Zagat Review
Why it’s hot:
It’s gorgeous, mostly outdoors, and the food and drinks are pretty stellar. This contemporary American spot is a centerpiece to the Funk Zone complex that houses a guitar shop, a brewery (Figueroa Mountain), artisanal spirits (Cutler’s), sibling restaurant Lucky Penny and the Les Marchands wine bar. As soon as the doors open at night, locals and visitors fill every seat in the house, from the funky vintage train booths and communal tables inside to the sprawling patio lined with strings of lights, succulents and cool Santa Barbara breezes. The food speaks to the place and season.
Must-order:
You’ll get some pretty addictive popcorn at the table when you sit, but then go for the deviled eggs topped with crispy pancetta, gem lettuces heavy with cool Dungeness crab and avocado vinaigrette, gnocchi with slow-cooked lamb shoulder and scallops with Ruby Red grapefruit.
Insider tip:
It resembles a train station for a reason: the actual Amtrak train station is just a block away, which means you can take the train directly from LA, walk around the Urban Wine trail, eat and drink, and never have to get behind the wheel of a car.