Overview
Finding excellent places to eat is a pretty easy task in Santa Barbara, California. Upon arrival, we quickly found The Lark and off we went. The restaurant is located at 131 Anacapa St., Santa Barbara, California, in the heart of the Funk Zone – an exciting arts and entertainment district near downtown. This busy restaurant is buzzing with a hip urban vibe. It is included in the Michelin Guide, and rightfully so.
Exterior
The exterior of the restaurant is gray with brown trim, and it has a gabled roof. In addition, there is a lovely canopy-covered wrap around porch. The front of The Lark has beautiful re-purposed planters filled with greenery. Parking is also readily available directly in front of the restaurant.
Dining Areas Of The Lark
The Lark restaurant has a small inside dining area, but ample outdoor seating. The outdoor seating space has a nice canopy, wood-top tables, and silver-toned metal chairs. Surprisingly, the chairs are comfortable. The centerpiece of the outside dining area is a beautiful bricked fireplace that warms the surrounding tables and provides a romantic glow. We were lucky enough to have our table right next to the amazing fire; however, they also have numerous heaters strategically positioned throughout the space to keep patrons warm while dining. The lighting of the restaurant was both adequate and pleasing with industrial looking fixtures. Overall, the restaurant is spacious, and the tables are nicely laid out.
Service At The Lark
As soon as we walked in, we were immediately greeted by the hostess. She quickly located our reservation and escorted us to our table next to the fireplace. Soon after, our server brought us the house seasoned popcorn, water, and walked us through the menu. He recommended some local wines and promptly took our drink order. From our table we were able to peer through the windows directly into the kitchen of The Lark run by Chef Jason Paluska. The staff hurriedly buzzed around the kitchen and worked together like a well-oiled machine. Refreshingly, they all had smiles on their faces and seemed to enjoy what they were doing.
Food & Drinks At The Lark
The Lark has a formidable wine selection if you are looking to enjoy some excellent wine. The food is served family style and is intended for sharing as evidenced by the ample portions. In addition, the menu items are locally sourced using high quality seasonal ingredients. For example, we ordered the Crispy Brussel Sprouts and they had a vibrant, fresh, and earthy taste as compared to the ones I have bought at the grocery store. The Brussel Sprouts were nice and crispy and seasoned with Medjool dates, garum, serrano chile, sesame, and lime.
Next, we ordered the Pacific Gold Oysters sourced from Morro Bay, California. They were accompanied with Thomcord grapes, finger lime, sea beans, and a dash of caviar. The oysters were thick and fresh with a deliciously salty taste and a subtly sweet melon-like finish.
Finally, for our main course at The Lark we selected the Grilled Creekstone Prime Ribeye for two. The steak was cooked to a nice medium rare and had just the right amount of flavorful fat. I did not notice an overwhelming amount of seasoning, mainly salt, pepper, and garlic. In addition, it was served sliced on a bed of molasses glazed broccolini and crispy shallots. The broccolini was nice and green, obviously fresh with a beautifully sweet and earthy flavor. On the side was an oak smoked red garnet yam with whipped sage butter. The sage butter really cut the smokiness of the yam.
Conclusion
We spent several days vacationing in Santa Barbara and every time we asked for recommendations for great restaurants, The Lark was suggested. Certainly, it has an excellent reputation. Undoubtedly, it lived up to the expectation. In conclusion, The Lark is a stunning fine dining restaurant with superb food. Moreover, the staff is friendly, and the atmosphere is inviting. If you get a chance to visit gorgeous Santa Barbara, a visit to The Lark will bring a smile to your face.
The Lark’s Website: http://www.thelarksb.com/
You can read another luxury food review here! https://www.luxeaholic.com/bobs-steak-chop-house-a-wonderful-fine-dining-experience-in-midtown-manhattan/
