I came here for my birthday in spring and literally cannot wait to have dinner here again. Cute ambience, great food and reasonable price. Our server was really nice and sweet. Every dish had a perfect balance of acidity, saltiness and sweetness but maybe my steak was a little overly salted. I had a bottle of white wine from South Africa or somewhere which paired well even with beef. They have pretty good selection of non-Californinan wines along with locals. read more

Bell's was a truly unique and memorable dinner. We went there for my partner's birthday. They made it extra special for us with a Happy Birthday message printed on the menu. The staff was very sweet and polite and made us feel super welcome. Coming to the food, we started with the Santa Barbara Sea Urchin with Regis Ova caviar, mille crêpe. This was an explosion of flavors. I was skeptical that it might taste too fishy, but the whole dish did not. Next, we had the Bell's Seeded Sourdough with Stepladder Creamery cultured butter and Finley Farms Lettuces with shallot & medjool date vinaigrette. These were very nice and refreshing. Next, we had Razor Clams with Fioretto cauliflower, confit potato, vermouth blanc bouillon. It was part clam chowder and part crudo. Absolutely loved how fresh and light this dish was. We also had the Jimenez Farms Chicken Pithivier Golden Nugget tangerines, pickled mushrooms, melted leeks. It was perfectly executed. For the entrées, we had "Ratatouille" gnocchi Parisienne, Fiscalini cheddar, arugula pistou and Steak au Poivre 5 oz coulotte, Steve's peppercorn sauce & frites. These were sublime. For dessert, we had Ragged Point Ryan Farms walnut tart, rosemary and Île Flottante Santa Maria strawberries, Makrut lime. They were so so good! The final cherry on top was that they surprised us with a birthday cake. It was so nice! Absolutely loved the experience. The ambiance was super nice and quiet. read more

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Everything was fantastic! The food was phenomenal. We sat at the counter so it was fun (for us) to watch them make the delicious magic happen. The service was excellent. I can see why this has a Michelin star and I hope to return one day! read more

Bell's: Where Alignment Tastes Like Home I went to Bell's on my birthday--because some moments call for something more than a meal. They call for something that means something. And Bell's, nestled in the wine-soaked countryside of Los Alamos, isn't just a restaurant. It's an alignment. Not the kind of alignment that shouts with fireworks and fanfare, but the kind that hums softly beneath your skin and reminds you that life, at its core, is about how things fit together. People hear "Michelin" and they imagine tuxedos, hushed voices, plates that look too pretty to eat. But Bell's isn't that. Bell's reminds you that Michelin doesn't mean pomp--it means precision. It means intent. It means that every ingredient, every note on the plate, every hand that touches it, is in harmony with everything else. The moment you walk through the doors, you feel it. The glow of soft amber lighting. The farmhouse warmth of concrete floors and white brick walls. And what could have been cold--those raw, masculine concrete floors--is softened, effortlessly, by sprawling decorative rugs, rich with color and pattern. The kind of rugs you'd find in a well-loved living room, the kind a mother might place beneath the dining table not for show, but to warm the feet, to bring life and softness into a space. The two--rug and concrete--dance with one another in quiet agreement: rough and smooth, hard and soft, balanced without either one overreaching. You feel like you've stepped not into a restaurant, but into a home with history, texture, and soul. Copper pans hang above, not as decoration for show, but as quiet symbols of real kitchens, real hands, real homes. The chairs aren't thrones--they're invitations. And the staff? They aren't performing. They're welcoming you in. That's the magic Bell's captures: the feeling that you're not in a restaurant--you're in someone's home. The servers move with a grace that isn't forced. They wear aprons--not stiff, ironed uniforms--but soft, stylish aprons that feel like something your mother might tie on before cooking your favorite meal. The kind of apron that says, "I'm here to care for this. And for you." They speak to you like an old friend might. No pretension. No scripted monologues about soil and sun exposure. Just: Here's what we love about this dish. Try it. See how you feel. There's a quiet confidence in that. A generosity. The way someone who loves to cook would serve you at their own table: wanting you to taste, to smile, to feel good. And the food--oh, the food--sings with that same ethos. It's not just a plate of risotto; it's a conversation between cream and grain, pepper and oil, softness and bite. It's the kind of dish where the olive oil doesn't just sit--it swirls, gleams, creates a perfect circle of golden punctuation. The anchovies are topped intentionally, their saltiness designed to contrast whatever tender brightness is placed above or beneath them--maybe citrus, maybe a fresh herb--so that each bite holds a tension between softness and sharpness, richness and lift. Nothing is accidental. Every element is arranged with the quiet care of a hand that knows exactly where each note belongs. And the spinach atop the puff--this is no ordinary garnish. The crunch of the golden pastry gives way to the silk of the vibrant greens, but without the bitter edge spinach often carries. Here, it's subdued, tender, almost chewy in the most delicate way. It tastes like something only a chef with compassionate precision--paired with the right growing methods--could bring to life. The cream beneath doesn't drown it; it elevates it. The pastry doesn't overpower it; it frames it. It's where the symphony meets the cream, the puffiness, the crunch, the silk--all of it organized into one edible piece of music. There's no rushing here. No artificial grandeur. Even the simplest things--like a single scoop of ice cream with a birthday candle--taste better. Not because they're dressed up in gold leaf, but because they're real. Because the cream comes from happy cows, the hands that churn it are steady, and the intent behind it is pure. That's what Michelin actually honors: not extravagance, but excellence. Excellence rooted in humility. Bell's is where the countryside's rhythm meets the conductor's hand. Where every element--the food, the space, the people--move together like a quiet symphony. You don't leave stuffed. You leave filled. Filled with the taste of simplicity done flawlessly. Filled with the warmth of being treated not as a customer, but as a guest. As family. And that's what alignment really is. That's what Bell's is. read more

