Santa Barbara Restaurants
Wine Cask
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- Overall (3)
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Take a 20-year-old wine shop, a large 1920s landmark dining room with a big stone fireplace, an outdoor dining patio, and outstanding Italian fare, and mix them with an attractive staff and clientele, and you've got the Wine Cask -- the most popular upscale dining spot in Santa Barbara. Here you'll be treated to such comforting creations as braised oxtail with crème fraîche mashed potatoes and roasted seasonal vegetables. Other options include potato and prosciutto-wrapped local halibut in cioppino sauce, Niman Ranch pork cheek ravioli, and butternut-squash risotto with a fig glaze and Parmesan crisp. The wine list reads like a novel, with more than 1,000 wines ($14-$1,400), and has deservedly received the Wine Spectator award for excellence. There's also a happy hour at the beautiful maple bar from 4 to 6pm daily.
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