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A local favorite for anniversaries and other celebrations, Zack's serves classic European dishes in an intimate, two-room 1930s cottage adorned with local art. Entrées of note include seafood specials (depending on the local catch), slow-roasted boar shank, and filet mignon, the latter typically crusted in peppercorns or topped with porcini mushrooms.
1095 E. Thompson Blvd., Ventura, California, 93001, USA
Known For
- Personal service
- House-made desserts
- Excellent California wines
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. No lunch Sat.
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The candle-lighted, creaky-floor restaurant in the main house at the historic inn of the same name is a Big Sur institution. It serves spicy seafood paella, grass-fed filet mignon, and rack of lamb for dinner and flavorful eggs Benedict for breakfast.
48865 Hwy. 1, Big Sur, California, 93920, USA
Known For
- Rustic, romantic setting
- Ingredients from sustainable purveyors
- Stellar daily breakfast
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Wed. and Thurs. No lunch
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A barn-style restaurant with high ceilings and an open kitchen, Ember enjoys a red-hot reputation for Italian-inflected dishes prepared in an authentic Tuscan fireplace or a wood-burning oven. Chef-owner Brian Collins, a native of Arroyo Grande, the town bordering Pismo Beach, honed his culinary skills at Berkeley's legendary Chez Panisse Restaurant.
1200 E. Grand Ave., Arroyo Grande, California, 93420, USA
Known For
- Seasonal menu changes monthly
- Wood-fired flatbread pizzas
- Craft cocktails, local wines, local craft beer on tap
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues. No lunch, Reservations not accepted
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Savor the chef's carefully curated tasting menu with five different groups of eclectic California-French dishes paired with local wines at this elegant farm-to-table restaurant inside the Mirabelle Inn. The seasonal menu changes constantly, but regular dishes include smoked sweet-and-spicy duck wings, truffle-roasted cauliflower, local spot prawns, short rib bourguignonne, and pears poached in red wine from the sommelier-owner's organic Coceliquot Estate Vineyard.
409 1st St., Solvang, California, 93463, USA
Known For
- Intimate fine-dining setting
- Sommelier-owner selected wine list
- Complex dishes and presentation
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch
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Dine on stellar French-American delights at a romantic, candlit table in this tiny restaurant within a tasting room and wineshop in Cambria's West Village. The menu changes seasonally, but you might start with diver scallops or stuffed quail, move on to Louisiana seafood gumbo or Long Island duck breast, and then finish with bananas foster or crème brûlée.
788 Main St., Cambria, California, 93428, USA
Known For
- Lamb osso buco, octopus, and other unusual dishes
- Excellent selection of local wines
- House-made desserts
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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Housed in a renovated 1886 building, erected during the stagecoach era, Mattei's encompasses several sophisticated, light-filled dining rooms with leather seats and benches, exposed brick walls, and high ceilings with wooden beams. The seasonal menu features California ranch–inspired dishes, many of which are cooked over a wood fire in the open kitchen and all of which use local and regional ingredients. You might start with Central Coast abalone and greens from local farms, then feast on squid ink rice with grilled octopus or pork belly and clams, and finish with a dark chocolate soufflé.
2350 Railway Ave., Los Olivos, California, 93441, USA
Known For
- Stellar service
- Historic saloon-style bar and lounge
- Extensive list of local wines, flavor-packed cocktails
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues. No lunch
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The coastal views are utterly spectacular from Nepenthe, named for an opiate mentioned in Greek literature that would induce a state of "no sorrow." For the best vistas, settle on the terraced deck in the late afternoon, order a glass from the extensive wine list, and watch the sun slip into the Pacific Ocean.
48510 Hwy. 1, Big Sur, California, 93920, USA
Known For
- Ambrosia burger, fresh fish, hormone-free steaks
- Multiple view decks
- Brunch and lunch at casual outdoor Café Kevah
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations not accepted
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Authentic northern Italian dishes with a California twist, a cozy fireplace dining room in a century-old Craftsman-style house, and a covered patio amid the oaks draw locals and visitors alike to this popular eatery, owned by an Italian chef and his American wife (the family lives upstairs). The menu changes seasonally, but regular stars include seared sea scallops with Parmesan fondue and truffle shavings, homemade pastas made with organic egg yolks, and tagliatelle with grass-fed Wagyu beef.
314 El Paseo Rd., Ojai, California, 93023, USA
Known For
- Great wild fish and game
- Moment Pink signature cocktail
- Six-course tasting menu
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Wed. No lunch
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Cambria's best place for seafood fills up soon after it opens at 5:30 (no reservations taken, but you can put your name on a waitlist at 5:30). Those in the know grab seats at the oyster bar and take in spectacular sunsets while watching the chefs broil fresh halibut, steam garlicky clams, and fry crispy calamari steaks; if you arrive to a wait, play cribbage or checkers in the game room.
6216 Moonstone Beach Dr., Cambria, California, 93428, USA
Known For
- New England chowder house vibe
- Savory cioppino
- Waiting areas in wine bar, game room, and patio with firepit
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Tues. mid-Sept.–May. No lunch, Reservations not accepted
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Shared dining—small plates and larger—and a seasonal menu showcasing local ingredients are the focus at this urban-chic restaurant named for an overnight all-Pullman train that chugged into the nearby railroad station for six decades. Sit at the 24-seat communal table set atop vintage radiators or at tables and booths crafted from antique Spanish church pews and other repurposed or recycled materials.
