Three restaurants from the Santa Barbara area have been added to the Michelin Guide this year, along with three more in San Luis Obispo County.
It was announced last Wednesday on the Michelin Guide website that Santa Barbara’s Bibi Ji and Loquita as well as Montecito’s Caruso’s have been added to the Michelin Guide California.
Six Test Kitchen and The Restaurant at Justin, both in Paso Robles, and San Luis Obispo’s Ox + Anchor also were recently added to the guide.
“I’m very honored. We’re grateful for everyone who’s supported us,” said Alejandro Medina, one of the owners of Bibi Ji. “And just for Santa Barbara as a whole, it’s great.”
The first Michelin Guide was published in 1900 with information and recommendations for dining and hotel options as a way to get more people on the road, thus boosting tire sales for the Michelin Tires company.
The Michelin Guide since has grown to become an influential guide that highlights exceptionally good restaurants internationally with its team of restaurant inspectors, and awards fine-dining establishments with stars to mark restaurants that are worth a detour or trip.
This year’s new additions join the 13 other restaurants in Santa Barbara that have been added to the guide since 2019, including Mesa Verde, Sama Sama Kitchen, The Lark, Los Agaves and a variety of other types of restaurants.
While no stars have been awarded to any Santa Barbara restaurants yet, Mesa Verde and Sama Sama Kitchen both have received the Bib Gourmand, a distinction that recognizes “friendly establishments that serve good food at moderate prices.”
Only 135 out of the 627 restaurants in the Michelin Guide California have been awarded the Bib Gourmand.
“This trendy Indian dining room makes quite a splash,” the Michelin Guide stated about Bibi Ji. “Harnessing the best of land and sea, these dishes are born for sharing.”
The guide also praised Loquita for its tapas, signature Spanish dishes, and its gin and tonic list.
“We are humbled and thrilled to announce Loquita will join an elite group of 15 Michelin Guide restaurants in Santa Barbara, including our sister restaurant, The Lark,” Loquita posted on its Facebook page.
The Michelin Guide recognized Caruso’s at the Rosewood Miramar Beach for its “contemporary Californian food with Italian leanings,” specifically recommending Caruso’s chilled minted pea soup with pickled fennel, followed by the gnocchetti Sardi.
“At Caruso’s, we are grateful and humbled from the Michelin Guide mention. I am so proud of this incredible team that has been delivering memorable dining experiences to our guests since opening,” Caruso’s executive chef Massimo Falsini said. “At the same time, I am truly grateful for our relationship with neighbor farmers, fishermen and ranchers. It is because of their hard work that the American Riviera is such a great place to cook.”
Bib Gourmand awards and Michelin stars within California, along with the release of 2021’s guide, are set to be announced in late September.
— Noozhawk staff writer Serena Guentz can be reached at sguentz@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.