Pure pleasure and local treasure. Warm. Welcoming atmosphere and owner (Patric) Lots of charm. Great food and wine - especially the owner's own wine, developed as a tribute and appreciation for the local fire fighters. It's a second generation love note to his father and grandfather. read more

This specific experience is from a few months ago, and is a part of a growing frustration with what has become of this formerly wonderful sandwich shop. This isn't about public shaming, hopefully it's clear this is about flagging to management that their staff requires more hands on training around food handling, product quality, tidiness and presentation. We ordered four sandwiches around 1:00pm mid week, nobody else was there and there were no tickets ahead of us--just two teenaged boys who looked seriously confused and undertrained and even openly joked about how slow things had been that day--which was an odd comment for a restaurant that looked like it hadn't been bussed yet after a lunch rush. It took both of them about 40 minutes to make four sandwiches in an extremely haphazard manner that inexplicably required them leaving to the back room a lot and returning empty handed--they both weren't familiar with the ingredients of the specialty sandwiches and they joked shoulder to shoulder as they both fumbled through completing the order. I was pretty shocked at how unkept the entire food prep station appeared and the counters and tables hadn't been bussed and were attracting large horseflies from outside --why weren't these guys bussing tables if it was so slow? Why was there A LOT of yellow mustard smeared across the low boy fridge doors? Where was the supervision? Why was it taking so long to make sandwiches that were on the menu with zero modifications? Why was the music so loud? Why was the kid who was just counting cash out of the tip jar, now handling food without washing his hands or wearing gloves? It was a barrage to the senses and a bizarre vignette into an ever-declining understanding of quality service and hospitality standards coupled with an ever-rising high cost of goods. When we got to the park down the street and opened the bag none of the sandwiches had been wrapped properly, no tape, no restrictive folds, just loose sheets of hand crumpled parchment paper, barely restraining the food inside with 360 degree wet condiments covering the OUTSIDE of every sandwich parcel--if you can even call them that. It was a disaster inside that bag. You couldn't reach your hand into the bag without it coming out covered in misc condiments. That same day I called the restaurant to ask if I could speak to the owner and share our observations, the person who answered said that person wasn't available. And before I could ask for an email, the kid hung up on me--but I can't blame him for that, he probably couldn't hear me over the insanely loud music playing on his side of the line. read more

We've picked up lunch from Montecito Gourmet a few times, and the sandwiches are decent, if not the best in town. The menu is long with a lot of overlap in ingredients, many combinations of meat, cheese, and vegetables with a lot of condiments on your choice of bread. There are also salads and flatbread pinsas and various cheese and charcuterie platters. I've stayed home for the pick-ups so have yet to see the place in person, but it's worth noting that they do get overwhelmed by big orders. We got like eight sandwiches last time and the order took over half an hour longer than promised. My friend got an apology and a free cappuccino for his long wait--absolutely wasted, as my husband pointed out, on the one child-free adult in our party--and we all ate a late lunch. I've had a few of the sandwiches, and they've all been solid. The Montecito Club comes with roast turkey, honey baked ham, Swiss, Gruyere, mayo, lettuce, tomato, and avocado. The Butterfly Beach is another roast turkey sandwich, with prosciutto, French brie, mayo, lettuce, tomato, olive oil, and red wine vinegar (though it's worth noting that this one was better when I added balsamic at home). The Italian Style is a meaty, loaded sandwich with hot capicola, Italian Toscano salami, mortadella, provolone, lettuce, tomato, onion, kosher pickles, pepperoncini, olive oil, and red wine vinegar. I made the mistake of getting this juicy sandwich on a French roll, the soft bread got soggy almost immediately. This place gives you a lot of bread options, and I've found I like the sourdough, especially when I'm saving half of my sandwich for later. We usually hit Panino for easy sandwiches, but it's nice to mix it up once in a while. I'm sure we'll order from Montecito Gourmet again, and maybe I'll even land pick-up duty next time. read more

The sandwiches are amazing and fresh, but the service is SO SLOW!!! It's ridiculous how unorganized the staff is, with permanent glazed looks in their eyes. Whoever does the hiring is delusional. And the music they play is awful! read more

Upper village secret locals spot. Come in and grab a sandwich for lunch then come back and get oysters/caviar/ pizza for dinner. Highly recommend their wine list. Great value for your dollar in Montecito! Service is on point and incredible. Inside is intimate with bar and table seating, perfect date night spot. read more

