A well-known Santa Ynez chef opened a new Italian restaurant in Montecito this week.

Ancora Osteria is taking over the former Via Vai space at 1483 East Valley Road, offering pastas, pizzas, salads, ribeye fillet, fish, pork chops and roasted vegetables.

Chef Luca Crestanelli of S.Y. Kitchen said guests can expect “an honest menu” with high-quality ingredients, hearty portions, seasonal items and good service.

“I see the restaurant for all moments of life,” Crestanelli said. “You can come for lunch right after the beach in your shorts and flip-flops and a T-shirt, or you can come for an important event and dress it up or dress it down. That’s kind of what we’re selling. Welcoming all moments of life.”

Opening at the former Via Vai location, which closed in 2024, is somewhat of a full-circle moment for Crestanelli, as his first meal in Santa Barbara was at the restaurant nearly 20 years ago.

The Ancora Osteria menu is meant to deliver fresh, nourishing food that leaves guests still feeling good after the meal.

“No matter the presentation, no matter how swanky the place looks, we need to have that feel-good before and after balance,” Crestanelli said. “That’s something that we really put a lot of attention to. Everything is balanced. That’s Italian food for you done properly.”

For now, Ancora Osteria is open Thursday through Monday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., but Crestanelli said the goal is to eventually be open seven days a week for lunch and dinner, and possibly brunch.

New Bagel Shop Coming to Upper State Street

PopUp Bagels is coming to the Five Points Shopping Center at 3925 State St., Suite B in Santa Barbara.

Signs popped up this week in the windows of the former Blaze Pizza next to Luna Grill, finally confirming months-long rumors that the shop was coming.

It will be the East Coast-based company’s fourth location in California. Customers can expect bagels served hot from the oven, meant to be ripped and dipped into cups of creamy shmear. 

An opening date has yet to be announced. 

Goleta Loses Carl’s Jr.

One of Goleta’s few fast-food drive-through locations has closed its doors.

Carl’s Jr. recently closed at 5820 Calle Real, forcing fans of the Famous Star burger to go to the 7 S. Milpas St. location in Santa Barbara. 

It’s unclear what will take over the space.

Sweetgreen was originally proposing to take over the location. The company had a hearing at the Goleta Design Review Board nearly a year ago, and the board wanted to see more character in the design. 

The city has not heard from Sweetgreen and does not know if the transition is still in the works, according to Goleta’s community relations manager, Kelly Hoover. 

Vic’s Wine Bar Opens in Little King Coffee

Vic’s Wine Bar opened last weekend at The Post Montecito inside Little King Coffee at 1801 E. Cabrillo Blvd.

Operating Fridays through Sundays from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., the bar is inspired by Kiwi cafe culture where coffee shops turn into bars at night.

The wine bar offers red, white and sparkling wine, beer and nonalcoholic drinks as well as light bites such as cheese plates and focaccia bread.

Montecito Med Spa Opens New Location

Montecito Med Spa has opened up a new location in Santa Ynez at 1090 Edison St., according to the company’s Instagram.

The Med Spa offers Botox, skin treatment and body sculpting.

The Montecito location is located at 1280 Coast Village Circle, Suite B.

New Animal Hospital Coming to Goleta Valley

Bonnie Mara Animal Hospital is set to open across the street from In-N-Out in the Goleta Valley at 4860 Calle Real this summer. 

The hospital is still under construction but is expected to open in the coming weeks. 

Ran by Dr. Laura Putnam, the hospital will specialize in dogs and cats and will offer wellness visits, surgeries, dentistry, diagnostics and end-of-life care.

Spencer’s Fresh Markets Opens in Lompoc

The Central Coast’s homegrown grocery store expanding into Lompoc is set to open Wednesday morning.

Spencer’s Fresh Markets has been working for months toward opening a location in the former Big Lots home at 1009 North H St.

The store will be open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week and include the trademark deli and meat departments.

The Lompoc store will fill 31,000 square feet, making it the largest of the trio of local locations, with the Morro Bay store in second and Santa Maria Valley’s store being the smallest.

Is Ralphs Reopening?

Some Santa Barbara residents may have been confused when they received a flyer in the mail recently for a grand reopening of the Ralphs grocery store at 100 W. Carrillo St. 

The store did not close, but shoppers may have noticed a few changes in the past few months, including new self-checkout stations and separate checkout stations in the toiletry section, and the in-store Starbucks was removed. 

The grand reopening is planned for 7 a.m. Friday, according to store officials.

North County Editor Janene Scully contributed to this report.