131 Anacapa St., Santa Barbara, California, 93101, USA
Known For
- Social environment
- Wines curated by a master sommelier
- Handcrafted locavore cocktails
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch
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Seasonal, locally sourced ingredients and softly lit muted-yellow walls evoke the flavors and charms of Tuscany and the Mediterranean at this rustic-romantic restaurant across from the harbor and West Beach. Ahi sashimi tucked in a crisp sesame cone is a popular appetizer, after which you can proceed, perhaps, to rock-shrimp gnocchi.
324 W. Cabrillo Blvd., Santa Barbara, California, 93101, USA
Known For
- House-made pastas and gnocchi
- Wines from Italy and California's Central Coast
- Romantic waterfront setting
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch
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Determined to push the boundaries of farm-to-table, Barbareño combines Santa Barbara and Central Coast history and traditions with fresh local ingredients to create inventive dishes, for example, uni caesar salad, acorn tagliatelle, local black cod in a pinquito miso sauce with wild onion and blackberries, and crispy Brussels sprouts in a sauce infused with Bragg vinegar and Ojai honey. It churns its own butter; bakes its own breads; makes condiments from scratch; and forages mushrooms, eucalyptus leaves, and other ingredients from the wild.
205 W. Canon Perdido St., Santa Barbara, California, 93101, USA
Known For
- Youthful, sophisticated vibe
- Extensive wine list focused on local, natural wines
- Seasonal menu
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Tues. No lunch
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Owner-chef Laurent Grangien's handsome, welcoming French bistro occupies an 1890s brick building across from City Park. He focuses on traditional dishes such as duck confit, rack of lamb, and onion soup, but always prepares a few au courant daily specials as well.
1202 Pine St., Paso Robles, California, 93446, USA
Known For
- Classic French dishes
- Locally sourced ingredients
- Good selection of local and international wines
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. No lunch Sun.
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At this Railroad Square restaurant you can enjoy authentic northern Italian cuisine in the warmly lit dining room or out on the covered patio. Menu favorites include ricotta-filled squash blossoms, and beef tenderloin glistening with porcini butter and a Pinot Noir reduction.
1020 Railroad Ave., San Luis Obispo, California, 93401, USA
Known For
- Classic Italian dining room and bar
- Well-selected international wine list with more than 200 choices
- Attentive service
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch. No dinner Sun.
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This traditional New England–style crab shack imports fresh seafood daily from Australia, Alaska, and the East Coast. Fish is line-caught, much of the produce is organic, and everything is made from scratch.
751 Price St., Pismo Beach, California, 93449, USA
Known For
- Shellfish meals in a bucket, dumped on the table
- Casual setting
- Daily specials
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations not accepted
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The classic flavors of southern Italy are highlighted at this lively downtown spot. Most recipes originate from Bari, a seaport on the Adriatic; the menu includes breads and pizzas baked in the wood-burning oven, hearty dishes such as dry-aged steak and rack of lamb, and homemade pastas.
891 Price St., Pismo Beach, California, 93449, USA
Known For
- Lively family-style atmosphere
- Daily specials
- Most fruits and veggies come from owner's 12-acre farm
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch weekdays, Reservations not accepted
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One of two Paso establishments owned by chef Santos MacDonal and his wife, Carole, this Italian restaurant entices diners with complex flavors and a contemporary space featuring art deco overtones. Consistent crowd-pleasers often on the menu include the beef carpaccio with white truffle cream sauce and shaved black truffles and the pappardelle with wild boar ragù.
608 12th St., Paso Robles, California, 93446, USA
Known For
- House-made pastas
- Excellent wine pairings
- Ingredients from chef's garden
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues. No lunch
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At barlike, tin-ceilinged La Cosecha (Spanish for "the harvest"), Honduran-born chef Santos MacDonal faithfully re-creates dishes from Spain and South America. Noteworthy starters include pastelitos catracho, Honduran-style empanadas in a light tomato sauce served with queso fresco (fresh cheese) and micro cilantro.
835 12th St., Paso Robles, California, 93446, USA
Known For
- Fusion of Latin spices and fresh local fare
- Daily paella special
- Artisanal cocktails
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues.
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In a cozy space on a prime corner at the gateway to the Funk Zone near Stearns Wharf, Loquita honors Santa Barbara's heritage by serving up authentic Spanish dishes, wines, and cocktails made with fresh, sustainably sourced local ingredients. The menu covers all bases, from tapas to wood-fired seafood and grilled meats to Spanish wines, vermouth, gin and tonics, and sangria.
202 State St., Santa Barbara, California, USA
Known For
- Multiple types of paella
- Counter and takeaway items
- Great gin and tonic
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Across from the promenade, beach, and pier, Ocean Grill serves up fresh seafood to diners who typically arrive before sunset to enjoy the views. Boats anchored in the bay provide much of the seafood, which pairs well with the mostly regional wines on the list. Southern California craft beers are also well represented.
268 Front St., Avila Beach, California, 93424, USA
Known For
- Fantastic ocean views
- Wood-fired pizzas
- Gluten-free and vegetarian options
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Tues. and Wed. No lunch