Loved the caramel collection! Unique, interesting, and delicious, and kind service to boot.read more

I do love my dark chocolates, whether it's Trader Joe's many varieties or local places that make…read morethe more "exotic" ones with creative flavors. I kind of stumbled in here to be honest (I was looking for coffee, but I'm a little spacey at times and popped in here), but once I saw what it was (fancy dark chocolates), I decided "why not!" and ordered a small box of 4. They're $4/each, which is pricey, but not out of line for this type of thing. But having tasted several really nice examples (Recchiuti, Deux Cranes, Fleur de Cocoa, Alexander's), this didn't really measure up to those. Granted, I only tried 2 flavors myself, but they either barely tasted of the intended flavor or they didn't have the depth of flavor I was used to. It's very possible that I didn't sample enough flavors or just didn't take to the couple I tried, but I was honestly expecting better. Nice friendly lady who helped me though, and it's a nice looking shop.

One of my favorite stops in Santa Barbara. The chocolate was made beautifully and delicious! I…read morebrought home the Jasmine Caramel flower and Jade Oolong buddha. My friends loved it. The staff were also very friendly. They also have drinking chocolate.

This is a special chocolate shop. It's small but brings in the world of chocolate. There's all…read moretypes represented from all over. Dark, milk, truffles, ganache (my gosh good) etc. each piece I tried was full of flavor. They also have chocolate bars and sipping chocolate. And they even featured hand painted greeting cards by a local artist! Lovely. Whenever I was in SB I tried to swing by because Chocolate Maya is a neat place to pick up a chocolate treat!

Fantastic chocolate with great variety. Live on the east coast and can even say it travels from…read morecoast to coast!

As someone who has traveled to Europe many times and tried a variety of local chocolatiers there,…read morethe huge stream of 5-star reviews (and finding out the owners were French) had me ecstatic. However, my experience was disappointing. The two girls in the shop were almost asleep. One was barely conscious, the other was trying to make up for her. The chocolates looked very interesting, but they were rather dull-looking and often hard to differentiate because the display case had no lights. Add to this the already dim lighting of the store and that it was an overcast day outside, and it felt like trying to buy chocolates in an old library. As for the chocolates themselves, they did not taste like French/European chocolates at all; they had the very standard American chocolate taste-that is, Hershey-like and with no deep resounding real cacao flavor that is like bass from a speaker on your tongue. That's what real European chocolate tastes like. This was just sugar, sugar, sugar, and cute designs. Maybe they are using cheaper American ingredients rather than importing higher quality ones? No point in having the Eiffel Tower on your logo if you wouldn't be able to keep this store open in France. But the best part: the girl at the counter didn't let me try anything other than the three pre-selected types of bon bons on the sample tray! How cheap can you get? I've never had any chocolatier deny a sample of a simple truffle, especially not one with the gall to charge $3 per chocolate in a tiny town like Carp! $35 for a dozen, just to not even be able to try what you are putting in the box? You must be joking. Anyways, onto trying to find another good chocolatier in the 805...

We decided to come back to this fantastic gluten free bakery and cafe. It was only 2 minutes walk…read morefrom the Kimpton hotel we stayed at. This store was packed the entire weekend when we came in. Store is big and spacious with two sections. One is sit down cafe, the other is bakery and take out area. It's all fast casual style though. They have a lot of varieties to choose from and great coffee and tea to go menu. They take reservations for weekend brunch too. I picked quite a few pastries to try. My favorites are lemon tart and lemon bar. Obviously I like lemon flavored pastries. The red velvet vegan cupcake and blueberry muffin were delicious as well. I am so jealous of this gluten free kitchen bakery and cafe. Wish we had something like this near my home! This is our must stop whenever we are in Santa Barbara!

It's one thing for a restaurant to have great food, but what really makes a place stand out is how…read morethey treat their customers when something doesn't go according to plan. Lilac Patisserie delivered on both fronts. The food and ambiance were excellent, and we really enjoyed our visit. We ran into a small issue with our order, and after bringing it to the attention of the staff, they handled it with genuine care and professionalism. The way the team and management responded turned what could have been a negative experience into one that left an even stronger impression. The salmon plate, pancakes, and chicken sausage were all delicious. The coffee was okay, but that's hardly why you come here. The real standout was the service. Great food is memorable, but exceptional hospitality is what keeps people coming back. We'll definitely be returning.

Discovered this wonderful Santa Barbara maker of gourmet truffles and other chocolates just in time…read morefor the holiday season--YUM! Oh.My.Word. The gingerbread and coconut-enrobed peppermint truffles were absolutely outstanding, and my cadre of foodie recipients were both delighted and impressed. Even more outstanding was the sample of the white chocolate-chai-turmeric truffles; they are to die for. Unusual and completely wonderful, creamy, with a subtle blend of ingredients I'd never think of (but which worked to perfection). Owner Michelle is herself delightful, boxing up a fairly large special order promptly and quite prettily. Not only is she eager to accommodate her customers, but she even offered to deliver when circumstances put us in a bit of a bind. Highly recommended--Five Stars!