Montecito Gourmet - Bar - Delis Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

This is quite a good spot! They clearly invest in the quality of ingredients for everything they do. I got to try the Spanish chorizo and especially loved it. It's a bit of a hidden gem! The owner and staff members are super friendly and invested in making sure you have a great meal. They also have wine tasting and dinner services! read more

Montecito Gourmet - Montecito Club - Delis Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Went here and man this place isn't the same. Food is eh tastes like a Vons sandwich, wasn't impressed (I'm not the only one). Service is terrible, the lady making my sandwich wasn't wearing ANY gloves... and it took FOREVER for her to make a sandwich. Ambiance was whatever, just basically a hipster place read more

What happened to this great place from years ago. Such a disappointment. Not even close to the quality of meat/bread and amount. The owner has a huge attitude thinking his place is the best in the world. Sadly, he learned nothing from his father. The only saving grace was when he had gracious friendly girls from Carpinteria making the experience better. The five star previous reviews I think were people that only had sandwiches from a gas station or convenience store. read more

If your looking for top Notch Service this is the place to be.Authentic food great service best wines in Santa Barbara this little gem has it all !! Definitely recommend!! Oh a great bang for your buck too. One of my favorite places higly recommend this place! enjoy! read more

Amazing selection of fine meats and cheeses, not to mention their wine! Owner is very engaging, and has an eye for branding and ambiance read more

Incredible spot! SERIOUSLY EXCELLENT wine menu, very impressed. They have a beautiful *house made* Firehouse Cab that is a nod to Santa Barbara/Montecito Fire Department. Patrick the owner is so hospitable and makes a beautiful, welcoming environment, and Peter is also wonderful! read more

Montecito Gourmet - Inside bar. - Delis Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Can't say enough good things about Patrick and his establishment! He has the ability to put ingredients together and come out with a unique, wonderful taste. He's obviously very proud of his craft. Firehouse Pizza was terrific. Biltmore breakfast sandwich was also wonderful There are a number of other things I can't wait to try. Looking forward to many more visits! read more

Placed a corporate lunch order here for about 20 bagged lunches (sandwiches of choice, cookies, and ships). The food was delicious and very sizable. The delivery was prompt and Patrick was extremely personable to interact with when he dropped off the order. He provided us with some extra goodies which was a nice gesture. He seems like a smart man trying to get business with large companies. He even followed up to see how lunch went which was impressive. I will definitely use this place again for lunches and pass on the business information to others. He mentioned being open on evenings Friday and Saturday. I am looking forward to checking it out in person sometime. Thanks Patrick and team! read more

I certainly have enjoyed the Black Forèst Ham and Swiss; it's been one of my faves every time I've come in to this place!. What a treat it has been to find excellent selection with Quantity and quality! read more

Tucked into Montecito's Upper Village, Montecito Gourmet, By Village Wine & is a polished refresh of a longtime local favorite. The thoughtfully curated cheeses, charcuterie, and wines shine, while the warm, inviting space makes it perfect for a relaxed lunch or an easy evening glass of wine. Elevated yet approachable, it fits seamlessly into the charm of the Upper Village and feels destined to become a neighborhood staple once again. read more

I had the Butterfly Beach with Parma prosciutto. It was amazing. Cute little wine bar. Definitely would go back. Hopefully next time he will add prosciutto garlic toast to his meny. read more

I was looking forward to trying their sandwiches for the first time, but from the second we walked in it was an awful experience! The 2 members looked at us, up and down, when we walked in and proceeded to ignore us completely. But the man who walked in a minute after us was greeted as if he was an old friend. We waited for about 4-6 mins, looking over the menu for about a minute of that time, before we finally decided to leave. Not until we started walking away from the counter did he decide to speak to us. I didn't expect to get my order taken right away, but it would have been nice to at least say "hi, I'll be right with you" sometime within those minutes that we were standing there. read more

