Restaurant Roundup: Michelin Stars Come to SB, Toma’s New Owners, Reopenings and More

By Lauren Bray, edhat staff

We are ending the year with an abundance of food news, perfect for a holiday centered on eating cookies for breakfast and constantly feeling full.

We highlight the Michelin stars that arrived in our county, a mainstay Italian eatery gaining new owners, another State Street biz moves on citing irreconcilable differences, and several other openings and re-openings.

Michelin Stars Come to Santa Barbara County

Santa Barbara County now has three restaurants with one Michelin Star each. Bell’s in Los Alamos and Sushi by Scratch Restaurants: Montecito retained their stars after earning them in 2021 and Caruso’s in Montecito is new to the list with one star and one green star. The next closest reaturants in California with at least one Michelin star are two places in Paso Robles’ wine country and many in Los Angeles.

A few months ago we reported that Bell’s was featured on the CBS Morning Show that included an interview with Food & Wine “Best New Chef” and Santa Ynez Valley native, Daisy Ryan, with her husband Greg. 

The family-run bistro opened in early 2018 at 406 Bell Street, the former home of Bell Street Farm, in the town’s old bank building. The menu is French-inspired, or “Franch style” to the owners, featuring Santa Barbara Sea Urchin, vegetables and fruit from Finley Farms, and Wild Burgundy Snails, all of which helped earn them one Michelin star. Check out their menus here.

Photo: Massimo Falsini / Caruso’s

Caruso’s, located inside the Rosewood Miramar resort and named after its owner Rick Caruso, earned its first-ever star since opening in 2019. It also earned the coveted Green Star for “Gastronomy & Sustainability” as the restaurant uses local sources for ingredients, has its own in-house vegetable garden and bee hive, and 90% of their seafood is local and sustainably sourced.

They serve contemporary Californian food with Italian leanings. According to Michelin, the “Santa Barbara bluefin tartare, garnished with thinly sliced Taggiasca olives and dots of tofu aioli along with a creamy almond granita, takes a familiar ingredient and transforms it into something original.” Learn more here.

Located inside the Montecito Inn is Sushi by Scratch Restaurants: Montecito helmed by Chefs/owners Phillip Frankland Lee and Margarita Kallas-Lee. The small ten-seat eatery won over Michelin who praised them for their food, drinks, and bar only seating stating time is bound to pass in a blissful haze.

“The nigiri are not just supremely finessed but also infused with original touches—like the dab of sweet corn “pudding” and sourdough breadcrumbs that coat slices of hamachi. Even traditional pairings become transcendent with his house-fermented soy sauce,” Michelin wrote. Learn more here.

West Beach’s Beloved Italian Joint Has New Owners

(courtesy photo)

The ever popular Toma Restaurant near the corner of Castillo and Cabrillo in Santa Barbara’s West Beach will officially be under new ownership in January.

Longtime owners Vicki and Tom Dolan are retiring as business partners Sam Grant and Julian Sanders will take the helm as owner/operators of the nearly 20-year-old mainstay. Grant, a restaurateur from San Diego, is a silent partner in two successful restaurants in San Diego County and spent most of his career with stalwart restaurant group, TS restaurants.

Sanders is a third-generation Santa Barbaran, certified sommelier, and graduate of the Culinary Institute of America’s Accelerated Wine and Beverage program. He most recently joined the team at the Caruso’s inside the Rosewood Miramar, as well as owned and operated Cafe Ana, the current home of Secret Bao, with his wife Katherine Sanders. He will bring his extensive knowledge as Beverage Director and plans to build on the current wine list with additional old-world treasures, value-driven wines from classic regions around the world, local gems, and even include some large format selections.

“Growing up in Santa Barbara, I’ve had many, many memorable meals at Toma,” says Sanders, “Now, we’re working alongside Tom and learning as much as we can from him to carry on the next chapter of this institution.”

“Toma was always my favorite restaurant when visiting family in Santa Barbara,” adds Grant, “When Julian and I were brought together for this opportunity, we jumped! Tom and Vicki leave some big shoes to fill, but with my and Julian’s combined experience along with the wonderful staff at Toma, we are looking forward to building on the strong foundation laid by the team at Toma.”

The restaurant will not undergo any immediate changes, respecting the restaurant’s famous dishes such as the Tuna Cones and Rigatoni. Future plans include implementing tableside cart service, sourcing from local purveyors, and installing booths in the dining room.

Cold Stone Creamery is the Second Business to Close Due to State Street Conditions

Cold Stone Creamery at 504 State Street

The franchise owner of Cold Stone Creamery, located at 504 State Street, announced its closure last month after 26 years in business.

Ed Colton penned a Letter to the Editor in The Independent stating, “Operating there over [the] last three years has become impossible… The street needs to be open again. It has become ugly with store closures, homeless people, lack of police protection, a very difficult city to operate in, a County Health Department that actually threatens to close you down for minor infractions on Day 1, electric bicycles that speed up and down the middle of closed-to-traffic State Street, extremely high rents that put long-term business out of business, and on and on.”

Colton also stated he agrees with Kelly Brown, the owner of the Natural Cafe who is located two doors down from Cold Stone. Brown announced in October the health-focused restaurant will close in March 2023 after 30 years in business due to State Street’s “extreme conditions” with aggressive panhandling, street defecating, and flagrant drug use.

The Cold Stone Creamery at 5718 Calle Real in Goleta will remain open.

Black Sheep Rebrands and Reopens on E. Cota Street

The Black Sheep opened at 28 E. Ortega in downtown Santa Barbara in 2014 focusing on Latin, Asian, and Italian flavors and closed its doors on September 4. 

