The partners behind Little Dom’s recently expanded their Santa Barbara County footprint in October with newcomer Bar Lou in Montecito. For the past 16 years, Warner Ebbink and chef Brandon Boudet have put their full effort into Little Dom’s in Los Feliz, later expanding to Little Dom’s Seafood in Carpinteria in 2020. With Bar Lou, they’ve taken a thoughtful detour from their mostly casual Italian menu into a full-on coastal approach, with a menu that reads like a restaurant in the south of France.

Boudet and Ebbink had no intentions of opening another restaurant, but the opportunity came in when the previous tenant, Oliver’s, closed in April 2024. The duo is already preparing to be a part of the ambitious Ojai hotel project, the El Roblar, which should open in 2025. But the chance to flip a key space in Montecito seemed worth it, so they took four months to rework the space. “We knew that if we ever got the opportunity to open something in Montecito, we would definitely consider it,” says Ebbink. “It’s arguably the best location on Coast Village Road with the nicest patio. It really reminds us of Dominick’s,” referring to their shuttered West Hollywood restaurant Dominick’s, which they opened in 2003 before closing it in 2015. (It’s since become Amour.)

Throughout the years, Boudet and Ebbink established relationships with local purveyors and farmers, including Wild Local Seafood Co. and Santa Barbara bread staple Oat Bakery. They’ve incorporated those products into small plates like roasted carrots, crab cakes, meat-and-cheese platters, and the smoked black cod smörrebröd sandwich layered with dill pollen creme fraiche, potato, and pickled fennel. Larger plates include spaghettini with Santa Barbara sea urchin and a steak au poivre with fries.

Boudet also created Bar Lou’s beverage program, bringing selections from every major wine region with a particular emphasis on Santa Barbara County and Central Coast vintners. The beers rotate on tap, while boozy classic cocktails use local ingredients as much as possible, like a Guillotine made with bourbon, allspice dram, Genepi, and fresh lemon.

Boudet and Ebbink worked with Isabelle Dahlin Design and Mahte Design to reimagine the space’s four dining rooms. They’ve doubled the restaurant’s capacity to 135 seats, most of which are on the tree-lined patio with a fireplace. There’s a direct view of the 12-seat custom marble bar separated by a big sliding bronze door. Those familiar with Little Dom’s will feel right at home with the French oak flooring and leather booths. Boudet and Ebbink sourced vintage oil paintings of dogs and pieces from Los Angeles flea markets, which now line the bar and dining room walls.

The mega-celebrity neighborhood of Montecito has an average home price of $6,550,000, according to Redfin. Oprah Winfrey, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, and Google’s former CEO own homes here. Montecito’s hotels match the region’s pricing energy with the Montecito Beach House or San Ysidro Ranch, whose rooms start for well over $1,000 per night. Dubbed the “American Riviera,” locals reserve seats at Lucky’s, the majestic (and private) Montecito Club, or AMA Sushi inside the Rosewood Miramar for a $185 omakase. It’s now possible to cosplay like European royalty while eating a surprisingly solid dinner in one of California’s toniest zip codes.

Bar Lou is open daily from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. at 1198 Coast Village Road, Santa Barbara, CA, 93108.