••• The Win-Dow, the L.A. burger import at the corner of Chapala and Ortega, has had a crowd outside ever since it opened—and with only one cashier, it may be designed that way. (Nothing implies quality quite like a line.) Some first impressions: 1) The place is cheap, which has to be a factor in its success. We live in a weird world when the meat-free burger, made with Impossible patty, costs twice as much as one with beef. 2) Having been warned that the basic burger is on the small side, I ordered a double cheeseburger. It was just at the edge of too salty, and because the only texture comes from the pickles, it was pretty smushy; personally, I would prefer a toasted bun and/or crisp lettuce. (But no tomato is way better than a crappy tomato.) 3) The fries are great when they’re hot, but you might want to spend 60 cents on some sauce for when they cool down. 4) Shakes come with whipped cream unless you proactively request otherwise. 5) While there’s more seating than you might expect, most of it is in the sun, so bring a hat.
••• Rock 12 Distillery, between Solvang and Lompoc, is offering U-pick organic apricots (Blenheim, Katy, Tomcot, Harcot, Moorpark). “Fruit is $4 per pound and there is a max of 6 pounds per customer.” Let your kids play farmworkers for a day! It’s a taste of what life will be like when there’s no one left to do it.
••• Marisella at the Ritz-Carlton Bacara is now taking reservations for June 26 onward. There’s no official menu yet, but I came across a half-formed one online that may give a general sense of the coastal Italian offerings. Click quickly, because it’ll probably get yanked once they read this.
••• The Breakwater Restaurant, closed since winter, is shooting to reopen next month with a new name, Gracie, and concept: “It will be a casual, all-day concept but with an elevated brunch, happy hour, dinner and cocktail experience,” says co-owner Dudley Michael. “It will be the waterfront restaurant and cocktail bar Santa Barbara deserves.”
••• Soul Bites has closed. —Restaurant Guy…