113 Harbor Way
Santa Barbara
chompontherocks.com
A little over seven years ago, CHOMP Burgers, Fries, Shakes opened in Solvang, serving great casual diner fare that quickly made it a local family favorite. Now, owner Aaron Petersen has brought that same approach to the historic Navy Reserve Building on the Santa Barbara Harbor, which houses the Maritime Museum.
Downstairs, in what was formerly Chuck’s Waterfront Grill, CHOMP on the ROCKS echoes the original retro diner style of CHOMP in Solvang, with stainless steel, black and white tiles, banquettes and stools. The menu features CHOMP diner favorites, plus salads, fish tacos, fish ‘n’ chips, mac ‘n’ cheese, with prices ranging from $12 to about $17, plus wine, craft beers and a full bar. Coming soon will be a coffee cart on the front patio, with pastries from Mortensen’s Danish Bakery in Solvang, which Petersen also owns.
Look for Saturday and Sunday brunch to start in spring 2021. Upstairs, the Endless Summer Bar-Café has been reborn as SALTY at the BEACH, which offers more of a bar atmosphere. Petersen describes the new décor as leaning more toward Jimmy Buffett than to Endless Summer. The room is now lighter and brighter, but still has the same great views, the same dark-wood bar, and serves the same Mai Tai that was an Endless Summer classic. Seven flat-screen TVs make it the perfect perch for watching sports while enjoying food and drinks. Bar snacks like wings and popcorn shrimp will be mainstays, but guests can also order full meals, such as a flatiron steak, pork chops, pastas and harbor-fresh seafood, with prices from $12 to about $23.
Both CHOMP on the ROCKS and SALTY at the BEACH have plenty of covid-compliant seating, especially on the big decks upstairs and down. Vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free menu items are offered at both.
Given the Jimmy Buffett vibe at SALTY at the BEACH, and with his duties now divided between Solvang and Santa Barbara, Petersen decided to purchase a floating “apartment” here, in the form of a 40-foot trawler that is docked in the harbor. It keeps him close to his restaurants and to his customers, and that’s how he likes it.
Both restaurants have large kids’ menus, dog-friendly patios and will be open from 11:30-8, until 9 on weekends.
