The food was great. Fish and chips were solid. Be sure, if you're gluten-free, to say so. The menu calls the fish and chips GF but it uses wheat beer unless you specify. The brussels were great. One note: all of our food (the fish, the brussels, and the street corn) came at the same time, which meant our small table was both very crowded and things got cold. Wish they had staggered it a bit. Still a great experience and would recommend. read more

Go somewhere else. Most atrocious service I've ever had. Restaurant was empty, hostess has never smiled in her life, maybe outside of work. Server walking back and forth till we pulled him to our table to take our order, mind you the place was empty (now I know why!). Plopped himself next to us, no introduction, no questions, just stone faced. We ordered, he didn't write a thing down, very confident. Placed a simple order. Food came, wrong order. He takes it from in front of me and leaves without a word. I wait and wait, eventually ask if my food is still coming, did he place the wrong order? "Yeah, your food is coming, yes wrong order". There was no "sorry if this isn't your order, there was a mixup" or something, ANYTHING. Food eventually comes, suddenly we have a different server, again no explanation. Food is mid at best. Dessert as an apology or something is out of the question, they've never heard of such a thing. Safe to say I regret wasting my money here, and it makes total sense why it's empty all the time. Don't bother, take your money somewhere else, there are so many great restaurants in Lower Village Montecito, this one is definitely a Must Miss! read more

Highly recommend the Jalapeño Cornbread and Deviled Eggs for appetizers. Fantastic Old Fashions and dinner options from salads to mains all great. Finished with Tiramisu and other selections. Friendly service and nice atmosphere. read more

I tried this with a friend on a Friday evening in beautiful Santa Barbara. It was wonderful to sit at the bar. There were two bartenders who provided excellent service and served us with our drinks and different food options with drink recommendations. I highly recommend the deviled eggs and sharing the gochugang wings. It's fun just to sit at the bar and talk to people around you, including the people watching which can't be beat in Montecito. read more

Local - Deviled eggs - New American Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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I've been treated here by relatives my last 2 visits(from Oregon)to Santa Barbara and the menu selections are very tasty indeed...this year I had Jalapeno cornbread(never heard of it and it was great)and Sea Bass w/skin on which reminded me of my Boy Scout fishing/cooking days on the Oregon coast....on a plate of Spinach and a delicious sauce made an extraordinary meal....yummy....couldn't fit desert in....also, bar is nice; the outside atmosphere is lovely and the bathrooms are always clean....looking forward to next year. read more

Update: The owner privately messaged me on top of his public response. I explained in the private message that constructive criticism is necessary for growth and success. My review was not mean--I clearly stated both positives and negatives of our experience. He mentioned that gluten-free fish and chips are hard to find, but we've had them in many places, and they were still flavorful. Being gluten-free doesn't mean the food has to be bland or under-seasoned. One thing I didn't mention in my original review is how three of us who ate the duck fat fries got sick. I privately mentioned that to him, and he didn't respond! Unfortunately, if the business struggles, it won't be because of the food alone, but because of the owner's attitude and lack of customer service. After the way he responded, I can confidently say I won't be returning. I was excited to try this restaurant because it's accommodating of food allergies and also gluten free options. The restaurant is hidden in the corner of coast village, and has a parking lot which makes it nice on the busy weekends. Our server was kind and very helpful in answering all of our questions about the menu, especially when it came to what was safe for the kids to eat. The food overall was good, but not great. The least favorite items we tried were the duck fat fries and the fish and chips -- both lacked flavor, and the batter on the fish just didn't stand out. The side salad that came with our meals was also disappointing, as it was drenched in dressing and cheese, leaving it soggy. On the positive side, the chicken sandwiches were tasty, and the tuna was absolutely delicious. Those were definitely the highlights of our meal. read more

