••• Mike Sheldon, proprietor of the forthcoming Local on Coast Village Road, invited me over for a chat and a tour. (Perhaps he was tired of my peeping through the windows.) What I learned: the former Khao Kaeng space will be given over entirely to the kitchen; the space across the courtyard will have a large octagonal bar and tables; and there will be a lot of tables outside. The chef is a vet of Sear in Solvang, and the menu will be 60 percent seafood (including a raw bar). Local is shooting to open in March.
••• What I forgot to ask about: Belching Dragon Tavern, coming to the former Starbucks space at State and De La Guerra. So I emailed Sheldon later, and he replied, “It’s behind Local in timeline (mostly permitting delays). Gastropub with local beers and wines, full craft cocktail bar, gourmet pub menu (raw bar, charcuterie, a mean beef stew, etc). Large TVs, arcade, and bar games. I’d say Memorial Day–ish time frame.”
••• La Lieff Wines is opening a tasting room at 210 Gray Avenue (next to Mollusk) in the Funk Zone.
••• A profile of Ojai’s Messermeister knife company. —Independent
••• The new Dune Coffee Roasters in Goleta has opened; it’s on Calle Real, near Zodo’s. Hours are 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. for now.
••• Now open in Los Olivos: Lefty’s Coffee Co., with baked goods by Gipsy Hill Bakery.
••• Root beer float–flavored milk: yes or no? If you’re a yes, you can find it at Bristol Farms.
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Glad to hear that Local will have a raw bar. I’ve been hoping for somebody to offer nice seafood in a contemporary atmosphere outside of the waterfront area.