After cutting their teeth at top NYC kitchens, Daisy and Greg Ryan settled in the Santa Ynez Valley. Their particular skill lies in blending phenomenal product (90% of products are sourced from within 20 miles), focused flavors and methods. This is cooking that tastes as good as it looks, and crowds keep coming for their unpretentious dishes. Wild snails drip with luscious garlic and parsley butter, while the Santa Barbara uni crêpe cake is layered with crème fraîche and caviar. Lamb en croûte may be next, served over Calabrian chili aïoli with asparagus. The meat is tender and the aïoli perfectly cuts through the rich, savory elements.
Desserts are equally worthy—from a buttery gâteau Breton to black pepper cookies laced with dark chocolate.