Barbareño - Review - Santa Barbara - Los Angeles - The Infatuation

"Barbareño calls itself Central Coast cuisine. We’re not exactly sure what the definition of that is, but it must have something to do with amped-up versions of food everyone likes. The menu mostly sticks to familiar territory with salads, pasta, and meats, but there are a few wild cards worth ordering, like the Eggamuffins (egg-topped cornmeal blini meant to evoke a certain fast food breakfast sandwich), charred grilled avocado with punchy garlic ponzu, and the crispy, cheesy ricotta dumplings over strawberry masala sauce. And though the small plates can make a meal here, for something more substantial, there’s the Santa Maria BBQ platter: a big, perfectly seared steak slicked with garlicky butter and served with a side of camp beans. RESERVE A TABLE WITH RESERVE A TABLE" - Cathy Park