what a shame that this favorite spot has gone down hill. the sandwiches we ordered were terrible, the price was high for such bad food. we won't be back. read more

This is the second time in a month I stopped for a sandwich and the bread was stale. Not a little stale, very stale. 2x!! Tasteless egg salad and wilted lettuce. I would have taken it back, I was in the road. $15 wasted. Unacceptable for a place who holds their reputation so highly. Sorry, but the old Pierre is long gone. read more

This is our Dean and Deluca. I stopped going there for no good reason, given it's a 5 minute drive from my boyfriend's condo where I live over half the year. But he's not as enamored of takeout as I am. I don't get it: he will eat a can of chili or a boring salad he makes with bacon bits and a jar dressing if not going out, but doesn't want to pick up amazing stuff to eat home at the deli. He'd even rather get hole-in-the-wall good Thai in a ridiculously tacky space (Your Place on Milpas) than get gourmet takeout (10 a person for a lot of it) to eat in his beautiful condo. I never have understood his aversion to this form of eating when not going out! So I've been going more of late and loving it so much: enchiladas, flatbreads, soups, sandwiches, veggie/side salads. PLF is wonderful and it's immaculate. Also most of the people who shop here regularly are Montecito locals and it is a cozy, friendly vibe. Also it's fun to gawk at the giant rocks and other jewelry about which you can only dream. Chicken noodle is probably the best in town. I like their egg salad too. Dave's Gourmet pasta sauce is 11.75 and like homemade. I've tried only the heirloom tomato (I was sick and avoiding spicy foods so didn't try the spicy heirloom tomato) but all of them looked great. read more

I really, really wanted to like this place. We visited while on vacation in Santa Barbara and I was in the mood for a light lunch somewhere with a more upscale, chichi feel. Of course that means Montecito:-) First off, it is very, very expensive for what you get. Sandwiches are $10-12. You'll pay $10-15 per person for a simple counter service light muffin & coffee breakfast. This place has great people-watching. Ask a native Californian to form a mental image of old Montecito and the people you'll see here are probably what you have in mind. There's the young, tan blond mom with her two blond kids in all-white tennis clothes; older couples in golf clothes having a lunch meeting with financial advisor; "ladies who lunch" out lunching together in groups of threes and fours. We stopped in at 2 pm on a weekday so it wasn't busy. I've heard that this place can get very busy in the mornings but it was definitely not crowded when we were there. We had sandwiches from the deli counter (made to order) that were quite good. Terrific bread. The surprise hit of our meal was my husband's black bean enchiladas (sitting in the deli case but they warmed them up for him.) Baked goods looked a little tired - maybe the type that don't weather time well and looked better several hours earlier? The salad bar was a joke. I'd lured my husband here because he loves salad bars, especially the kind like Whole Foods which have a bunch of prepared items like couscous, etc. This one was teeny and everything looked a little wilted. Worst of all, many of the items did not look fresh, like the pineapple and canned mandarin oranges (WHY? This is California and it's tangerine season.) They had stuff like dried apricot halves. Just weird and not appetizing. They serve Peet's coffees and teas. Coffee/tea counter was fast and friendly. Could have been a little tidier inside. Presuming they had a morning rush, after it ended they could do things like pick up empty sugar packets, sweep and wipe near the trash bins etc. Lovely outdoor patio seating with enough choices of shade, sun, or both to make everyone happy. Old dude at table next to us was making a deal to buy real estate in Scotland while we ate and that was just such classic Montecito that it made the trip to Pierre Lafond worthwhile for the people watching alone. read more

Went here to taste the famed farm cake. The farm cake reminded me a little bit of a cheesecake that I have had before with chocolate. It was pretty tasty, but I have to say that it was a bit dried out, especially towards the bottom of the pastry. Overall, it was a decent item, but nothing to write home about. Some of the other pastries looked good though so might try something else next time. read more

I have been coming here since I was a child and am still like a child in the store. On countless occasions, I have driven up solely for a slice of lemon cake. They had a wide variety of gourmet items to choose from. I am eternally a fan of Pierre Lafond. read more

