Am I the only one that’s wondering what the people behind the harbor restaurant are thinking.? What is the deal with that menu and the prices.
Seriously?
Foodie
Spot on Johnny, S.B. did the pedestrian mall when they closed streets and built Paseo Nuevo. In addition to the two anchors being empty, I walked the paseo from the back of the old Nordstrom's towards CPK last week and nearly that entire section was vacant. Not to mention, where do they think the $100M+ for the promenade would come from? And even if we could source the funds, is that really the best use of those funds? Imagine how many affordable apartment units $100M could build. Use those funds to build affordable housing downtown, it would be a big help on the housing front while revitalizing the area at the same time. But, we have a public who makes decisions on feelings more than logic and a city council that caters to those feelings because they want to be reelected.
Yes, let’s just super glue some “mini little speed bumps” down and call it a day. A brilliant suggestion from our esteemed leadership.
It’s hard to understand why the focus isn’t on revitalizing Paseo Nuevo, which already embodies what the city envisions for State Street: a beautiful, walkable paseo. Anchoring it with a quality grocery store and more restaurants—rather than discount chain stores—would significantly enhance the mall. Yet instead of building on what’s already there, we’re talking about tearing it down for housing and attempting to recreate on a sloped, asphalt thoroughfare. While I support more pedestrian-friendly corridors, the current approach isn’t working. Next time you’re down there, take a walk through Paseo Nuevo and compare it to the perpendicular section of State Street—ask yourself which we should be investing in to become the lively car-free experience we all envision
Pretty amazing how you can allow your eating experience influenced by how a stranger is dressed. Like we teach our annoying kids, don’t let anyone else affect your happiness. My stunning date and the steak tartar were phenomenal but the guy wearing sandals three tables over ruined the night… get over yourselves!
Locals “should cook at home”??? And Montecito should accommodate the tourists??? This is crazy talk! You are clearly a newbie to the neighborhood. These restaurants should accommodate the locals, we are the ones who frequent them and go when the tourists aren’t here. I’m so sick of having to make reservations well in advance in my neighborhood to get dinner, who plans that far in advance. I want to go on the fly that day. I think local restaurants should always save a percentage of tables for locals, they would not survive without us. And I agree with the previous poster that just because we are in an affluent neighborhood doesn’t mean we don’t want fast casual food like our beloved Little Alex’s that was booted from the space.
Been excited and waiting for years. Looking at that menu I expect we will see many tourists and a gift shop selling key chains and T-shirts.
I think the proposed improvements to the Tinkers building look great and is very good for Summerland and their continued growth and beautification. Hoping someone will purchase and renovate the building across the street with the dumpy liquor store.
Soul Bites is in a TERRIBLE LOCATION. 30k won't fix that problem. They would be wise to take any funds and move to a food truck or a much better location.
If only Wexler's would improve the taste and quality of their food. I've tried them 4x and every single time, I'm disappointed from old bagels (not fresh and I know Yetz's bagels very well) to tasteless corned beef to barely getting butter and cream cheese on the old bagel to tasteless cole slaw. I'm a NYer and these sandwiches don't come close to a NY Jewish deli experience. I do however, like the rye bread they used.
Agreed, this menu is perfect for Isla Vista. Not at all what I expect from the Oku people.
Agreed! Fresh, crunchy coleslaw is a easy to make and adds a lot of yum to a meal. I also couldn't believe how bad their coleslaw was ... high school cafeteria quality
Jeeze Happy Cat looks like a gut bomb
I'm wondering why Wexler's price point was so high. Is it because they have to transport everything to Santa Barbara?
I'm really glad the new owner took notice and cut the prices at Wexler's. I went for the first time a few weeks ago and thought it was way overpriced. I thought the Reuben was good but nothing special. The coleslaw was not good, nor was the Russian dressing (how hard is that to make?!).
Wexler's will have a mighty fight to make it.
Grew up in Silverlake long ago and Tam OShanter is unchanged. East side has always been cool-we had Neutra, Launtner and Schindler building houses and Anais Nin married to my junior high school science teacher!
I had the pleasure to eat at Alma over the weekend and the food is EXCELLENT. The tuna tostada and the ceviche with coconut milk is head exploding delicious.
Village Hardware, upper village Montecito
I don't take comps, much to my husband's chagrin, and none of the establishments knew I'd be writing about them.
Do you personally pay for everything or were some of these hospitality or dining experiences comped?
Erik. I’m late seeing this post. Here is a bit more detail. I’d still love to walk it with you one day.
236 Ortega, the hottie, was the water tower/horse stables to the main house at 240 Ortega. There was once an amazing labyrinth garden between 236-240. I’ll look for the aerials to share with you.
238 (the German Shephard sign) is the old theatre house (there is an amphitheater) to 240.
242 is the old MIL’s house to 240. It is connected by a pergola. The original estate was 4 houses on 8 acres.
Vanishing will be my favorite entry into SB via the left lane off ramp and then turning under the highway and Railroad bridge.
The existing architecture is a mishmash but a curiously welcoming one, and was for decades. The way of things. Be nice if the new concrete bridge was given a bit of character, was done at the 101 over State Street when that was rebuilt. Yes, it took another two? decades to improve the pedestrian walkways.
It is going to try the patience of all during the bridge construction. But I have memories of when the 101 through SB had traffic signals and a number of Car dealerships.
Depending on the agenda, I stay in Pasadena at the humble but very decent Japanese-run 50's motor lodge Saga (because if I go down, I usually visit Santa Anita!), or downtown's kinda too-cool-for-school but reasonable Freehand... From either, I make surgical strikes around the eastern parts of town. Usually (and I bet you won't relate, but I am older) this includes a dinner at the Tam O' Shanter, ca. 1922, on Los Feliz Blvd...
It would help if there's a really good hotel in the area...?
I am still, ten years later, considered a 'newbie' in SB -- maybe that explains why, unlike most longstanding residents who hate LA and never go except to (under duress) the airport, I get a kick out of the magic city. I lived in Santa Monica for a decade (in the 80's); although I don't think of it as having been ruined, it is sure different now, Mucho dinero, turistas, and traffico!
But really, today's LA is not at all about the Westside: since the smog of the late 20th Century dissipated, the cultural soul has drifted inland, to places like Echo Park, Silver Lake, and Los Feliz. Most of the lively restaurants are there now; you also get Tarantino's revival movie houses, and terrific bookstores, especially Skylight.
Erik does such a great and fascinating job with these pieces; I do think it's time for him to survey things across town! Cheers, D