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This spot is incredible! You have the option of indoor or outdoor seating (we sat outside) and the service is absolutely amazing. From our server (wonderful manners, attentive & polite) to the chef (he came out to give us the Brussels sprouts recipe & we ended up with complimentary cheesecake). I highly recommend this place if you love flavorful food, excellent staff & a great atmosphere! I had the fish tacos with fried fish, a side of Brussels sprouts & calamari, as well as a perfect lemonade. I would definitely go back & try other menu items, however the tacos & Brussels sprouts were my top 2 of the night! The cheesecake is a huge portion (easily split by 3 people) and has a lovely crust with a drizzle of berry sauce. Overall, a wonderful & flavorful experience!! read more

Local - SB Fish Tacos - New American Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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We had kind of a terrible dinner at Local, but it was mostly because of our children, who decided to be on their worst behavior at the same exact time. I think subtracting all that from our experience, the restaurant was solid if not especially memorable. Useful, decent Montecito filler, with ample availability and a wide-ranging menu. We went at 6:15 on a Saturday, with a large party: two parents, two kids, and three grandparents. We were able to book our table like an hour in advance, and were gratified to find easy lot parking right behind the restaurant. The space was nice. We'd seen it before, a casually attractive dining room and a sizable patio, all below street level, a stairway down from Coast Village Road. We got an indoor table with unfortunately light-colored upholstery on both the accompanying banquette and dining chairs. The banquette was visibly stained, and I believe our three-year-old added his own contribution to the chair he intermittently occupied. Service was okay. We had most of our needs met, but it took like half an hour for my father-in-law's wife to get the glass of wine she ordered, with a long wait even after she pointed out it was missing. At least I got my glass right away, something cold and white and fortifying. I barely had time to eat my dinner with my three-year-old roaming the property, let alone plead with our server. The food was pretty good, at least. My mom and I split a few small things, still full from a late (and less chaotic) lunch at Clark's across the street. The jalapeño cornbread was the highlight, moist and flavorful, served with honey and whipped butter. The heirloom cauliflower was a nice vegetable dish, with mustard aioli, pickled onion, pine nuts, and pomegranate, over garlic yogurt. Local fish tacos were made with fried rockfish, cilantro jalapeño slaw, avocado, cotija cheese, and pineapple Baja sauce. Tasty and quick to eat. There was also a robust kids' menu. My boys had grilled cheese and tomato pasta (with apologies to the upholstery), which were not the cause of their problems. Jury's still out on whether we go back to Local. On the one hand, we liked the food, and the location is convenient when we're staying in Montecito. On the other, what if it was built on the grounds of a haunted asylum for criminally insane children? I haven't decided yet if the fish tacos are worth the risk. read more

Final Grade: C The LOCAL Montecito was a major letdown. Our party of seven visited after UCSB's graduation on June 14, 2025 around 7pm per our reservation, a day that sneaks up on no one in the area... except, apparently, the LOCAL. Let's break this down like a report card: Service & Timing: D+ We placed our order (5 burgers, 1 branzino, 1 Caesar salad) and waited... and waited. After 30+ minutes, we were informed that they were out of burgers. Suddenly, the suggested substitute: an 8oz filet at the same price. Sounds like an upgrade, but that's not what we came for, and definitely not what we ordered. The table next to ours, seated after us, mysteriously got two burgers. Group project vibes: we did our part, but someone dropped the ball. Food: C Filet - Nicely cooked, solid cut, but staggered arrival ruined the group meal dynamic. The actual filet was delicious, the upgrade was appreciated, BUT I really wanted a burger, just saying. Fries - The shoestring garlic fries were the standout. Crisp, flavorful, hot. Easily the highlight. Caesar Salad - Pitifully small. If you blinked, you missed it. Branzino - A rare success: moist, flaky, citrusy, and well-seasoned. Gold star here. Service Follow through: F We asked for ketchup. Our server said, "I'm on it!" and vanished. Never returned. It became the joke of the table. Not the kind of humor you want during a celebration dinner. The painful meal took 3 hours. Special Occasion Readiness: D A UCSB graduation meal should feel seamless. This felt like a class presentation where half the slides were missing. Value: C Given the price point and the special occasion, this should have been a hit. Instead, it felt like a missed assignment. Would I return? Doubtful. Santa Barbara has so many fantastic dining options where the food and experience are consistently strong. If you're browsing my reviews, you'll find better spots that are prepared, welcoming, and worth your time and money. Grade: C (Points salvaged by the branzino, garlic fries, and the upgraded filet's we did not necessarily want) read more

