Xanadu French Bakery

Where: 1028 Coast Village Rd., (805) 969-3550

What: A popular Montecito bakery that serves breakfast, espresso drinks, lunch, and decadent made-to-order cakes.

How much? Regular cakes $25.50, add fruit $27.50, make it bigger $31.50

The dish: Xanadu was Kubla Khan’s reference as a fabled metaphor for luxury. Nineteenth century Coleridge poetics paint its picture as a dreamlike fantasy, and modern day lovers of confections recognize the connection after sampling a pastry from this under-the-radar Montecito bakery. Numerous bins full of roasted beans line the walls of the small space in the Vons shopping center at the top of Coast Village Road. Omelets and croissant breakfast sandwiches for breakfast, grilled ham and Swiss cheese sandwiches for lunch, and chocolate cake for an afternoon (or morning) pick-me-up are served daily. Personalized birthday and wedding cakes are made to order from a vast selection of flavors that range from Black Forest to white cake with juicy strawberries to cheesecakes and fresh fruit tarts. This locally owned gem has both indoor and outdoor seating, speedy service, WiFi access, and comfort fare at its one-stop to satisfaction shop.