••• I’m obsessed with the new bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich at Wexler’s Deli for reasons I’ll go into next time I do a roundup of my favorite dishes in town. In the meantime, go try it! I like it without the “bodega sauce,” but then I’m a purist about this kind of thing.
••• The Saturday farmers’ market will move to the intersection of State and Carrillo starting September 28, says the city, and not September 7 as previously reported. The current location is the site of a new police headquarters.
••• Ojai’s Pinyon is working on an outpost in Ventura, exact location TBA.
••• I hear that Shake Shack’s plan for a Funk Zone location fell through. It could still happen, of course. I can see why the company might want to be in the neighborhood, but what a boon if it came to State Street instead.
••• The San Ysidro Ranch’s Speakeasy has expanded its food menu beyond caviar.
••• Tamar is now open seven days a week.
••• Now that Na Na Thai has shifted its hours to Tuesday through Saturday, you really have no excuse.
••• The Pickles & Swiss outpost at Hollister Village Plaza (the one with Smart & Final) in Goleta has closed, and Restaurant Guy says it’s reopening in the Target shopping center. Takashi Ramen will take its place.
••• The Eddy tracked down the 4% salé (salted) version of Bordier cultured butter that my husband and I loved in Paris, and we went and bought four of the five bars that came in. Sorry not sorry. The shop is hoping to get more in its next shipment, and we are unlikely to buy them all up next time, since I have been informed that the butter is to be reserved for special occasions.
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I’m perplexed by all of the love for Wexler’s. One of the worst sandwiches I’ve had in a while. Boring flavors and a “toasted bagel” that had clearly been toasted hours before (it was cold and dry). And then there’s the price! Now…one could assume that my taste in sandwiches is flawed. Perhaps I’m a fan of Subway. Not at all. Deli Board in San Francisco is my benchmark (not that I’m all that well traveled when it comes to sandwiches, but it’s my gold standard). I consider South Coast and Three Pickles locally to be average or slightly above average, and both were considerably better than Wexler’s. I often hit up Ike’s and am never disappointed. Did I really hit Wexler’s on a bad day (sandwiches aren’t that difficult)? Do I need to give them another shot? Or is there a bit of “caught up in the hype” going on here?
I also do not at all understand the love for Wexler’s. I’ve gone twice, my pastrami was served cold on untoasted bread the first time. The second time I was equally disappointed with my order. Norton’s is head and shoulders above Wexler’s, but in my recent stops in the public market I have seen very few people in line for them during some busier hours, so maybe everyone is finally catching on to the fact that Wexler’s just isn’t it.
Shack Shack on State St. would be great, but they, along with many other national tenants, won’t come to a street closed to vehicles and a very uncertain plan for the future.
I miss SYR’s Plow & Angel where you could get a real meal and not just expensive appetizers that don’t sound all that appealing. And as aside, have you ever sat in more uncomfortable dining chairs? All the restaurants there have them which is a reason we don’t visit as often.
You said it! Why are the chairs at SYR the most uncomfortable chairs of any restaurant I’ve ever been to? The Plow & Angel was Montecito at its best. The Speak Easy, with its tacky interior and costumed servers is strictly for tourist. We stopped going.
I will never stop being bitter about what they did to the Plow and Angel. It’s a travesty!
I couldn’t agree more. That space has natural beauty and requires restraint—no adornment needed. It was perfect before—like a little European hideaway right in our midst. They’ve overdressed it with tacky clothes and too much drugstore makeup. What a pity…
Also, has anyone noticed that the service is very poor at the Stonehouse?
Shake Shack is so meh. Better options exist.
Had time to stop for a YETZ’S bagel on Monday am- had a toasted evertything with chive schmear…..Delicious! Bought a 6 pack to freeze based on the delicious bagel I had! I never thought these words would come out of my mouth, but there was too much cream cheese- oozing out every bite!
NOT impressed by YETZ’s Bagels. 2 plain bagels with cream cheese- hard on outside, not soft on inside Even IV Bagel Cafe is so much better
Enjoy that Bordier any time, Erik. Life is too short and that butter is too good! Just leave a few more bars for the rest of us next time.????
If the Eddy runs out, Oat at the Montecito Country Mart also carries it :)
Totally agree! Quality butter makes life better every day.
Not at all liking the Saturday FM move to State St. Several of the farmers I have spoken with agree. Can’t believe there wasn’t another city parking lot or open space that the market could have moved to.
So… What are they filming at Bellosquardo this week? Way to much equipment for an event.