••• Dart Coffee Co.‘s new café at Linden Square is a welcome addition to downtown Carpinteria. There are baked goods, but more substantial food is a month or so off. If the tables outside are occupied, you can access the courtyard—locked from the street until later in the day—from a door near the restrooms.
••• The restaurant that Jesse Gaddy and Julian Martinez of Barbareño are opening with the team behind Hearth Homes and Hearth Hospitality at The Upham hotel has a name: “Bistro Amasa (pronounced ah-may-sa) is a neighborhood bistro where old-world technique meets bold, California-driven creativity. It’s located inside the historic Upham Hotel, built in 1871 by Amasa Lincoln—a cousin of Abraham Lincoln—and the oldest continuously operating hotel in California.”
••• Some follow-up details about Arnie’s, the bar that Arnie Sturham is opening on the roof of Linden Square: it will not serve food, and because of the liquor license, only ages 21 and over will be allowed. Sturham also says there may eventually be some live music, but not at the scale of his former venue on Bainbridge Island, and that he’s hoping to open in November.
••• Sweetgreen really is coming to the Carl’s Jr. on Calle Real in Goleta, says Noozhawk. There’s a rendering of the proposed redo of the building, which is terribly drab.
••• What’s up at Intermezzo? On August 13, the restaurant announced it will only be serving dinner three nights a week (Thursday through Saturday), along with Sunday brunch. But OpenTable shows no availability in September except for September 16-20 (which includes a Tuesday and Wednesday).
••• Press release: “Montecito Gourmet, formerly the Village Cheese & Wine Store, is proud to announce [its] grand reopening [….] The renovation expands seating and introduces a full coffee, wine and craft beer lounge and dinner experience, bringing together Montecito Gourmet’s beloved imported cheese and charcuterie boards with gourmet flat breads, oysters, crudo, caviar, featuring a curated selection of” wines.
••• Room Service Coffee, in Ventura’s new GasWorks complex, soft-opens with just coffee on September 2. Carrie and Dennis Medina of Coastal Coffee Collective are partnering with Skylar Bryce, whose baked goods will be offered starting September 15.
••• Gracie‘s hours have expanded. The new restaurant at the harbor will be open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. today and tomorrow, close for two days, and then reopen on Thursday, after which it’ll be open seven days a week, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., with daily happy hour (4-5 p.m.). Here are the daytime and evening menus.
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Intermezzo’s water heater exploded during service, and shortly after, they laid off half their staff. The situation doesn’t suggest they’re heading in the right direction.. especially with three new 1-star reviews since closing.
VV, Where are you seeing the 1-star reviews? Intermezzo is our to go place before Lobero events. Service can be spotty (especially for drinks) but the food has always been good. I hope they can turn this around!
Google reviews. the latest three reviews are 1 star between 2-3 weeks ago. There is food poisoning mentioned in one of them.
I think v v is an ex employee that got laid off. She’s making things up to hurt this business.
‘Went to Intermezzo recently for dinner.
Wait staff was disjointed/inattentive and we had to ask several times for our waitress to provide service. Food/drinks were wrong twice during the meal and came out cold upon service.
I’ve eaten in town for years, and while I understand vagaries occur, having our busser be the best of service on the night was disappointing.
Yay sweet greens!
I’m looking forward to a space at Linden square that’s doesn’t include children. Just sayin, it’s a kid/dog zoo downstairs.
The Upham Hotel is the longest continuously operating hotel in “Southern” California… (not all of California). Cool history with Abe Lincoln’s cousin though!
Excited about Arnie’s (bar upstairs at Linden). I have known Arnie Sturham from living on Bainbridge Island myself for almost 30 years until this last January (now in SB). And his place on the island was amazing! An absolutely gem in the neighborhood – a place we all gathered for celebrations or just grabbing a drink. Congrats Arnie! Looking forward to it!
Had brunch at Gracie’s last weekend and it was fabulous. Can’t wait to go back for dinner and try the sole in brown butter. The bar is stunning!
Gracie’s is awesome