Santa Barbara Metro - PlanJam.com

Everyone I know always tends to feel a little guilty going out to eat, especially if the place you’re going has a drive-thru window. In the fast paced digital world we live in, it’s hard to go out to a place that actually has good wholesome food that hasn’t been fortified with a small laboratories worth of chemicals. One such place, whose mission is to provide one of the largest health food menu's around town, is the Natural Cafe.

Natural Cafe has been a fixture in the Santa Barbara area for many years, and has been quite successful at spreading its "No red meat, vegetarian friendly" gospel. Natural cafe has been so successful at targeting a vegetarian/vegan friendly niche that there are now over 9 locations in Southern California, which is quite impressive for an independently owned food chain.

Now I know what you’re all thinking. Usually when someone throws around the terms "healthy fast food", "vegetarian friendly" or anything like that, people instantly flash back to that Simpson’s episode where Lisa becomes a vegetarian and she proclaims at the Family BBQ that she’s made "enough gazpacho for all!". Well, I'm going to tell you that just because The Natural Cafe touts itself as a healthy alternative to fast food, does not mean that you’re confined to cold soup and tofu bricks as some might expect (I know, shocking isn't it?). I'm one of the biggest carnivores I know, and I actually quite enjoy the natural cafe.

Natural Cafe, while having vegan and vegetarian friendly options, also has fish, turkey and chicken based dishes. They also offer a wide assortment of appetizers, shakes, salads and even offer a children's menu for those parents who are looking to raise their kids to eat healthy. Instead of having the traditional "French Fries" as sides with the meal, Natural Cafe offers blue chips with salsa or salad garnish instead. All of the dishes on the menu are moderately priced (usually between 6 and 10 dollars) and are probably 10 times fresher and better for you than you'll find on most fast food menus. My favorite all time dish is the Gobbler Burger; a turkey patty based burger covered with sprouts, Thousand Island dressing, and red onions. I was actually skeptical about the gobbler burger at first (who puts sprouts on a burger?) but it has become my Natural Cafe staple, and i actually really like sprouts now. Another good dish is their chicken enchiladas, which are sure to please. Their blueberry shake is also one of my favorites and, although a tad expensive ($3.50), tastes absolutely amazing, and is made with fresh blueberries!

Now I know right off the bat this place not appeal too everyone. Healthy food places, like Natural Cafe serve dishes which are naturally very low in sodium and fat, which means that they're not as flavorful as some other places: its is after all healthy food, and you can only dress it up so much until, well, it becomes unhealthy. Some people might find this place not their cup of tea for other reasons; sorry steak and burger fans, but no red meat is offered on their menu. But if your one of those people who wants to make their eating habits a little healthier, lose a couple pounds, or just try something different without spending a lot of money, I would definitely recommend Natural Cafe.

Ever try to go out to lunch during the week with several co-workers? It usually goes something like this: All of you get together, only to end up bickering for 20 minutes about where to go. Inevitably no one can make a decision (or no one wants to) and you all end up at a TGI Fridays eating deep fried god-knows what, with waiters singing happy birthday to a crying toddler at the table next to you. You come back from lunch more stressed out then when you left, and you ended up paying 18 dollars for a meal you would have happily avoided. Well, next time you guys are having trouble picking a spot, try the South Coast Deli. It has two locations, one in Goleta and a new location in Downtown Santa Barbara, and it’s sure to leave all your co-workers satisfied.

There’s nothing fancy about South Coast Deli, it’s your typical looking sandwich spot, but what separates this place from the pack is the sheer variety of sandwiches they offer. Combine that with fresh ingredients and hearty portions of Deli meat and you've got yourself a great lunchtime spot to keep all the co-workers happy...that is until they actually go back to work.

The menu ranges from hot and cold sandwiches to salads, all of which are priced reasonably, usually between 6 and 8 dollars. Their sandwiches range from the normal run-of-the-mill sandwich like the Turkey Hoagie, to the exotic such as the Flank Steak Panini, all of which are rather tasty. You can also add chips and a drink to your sandwich, or try one of their freshly made smoothies. I recently ordered the Roast Beef Hottie (Roast beef w/ melted hot pepper jack, garlic-tabasco mayo, ?lettuce, tomato & red onion) for $6.95.

I’ll admit, at first I was intimidated by the ingredients, but after overcoming my initial fear, I bit into one of the best sandwiches I've had in Santa Barbara. If nothing on the menu tickles your fancy, or you’re just very picky, then South Coast also lets you build your own from their variety of meats and cheeses for $6.75. Unlike most Delis in the area which are somewhat stingy with the ingredients, South Coast tends to be a little more generous and pile on the meat for you, giving you more bang for your buck.

If all of you don’t have the time to go out to lunch, you can also call South Coast and have them cater, which is very convenient for offices that are especially busy and can’t meet a deadline with a growling stomach.

One downside of the South Coast Deli in Goleta is that it is located right across the street from a large hospital, so lunch hours can get a little hectic and the wait may be a little longer than normal. Also, the parking lot is rather small and is shared by a few businesses, so sometimes you might have difficulty finding a spot. Other than these two minor problems, South Coast Deli is a great place to eat lunch.

