Alicia Whitney was the founder and owner of Sea Legs Wine Bar, a popular Surf City restaurant, but after winning a bid to create four upscale concessions at Bolsa Chica State Beach, she turned her attention to seaside cuisine and sold Sea Legs Wine Bar.
Her Prjct Restaurant Group (pronounced “project”) earlier this year inked another seaside deal, in partnership with the California State Park System, for three new beach concessions along a stretch of Huntington State Beach from Beach Boulevard to Brookhurst Street.
The additions are headlined by the new Huntington Beach Restaurant.
Next Up
Now, Prjkt Restaurant Group is expanding again. It has inked a 25-year agreement with Santa Barbara County at Goleta Beach for its newest endeavor, SeaLegs Santa Barbara.
The 9,500-square-foot oceanfront restaurant is scheduled to open next summer.
Located near UC Santa Barbara, SeaLegs Santa Barbara will reportedly be the only beachfront dining option in Goleta. The restaurant will have two patios, two bars, and three private dining spaces, all with ocean views. The interior design is inspired by the American Rivera, reflecting the colors and textures found along the coastline.
The menu will focus on seasonal produce, local seafood, and artisanal products.
A dedicated beverage program will showcase breweries, wine makers and liquor distilleries of Santa Barbara County.
“We’re thrilled to expand Prjkt Restaurant Group’s footprint along the coast of California,” Whitney said. “It’s an honor to be able to bring the SeaLegs brand to such an iconic location in Central California. Prjkt has seen great success with our beach concessions serving locals and vacationers at both Bolsa Chica and Huntington State Beaches, and we’re excited to bring our proven concept to Santa Barbara County.”
SeaLegs Santa Barbara will be led by Prjkt Restaurant Group’s President of Operations, Omar Khashen. He has overseen the expansion of the group and helped launch a series of national touring musical and comedy acts within the SeaLegs at the Beach space, as well as several large-scale music festivals on the beach.
Based on the renderings that have been released, the new Santa Barbara restaurant is somewhat of a departure from the other Prjkt restaurants. This one has an upscale yet casual look yet with a beach vibe—perfect for Santa Barbara.
I’ll have more to write about SeaLegs Santa Barbara next summer when I embark on my semi-annual wine and food trip to the central coast.
In the meantime, learn more at prjktgroup.com. Â