Two words: Upscale Takeout I discovered this place while I was driving out in Montecito and Google Maps failed on me. I was hungry and I saw this place, so I decided to stop by. This place had a cozy vibe and it seemed like it was a local to all of the Montecito residents. I ordered the chicken enchilada. The service was actually quick for it being so busy! I went to the nearby park to eat it because they had no seating(they have tables outside, but it was full). It. Was. Spectacular! They also had desserts - coconut cake and german chocolate cake. I would have ordered them, but I was too full and satisfied from my enchilada. Plus, Mexican food and german cake - I don't know about that one! I have my eye on the desserts next time! Please stop by here, you do not want to miss out. read more

Anytime i visit Santa Barbara this shopping center with all the Pierre shops is one of my first stops. I really like their food and most of the staff is great, especially Rocio (i think is her name) but the guy who got us our food at the counter said we didn't need a ticket, but then the cashier said we did, so we went back to the guy at counter and he got us our stuff, a little disorganized.. and Rocio helped out the guy at the cash register but the food is yummy especially their cold salads, like eggplant with feta or caprese..mm i want some now.. read more

Ah Pierre Lafond. My Lafond-ness grows for you after every visit. I have been visiting this coffee shop since I was a little girl and make it a point to stop by whenever I find myself in beautiful Montecito. My favorite time of day to stop is before 10:00 am. The kona muffins are to die for and they always have some sort of unique blend of coffee roasting and ready for you. One thing I love about this place too is that you always stand a good chance of seeing a celebrity. I make it a point to sit outside at one of their tables for as long as I can stand in hopes of catching a glimpse of one of the many famous people residing in the area. So definitely check out this quaint coffee shop if you can! I highly recommend it! read more

What's happened to this place? It's gone down hill over the years in my opinion. Very poor quality sandwiches . dry and boring. It seems like everything they make is very inconsistent. You never know what you're going to get. Are the employees one big family? They stand around chitchatting, have no sense of urgency, and are usually rude. You feel like you're bothering them when you ask for anything. It's really sad. I once loved coming here. I only come if I really need to now when in the area. read more

THE BEST FRIES! I am a self professed connoisseur of French Fries and I am here to tell you don't skip Pierre Lafond. I have pretty much decided next time I'm there I will skip ordering a sandwich and go straight to a side of fries. They are perfectly shaped for dipping and I just love them. Until we meet again Pierre Lafond. read more

This is our favorite store in Montecito. The market has a great selection of prepared foods that are perfect for a picnic and a fresh juice bar and great coffees as well. I got the Lulu's special juice - it was chucked full of organic kale, pineapple, spinach, parsley, apple and more. It was really refreshing and I just may try to recreate it at home. They have fantastic homemade breads and muffins that are too good to resist. They have a nice selection of oils, vinegars, sauces etc. They have a vast chocolate selection as well. It'd be easy to make a wonderful dinner with all the ingredients from this store. We usually grab something to eat and sit in one of the tables outside if it's a nice day. Definitely worth a stop! read more

So I'm gonna preface this by saying I rarely ever give reviews unless something is way out of the norm for better or worse... This was by far for worse, and it has nothing to do with this place being crazy over priced, the blandness, or the lack of quality. I would never have even cared enough to potentially hurt their business but something just struck a cord with the last events I experienced here. I left my sunglasses on the table outside and walked to the trash can, then to the inside counter for a to go container, and back to find when I returned my glasses were not there. I began searching around the area and eventually my car, and several places I knew they could not be in a feverish attempt to find them. I ended up going inside and asking the staff if they bussed my table and took them by mistake. At this time a women working in the back said no, but "I saw that lady again." To this my interest piqued; and the woman continued about some older woman known for coming around and occasionally stealing items from costumers off the outside table. I almost couldn't believe the thought of someone in such an affluent area do this, but even worse the idea that Pierre La Fonde staff where aware enough of this to know when the women came in! I made a point to give all my info and tell them to watch out for this women and confront her, or call me if the sun glasses turned up.... Then I give up and start to leave again when I walk outside and see a man outside on the table next to where I had sat previously. I decided to ask if he had seen anything, and explained what had happened just as I wrote it in this review. A slight smile emerges on the mans face and he chuckles, " no I haven't seen your sunglasses, but let me know if you see my hat"! And he then tells me how his hat was stolen from his table at a past trip doing the exact motion I did! He mentioned knowing another person who had glasses stolen from there and that it's apparently not uncommon for things to go missing from this local. Needless to say I left pretty astonished, I followed up several times with the staff to be essentially brushed off. Then today the final straw that made me post this as a warning, I spoke with one of the workers that I spoke to the day my glasses went missing; I asked her if she has seen or confronted the women in question, she said the other worker who knew who it was no longer worked there, which was contrary to what she personally said two weeks prior... She goes onto say they've had this problem for a while, and they've even had their umbrellas go missing! I said they should put up a sign because even though they are not liable, they have a business in an area where people let theirs guard down, and it's an ongoing problem. She brushed me off a little more, and so I decided I would write my own sign; you have just read it. So just remember when you go and eat that five dollar croissant you stand to be ripped off more than once!! read more