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Bell's has amazing food, and the staff are so friendly and conversational. We've been back a few times, and whether you sit at the bar, inside, or outside, it's always a great time. Moses gave us some great recommendations! Daisy and her team have made Bell's a really special place. read more

Took my girlfriend for our first year celebration. Every details were thought through. First 2 courses were served and we chose a steak and a fish entree. They both came undercooked. Service was there, mains weren't. It might be just luck, I am not sure.. read more

Had an unforgettable experience @bellslosalamos! What a delicious time. Such a beautiful ambiance. Thank you to the BOH and FOH for everything. Highly recommended. #foodie #whatchefsliketoeat #farmtotable #michelinstar #californiacuisine #amazing #delicious #amustgoplace #losalamoscalifornia #santaynezvalley read more

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Life changing to say the very least. The food: Perfection The service: Unmatched The vibes: Immaculate My husband and I made a reservation here to celebrate our 10th anniversary and the team here made it so special with menus that had our names on it for the occasion. Chris was absolutely phenomenal with his friendly and warm personality and made our experience that much more personalized. He gave us a tour of the full menu, gave impeccable wine pairings for the courses selected, and even topped it off with a lovely dessert wine that I wish I had asked the name of (he described at as apricot and sunshine which it absolutely was). The entire team was so attentive and it was honestly a joy watching them do their work while enjoying our meal. The menu had so much thought behind it and the care in the selection of fresh, seasonal, and local ingredients added an additional layer to flavor profiles on top of the exceptional seasoning. The first bite of sea urchin and caviar was so rich (truly a perfect bite), the salad while simple was so flavorful, and the bread that is baked in house was so soft and paired beautifully with the cultured butter topped with flaky sea salt. We chose the Âmevive Lamb Roulade and Ridgeback Prawns for our appetizer, the Cobia Rôti and Steak au Poivre for our entrees, and the Tarte au Citron and Chocolate Mousse for dessert. While I do love seafood, I typically don't pick those options when dining out but the sea urchin, the prawns, and Cobia fish were my absolute favorite bites from our dinner options. I cannot say enough good things about this lovely place with a staff that is just as lovely. As someone who works in retail with a brand that focuses on 5 star customer experience, I appreciated receiving service that was more than good enough to leave the house for and that was worth every single dollar spent. I can only close this review by saying that we look forward to returning again before our next anniversary and a huge thank you to the entire team at Bell's for such a special meal to celebrate this milestone in our lives. read more

