••• Solvang’s Whiskey ‘N Rye announced that it’ll open a second outpost at Goleta’s Camino Real Marketplace (a.k.a. the Home Depot one) this August in January. The company is also behind Que at the Santa Barbara Public Market.
••• “The Chick-fil-A planned for [4765] Calle Real in the Goleta Valley will move forward after the Santa Barbara County Planning Commission approved the project in a unanimous vote Wednesday. Planning commissioners approved the project 5-0 after company representatives showed that idling cars in the drive-through would not cause significant air pollution.” Chick-fil-A lawyer Beth Collins “said that a sit-down restaurant would have higher emissions because customers would be turning their vehicles on and off during their visit. She added that a study for the nearby Starbucks also shows lower emission rates because of the drive-through. ‘So, the drive-through is actually (a) much more efficient, safe, optimized way to circulate in this site, and it really improves the site.” —Noozhawk
••• Bistro Amasa is trying something new: “Après hour [….] Served nightly from 8–9 p.m. at the bar and limited tables, it brings together some of our favorite things: the $25 Adult Happy Meal [below], Girl Dinner, half-off bottles of wine, and a lineup of snacks made for easy sharing.”
••• I’m seriously considering a visit to Ojai for chef Mei Lin’s “residency” at the Ojai Valley Inn. Joining her from July 8 to 11 are chefs Brandon Jew (of Mister Jiu’s in San Francisco), Brady Ishiwata Williams (of Tomo in Seattle), and Nini Nguyen.
••• Longboard’s Grill on Stearns Wharf reopened after a big renovation. —Restaurant Guy
••• Noozhawk profiled Mission City Sandwich Shop on the Mesa. A Montecito friend recently complained that we need the kind of sandwich shop you find in a college town, with great sandwiches that have quirky names. I told him that Mission City fits that bill. “I don’t know where the Mesa is,” he replied.
••• While in New York City recently, I made a point of visiting PopUp Bagels. (The rapidly expanding chain is taking over the former Blaze Pizza space at the Five Points Shopping Center—and no, I don’t know when it’ll open.) The bagels are good! But the minimum order is three, which is weird.
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You’re montecito friend sounds more like a New York or LA friend
Ikes Love is that sandwich shop.
Hilarious about your Montecito friend. I’m truly thrilled that Montecito now has Little Mountain and Monte’s which are excellent, but most of the restaurants are pretty average and elevate themselves with stiff drinks. Not that I mind a stiff drink! Your friend is really missing out on life.