Where: 3427 State Street, 805-687-7011, farmerboy.com
What: Down-home diner food done awfully good.
How much? Breakfasts, $4.60 $11.99; daily lunch specials, $7.99
The dish: There’s something so welcoming and comforting about a good ol’ down home neighborhood diner. And Santa Barbara’s got a true little gem, tucked away at the end of the Loreto Plaza extension. Not unlike a certain Boston bar of TV yore, folks working here really do know their customers’ name as they have kept coming back again and again for decades. Five decades to be exact, as Farmer Boy is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.
In the mood for an omelet? Seventy-five tempt you from the menu, and, trust me, you’ll be hard pressed to pick just one. I recommend the olive oil omelet, but if you are brave enough, you just might try the chef’s surprise, which is stuffed with everything but the kitchen sink. A plethora of pancakes, waffles, various takes on French Toast, and breakfast burritos tempt you as well. However, you can’t leave without ordering one of their fresh made cinnamon rolls. Also, don’t forget they serve some rib stickin’ good lunches too, including chicken fried steak.
Go on in, pull up a seat at the counter or a booth, and enjoy delicious, homespun Americana, Santa Barbarian style.