I had the pleasure of working at Pierre Lafond in Montecito from 1981 to 1983. It was my first job. Pierre and his crew showed me a lot about wine, about work, about pastries and even painting (I painted the entire bakery wall). Anyways, I recommend this wonderful landmark of French food, fine food and great wine in Montecito. Pierre was the first vintner in the Santa Ynez Valley, which is now the state's second-largest wine-growing region, after Napa Valley. His Santa Rita Hills Estate Chardonnays are among the best in the state. At Pierre Lafond Montecito, you can find the full range of his great wines, plus many other California stand-outs as well as a few from France and Italy. The cheese selection is excellent, with many staples from France. The deli serves up great sandwiches that can be eaten right out side, by the placid waters of the old fountain. In the back, a full French bakery with all the usual coffee and espresso drinks makes for a well-rounded experience. There are gift-cards and fun trinkets to brighten up any party or gathering. Pierre taught me a lot about work, wine and customer service. I miss the days of working for him and learning the ropes in a truly wonderful place. Best regards, Pierre - Philipp ("The Philosopher") read more

One of my little treats while visiting my dentist's office nearby is to get a cup of (Peet's) coffee at Pierre Lafond to savor during my drive home on the backstreets of Montecito. This morning, I stopped in to buy a cup and was disappointed to see that they had switched from Peet's to Caribbean Coffee. The coffee now tastes like average swill, and I won't be back until they either switch to a better brand or figure out how to keep it from tasting like typical diner coffee. This is Montecito after all; Pierre Lafond should serve a premium coffee. read more

Overrated? I think so. It's good but it is nothing to write home about. I got their oatmeal and a chai tea latte. Meh. Also most of the people there were quite rude. Not the staff, the customers. I feel bad for their poor staff having to deal with those people every day. read more

Would only be two and a half except for VERY helpful counter lady. Came to order lunch food for boat trip next day. Unfortunately they did not have roast beef as an option as my wife wanted (they did have tri tip steak but we had that previously for dinner). After switching to turkey the lovely woman behind the counter understood my "eat tomorrow" dilemma and offered to deconstruct the sandwich, placing all ingredients in individual containers/wrapping so as to try to preserve for next day. An excellent gesture. Too bad the baguette was already stale before she wrapped it. And for the money I thought meat quantity was small. I chose to attempt to buy items and make my own sandwich for the trip, buying a slab-no joke over half inch thick-of house made meatloaf and a burger bun to create my meal. Upon tasting the meatloaf, the predominant flavor was green peppers. Who puts green peppers in meatloaf? On top of that, the burger bun, like the baguette, was dry and stale. Fell apart while trying to eat the sandwich. Ended up using fork to finish the meatloaf. Having worked in grocery stores/delis for over three decades at all levels, I can also tell you that I know that none of the salads available in the cold case were fresh, or had even a stir within the previous twenty four hours. Veggies completely soaked up dressing in one, old translucent tomatoes in another, and shriveled up chick peas in another. I know slow business due to Covid can make producing fresh product problematic but someone needs to pay more attention here. Lastly, also purchased a peanut butter bar which just tasted like a melted peanut butter cup. Disappointing considering all the good reviews a read before coming. read more

Avoid the Reuben sandwich, which I had unfortunately tried yesterday. Not sure what animal the meat came from; greasy, gristly and downright disgusting. The sauerkraut should've been tossed out a week ago and the Russian dressing was pre-Berlin wall. You might say "what do you expect for $15?" The answer: "something edible." Love to see Gordon Ramsey's reaction to this place. read more

