22: Restaurants

One of the items on my 101 in 1001 list was to eat at ten different local restaurants. I put that item on the list because I realized I’d been eating at the same two or three places over and over, and I knew there was SO much more to be discovered in Santa Barbara. So, discover I did! I won’t write in-depth, crazy long reviews on each place. Instead I’ll just list them and give you a little snippet of an opinion, in case you’re ever in the area! (And you know that if you’re ever in the area, you are contractually obligated to HANG OUT WITH ME. Just sayin’.)

In the order in which I visited each restaurant, here we go:

1. Your Choice Thai Restaurant
   We went for a friend’s birthday, otherwise I probably never would have considered it. The few times I’d ever tried Thai food before, I just wasn’t a fan. Plus, now I’ve got these pesky allergies, so I was a little nervous about finding something that didn’t contain any sesame. Alas, I did find something suitable, and it wasn’t half bad. If you are the type of person who likes Thai food, you’ll probably love this place.
2. Brummis German Restaurant
   This is a favorite spot of our good friends Allan and Helly, so we tried it out on their recommendation (and they tagged along, too!). I liked the food, but I didn’t love it. Well, except for the insanely delicious dessert that was like this fried apple-y thing. THAT was incredible. But I guess in terms of the entree, I felt like it was very heavy and not as flavorful as I usually prefer. But apparently that’s authentic German cuisine, so if you like it, you’ll like Brummis. Oh, and the owners are adorably friendly.
3. Pacific Crepes
   Joe and I went here on Valentine’s Day, and it would have been a perfectly delightful outing except for the giant HAIR I found in my crepe. I had already been acting kind of whiny that day, so I tried to brush off my grossed-outedness about the hair, and truth be told, it really was tasty. And based on all of the recommendations I’ve received about Pacific Crepes, I’d say that was a very unusual circumstance, and I’d probably go again. Oh, and it’s run by ACTUAL French people. Win!
4. Hollister Brewing Co.
   I’ve been there a few times since the first, and it’s a pretty good place. Joe says it’s a “foofy” restaurant, meaning they serve fancy-sounding food like spinach and feta pizza, duck fat fries, and stuff friend in truffle oil (“So trendy!”). Still, it’s got a nice atmosphere, and the food tastes good, albeit possibly a little “foofy”. They brew some decent beers there, too.
5. Palace Grill
   This Cajun-styled restaurant was AHH-MAZING. At least, I thought it was. Joe didn’t care too much for his meal, but I absolutely loved mine, and I hope I can convince him to take me back there again sometime. Their food definitely packs a punch (though, I guess it may depend on what you get), which I tend to love. They also serve a few different types of rolls, like one with jalapenos and cheddar, and YUM. Just YUM.
6. The Natural Cafe
   Joe and I went here on a whim, if I recall correctly, and if we thought Hollister Brewing Co. was foofy, it didn’t even hold a candle to the Natural Cafe. This place is hippie central, with funky-named dishes, lots of vegetarian and vegan options, and, sadly, not a whole lot of flavor. I tried their cheese enchilada, and there was exactly ZERO kick to it. I grabbed a bottle of tabasco sauce, but it just wasn’t that good. Maybe I’ll try something different sometime, but I’m in no rush to go here again.
7. Holdren’s
   My boss took me here for Admin Appreciation Day, and it was a real treat! It’s on the fancier side of things, so I felt a little underdressed in my (totally not work-appropriate) jeans and flip flops. But the meal? Was awesome. I had a chicken pesto sandwich, and it was ENORMOUS and full of flavor (and cheese). Total win. I hear their dinner menu is even better than lunch, but I haven’t made it there to test that claim.
8. Cody’s Cafe
   We first went to Cody’s for my grandma’s wedding anniversary, and we’ve since been back a time or two. This is a low-key restaurant similar to Coco’s or Marie Callendar’s in that it feels a little like visiting home for Mama’s cooking. They have a selection of various cuisines — American, Italian, Mexican, etc. — and it’s all quite tasty, in my opinion. I really like their enchiladas (which, unlike Natural, have SPICE!).
9. Dutch Garden Restaurant
   This is the other German restaurant in the area, and we tried it out with our neighbors Jeff and Leah. It was…a heck of a lot less flavorful than Brummis. It was also completely empty except for the four of us, which was awkward, especially since they seated us waaaay in the back corner, as if they were waiting on a huge party to come fill in the rest or something. The food wasn’t terrible, but it just wasn’t very good, either. Probably not going back there anytime soon.
10. Brophy Bros.
    Joe and I went here on the recommendation of my friend Leslie, and it was a GOOD recommendation. I had salmon that was absolutely impeccable, and also insanely filling. The atmosphere is great; it’s right near the harbor, and there is a little bar where you can watch the cooks making some of the food right in front of you. It also happened to be a thundery night, so we got a cool view of the sky as we ate.

So there you have it. An unofficial, totally unprofessional guide to ten of Santa Barbara’s finest (maybe) restaurants.