Steve D.
Yelp
I can't believe I haven't checked in again on Yelp about the Brother's restaurant since my last review (?) in 2019. I have to say they have only gotten better, if more expensive, but what hasn't?
Oddly enough, we had virtually the identical meals I identified back in 2019, with two great baby greens salads, same top sirloin steak, but this time with a Baked horseradish-dill crusted Scottish salmon. Tab was about $150 and worth every penny.
The salads were as fresh as a September morn', as if someone had just wandered out in the garden and picked them. Add a bit of Stilton cheese, some poached pear slices, and candied walnuts with drizzled balsamic vinegar and you get a fabulous starter. A large portion, too!
My Scottish salmon (which I tried here first in October 24 was amazing. I was wondering if it indeed was real Scottish salmon but just this morning saw it at our local supermarket identified as such at $21.99 per pound. I would estimate the weight of the portion served at the Brothers at 12 ounces ($42). It is served in a bowl, topped on what is known as their "VBR," or Vegetable Brown Rice, a delicious melange of (a little) rice, vegetables including what tasted to be small shiitake mushroom slices, carrot triangles, and fresh asparagus, that being the predominate flavor. It was in a light sauce and fit perfectly with the salmon.
No room for dessert but we were so smitten with the salads that we returned the following night and sat on hi-tops in the bar area, both of us having only the baby greens salads, but I added a cup of the freshly seasonal potato-leak soup which was very creamy. While I prefer little slices of leek and cubed potatoes when I make it at home, this style was excellent. The previous night's meal was very filling and we needed something lighter.
These were on Monday and Tuesday nights in March, 2025, and the restaurant was booked up full both nights. We had reservations for Monday thru OpenTable and on Tuesday settled for the bar seating, which even at 5:00 opening tine filled up quickly, and is first-come, first-served and non-reservable tables for two or four. Monday tab before tip was about $150 with one glass of Merlot, a little under $50 for night two.
As Santa Ynez is a little cow-town of 4700 population, they enjoy a fabulous local reputation and servers called many diners by their first names. How such a place came to be here is beyond me, but I am glad it does exist.
I would plan a meal here a couple of weeks in advance if this sounds like your kind of place! It sure is ours!