American Ale 
Reviewed by Rachel Zemanek
I’ve had my fair share of beer, from piss poor to bottles of golden sunshine.
When I saw that American Ale offered a social hour from 5 to 6:30 p.m. with 32-ounce mason jars of beer for only $8, I thought I’d hit the jackpot.
Although the selection is slim, it’s a list of award-winners. Firestone 805 and Lagunitas Pilsner are go-to lite and safe beers. You can put one of these back and feel like you are floating in a beautiful beer cloud.
Pair one of those with the PB&J Burger and you are good to go.
I went with the Avery White Rascal and was pleasantly surprised. I had never had this beer before going to American Ale and was skeptical at first. It sounded kind of cheesy but I was so wrong.
With hints of orange and spice, I was able to sip and enjoy it for a nice, relaxing hour.
The ambiance of the bar is reminiscent of the Rocky Mountains. It’s small but has high, barn-wood ceilings, which made me feel like I was nestled in a lumberjack’s hideout.
The bartenders were welcoming and answered any question I threw at them. The amount of beer that they have rotating is unreal and I wanted to know about all of these newly found treasures.
The only thing that threw me off was not having any social hour food. It would have been great to have the same level of crafted munchies, as there was craft beer.
Maybe throw some bacon wrapped apricots and potato skins on there to even the playing field. Something like that would go really well with the Stone IPA.
I am a delicate, beer-drinking woman after all. Those 32-ounces will hit me pretty hard if I don’t have something to anchor me down.
Overall, this was a great bar if you love beer and you want to share with a friend. There is a specialty drink list too but not for social hour, keeping the State Street binge drinkers at bay.
I didn’t mind a bit. Bring on the hops.
Seven Bar and Kitchen
Reviewed by David C. Ridings
The first time I went to Seven Bar and Kitchen, I left with a beer soaked notepad filled with illegible gibberish and a few missing friends. I had to return to do this review justice.
Located east of State Street, between Cabrillo Boulevard and Montecito Street, the “Funk Zone” noticeably attracts the best type of liberal crowd.
Nestled comfortably in the “Funk Zone” between a gentleman’s club and an “adult” shop, at 244 Helena Ave, Seven Bar and Kitchen is a proven way to establish the beginning of a strange time. It’s perfect for a typical college student living in the Santa Barbara area to cut-loose among suits with the same agenda.
If it suits you, when the bar closes, there’s still post 2 a.m. entertainment conveniently close.
Happy hour on the weekdays is from 5-7 p.m. and 12-3 p.m. on the weekend. After literally ordering everything off of Seven Bar and Kitchen’s happy hour menu, I must say they are superior in their happy hour specialty selection.
The happy hour well-liquors impressively include Jack Daniels, Hornitos and Kettle One at $5; get creative and mix in your choice flavors.
The vicious nature of the bartenders’ shows during their consistent 3 ounce liquor pours. You definitely get your money’s worth—this is the beauty of Seven.
Seven has infused vodka set high above the bar shelves in distinctive 3-gallon jugs that soak flavors from either: strawberry, hibiscus, fig or cucumber. These infusions are then, in-turn, mixed in a variety of ways. Any of the infusion drinks, which are brutally potent, are only $6 during happy hour. I’d suggest you drink with caution if you plan to make it past drink number three.
The $5 parmesan-truffle fries on the happy hour special alone are worth the visit to Seven. Simply talking about the fries drives me to wonder where my keys are. It’s a cheap way to feel fancy.
The happy hour house wine is on tap. The chardonnay is kept in a chilled keg and their cabernet sauvignon is served at room temperature.
The overall atmosphere is very charming with a refreshing hint of odd.
The walls are covered in acrylic contemporary paintings, which are on sale to all—one more perk to the experience.
It was mentioned to me by an employee, the past year Seven has faced difficulty with local law enforcement for being over-capacity—you can take that anyway you’d like.
The weekend’s late night crowd is when the noteworthy individuals come to play.
Seven Bar and Kitchen stays open until 2 a.m. serving food and drinks leaving you fully accommodated for an eventful evening of indulging in Santa Barbara’s excess.
Reds Bar & Tapas 
Reviewed by Giulia De Paoli
Reds Bar & Tapas is where you want to be after an endless class or workday—sipping a delicate Moscow Mule on a warm evening.
The building looks relatively small from the outside, but as soon as I stepped in, it proved me wrong. A wide, full bar welcomed me, with high ceilings, adorned with elegant mirrors and beams showing.
The atmosphere inside the lounge is comforting and the broad room invites you to relax and rest on velvet, colorful sofas.
As I approached the bar, an opening on the other side of the saloon caught my attention. Golden chain curtains drape over a semi-hidden cove, which is probably meant to offer shelter to the customers looking for intimacy during crowded nights in the bar. Adventuring in its midst, a piano surrounded by dim and soft candles enchants the privacy of the niche.
For those who love relaxing outside, the restaurant has a small patio where customers can sit and enjoy the Funk Zone comers and goers.
Reds Bar &Tapas offers a variety of cocktails, cervezas and wines. Prices average about $10.
For anyone who visits Red’s, the must-try drink is the Grapefruit Basil Martini, with marry Brokers gin, basil, grapefruit and agave. Also try the Hunter, a substantial union of stirred Buffalo Trace Whiskey and Cherry Heering Brandy.
For snacks, Italian Bruschette with Roma tomato and goat cheese, accompanies the cocktails well.
Reds Bar has live entrainment and unique, weekly events. However, Wednesday night is undoubtedly dedicated to the Karaoke lovers from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Over the next week, Jay’s Rockin’ Blues Band will take the stage at 9 p.m. Friday. Saturday the eclectic Funkalicious, is ready to groove the Funk Zone with their “arsenal of lethal instruments.” And to conclude the ‘funking’ week, Beau Wilding will be playing from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on March 16.
The bar is located in the lively and colorful Santa Barbara Funk Zone district, at the 211 in Helena Avenue.
Reds is open every day of the week. Monday, from 3 p.m. to 12 a.m., Friday and Saturday until 1 a.m., and Sunday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Cheers!