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We stoped by for lunch. The menu was off-putting for us. We decided on a BLT anda garden salad. The BLT was delicious although the crust was uncomfotably hard and wasn't eaten. The garden salad with pluots and chicken was very good. The shredded chicken was spot on. Our service was ok unil the plae got busy. It too long to get the attention of our srver to get our bill. Then, at the end of our meal, when our bill was presented we were informed of a service charge that is automatically included in the total. So, we will not return. read more

C'est bon! If you're a food loving person with a penchant for French culture Bell's is a jewel. The staff was exemplary and the fact it is hidden away in the one-horse town of Los Alamos somehow makes it even more wonderful. Read the reviews, if you know you KNOW. (I had a course of peaches, sardines and herbs that made my head spin it was so good.) Authentic, warm, exquisite...and Michelin starred no less. Bell's is perfect wine country California. An evening we'll remember. Merci, Bell's. read more

Bell's - Chef's counter - French Near Me - Los Alamos, California

Bell's is the definition of high quality dining. We had heard about Bell's from friends and were blown away by our experience. The ambiance inside is a great mix of casual yet refined dining. The servers were extremely kind and knowledgeable about the menu and were able to provide great recommendations. Overall, the food was fantastic and tasted like it was made with the high quality ingredients they claim. We started with the escargot which was delicious. We then got the tuna sandwich, crepe du jour, and the french fries. I highly recommend all of the above items- especially the fries and crepe du jour. We were so blown away by the meal that we hope to one day come back for their dinner menu. I cannot recommend Bell's enough. read more

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Ambience was cozy with a casual elegance. Sitting at the counter was fun so one can watch the kitchen action and chat with the chef when she had a moment towards the end of the night. The service was efficient and warm. There was a lovely gesture in recognizing celebrations. The dinner started out w a delicious sea urchin caviar bite that created the anticipation for the rest of the night. The flavors of the pumpkin w anchovies were well balanced. The scallops were a tad overcooked by a minute but the brown butter beet verjus was delish. The seeded sourdough was perfectly suited to sop up the verjus. Then came the halibut and steak. Unfortunately both were disappointing. The halibut was again slightly overcooked and did not have anything notable. The steak was very surprising given this is a standard French dish. It was overdone and the cut of meat (or how it was trimmed) made it quite chewy and tough. The night ended w a standard chocolate mousse and a glacee that was quite refreshing with the delicate flavors of pistachios. It was surprising to have experienced the mix for a restaurant awarded one Michelin star consistently for the past 5 years....Perhaps it was an off night. read more

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We always order the same thing here because it's always consistent and delicious food. Service is the best in town and the ambiance is perfect. The steak tartare is amazing and my wife loves the egg sandwich. The fries are very good as well. read more

Bell's - Steak Tartar - French Near Me - Los Alamos, California

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An amazing restaurant located in the Central Coast Wine country. The restaurant focuses on really great, local ingredients and uses French techniques. Which is similar to one of my favorite restaurants located in Berkeley, California. After learning about this, I was already sold and this place has been on my list of places to go for a long time now. The service and attentiveness is impeccable from all the team members here. The place feels upscale, yet casual enough where it doesn't feel stuffy at all. I was heading up from LA to go to a beer festival in Paso Robles and made it a point to stop by here on the way. There's plenty of parking along the street. I didn't know exactly what time I was able to get into the area, so I slept on buying the talk reservation and there was a cut off the day of. Luckily, I was by myself and I was able to walk in and have dinner at the bar. I believe they only do prix fixe for dinner with a selection between options at three different points of the meal (they do more a la carte at lunch time). Price as of 5/2024 was $110 that doesn't include service charge and tax. Honestly - with the level of service and delicious meal, this feels like a great value. I added a little extra on top of the service charge. I was greeted at the beginning with a welcome sparkling wine pour which went well with the first dish. The menu was as of 5.31.24 which featured a lot of great ingredients from spring/ summer. A run down of my wonderful meal (I also ordered the Cabernet Franc based on their recommendation which went well with the items I chose throughout): - Santa Barbara Sea Urchin w/ Regiis Ova caviar on a mille crepe: a great way to start and went well with the sparkling wine - Beet soup - given as an 'in between' to the starter and rest of meal and was so great. Served slightly chilled. - Bell's Seeded Sourdough w/ Stepladder Creamery cultured butter - Finley Farms Lettuces w/ shallot and medjool date vinaigrette. I really loved that dressing. - Tourtiere w/ sweet peas, sorrel, mustard vinaigrette. A wonderful savory meat pie. - Copper River Sockeye Salmon w/ fava beans and asparagus gremolata. So tasty and so beautifully presented. I partially chose this because I wanted to balance it out from the meat I had from the pie. - Big Sur dessert cheese with apricot jam and house made crackers. Don't usually have cheese for dessert, but I loved this so much. And it was another choice that went really well with my Cabernet Franc that I ordered. - House made chocolates. This came with the bill. One last bit of deliciousness before I left, lol. I really enjoyed this restaurant and I can't say enough good things. I was so excited about it that when I told my good buddy and his wife about it, they ended up eating here for lunch on the way back down, haha. I definitely recommend this place if you have a chance or are in the area or pass on through. read more

