After closing down for a few years, The Dutch Garden is back with a new beer garden and the same hearty menu that goes hand-in-hand with a cold pilsner. This 70-year-old spot resembles a cozy roadside diner in Bavaria with decorative beer steins, German knick-knacks, and tubs of mustard on the counter for your lunchtime brats. The chicken schnitzel happens to be excellent—hot, crispy, and super juicy. The plate comes with mini-mountains of mustard-y potato salad and sauerkraut.

In case you miss the massive trompo behind the counter, Taquería La Unica takes its al pastor very seriously. This modern taquería is from the same people as Los Agaves and offers all kinds of Mexican street food classics, including tortas, cheesy costras, and a massive taco-tostada hybrid called a volcán loaded with spicy refried beans, cheese, and whatever carne piques your interest. You can't go wrong with the sweet-smoky al pastor, but don't neglect the tender lengua tacos, either.

Whenever you’re ready to be the kind of person who eats oysters and caviar while lounging on a shady patio along State Street, get yourself to this location of Malibu-based Broad Street Oyster Co. It’s one of the best, non-pretentious seafood spots in town, and it feels like it was decorated by thrift-store-raiding, hard-partying pirates. They’ve got everything from fried fish sandwiches and fresh oysters to Santa Barbara uni and one of the best lobster rolls on the West Coast.

Located on Lower State Street is Casa Comal, a small Mexican restaurant with a not-so-small menu (and a banging reggaeton playlist.) This order-at-the-counter spot does everything from sopes to tortas to ahi poke tostadas drizzled with chipotle mayo. But if you're overwhelmed by large menus, stick to the tacos. The octopus one is the best seller for a reason: the warm pulpo comes with roasted pasilla chiles, cilantro aioli, and a cheese-crusted tortilla that offers a satisfying crunch.

Just down the street from La Super-Rica, Bossie’s Kitchen is the perfect cafe for when you need a break from the crowded restaurants downtown. This casual counter-service spot is part-deli, part-doughnut shop, and part-neighborhood bistro, and it’s located in a former dairy plant. There isn’t much space inside, but the string-lit patio out front offers a nice place to relax with lunch after a hike, or sit down to a leisurely dinner.

Between Lucky Penny, Olio Pizzeria, and the occasional Little Ceasar’s location, Santa Barbara had its pizza bases pretty much covered. But in 2018, an ex-Roberta's baker opened Bettina, bringing specialty flour and slow-fermented dough to the Montecito Country Mart. Crowds have been lining up ever since to try the pizzeria’s inspired takes on Neapolitan-style pie. The bubbly crust is pleasantly salty, and each delicate slice gives a satisfying crackle when folded.

Located on Santa Barbara's mostly residential west side, Mesa Verde feels like a clubhouse for vegans who actually like the taste of vegetables. The dining room is shaded by palm trees and covered in dark wood finishes, and the fresh and filling plant-based menu works well for a casual lunch or weeknight dinner. We recommend starting with the flaky grilled flatbread served with a side of creamy hummus and moving on to the jackfruit chorizo street tacos topped with blueberry chipotle salsa.

Calling Secret Bao a fast-casual spot that serves Chinese dishes is like calling Ferdinand Magellan a boating enthusiast. This downtown favorite isn't just a lunchtime alternative to Sweetgreen: the shrimp-stuffed baos and katsu curries are a reason enough to make a quick stop before your beach trip or grab dinner during peak commute hours. From the hamachi poke bowl to chili noodles, Secret Bao has a dish for every appetite, and they all hover around $20 or so.

You can find great wine in many of Santa Barbara's tasting rooms, but if all you want to drink is pet-nats, head to Satellite on Upper State Street. Even if you know next to nothing about wine, this natural wine bar has a tightly curated wine list and a staff skilled at helping you find something exciting within any budget. Bottles line the walls behind the bar, and most of the glasses cost around $15.

Caruso's, located inside The Rosewood Miramar Beach hotel, meets all the criteria for a perfect sunset restaurant: it faces west (essential), its outdoors, and it sits on its own private beach. As you might expect from a tasting menu Italian restaurant owned by LA billionaire power-broker Rick Caruso, the classic pastas and seafood dishes here are plated like they have their own stylists. The prix-fixe menu comes with four courses, including dessert, for $165 per person.