RIVIERA RESTAURANT REVIEWS
From Montecito's Upper Village to downtown SB to the Funk Zone
RH Firehouse Grill (Montecito Upper Village)
Simply put: the best breakfast in Montecito.
No other restaurant on the American Riviera holds a candle to their weekend brunch. And the decor—this being Restoration Hardware (with showroom adjacent)—is no slouch either.
Start with a crisp Bellini.
Move on to their “Italian Benedict”—a masterful twist with prosciutto.
Close out with “impossibly thin” Swedish pancakes and hot maple syrup.
Even their strawberry preserve is sublime.
Walk out with a big smile and satiated appetite—with no need to eat the rest of the day.
Apertivo (Haley Street, SB)
The exact opposite of Ospi (the new kid in town I un-lovingly reviewed a few of weeks ago):
Apertivo is no sizzle—all substance.
Four decades ago in Florence, I ducked into a nondescript hole-in-the-wall called Coco Lezzoni’s… and enjoyed one of the finest Italian meals of my life.
Apertivo is right up there.
No glitz.
No pretension.
Just Italian cuisine of the highest order—tucked into an unassuming little space on Haley Street.
The menu? Short.
The dishes? Ever-changing, weekly.
Every dish that emerges from the kitchen is spectacular—and genuinely memorable.
This place enjoys a loyal clientele who know exactly what they’ve got… and—I suspect—would like to keep it to themselves.
Margerum Santa Barbara Tasting Room (Funk Zone, SB)
One of the very few wine tasting emporiums where the food is as impressive as the vino.
You won’t go wrong with Barden Benedict vintage Pinot Noir—elegant, earthy and smooth.
Pair it with their sausage, mushroom caramelized pizza or a charcuterie & cheese plate, you might as well be in heaven.
Intermezzo (Anacapa Street, SB)
My old favorite—circa 2001-08—when owned by winemaker Doug Margerum.
Since then it slipped… until a few years ago when the musically-inclined John O’Neill stepped in and restored the place to its former glory.
Intermezzo is the perfect refuge—not only during chilly, dark November through February, but also when the dreaded “June Gloom” (a marine layer) hovers over the American Riviera.
That said, it’s a comfort zone all year long. The woody, rustic interior, the fireplace, and welcoming staff wrap you in cheery warmth, no matter the weather or the season.
Feels good. Drinks good. Tastes good.
I’m already looking forward to my high-top near the hearth this December, when Intermezzo glows with Yuletide decor, a forest of candles flickering festive joy into every corner of the soul.
