Chef Budi Kazali, a staple in Santa Barbara County for nearly 20 years, has opened a new restaurant in Solvang named after his award-winning eatery at the Ballard Inn, The Gathering Table.

Following a private reception July 23, The Gathering Table at 1555 Mission Drive in Solvang had a soft opening the last weekend in July. As of Thursday, it had nine reviews on Open Table, all but one five stars (one was four stars).

Seating is available on the patio between the building and the sidewalk, in a spacious courtyard and inside the renovated dining room, which has gained seating in the lavish remodel by designer Heather Saarloos.

Kazali’s new restaurant replaces the short-lived Mexican restaurant Campo del Sol. The family-owned Succulent Café closed approximately two years ago after operating for many years.

After graduating from the California Culinary Academy, Kazali worked in some of the nation’s finest restaurants — San Francisco’s La Folie and the Campton Place Hotel. After moving to Boston, Kazali helped open Blue Ginger with Chef Ming Tsai and gained experience melding Eastern and Western cuisines, he said. Blue Ginger received a James Beard award.

After five years at Blue Ginger, Kazali returned to San Francisco to work at Gary Danko and, later, Ozumo, an upscale Japanese restaurant.

Kazali purchased the Ballard Inn in 2004 and turned his restaurant of the same name into a Central Coast hot spot that consistently earned top honors in the Zagat survey. In 2017, he briefly closed for remodeling and reopened with a new name — The Gathering Table — which in 2019 made AAA’s list of Four Diamond locations.

After 18 years in Ballard, Kazali sold the Ballard Inn and partnered with Erica and Francisco Velazquez in Solvang’s Ramen Kotori. Francisco Velazquez had worked in Ballard with him “since Day One” and is “a great guy,” said Kazali.

He stepped away from that restaurant, selling his share, and with another partner, Doug Cavanaugh, targeted the Mission Drive site for a rekindled Gathering Table. Cavanaugh owns the Ruby’s Diner chain, as well as three restaurants in Newport Beach, Kazali said.

While his new eatery lacks a website and the phone line has issues, Chef Kazali is open for dining five evenings each week: From 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday, and from 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

In the coming months — as soon as he can boost staffing — The Gathering Table will open for brunch, Kazali said.

Reservations are available via OpenTable.