••• Any new sibling of local favorite Corazón Cocina is worthy of attention, and Corazón Cocina Sur at Linden Square is no exception. Some first impressions…. 1) I went for lunch twice on weekdays, and the setting is lovely. I would’ve liked to dine at the Corazón counter, but the restaurant’s music and the complex’s music overlap. 2) Hoping to try something unique to this outpost, I ordered the tuna tostada and Negrita ceviche (pictured above and below, respectively); the former was flavorful but the sauce overwhelmed the tuna; the latter would’ve been better if the ingredients had been chopped into smaller pieces. Tacos are excellent, as one would expect, even if someone forgot to remove a large chile de árbol from the mole, and the shrimp quesadilla—served open-faced, as is Corazón’s wont—is satisfying. Corazón Cocina Sur doesn’t move the brand forward the way that Corazón Comedor and Alma Fonda Fina have, but I’d happily eat there on the regular. 3) I can’t tell to what degree Linden Square has an organizing force to maintain it. Whether you bus your own table is unclear—the closest garbage area was labeled Third Window, even though that restaurant was across the courtyard—and the slatted tables require more cleaning than they’re currently getting. Peer between the slats to see what I mean. 4) Despite a report to the contrary at the complex’s opening, the roof deck is not open yet.
••• Elsewhere in Carpinteria, The Nugget‘s branch at 888 Linden Avenue should debut next week.
••• Is Wylde Works still open? “The doors have been closed, and a sign says it’s closed for remodeling, but someone there told me if would reopen under new management in a couple of weeks,” emailed T. “They had the best kombucha in town and great live music and vibe.” I have yet to hear back, and the website is down. A few months ago, co-owner Dylan Wylde posted a video about a fundraising drive and/or search for a new partner. UPDATE: The Reddit thread that Rich mentioned is here.
••• Lama Dog is expanding within the Waterline complex in the Funk Zone. “The new spot, a cocktail/hi-fi bar named The Mullet, is right behind Lama Dog (where Art & Soul was most recently), literally sharing a wall and patio,” says owner Pete Burnham. “It’s vinyl-themed, with a DJ booth and full liquor, and it should be up and running by the end of the year.”
••• Tickets for Taste of the Santa Ynez Valley (October 2-5) are now on sale.
••• A recent disappointing experience with a frozen pizza from Bristol Farms made me think yet again about how much I miss the Bettina pies that Kitchenette used to sell online and at The Eddy. Can anyone recommend a good frozen pizza around here? They’re handy to have around. UPDATE: “Newman’s Own Margherita Stone-Fired Crust pizza is pretty decent and flavorful,” says A. “It’s the closest thing I can find to the frozen Bettina pizzas. Make sure it says ‘made in Italy’ since they have several varieties.” And this is from JB: “Full of Life Flatbread pizzas used to be available frozen at lazy acres. Trader Joe’s had a yummy pesto flatbread as well as a garlic one with a ‘fried crust’ that was pretty decent!” UPDATE: And more from Leonard…. “Friends of mine (with whom I just consulted) who are absolute pizza freaks recommend using GoldBelly for frozen pizza: Pizzeria Bianco or Delfina for thin crust and Prince Street for Sicilian.”
••• The menu for Marisella at the Ritz-Carlton Bacara came in after I posted about the June 26 opening date. It may change, so don’t get your heart set on a specific dish.
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Full of Life Flatbread pizzas used to be available frozen at lazy acres. Trader Joe’s had a yummy pesto flatbread as well as a garlic one with a “fried crust” that was pretty decent!
Linden Square is firing on all cylinders, food, vibe and drink-wise, but the live music is WAY too loud so we avoid going there when there’s a band playing. I almost always prefer recorded music when dining unless it’s something mellow like a guitarist.
Agree (music too loud for dining). Do we dance …
or dine? Loud music in a restaurant is instant indigestion. 😆
Yes! What happened to Kitchenette? Would love more options for frozen pizza AND healthy prepared food like they had
Friends of mine (with whom I just consulted) who are absolute pizza freaks recommend using GoldBelly for frozen pizza: Pizzeria Bianco or Defiina for thin crust and Prince Street for Sicilian.
Wylde Works has been the subject of some…drama recently. There’s a Reddit thread “What’s going on with Wylde Works?” that sheds a bit more light.
I really hate the unbundling of prices, like the 3.5% benefit charge at Marisella. Just roll your expenses into the published price like most respectable businesses. Saying you can ask it to be removed is not much of an out, as I would probably not do that. Rather, I would just leave irritated and not return, or never visit to begin with.
The Win-Dow has this as well. I just visited Portland and several restaurants there added this charge. I also find it irritating and would rather it was rolled into the price.
Okay Linden Square report – – The BEST item I’ve had so far (and the mole taco IS tasty) Eric at Cocina Corizon Sur are the aquachiles – only served here and much better than the ones i had in Mexico’s costa allegre…the music IS too loud.. some of us don’t want music ALL the time.. take note Linden Square. Some mellow but good jazz or even calming classical would be nice from time to time..for whoever is programming the music.
Been obsessed with Porta frozen pepperoni pizza. You can find it at Bristol Farms and Sprouts. Hopefully, that’s not the one you had and were disappointed in, ha!
I love Corazon Cocina Sur, so happy we have them now in Carpinteria. I just wished they would not have plastic forks and knives and plastic wine glasses! Tina’s has real wine glasses, so this is where I am getting my wine in future…
The live music at Wylde Works is often so terrible and the open mic nights even worse. I simply couldn’t sit and enjoy a nice glass of mead when almost every time someone eventually would sit on the piano seat and hack their way though a song and usually not complete it, or worse, take the mic during open mic night and do the same with a guitar and horrendous vocals. It drove me away as a fairly regular customer.
I’m back in my home state of Minnesota for a visit. Frozen pizza is a much bigger thing here than in CA. I dislike most in CA, some are okay from Bristol Farms. Pizza Parlano from Trader Joe’s is not great but serviceable. For REAL frozen pizza, you need to be in MN or WI. Heggies, Pizza Corner, Lotsa Mozza …
I would assume it’s more of a thing in the Midwest, especially during the winter when it’s freezing and people don’t leave the house, and hence more of a market for it there. In SB and CA there are literally zero days you don’t or can’t leave home due to weather unless there’s a 100 year event or something. Not sure why anyone would get “REAL” (all caps) frozen pizza here, when, especially in CA towns, it’s a phone call or short walk/drive away until late hours of the night to boot. The only practical frozen pizza I can think of is winery tasting rooms that offer it because they can use small electric ovens but restricted by health department rules and can’t make them from scratch. Plus, there isn’t a frozen pizza on the planet that beats the best pie joints in SB, LA, SD, etc.