The Daisy

Doesn’t matter if it’s lunch or dinner, this is my go to. The Daisy is a restaurant with counter service and a small retail marketplace. Service is efficient and the staff is warm and friendly. My order never changes: the little gem salad with chicken salad. Cherry tomatoes, radish, fresh herbs, crispy onions, and a lemony green goddess dressing that is bright and satisfying every time. I also love their signature mezze plate, which is perfect to share. It comes with beet muhammara, hummus, labneh, olives, zhoug, a six minute egg, and grilled flatbread. Their seasonal soups are always delicious, made fresh daily and served with grilled sourdough. They offer online ordering, which makes takeout easy. Reservations are accepted for groups of 6 or more. You can email anytime or call during business hours. Bar seating is a favorite. You can grab another drink without having to get up and wait in line. Their wine selection is solid, and the overall flow makes dining feel relaxed even during busy hours. Located in the Cultural Arts District near the Granada Theater inside Victoria Court, it is a great stop before a show or an easy, reliable meal any time of day. The small retail section is thoughtfully curated with produce, pantry goods, fresh dips, spreads, and pickly things. Add in in house pastries and bread, seasonal specials, and outdoor patio seating, and it is easy to see why this place stays in my regular rotation. Parking is easy. City Lot #5 is located behind the restaurant. Enter on Chapala Street with the cross street at Anapamu Street. Fresh, organic, and consistently good.

We hosted a retreat for 140 MBA students here and they absolutely crushed it! The food was amazing with options for everyone (vegans, vegetarians, gluten-free folks — no one was left out). The staff was super friendly and kept everything running smoothly, even with a crowd this big. Everything came out on time, and our group left happy and full. Chef Carmen brought so many flavours, especially with the chicken! We all went for seconds. Highly recommend this spot if you’re planning a big group event — they made it easy and fun!

Fresh, wholesome food for lunch or dinner. There are great options for vegans/vegetarians, and meat-eaters. I love that the produced is sourced locally from the Santa Barbara farmers market. Order at the counter, find a seat, and they will bring your food out to you. The house made lemonade is very refreshing, and the perfect amount of sweet (it’s not overly sweet at all!!!). I had the mezze plate, it was fresh, delicious, and it was enough for meals for me. The desserts are also unique and tasty (although I don’t believe they are vegan). Super fun to enjoy dining outside on State street. There are lots of prepackaged foods inside for purchase if you need something quick on the go. Parking is in the paid lot behind Victoria Court (free for the first 75 minutes). On weekend evenings it can be difficult to find a parking spot here since it’s shared with many businesses and restaurants. I look forward to coming back for lunch sometime.

Best falafel in Santa Barbara (dare I say)! Made an impromptu stop for lunch at The Daisy and enjoyed every moment of the meal. Plenty of vegan and vegetarian options! You can tell they prepare the ingredients and care about the quality of the food - everything was super fresh. Also, I really appreciated how clean the staff kept the restaurant, even during busy periods. Everyone we interacted with from ordering to being served was extremely friendly and helpful. This place is food done right…simple, fresh, but made with passion. Chef’s kiss!

Light, fresh and creative food, executed flawlessly! Good outdoor seating too (there's more in the back if the front is full). The restaurant is in the middle of a very touristy area so we weren't expecting much, but ended up enjoying every bite. The sandwiches were extremely flavorful (with good veggie options) as was everything else - down to the seasoning on the housemade pickles. Next time we're in SB, this will definitely be on the itinerary.