Father-son duo Robert and Rueben Perez have now teamed up with Chef Jake Reimer with The Black Sheep “SB Brasserie” at 18 E. Cota Street as a modern-classic California-French Pub. 

The location has been the former home of numerous eateries in recent years: Rascal’s Vegan Food, Barb’s Pies, The Middle Child, and Venus in Furs to name a few. 

Their website states they serve elevated, eclectic, locally sourced Cuisine paired with incredible wines and craft beer as well as a special Chef’s Table option.

“‘The Chef’s Table,’ One of  Santa Barbara’s most unique dining experiences featuring Chef Jake Reimer and or guest chefs.  This one of a kind degustation experience will feature the very best of Santa Barbara cuisine paired with world class wines and will be filled with gastronomical surprises,” the website reports.

Some of the menu items include steak frites, coq au vin, handrolled ricotta cavatelli, and cassoulet. Special prix fix menus for Christmas Day and New Years Eve menus are also available.

Learn more at blacksheepsb.com

Two New Coffee Shops Open to Start Your Morning Right

Pura Vida Coffee Society (courtesy)

A new craft coffee shop has opened in Paseo Nuevo, near the entrance to the former Nordstrom’s department store.

Pura Vida Coffee Society is owned by Mike Norris and offers more than your average caffeine fix. While complicated espresso concoctions and tasty looking baked goods are still on the menu, Pura Vida also offers pour over style coffee, blended smoothies, breakfast sandwiches, and sweet n’ savory toasts.

Pura Vida Coffee Society is open from 8:00 a.m to 7:00 p.m. Learn more here.

Brass Bird Coffee (courtesy)

In Carpinteria, Brass Bird Coffee & Kitchen has taken over the former Omni Catering location at 4835 Carpinteria Avenue. The new local’s favorite opened just last month and owner Sarah Dandona is no rookie to the business. She opened the Teddy’s by the Sea eatery down the street, purchased the Mackenzie Market on Upper State Street last year that’s currently under renovation, and recently sold her business Omni Catering.

With the addition of coffee and espresso they also serve up house-made pastries and desserts baked daily, a selection of breakfast sandwiches and paninis, and a pretty stunning outdoor patio area.

Brass Bird is open from 6:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. every day.

Saint Remy’s to Open in New State Street Hotel

Rendering of St. Remy’s

The former La Quinta Inn at 1601 State Street, cornering Arrellaga, is now a newly renovated Courtyard by Marriott. A new restaurant inside the hotel is scheduled to open the day after Christmas, December 26.

Saint Remy’s will feature “the freshest locally-sourced ingredients, delivered with a Mediterranean coastal twist.” Their menu includes churro waffles for breakfast, lamb meatballs with polenta and crispy short rib hummus throughout the day.

They also offer artisinal cocktails including a tequila drink named “Fever Dream in a Mexican Airport” and a grapefruit gin cocktail named “Stevie Nicks.”

So far they have not put out real-life photos of the space but instead are posting artistic renderings (see above). More renderings and information can be found here and here.

AZUL Coming Soon to Anapamu St.

Sign for Azul at 7 E. Anapamu Street (edhat photo)

When traveling through Downtown SB recently I spotted a sign in the window of 7 E. Anapamu Street, the former home of La Cocina, Smithy, and Somerset. Although the much beloved Arts & Letters Cafe is what locals know best, which closed in 2015 causing many broken hearts.

The sign reads “AZUL: Cocina Artesenal & Cantina, Coming Soon December 2022.” Their website doesn’t have a ton of information on their exact opening date but it looks like it might be pushed into the New Year.

Their website does offer a drink menu which includes a variety of creative tequila and mezcal based cocktails. It also provides an in-depthy biography about Executive Chef Manuel “Manny” Diaz.

Chef Manny has worked in a variety of Los Angeles restaurants and was featured in a 2008 Los Angeles Times article that describes Diaz’ pursuit of his American Dream: emigrating to the United States and working as a dishwasher and putting in his time before eventually rising through the ranks to become an Executive Chef.

Small Bites (Get it?)

• Dave’s Drip House is scheduled to open next month in the Turnpike Shopping Center. Dave, of Dave’s Dogs, is now adding sweet to his usual savory hot dog offerings with this new ice cream and cereal bar concept. A grand opening date has yet to be announced but a tease was released on their instagram page.

• Rori’s Artisanal Creamery is celebrating their 10 years in business since serving their first scoop at the Montecito Country Mart in 2012. Last month they ran a customer suggested flavor contest and announce their new ice cream to be served up this month: Sour Cream Coffee Cake. Inspired by a classic Ina Garten recipe, it is a sour cream ice cream with a cinnamon walnut streusel swirl.
  

• We previously reported that Pepe’s Mexican Restaurant in Old Town Goleta reopened following a devestating kitchen fire. Read more here.

• Dutch Garden Restaurant on Upper State has also reopened following an ownership change and building renovation, but much of the menu stayed the same.

• Last month we reported L’ANTICA PIZZERIA DA MICHELE was scheduled to open soon and now it has. Visit 1031 State Street for their “world famous neopolitan pizza.”

• Also last month we reported a new aptly named Funk Zone restaurant, We Want the Funk, was set to open. You guessed it, now it has! They are serving up wood-fired oysters and pizzas along with beer and wine from Wednesday through Saturday.

• The Restaurant Guy is reporting Little Alex’s is taking over the former Fresco’s Cafe location in the 5 Points Shopping Center after it was booted from the Montecito Country Mart. He also reports Corazon Comedor opened in the former spot of Ca Dario Pizzeria in the first block of E. Victoria Street downtown.

 

Do you have restaurant news to share? Email Lauren at lauren@edhat.com