A Toast to Roy’s : Santa Barbara restaurant wins liquor license and will expand its dinner menu.

Roy Gandy considers himself a lucky man. But, then, that’s normal for someone who’s just won the lottery.

No, Gandy didn’t scratch and win. His lucky numbers didn’t earn him multiple millions. No, Gandy won a lottery only a restaurateur could love--the California state liquor-license lottery.

Gandy, owner of Santa Barbara’s Restaurant Roy, was one of four Santa Barbara County restaurateurs to be granted permission this year to sell liquor. Each year the state issues a limited number of liquor licenses per county based on population.

Roy’s license will go into effect Jan. 1.

“The whole feel of our place is retro-modern, and we’ll probably just carry the same theme through our full bar,” Gandy said. “It will be more of a lounge.”

In addition to the expanded alcohol service--which now is limited to wine, beer and ale--Gandy said the casual-to-gourmet dinner establishment likely will open 1998 with a selection of appetizers in the lounge. He also plans to add a couple of nightly dinner specials that are more upscale and pricey than the restaurant’s usual selection.

The regular dinner menu offers a choice of entrees for a pre-fixe $12.50. Regular selections include items such as chicken Marsala with mushrooms, charbroiled bacon-wrapped filet mignon in a wild mushroom sauce, and charbroiled salmon with a chives hollandaise and roasted sweet-pepper relish.

Gandy changes his menu slightly every two weeks. This week’s selection includes a sauteed pork tenderloin in a port wine, honey and sun-dried tomato sauce.

“I create them as I go along. Certain ones are more popular than others,” Gandy said. “But having a menu be just one price can be somewhat limiting. I can’t afford to do some of the things I’d like to do.”

Soon, Ventura County residents may be able to get a taste of Roy’s cooking without having to travel up the coast. He is negotiating with the new management of the Ventura Theatre to provide dinner service. “I’ve agreed to do it,” Gandy said. “It’s just a matter of getting all the details down.”

Restaurant Roy is at 7 W. Carrillo St., Santa Barbara. (805) 966-5636.

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2087--An American Bistro of Thousand Oaks will host a multicourse winemaker’s dinner Monday, featuring the products of the Robert Mondavi and Opus One wineries of the Napa Valley.

The meal will open with a trio of fois-gras dishes: a fois gras and port terrine served with an oven-dried cranberry compote; pan-seared fois gras with sweet and sour cabbage and sweet currant sauce; and a fois gras medallion with tart cherries and ginger.

For the second course, chef Steve Camen will prepare a bouillabaisse with basil toast and rouille. And for the entree it will be a roast venison loin with black pepper cognac sauce, sweet potatoes and figs.

The dessert course will feature a caramelized Fuji apple tart with ginger sabayon and warm caramel sauce. Following dessert, guests will be served a selection of cheese, figs and walnuts.

A reception will begin at 7 p.m. with dinner at 7:15. Cost is $79 (tax and tip included). Reservations (805) 374-2087.

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Shopping is not always such a leisurely activity. It can be fast and furious, especially in a mall setting. The folks who run Favoritz Restaurant at The Oaks mall are counting on this.

On Monday, they will open Favoritz Express Fast & Fresh, a toned-down, quick-service version of their full-service establishment. It’s designed for diners who want a sit-down or takeout meal and have no time to waste.

The short menu will include roasted turkey with pasta salad, a veggie sandwich with pasta salad, Chinese chicken salad, a southwest salad and a chicken Caesar salad--all priced at $5.95. There will also be a soup of the day for $2.95. (805) 381-1124.

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After 1 1/2 years in escrow and another five months under construction, 71 Palm Restaurant in Ventura has opened for business.

The bistro-style French restaurant, at 71 N. Palm St., serves dinner from 5-10 p.m. daily. Lunch, which will begin Friday, will be served from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. (805) 653-7222.