Local - 8 oz. grass fed filet, garlic fries, and baked beans, delicious, but see my review. - New American Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Made a reservation on Mother's Day seeing that this place had mostly good reviews. I'll start with the good, the appetizers we had were great and the ambiance is very nice. That's about it the service was awful we had to beg our waitress to bring us water constantly. While our appetizers came on time it took almost 40 minutes to get our entrees after ordering. I know it was mother's day but there was no wait and the place wasn't packed. When we finally got our food none of it was very good. My brother got a lobster rosoto which was $60 and the lobster was overcooked and rubbery. We were starving at this point so we didn't ask for them to take it back. My sister and I got fish N Chips that was burnt to a crisp, almost black, and majority of it was the breading, hardly ever fish. Thats what you see in the picture. My mom had eggs Benedict while she said it was good the eggs were cold. For such a pricey place you'd expect better service and food. I do not recommend coming here. I'm editing the review since the owner responded, if the owner is seeing this edit can you confirm if your fish n chips are usually as burnt as you see in the picture I provided? I've never had fish n chips where the breading was almost black read more

Local - Burnt breading from fish and chips hardly any fish - New American Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

My wife and I are currently here for our anniversary. Major disappointment. I got the lobster/crab risotto. I had to devein my own lobster. It was served with the poop sack. There were two full crab shells pieces plus extra gritty bites. The tiramisu is soup. Interesting interpretation. Wife's branzino was a decent meal. Chocolate lava cake was ok. Service was fine. For what is supposed to be an upscale seafood place very disappointing. They did comp one of our desserts for the anniversary. I guess the tiramisu gets a pass. read more

Fantastic experience from start to finish. From being greeted immediately and asked where we preferred to dine, to being served with friendly, attentive service, to the excellent, timely, and well-prepared food. Comfortable open vibe. We move at a slow pace for weekly Sunday Brunch and were never rushed at any point. Being long-time Montecito residents and frequent diners, don't know how we overlooked this gem. Highly recommend read more

We had a micro wedding reception on the patio. We had 24 guests but there would have been room to triple that. The food was amazing! We did appetizers first - passed and plated with a cocktail hour vibe. It was a great gathering space to move around and visit. The fire pit was a great addition!! When it was time for dinner, each guest had a menu with 4 or 5 options. Everyone loved the food!! Mike the GM was very helpful in the planning process. My guests say it was the best wedding they've been to. read more

I love the food at local but it is always very annoying They do not open until noon on Sunday when we want to go at 11:15 to 1130 after church! So we always go elsewhere. read more

Came in for dinner with my wife. The food was amazing, the portions are huge and definitely shareable. me and my wife ordered The wings, chicken pappardelle, and Steak and frites. Everything was really good. The reason I am leaving 5 stars is for our server Christina! she greeted us right away and got us drinks. she made amazing suggestions and we felt like we were at home. amazing service! anyways, this was our first time here. we will definitely be back. read more

You want excellent service and great meal? Then this is the place. Our first visit but not our last. Early arrival for a glass of wine and calamari at the bar. Great service. Dinner started with Greek salad. Cannot say enough about that salad. The best. Dinner one order of crispy branzino and one order of chicken Milanese with an inside order of the best corn bread I have ever tasted. Josh was our waiter and was there with the answers. Carlos is the manager and could not have been more accommodating. Don't take my word for it experience it yourselves. 5***** read more