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Food (3/5): Underwhelming for a Michelin 1 spot with a ~4.7 Yelp average. We came for Monday lunch; the dining room was maybe half full. We arrived excited for the sea urchin + caviar + mille crêpe stack that shows up in so many reviews--only to learn sea urchin is dinner-only. So we pivoted: La Brújula sardines (3/5), onion soup (3/5), Pâté Grand-Mère (1/5), Bell's salad (4/5), and Wagyu steak tartare (4/5) with side salad (3/5) and fries (3/5). Most surprising: the sardines arrived in the full retail tin, packaging and all. They're delicious, high-quality Spanish sardines, no argument. But at a Michelin-priced meal, I'm hoping for something more imaginative than a product I can Prime to my doorstep in two days. Biggest miss: Pâté Grand-Mère (1/5)--so bland it could run for local office on a "family values and zero personality" platform. The Dijon/cornichons/radish accompaniments felt like they were assembled from a grocery-store charcuterie starter kit. Highlight: Bell's salad (4/5)--crunchy hazelnuts and a mustard vinaigrette that actually showed up to work. Respect. The Wagyu tartare (4/5) was solid and satisfying--good "road-trip fuel," even if it didn't deliver the Michelin "wow" we were expecting. Ambiance (2/5): Rural-provincial American bistro chic (emphasis on American). Nothing wrong, nothing memorable. Also, no toilet seat covers. At these prices, I'd love at least a thin layer of civilization between me and the porcelain. Service (5/5): Friendly, attentive, perfectly paced. The staff were the real MVPs--and they didn't even blink when we stared at the sardine tin like it owed us money. Value (1/5): Felt like we paid Michelin rent for a countryside bistro that occasionally forgets to take the groceries out of the bag. The math didn't math. We're genuine fans of Michelin-rated restaurants, but Bell's didn't clear the bar for us, and we won't be rushing back. read more

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We were on the way back to LA in search of food and found this place with a Michelin star. They have a set menu for the day at $110/person and additional $65 for wine pairing (price as of early 2024). They focus on farm-to-table vegetables from nearby cooked in an American-French fusion methods. They have choices per each entree so we selected different ones to try more items. Portions are quite small so eat slowly. Overall, everything was above average and I enjoyed most dish, except the Regiis Ova Caviar. I'm a big fan of caviar but the mille crepe was tasteless and diluting the caviar flavor. Tip: Make sure you make a reservation because they have very limited space and basically will not take any walk-ins. We got lucky by going at 5pm waiting for someone to cancel. read more

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Service is was as good as it gets - all thanks to Erica! She treated us as real guests and even helped us plan the rest of our time in the area. Ambiance was so cool and funky. And then there's the food... so delicious! Everything was perfect. read more

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Best michelin star that we have eaten at. Outside Santa Barbara is a quiet place where memories are etched by exquisite taste. An unexpected and delightful experience that was simply beautiful. Very accommodating staff on the day we went. read more

