This rustic open-fire restaurant is as Montecito as you will get

Montecito in Santa Barbara County sits about 60 miles north of Los Angeles, but stays a well-travelled route for weekend getaways, second-home house owners and a dependable superstar enclave. Within the Higher Village, chef Diego Moya (Le Comptoir and L’Arpège, Paris) leads Little Mountain, a live-fire cooking idea alongside Andrew Cosbie (an alum of Wallpaper* USA 400 corporations Commune Design and Studio Shamshiri) and inventive director Eva Schreier (Mexico’s Hacienda Los Milagros).

Wallpaper* dines at Little Mountain, Montecito

The temper: a comfortable hearth ceremonial dinner

Spanish Colonial archways open onto heat, earthy particulars, from reclaimed Italian terracotta flooring to Portuguese inexperienced tiles working alongside all the base of the restaurant, a nod to the close by Casa del Herrero museum. Native artisans had been introduced in for the plasterwork and hand-hammered copper hood within the kitchen, alongside a mural by Arien Valizadeh. The bar space is constructed from salvaged old-growth redwood, whereas the non-public eating room – an extension of the lined patio – is wrapped in curtained partitions.

The fireside is clad with hand-painted tiles resembling portraits of historic farmers and ranchers, created by BDDW in LA. Artwork vignettes curated by Alison Harding embrace Amy Applegate’s nonetheless lifes of fruit and greens, illuminated by classic lighting sourced from France and Spain. Native ceramicist Sarah Genuardi created the powder-room lamps, set towards merlot-coloured plaster partitions and green-hued soapstone tiles.

The meals: elevated live-fire cooking

Chef Moya attracts closely on what is obtainable on the twice-weekly native farmers’ market, although a menu staple stays his rooster, smoked on the fireplace after being brushed with barley miso and served with a fennel salad.

Some dishes could sound easy however reveal far higher depth: nation sourdough with house-made cultured butter; pickled greens from the larder served in a meticulous kaiseki fashion; crispy-edged patatas bravas; and Koshihikari rice with sesame butter, an ideal companion to Mt Lassen trout and wild mushrooms. Every thing is served on plates and pottery sourced from Mexico.

Essentially the most-ordered cocktail is aptly named From the Fireside: a bourbon served with a smoky flourish. The Café de Olla Basque Cheesecake has been on the menu since day one. A ringing endorsement? Legendary chef and restaurateur Alice Waters is a fan.

Little Mountain is positioned at 516 San Ysidro Rd Unit A, Montecito, CA 93108, United States