Pierre Lafond

This is such an odd place. Bakery, deli, salad bar, coffee bar, kitchen gadget store, greeting cards, wine shop, gourmet food store… I’m forgetting something… oh yes, clothing store (!) (you can get in there through the deli.)
Everything mentioned at each outlet is very expensive as most have noted. And though, it does sort of mimic a Whole Foods with the variety, it certainly lacks in quality and atmosphere. Stale pastries, wilted lettuce, dusty bottles of merchandise in the gourmet food section, boring atmosphere — I actually thought I was walking into the kitchen when I was heading towards the salad bar. I bought a bottle of Teavana — which was slightly room temperature, even though I pulled it out of the frig — so I went back to the coffee bar to ask for a glass of ice. I swear she scooped the ice out of what looked like a trash can behind the bar. I didn’t see an ice machine.
The patio overlooks the parking lot, so it’s hard to find a place to enjoy yourself and relax without someone starting their car, and fearing the worst of someone potentially forgetting to put the car in reverse — hey, it happens!
Next time I’m in town, I’ll look for someplace else. It’s too bad, because it’s such a gorgeous neighborhood.

nothing against the staff, or the smoothie but the ambiance was strictly poser. the scone was stale, the deli was not upscale enough… whole foods does this better. it worked after a long hike, but we mostly just enjoyed each other, rather than the place. i definitely expected more.

So I’m gonna preface this by saying I rarely ever give reviews unless something is way out of the norm for better or worse… This was by far for worse, and it has nothing to do with this place being crazy over priced, the blandness, or the lack of quality. I would never have even cared enough to potentially hurt their business but something just struck a cord with the last events I experienced here. I left my sunglasses on the table outside and walked to the trash can, then to the inside counter for a to go container, and back to find when I returned my glasses were not there. I began searching around the area and eventually my car, and several places I knew they could not be in a feverish attempt to find them. I ended up going inside and asking the staff if they bussed my table and took them by mistake. At this time a women working in the back said no, but «I saw that lady again.» To this my interest piqued; and the woman continued about some older woman known for coming around and occasionally stealing items from costumers off the outside table. I almost couldn’t believe the thought of someone in such an affluent area do this, but even worse the idea that Pierre La Fonde staff where aware enough of this to know when the women came in! I made a point to give all my info and tell them to watch out for this women and confront her, or call me if the sun glasses turned up… Then I give up and start to leave again when I walk outside and see a man outside on the table next to where I had sat previously. I decided to ask if he had seen anything, and explained what had happened just as I wrote it in this review. A slight smile emerges on the mans face and he chuckles, «no I haven’t seen your sunglasses, but let me know if you see my hat»! And he then tells me how his hat was stolen from his table at a past trip doing the exact motion I did! He mentioned knowing another person who had glasses stolen from there and that it’s apparently not uncommon for things to go missing from this local.
Needless to say I left pretty astonished, I followed up several times with the staff to be essentially brushed off. Then today the final straw that made me post this as a warning, I spoke with one of the workers that I spoke to the day my glasses went missing; I asked her if she has seen or confronted the women in question, she said the other worker who knew who it was no longer worked there, which was contrary to what she personally said two weeks prior… She goes onto say they’ve had this problem for a while, and they’ve even had their umbrellas go missing! I said they should put up a sign because even though they are not liable, they have a business in an area where people let theirs guard down, and it’s an ongoing problem. She brushed me off a little more, and so I decided I would write my own sign; you have just read it. So just remember when you go and eat that five dollar croissant you stand to be ripped off more than once!

The service wasn’t horrible but the food for the price payed is a joke. Just cause this place is in Montecito doesn’t mean you can charge 12 $ for the saddest sandwich ever. The bread was so hard I could barely chew it. The portion of tri-​tip was about two oz of meat. With a tiny bit of mediocre cheese. Tortilla chips didn’t make it better… Can’t say I’ll be back.

Amazing local market. Great food as well. Can’t beat their breakfast burritos. They have amazing local groceries. Amazing coffee. Beautiful place to sit down and eat.

The only good thing about this place is the farm cake. Customer service is terrible & the managers are straight up jerks to their employees. It’s also very run down, Pierre please invest in remodeling. It’s Montecito after all. Right?

I had the pleasure of working at Pierre Lafond in Montecito from 1981 to 1983. It was my first job. Pierre and his crew showed me a lot about wine, about work, about pastries and even painting (I painted the entire bakery wall).
Anyways, I recommend this wonderful landmark of French food, fine food and great wine in Montecito. Pierre was the first vintner in the Santa Ynez Valley, which is now the state’s second-​largest wine-​growing region, after Napa Valley. His Santa Rita Hills Estate Chardonnays are among the best in the state.
At Pierre Lafond Montecito, you can find the full range of his great wines, plus many other California stand-​outs as well as a few from France and Italy.
The cheese selection is excellent, with many staples from France. The deli serves up great sandwiches that can be eaten right out side, by the placid waters of the old fountain.
In the back, a full French bakery with all the usual coffee and espresso drinks makes for a well-​rounded experience. There are gift-​cards and fun trinkets to brighten up any party or gathering.
Pierre taught me a lot about work, wine and customer service. I miss the days of working for him and learning the ropes in a truly wonderful place.
Best regards, Pierre
— Philipp («The Philosopher»)

Consistent service, great baked goods and deli food is pretty decent. Love the chicken tamale pie !!