One forgets what a great restaurant can be. Straight ahead superb food, terrific service, fair pricing. No over elaborate 12 course tasting menu, no pretentious wait staff, no expensive overwhelming wine list. Will definitely go back again for special occasions. read more

Incredible experience. Sometimes the little kept secrets are the best. We were staying in Los Alamos and a friend urged us to try this place. Best suggestion of the trip. The menu changes weekly and we chose the 4 course pre fixed dinner menu We had a reservation for 4 to celebrate my daughter's birthday. Mike was amazing and rushed to help us move our reservation to the patio to accommodate our family who needed to bring our dog due to an emergency The patio was perfect. Quant with loads of ambiance and a touch of Christmas magic. The heaters and wool blankets were perfect. So cozy and perfect All the things: Personally greeted from Mike when we walked in, to the custom birthday menus printed, the attention to my allergies, the super attentive staff and the superb food. A chefs kiss indeed. We drove over 2 hours and incorporated this into our trip. We were that impressed. Would do it again read more

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A wonderful meal lead by an extraordinary team. I do not know how it's possible that the tiny kitchen can pump out food that great. The dinner tasting menu changes monthly so it's possible to not have the same meal ever. We had a superb time. The team led us through the progression with enthusiasm and fun. Each dish was presented with care, but also with a lot of joy. We were lucky enough to get to try much of the menu. The highlights were the openers: - Santa Barbara sea urchin - Cream of celery soup - Kanpachi crudo - Wild turbot - Chocolate budino - Honey ice cream It was like a casual dinner party, and I loved it. The team could not have been more welcoming. They selected a great wine for us to enjoy with dinner, and are great ambassadors of their establishment. Kudos to Alan, Mike and the team for showing us a good time. read more

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This was my first time at Bell's, to celebrate my mom's birthday! Being a local to the early, we had heard about Bell's a while ago but hadn't gotten around to trying dinner here. My mother's birthday was the perfect occasion. We arrived and had a reservation so we were seated right away. The waiter greeted us and gave us some rundowns regarding the menu. My brother decided to order a bottle of champagne for the table which is what we started with! The first couple of courses are preset but from there there's choices to be made. First, we were given a beet soup topped with creme and lemon zest. Personally, I'm not a big fan of beets but really enjoyed the soup! It was brought together with the "perfect bite" of everything included in it. Next, we received salad and bread. The bread came with butter and was warm and fresh. The salad was simple mixed greens with dressing but was so delicious! A great way to set up for the rest of the courses. For the main dish, I opted for these ricotta meatballs (although there was no meat -- unfortunately I can't remember the name!) that were very delicious. Arguably the best course was last...dessert! I got honey ice cream with a buttermilk crumble. It was sooo yummy. The ice cream was sweet but not too sweet while the crumble had both a savory and sweet taste. Very balanced! Overall, I really enjoyed my experience at Bell's. The ambiance was refined yet laid back. The staff was on top of everything. Admittedly, it's a pricey restaurant so will definitely be reserved for special occasions! read more

Bell's - Menu with a cute message for my mom's birthday :) - French Near Me - Los Alamos, California

I visited in June 2023, so this is a long overdue review! I came as a party of 5 for a bachelorette dinner and it was lovely! I had mentioned in my reservation that we were celebrating and we were welcomed with a personalized menu; loved that little detail! Portion sizes were good, food was delicious and had great flavor, service was great (our server checked on us often and created a fun vibe), overall ambiance in the outdoor area was nice (it was quiet and cozy). We were even visited by the restaurant's regular, the cat! Our group tried to order everything so we could give everything a try and we were not disappointed! We had a great experience and would recommend Bell's as a great restaurant for a special occasion. read more

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A Michelin restaurant that allows dogs? Thank you very much! We enjoyed a creative and beautiful dinner and got an amazing profiterole dessert for our birthdays. Not five stars because honestly we weren't blown away by the meal. While the dishes were creative, the flavors were mostly mellow except for the steak frites which was over salted. The rock fish was perfectly cooked but I didn't understand the sauce vert that went with it. The strawberry galette was also sooo tart I was unable to enjoy it. read more