So we've been coming here for over a year now, at first just for their happy hour which is a limited but delicious menu. The Jalapeño cornbread is a bit addictive. Then we finally made it in for dinner a few months ago and we now come here every week and brunch last Sunday. The food is delicious, bold flavors and mouthwatering combinations. The Branzino is perfection, the Pan Seared Salmon w/ coconut curry was so delicious and savory, the Baby Short Ribs are to die for, the meat just falls off the bone (sadly the ribs are seasonal so we'll have to wait for them to come back on the menu again), the Ragu is delicious, Chicken Milanese tastes like home (just very fancy home), the Filet was prepared to perfection and an absolute favorite! We got lucky enough the run into the head Chef (Chef Jon) last week and got to know about his background which explains why this hidden gem in Montecito was able to lock down such a food visionary! Chef Jon puts his heart into every dish which can be savored with each bite. The service is excellent, the drinks are refreshing and our new favorite local bar plus restaurant, in addition to a beautifully designed restaurant, with excellent outside seating. Can't wait for the weather to warm up for enjoying the outside space too. We Love love love this place! See you guys next week! read more

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Had an amazing dining experience that I must share with everyone. Enjoyed the jalapeño cornbread that our waitress Christina suggested along with flavorful fish tacos. My wife really loved the Greek salad also. Christina was so helpful and friendly and made sure our drinks were delicious and never empty. We will definitely be making this our new favorite spot because of the great atmosphere and vibes. read more

Wow. I was honestly blown away by how good the food was here. Everything we had was super fresh and flavorful - the fish and seafood especially tasted so fresh and was cooked perfectly. What I loved is that they're not trying to be overly fancy or do anything gimmicky - they just do good food, really well. And it shows. Also... I'm still thinking about the cheesecake. Like actually dreaming about it. The vibe is great too - nice but still relaxed, not stuffy at all. It's the kind of spot you can go for an easy dinner and end up having an amazing meal. read more

Such a gorgeous restaurant! The service was wonderful and it had a great outdoor seating area. I would highly recommend the Brussels sprouts and Cauliflower, as they are a perfect sharing option. My party enjoyed the cheeseburger and chicken pasta entrees with high praises. The desserts were definitely the standouts, as I tried the Brownie Sunday and apple fritter doughnuts and they both were delicious! I would highly recommend Local and definitely plan on returning! read more

Local - brownie sunday - New American Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

We had a phenomenal dinner. Ella made us the most delicious drinks (porn Star martini & a mojito). For dinner, we had the cauliflower, Brussels spouts and steak (chef's preparation)....every single thing we got was super delicious. Their entire staff (Ella, Isabella, the Serbian, Daniel) was fantastic too! read more

Local - Cauliflower and Brussels sprouts - New American Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Great experience here. Came in Sunday evening early to have a Martini and get some food to go. Bartender He was attentive and completely on top of drink and food timing. Martini Takeout Food ! Great location where you can sit a bar for food or get a table and both choices are great. read more

Came to LOCAL twice during a three day trip to SB. Everything was fantastic from the service to the drinks to the food! They have amazing outdoor seating (removed from the street but green and bright and spacious). The indoor seating is nice as well with great music and ambiance. The fish tacos are fantastic, as is the steak. Most everything can be made gluten free and the gluten free desserts are really good (especially the apple fritter donuts and the chocolate lava cake). Highly recommend! read more

I had a a birthday lunch at Local today with 4 of my friends. Beautiful table, sublime service by Alix and manager, Carlos. Love coming here. The food is consistently good and great people are managing everything. Thank you!! read more

Love this place! It's casual but elegant and relaxing. Everything we have had so far from the starters, calamari was a big hit, to the tacos and the chicken parm and then desserts omg! The service is fantastic, manager Carlos takes much pride making sure every guest is satisfied and happy! Thank you for making my mom's bday even more special! Cheers!!!! read more

Sadly after our long hiatus, it was still not great. We were party of 5 1 food. Branzino overcooked! By a lot! Was apparent when it was delivered to table. Barely anything for vegan. They will remove the Labneh on cauliflower but have nothing to replace it. U get a partial dish but pay full price Greek chopped salad is just a green salad with Greek salad items. Tomato feta and onion and cucumber. But don't expect a tasty Greek salad. Disappointing to the entire table. Two of us felt it was unclear on menu Special green gazpacho soup was pretty good. 2. Hostess /supervisor was short and not so friendly. Maybe a. Bad day. Didn't want to clarify her name. Thanks little island. I hope it was just a fluke and life feels brighter 3. Called in advance as M S. (Owner) asked us to do so long ago after our bad experience. (Still can't believe what three of us were charged for terrible plant based burgers with nothing. No tomato or lettuce or ...was. Such. Joke and no courtesy so thought they would make a gesture this time). Nope. Don't understand why this place is still somewhat popular - maybe outdoor space and alcoholic drinks . Please consider 1. Offering local plant based food options. 2 what ingredients are indeed local? Anything organic? Oh yeah we had two birthdays, and we let them know ahead of time. One of our guests had surprised us with vegan cakes that they brought out, but they never even offered their sorbet for the side - which was surprising because they had mentioned it when we called. It would've been a nice touch. read more