Convenient if you live or are staying near the upper village. I always feel icky re: how they treat employees here: lighter skinned folks always at the register, darker ones doing the sweeping, cutting, stocking, etc. Expensive. But...the turkey burger with air fries -- not be missed. And the salad bar has some great ingredients. And as others have noted, you'll see celebrities from time to time. read more

I love Montecito and I love taking a break from the brain-numbing traffic of the 101 on friday night. It really isn't that far off the freeway to take a jog up San Ysidro Cyn. The coffee here is great and the salad bar is small but well stocked. The sandwiches here are very pricey, good because the bread is excellent except sunday night when they ran out of baguettes and they put my turkey sandwich on a 2 slices of self-destructing wheat bread. It was in my lap in 5 minutes. The staff are well groomed, courteous and clueless, you'll have to repeat your order twice. Food and groceries here tends to be double what you would spend elsewhere but it is Montecito. Ah, the hills, the trees...The Range Rovers. read more

Pierre La Fond is part of the culinary backwater that plagues the Santa Barbara food scene. The food that is served in their café/take away establishment is somewhat criminal when you consider the farmer's markets and vineyards that are within 1/2 hour of this location. It is almost criminal that the small village of Montecito has to tolerate such an abdominal food establishment. The deli counter and menu offerings in their café/take away establishment are tasteless, artless products pushed across the counter by the register staff. The only dynamic addition to the food scene is the vast array of fizzy drinks stocked in it's refrigerators. They seem to compete with the 7-Eleven to determine who has the broadest array of Gatorade and Red Bull to offer the clientele. C'mon Pierre Lafond!! Revamp and rethink your worn out concepts. Montecito can afford something better. read more

This is such an odd place. Bakery, deli, salad bar, coffee bar, kitchen gadget store, greeting cards, wine shop, gourmet food store....I'm forgetting something...oh yes, clothing store (!) (you can get in there through the deli.) Everything mentioned at each outlet is very expensive as most have noted. And though, it does sort of mimic a Whole Foods with the variety, it certainly lacks in quality and atmosphere. Stale pastries, wilted lettuce, dusty bottles of merchandise in the gourmet food section, boring atmosphere - I actually thought I was walking into the kitchen when I was heading towards the salad bar. I bought a bottle of Teavana - which was slightly room temperature, even though I pulled it out of the frig - so I went back to the coffee bar to ask for a glass of ice. I swear she scooped the ice out of what looked like a trash can behind the bar. I didn't see an ice machine. The patio overlooks the parking lot, so it's hard to find a place to enjoy yourself and relax without someone starting their car, and fearing the worst of someone potentially forgetting to put the car in reverse - hey, it happens! Next time I'm in town, I'll look for someplace else. It's too bad, because it's such a gorgeous neighborhood. read more

I have been coming here for years. It is great if you want to see all the rich and famous of Santa Barbara, however the food isn't that good. The coffee is great now that they brought back Kona coffee and it is great for people watching. The rest of the food is blah although the salad bar is fresh. read more

I don't normally write reviews, but I love this place! It's unique and set in an adorable area. Grab a coffee and a treat, and sit outside by the fountain! read more

I used to visit the small Paseo Nuevo location almost daily because I worked in the mall -I know this is a few years back. I no longer live in SB but when I visit I try to stop by the Montecito location. The main reasons: Farm Cake and Wine Loaf, absolutely love them. They're different than any other pastries that you will find at other bakeries or cafes. Reason why I took off one star is because ordered the smoked tri-tip sandwich and it was lackluster. The region is known for delicious tri-tip and this was not. Other than that, love this place. read more

two words describe this place and everything you need to know about it 'FARM CAKE' the Montecito location is one of my favorites places to go ever since I was a kid. Its the best place to go for a lunch and relax in the shade by the fountain read more

After eating at Pierre La Fond in SB, I traveled here for a yummy after lunch dessert. I bought a chocolate croissant - yum! A few macarons - double yum. And a slice of blueberry cake that was sweet and moist. I can't wait to make it back. Great customer service as well. read more

Really great selection of jarred foods and spreads like the fig and olive paste or the basil pesto aioli.

Not a lot of vegan options but lots of other yummies, great coffee, and great people-watching. A Montecito landmark.

