••• Gracie, where the Breakwater Restaurant used to be, is aiming to open its dining room today (but possibly tomorrow) from 10 a.m to 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. “We plan on expanding our operational hours the following week as we get our hands around training and prep,” says co-owner Dudley Michael (The Shop, Rodeo Room). “And the patio will open as soon as our outdoor tables arrive.” My husband and I were invited for a friends-and-family lunch; the space is a definite upgrade from the Breakwater, and the food—a tuna melt livened up with Calabrian chili aioli and blistered tomatoes, and a perfect French-style omelette filled with Boursin—was excellent.
••• Revolver’s twice-monthly Trixy pop-up has been joined by two other concepts: Pyramid Burger, which makes triangular burgers (triburgers?), and the Salon des Refusés wine bar. Thanks to A. for the photo.
••• Corazón Cocina sibling Beast Taqueria has ended its run at M. Special’s State Street taproom, but it says it’ll reappear elsewhere. The folks behind Santa Barbara Food Connection are taking over the kitchen, opening a concept called Down Town Eats, with tacos, burgers, wraps, salads, pretzels, poppers, and wings (but the menu is still evolving).
••• Elsewhere in the Corazón universe: Corazón Comedor has closed until sometime next week: “We are currently working on a fresh new menu and enhancing our service experience.”
••• “We stumbled upon a new cocktail bar called 1926 in the recently renovated Hotel Santa Barbara,” reports C. “It serves drinks and snacks in the evening and a few breakfast sandwiches in the morning, almost all sourced locally from places you will recognize.” The hotel subsequently sent out a press release: “1926 will be open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. The menu features breakfast items like local pastries, fresh pressed juices and handcrafted sandwiches, and shared plates for dinner, including chorizo stuffed dates, burrata with balsamic glaze, avocado and salmon toast, and citrus vanilla crème brûlée.”
••• Ghirardelli Chocolate Company‘s forthcoming shop at 509 State Street got tagged with a stop-work order for doing demolition without a permit. —John Palminteri
••• The plans for the revamp of Calle Real Center in Goleta show a Sweetgreen taking over Carl’s Jr., but Carl’s Jr. tells Restaurant Guy that “the restaurant swap is just in the proposal stage right now and it is unsure if it will happen.” (Sweetgreen’s financial health may also be a factor.) I would think that any fast-casual restaurant relying on the lunch market is better off located near offices.
••• The Carpinteria outpost of Rudy’s is closed for repairs after a kitchen fire. —Restaurant Guy
••• Dumpling lovers, take note: 1) Mahjong Dumplings (below) is slinging dumplings, scallion pancakes, and more at Muni Wine on Friday evenings and High Seas Mead on Sundays from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. 2) Secret Bao is shooting to make its occasional dim sum brunch a monthly affair; the next one is Sunday, September 14.
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Will your hours be earlier soon for breakfast? It’s been a popular place to start the day for centuries! 😄
Sooooo excited about Gracie’s! It looks beautiful and the menu looks amazing.
As someone who stays at Hotel SB every summer, I was disappointed that with the addition of the new bar, they took away some of the perks for paying hotel guests. When Covid hit, the continental breakfast left, and now the complimentary coffee and afternoon cookies. Although I love this hotel, it isn’t cheap and those little perks were a nice touch. Now we are expected to buy a latte vs just grabbing a cup of coffee. Thankfully Starbuck’s is next door.
I like the new concept & the bar is nice. I much prefer the in room pour over coffee service than Starbucks, also Dune coffee shop is one block away on Anacapa st
I did like the bar, it was very nice. We went the first weekend it was open, so they were constantly having photo ops, while we were in the lobby area. It felt like we were in the way a few times. I am not a fan of the pour over, just like a regular cup of coffee at a decent price, found that at Joe’s. I just think for what we pay to stay there, the cucumber water, cookies and fresh coffee in the lobby, was always a nice touch.
My wife and I checked out the Trixy pop-up at Revolver last night. We tried three things on the menu (not the pyramid burger, which I will do another time) plus the dessert and it was all delicious. I hope they stick around!
I recently tried Gracie for an early brunch and will not be returning. The menu is extremely limited, making it difficult for anyone with dietary concerns to find something suitable. For a place positioning itself as a destination, this lack of inclusivity is unacceptable. Service was equally disappointing—we had to repeatedly ask for basic refills like coffee and water.
Gracie is yet another example of a Santa Barbara restaurant trying too hard to be hip while overlooking the fundamentals: quality food, attentive service, and an atmosphere that welcomes families. By contrast, the old Breakwater succeeded because it was dependable—classic diner-style meals, well-prepared entrées, and a place where kids and grandkids were always comfortable. Gracie offers none of that—just style without substance.
What in the world are you talking about? I’m a vegetarian with a food allergy, have a picky toddler, and a husband who eats anything and we’ve happily dined at Gracie as a family several times already. While I wish there were a few more vegetarian options, the food is high quality and has been really good every time we’ve gone. A diner is the last place I want to eat. If you want fried and greasy food you can go to On The Alley. It’s delicious if that’s what you’re craving.
here are the “vegetarian” main options on their daytime menu:
1. a cheese omelette
2. waffle
3. avocado toast
4. fish taco with cauliflower instead of fish, and aioli
This is lip service for vegetarians.