December 14, 2025
Tag: Merci
The End of the Isla Vista Food Coop Downtown Market
More food news: The Grand on State update; status of the Chick-fil-A in Noleta; The Copper Coffee Pot has opened; Ghirardelli debuts next weekend; owners of The Harbor Restaurant are suing the city; "jet set après ski dining experience" coming to town; Himalayan Kitchen closed for maintenance; Pacific Pickle Works profile; Merci's chocolate caramels. 1
November 18, 2025
April 29, 2025
Ospi Opens This Weekend at The Post
More food news: The name of Aperitivo's pasta-centric spinoff; new forecast for Little Mountain in the Upper Village; what's next for the old Angel Oak space at the Ritz-Carlton Bacara; new tenant of the former Flightline Restaurant near the airport; Merci will be takeout only for a short period; Revolver is now serving lunch; the correct debut date for Highly Likely in Ojai; Amada Cellars opened a tasting room in Los Alamos. 7
April 2, 2025
Mediterranean Restaurant to Open on De La Guerra Plaza
More food news: Merci is gearing up to launch bistro-style dinner service; Haas’s Fine Ice Cream has opened; the Goleta outpost of Kyle’s Kitchen appears to be in flux; Japanese food-and-sake show; Thai-Chinese collaboration at Na Na Thai; Lucky's plans to open two more locations; Summerland Winery is shutting down. 6
October 30, 2024
August 21, 2024
Alma Fonda Fina Is Finally Close to Opening
More food news: Merci has introduced table service; Saint Bibiana won't be coming to the Funk Zone; the Nugget's forthcoming Carpinteria outpost has expanded; profiles of Gipsy Hill Bakery and the Tyler x Lieu Dit tasting room; Santa Barbara County Farm Day; Paseo Nuevo crêperie; the new aperitif from Municipal Winemakers. 4
July 20, 2024
The Palace Grill Is Closing After 39 Years
More food news: Old Town Coffee and Buena Onda have left Mosaic Locale; Poke House has opened; changes could be coming to the Breakwater Restaurant at the harbor; new food options at the Tyler x Lieu Dit tasting room; more on the upgrading of Moby Dick; Intermezzo launched Sunday brunch; the city keeps jerking around The Daisy. 13
April 3, 2024
The Next Tenant of the Metropulos Building
More food news: Third Window is now serving burgers all week long; Petra Cafe has soft-opened in the former Foxtail space; praise for Merci's new falafel sandwich; the problematic plastic packaging of produce; Moby Dick is getting an oyster bar; a stylish revamp of Pali Wine Co.'s Funk Zone tasting room. 20
December 10, 2023
Two New Restaurant Spaces Proposed in the Funk Zone
More food news: Uptown Lounge is reopening; another reprieve for Stella Mare’s; Finney’s Crafthouse is coming to Goleta; Santa Paula restaurant opening on State Street; rumored tenant next to the Public Market; Sunstone Winery pop-up; reader question about Jewish food for Hanukkah. 16
December 8, 2023
















Recent Comments
Does the Après Ski party include a lift ticket? — Heidi Smith
Bravo, Music Academy of the West! — Deborah David
Santa Barbara Museum of Art gift shop has moved upstairs. Still a great place to shop with lots of Impressionist merchandise to match the GREAT… — LG
This is the box outside of Ca’ Dario at the corner of Anacapa and Victoria. — Mike
Renaming the post office and spending $500 k to do it. Is another great example tax payers money being wasted. — Dan Kolodziejski
Hallelujah! The return of that Southbound on-ramp is long overdue — Tammy
You've done a great thing for the hapless men of Santa Barbara with this series. Stopping by half of these stores. — Andy
The post office renaming will cost roughly $500,000 paid for by the USPS internal funds from stamps and fees. — Derek
Thank you, Erik, for reminding your readers to support local businesses; it is one of the critical ways to help our communities thrive. (I laughed… — Pat
I agree about the skimpy wine pour. However, we loved the shared entrees (chicken and salmon) with their special rice. Yes there were leftovers but… — ElizabethW