Bree'osh Bakery Cafe Montecito — Restaurant in Santa Barbara

The short: come for the sandwiches. Take an almond croissant to go. Retoast it slightly at home to crisp it up again. Pray it has tons of that delicious frangipane. And enjoy!

Update: bummed to find the almond croissant this time was pretty scant on the frangipane. The inconsistency of amount of frangipane is disappointing knowing that when there's a lot these things are heavenly.

The whole story: Oh bree'osh, we have been coming back to you for years now! When we first tried here maybe a year before COVID (when it was still just one location at montecito and everything still made by hand from what we understand from the owners) it was by far the best croissant and almond croissant in California. Even better than fournee who people rave about in the bay! During COVID when we stayed in SB for a couple months, we were back almost weekly for both of these and the buckwheat ciabatta (at the time only made on Fridays).

Sadly, it seems like this has been changing every time we come. After the 2nd location opened and it looks like they got a machine to help scale croissant production it just wasn't the same. Still good but not nearly the same based on the amount of layers, airiness, and crispy flakiness the croissants used to have.

We still come almost every time we visit Santa Barbara. They're good but not the best like before.

Would recommend still the egg mushroom gruyere croissant sandwich and avocado tartine in the buckwheat ciabatta. Tastes like the quality of ingredients have changed a bit but definitely still solid. Lots of butter in the croissant to make it mm mm . The tartine is more interesting for those who like a different sourdough-y like taste but with a spingey and crispy bread rather than rustic. Comes with avocado, watermelon radishes, micro greens (half mixed with arugula btw), pumpkin seeds and lemon vinaigrette with coarse salt. Was a little light on the vinaigrette this time (which is my fave part) but also generous on greens as requested. Would say this...

Went here after I had eaten one of there baguettes from another retail location. We ordered two croissants and two sandwiches for take out. Both turkey. The croissants were okay by French standards definitely fresh. The sandwiches with the side salads were fresh but honestly the most uninteresting sanwiches I ever ate . Same was true for the side salad. No seasoning on the salad just spring mix and lemon juice and oil. No salt or pepper. The sandwiches came with mustard on them which was not listed on the menu and no one asked if wanted it so I got mustard ony my sandwich and I hate mustard. My husband washwas okay with his. I understand thate is take out and no table soservice so when you charge me a 15% service charge on my take out food at least ask me if I would like mustard on my sandwich or put it on you menu so I can order it without mustard. Would not order here again. Very mechanical and...

So I came to Montecito for a quick lunch. I am Belgium myself and speak French. The owner there was not very friendly when I told her in French Bonjour/ hello in a friendly way. She was thinking that I am a non speaker but I had said a few other words in small talk saying I’m from Belgium how are you. Not much interested from her to be honest. Next I ordered some kind of sandwich called croque monsieur - it was very bland and felt like a microwaved sandwich that had been in the fridge for weeks. Mind you, I love cafes and I go to a lot of French ones in Belgium and France. This place is not fresh! I even make better sandwiches and the salad was bland and gave me a little sauce which I needed more because it was just too little. I wonder what my family would think since they are working in restaurants and are chefs....