The Porn Star Martini served at Pearl Social, a jewel of a new cocktail lounge in Santa Barbara’s Funk Zone…a perfect pairing waiting on the food menu: Smoked Trout Dip served with malt vinegar Kennebec potato chips, dill pickled fennel, trout roe, and celery.

Gavin Koehn runs the cocktail program at the Pearl Social and his drink list splits into such categories as Timeless, Rule Breakers, Come Back Kids, and Susan B. Anthony — the latter being non-alcoholic delights even a temperance leader could love. Those cocktails, along with a small but expertly curated menu of food from The Lark’s Chef Jason Paluska, make Pearl Social the latest fetching Funk Zone creation from Acme Hospitality, who’s brought us The Lark, Loquita, and Tyger Tyger. The menu of small plates hits exactly the right notes: five-spice roasted cashews and peanuts, caramelized cauliflower, cheese plate, truffled grilled cheese on sourdough, dry aged ribeye, short rib and brisket burger and warm Fiji apple pie.

Pearl — named after Santa Barbara conservationista Pearl Chase, aims to please: comfy leather sofas, sexy lighting and jazz plus a gracious young staff eager to please, a very sophisticated and enjoyable place.

131 Anacapa Street, Suite B, Santa Barbara, CA 93101, (805) 284-0380, info@pearlsocialsb.com