Nami was really happy to receive your birthday wishes and she is dealing with quite a bit of email from readers on her previous post so I’m here to rescue. By the way, I’m Nami’s husband Shen and I occasionally write restaurant reviews on Just One Cookbook.
It’s been a while since last time I wrote a review on Din Tai Fung in Los Angeles. I’m very excited about this month’s review and want to share the wonderful experience we had at Stella Mare’s Restaurant in Sana Barbara.
Earlier this year during the summer, we took a trip with close friends of ours down to Oxnard, an hour and a half away from Santa Barbara. We stayed at the Embassy Suite which was perfect for a family vacation. The hotel itself is located right on the beach and there are plenty of family activities to do in the area for both adults and children.
Nearby the hotel there is a great park with pirate ships and make-believe canons. The few days down there was a complete eat feast as we tackled the Chowhound recommended restaurants including HC Seafood. On our way back to San Francisco, we stopped by Santa Barbara for lunch and based on follow Chowhound’s recommendation, we decided on Stella Mare’s.
With its quaint exterior and exterior, Stella Mare’s looks as if belongs more on a country road in Europe than in Santa Barbara. The actual building itself was built in 1872 and moved to the current location in 1962. The front of the restaurant had beautiful planter boxes with flowers in full bloom and the door was painted a very welcoming red.
The interior of the restaurant was divided into a few large rooms and a couple private dining rooms. We had 5 children with us and were luckily accommodated in one of the private dining rooms. Before I start reviewing the food, I want to mention the service we received was just amazing. I was really impressed with the amount of attention the workers paid to the patrons and we felt extremely welcome, even with many noisy children. Sitting in the rustic dining room and looking out the sunny window, the ambiance was very relaxing and a perfect end to our vacation.
Since we had a large party we got to tried many dishes that day. The restaurant’s bread service was paired with rosemary butter and it was delicious. I think the children must have easily gone through at least 6 or 7 baskets of bread.
Other starters we had included the chopped salad, French onion soup, endive and apple salad, and escargot.
The chopped salad was very refreshing with a hint of horseradish.
The French onion soup was very flavorful with soft cooked onion that practically melted in your mouth. The soup stock was not too heavy and it was covered with plenty of cheese (just the way I love them).
Besides the chopped salad we also had the endive and apple salad and it was very good.
The only slight disappointment was the escargot. I love really strong garlic sauce and this one was a bit blend.
For entrée we had crab melt, the crepe, coq au vin, salmon, and the chicken salad. Everything was delightful and very satisfying to palate.
The mayo in the crab melt didn’t overpower the sandwich and you could taste the real crab in the crab melt. The crab melt had a kick of bell pepper in the flavor making it very interesting.
The crepe texture was very refined and smooth and paired very well with the mixed green on the side.
The coq au vin was very tender and each bite brings a bit of warmth to your heart.
The salmon skin was crispy was advertised and the meat was done just right and not dried and overcooked.
Lastly the chicken salad tasted if it was made with Japanese mayo (which we love) and tartness of the honey mustard vinaigrette finished the dish perfectly.
It was a fantastic ending to our very fun trip, being able to enjoy a splendid meal with our buddies in such a beautiful setting. If you are visiting Santa Barbara, we high recommend Stella Mare’s Restaurant for great food and a relaxing time.
Shen, I always look forward to your reviews!! Santa Barbara is a beautiful place, isn’t it? I’ve not eaten at this restaurant, but it’s not on my “to visit” list on our next trip. I’m loving that endive apple salad!
Love that Embassy too!
Another excellent review Shen, make me miss Sunny California again!
Coq au vin sounds good. I have a few good recipes of that-After looking at the photo, I want to have it. It seems like a really nice restaurant.
Hmm, submitted a comment and I’m not sure if it went through. So if this is a duplicate, please remove! Anyway, super review. Santa Barbara is such a nice place to visit, and the restaurant looks great. I love their food presentation – the coq au vin in particular had such nice plating. Excellent job with the review – thank you.
This place looks great! I love quaint atmospheres like this one :). My husband & I will have to check it out the next time we’re in Santa Barbara!
Happy Birthday, Nami ~ I’m sorry I must have missed greeting you with the storm Sandy hitting us here in the east coast, losing power and all. Hope you had a nice birthday celebration with your family. May you be blessed with many more wonderful birthdays! Thanks for this nice restaurant review & gorgeous photos, Nami’s husband! I would love to go to this restaurant if I’m ever in the Santa Barbara area — must bookmark this. Happy weekend to all of you!
Hi Shen, nice to meet you!! Nami and you make a fabulous team. I have spoken to her about her wonderful photography and she says you play an important role in all of that. Great job!! This trip to SB looks wonderful. The restaurant looks so quaint and just lovely. Love the review… wish I could visit it someday. 🙂
Wishing you and Nami a wonderful weekend. 🙂
~ Ramona
Hi Chen!
The interior, as u mentioned, really does look different and unique. The food looks great, but I am surprised seeing escargot. just not used to see the dish online. ^.^
Gorgeous photos! The French Onion soup looks lovely.
Thanks for sharing the insightful review and the gorgeous photographs of the dishes! Even though it’s just morning over here on the east coast, I’m getting hungry just by looking at the French onion soup and coq au vin. =)
What a great place for a family holiday. It all looks amazing and the food looks incredible. I’m glad Nami had a wonderful birthday xx
The nice thing about going to a restaurant with a large party is the prospect of sampling more dishes, which you definitely did. Great review, Shen! Please wish Nami well for me.
Happy belated birthday Nami, I didn’t know until now.
Interesting to see French onion soup with soft cooked onion.
And where’s the dessert???:)
Such an in depth and delicious review my friend great job 🙂
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
beautifull