After more than a year closed following a fire, Chase restaurant at 1012 State St. is preparing to reopen this week, restoring a longtime local dining spot after a prolonged and often uncertain recovery, the restaurant confirmed to the News-Press.
Owner Georges Bitar, who acquired Chase restaurant in 2023, said the length of the closure was driven largely by insurance-related delays rather than construction or permitting issues.
While repairs addressing the damage were completed in stages, progress was slowed by coordination between insurers.
“The city was amazing,” Bitar said, crediting Santa Barbara officials for inspections, plan approvals and ongoing coordination throughout the process. “The city is not the reason it took us so long.”
Chase restaurant will reopen with much of its identity intact. Longtime kitchen staff have returned, including members of the culinary team who worked at the restaurant prior to the fire.
Signature menu items such as piccata, Milanese and Parmigiana dishes remain central to the lineup, and Bitar said prices have changed little despite rising costs across the industry.
The bar, a defining feature of the establishment, will feature an expanded whiskey selection curated by Bitar, who personally selects and purchases small-production and hard-to-source bottles.
The wine program has also been adjusted to offer wines by varietal at a single price point, an approach Bitar said is intended to remove barriers that can influence ordering decisions.
The interior has been refreshed following fire-related damage, with familiar elements retained and the layout subtly updated. Initial service will focus on the interior dining room and bar, with outdoor seating expected to follow.
For Bitar, the reopening is less about relaunching a concept than restoring a place that has long served as a neighborhood anchor.
“It was not a good feeling to walk by this place week after week and see it closed,” he said. “I’m proud of my family for being patient, proud of my staff for sticking with us, and excited to have the community back.”
Pascucci plans online legacy sale
Pascucci will host an online sale of furniture, fixtures and decor in mid-April as the longtime Santa Barbara Italian restaurant prepares to close at the end of March, owner Laura Knight said in a written statement to the News-Press.
Founded in 1993, Pascucci has operated in multiple State Street and Paseo Nuevo locations over more than three decades. The restaurant previously announced plans to close after 33 years in business, citing financial challenges and inconsistent business following its most recent move.
Knight said the restaurant, originally slated to close in February, extended operations through the end of March to accommodate seasonal milestones including the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, Valentine’s Day and Presidents Day weekend.
Items available in the sale are expected to include tables, chairs, pottery, curtains and other decorative elements collected over the restaurant’s history. Details will be announced via Pascucci’s website and social media.
Sandbar plans mid-April reopening
Sandbar Cocina y Tequila plans to reopen at 514 State St. in Santa Barbara, targeting a mid-April opening as construction concludes on a full renovation of the restaurant, according to Greg Newman, president and CEO of Baja Sharkeez Restaurant Group.
The reopening marks a complete relaunch rather than a menu refresh. Newman said the project includes a redesigned interior and an all-new food and beverage program following an extended closure during construction. The updated menu will draw from Sonoran and coastal Baja traditions while maintaining familiar crowd favorites.
Renderings of the renovated space show a more open, resort-style layout with lighter materials and an emphasis on indoor-outdoor flow. The design incorporates coastal Mexican influences, including Riviera Maya and Yucatán-inspired elements, with natural textures, greenery, woven lighting and curved architectural features replacing the restaurant’s previous look.
Newman said the relaunch is intended to mark a new chapter for the restaurant on State Street.
El Encanto to host April Culinary Series dinner
As part of its ongoing Culinary Series, El Encanto will host an April 25 dinner led by guest chef Marcus Nemrin of Sofiero Castle in Sweden.
The luxury hotel and resort’s culinary series has unfolded as a sequence of technique-focused dinners, shaped by seasonality and local sourcing rather than one-off guest chef appearances.
Nemrin’s work is rooted in Scandinavian cooking traditions that emphasize balance, clarity and careful technique, an approach that aligns naturally with the property’s broader culinary direction, according to the hotel.
The April 25 menu is expected to explore contrast, pairing lightness with depth and minimalism with richness, using technique to elevate flavor without excess.
Within the local dining landscape, the series has carved out a more measured, craft-driven lane, favoring thoughtful collaboration over trend-driven concepts. The upcoming dinner continues that approach, using the visiting-chef format to build continuity within the series.
