Musical Dining

The only thing better than a night of Santa Barbara cuisine is a culinary evening with music to boot. Luckily, our town is chock full of restaurants that serve up weekly live entertainment free of charge. Here are some of our favorites:

Patrik Piano: This classically trained pianist and fourth-generation student of Chopin has previously performed at the S.B. Bowl. Pianowhose real last name is Maianinow plays every Wednesday night from 6:30-9:30 p.m. at Fresco at the Beach (901 E. Cabrillo Blvd.). Call 963-0111 or visit patrikpiano.tv.

Salt Martians: Composed of Ken Gaston, Tim Mullins, and Aaron Douglas, this bluegrass band’s southern style goes perfectly with the Cajun cuisine at Tupelo Junction Cafe (1218 State St.) every Thursday from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Call 899-3100.

Wayeri: Named after the pre-Hispanic Andean dialect’s word for water, Wayeri brings its coastal chords and Latin influences to Bricks Cafe (509 State St.) every Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Call 899-8833.

And don’t forget SOhO and Cold Spring Tavern, which bring music and dining together almost every night of the week. Visit and coldspringtavern.com for details.