Jane

Jane

1311 State Street
Santa Barbara
805-962-1311
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cuisine:
Californian
price:$20 - $30
location:   Downtown
serving: lunch
dinner
amenities:
 children's menu
extensive wine list
outdoor seating
view
We can do away with the notion of “Plain Jane” with a romantic poem, but also with our feet firmly planted on the firmament in a dining establishment that brings a bit of one family’s exuberant past deliciously into the present. The eatery’s name is a tribute to Jane Moody, the matriarch of a Santa Barbara restaurateur family. Her photographs grace the walls and the menus.  Her name was also given to her granddaughter, manager Jane Huston. “My grandmother traveled around the world. She was always entertaining. She encouraged my parents to open a restaurant.” Indeed, Jane belongs to the family that owns the Montecito Café, long a favorite with locals.  “My family has been in the business for twenty-five years. It’s in my life and my blood. We designed Jane’s menu and the décor together. My father is chef at both restaurants. Mom works at both places, and my sister is a server while she is going to school. On any night we could all be in the house.” Small wonder that it is a family-friendly place to eat, with a children’s menu and high chairs available for the young ‘uns.

Says Huston, “We want to give top quality at affordable prices. Everything that comes out of the kitchen is fresh and homemade.” All the burgers are made from ground organic sirloin and served on homemade sesame buns. You can choose from offerings such as El Macho Burger, with Jack cheese, pasilla chile, avocado, tomato, red onion and chipotle mayonnaise, or the Big Blue Burger, slathered with Gorgonzola, grilled mushrooms and red onions. The Goat Cheese Pancakes with smoked salmon and caviar are crafted from a family recipe. Main courses run the gamut from Grilled Duck Breast with seasonal fruit in a citrus and port reduction to Fish and Chips with chipotle ketchup and creamy dill dip.

“I love our salads – we call them salad bowls because they are served in big bowls,” says Huston. One features marmalade-glazed turkey breast, apple fritters and a maple dressing. A variation on the traditional Greek Salad contains lamb sausage, and a seafood salad combines grilled shrimp and smoked salmon tossed with greens in a tarragon dressing.

Come in and sit on the balcony, by the fireplace or at an outdoor table. Enjoy the evidence of Jane Moody’s high spirits and love of life in the photographs around you. The next two generations of her family are ready to nourish you and lift your spirits. 
Food    Service    Ambiance    Date of Review 01/26/2012  
Greg, Santa Barbara

The Best

My friends and I just love his place. The food, the service and atmosphere are just perfect. THe prices are very reasonable and the quality is consistent and great. What more could you ask for. Don't change anything.

Food    Service    Ambiance    Date of Review 05/02/2011  
Dean, Santa Barbara

First time to review

I have never written a review before but feel compelled to do so for this fantastic restaurant, just love this place. Everything is just how it should be - fun and lively interior, friendly staff, very good food at very good prices. This should be on everyone's list of great Santa Barbara restaurants.

Food    Service    Ambiance    Date of Review 02/28/2011  
Beth, Santa Barbara

So Dependable

Often my wife and I ask why we go to the same restaurants, and the answer is simple, because they are good and dependable. In the case of Jane, it is consistently great food and the staff is so friendly, that will love that we love that sure thing feeling. Keep it up.

Food    Service    Ambiance    Date of Review 12/21/2010  
Dana, Santa Barbara

Delicious

Had a great time with my family at Jane the other night. Ordered filet mignon, crab salad and liguini. All were very tasty, and the ambiance is a great family setting. Seems like at home but a lot cooler. Love the family style table.

Food    Service    Ambiance    Date of Review 11/20/2010  
Gabriel, Santa Barbara

Love the food

We were going to the Harry Potter show last night and wanted to go to a restaurant close to the Arlington, so we decided upon Jane. The food was great. We ordered the fillet mignon, lamb sausage salad, chicken picatta, scallop salad and linguini with seafood and all were wonderfully prepared even though the place was packed to the gills. The service was excellent and our experience was a sign of things to come. The movie was outrageously good as well.

Food    Service    Ambiance    Date of Review 09/16/2010  
Jil, Goleta

Cute place, great service & good food

You have never had french fries this good before. And the creme brulee is PERFECT. I prefer going to Jane at lunch. It gets crowded at dinner & it's hard to hear a conversation if you're downstairs. It's a cute place w/friendly staff & extraordinary food.

Food    Service    Ambiance    Date of Review 08/05/2010  
Robert, Santa Barbara

Consistently Great

I have an office just up the street from this restuarant. We used to go to Opal, but my entire staff loves this place so much more. The salad bowls are the huge crwd pleaser. Great work. Keep it up for you are our favorite downtown restaurant.

Food    Service    Ambiance    Date of Review 07/06/2010  
Cassandra, Carpinteria

The salads are the best

My girlfrineds and I love the salads at Jane. Tons to choose from and enough to fill you up. The atmosphere is very fun and energetic and the service is never too rushed. Great work and keep up the good job.

Food    Service    Ambiance    Date of Review 03/11/2010  
Sheila, Montecito

Nice improvements to a wonderful place already

Had another delicious lunch at Jane. My girlfriend and I always love to sit at the family style table because you never know who you will meet. The owners did something to dampen the noise which is a really nice improvement when the place gets corwded. Sometimes it was a little too loud for us, but not anymore. We love the salad bowls.

Food    Service    Ambiance    Date of Review 01/11/2010  
Pamela, Santa Barbara

one of my favorite places in SB

I have eaten at Jane on many occasions, dinner with family, girl friends, and hot dates. The food is awesome and beyond reasonably priced. I'm a healthy eater and always leave feeling like I have been spoiled but not feeling guilty. The service and the wine list are great too. We are lucky to have Jane in Santa Barbara.

Food    Service    Ambiance    Date of Review 12/18/2009  
Eric, Santa Barbara

Very nice lunch

Had lunch with a good friend and really enjoyed the experience. I had the macho burger, which was excellent. The flavor was great and the bun must have been homemade because it actually tasted freshly made. My friend had the filet mignon which he raved about. We sat at the family style table and enjoyed conversations with our neighbors. The service was very good and attentive. Will highly recommend to all my friends.

Food    Service    Ambiance    Date of Review 11/04/2009  
MARY, santa barbara

STEPPING OUT WITH THE LADIES

My girlfriends wanted something downtown for a lunch date. I had heard about the coconut cake at Jane's and although I knew this was hardly the reason to pick a restaurant, Im always up for a good dessert. We all ordered salads which were quite huge and came in colorful bowls. We took turns sampling each others and there wasn't one complaint. In a group of ladies over 60, that's a miracle. We saved room for one piece of the cake and recommend if you want to die and go to heaven, this is the ticket. It is so delicious, especially with the side of cream custard to dip the cake into, NEED I SAY MORE. Run don't walk to Jane's. You will love it.