We all know Bell's is incredible and somewhat affordable. Stop beating the dead horse. Stop asking for Michelins to bend over backwards to live your best life at their expense. You get seven courses, including the amuse bouche and finisher. The real value are with the people. Uni and caviar starter is great. Amazing salinity. You can have a vegetarian soup if you like. There're greens, meat, and fish. Of course the food is amazing here given the fact they have that coveted Michelin. Food changes often since they're hyper-local. The real fun comes in with how much the workers enjoy working. Don't expect the pleated hats and all that. The workers and even the owners come in with jeans at best. Will you get a rundown of the menu and wine menu? Of course. But they talk to you as if you're friends. Just relax and enjoy the show and realize you'll be out a few hundred bucks at the end of the night, but you expected that. Depending on how you count our math, you'll have 5-7 courses. The hours reflect when they serve and you should expect to expend about 2 or so hours to enjoy dinner. The hyper-locality means dinner might change every day, just embrace it. Bell's is plenty happy to accommodate any allergens or intolerances. I got an apology for parsley on my fries and a perfectly good serving came about minutes later. Don't stress. In many ways, this place feels like a chef inviting you into their home and just giving you good food. You see a friend, you have a nice dinner, you leave happy. Do not come here and be pretentious. Enjoy life, enjoy food, have a good time. Just live life and enjoy a good meal with someone that deserves the experience. read more

My wife and I came here for our anniversary, and we couldn't have been more impressed by the food, service, and thoughtfulness. The ambience is comfortable and friendly, without the fuss or sterility that can sometimes accompany a pre fixe menu. Everyone was friendly and present, professional but down-to-earth. From the custom menu they presented us commemorating our special occasion, to the walkthrough of the wine list and the balanced dishes, I would recommend this restaurant to anyone who appreciates food and service without the inaccessibility that usually accompanies fine dining. read more

Food is pretty good but too pricey. I sat outside during lunch time surrounded by flies and mosquitoes . They need to do better job getting rid of those flies and mosquitoes maybe putting some insect repellents. read more

This was an amazing spot and it's in the Michelin Guide! Super cute, rustic vibes with outdoor and indoor seating. We split the sardines as an appetizer. The tin is from Spain and came with cultured butter and hot sauce. My boyfriend ordered the steak tartare which he really enjoyed. My dad had the mole frites, my mon had the summer vegetable salad, and I got Chicken Paillard. My mom isn't usually a salad person but this was incredibly well done - bursting with freshness and vibrancy. My chicken paillard came with a delicious sauce and had fresh greens and cherry tomatoes. For dessert, we had both the Gateau Breton butter cake as well as the Creme caramel (flan). We're glad e tried both but the favorite was the butter cookie - simple yet rich and decadent. Parking was easy and credit cards accepted. We walked around the small town afterwards to digest. Overall, well worth a stop from a delicious meal! read more

A cozy-1star-Michelin restaurant. Make sure to make reservations as there are limited indoor dining spaces. When you walk in, you'll be introduced by the high-ceiling and open dining room. The hostesses will greet you to your table, with a friendly smile and service. Choose your drink to start the dinner, and their pre-fixe menu will be shared. There are some options for the entree and dessert to choose from. All appetizers included the uni+caviar, fresh butter lettuce salad, and followed by a warm pumpkin+sardine or fried-salted-custard. For the entree, I was able to try their steak and fish. The steak was seared perfectly and very tender. The fish was pan-fried just-right to get a silky smooth, paired with fried mushrooms. The dessert had a selected options, and I ended the night with a sweet-salty goat-cheese and blood orange ice cream. read more

