••• The new Hook & Press was worth the wait—the space is bright and airy, and the old-fashioned doughnut was everything I could hope for. (Sue me, but I prefer cake doughnuts to yeast ones.) The non-doughnut menu is now online (and below); I’ll be back for the bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich…. UPDATE: When I say I’ll be going back for a sandwich, you can bank on it. (Photo below.)
••• Restaurant Guy heard an exciting rumor that Pierre Lafond is “in talks with a Napa Valley restaurant to either take over, or partner with Montecito Wine Bistro.” Anyone know more? Email [email protected] or text 917-209-6473; anonymity guaranteed.
••• Local, the new restaurant and bar on Coast Village Road, set a grand opening date of this coming Tuesday, April 26. UPDATE: Local’s website has been updated with the schedule of live music.
••• Rare Society, the San Diego–based steakhouse chain coming to the former Project space on State Street (next to Loquita), is now shooting for a June opening, according to a help-wanted ad spotted by Edible Santa Barbara.
••• “Santa Barbara Fish Market is coming to University Plaza near the DMV and Costco in Goleta.” It’s not slated to open till next year, though. —Restaurant Guy
••• The Independent writes about a free meal at Bedda Mia, the Sicilian restaurant that took over the Mollie’s space on State Street.
••• After I posted about Oye Vey Maria’s, the Jewish-Italian deli opening on Coast Village Road, came word that the Montecito Deli & Market has opened under its new management (the Montesano Group, which also has Lucky’s and Tre Lune). “It will take us about a month to facilitate all the things we have planned,” posted Gene Montesano. “We kept all the employees so you’ll see the same happy faces you’ve gotten to know over the years.” Also, Lynn pointed out that the name of Oye Vey Maria’s is likely a play on “Ave Maria,” which I totally didn’t see (and remain unconvinced that it justifies the extra “e”).
••• The recent roundup of hotels in the works included a restaurant-related tidbit you may have missed: the 86-room resort coming to 433 E. Cabrillo (at the corner of S. Calle Cesar Chavez) will have a ground-floor restaurant and a rooftop pool and bar.
••• From the Independent‘s profile of Last of Seven: “In her previous life as a high-tech human resources executive, Elizabeth Osterman-Brown liked hosting appetizer hours with gourmet treats for nibbling. ‘Every time I put together a charcuterie plate, it was easy to get great cheese and great cured meat and maybe a good cured olive,’ she explains. ‘But there was always that limp pickled veg on the platter. Why not have a luxury pickled vegetable? Who said you can’t?'”
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Is Oye Vey Maria Italian Jewish Deli on CVR
Montecito open? Where can you find menu?
Not yet, and there’s no menu online yet, either.