Restaurants in Carpinteria, California
Fine Dining in a Casual Southern Santa Barbara County Beach Town
Dec 31, 2008
Pretty, tree-lined Linden Avenue is Carpinteria's "Main Street." At one end is a great, wide beach with plenty of parking. It has long been famous for a funky burger joint, "The Spot", put on the culinary map by the late Julia Child.
Then there's The Palms, the oldest (since 1905) dinner house in town, where patrons can cook their own steaks.
But in the last two years, a trio of exciting new restaurants, two of which have opened in 2008, have made Linden Avenue an upscale dining destination.
Corktree Cellars, 910 Linden Avenue, 805-684-1400
Corktree Cellars is a hip and stylish wine bar and bistro that opened in April, 2008. The "flights of wine" offering is three samplings of different wines, many from the Central Coast of California. If you like what you had, you can buy a bottle to take home.
Aside from tapas and light fare, it has a full and varied restaurant menu. Notable items include lobster panini, white truffle macaroni and cheese, flatiron steak and chocolate lava cake. Prices, while not inexpensive, are reasonable. Service is friendly and the vibe is laid back.
Seating is on comfortable, cushioned dark wood banquettes or tables that are close to one another, so expect a Manhattan-type restaurant experience on busy weekend nights.
Sly's, 686 Linden Avenue, 805-684-6666
Only a few blocks from the beach, this handsomely remodeled yellow brick building is now a nostalgic retro-continental seafood and steak house.
A chef for forty years, owner James Sly opened his own place after becoming well known in the foodie world for running and manning the stoves at Lucky's, a celebrity hangout in posh Montecito, about four miles north of (but a world away from) cool and casual Carpinteria.
Locals like to take out-of-town guests here to show off and smooth off at the full service bar with a "shaken, not stirred" vintage cocktail, the kind their parents enjoyed (Side Cars and White Ladies). None of the drinks use prepared mixes; all are made from fresh squeezed juices.
It's open for lunch and dinner as well as weekend brunch. The menu is huge. Besides hand cut steak and fresh fish (Dover sole, abalone and mixed seafood "towers"), there are Blue Plate Specials served daily until they're out, including Saturday's luscious slow-braised short ribs. One thing: sides cost extra.
Giannfranco's Trattoria, 666 Linden Avenue, 805-684-0720
Right next door to Sly's is the redbrick trattoria that started Carpinteria's upscale culinary journey in February 2007.
Because they only take reservations for parties of six or more, this intimate eatery is consistently packed and hour-long waits are not uncommon. Once you do sit down, however, the family atmosphere is warm and infectiously welcoming. Patrons are cosseted with Italian comfort food at the outset - warm homemade bread (that keeps coming) to dip in garlic olive oil.
If you don't fill up on the bread, start with steamed black mussels and Manila clams in a saffron sauce or chopped salad. There's plenty of seafood and pasta dishes (but no pizza), but chef Giovanni Sherwyn does a mean Bistecca alla Fiorentina, or boneless rib-eye with fresh herbs and spinach.
Few are able to resist the confections on the dessert tray - artistic and photo-worthy delights that also taste heavenly - cannoli, strawberry roulades, fruit tartes and mousses, made by a private caterer.
If possible, ask for a cozy window seat facing the street, or on warm days or nights, sit in the tree-shaded back patio.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
