sgbslo's Profile
SF Chowhound going to SLO/Cambria/Paso Robles/Cayucos help - did some research?
Firestone Grill: Good spot for cheap eats--good tri-tip and pulled pork sandwiches--it gets very crowded (lots of college students) but the line moves pretty quickly
High Street Deli---good sandwiches---off the beaten path in a mostly residential area
Kelsey Sea Canyon Vineyards--I'm not a big fan of their wines but it's a pleasant spot and the folks are nice
Apple Farm--Also not a favorite of mine but if you just want to look around and sample some cider and ice cream it's okay
SLO Farmers Market-A treat---all sorts of food vendors, entertainment---more like a street fair than a traditional farmers' market--street parking after 6 is free
McClintock's---their booth at the farmers' market is super popular. The restaurant itself if just fair imo
Spikes---never been there--
Linnaea's --rather charming Bohemian coffee house
Big Sky-lots of food choices--pleasant spot--
Paso Robles---search for several threads that give lots of details
Brown Butter Cookie Company--good cookies but rather pricey---I think they give samples away to the shop
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Firestone Grill
1001 Higuera St, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
Linnaea's
1110 Garden St, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
High Street Cafe
1873 N High St, Lakeport, CA 95453
Utopia Bakery in SLO is closed
I've been out of town for 2 weeks and just drove by the Utopia Bakery and they are closed and the space is for lease. That leaves the city of SLO pretty much bakery-less.
SLO Train Depot Dining Options
Here's part of an email I received from the Neon Carrot folks today:
the neon carrot will be open fridays for our awesomely powerful happy hour, for on site events of up to forty people, for take out for groups of eight or more (24 hour notice please), for catering and saturday's at farmer's market in slo-but not for breakfast or lunch. we'll probably add another stance or two in the batter's box we call the neon carrot, but for now-that's it.
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Neon Carrot
3536 S Higuera St, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
Looking for Bar Harbor, Portland and Ogunquitt ME Suggestions
Thanks for all the suggestions. We enjoyed a nice dinner at MC Perkins Cove. My favorite lobster roll of the trip was at the stand by the drawbridge in Perkins Cove. We had a nice dinner at Vignola in Portland which wasn't mentioned here but was suggested by a friend.
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Vignola
10 Dana Street, Portland, ME 04101
Farmstands, bakeries in the Chatham MA area
Thanks for your help The Chatham Bakery made a great birthday cake for a very reasonable price We became huge fans of Marion's Pie Shop--got dessert from there for almost all our dinners as well some savory pies for one evening's dinner. Their muffins and cinnamon rolls were also outstanding.
Bass Lake
We're renting a house in Bass Lake for a week. There will be 6 adults, a baby and 2 dogs so we aren't looking for fine dining options. From the info I can gather, it seems the closest large grocery store is the Vons in Oakhurst. Does anyone know of any good bakeries or other food purveyors in the area? We'll be cooking almost all of our meals at the house and I'd like to make them interesting.
Any other tips/suggestions are welcome.
Thanks!
VERY small, intimate wedding at Paso Robles Winery... please help us find the right place.
You might check with Cass Winery. They have an onsite cafe and the setting is nice. They are also very dog friendly. Another smaller, dog-friendly option would be Red Soles.
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Cass Winery
7350 Linne Rd, Paso Robles, CA
Farmstands, bakeries in the Chatham MA area
We're going to be renting a house in Chatham for a week. Are there any farmstands or places selling local produce nearby? Also, I'm going to need to order a birthday cake. Any suggestions for the best bakery? What's the best seafood market in the area?
I've found some info online but would love some personal suggestions.
Thanks!
Looking for Bar Harbor, Portland and Ogunquitt ME Suggestions
We'll be visiting Bar Harbor, Portland and Ogunquitt next month and are looking for some restaurant ideas. We're open to anything, but are especially interested in seafood and locally sourced food. We prefer more moderately priced places but wouldn't mind having a splurge or two.
Thanks
SLO, too
I was pleasantly surprised by the food at the Nautical Bean on Chorro St (near the Mission on the other side of street) I've had sandwiches and salads and they were very good and freshly made.
A casual lunchtime favorite for me is Jaffa Cafe--good gyros etc.
Big Sky Cafe is an old favorite for lunch. On a pretty day, sitting outside at Novo is always a treat but it may not be as casual as you're looking for.
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Big Sky Cafe
1121 Broad St, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
Nautical Bean
240 Harbor Dr S, Oceanside, CA 92054
ISO low-key Morro Bay restaurant
Taco Temple should fit your needs. Or Bayside Cafe on the marina in the state park. You'll probably have a wait at either place.
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Taco Temple
2680 Main St, Morro Bay, CA 93442
Pismo for first timers- please give us your recommendations!
