We came here after checking in at our stay in Los Alamos, since it was the only restaurant open on…read morea Monday night. We made a reservation on Open Table just in case because we were VERY hungry. It is a cute place, on the smaller side and has a more modern take on seating. Some tables had couches and others were the traditional chairs/booths. After looking over the menu, we decided to order the focaccia bread, bates burger, and the mac n cheese. The focaccia bread came out with this delicious mascarpone cheese topped with honey and pepper on top. At first, we were a little worried but the blend of flavors were IMMACULATE! We contemplated ordering another one. Next the burger and mac n cheese came out. The burger was a bit dry, and it came out well done when we asked for medium (they ask how you would like it cooked when ordering). The potato wedges that come with it were very good, hot and fluffy. The Mac n cheese was the star of the show. We got the mushrooms on the side since we never had BBQed mushrooms before but they added such a complex flavor with the truffle cheese in the macaroni. We ended the night with their cookie skillet and it came with salted Carmel gelato (the menu says vanilla). She confirmed that the flavor was okay before putting the order in. Overall, we had a good night here and the view was beautiful. Side note: they have you park in the bottom lot if you are only coming for the restaurant and there is a number you call. They pick you up in the golf cart and drive you up! And they offer the same service to come back down! Thank you Alex (unless it was Ally we are arguing over your name) for such a positive energy and personality.

FOOD: I ordered the BBQ Brisket burger and it was…read moremagnificent. Juicy, thick patty, the brisket was tender and the BBQ sauce was just the enough amount and not overpowering the entire burger. You get a choice of a side salad or fries to go along with your burger and I went for the side salad since as a group we did order the garlic wedge fries (which was not served with wedge cut potatoes but regular fries cut potatoes lol). Not sure if they ran out of those cuts or that's how it is really presented but either way the fries were also delicious and perfectly garlicky. The other orders from our group was the Bates burger which again was delicious. The steak frites were yummy and perfectly cooked. The steak was easily cut and seasoned well. We also ordered the focaccia and that mascarpone with black pepper honey was addicting! I wish we could have had more bread lol. So good! We also ordered the Texas style chili, that too, was wonderful. It was packed with meat and the right amount of beans. Deliciously seasoned and came with a jalapeño corn muffin. We didn't really taste the jalapeño but still a good pairing. I just wish there was more of it. It was served in a big bowl but the serving was very shallow so the look of it can be deceiving as to you're getting a lot but not really. It was shared by 4 people but just not quite enough for hungry people lol. Our other friend got the pan-roasted chicken that did not meet up to his expectations. It was small in portion compared to the burger and did not look very filling. We also got to try the cast iron cookie (made to order so it does take a while to come out) but given it is freshly baked please be careful taking the first bite. It is very hot lol. Again, amazingly chocolatey, gooey and decadent paired with a vanilla gelato on top. 6/7 of the orders were top notch so I'd say it's a win! SERVICE: There was only one server for the entire restaurant. One bartender at the bar. No host/hostess so it took awhile to be seated even with a reservation but not too long of a wait. Our waiter did his best to accommodate everyone and each table given he's the only one serving. He was patient and still very helpful with helping us pick our meals, providing recommendations and answering our questions. He still served everyone with a smile despite how overwhelming it could have been for him. Also, the service of the receptionist of the hotel who can pick you up with a Moke mobile down the hill and up to the restaurant was quick and friendly. She was very welcoming and nice. I loved the service. The food came out in a timely manner except for our cookies BUT again it is made to order and I'm sure takes longer to bake than to make a burger lol so be patient. Lovely service and staff. AMBIENCE: Good amount of seatings inside and outdoors during warmer weather. The outdoors does come equipped with heaters but it was just too cold so most people choose indoors anyway. Super cute, intimate setting with booths, tables and high chairs at the bar. Dimmed lighting throughout the restaurant but they do bring little candles or lamps to light up the table if needed. Super cute and romantic vibe. We visited during holiday season so there was a nicely lit Christmas tree by our table and it made the visit nice and cozy. I've lived in the area for a while now and have always wanted to visit and check out the place. Met all my expectations and more. I judged it by its ambiance and pricing from the menu at first, thinking the food was not gonna reflect the prices and although some are overpriced some are justifiable given the quality of the food. Again, it's a unique experience being picked up by a Moke mobile from the parking lot to the top of the hill where the restaurant is located. There is a shed where the phone number is located to call the hotel for a lift. The food, service and ambience were great. Highly recommend to locals and anyone driving by for a visit! Very instagrammable restaurant AND motel!