Full Disclosure! I have never written a restaurant review and I have absolutely no connection to Montecito Gourmet (formerly Village Cheese and Wine). But last night I had the most incredible pizza that I think I have ever had! Ordered it on line. The choices are phenomenal (may sound weird to you but I chose Brie cheese) and ingredients (the basil so fresh). It was ready when I picked it up. Still hot when I got home and absolutely delicious. To the point that I called Patrick Braid ( I had to ask for his name) afterwards to thank him. I have been in the restaurant before for sandwiches...always great, but the pizza was truly exceptional. This man has worked very hard to update the decor and I have never gone in that he has not been there to talk to customers. I just hope my neighbours in Montecito and surrounding areas will take my suggestion and support him. This tiny restaurant lives up to its new name. read more

Montecito Gourmet - Pepperoni, Basil, Brie Cheese...many great choices for toppings. - Delis Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Awesome place with great sandwiches. Firehouse or San Ysidro are my favorites. This thing is loaded with meat. Wish it came with chips and drink like a combo instead of a La carte but if that's the only criticism I have, take it with a grain of salt. My coworkers and I come here often; probably my favorite place to eat in Montecito (the actually Montecito, not tourism row on Coast Village Road). read more

Montecito Gourmet - Firehouse - Delis Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Great sandwiches, especially the Cuban and the ban mi. All great, though. The buns are terrific. The cheese and meats are top notch. They deliver. And you can picnic there. read more

Best Breakfast Sandwich I've ever had! The owner Patrick and all the stuff were so outgoing and friendly. I thoroughly enjoyed my experience and I'll definitely be back. read more

Montecito Gourmet - a hand holding a sandwich - Delis Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Today 5 of us went for hike, after I was able to introduce them to the wine and cheese shop. We ordered sandwiches which by far are some of the best sandwiches they have had. They make a really good sandwich and does not disappoint. Thanks for our little picnic on your front lawn. read more

I had a fantastic experience here! The sandwich was excellent--fresh, high-quality ingredients that really stood out. The bread was perfectly baked, and the meat was flavorful and well-prepared. Considering the quality, the prices are very reasonable for the area. I'll definitely be coming back and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a great sandwich! Very cool Decor too and great service! read more

Pat and crew make the best sandwiches ever. Breakfast or lunch, I always get a great sandwich and always leave extremely satisfied. Keep up the amazing work Montecito Gourmet! read more

Patrick was absolutely incredible, and the food and coffee were above and beyond. In addition to that, the place itself has the most inspiring story - highly recommended to come and hear the story, enioy the fresh coffee, and last but not least - unparalleled sandwiches (with mind boggling selection of cheese and meats). read more

Montecito Gourmet - Patrick, the owner - Delis Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Casual relaxing dinning outside in a beautiful neighbourhood . Delicious ready made food options such as various frittatas, all types of muffins and great coffee. Lots of gourmet items available for purchase and the back room and upstairs are fun to browse for dishes and clothes. read more

The food is incredible. Best sandwiches in town. They have very high-quality ingredients and great recipes. The service, and I say this with love, is really bad. They get the order wrong pretty much every single time. Their shop is organized in a way that makes absolutely no sense. They don't have a system... it's more like, whoever hears your order makes it. They constantly forget to ask for specifications. It will be the shortest line ever, 2 people and it will take like 30 minutes just waiting in line. read more

I regularly stop by Montecito Gourmet for sandwiches on the way to wine country. I love the passion with which the owner serves his customers. He clearly is very proud of the ingredients he serves and shows that confidence by sharing samples of his meats and cheese to new customers. Well, we were sold on that as new customers and have been coming back since. The place does not skimp on sandwich ingredients, which is a critical thing because you want to make sure all that meat and cheese and bread can soak up the massive amount of wine you're about to subject your system too. We will keep stopping by! read more

The best sandwiches in Santa Barbara/Montecito hands down. I ordered the Butterfly Beach and the Miramar. The butterfly beach is the one in the photo. The flavors of the havarti cheese with the balsamic and olive oil is out of this world. The Miramar has a French Brie cheese that compliments the sandwich so well it's so yummy! They also started making breakfast sandwiches which I am excited to go try the next time i go! I was given a sample of cold brew and it was delicious! The owner is very generous! I saw him give a regular a bottle of wine on the house. This place is a must try the next time you are craving a bomb sandwich! read more