Avoid the Reuben sandwich, which I had unfortunately tried yesterday. Not sure what animal the meat came from; greasy, gristly and downright disgusting. The sauerkraut should’ve been tossed out a week ago and the Russian dressing was pre-​Berlin wall. You might say «what do you expect for $ 15?» The answer: «something edible.» Love to see Gordon Ramsey’s reaction to this place.

Overrated? I think so. It’s good but it is nothing to write home about. I got their oatmeal and a chai tea latte. Meh. Also most of the people there were quite rude. Not the staff, the customers. I feel bad for their poor staff having to deal with those people every day.

I don’t normally write reviews, but I love this place! It’s unique and set in an adorable area. Grab a coffee and a treat, and sit outside by the fountain!

Went here to taste the famed farm cake.
The farm cake reminded me a little bit of a cheesecake that I have had before with chocolate. It was pretty tasty, but I have to say that it was a bit dried out, especially towards the bottom of the pastry.
Overall, it was a decent item, but nothing to write home about. Some of the other pastries looked good though so might try something else next time.

Country breakfast wrap is fantastic!

Two words: Instant Picnic.

I have been coming here since I was a child and am still like a child in the store. On countless occasions, I have driven up solely for a slice of lemon cake. They had a wide variety of gourmet items to choose from. I am eternally a fan of Pierre Lafond.

This is our favorite store in Montecito. The market has a great selection of prepared foods that are perfect for a picnic and a fresh juice bar and great coffees as well. I got the Lulu’s special juice — it was chucked full of organic kale, pineapple, spinach, parsley, apple and more. It was really refreshing and I just may try to recreate it at home. They have fantastic homemade breads and muffins that are too good to resist. They have a nice selection of oils, vinegars, sauces etc. They have a vast chocolate selection as well. It’d be easy to make a wonderful dinner with all the ingredients from this store. We usually grab something to eat and sit in one of the tables outside if it’s a nice day. Definitely worth a stop!

Heading back from Cambria, my friend and I decided to stop for a quick bite before heading down to our busy lifestyle in LA. We both ordered the mini tuna sandwiches and the baked potato… both very tasty! The outside patio was beautiful (due to the gorgeous weather) and we just sat and people watched (is that something people do?).
Once finished, we decided on satisfying our caffeine fix, because we didn’t get it right the first time around while in Cambria. I ordered the caramel smoothie and he had his usual espresso! Both very happy travelers afterward!
Pierre Lafond is hidden in a beautiful architectural building, which was very inviting (if you love architectural designs). I like this place. Maybe on our next trip, we will stop here again.

I’ve been here once. I ordered coffee and quiche, both of which were delicious and neither of which were the problem. The problem was the snarky little bullfrog with a bad attitude that worked behind the food counter. That fool needs to mop the floor with that attitude. What a dishrag.

I’ve been coming here literally since I was probably 8 years old.
Great place to pick up coffee and a delicious pastry, try the Farm Cake!
If you have some extra time grab some lunch! The food is excellent, one of my favorites is the Falafel Wrap. It’s so good!
There is a very nice selection of gourmet items here as well as produce.
Pierre Lafond’s is pricey, but worth it! Excellent quality and friendly staff!

Pierre Lafond is one of my boyfriend’s local spots for coffee and sandwiches. His sister even worked there for a while. We went with a couple friends one day for a casual lunch, and it was more expensive than I expected, but food-​wise pretty solid.
The place is kind of like a small scale Gelson’s or Whole Foods, where you can get food and drink as well as a limited selection of produce and things like picnic baskets and artisan chocolates. The deli area is in the middle, and you order at a counter and pay at a register. The staff is friendly all around. My boyfriend and one of our friends are pathologically picky eaters, and they ordered grilled cheese sandwiches off the kid’s menu for under $ 4. No one on staff so much as commented.
My hungrier friend and I split the Summerland and the Kobe burger. The Summerland came with roasted turkey, brie, whole grain mustard, and cranberry chutney on toasted brioche. The sandwich was a bit too sweet and the amount of brie should have been halved, but it was still decent. The Kobe burger was quite good, with roasted portobellos, balsamic marinated onions, white cheddar, and garlic aioli on a toasted bun. The meat was pretty good and juicy, formed into an irregularly shaped patty. Portobellos and balsamic onions are such a hack, but you can’t argue with tasty results.
The Summerland was $ 13 and the burger was $ 15, making Pierre Lafond pretty pricy for such a casual place. Still, the food was definitely good and I’d consider coming back. The place has a lovely outdoor patio with plentiful seating, and we enjoyed a relaxing meal in beautiful Santa Barbara weather that I would not mind repeating.