If you asked anyone who has lived in Santa Barbara over thirty years about old restaurants still alive, one name atop the short list would be Harry’s Plaza Cafe. Harry’s represents Santa Barbara tradition although tradition has nothing to do with quality. Located in the Loreto Plaza, at State and Las Positas, it has been a main stay since the early ’60s. If you live in Santa Barbara, chances are you have been there for a drink or for food. But if you went for the food, it wasn’t because you were in search of gourmet, more than likely you were just trying to beat the 11:30pm deadline to get your order in. And more than likely you just needed something to help soak up the alcohol you’ve consumed prior to 11:30pm, and something to dine on until the 2:00am bell.
Harry’s consists of a lot of old fashioned circular red booths and an innumerable quantity of very old pictures. If there is one place that has a large number of old pictures of our departed former president Ronald Reagan, it has to be Harry’s. I actually saw him right by the entrance riding his horse and smiling at us in what where undoubtedly better times. Better for him rather than us considering we had come to Harry’s in search of something to eat while we drank.
There are thousands of black and white pictures of Santa Barbara, some probably dating back a hundred years. There are very interesting aerial photos of State Street before it became the State Street we recognize, and lots of memorabilia of all kinds. As a matter of fact, the three giant rooms that compose the restaurant are totally covered with old pictures; that should keep you entertained while you’re waiting for your food or your bill. Maybe they have a secret hope you will become so mesmerized by the pictures that you won’t look at your food when it arrives, or think about it while you swallow.
So, what is safe to order at Harry's? A good question. One would have thought that a chicken pot pie with a side of fries and a hot open face turkey sandwich with mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce, along with a salad with ranch dressing on the side wouldn't have been too complicated. Since we did not specify which side, right or left - the salad came with the ranch dressing smack dab in the center of the salad. The chicken pot pie retained its form and shape for exactly 30 seconds, but on the first scoop, it collapsed like a middle eastern regime never try and rise up again; in two minutes it turned into Technicolor oatmeal (peas and carrots) and shortly afterward, it died. I tried to find some chicken but everything had turned into a uniform and unidentifiable mass. The French fries were nice and crispy and sticking a large fry in the middle of the dead chicken pot pie and squeezing a smaller one across it created a nice cross. A friend once ordered the French dip...don't. So, what is safe to order at Harry's? Any cocktail...except shrimp.