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Best garlic fries i have ever tasted. Freshest ahi tuna and some of the best homemade lemonade ever. Backed up by unparalleled service from Benem. Made us feel like we were part of the family with his exceptional service. Couldn't recommend a better place to get lunch or dinner in this area. Thank you for taking care of us!!! read more

Local - New American Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

With the new chef revamping the menu, LOCAL has become our go-to restaurant! Everything we've tried, from the chicken milanese, fish tacos, smash burger, little gems caesar, salmon to the new chicken pasta has been excellent and a good value. There's no bad seat in the house but we like the convivial bar which has a good selection of beers and comfortable seats (a basic that many bars don't get right). The word is out since it's busier now but we rarely need reservations, even on a weekend, since there's so much outdoor seating for overflow. Also helpful to know is that the parking in the back is much more convenient than trying to find something on CVR. read more

Overall great first time visit for the hubs and I. Walking distance from our hotel. We sat at the bar and overall pleased with our service. Glad we arrived around 4:30 which provided us the opportunity to get more 1:1 time with our bartender/ wait staff before 5 pm came when the dinner guests were arriving and got busier for all the staff. Happy Hour menu offered several food selections including for vegetarian and pescatarian. Liked the drink options available and I went for the house margarita. I chose the Brussel Sprouts appetizer without the golden raisins for my food order. This menu item had the right amount of sweetness and savory combination and the crispy texture of the outer part of the Brussel sprouts was the added bonus to how all flavors and textures came together, and I cleaned up the dish. No to go box for me this evening. Husband went for the sesame bbq chicken wings. I wanted to try also an $8 fish taco from the HH menu but had to pass due to the generous portion of the Brussel Sprouts appetizer. I will be sure this place is on our restaurant list next time we make it back to the area. read more

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The menu is nothing out of the ordinary but the food is consistant and usually well prepared. One thing that is absolutely annoying is when the manager comes to your table and abruptly cut the conversation off to ask "is Isabelle came to your table yet?" Really?! Do you need your customers to monitor your wait staff for you or do you think it would be actually more professional to go ask your employee if she visited the table that was sat down fifteen minutes ago? On Friday night at 8:15 (!) the same manager is suddenly shutting off the heaters outside when it is in the fifties and switch on brighter lights on the patio all this sending a clear message to the remaining guests "get ou!" I, obviously, wrongly thought that your activity was about hospitality and that you were open for dinner. If you do not want to work evenings you should switch and open a breakfast and lunch operation Sir. The waitress that was offering the best service that she could according to her experience and training gave me cash back including 34 single dollar bills !!! What happened? Is that amazing manager forgot to go to the bank and get the appropriate bills to sustain the weekend business ? This annoying exemple is typical of what Santa Barbara area restaurant scene became over the years (not only Local), focusing on charging high prices thinking that they will be automatically categorized as a good quality venue even if they are offering a poor quality experience to their guests. Sorry but it requires more than high prices...professionalism plus attention to details make the difference. I understand the restaurant industry is not an easy one but if you're tired of it, do something else. read more

It's a nice quiet location. Cocktails were beautiful and delicious. I accidentally went on Easter so the menu was limited but everything we had was excellent including the hibiscus Paloma, Bloody Mary, avocado toast, chicken Milanese and the burger. Only issue was the fries were too salty read more

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The food was good. I shared a salad and entree and was surprised to get charged a 10 dollar fee for sharing. Be aware anything you share will be charged 5 dollars. Never heard of being charged for sharing a salad. read more

