Bite Me!

Santa Barabara Eateries

Over the years, we have often ended up at an Italian-style restaurants in Santa Barbara. I like to think of them as "Calitalian" and here are a few of our favorites and some we haven't even been to .....

Olio Pizzeria & Enoteca

Great ambiance and not too noisy. We had the cheese/meat platter (not the chef's choice, otherwise you'll get the staples that Italians think Americans will like ). I remember a nice truffle honey and a fig spread on the side.

The pizza crust was near perfect - we were with friends so we shared two pizzas and I recall the anchovies on the napoletana being particularly good.

Not your average pizza joint ....

Check out their website here.

Olio E Limone - sister restaurant to the Enoteca.

From Zagat: "Rich, earthy Sicilian dishes crafted from the freshest ingredients are supported by a superb wine list at this top-notch Santa Barbara Italian set in exceedingly pleasant – if tiny – quarters; even though service can be a smidge pretentious, it’s a favorite in the area and always packed accordingly."

Check out their website here.

Bouchon

In the review of "The Hungry Cat" further down in this post, I make mention of the Santa Barbara Farmers Market. Every Tuesday afternoon, Chef Greg Murphy of Bouchon, leads an informative "foodie stroll" of the Santa Barbara Certified Farmers Market - followed by dinner at his restaurant.This sounds like a great way to spend the Tuesday we'll be there.

Guests rendezvous with Chef at the corner of State and Ortega and tour the Farmer's Market, selecting ingredients with Chef’s assistance. Once back at Bouchon, owner Mitchell Sjerven or Manager Sommelier John Loewen pair local wines to accompany your menu so you can relax and enjoy an evening of Wine Country Cuisine on the American Riviera. Market Tour and three-course dinner with wine is $75/per person, limited to 8 guests. Call (805) 730-1160 for reservations.

Check out their website here.

Intermezzo Bar and Café

Check out their website here.

Cielito Restaurant
 

Check out their website here.

The Hungry Cat

Fred, Ethel and even Ilene are not big fish eaters, so I don't normally associate fish with cats. Fortunately, I make up for both of them and haven't met a bucket of crustaceans that I haven't liked.

Crabs, glorious crabs!

Check out their website here.

This blog is written by Chef Kimberly Fujitaki of the Hungry Cat. By the time you've read about the Santa Barbara Farmer's Market and looked at some of the great pictures of what she does with produce, this place will be on your 'must eat there' list.