Restaurant bouchon Santa Barbara Wins Prestigious AAA Four Diamond Rating

Posted on Mar 23 by SEASONS Magazine

Duck, courtesy bouchon

bouchon Santa Barbara has received the prestigious AAA Four Diamond designation level of excellence. Restaurants at the Four Diamond level offer a distinctive dining experience, with creative chefs, imaginative menus, fresh top-quality ingredients, and expert staff. Only 2.3 percent of the nearly 30,000 restaurants approved by AAA receive the Four Diamond rating.

“The AAA Four Diamond rating is a tribute to every bouchon team member and their efforts to consistently exceed the expectations of our guests,” says Mitchell Sjerven, Proprietor of bouchon Santa Barbara. “We are delighted to be recognized by AAA and believe the honor reflects the commitment to excellence in service, cuisine and ambience that we have always considered the cornerstone of the bouchon dining experience.”

Continuing a 79-year tradition, AAA’s professionally trained inspectors use published guidelines to conduct unannounced hotel and restaurant evaluations, assigning AAA approved establishments a rating of One to Five AAA Diamonds. AAA Diamond ratings for restaurants represent a combination of the overall food, service, décor and ambiance offered by the establishment. The descriptive ratings are assigned exclusively to establishments that meet and uphold AAA’s rigorous Approval standards. This is the first AAA Four Diamond award for a Santa Barbara area restaurant since the Ballard Inn received one in 2005.

bouchon Santa Barbara exemplifies wine country cuisine with an unadulterated devotion to fresh, local ingredients prepared with care that honors its Santa Barbara roots. “It’s no coincidence that we earned this recognition under Chef Greg Murphy,” says Sjerven. Chef’s expert use of the Farmers Market, combined with a skilled management of kitchen staff combine to create very high expectations both by guests and for staff.” Restaurant Manager Eric Hanson “deserves credit for his role in maintaining the Award-winning wine program at bouchon,” continued Sjerven, “as well as his professional attitude that makes everyone around him better.”

bouchon Santa Barbara, 9 W. Victoria St, 805/730-1160, www.bouchonsantabarbara.com

—Carly Bates