Welcome Wagon

August 19, 2026

A Very Santa Barbara Vinyl Bar

Most vinyl bars are hushed, dim experiences, where the focus is on listening. "That’s not me," says Lama Dog founder Pete Burnham of his new establishment, The Mullet, which opens tomorrow in the Funk Zone. "I want it to be really nice, but also fun." 6

April 12, 2026

Coyote’s Market Has the Good Stuff

“We really care about food," says Caroline Hernandez, who has just opened Coyote's Market in Carpinteria with her husband, Peter. "Everything here has our stamp of approval.” The main focus is on local, sustainably raised meat and seafood, along with delicious accompaniments. 14

March 18, 2026

Monte’s Brings Farm-to-Table Dining to Coast Village Road

The restaurant opens tonight with a straightforward menu studded with interesting ingredients. "It looks simple at first glance," says Endwell Hospitality's Ryan Sohn, "but there's a lot of technique going on behind the scenes." 5

February 24, 2026

Merci Is Entering Its Dinner Era

After nearly seven years, Elizabeth Colling and Nick Barainca are ready to take on dinner—but with a totally different experience than during the day. "It's a mixtape of the greatest hits from places in Paris where we thought, 'We have to do this,'" says Barainca. 6

November 5, 2025

A Restaurant for People Who Love Restaurants

Opening tomorrow in Montecito's Upper Village, Little Mountain is the most ambitious, most polished, most exciting restaurant to debut here in many years. 22

October 29, 2025

Aperitivo’s New Sister Restaurant Is as Good as It Looks

Freed from the constraints they face at Aperitivo, Andrea Girardello and Brian Dodero are aiming higher at Manifattura, now open around the corner on State Street. Plus, you can make a reservation. 9

August 27, 2025

Aegean Soft-Opens This Weekend on De La Guerra Plaza

"I have Greek and Turkish blood," says chef Efe Onglu. "A friend once said that I should open a 'flagless Aegean restaurant'—no 'Greek,' no 'Turkish.'" It took a few years—and travels around the world—but here it finally is. 8

May 22, 2025

First Look at Linden Square, Now Open in Carpinteria

For all its small-town charm, Carpinteria has lacked a center, but no longer: Linden Square is open, and it feels great. The primary tenants are a murderer's row of Santa Barbara restaurants: Bettina, Third Window, Corazón Cocina, and eventually, Dart Coffee Co. 21

October 31, 2024

Mother Dough Bagels Is Opening a Shop Downtown

The focus will obviously be on the sourdough bagels, but we can also expect sandwiches, pastries, fish cured and smoked in house, and a specialty coffee program.

April 7, 2024

Wexler’s Deli Is Making Sandwich Lovers’ Dreams Come True

"While there are obviously some really good delis in L.A., our goal was to be the first one to hand-cure and slice our meat and fish ourselves," says Mike Kassar of Wexler's Deli, which opens tomorrow in the Public Market. 14