This review covers three visits, the first two were midweek in 2025 and one two weeks ago on a…read moreFriday. It's an interesting setup, as there's a separate space for Pico and a space for Lumen Wines, however we were told that the wine tastings are done in the restaurant. The ambiance is upscale-casual, the service is excellent (thanks Kali for getting my joke and making me laugh on our last visit), and the food is wonderfully delicious. They have main floor seating, a balcony, and a back patio, so request your spot when making a reservation. DRINKS: They have a full bar and the cocktails we've tried were very well made. The wine list is primarily Lumen wines, but there are some other local and old-world wines available, and some alcohol-free cocktails and beer too. On our first visit, we tried a Lumen wine tasting flight consisting of a '21 Chardonnay, a '21 Pinot Noir, and a '21 Grenache, and a couple extra pours, like the Escence orange wine and the "Hey Ginger" Pet Nat (check out my separate review for Lumen Wines). FOOD: We've eaten something on all three visits and everything we've tried has been very good. The menu is seasonal, so it's ever changing. The appetizers/entrées we've tried are the Wedge Salad, Kabocha Salad, Grilled Carrots, Avocado Crudo, Channel Island Squid, Steak Tartare, Pico Burger, and Rabbit Carnitas Tostadas. The food is well-seasoned and prepared as ordered. The kitchen seems to work well with the wait staff to coordinate when courses are delivered, so you're not getting everything at once. Pico is one of our favorite spots in the Los Alamos/Los Olivos/Buellton area and well worth the drive if you're not staying right nearby. I highly recommend you check them out.

So many great things to say about this place! As someone new to the area, this was an wonderful…read moreintroduction! We came in on a Friday night, so it was a few minutes for a table. We sat in a lovely waiting area with couches and they brought over water for us before we were seated. Ambience: 5/5 Inside, the cozy warm ambience made the experience feel even more elevated. We loved the decor and the layout of the restaurant, especially the upstairs seating area (where we sat) overlooking the dining room. It felt a little more private which we loved as we got to people watch. When we thought the inside was romantic, the outside seating was like a scene out of a movie. Hope to sit out there next time! Service: 5/5 Our server was very attentive and charismatic, joining in on our jokes, checking on us promptly, giving us recommendations, and ultimately adding onto our experience. The busser was quick and timely, he always made sure our table was clean and our water was full. Food took a little while to come out, which was expected, but after everything we ate, it was completely worth the wait. Food: 5/5 I could probably eat ten of the avocado crudo and the mushroom and madeira. The crudo completely melts in your mouth with the most addicting sauce, and the puff pastries lingered in my mind the entire meal. We had the burrata which was fresh and tasty, the warm french loaf which shocked me how compelling a loaf of bread can be, and finally were graced by the agnolotti which had the perfect amount of lemon that paired so perfectly with the mushroom sauce. Keep in mind, every plate was wiped clean of its sauce with the bread because they were all too good and we couldn't get enough. Also could have had endless "For he's a jolly good fennel" (love the name) mocktale. Highly recommend!

Great country bar in a quiet town. Juke box, pool tables, video games and good company.read more

They tried to get me to sign a legal form to get a beer. Thats wild. Avoid this place…read more Note: The bartender mentioned that it was a mandatory policy because someone was in a fight(and indicated they may have deserved it). The bar was getting sued and the waiver was now required. Seems like liability insurance might be the right approach. Telling me this story about how someone got beaten up(and thats kinda cool cause we didnt like him) and then trying to have me waive liability incase someone didn't like me too seems like a hard sell.