Hopefully this article has helped you pick a great sandwich spot and will be the end of your co-worker lunch time woes...well, at least for now.

Santa Barbara is one of the best places to be single. There are many recreational places that you and your date can go to and really get to know each other. Here are some date themes that you can choose from to help you find out if your partner is right for you.

Fun

If you are a fun loving person, there are many places in Santa Barbara that can bring out your date's sense of fun. You cam take your dare to museums, wildlife parks, beaches, concerts, movie theaters and sporting events. You can also do fun activities like kite flying, horseback riding, and picnicking at the parks or beaches. These places will help you and your date relax and definitely have a great time.

Nightlife

When you want your date to be more exciting and fun, the nightlife in Santa Barbara will provide you with many choices. You can take your date to nightclubs for dancing, comedy clubs for a good laugh, karaoke bars for singing and bars for some great music. Places offering these forms of entertainment include Indochine, O'Malley, Madison, Brewhouse and Blue Agave.

Places To Dine

Every date requires a nice place where you can eat. Looking for a restaurant in Santa Barbara is not at all difficult as long as you have an idea of the kind of food you want, the ambiance (casual or formal) provided by the restaurant and your budget. Some notable restaurants in Santa Barbara include Brophy Bros (Seafood), Carlitos Cafe & Cantina (Mexican), Edomasa (Sushi), and Bucatini (Italian).

Romantic

Because of Santa Barbara's natural beauty, romantic places need not be expensive. Relaxing walks, picnicking and watching the sunset are just among the many romantic activities that you can do on the beaches. The best romantic places include the Leadbetter Beach, West Beach and Goleta Beach.

Dating in Santa Barbara is really a wonderful experience. All you need to do is be yourself, relax and let Santa Barbara's charm do the rest.

There are many great places to dine in Santa Barbara. One of the best places is the Santa Barbara Shellfish Company. It was established back in 1979 and began as a buying market for local lobster and abalone, but evolved into the local expert of fresh seafood sensations. The Santa Barbara Shellfish Company is located just outside of Stearns Wharf.

A local favorite is the Los Olivos Cafe where the wisteria covered patio welcomes any who enter. Most will agree that the amazing combination of tasteful wine and delicious food is what brings them back to the restaurant time after time. On the wall you can see an impressive selection of Santa Barbara County wines as well as the large fireplace and bar that connects the cafe to the Los Olivos Wine Merchant.

The Los Olivos Cafe is a part of the Los Olivos Wine Merchant. This merchant has one of the biggest selection of Central Coast wines that are available anywhere. You can even access this merchant from your home with the easy online store. They also offer their famous gourmet products such as the Los Olivos Cafe Bread Dipping Oil, Muffaletta, and Olive Tapenade. You can find these products online or in California if you are lucky enough to visit.

Emilio's Ristorante is located on the waterfront in Santa Barbara and has been a favorite for both the locals and visitors for the past sixteen years. The owner and staff have been known for consistently treating their guests to a five star dining experience. They offer a great menu selection that was created by their own team of talented chefs. With the delicious meal combined with professional customer service you will sure to leave with a smile on your face.

Emilio's also serves family style dinners with four course meals starting at $45 per person, and the five course meals starting at $55 per person. It is hard to find an unsatisfied guest leaving this establishment. The atmosphere at Emilio's is intimate and the staff that runs the establishment is always friendly. The meal is defiantly worth the price.

Known as the American Riviera, Santa Barbara is located in between the Pacific Beaches and the Santa Ynez Mountains. This is the perfect place to come and relax on breathtaking white sand beaches and go from shop to gallery searching for the perfect souvenir to take back home.

You can find Spanish-Mediterranean architecture lining the streets of downtown Santa Barbara. At one point this area had a Native American Chumash population for thousands of years until the European era began in the 18th century. Unfortunately, the oldest architectural hodgepodge was destroyed back in 1925 when an earthquake flattened the local businesses. The town that stands today is the same that rose out of the rubble.

The town of Santa Barbara is known for its red tiled roofs and white stucco walls which form a backdrop to some of the Spanish Revival architecture. In Santa Barbara the beaches are lined with palm trees and are refreshingly clean. Though the downtown area has been replaced by an upscale shopping mall the area has still been able to keep its quaint friendly character.

After the infamous earthquake of 1925 the town was rebuilt with the image of Spanish Colonial past in mind. There are many arcades that are connected to shops, cafes, and restaurants in a pedestrian friendly way that helps non locals get around easily.

State Street is home to a variety of diners, coffee bars, night clubs, and book shops. In the center is El Cuartel, a two hundred year old barracks that is the second oldest building in California. El Cuartel is home to historical exhibits and a scale model of the small Spanish colony.

Wooden Stearns Wharf is a half mile away from the town's center down State Street. It was originally built in 1872 and was almost destroyed by a fire in 1998 when the pier was in flames. Since then there have been massive reconstruction efforts and it is now home to an arrangement of shopping, dining, and beautiful beaches.