••• The Ellwood at Goleta Beach Park is preparing to open on January 20; the dinner menu is below. “We’re opening with dinner service (served family-style) at the start, until the team is ready to take on lunch/brunch and happy hour, which will all have unique menus,” says co-owner Omar Khashen. “The menu will be very ingredient driven so some of these items will change with the seasons.” And Restaurant Guy has an interview with Khashen and another co-owner, Brian Escalera, which includes this: “We are going to rebuild that shack. We’ll have three concepts in total: the Ellwood, which is meant to be more of a special, celebratory space where you come here for date night or a birthday or just a night out on the town. ‘The Coop’ [short for Ellwood Cooper] will be the replacement for the snack shack that was there before. That will be operating in the morning. We’ll do donuts and coffee out of there. It’ll have a sandwich menu in the afternoon, sandwiches and salads. We hope to open it within a few months. And we’ll have The Break,” as the event space is being called.
••• The Linden Square development in Carpinteria announced that it’ll be opening “during spring break,” but I’m not sure whether that includes any of the restaurants (Bettina offshoot Tina’s Pizza, Mexican food from Corazón Cocina’s Ramon Velazquez, an outpost of Third Window Brewing, and Dart Coffee).
••• Throwing this one out to the crowd: “What’s a great restaurant for a kids’ birthday dinner that adults would enjoy also?” asks J. “Originally I thought Stella Mare, but alas it’s closed now.” UPDATE: Some good suggestions from Rachel: “Third Window (smash burgers and milkshakes, beer and wine for grown ups)…. Lucky Penny…. New Lama Dog…. Brass Bear (either location).” UPDATE: And more from Dawn: “Brophy’s, Secret Bao, The Lark, and L’Antica.”
••• A report from D. on Montecito Gourmet, previously the Village Cheese & Wine shop: “The new layout looks terrific. The owner said they just got approval to serve beer/wine until 11 p.m. (although I don’t know their actual hours), so in the first couple weeks of January, they will begin an evening offering with wine and draught beer, charcuterie boards, and flatbreads.”
••• The Jeannine’s outpost on upper State Street is temporarily closed, but there’s no explanation as to why or how long. UPDATE: Apparently, it’s closed till spring for “a fresh new look” and “we’ll be transforming it into a full bakery.”
••• The Independent profiled La Cantina (here) and Santa Playa Mariscos (here).
••• Overwhelmed by the many new restaurants that have opened of late, I’ve been making a push to visit them and also the ones that have been on my list for too long—such as the Breakwater Restaurant at the Harbor, which Dudley Michael and Grace Austin of The Shop, Wingman Rodeo, and the Rodeo Room took over a few months ago. Dismissing it as a diner, I had never been, so I can’t compare it to how it used to be. But I was impressed on two recent visits, first for lunch and then for breakfast. There’s nowhere to hide with this kind of food: the ingredients have to be quality and the preparation thoughtful. The tuna melt and burger at lunch were classic versions of each sandwich, and the fries were hot and crispy. As for breakfast, I’ve had quite a few crappy breakfasts at Santa Barbara restaurants that claim to specialize in the meal, but this was the real deal: gorgeous eggs perfectly cooked over medium, four slices of thick bacon, hot and crispy home fries, warm sourdough toast, and homemade strawberry preserves. A friend who goes to the Breakwater often has bemoaned the prices, which are definitely high for a diner. Personally, I thought my $20 was well spent on breakfast there, considering the food, the harbor view, and the warm, attentive service. And I’m excited to return for the Tuesday deal on fish tacos. Two caveats: inside is pretty tired, and there’s no heat outside, so dress warm.
After I wrote all that, and have been sitting on it since the last food roundup, J. got word that the Breakwater will be closing for a renovation. Owners Michael and Austin said that the goal, depending on permit stuff, is a short remodel period from February to April, reopening by May. “We will be keeping all our current staff. Branding details are in the works, but it will become the waterfront restaurant we all deserve.”
················
Sign up for the Siteline email newsletter for the freshest food news in town.
Kid birthday dinner spots: Third Window (smash burgers and milkshakes – beer and wine for grown ups)…. Lucky penny…. New Lama Dog…. Brass Bear (either location)
Thank you !
Depending on age and the food they enjoy, Brophy’s, Secret Bao, The Lark, and L’Antica are great for a kids birthday parents will also enjoy.
Hey ELLWOOD, some people (like me) do not like to share. What’s up???
Been waiting years for you to open and this dinner menu is a diappointment.
Agreed, unfortunately I don’t think that menu is going to draw as many patrons as a more standard offering with some traditional choices (a great burger and fries or fish tacos by the ocean?) where each person can get what they want. I’m disappointed too, and honestly don’t see this menu as something my Goleta family would be interested to try. Maybe they’re trying to be a high-end restaurant, but it’s Goleta Beach, and they’re going to miss a ton of the local crowd I think. I hope it changes over time.
Yeah Ellwood, I agree. That menu is kinda whale shit if you ask me…
Thanks for the feedback. For clarity, this is only part of the dinner menu. Our lunch / brunch menus are all more traditional individual entree based. We also have several options for solo diners or guests that want their own plates. These will be listed on our bar menu. There’s a great burger, a sea bass dish, and a steak frites for example.
Our team spent a lot of time creating a menu we love, and shared plates we feel is the best way to enjoy it so guests can try several things. Our goal is to have something for everyone, and specifically there are two additional concepts opening adjacent to the Ellwood (The Break & The Coop) that will feature more family friendly options for dining when we ware fully open. Wood fire pizzas, bbq, sandwiches, salads, ice cream, coffee, and donuts.
