The diet of a UCSB student consists of burritos from Freebirds to pizza from Woodstock’s, along with the occasional late-night munchies from Deja Vu Cafe. Isla Vista offers a diverse range of cuisines, making it easy for students who rely on bikes as their primary means of transportation.
However, in the beginning of this year, a new and elevated spot opened up, located right on the 217 outside of Henley Gate and next to Goleta Pier, called The Ellwood. My friends and I finally went to this up-and-coming restaurant because we wanted a change of pace from the fast-food dining options in Isla Vista and desired a more memorable sit-down experience.
Sunsets, Sips, and Shared Plates: What We Ordered at The Ellwood
Disclaimer: The Ellwood serves alcohol to guests 21+ and we are all 21+ and drank responsibly.
Nestled right on Goleta Beach, The Ellwood takes you on a journey through their various rooms, from their bar to Ellie’s Patio, the aesthetics revive a vintage glamour style mixed with coastal blues. My favorite spot to dine here is on the patio, where the panoramic glass balcony shows the glistening ocean and makes you feel like you’re dining on the water.
From matcha martinis to margaritas, I’ve heard from a few of my friends that the Happy Hour (3-5 pm every day) is a must-try here at The Ellwood, and while I ended up going during sunset with my friends, I will agree that the cocktails offered here are completely unique and innovative.
I ended up ordering the Coastal Caviar cocktail, which looked just like the sunset we were watching as we caught up with each other and waited for our food. This cocktail had a strong kick of passionfruit from the foam, but it mixed perfectly with the sweet but citrusy lemon. My roommate got a Seafoam Darby and another got a Paloma from the Classic menu; both were visually appealing, and they tasted just as good.
As we sipped, the sun began to dip into the ocean, and the waiters turned on the heaters to keep the enjoyable experience going. It was just the five of us girls and we decided to go tapas style when choosing what to order. Everything on our table was delectable, the fusilli alla vodka was a standout, bringing a party between spiciness and creaminess. The seafood was incredibly fresh, we got the salmon poke (an interesting combo with the strawberries, I will say), but the mussels in the dipping broth were divine.
Lastly, as for sides, our top favorites were the eggplant and the brussel sprouts, both served in a way I have never seen done before. The eggplant was a perfect example of asian fusion, and the brussel sprouts brought a unique flavor with their cashew butter and white balsamic spread throughout.
Where Food, Friendship, and Memories Make You Want to Come Back
I’m sure you’re salivating at your mouth now, wanting to try all the food and drinks we filled ourselves up with that evening. But not only did the food melt in my mouth, there was also a bigger picture happening that night.
Yes, we were celebrating our one friend who finished her bachelor’s degree in three years, but it felt like any group of young adults could come here and have a similar experience filled with laughs and the nostalgia of old memories. No matter how big or small the celebration, The Ellwood offered a space for friends to connect and reflect on how far everyone has come. From our seats, we could see the UCSB freshman dorms of Anacap and Santa Cruz in the distance, reminding us all where we started. Now, over shared food and drinks, laughing and rating each dish out of 10, we felt present and grateful for how much we’ve grown since those early days.
The Ellwood brought conversations, and as for Generation Z, I feel like most of us want that in a dining experience. We no longer want to go to drive-thru and not talk to anyone; we want to talk to people and foster relationships. Gen Z is redefining the dining experience by choosing to spend more at restaurants that bring people together and build meaningful connections at the table. I’m already planning my next visit to The Ellwood and I can’t wait to share this unforgettable experience with even more friends.