Santa Barbara's Fall Restaurant Openings Are Mostly in Rooms You Already Know

Inside Hotel Californian at 36 State St., the room that used to be Blackbird now serves fish and chips and steak frites under an Alfred Hitchcock theme. The new concept is The Knock Kitchen + Cocktails, a coastal gastropub with cocktails and shareable plates, and the Santa Barbara Independent reported it open by mid-August.

Much of this fall's food news in Santa Barbara looks like that. The new names are moving into dining rooms people already know. Some share a roof with a business that's already running, and a few are reopenings or moves. If you can remember what used to be at an address, you can usually find what's opening there now.

The old name on the door

Here is this fall's map, sorted by the name most people still use for each place.

Each row changes something different. At 318 N. Milpas St., Los Altos closed in February, and Wella's Soul Food and Barbeque held its grand opening there on Aug. 16. Edhat reports that the family-owned spot reopened in September after a short closure. It now runs Thursday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., with a rotating menu. Expect fried chicken, fried fish, mac and cheese, cupcakes and a "Soul Glow" Kool-Aid. The menu changes from visit to visit, so it's worth going back more than once.

Up in Montecito's Upper Village, the old Via Vai space reopened in mid-August as Ancora Osteria. The chef is Luca Crestanelli of S.Y. Kitchen, and the menu covers Italian pastas, pizzas, salads, fish and pork, according to Noozhawk.

A room inside a room

Several of this fall's openings share a roof or a block with a business that was already running.

At The Post, 1801 E. Cabrillo Blvd., Vic's Wine Bar now runs inside Little King Coffee. Siteline noted the opening in mid-August. The Independent's September profile says co-owners Aleah Schepps Elisara and Ethan Elisara pour mostly organic and natural wines, plus beers from Third Window and ciders. The menu includes an Auntie Vic's sausage roll, a Central Coast cheeseboard and a tinned fish plate, and the bar is open Friday through Sunday from 5 to 9 p.m. The coffee shop runs by day and the wine bar takes over on weekend evenings.

In the Funk Zone, The Mullet opened at 116 Santa Barbara St., behind Lama Dog Tap Room. Founder Pete Burnham built it around themed cocktails, wine, beer, nonalcoholic drinks, vinyl records and DJs. For food, you can order from The Nook, per Noozhawk's late-August report. So one night out there can involve three businesses on the same block.

Paseo Nuevo got a similar pair. Sweetaly Gelato opened in the plaza on Aug. 1. The family-owned shop, owned by Francesco Amendola, serves Italian-style gelato and sorbetti, the News-Press reported. Next door at 801 State St., across from Plaza de la Guerra, Milio's Pizza was set to open Aug. 14 with New York round pies, slices, Sicilian squares, soft serve and mini garlic focaccia bites. Noozhawk reported that partners Kamil Jumale and Miles Robbins make their dough with water from New York and plan specials built on what they find at the weekly farmers market. Pizza at the corner and gelato in the plaza make an easy downtown evening.

Returns and relocations

Two more changes on the map are a reopening and a move.

On Santa Barbara City College's Cliff Campus, the JSB Café reopened in early October next to the John Dunn Gourmet Dining Room. It had been closed since the COVID era. Students run it as a training café under Chef Roberto Lopez Carrillo, serving soups, salads, sandwiches, burgers and pizza on Fridays, according to the Independent and KEYT. It's a familiar spot back in service, with lunch made by future restaurant cooks.

Satellite went the other way. Its State Street location at 1117 State St. closed Sept. 13. Its wine webshop, wine club, tastings and music events moved to The Factory at 616 E. Haley St., Siteline reported. The storefront closed, but the club and events continue a few blocks east.

Bombay Station 734 at 734 State St. is also a new opening from familiar hands. Brothers Ninder Josan and Kuldeep Singh, who helm Apna Indian Kitchen, have opened an all-day Indian restaurant with chef Balaji Murali Shanker, serving Bombay street food and traditional dishes from breakfast through early dinner, with specialty coffee and chai. The ribbon-cutting was Sept. 19, the Independent reported. Chai and a breakfast plate on State Street before 9 a.m. is new for that block.

What's next, and which rooms are still dark

The next round of openings also leans on familiar addresses, and each one is at a different stage.

1. Esther, 1213 State St. Beau's sister restaurant is going into the former Bibi Ji space, and the remodel began in early October. Siteline quoted the plan for "a breakfast and espresso house with a supper club on Friday and Saturday evenings." Daily hours are planned for 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., plus 5 to 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. No opening date has been announced.
2. 15 E. Cabrillo Blvd. Secret Bao owners Peter Lee and Felicia Medina signed a lease on the former Bluewater Grill building in September. A liquor-license application lists the name "Alder." Siteline reported in October that the concept and the opening date haven't been announced.
3. Gelato Gardens, 1 Garden St. The stone building at Garden Street and Cabrillo Boulevard was slated to become a gelato shop in September. Owner Omar Khashen is also involved with The Ellwood at Goleta Beach. His plan includes coffee, fresh flowers, grab-and-go items and Santa Barbara merchandise, per Noozhawk.
4. PopUp Bagels, 3925 State St., Suite B. The Five Points Shopping Center location was announced for a mid-fall opening, with no date set, the News-Press reported.
5. State of Mind Cafe, 918 State St. This nonprofit café is built around accessibility and plans to employ people with disabilities. It will serve Welcome Coffee and Mo's To-Go pastries and show local art. Founder and executive director Rebecca Benozare told Noozhawk the team was aiming to open this winter.
6. Bogavante, Los Patos Way. The Mexican seafood restaurant from Alejandro Marin's Muy Salsa Hospitality group is restoring the former Stella Mare's Bistro building. Marin told Siteline that "the custom hearth grill that the whole kitchen is built around is done and waiting." He said construction would resume this fall, with an opening aimed at early 2027.

Planning around the hours

Several of these places keep limited hours, so check the day before you go.

• Thursday lunch: Wella's opens at 11 a.m., and Thursday is the first of its four days.
• Friday lunch near the Mesa: The JSB Café makes pizza on Fridays.
• Friday through Sunday, 5 to 9 p.m.: Vic's Wine Bar is open at The Post.
• Any morning: Bombay Station 734 serves from breakfast on, with chai.
• Late night in the Funk Zone: The Mullet for drinks, with food from The Nook.

One date to save is Saturday, Nov. 7. The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History is holding its first Santa Barbara Fall Tasting Festival that day. Tickets run $125 to $165, and the lineup includes Pali Wine Co., Sandhi Wines, Third Window Brewing, Island Brewing, Marisella, Bistro Amasa and Convivio, Siteline reported.

Guests at our vacation rentals usually ask where to eat on their first night, so we keep a running list as new places open. If you'd like the current version, with the weekend-only spots marked, reach out to Samantha Ireland and we'll send it. Let's Connect.