Best Pizza in Lompoc? I think so! The crust was amazing and when I asked about it I was told they…read moremake their own dough with a 5+ year old sourdough starter! And the pizzas are cooked in a real wood burning oven! What more could you ask for? Their BBQ Events are great too, they use oak from the trees on the course to smoke all the meats! Talk about a local approach! Oh yeah, and you don't have to be a member to eat there. It's open to the public! I can't wait to go try the main restaurant, Range (Dinner only on Fridays)

What an absolutely pleasant delightful surprise stumbling into this place for lunch was. The…read morerestaurant is located on the far side of the swimming pool with a beautiful view onto the course. I ordered the Vietnamese fried chicken sandwich and wow it looked a little dry and presentation it was actually packed with flavor and delicious. It came with the option of regular fries, garlic fries or onion rings. I opted for the other rings and wasn't disappointed at all. I think probably one of the best parts about this was that lunch with drinks came to under $20 which is something I haven't seen in a while. Great value in a lovely atmosphere. Definitely worth the short trot

One thing we quickly noticed in Solvang is that there aren't many places open late, so finding High…read moreRoller Tiki Lounge open until 11 PM was a huge plus! After a delicious dinner nearby, we stopped in for drinks, live music, and a good time and this place delivered. They had a great live band playing fun tunes that really set the atmosphere. The vibe was relaxed, lively, and exactly what we were looking for to end the night. Their drink menu is packed with creative and fun options. I ordered the Mango Michelada, and it absolutely did not disappoint. Our waiter was also fantastic, very attentive, friendly, and kept checking in on us throughout the night. If you're in Solvang and looking for a fun late-night spot with good drinks, music, and great service, High Roller Tiki Lounge is definitely worth stopping

I want to start by saying that I have never in my life experienced such a negative response when…read morewalking into a place. I wanted to love this place because of the aesthetic however, the owner (guy who wears the golf cap) immediately seemed annoyed that my friend and I wanted to grab a drink there. He just handed us the menus without acknowledging us. For reference it was not busy. So we sat down and he did stop by to take our order. There was one couple next to us and WOW! He came and asked them "Where are you guys visiting from?" And that was a whole conversation. He then came back a few minutes later to ask how their drinks were. And my friend and I were not acknowledged one bit and we were sitting right next to them and were the only ones in the room with them so it was very obvious. We did not feel welcome at all. It was such a bad feeling so I will definitely not waste my time or money at this place if I were you.

Here's a clean version that keeps your voice but tightens it up a bit:…read more We went to The Victor for Sunday brunch in Santa Ynez and it was kind of perfect. We started with Bloody Marys, which were insanely good. They were out of the Verde, but the bartender improvised and made us something even better. It came with what might be the best bacon I've ever had, which is a bold claim but I stand by it. He even came out to check on us and talk through what he was testing. We loved them. We ordered the deviled eggs with trout roe, which were to die for. Highly recommend. Then we split the breakfast sandwich. They divided it in the kitchen and brought it out with two side salads, which is always such a nice touch. Service was incredible, the atmosphere was lovely, and the whole thing felt a little indulgent in the best way. Exactly what you want on a beautiful spring day in Santa Ynez. Would absolutely go back.

I had the most expertly prepared sea bass I've ever had, and I typically order sea bass whenever…read moreit's available on the menu. It's my benchmark for good seafood. The skin was crispy but the meat was tender, and soaked with the broth that's drenched right at your table, the combination was mind-bogglingly good. Service was superb. The waiter even offered my dog a bowl of water. The outdoor patio seating was lovely, especially on a warm December evening in California. Experience an elevated dining nirvana here at Victor.

We stayed at the Inn at Mattei's Tavern this past weekend and had dinner at the titular Tavern, an…read moreupscale contemporary restaurant in a reincarnated central California stagecoach stop dating back to 1886. The inn leans into the old west aesthetic, but the tavern is just elegant and attractive, with leather furniture, a high vaulted ceiling, and a lot of windows. It was pleasantly bustling on a Friday night, with what seemed like a mix of hotel guests and other visitors. Los Olivos has a population that hovers around 1,000, so this restaurant, like the stagecoach stop, is there to serve travelers. Accordingly, service was first class. There was a full bar with elaborate cocktails and plenty of wine from the area. We ordered two rounds of cocktails, as we planned to drink wine all weekend, and they were all very good. The Vaquero Campfire was a refreshing mezcal drink with pink peppercorn, honey, and charred grapefruit. The Cigars & Horses was a boozy mix of bourbon, yellow chartreuse, and smoked cinnamon. Los Rancheros Vistadores was a pleasantly bitter tequila cocktail, with reposado, amaro, Aperol, and orange olive oil. And the Pinochle Punch was a smooth blend of milk-clarified rye, cognac, and orange. We ordered wines by the glass to go with our entrees, and these were both lovely, too. The Sandlands Lodi Red Table Wine and the Racines Mattei's Cuvée, a Chardonnay that must have some connection to Mattei's Tavern. The food was delicious. We started with a half dozen oysters with mignonette and lemon and Gin's tuna carpaccio, topped with scallion, radish, ginger dressing, and cold-pressed California olive oil. Then we had Mattei's house focaccia, served with cultured butter and herb oil, and the country pâté, with cherry, tarragon, and sourdough. The entrées were both excellent. The Channel Islands rockfish was beautifully cooked, served in a vibrant tomatillo sauce with hoja santa, with sides of roti, grilled avocado, and grilled lime. The Colorado lamb was tender and juicy with a nice spiced crust. It came with couscous, vadouvan, mint yogurt, onion, and dates. For dessert, we shared the affogato: vanilla ice cream, Handlebar espresso. Hard to think of a better way to wind down a big meal. We charged dinner to the room and got $100 through a hotel promotion. This covered some of our drinks. The Tavern is not a cheap restaurant, but it is a great one, well worth checking out on your visit to Los Olivos.

