THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Petros

THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Petros Restaurant Review:

The Santa Barbara location of Petros Benekos’ eponymous restaurant boasts one of the city’s prettiest patios. Sit beside the courtyard fountain and sink warm pita into traditional dips like taramosalata, a salty blend of aged smoked caviar with onions and a squeeze of fresh lemon. While Greek fare is the restaurant’s primary offering, you’ll also find cultural amalgams like a pizza topped with gyro meat, tzatziki and tomatoes, not to mention fish tacos --- Mexican in every way but the feta-laced guacamole; even the classically Hellenic moussaka is made with French béchamel sauce. Entrées include a feta-crusted rack of lamb that gives way to a rosy center, its juices mingling with a thin sauce of tomato and olive. Familiar desserts like baklava are good; but the loukouma is better, with Greek honey drizzled over bite-sized donuts dusted with cinnamon, topped with toasted walnuts and served with vanilla ice cream. Located across from the Arlington Theater, the light and airy space provides an ideal setting for a pre-show repast or drinks. While California labels dominate the wine list, Benekos pays homage to his homeland with a dozen or so Greek offerings as well.