I know those of us at UCSB would love a great post-work spot that is elevated beyond IV standards but not so expensive that us poorly paid UCSB staff can’t afford. There’s a lot of potential if you market to campus. Looking forward to checking it out.
Hey Omar,
I think you can tell from just these initial comments that old school Goleta is not looking for “elevated” dining. We are all missing the Beachside and the Sundowner specials and the great, affordable seafood dinners we all enjoyed with our families for years. Unfortunately this menu you’ve presented won’t work for this community. Please consider a menu that’s more reasonable and accessible for this community. Everyone misses the Beachside so take that as a hint.
I’m looking forward to coming and appreciate the elevated menu. I live in Goleta, and 3rd generation local. It’s not what I expected, but it looks delicious and Goleta can use a higher end dinner option!
What is up with the Elwood menu? It looks bad, not sure if that’s going to work but wish them luck.
I’m a regular user of the harbor and have been going to the Breakwater for close to 40 years. Most always for breakfast and it was always good, never really great but the prices were also very affordable. It was solid breakfast, like Esau’s or the now closed Judge for Yourself. So back in October, with three friends we went to the new Breakwater to check it out. I ordered CA Benedict, it came with a heirloom tomato and avocado. As soon as I cut the egg I knew this was different. The yokes were a deep orange color, and the combination of them with the hollandaise sauce with the tomato & avo. . . . Wow. I looked a my friends plates, one had an omelet, another a scramble and the third the same thing Erik got. All were orange. By the end of the meal they were using their toast to clean their plates. (Jam was homemade) We all agreed it was one of the best breakfasts we’ve had. The potatoes were another improvement. Not sure what spices they are using but I mixed them with the yokes and that was awesome. And I absolutely understand the regulars that don’t like the upgrades and higher prices. I paid $24 yesterday for my favorite Eggs CA Benedict, yes it’s a lot but each bite was so good. If there was one change I didn’t like is the awning over the patio. It can be cold and having the umbrellas let some warming sunshine in. Lastly, I had lunch there in November and had the fish tacos. My review is they were as good as the ones at Shoreline Cafe, maybe better because the fries were amazing.
Disappointed that if we want an individual meal we will have to eat at the snack shack. Was hoping to enjoy the restaurant but both interviews stress family dining. Their website isn’t complete and no additional menus are available :(
It would be great if everyone could bear in mind that The Ellwood is weeks out from opening, so judging it is premature, to say the least. Also, persuading restaurateurs to release a menu is not always easy, so when people immediately carp about it, the owners’ day gets ruined and my job gets harder. Opening a restaurant anywhere, but especially in Santa Barbara, is insanely difficult. Let’s support people with the guts to do it, and if the restaurant turns out not to be for you, maybe just quietly move on.
Sorry Erik, it was posted as “the dinner menu” and not as “may change in the weeks to come.” We have been countless times to dine at Goleta Beach, have taken friends, family, and business associates there, and would be thrilled and excited to support a new restaurant if the menu felt more traditional/accessible. I would have thought that feedback from the local community before opening could be valuable to the new proprietors (apparently it might have been, since they posted additional details about their plans and menus). Instead, for now I will quietly move on and they will not get my business until their additional menus are available — I sincerely wish the Ellwood success. With such a long lead-up time to opening, I just wonder if they put thought into what will bring sustainable numbers of diners into a new Goleta Beach restaurant, not just what and how they want to serve their food?
I agree with you. The menu looks fantastic with some really yummy options but I’m having a hard time envisioning going there for dinner with my husband. We have totally different diets (I’m vegetarian, he’s not, etc.) so ordering seems complicated and like we’d end up taking a lot of food home due to overordering to accommodate both of us. I’d really love for this place to be a success so I think it’s worth the owners hearing these thoughts, though of course delivered with civility.
We are so happy the Ellwood is about to open. We loved the Beachside and went there almost weekly. Please add a local menu with burgers and fries and vegan burgers and fries. Good luck and welcome to Goleta!
I realize that people want a cheap eats kind of place. Fish ‘n fries in plastic basket. But don’t we have enough of these? I don’t think we have a finer dining establishment right on the beach. (And they are building out a casual option). However, I personally think Ellwood should focus a bit more seafood, like they initially mentioned. To me, the menu looks tilted toward red meat + chicken. Given the location and steak prices so high, it might benefit to rethink that. But of course I don’t know the first thing about running a place like this nor what customers actually want! Personally, when eating by the ocean, I think of seafood. I remember years ago going to Beachside and eating some incredible fish. And it was kind of fun and even magical eating it with the waves crashing just outside. The mood and setting to me suggests to focus on the sea and not to fight, well, the tide…
It’s fine and understandable to have a steak or burger on a seafood menu (my daughter for instance sadly won’t eat fish any longer) but the vibe IMO should be ocean oriented. It’s also perceived as a healthier option. Certainly it’s less heavy and leaves room for appetizers, salads and desserts.
Thanks for posting the menu online. I hope the comments above help but they are pretty random and some people can’t seem to state their opinion without adding a few barbs. Ignore those, they are not your people. I think the community will give the Elwood a try. Maybe add some innovative type of fish tacos to appease some of the cranky people? Not sure if I saw ceviche on the menu. Also, a Bouillabaisse and/or Cioppino would be really cool.
Let’s see how the restaurant holds up after some big storms and storm surges. Not sure I would sink so much money into a restaurant so close to the beach.