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1900 Lasuen Road, Santa Barbara, California, United States
of people enjoy staying here
2 Opinions
We arrived at the El Encanto Hotel early so went out on the patio of the restaurant off the main lobby and ordered drinks.The views over Santa Barbara, the California Riviera were spectacular. There are also nice views of the lush manicured grounds of this peaceful resort .Next time we stay here I will be sure to arrive early again !
The restaurant is on the El Encanto hotel grounds in the hills above Santa Barbara. There is both indoor and patio seating, and hardly a seat without an ocean view.
The decor is elegant and understated, the waiters were flawless, and the food wasn't too bad.
The one disapointment was the shrimp bisque - a bowl of it had two small, overcooked shrimps in it. But the meal improved steadily throughout; two seafood entrees were tasty and well presented. Dessert was a pleasant surprise. Now, mind you, I don't consider any dessert to be properly prepared if it doesn't have chocolate in it, but their meringue concoction was superb.
NB: lunch is a better bet than dinner for the ocean view - it often gets overcast in late afternoon in SB.
Can anyone recommend a good restaurant in Santa Barbara, one with a view of the ocean? I understand there is a pier in Santa Monica, are there any restaurants there, or just shops. Thanks.
Brown Pelican (on beach)
http://www.santabarbara.com/dining/a_stones_throw/brown_pelican/
Brophy Bros (on pier)
http://www.santabarbara.com/dining/review_read.asp?pk_restaurant=611
There are several restaurants at Stearns Wharf in Santa Barbara. There are also restaurants at Santa Monica Pier.
Stearns Wharf has several restaurants and they are not bad. The Shellfish Company offers fresh (as in live in the tanks) crab and lobster in a very informal setting. You can order and sit on picnic tables at the end of the pier. Another casual spot is the Surfside Cafe past the harbor. You will be ON the beach. If you have a car, get away from downtown and try The Brown Pelican at Hendry's Beach. Lots of outside tables and the food is good. Nothing but ocean in front of you. Further along the coast near UCSB is Beachside Cafe on Goleta Beach. It's a great place to watch the sun set and the moon rise. Half the tables are reserved and the wait time without a reservation can be long. Reserve a table on the patio where you can enjoy the ocean with a fireplace and heaters if the night gets chilly -- and it always does here. When the sun goes down, the temp will drop.
There are many restaurants with a view of the ocean, but these will put you within a few feet of it.
El Encanto Hotel and Restaurant.
It is on "The Riviera" which is a steep mountainside above East Sant Barbara looking out over the town and the ocean. Beautiful views with nice old hotel and gardens.
All the suggestions mentioned above are great ones and ones I would make myself.
I note that nobody mentioned the problem with your reference to the pier in Santa Monica. Just to clarify, you realize that the Santa Monica pier (and the city of Santa Monica ) are nowhere near Santa Barbara and its pier? Perhaps this was just an error of thought, but you never know so I thought I'd mention it.
Santa Barbara has its own lovely pier, as mentioned, with several restaurants and an oceanic museum. The area around it along Cabrillo Blvd and up State Street contain many other great shops, a museum, some clubs, restaurants and other intersting places to visit. You just can't go wrong with this magnificent city - enjoy!
LL
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