Order your food at the window - dishes generally cost under $10, and many go for far less. For a happy culinary encounter with this laid-back eatery with an aqua-blue exterior and a semi-open-air dining area with simple wood tables and plastic chairs, follow these steps: if at all possible, arrive around 11 am to beat the lunch-time crowds the restaurant is generally open until about 9 and is closed Wednesdays). Sometimes a terrific, affordable taqueria is just that - nothing more, and nothing less.
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Nor does it mean it deserves the backlash sometimes sent its way, a response to its larger-than-life reputation, sometimes exceedingly long lines out the door, and the blessing from Julia Child. And no, this doesn't mean it's necessarily the best taqueria in California, or even in town. Milpas St., 80), a humble Mexican restaurant along a stretch with several-such eateries on downtown's east side. Ok, let's just get this out of the way: indeed, late Santa Barbara resident and culinary doyenne Julia Child did at variously times praise La Super-Rica Taqueria (622 N. Also consider the grilled artichoke starter, and the cold-smoked duck breast and Diestel Ranch turkey steaks among the notable fowl entrees. As food goes, the aforementioned steaks are worth seeking out, especially the filet mignon (available in 5-, 8-, or 12-ounce portions). The restaurant's wine list, though it tilts heavily toward local bottles, also reveals a good number of wines from other parts of California - and there are plenty of bottles on here priced under $30. The Hitching Post is open nightly for dinner, and because of its considerably reputation, it can be tough to nab a table here on weekends - best to make reservations, which you can make online from the restaurant's website. The restaurant is also close to the Danish-style village of Solvang, with its many engaging shops and terrific tasting rooms. The steaks (as well as chicken, ribs, ostrich, and many other tender meats) are grilled over an open oak-wood fire, a cooking tradition that dates to the Spaniards who first settled the region. 101 freeway, has been renowned for both its wine list and "cornfed Midwestern beef" steaks for generations. 101 Lompoc/Solvang exit, 80), just off the U.S. Made internationally famous from its appearances in the quirky cinematic ode to Santa Barbara Pinot Noir known as Sideways, the venerable Hitching Post II restaurant in Buellton (406 E. Visit for more tips on dining and nightlife throughout the county.įor tips on where to stay in town, check out the Santa Barbara Gay Hotels Guide, and for ideas about the top attractions in the region, check out the Santa Barbara and Wine Country Gay Guide. Here's a look at some of the top bars (listed first) and also restaurants and cafes that are popular with gay travelers to Santa Barbara and the surrounding Wine Country. Santa Barbara is a superb culinary destination, a reflection of its long Mediterranean-like growing season, bounty of fresh seafood, and abundance of internationally acclaimed wineries.
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at the Four Seasons Biltmore, Canary Hotel, Post Ranch, and others), as well as the many trendy restaurants and wine bars throughout the county. Some of the most charming and atmospheric places to savor drinks are the lounges at upscale Santa Barbara hotels (e.g. For a musical night out, check the schedule of the Fratelli Men's Chorus, a gay men's chorus that performs throughout the year. A few spots have occasional LGBT nights or parties, especially during Santa Barbara's Pacific Pride Festival held in August. There aren't any specifically gay bars, but you'll see a smattering of lesbians and gay guys at most lounges and dance clubs. The region's most energetic nightlife hub is downtown, especially along or within a block of lower State Street. Still, it's a low-keyed, socially liberal part of the world, and the staff at bars and restaurants throughout the region are quite used to seeing same-sex couples. Although the county has a decent-size LGBT population, including famous residents and lesbian-and-gay faves Ellen Degeneres, Portia De Rossi, Oprah Winfrey, John Travolta, Katy Perry, Fannie Flagg, there's not really a discernible gay "scene" here, and you're not going to see the pronounced LGBT presence in Santa Barbara restaurants, bars, and hotels that you will in West Hollywood, Palm Springs, or even San Diego. Santa Barbara is very much a favorite couples destination.