New Lunch & Brunch Spot in Santa Barbara

Here in Santa Barbara many restaurants come and go as it is a small town with loads of restaurants, but I feel optimistic for the newest one: State & Fig. Why? Because there's bacon...and an enticing menu that lives up to what you read. I recently tried their Mac'n'cheese and their Fig Burger, both of which include our beloved bacon.

The ambiance is light and inviting. Smiling faces greet you as you walk in and everyone is quite helpful and ready to answer all your questions. Natural wood and colors fill the large, high-ceilinged space. Small succulents sit on each table, hugged by the salt and pepper. There are several tables on the patio out front which is lovely as this restaurant is located in the historic La Arcada Court. People watching and beautiful architecture make you feel like you are on vacation.

The Mac'n'cheese is made with fontina, provolone, Parmesan, applewood bacon, breadcrumbs and sure is rich! The bacon really stands up to the medley of cheeses bringing a lovely smokiness to the dish. This is a very filling dish and my friend and I thought it might be even more wonderful as a small plate or first course. One of the best mac'n'cheeses I have in a restaurant in a long while!

The Fig Burger includes fig jam, bacon, caramelized onions, arugula, and bleu cheese. This fantastic combo makes each bite a delight. The bacon was perfectly cooked - a perfect crunch yet still with some chew to it. The saltiness of the bacon paired with the fig jam was wonderful and an idea that has inspired me to create some sort of flatbread with these ingredients at home. The fries are home made and very potato-y. All ingredients are super fresh. There is definitely an attention to detail at State & Fig which most restaurants claim to have, but usually don't. The prices are quite reasonable and the iced tea is good too!

Check out the caramelized onions on this guy!

State & Fig does brunch too and is hoping to begin dinner service soon once they have everything running perfectly smoothly. I can't wait!

1114 State Street, Suite 18
Open Monday-Friday 8-4pm, brunch Saturday and Sunday
805-965-1730

BTW Do you love bacon? Ever heard of the Royal Bacon Society? Check it out: www.royalbaconsociety.com. I'll be doing a bit of writing over there too...