Los Arroyos Opens in Solvang
Earlier this fall, one of Santa Barbara and Montecito’s most popular restaurants expanded north, opening a location in Solvang in the Santa Ynez Valley. “The Valley has needed a Los Arroyos for years, and we are happy to finally have made it happen,” said co-owner Maria Arroyo, who sat down with us recently to show us the new space, which opened in September.
Maria and Tony Arroyo opened the original Los Arroyos in Santa Barbara on Figueroa Street in 1999, followed by the Montecito store on Coast Village Road in 2004. After their divorce, the pair went their separate ways, and Tony went on to open restaurants in Camarillo, Goleta, and Indiana. Maria and her husband Todd Mehl moved to Santa Ynez Valley a few years back, and it wasn’t long before Maria, who was helping with marketing the Los Arroyos restaurant brand, approached Tony about opening a Solvang eatery. “Los Arroyos was my first child,” Maria laughed, “So I knew it was only a matter of time before I would be back.”
The eatery features the same quality menu items as the rest of the restaurants, offering a fast casual, homemade Mexican food option in the Valley. The restaurant features more traditional offerings such as Pozole, enchiladas, sopes, alambres, and burritos, as well as an array of fresh salads, taco plates, fajitas, daily specials, and more. The restaurant also has a Los Arroyos staple: a plentiful salsa bar, featuring homemade salsas and other traditional condiments.
With its wine country location, the wine and beer menu is a big focus at the restaurant. Maria has used her relationships with local vendors to offer an array of local wine and beer including Melville, Palmina, SB Winery, Margerum, and Stolpman, as well as Fig Mountain and Firestone 805 craft beer. The menu also offers a “margarita” made from Sabe, a tequila-like agave wine. A “grab and go” fridge also offers patrons the options of grabbing a bottle of wine or beer when they take their food to go.
The space was designed by Santa Barbara based interior designer Sarah McFadden, and built by Bottenfield Construction, who has done several restaurant build-outs in Santa Barbara’s downtown and Funk Zone neighborhoods. Maria says she was going for a “rustic, modern Mexican” ambiance, with smooth concrete floors, bold tile, and leather and wood accents. Wall art is by Pedro de la Cruz, who gained popularity with his Montecito Strong imagery following the Thomas Fire and 1/9 debris flow. A large bar is adjacent to the ordering area, in addition to banquette seats and tables that line the main part of the restaurant. The space seats 58 diners, which includes a sunny patio area.
The restaurant is open everyday from 11 am to 9 pm, except for an 8 pm close on Sunday. The restaurant is located at 1992 Old Mission Drive, at The Merkantile. For more information, visit www.losarroyos.net.
