The soup is back.
Little Alex’s Mexican Grill, formerly on Coast Village Road in Montecito, has reopened in the Five Points Shopping Center in Santa Barbara.
With the opening comes the marquee meal — chicken, rice and vegetable soup.
“Not many places have soup like we do,” said Josh Briner, whose family owns the restaurant. “Everyone talks about our soup.”
Little Alex’s opened Wednesday at the site of the former Fresco Cafe. For 30 years, it was the go-to spot in the Montecito Country Mart. The mart, however, has been shuffling leases and bringing in new clients in recent years, so Little Alex’s decided to find a new home.
They found the Five Points Shopping Center about a year ago and have been working on updating the space since.
“We are bringing back almost the entire same menu that everyone loved out in Montecito,” said Briner, whose parents, Dan and Lynette Briner, own the restaurant. “We’re excited about being centrally located where everyone can get here nice and easy.”
He said he is excited about the outdoor patio seating, the central location between Goleta and Montecito, and the new bar area, adding that Little Alex’s offers the best food and service in the area, creating a perfect combination.
“Everyone has loved it for 30 years out in Montecito,” Briner said.
Little Alex’s serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.
“Our breakfast burritos are amazing,” Briner said.
Other menu items include the breakfast taco, machaca, huevos con chorizo, and the breakfast combo plate with bacon, eggs, potatoes or beans and rice. Entrees include fajitas, tacos, enchiladas and other Mexican food dishes.
The restaurant is family-run, Briner said.
“Back in her element. Mother of 5, grandmother of 14. Owner Lynette Briner’s passion for serving her community can be felt by all as soon as they walk through her doors,” the company wrote in an Instagram post Thursday. “Welcome back Santa Barbara. Oh, how we’ve missed you!”
Via Vai in Montecito Closes
Via Vai, at 1483 East Valley Road in Montecito, closed for good on Tuesday.
The Italian “family favorite pizzeria and trattoria” opened in 1994.
The restaurant had scaled back in recent weeks. It stopped serving lunch on April 1 and in March decided to close on Sundays.
CycleMAYnia Rolling Through
Local businesses are partnering with the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments for the 15th Annual CycleMAYnia throughout May, which is National Bike Month.
Members of the public can ride to 24 local businesses throughout the county to collect special flower and herb seed packets. The packets include instructions on how to enter to win a RadWagon 5 Electric Cargo Bike. Each flower and herb seed packet that participants receive at an event or local business comes with a unique code, accompanied by instructions on how to enter the codes for a chance to win the grand prize, according to a news release from SBCAG.
The locations are on an interactive map at CycleMAYnia.org/events/bikechallenge.
This year’s CycleMAYnia calendar features traditional favorites such as the Chicano Culture de Santa Barbara Cinco de Mayo Mural Ride, the Mayors’ Ride, the Trail Mix ride in Santa Maria, and many Bike-to-Work Day events, including one hosted for the first time by Santa Barbara City College, according to a news release from SBCAG.
Participants who log their bike trips on Smartride.org in May are eligible for a $200 giveaway from Jersey Mike’s Subs.
More information on CycleMAYnia can be found at CycleMAYnia.org.
Outlaw Bills and U-Hall Hook Up
Outlaw Bills Towing in Lompoc has partnered with U-Haul to provide trucks, moving supplies and in-store pickup for boxes.
The company, at 112 W. Walnut Ave., offers 24-hour truck share.
U-Haul works with independent dealers to offer rental equipment. More than 21,000 dealers across the United States and Canada have partnered with U-Haul, according to a news release.
“When customers rent from a U-Haul dealer, they are directly supporting an independent small business in their community,” the company stated.
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