(Above, Mendocino Farms’ wildly popular “Not So Fried Chicken sandwich)

The editors of ENTREE dine out several times a week if not per day which means we are always discovering standout dishes that deserve to be celebrated. Here’s several we’ve eaten recently at the newly-opened Santa Barbara Mendocino Farms:

Tuscan Pesto Salad, a delightful mix of chicken, sweet hot peppers, sun-ripened cherry tomatoes, seasoned chickpeas, red onions, basil pesto, parmesan, Tuscan krispies, and a basil-Dijon vinaigrette. This dish tastes like a Tuscan summer.

The Seasonal GOAT with Summer peaches, a gluten-free refreshing symphony of chicken, marinated goat cheese, honey-roasted almonds, pickled red onions, shaved fennel, mint, sweet juicy peaches, hot honey with farmhouse vinaigrette on the side.

Santa Barbara is Mendocino Farms’ 100th store opening and it is a must for lovers of fresh creative gourmet sandwiches, soups, and other ethically-sourced dishes that elevate a deli lunch into a special chef-driven experience. Excpect a feel-good time without a hefty fine dining price tag. Eating here is where fine dining meets fast casual, with premium hospitality and wonderful lemonades. Located at La Cumbre Plaza, 3851 State St, Santa Barbara, CA 93105.