Santa Barbara's Big Yellow House

From the 1970s through the early 2000s when ever my wife and I, with our children, solo, with family and or friends left So Cal for a drive north to Solvang, San Luis Obispo-Madonna Inn, Monterey, Carmel, Santa Cruz, San Simeon or San Francisco either out or on the return, ocassionaly both ways, we'd stop at the recently defunct Big Yellow House off of Highway 101 in Summerland-just outside of Santa Barbara. For those under 12 the price was determined by their wieght check on an antique stand alone scale in the entrance to the 100 plus year old Victorian house painted yellow. They served Sunday country grub every day with specials, many dignataries and celebs dined there under the same conditions as anyone else, in the rooms of the Victorian, not a gourmet experience but above affair food in a most pleasant atmosphere creating a splendid family dining experience. I always enjoyed their country style fried chicken, real potatos mashed, fantasitc lemonade and daily fish catch, oh and the deserts, always a sinful conclusion to a tasty meal.

I'll forever cherish the numerous visits over the decades, 3 generations strong as both of my children as all 3 grand children have enjoyed the spoils of the Big Yellow House.

I'd love to hear other spin their tales of the joys of the Big Yellow House

I too enjoyed the Big Yellow House. Our family didnt dine there as often as the Green House in Ventura.  We liked family style dinners and the kids being weighed for price. We tried the BYH when we heard they served family style dinners. This was way back when.

Passed it forever, but never made the stop.

Didn't they also have one in Palm Springs?  Never ate there either.

There used to be a chain of BYH restaurants. Back in the mid to late seventies, my Grandfather, ever a bland meat and potatoes eater if there ever was one, would take all of us to the one in Mission Viejo. All I recall is lots of gray roast beef, boiled vegetables and boring, 1950s American fare.

*YAWN*