🚀 go-pugleaf

Clap, clap, clap.

Julie, you are a jeenius.

Love,
Arne




Julian Macassey wrote:
> 
>         In Santa Barbara, off State Street and close to the
> Arlington theatre there used to be a dive bar called Pasquals.
> They served drinks and forgettable Mexican food. The proprietors
> were Pasqual and Lucky, to men who now are old and gray.
> 
>         Pasqual, legend had it, once got into trouble with the
> health department for riding his horse through the bar. Looking
> at some of the customers that leant at the bar in those days,
> there is reason to belive that the horse may have been smarter
> and cleaner than some of the patrons.
> 
>         Last year, they closed Pasquals, leaving one less old
> style dive bar in Santa Barbara. The place was empty with
> occaisional signs that yes, they really were re-modelling and it
> would be open again. Rumour was it was going to be an Italian
> restaurant.
> 
>         In the last couple of weeks, the old Pasquals has
> reopened and it is an Italian restaurant.
> 
>         Last night, after dinner, I went with my dinner
> companions to meet some friends at this new restaurant now called
> Vittoria.
> 
>         The place is well finished with a marble topped bar, good
> air-conditioning, and a white tile floor. There is a grand piano
> and the restaurant manager spends time at the keyboard, providing
> a nice change from recorded music.
> 
>         I went for dessert and drinks. On the wall was a poster
> for Fernet Branca, and to test the "Italian" credentials of the
> place I asked the barman for a Fernet Branca, he poured me one.
> So, while others had wine, whisky and tequila, I had Fascist
> cough syrup.
> 
>         The barman, Milo, who used to tend at the old Pasquals
> also poured an Italian liquer for us called Biscotti. It was a
> new one for me and delicious. It tasted like the name, like a
> biscotti.
> 
>         The bar is well stocked, besides the usual brown and
> white spirits there is a selection of malts, and aperitifs. They
> currently lack some Italian aperitifs like Cynar, Averno,
> Cinzano, but Milo said they would get them in. They do have
> Campari.
> 
>         The entrees, looked good and prices were between $14 and
> $24. The place was packed and I believe it has been since it
> opened. Some of the clientele looked like music industry
> hipsters.
> 
>         The wine by the glass is well priced at around $5 a
> glass.
> 
>         The deserts include the Italian restaurant standby
> teramisu. They are freshb and well presented.
> 
>         I will be going back for dinner. Milo the barman says
> that Wed evenings are the least crowded.
> 
> Vittoria
> 30 East Victoria Street
> Santa Barbara
> California 93101
> 
> Phone: 805 962 5014
> 
> Closed Mondays.
> 
> --
> "We tend to forget. Ours is a society where things are like instant, so
> therefore, history almost is like so far back it doesn't count."
>  - GW Bush, 3/29/06