Been here twice now and trying to be fair about it…read more The food is genuinely great and pricing feels in line with other spots around here. Not cheap, but not over the top either. Service is where things fell short both times. It took about 40 minutes to get our breakfast after ordering, and it was pretty obvious the plates had been sitting under a heat lamp for a bit. I used to work in food service, so it's something I tend to notice. We weren't in a rush, but we did need to be in and out within an hour. By the time the food came, we had maybe 15 minutes to eat and had to ask for the check right away just to stay on schedule. Overall, it's a great spot if you have the time to hang, but I'd be cautious coming here if you're on any kind of timeline.

We stayed at the inn and decided to make it easy and make reservations at the Tavern. They give you…read morescones to start your meal and they were amazing! Savory and one of the best scones I've ever had! Didn't even need the sweet butter that came with it. We had the crab beignets for an appetizer. Very nice and light, fresh crab just missing a some salt. My fiancé ordered the burger with their version of fries and I had the scallops pasta. My fresh scallops were perfectly seared and paired with the beautifully blanched veggies and pasta. All fantastic, just missing a little salt. Burger was really well made and so were their fries. Service was ok, a little hands off for such a slow night. Well decorated inside and out with lots of plants. The whole place is dreamy!

A charming restaurant with a lovely, quaint ambiance that creates an immediately welcoming setting…read more The service was exceptional gracious, attentive, and genuinely personable. Our party was warmly greeted upon arrival and made to feel completely at home throughout the evening. The cuisine was very good, and the overall dining experience was thoughtfully executed. One minor note would be that one of the pasta dishes could have been drained slightly more prior to plating. Otherwise, the meal was excellent. I would gladly recommend this restaurant to others seeking a warm, inviting atmosphere paired with attentive service and excellent food.

The only time I seem to go for Happy Hour these days is when I am out of town. Actually, staying in…read moreSolvang this time around meant no driving required, so first stop, HH at Mad and Vin inside the Landsby Hotel Every item we ordered was on point. Between the olive and fig bruschetta and Santa Ynez sliders with duck fries so good, I should've ordered a full order of those fries, to go with that Chata-tini of rum, horchata, cream, cinnamon, my only regret is not returning the next day for dinner.

What a great find! We were walking down the street looking…read morefor a restaurant and a woman approached us and asked us if we needed a restaurant recommendation. She recommended Mad and Vin!! And a couple others. We enjoyed a beet salad, mushroom pasta, a Pinot Noir, and a butterscotch crème brûlée!!! All a 10 out of 10! Our server was George and our busser was Rudy! A perfect team, never had to ask for anything they were very attentive, perfection! This is one of those restaurants that if we lived here, we would come regularly.

Went for happy hour. I believe it's M-F 4-6. Wine is 30% off, draft beers are $5. Nice! Snacks are…read moreregular price. I went on a Thursday and there was live music starting at 6 pm. Bartender was really nice and the guitarist was great!

This cozy lounge is just off the lobby of The Vinland hotel. They offer a nice cocktail menu with a…read moreselection of small plates. We tried the Danish meatballs and the deviled eggs, and can see why they are considered favorites. A huge shout out to Rick, the bartender- he is a true mixologist and also a pleasant conversationalist. He was also offering seasonal cocktails separate from the menu offerings and I went with the peppermint bark martini- so delicious, it's a holiday dessert in a glass. Fortunately, we are guests at the hotel, making it easy to return, because this place is truly a gem.