Montecito Gourmet - Cold Brew sample - Delis Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Enjoy the Johnny Special today prepared by Patrick and company. They're very welcoming I felt like I was hanging out with friends. The sandwich was prepared fresh whole I waited, which didn't take long. The sandwich itself was a mix a different meats, veggies and cheese, very hearty. A truly unique sandwich, very tasty! Of course you can get your own combinations there. But I opted to have them select the sandwich for me and I was not disappointed with selection. It's truly a world-class sandwich people should come from all over just to try it! I'm glad I decided to stop in and try them out, it will definitely not be my last time there. read more

Montecito Gourmet - Johnny Special - Delis Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

I built my own veggie sandwich- slightly disappointing for 12.50 considering what it was. The meat looked good but as a vegetarian I had limited options. I really wish they had mozzarella cheese. Also, the prices have gone up from what is reflected on some Yelp photos. read more

Montecito Gourmet - Delis Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

My favorite sandwich hands down! I usually get a smoked turkey sandwich, but they have a lot of great options. I've been through many o' sandwich doors, and this one is the best I've walked through. I also really enjoy their brand coffee :) read more

Should be $$. Prices increased by 3$ from menu on here. Good fresh ingredients with many meat and cheese options. I got the butterfly beach with avo. Plenty of meat but sandwich itself not too big. Main issue is the bread selection--it's all sliced. Some rolls could really elevate the sandwiches here. Parking right out front. Currently have a couple small tables you can sit at. read more

Montecito Gourmet - Butterfly Beach - Delis Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

If you like expensive, mediocre dinner theatre, this place is for you. We stopped for sandwiches here while visiting friends in Montesito. The deli is run by a guy who is nice in a "used car salesman" kind of way. In the 15 minutes it took him to make two sandwiches for the people in front of us, we got a good look at the menu, which was very basic - pick your bread (or lettuce, if you're gluten-free), your meat, and cheese. The veggie option was a slice of cheese with lettuce, tomato & onion. Yay. When we finally got up to the front, he immediately sliced razor-thin samples of expensive meats we didn't want and launched into stream-of-sales mode. Once in a while he'd shout, "Isn't that right?!" at the poor 20-something kid working the register, whose main job appeared to be answering his boss with a sad "that's right." When we finally started ordering, they were out of our first two choices, so we wound up with a giant pile of turkey and salami (that we didn't want) and one razor thin slice of "Spanish cheese from Spain" (aka manchego) on store-bought "sourdough" that tasted like white bread. When we unwrapped the sandwiches outside, they genuinely tasted like they were from Subway, and you couldn't taste the manchego at all. This all could've just been a funny story about a disappointing lunch had the sandwiches not cost $33. $33 to wait 25 minutes for our Subway sandwiches in a bland mini-mall deli. read more

We came here 3 times during our short trip to Montecito! If I lived there I would never leave that place alone. Best bagel sandwich I've ever had in all my life!! I've had bagel sandwiches many a time- this is an informed review. The gourmet flavors actually blew my mind! The owner said he might open a shop in Oakland-- I'm SO hoping that's true!! read more

We stopped by this place as a quick detour on a road trip. Wow, it was definitely worth it! Small town delis are amazing but this place tries to make it to a new level. The owner, Patrick, is fantastic and involved in the community. The meats are delicious and the coffee is great. Talk with the guys who are working to see if they can give you some meat samples to home in on what you want. 100% recommended stop. read more

Montecito Gourmet - Break Sandwich - Delis Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Kelly and Victoria make sandwiches to order! Great service and very friendly! Thank you, Ambrose read more

I've been coming to this place literally for 20 years until recently I would drive across town to get here and have a sandwich I am truly disappointed at what the new owner is doing He's taking what used to be thick meat and cheese filled sandwiches and turning them into typical Sandwich shop sandwiches which are Half the meat and full of lettuce and tomato and raising the price 100% I appreciate that he's trying to expand his business into wine tasting and evening events but let's not forget who and what got him here Late owner John who I'm quite sure everybody knew and loved would be turning over right now. read more

This is a great sandwich shop . Super fresh . Outstanding meats. Very nice staff and great service. A must visit in Montecito. read more

Montecito Gourmet - Hot cappacolla on Rye . - Delis Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

A go-to sandwich shop for me every time I come home for a visit. A lot of people in the community grew up eating here every Friday after school. The shop is small and simple but never disappoints. They put plenty of meat on the sandwiches - which is something that sets it apart from other sandwiches across town. The people that work there are always nice too! read more