Went here for happy hour and it will definitely get added to our repeat list! The staff was incredibly friendly, attentive and efficient, the cocktails were terrific, the outdoor patio was inviting - the perfect spot to enjoy the firetables and lively (but relaxed) atmosphere. The menu is creative and the food is delicious. We'll look forward to going back soon! read more

I was there Sunday 02/22/2026. After 45 min from ordering, I asked about our order which had not arrived. The restarant was nearly empty so the wait was surprising. The Manager was nice enough to come over and blame me for the 45 min due to asking for my meat well done (due to medical issues). He went on gaslighting even after I asked me twice to stop. Its not a big deal, but that manager was very rude ,frankly disrespectful. The place was pretty good, I would avoid nights the guy is on duty. read more

Go to happy hour!!! Wonderful staff excellent margaritas and the jalapeño cornbread is SO GOOD! I loved it was above and beyond expectations 10 stars! And it's a beautiful spot too. read more

Local - My dog Russell was so happy - New American Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

This new place is VERY good. I don't know if you can really go all that wrong here. The ambiance is just perfect. There's a beautiful outdoor patio with heaters and the inside is lovely too with love music (piano when we were there) Our server was great and provided recommendations on different dishes. I got the kale Caesar with chicken and it was so yummy. We got Brussel sprouts too and burrata as apps. Would recommend them both. Others enjoyed the burger and even the gf fried chicken. We went out on a limb with banana bread pudding for dessert and it was divine. It might not be on the menu, but ask for it if you're interested. I think this is my new favorite restaurant in Montecito! read more

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The vibe is awesome. Mike, the server made our experience top notch. Make a reservation - this place gets very busy. Parking lot is open earlier in the night. It gets packed quickly. Loved the food - delicious and not overbearing. Had yummy non-alcoholic drinks! read more

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We hosted a post-wedding brunch in Montecito and checked out several spots, but Local stood out right away. We liked it so much we came back twice while planning! The food is fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. Our group tried everything from Eggs Benedict and French Toast to Fish Tacos, Quinoa Salad, and the Fried Chicken Sandwich. Every dish was delicious, and many of the menu items are gluten free. The atmosphere is relaxed but polished, and the staff couldn't have been kinder or more accommodating. Whether you're with a big group or just stopping in casually, Local is an excellent choice in Montecito. read more

Ambiance: My partner and I did Valentine's on the 15th this year. We had a reservation for 5:00PM, so we could see the sunset at 5:40PM. We were sat outside, very beautiful set up and ambiance. The best part was the music! Some Sade, Amy, and Badu in the mix, great choices management. Service: We were lucky to get an amazing server, Joe. Coming from the service industry, service is what I pay attention to the most. This guy is seasoned and knows how to read a table. He gave us details on the menu and what and why the chef made the decisions to incorporate certain ingredients. Most of you probably won't care about that, but that was a great touch for me. Joe made our experience a 10/10. Food: We got the Caviar Deviled Eggs, Yellowtail Crudo, Steak Frites, 6 Morro Bay oysters, Branzino, and I forgot which white we got to drink. Everything was up to par, especially the crudo holy sh*t. Everything was decadent and fairly priced, my only complaint was the seasoning on the Branzino, specifically the spinach. Other than that, fish and steak were cooked to perfection. Overall, thank you Joe for the great service and to the food runners and bussers that accommodating us to perfection. Will be back very soon. read more

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Came all the way from LA because we saw gluten free fish and chips on the menu (with a gf label). When we ordered the waitress told us the fish and chips were not gluten free because of the beer batter. (Btw it very easy to substitute with soda water or gluten free beer so your menu label will be actually be accurate). I don't know why they would mislead and disappoint people like me with dietary restrictions and allergies. It's difficult enough to find places that accommodate allergies and dietary restrictions so when we finally find a place it is almost cruel to discover that it is not actually following the dietary restrictions. At least the waitress said something before I ordered and ate it or I would've gotten very sick. This is dangerous for celiacs and people with gluten allergies like me. Very disappointing to drive all that way for nothing. read more