Jeannine's in Montecito: American Bakery & Restaurant

If you haven't stopped into Jeannine's American Bakery & Restaurant in Montecito yet, you're missing out! A perfect spot for a weekend brunch, bakery treats or a quick sandwich, Jeannine's has four locations in the Santa Barbara area; this review will focus only on their Montecito store.

Jeannine's Bakery & Restaurant Review - Montecito, CA

Just minutes from Santa Barbara and less than a mile from the Pacific Ocean, Jeannine's in Montecito sits at 1253 Coast Village Drive. Store hours are M-Th 6:30am - 4:00pm, Friday 6:30am - 4:30pm and Sat-Sun 7:00am - 4:30pm.

The Dining Experience

When guests arrive to dine at Jeannine's Bakery & Restaurant in Montecito, they will be seated either inside or outside and given a table number. If you choose to dine al fresco in the summer, ask for a table in the shade. Oddly, some tables are positioned in direct sunlight, yet have no umbrellas; in the summer, you can easily leave with a nice sunburn to go along with your full belly.

After reviewing the menu, guests walk up to the bakery counter and give their order to the cashier. Tell the cashier your table number, place your order, pay and then head back to your table. Your food will be brought out by one of the wait staff. Be prepared to sit and wait awhile, particularly on weekend mornings and early afternoons, and especially if you aren't a regular.

While the food is wonderful, certain aspects of the service can leave something to be desired. During one visit in July 2011, a lost ticket back in the kitchen and lack of communication by a rather inconsiderate member of the wait staff cast shadows of unprofessionalism on an otherwise charming brunch spot. That being said, when these service issues were brought to the attention of the front of house staff and management, they were quick to make every attempt to fix the situation and make things right, and succeeded.

The Menus

The extensive breakfast and lunch menus at Jeannine's run the gamut from hearty breakfast burritos, to lighter fare such the Pear Gorgonzola or Chinese Chicken Salads, to their ever-evolving selection of fresh, decadent baked goods. A full selection of breakfast items, sandwiches, garden and artisan salads, muffins, croissants, scones and beverages are available. To view complete Jeannine's Bakery & Restaurant menus, click here.

On our visit, our party ordered several items and sampled each other's plates. The breakfast burrito was flavorful, protein-packed and filling. The spinach-flecked tortilla held generous portions of eggs, chopped bacon and melted cheese, and the burrito was served with a side of saut©ed country potatoes, which were crispy and just salty enough.

We also had the BLT and Caesar salad in a half-sandwich, half-salad lunch combo, and a poached egg salmon hash. The BLT was served on fresh sourdough bread, and the bacon was nice and crisp. Avocados were added (for an additional charge), and completed the sandwich nicely. The Caesar salad was fresh, and the dressing had a nice tang to it.

The salmon hash consisted of two poached eggs atop a bed of salmon chunks and cubed potatoes in a creamy sauce, and was served with a house-made biscuit and a dish of fresh fruit. This dish was exceptional; unfortunately, this was the dish the kitchen forgot. Our server didn't see fit to inform us of this, even when questioned. The sandwich, salad and breakfast burrito were brought out a full 20 minutes before the salmon hash made it to the table, and in truth, a member of our party had to walk back up to the counter and get the missing food herself. As we stated previously, the issue was resolved by the front of house; the salmon hash was comped, we received profuse apologies and were sent away with several fresh-baked cookies gratis.

General Impression

Overall, we would return to Jeannine's American Bakery & Restaurant in Montecito based on the atmosphere, the thoughtful and delicious food and the way our one problem was resolved. Unfortunately, the initial problem was a pretty big one. Were we to base our decision to return solely on our server that Saturday morning in July, or the overall efficiency of service, we may not be so quick to go back.

Another potential drawback to Jeannine's would have to be the menu prices. We won't list them here, as menu items and prices can change even seasonally (please check the web site for current posted pricing), but expect to spend $10-$15 per person as a conservative estimate. When you factor in tax, tip and maybe some dessert or a specialty beverage, bump that up to $20. Those are reasonable prices for a special brunch out, but most folks couldn't afford to eat there every day.

One thing we really liked about Jeannine's was the fruited water. We're not talking a tired old lemon wedge plunked in your glass, either; guests can pour themselves glass after glass of water from pitchers filled with strawberries, grapes, oranges and other fruits. Think Sangria, minus the wine. Save your money and skip the iced tea or soda in favor of the free water; its just as good!

Sources:
Visit - July 2011
Jeannine's web site