I'v never had Turkish delights but I do love baklava so much. Glad we came in to get Turkish…read moredesserts and tea to go. We stayed in downtown Santa Barbara so this store was 2 minutes walk from our Kimpton hotel. The store itself is very spacious and stylish. I picked assorted baklava, modern and traditional delights. The traditional ones are naturally gluten free. The Turkish iced tea was so delicious and strong. The desserts were amazingly tasty! I will have to order from their online store from time to time. The service was friendly and fast!

Took a day trip to SB and wanted to try some interesting sweets. I like Turkish coffee, so I…read morefigured this would be an interesting option. They sell lots of flavors of Turkish coffee, and I was used to a sweetened and cardamon flavored version I had had in Egypt, Jordan and Israel, so I opted for the cardamon version. What they serve here was unsweetened, so I needed to add sugar, but it was good. On the sweets side, they have cheesecake, baklava... but the dominant sweet here is Turkish Delight. They have a myriad of flavors here, using various Middle Eastern nuts and spices as flavoring. They have the traditional cubed gelatin version, along with a rolled version that is a little softer and less chewy. It is all sold by weight, so you can mix and match.

Wow. Can't say enough about this place. It is a must visit and I will definitely go back…read more The setting is delightful and gives French bakery, with a counter service and table service option. We arrived during a busy Saturday morning and were lucky to be seated right away. Our server Sidney was awesome. Arrived with a smile, patients made great recommendations, and very efficient. Props to Sterling, also her brother, and his excellent basing support as well as keeping our water glasses filled. We also had the opportunity to meet one of the co-owners who was humble and helpful! The food was some of the best I tasted! The pastries were amazing and sauces delectable. Everything was cooked to order and prepared with care. We were so happy with our food that we had to take some pastries to go. We will definitely be back to visit this charming place!

Alessia Patisserie has the prettiest cakes and pastries in Santa Barbara, hands down! Located in…read moreDowntown Santa Barbara, this adorable spot is both a patisserie and a cafe. It can get pretty crowded during peak brunch time, but it's worth the wait. They offer both indoor and outdoor patio seating. They have an amazing pastry case with their desserts and pastries on display. I was immediately drawn to the gorgeous desserts like the orange, mango guava, limoncello, yogurt berry square cake, yuzu curd with blueberries and coconut, and lemon raspberry tart. These little works of art were not only gorgeous but tasted delicious as well! Their pastries are also a must. I love their Bacon Cheddar Chive Scone! Their Squash Blossom pastry is seasonal, but I hope they bring it back because it is so good. I'm also huge fan of their brunch! Their Blue Crab Crepe is incredible. If you're only going to get one entree for brunch, get this one! It comes with two delicate crepes, the tastiest lemon hollandaise, chives, and lots of crab meat inside! Soo good! The Duck Confit Hash was another winner. It comes with crispy potatoes, hollandaise, pickled fresno chile, cilantro, and poached egg. I enjoyed the Parmesan, sundried tomato, and basil quiche as well! They also offer a Seasonal Handcut Pasta Dish which changes. It's from Aperitivo, and they make such good fresh pasta! The Lemon Spaghetti Pasta I had during my visit was spot on. Definitely worth visiting!

I found Deux on Yelp as I craved a sweet treat. A small, mom & pop vibe with robust deliciousness…read more Rolando made the flan from scratch and with lots of love - evident in the rich flavor. The Trea Leches cake was also a treat, not too heavy or sweet. A must try!

This bakery was amazing. Everything tasted incredibly fresh and high quality. The banana bread and…read morebran muffin were both delicious, super soft and moist without feeling heavy, and clearly made with care. The service was also really friendly, which made the whole experience even better. You can tell they take pride in what they make. Definitely coming back.

I absolutely adore this shop!! The vibe is very charming, intimate, and warm. I have never seen so…read moremany different infused olive oils and balsamic vinegars before. I really appreciate that you can taste the products. I found so many I loved and tasting the notes helped me better envision what I could use each one for and how it fit into my cooking style. I also like how they offer each product in two sizes. The people here are so warm, friendly, and knowledgeable as well. They were so ready to help and give information about their store and their products.

I love olive oil stores, especially the ones in California have wonderful products. Viva Oil on…read moreState Street in the heart of Santa Barbara didn't disappoint! The store has a nice decor, airy, it's welcoming, has a wide variety of olive oils and balsamic vinegars with nice flavors (some fruit based - fig anyone?), nice staff and reasonable prices. Great place to shop at, you can get a set for a nice gift or a couple of bottles for dipping and salads at home!

This ice cream was beyond phenomenal. Great service as well! If you are nearby, I DEFINITELY…read morerecommend to stop by!!!

Located in downtown Santa Barbara, you'll find a sweet treat to beat the summer heat!…read more Now I get it. It's super smooth and creamy, full of flavor from the get go. There is no sit-down and it's a to-go ice cream spot but I definitely get the infamy it has because it is that good.