Oh, when I read fur kids I thought it was a misprint for four kids! You're right dogs are not allowed at farmers'markets. I have heard that the Honeymoon Cafe has a pet friendly patio. In SLO, Firestone Grill is very casual and has good tri-tip sandwiches and burgers and a nice outdoor area where fur kids are welcome.
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Firestone Grill
1001 Higuera St, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
Pismo for first timers- please give us your recommendations!
Drive over to San Luis Obispo on Thursday night for the farmers' market. You and the kids will enjoy it. There are lots of food vendorsplus music, entertainment etc. The recs for Splash Cafe Cracked Crab and Guiseppe's are still valid. Lots of people love the Honeymoon Cafe for breakfast. The Avila Valley Barn is a short drive from Pismo and is always a fun place to visit--produce, bakery items, ice cream, and an assortment of animals.
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Avila Valley Barn
560 Avila Beach Dr, San Luis Obispo, CA 93405
Cracked Crab
751 Price St, Pismo Beach, CA 93449
Sonoma->Santa Barbara
Paso: Artisan, Il Cortile or Thomas Hill Organics are all good choices for dinner. If you're going wine tasting I'd suggest you visit Cass Winery and have lunch there--beautiful place, good wines and good food.
Cambria: Robins is good for lunch or dinner. Black Cat is very nice for dinner. The Sea Chest is a casual no reservations place across from the beach that can be good if you're just lookng for an old fashiioned seafood experience.
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Black Cat Bistro
1602 Main St, Cambria, CA 93428
Cass Winery
7350 Linne Rd, Paso Robles, CA
Thomas Hill Organics
1305 Park St, Paso Robles, CA
Nice, France in November
If you love markets then you'll enjoy the Cours Saleya market which is held every morning except Monday when it's an antique market. For regional fare La Merenda is good and very well known. They have no phone so you must make reservations in person. Another favorite for local cuisine is Acchiardo on rue Droite in the old town. Both restaurants are closed on weekends and neither takes credit cards.
For something more upscale I like La Tire Buchon in the old town, Pot d'Etain on rue Meyerbeer and Bisro d'Antoine also in the old town.
My favorite splurge spot is Jouni La Reserve. The waterfront setting is lovely and the food is top notch. It is actually 2 restaurants in one--the downstairs is a more casual bistro (but still pricey) and upstairs is a more formal dining room. I have only eaten in the bistro but I've been there a number of times and have always been pleased.
Socca is a must try as previously mentioned. Another foodie thing in Nice I'm fond of is the Alziari Olive Oil. It is my favorite olive oil ever. They have a neat little shop near Cours Saleya.
Birthday dinner in Venice
We're looking for a spot in Venice for a 50th birthday dinner/celebration. There will be about 18 people and it could be a restaurant or private space(another friend had a birthday dinner at a villa outside of Florence). This group would probably prefer something not too formal but with a somewhat lively atmosphere. All suggestions are most welcome!!
Where to eat in Cassis
This is probably not going to be of great help to you. But for what it's worth, we were in Cassis for one night and had dinner at Nino. It was good but not extremely memorable. I'm not sure if they had Bouillabaise. I had a fish soup that was quite good.
Paso Robles/Cambria Trip - Recs Please!
Artisan is my current favorite Paso restaurant. In Cambria Black Cat is somewhat more upscale/innovative than Sea Chest which is a fairly plain seafood place (I actually like it). Sea Chest doesn't take reservations so the wait is often long. Although on Monday you'd better check to see which places are open. Should you decide to go to another restaurant in Paso I think Bistro Laurent is very good. I've never been to the Paso Bueno Tavola but the one in SLO is good but not on my list of favorites. McPhee's is quite good if you don't mind driving to Templeton.
You've chosen some excellent wineries. Two more on Vineyard Drive that I like are Denner and Jada--they are both only open on weekends I believe.
Morro Bay
Taco Temple does indeed still exist and is a favorite of mine. Another place I enjoy is Bayside Cafe on the marina in the state park. They have good food and open for lunch daily and serve dinner Thurs-Sun I believe. If you want something more upscale Windows on the Water and Shawn's on Main are both good choices.
Honeymoon - Monaco and Nice restaurant advice
I'm a fan of Jouni especially at lunch when the prices are quite so sky-high. The food and service are top notch and the setting is spectacular. If you want regional fare I'd suggest La Merenda which is much touted in the press. It's tiny, has no phone, doesn't take credit cards and is closed on the weekends. Acchiardo is another spot serving local cuisine and is run by a friendly family. Also closed on weekends.
Bistro d'Antoine is a good spot for either lunch or dinner. The food is very good and the surroundings are pleasant. La Tire Bouchon is a good bet for dinner. They are open Sunday and Monday when many restaurants are closed. The food is good and a good deal for the price. For very filling, vegetarian fare, La Zucca Magica is a unique find in this area. It was recently featured in the NY Times.
