos and enjoy neatly prepared Mexican dishes (alas, chips and salsa are around US$3) and watch the ritzy stroll past.
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Bagelry
The bagels here are real (boiled, then baked), and come with fantastic spreads, especially the hummus and egg salad. Check out the bulletin board for local goings-on.
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Brophy Brothers
The raw-bar seafood at this raucous harbor hangout is so fresh that you half expect it to leap straight up out of the Pacific. Social upstairs deck for sunset drinks.
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Lucky's
To nibble fancy chops in a high-end steakhouse that is frequented by local celebs, make a reservation at the chic, sometimes-too-hip-for-its-own-good Lucky's .
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Zachary’s
The breakfast spot covetous locals don’t want you to know about (hide your guidebook). ‘Mike’s Mess’ is the kitchen-sink standout.
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Farmers Market
For organic fruits and vegetables and a taste of the local vibe, hit this oh-so-colorful farmers market.
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Sardine Factory
For a formal sit-down dinner with pampering service, the Sardine Factory is it. It's a 40-year-old institution that still prepares fine steaks and seafood, but its real strength lies in its atmosphere and wine list. It can be pricey, so consider its three-course prixe-fix dinners (17:00 to 19:00) or simply something off the tapas menu and a glass of wine. Each of its dining rooms is ornately and uniquely decorated, but my favorite is the glass conservatory.
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Big Sur Roadhouse
The Fosters opened this Roadhouse after working together at Sierra Mar, the Post Ranch Inn's posh eatery. Thankfully, they've chosen to share with us fresh, impeccable cuisine (like plantain tostones with tiger prawns) minus the haute attitude. Inside, the restaurant fairly glows from the corner fireplace and copper-top bar, not to mention the smiles from diners' faces. The front patio is more often than not covered in exuberant chalk drawings.
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Monterey's Fish House
Ten bucks says you're the only non-local in the joint. Italian-Japanese chef David DiGirolamo prepares spanking-fresh seafood with the occasional Asian twist, watched over by photos of his Sicilian fishermen ancestors. Though reservations are next to required, Hawaiian shirts seem to be de rigueur for gentlemen. Try the barbecued oysters or, for those stout of heart, the large Mexican squid steak.
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Roy
Roy serves later than anyplace else in town, and 30 bucks or less buys you a damn good three-course meal with soup, salad and choice of main, from handmade pasta with prawns to grilled lamb chops. It's dark, hip, happening and popular with scenesters on weeknights; on weekends it gets packed with 20- and 30-something bacchanalian revelers. Call ahead or wait. Major bar scene.
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Edomasa
Edomasa manages a neighborhood feel and solid Japanese food with way less price-gouging than some other sushi places we could name. The staff is attentive, rolls are generously sized if not terribly creative, and the non-sushi dishes - like the ramen - are fabulous. And did you notice how late they stay open? Popular with the young folk.
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