I've lived in Santa Barbara for 2 years and JUST found this place. So far I have had the Coconut White Out Cake, the Flourless Chocolate Truffle Cake, and the German Cake. My favorite is the Flourless Chocolate Truffle Cake. It is to die for! The crab cakes are great too. I plan on visiting this place quite frequently now that I know it exists. The staff is incredibly nice as well. read more

Like almost every other business, there's the good with the bad. I choose to dwell on the good because I really love this place. It's not unusual to see Pierre out there bussing tables. The people that frequent the store all seem to have the same pride for the place. You can tell the passers-though because they often come with their computers and leave their trash on the tables for the staff to pick up after them. My favorite thing to eat here is the SMOKED SALMON served on the bagel and lox sandwich with capers, tomatoes and red onion. It's the best I've had in Santa Barbara (Great taste, color and texture; perfectly cut.) Other favorites are their enchiladas and quiches. Also good, Pierre's fairly priced cafe and bakery. Sure, some things are outrageously priced, like a $9 chocolate bar and some of their $8 refrigerated beverages, but in general, this store offers quality and ambiance, a warm and welcoming place for your coffee klatch to gather, a place to meet a friend for lunch or grab a coffee or freshly juiced green drink on your way out of town. By the way, a tip to the person that finds the staff rude--- try treating them like human beings and you will be welcomed with smiles and graciousness. read more

Pierre Lafond - Sorry I couldn't wait to sink my teeth into it before snapping a photo. Great taste, color and texture. Best smoked salmon in Santa Barbara! - Sandwiches Near Me - Montecito, California

worst caprese sandwich ever the tomatoes were pink, mushy, and sandwich was tasteless, and the gal ringing us up had as much personality as the tomatoes... read more

I work around the corner and when I don't bring my lunch I come here, the deli food is good -- love the chicken curry wrap, the Deli Cobb salad, and all the enchiladas. That being said, I waited 25 MINUTES for my salad on 3/15/14, just standing there ate up half my lunch hour, and then my Cobb salad tasted like the inside of a refrigerator. Not cool, Pierre. Hoping it was just an off day, the counter woman apologized many times for my wait but it's not like I got a free Coke for the inconvenience. Will give them another chance when time doesn't matter so much. read more

I love this place. There are few gourmet take-out delis in Santa Barbara, and this is probably the best. Extremely delicious frittatas, creme brulee, bread pudding, rice pudding, and pre-packaged burritos. (The pre-packaged Montecito Wrap was just okay.) Prices are steep (which makes me weep over the similar-yet-more-afforable-and-more-selections gourmet take-out place on 4th street in Berkeley), but doable. There's a cafe in the back and tons of high-end, more unusual chocolates, pastries, bottled drinks, and confections. Outdoor seating is very pleasant and the crowd is low-key, amicable, and polite. I sort of want to try everything. The easter stuff is so adorable! read more

Great place to grab a cup of coffee to go or order a sandwich to take to the beach. Super friendly service.

The only good thing about this place is the farm cake. Customer service is terrible & the managers are straight up jerks to their employees. It's also very run down, Pierre please invest in remodeling. It's Montecito after all. Right? read more

Yesterday, on a hot Sunday afternoon, my wife and I stopped at Pierre Lafond for some tea and cake. While waiting to order, the clerk had his back to us, chatting to his fellow workers. After my third "Excuse me?" he turned to us without a word: no "How are you folks?" or "Can I help you?" - just a cold stare until I placed my order for a slice of mousse cake and a brownie. When I went up to pay, I was handed a small plastic container - the cake and the brownie were both crammed in there, squashed together. It took a while to separate them but the "service" and the spoiled presentation meant that our pleasant afternoon snack was anything but. I'd heard about the slapdash service at this place and wouldn't recommend it to anyone. read more

Only went here once, had a sandwich emergency. Really needed a sandwich right then and I guess I should have known better than to go to a place in Montecito for one, but $12.50 for a simple sandwich???? That is unbelievable. The sandwich was really mediocre and when I order I asked what it came with (because of price) and the guy said "a side salad." Nope, just some corn chips. What a complete rip off. read more

Amazing local market. Great food as well. Can't beat their breakfast burritos. They have amazing local groceries. Amazing coffee. Beautiful place to sit down and eat. read more

such a great small and cozy market, I love the coffee bar and the staff is so helpful. what else can you ask for, healthy, organic, clean and a great spot. keep up the good work! read more