Category: Restaurants

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.

Last weekend my boyfriend and I were desperate to find a new and exciting place to eat. Considering we had tried almost every place in Santa Barbara, we decided to venture out into Carpinteria. After attempting to go to a recommended breakfast joint (and finding a note on the door telling us that the family was in Canada for the week!), we eventually stopped at a Mexican place called Cabos Baja Grill and Cantina. What first drew me to this restaurant was the huge outdoor patio (and yes, the pitchers of margaritas at the tables influenced our decision a bit…) and let me say that I definitely wasn’t disappointed. In fact, we loved it.

The place was pretty laid back. You can order your food and drinks up front and they will bring everything out to your table. The woman at the register was really friendly and seemed to know all the locals that came in. I always find this to be a good sign – they gotta be coming back for a reason right?! They have a chips and salsa bar to hold you over until you get your food and I thought the salsa was really delicious and fresh.

After looking over the HUGE menu, I decided on the carne asada nachos and my boyfriend decided on a burger and tri tip baked beans. My nachos were amazing – probably the best I’ve ever had (seriously). The BF loved his food as well (although he was picking at mine the whole time!). The amount I ordered was enough to feed three people and I could definitely see myself coming back with a big group of friends. Just as we were leaving, we saw a big group of parents bike up with their kids in tow. They settled in at two tables, crayons and coloring books at one table and nachos and drinks at the other. They had the right idea for a beautiful sunny afternoon and I definitely will be joining them next weekend.

Last Friday night, my boyfriend and I finally tried Arigato Sushi on State Street. After too many gasps of disbelief when we mentioned we had never been, we decided to cave and prepare for a hefty bill (or so we were told). Arigato definitely lived up to the hype and was actually much less expensive than we had expected.

The restaurant did not take reservations so we were a bit nervous at 7:00pm when we showed up to a full house. Luckily we got in right away at a cozy table right in the front. Our waitress was friendly, very attentive and the menu was huge. I don’t eat the actual fish at sushi places so I first noticed how vegetarian friendly their menu was. I then noticed all the crazy combinations they made with their rolls (including a Mexican inspired roll with jalapenos and habanero sauce). Prices range from $5 a roll to $14 (and a couple “at market” items).

I chose an amazing Magic Mushroom roll, a veggie roll and the Mediterraneaneo roll with artichokes, sun dried tomatoes and pesto sauce (definitely the highlight of my dinner). My boyfriend ordered the Dijon Ahi roll, the RockNRoll (their take on a rainbow roll) and the Manhattan roll – all of which he loved. Each roll came out on a different plate and arrangement so you knew they weren’t prepared too hastily. At first glance, we thought the rolls might be too small to fill us up. However, they were surprisingly generous and only seemed smaller because they use less rice filler and more good stuff inside. An hour later we were feeling full and healthy after spending less than $100 on a great dinner (drinks and appetizers included!).

Hot tip: There is apparently a “secret menu” with some pretty cool rolls. We heard about a “whatever” roll that is specially made by the sushi chefs on weekdays. Word on the street is that it’s loaded with the freshest ingredients and tastes amazing.

You know the feeling. You need to get out of the house but you already ate dinner and its 8 o'clock. Aside from the typical movie or coffee date, there is another option that is great for a late night outing with your friend or partner. Go out for dessert at a nice restaurant. Whenever we go out for dinner, my boyfriend and I are surrounded by tons of other couples as well as other people we don't know waiting for a table. There is no time to quietly relax after a meal and to sit and enjoy the company of your date. The dessert date is the perfect way to have a less hectic experience at a nice restaurant without having to feel rushed.

Santa Barbara is filled with great restaurants and I have found that a few have some really great desserts. I have tried the tiramisu at a good amount of restaurants and I've found that my favorite is from Arnoldi's Café on 600 Olive Street. Arnoldi's outside garden terrace is a great place to bring a date to relax and chat under the stars. Bouchon at 9 W Victoria has a very classy atmosphere and their Meyer Lemon Tart is delicious. If you want a more relaxed scene, the Chase Café has great desserts and big booths to get comfortable in. At Christmas, they load up on the lights and decorations, making you feel right at home. Even more laid back is the gelato bar at Via Maestra 42 on 3343 State Street. You can sit and eat your gelato at one of their inside or outside tables, and you can take it to go if you wish.

By far, my favorite dessert idea in Santa Barbara has been the S'mores on the Campfire at Holdren's Steaks and Seafood at 512 State Street. They bring you all the fixings for S'mores at your table and a little fire to cook them over yourself. It's like having a little camping getaway right at your table.