Finding a good sit-down restaurant in Goleta can sometimes feel like searching for meaning in a Pauly Shore movie.
While Santa Barbara offers a plethora of choices to indulge in, Goleta is treated like a neglected stepchild, forced to wear hand-me-down clothes and eat boiled potatoes.
If this seems like a wild exaggeration, consider how many restaurants Goleta has that offer a view of the ocean compared to Santa Barbara.
Those who live in Santa Barbara can choose between places like Brophy Brothers, the Brown Pelican, the Harbor, and a litany of others. Yet, there are only two restaurants in Goleta with an ocean view: Beachside and Bacara.
If one is still in denial about the dearth of viable non-fast-food restaurants in Goleta, then consider the contrast of Indian restaurants between Santa Barbara and Goleta. Isla Vista proudly boasts Naan Stop, the Panda Express version of Indian food, while Santa Barbara offers delectable options such as the Flavor of India, Taj Café, and Spice Avenue.
Even when one of the better restaurants in Santa Barbara expands to Goleta, something gets lost in translation.
While many Goleta residents were pumped up about the Italian restaurant Pascucci’s coming to the Camino Real Marketplace, disappointment ensued.
The décor is cozy and inviting there, but the food tastes like it was delivered from the downtown location on State Street. It is for this reason perhaps that the owner had to change the restaurant name to Zaffiro, since the two restaurants have different management.
The purpose of this rant though is not to simply pout and cry like the little kid who dropped an ice cream cone, but rather to offer some practical recommendations.
There are options other than Freebird’s and Rusty’s Pizza in Goleta.
One of the lesser known, but highly stimulating restaurants in Goleta is Del Pueblo Café. Serving authentic Mexican food at a reasonable price, this small restaurant located in Magnolia Plaza serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.
The machaca, which is a combination of tender, yet textured shredded beef, onions, and crisp green bell peppers scrambled into eggs, makes one feel like there should be a mariachi band nearby.
It is served with a choice of flour or corn tortillas, pinto beans, and breakfast potatoes, all for under $10. And, if that is not enough, the meal feeds two people.
Dish Café, located on Calle Real, is also a diamond in the rough. While pricier than Del Pueblo Café, Dish Café offers an exciting menu filled with organic and health-conscious options.
Its price range and service style are comparable to the Natural Café, but like a Lexus compared to a Toyota, this restaurant is much more enjoyable.
Just thinking about all this food has made me hungry and tired, so I think I’m just going to order a Rusty’s Pizza and watch an old Pauly Shore movie.
