••• The Harbor Restaurant on Stearns Wharf is reopening next Wednesday, September 25. Here’s the dinner menu. (Above: steak tartare.)
••• The Good Lion Hospitality cocktail bar coming to the former Coast & Olive space at the Montecito Inn has a name: Lion’s Tale. (Sorry to all those voting for The Good Cougar.) Look for it to debut this fall with “a curated menu of delicious bites” from the Sama Sama folks.
••• Good news from the restaurant coming to the old Montecito Wine Bistro space in the Upper Village: it finally got permits from the building department and can start construction.
••• Santa Playa Mariscos at 1230 State Street (Anapamu/Victoria) is getting very close, soft-opening a few days this week in preparation for a grand opening, date to be announced. No word yet on when Yona Redz will open next door.
••• And Happy Cat Eats, next to Oku, is telling people it’s shooting for an October 1 opening. The menu—snack bar classics with an occasional international flourish—is online now.
••• Ojai’s Sanders & Sons gelato shop is closing September 30, reports @805Foodie, but the gelato will “still be available for events and other special orders.”
••• The Sweet Wheel Farms farmstand in Summerland has moved from next to the gas station to the terrace at the Farm to Paper shop, two doors to the east.
················
Sign up for the Siteline email newsletter for the freshest food news in town.
Jeeze Happy Cat looks like a gut bomb
Agreed, this menu is perfect for Isla Vista. Not at all what I expect from the Oku people.
Been excited and waiting for years. Looking at that menu I expect we will see many tourists and a gift shop selling key chains and T-shirts.
Am I the only one that’s wondering what the people behind the harbor restaurant are thinking.? What is the deal with that menu and the prices.
Seriously?
Foodie
After hearing the Harbor was reopening, I Googled for the menu. What I got must be the old menu with a great selection of entrees and reasonable prices. From what I see here on Siteline we shall not be going. What a shame that another SB historic establishment has been lost to the elites. I hope they remove that old menu or they are going to have some shocked patrons on arrival.
Totally agree! Absurd. I will not be going there.
The $72 12oz ribeye seems especially egregious, but top to bottom that menu is overpriced. Those are special occasion price points, at a place that seems pretty mid market.
Too bad they no longer offer the grilled local halibut! It was their best item!
Has anybody ever seen a bowl of chowder for $19??
WARNING – DO NOT DINE AT THIS “NEW & IMPROVED” RESTAURANT unless, you don’t care about how much you’re paying for a dining experience in which your orders are taken an hour plus after your arrival, and be sure to memorize it, since you may be quizzed by another sever later in the evening after your first order went MIA. Beverages are delivered at a snails pace, AND you only get one, so order wisely and in large quantities unless you’re part camel. Be sure to locate the nearest water carafe’s to refill your own table water, oh, and you should bring your own spoon if you plan to order soup, just incase, since utensils seem to be in short supply. When your food does finally arrive (2 hours in to your experience) be sure to inspect quickly and thoroughly, voice any issues/concerns immediately to your server, you may not see them again. Also, be prepared to eat in front of your table mates, they most likely will not get their food at the same time, IF it ever arrives. Don’t expect any apologies from management/ownership, this is how they roll…. Can’t comment on dessert, it was bedtime for me by the time I finally finished picking at my incomplete meal, but I can assure you this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience I hope to never repeat. Too many other GREAT local restaurants I’m happy to patronize.