Category: Restaurants

Being a Jersey girl, I am constantly on the lookout for new sandwich shops. When I moved out west, there was a void in my life when I could not find one sandwich shop that lived up to my high standards. Sadly enough, I have since lowered my standards - until I visited McMaster's Steak and Hoagie shop in Isla Vista.

When my friend and I first got there on our lunch break, I noticed that there were barely any people sitting inside and eating so I got a little nervous. However, as soon as I heard the unmistakable Philadelphia accent from the owner, I felt my nervousness subside. Finally, an authentic sandwich shop! We decided to split a Philly cheese steak with mushrooms and peppers and a side of fresh cut fries. While I was waiting for my food, I began to notice that it was in between classes at UCSB and people were coming in and out on their bikes and picking up to-go orders and that they were actually quite busy during the lunch hour.

The shop itself was very clean and had an open kitchen area. The owner/cashier was extremely friendly and efficient. There was also a condiment area with different sweet and spicy peppers, some of which I had never seen before. The sandwich was very good, probably the most authentic Philly cheese steak I've had on the west coast. My only complaint is that they didn't put a lot of meat inside (maybe this is because they use rib-eye, a more expensive cut of meat). When we looked over the menu when we ordered, I noticed there was an option for adding "double meat/double cheese" but I am not too much of a carnivore so I assumed we would have plenty. The French fries were also good and very fresh – think In-n-Out, but a little thicker.

After passing our taste test and proving worthy, my friend and I were still hungry after only eating a half so we ordered seconds! This time around, we tried just the cheese steak with mushrooms and no sauce. This one was just as good and with less veggies and a little more meat. Altogether, I was pretty impressed with this place. My recommendation for others who stop by McMasters is to definitely order a whole one to yourself and if you are a big eater, get the double meat/double cheese.

Last night my boyfriend and I did a sort of Tour de Santa Barbara, by visiting a couple different Santa Barbara hotspots with very different atmospheres. After following the same Pizza, Jeopardy, and American Idol routine for about 2 weeks, we decided that we MUST get out of the house. Instead of driving to our downtown area (which luckily is only a mile away) we took a very nice walk into the heart of downtown State Street to try and seek out some food. We had no idea what we wanted and definitely did not expect the night that lay ahead of us.

To our surprise, it was the weekly Farmer's Market, and to our delight, we came across a delicious selection of summertime fruits and vegetables (with lots of samples so we didn't ruin our appetite!). While walking down State Street sampling and people watching, we didn't even realize we hadn't stopped for dinner until we had walked almost a mile. We eventually decided on one of our favorite restaurants, Carlito's Cafe and Cantina. Carlito's, with a fusion of Mexican and Southwestern cuisine, has a magnificent atmosphere - quite sophisticated but casual enough where you can relax in jeans and a tank top (even outside where they have plenty of heat lamps for everyone). Last night they had a very talented guitar player that entertained everyone with traditional Latin songs as well as a little rock n' roll. Dinner was, as always, wonderful with plenty of food for leftovers.

For the amount of food and the elegant atmosphere, the prices for dinner are very reasonable. Our meal came to $39.00 without drinks. The servers are very attentive and you never have to wait long for anything. Our food actually came out in less than 10 minutes, which only added to my delight!

Instead of staying at Carlito's for dessert, we wanted to continue our adventure and try something new. We had always walked past The Chase Bar & Grill and wondered what they had to offer. We decided to stop in for coffee and dessert. The atmosphere was a bit confusing as the fancy lighting and decorations combined with the somewhat high prices ($15 to $25 a dish), clashed with a basketball game playing in the background. Also, to my disappointment, The Chase Bar & Grill lacked an espresso machine! After a couple minutes of wondering whether anyone knew we were there, we finally got served. I must say, the coffee and dessert were delicious. I had warm caramel apple pie and fresh coffee and cream - a perfect ending to my evening. As I glanced around, the other dishes looked inviting as well, although if you have an appetite, they seemed a bit small. My experience with their dessert, however, would definitely warrant another visit.

What I thought would be a difficult walk home proved otherwise. The beautiful Santa Barbara weather, good food, and great conversation were just the right recipe for a wonderful night out on the town.

Thank you Miss. Dobbs for your wonderful submission. Your boyfriend sounds like quite the gentleman :)

If you want to find a great mid-priced steakhouse in Santa Barbara that is a little under the radar, Tee-Off at 3627 State St is the place to go. Not many tourists know about it because of its off beat location and shoddy outside appearance, but inside this upper state street eatery you will find one of the premier steak houses in Santa Barbara county for its price range.

Tee-Off, unlike many steakhouses, follows a loose "golf-theme" style, complete with plaid green wallpaper and pictures of Arnold Palmer on the walls, but you don't have to be a golf fan to eat here. Whether it's the "Birdie prime rib" or their excellent selection of house martinis (which pack quite a punch), your sure to find a dish you'll enjoy. You might want to make sure before-hand that your date isn't a vegetarian, as the menu consists of mostly chicken and beef dishes (and that could definitely make for an awkward first date). All dinners come complete with a salad, soup, vegetables, and a side of mashed potato's/fries, and your sure to leave with a full stomach.

The dim lighting, small size and full bar add to the "golf-club" theme and actually add a touch of intimacy and personality into this restaurants atmosphere, making it quite a unique place to take someone out. However, its small size can also but also contribute to its long wait times. On a Friday or Saturday night, be sure to make a reservation, as this "locals-centric" steakhouse tends to get very packed quite early. Tee-Off has also raised their prices considerably in the past couple of years because of its rising popularity, but considering what most steak-houses charge in Santa Barbara for a full meal, you definitely get your money's worth. The wait staff was very courteous and attentive, and I never had to flag anyone down to get a drink, however a couple of people mentioned that the steak was a little rarer than what they asked for. All in all, Tee-Off is a wonderful place to take someone if you're looking for a small, unique, intimate setting...especially if you're trying to impress a golf-fan!

Contributing editor Andre Jordan "Sanch" Sanchez will only eat steaks while wearing plaid green golf pants

Last night, my group of friends and I visited a Santa Barbara Sushi joint called Edomasa. Located at 2710 De La Vina Street, this inconspicuous little restaurant really impressed me. From their extensive Sake list, to their many vegetarian options, it seemed this place had it covered. As soon as we walked through the door, a friendly hostess immediately greeted and showed us to a table next to a window. Unfortunately, the view was not so spectacular considering Santa Barbara's long list of beachside eateries. Nevertheless, the authentic look and feel of this restaurant made up for this.

Since Edomasa does not occupy a great amount of space, the seating area is somewhat dense and noisy. While the people next to us were wearing suits, my friends and I fit in perfectly wearing jeans and t-shirts. As with most Santa Barbara restaurants, there is no expected dress code.

As for their food, both the Sushi and the Sashimi were incredibly fresh and loaded with flavor. The menu provides a wide variety of different appetizers, rolls, entrees, and soups. All items are decently priced and some are actually lower then what you would expect for Edomasa's level of quality. The Buffalo Volcano roll is one of my personal favorites as it is pretty hard to come by. While I really enjoyed the Miso soup that came with my dinner, my girlfriend's experience with the Udon was not so positive, as it was a bit salty for her palate.

With all of that being said, my dinning experience at Edomasa was one I would like to repeat and share with others.