California Restaurants

Seeming light years away from the hustle and bustle of the collegiate/tourist-filled South State Street is an unsuspecting Cal-French local favorite: Downey’s. For 25 years, Owner and Chef John Downey has managed to sustain rave accolades amidst a completely unlikely environment. Yes, the esteemed apex of Santa Barbara restaurant folklore is all but hidden in secluded Mid-Town State Street. More surprising is that once inside, Downey’s is completely void of aesthetic trickery to the point of intrigue. It is evident: John Downey is from the school of substance over style.

Located in scenic downtown Santa Barbara, Bouchon brings the best of the Wine Country to the table. The vine crusted exterior welcomes guests into the heart of Santa Barbara countryside. The seasonal menu features a selection of meat entrees with suggested wine pairings. Aside from the chicken, lamb, and fish options, the Grilled Wagyu New York Steak, served with Roasted Fingerling Potatoes, Braised Black Kale, Wild Arugula and Lemon Vinaigrette, and Parsley-Caper Coulis tops the favorite’s list. The restaurant’s “Wine Country Cuisine” approach to the menu is evident throughout the food and beverage list. The ingredients featured are locally sourced, …

Located in an early twentieth-century building in the historic El Paseo complex, The Wine Cask offers a dramatic and charming atmosphere with high ceilings, wide windows, and a large fireplace in the dining room. Known for imaginative dishes loaded with luxury regional ingredients, the Wine Cask offers a select menu of decadent dishes, such as Miso Broiled Black Cod with Japanese eggplant, shiitake mushrooms, pickled carrots and star anise broth, and Truffled Potato Gnocchi with butternut squash, porcini mushrooms, baby gold beets and truffle butter sauce.