Lunch at Cass Winery (Paso Robles)
I believe things are in the $10-$15 range. The menu is not extensive but everything I've tried has been good and it adds to the wine-tasting experience.
Lunch at Cass Winery (Paso Robles)
I've had lunch at Cass Winery several times lately and have enjoyed it each time. You can sit at tables either inside the tasting room or on their vine-covered patio. They have an excellent cheese plate which always includes an interesting assortment of cheeses. On their current menu is a chilled melon soup which has a bit of jalepeno that adds an interesting touch. The crabcakes are very good as is the pulled pork Cuban sandwich. There are several other nice choices including a very good chicken salad.
During lunch you can taste some of the nice wines that Cass is now producing (they've come a long way in just a few years). The Grenache is especially good.
The winery is a bit off the beaten track but there are now several other wineries in the same general area (such as Still Waters, B & E, August Ridge and Chateau Margene) so it's worth a trip.
Best eats and Bars in San Luis Obispo / Central Coast
In SLO I think Big Sky is a good choice for casual dining. They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. For more upscale dining my favorite is The Park (located just outside of downtown near the Amtrack station) with Koberl at Blue being my second favorite. In the casual, reasonably priced range I like Mama's Meatball in the Creamery Building for Italian fare. Firestone Grill is good for burgers, tri-tip sandwiches and the like.
I'd suggest Native for the bar. We used their "bottle service" where we bought a bottle at around $200 and had an area reserved for our group and our own server. It worked out great and was worth the money for our group. You can call ahead and have them make the arrangements for you.
Favourite cafes, patisseries & boulangeries in Nice?
My favorite bakery is Moultari which is located across the street from the Pedestrian Area. They have some wonderful pastries. Another good place is Auer which is more of a sweets shop--it's very "old world" looking. Across the street from Auer is Alziari Olive Oil where they sell my favorite olive oil. Throughout Old Town Nice there are a good variety of boulangeries, cheese shops etc. Don't miss Finochio for ice cream. The food market in the Cours Saleya is one of my favorite markets in the world. It's open every day except Monday (when there's an antique market).
My favorite local cuisine places are La Merenda which has no phone so you need to go by the day before or earlier in the day you want to go to reserve and Achiardo which is a good, family-run spot in Old Town. Both restaurants are closed on weekends and neither takes credit cards.
Other places I really like are Jouni La Reserve (more upscale--contains a bistro and a fine dining room), La Tire Bouchon(very good and is open Sunday and Monday when many places are closed), Bistro d'Antoine (good for lunch or dinner), and Luc Salsedo.
Thanksgiving Dinner - Central Coast?
Based on your geographic request somewhere in the San Luis Obispo area would be your spot. Dolphin Bay Resort in Shell Beach is very nice and has a good restaurant, The Lido. It's one of the more upscale properties in the area. Next door to Dolphin Bay is the Cliffs Resort which is also nice but a little less expensive. The restaurant there, Marisol is good. The Inn at Morro Bay is also a nice place and next to a state park and bird sanctuary. The setting is nice. If you want something a little more "folksy" you might look into the Apple Farm Inn in San Luis Obispo.
Lunch in Paso Robles?
I heartily second the Artisan rec! I've always enjoyed their food at both lunch and dinner.
Nice Restaurant suggestions
Jouni La Reserve is a very good place on the higher end scale. It has 2 areas, a bistro on the first floor and upstairs is a more formal room. I've only eaten in the downstairs area but have been several times and it was superb each time.
In a more medium range I like Bistro Antione and La Tire Bouchon.
La Merenda is also a favorite for regional cuisine as is Acchiardo which is a family-run place in the old town. Neither one takes credit cards and they are both closed on the weekend.
Visiting Paso Robles - Dining Suggestions?
The Range is one of my favorites but in case you don't know, it's in Santa Margarita which is about 20 minutes south of Paso Robles. They also do not take reservations or credit cards. But I've never been disappointed in the food or service.
Artisan would my choice in Paso with Villa Creek and Bistro Laurent as also good choices.
As for wineries, there are so many. If you are on the east side of Paso there are several in an area they call "the backroads wineries." One to check is Cass which has a lovely setting, good wine and they serve lunch. The food is very good and you can do your wine tasting while eating. Their staff is extremely friendly (there's usually at least one family member serving). Another one in that same area is Chateau Margene which is very small but makes some very good wines.
On the west side, L'Aventure mkes some very good albeit pricey wines. Linne Calodo is a favorite with the wine critics and has some good wines but I usually find their staff not very friendly. A couple of other good, smaller places on the west side are Nadeau and Villicana.
your favorite central coast gourmet shops and why
While I wish we had more selection in the gourmet food area, Muzio's in downtown SLO has some good oils, vinegars, pastas and some other Italian related items and is a charming little store.