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The bleached brick box is actually inviting. Stamped ceiling tiles warm the open industrial space which began as The Bank of Italy and is now The Bank of Bell's. A soothing jazzy loop compliments the soft clinking of glasses and the non-stop toasting by diners. You can sit in one of the patios behind the building but the cool kids sit inside in order to watch Chef Daisy create the most creative meals West of NYC. Who's there? One nighters from out of town. Someone's trophy celebrating her secret birthday. Local Ranchers toasting their prize black Angus Bull having impregnated half the herd in a weekend and being nominated for The Nick Cannon Award. The Bar: A deep list of eclectic exceptional wines all at a good value. The Staff: Serious in a casual way. Everyone paid copious attention during training and knows the menu cold (and hot). Master Zach can tell you how many flakes of Maldon Finishing Salt gets sprinkled on the Cultured Butter or how many Fish Eggs makes up the mini-Quenelle of Caviar settled next to the Santa Barbara Uni on the Amuse Bouche opener. Two words best describe the staff, "Top Pros" who enhance the whole brilliant experience. The Food: The kitchen is in constant motion but the entire team listens carefully to Chef Daisy expediting at the pass through. Chef Greg keeps the wine flowing. While the menu leans towards French Bistro fare, it is not confined by it. Bell's is not in a box and keeps moving the boundaries back. The adventure (Prix Fix at $90 p/p) begins with Santa Barbara Uni, a creamy little urchin it was, still glistening from the tidal pool set on a coin of Mille Crepe. Gently move the lobe over and find the dollop of Regiis Ova Hybrid Caviar winking at you. ($20 Supplemental charge). Hey, you're here. So, release your inner player and submit to the urge to splurge. A perfect round mound of freshly harvested Lettuces follows. A drizzle of the subtle Medjool Date and Shallot Dressing was as light as a first kiss on a summer's eve. Who gets excited about a salad? Me, (and the hutch of bunnies in the field behind the restaurant). This salad was truly special enough that public plate licking is not discouraged. The Sour Dough Bread sprang from the loins of a Mother Dough Starter born 50 years ago. The lovely sour tang was tamed by house made Cultured Butter. A little warmth would have given the bread that right from the hearth feel but no matter, as even at room temp the bread disappeared as soon as the plate hit the table. The Anderson Ranch Lamb Crepinette was next out of the chute. Pickled Cabbage bites (a Frenchified riff on Kimchee) lurked underneath the magnificent Lamb. Spring Garlic and Toasted Pistachios were also along for the ride. The Lamb was disguised inside a crunchy awesome oval. Picture an Arancini and a Scotch Egg making out in the back seat. What a P.T. (Palate Teaser). Instead of an Egg inside there were shreds of tender juicy Lamb. This dish should be pictured hanging in The Louvre next to Mona. How bout some Santa Barbara Yellowtail Crudo to freshen up with? Young sweet and sour Apricots, traditional Gazpacho, with Brunoise'd (mini-dice) Cucumber and Finger Lime beads to make it all pop. This was a beautifully composed dish to rival anything Heironymous Bosch ever conjured up. Dry Aged Steelhead Trout was settled on a raft of Baby Asparagus, floating in a shallow sea of Sauce Choron (Bearnaise with Tomato Puree) and a toss of Fried Capers. You rarely see Steelhead on a menu and rarer still to see it cooked so artfully and perfect. The skin had been removed, turned to potato chip crisp and then returned to compliment the translucent fish. The entire meal was paced and parsed to deliver a spectacular culinary journey. Your just desserts followed. The fresh Peaches were razor thin slices served with Blackberries in a Vanilla Pastry Cream (Creme Anglaise), and a Buckwheat Tuile. I joyfully kissed my fingers but I should have kissed the Chef's instead. Did I forget the Pickled Young Strawberries in Banyul's Vinaigrette. Nope, no forgetting that treasure. Yes, the food is described as French but it is merely influenced by that Country's haute cuisine. This Kitchen is bold, confident and doesn't ask permission. My heart swells at the thought of a quick return to Bell's. read more

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YUMazing!!! I've been here twice now and both times my girlfriend and I had exceptional service along with delectable dishes and a decent wine selection. Our first occasion we were seated at their outside patio with views of their garden, and the second time we were seated in their inside dining section with views of the kitchen staff doing what they do best. Must try dishes in order of my highly rated: 1. Santa Barbara Uni with 'Hybrid' Caviar & Mille Crepe - If I had to order just one thing, it would be this dish! 2. Tinned Sardines & Sarah's saltines - This is not your ordinary canned sardines and crackers. The house made saltines were warm and toasty, such a great accompaniment to the best boneless sardines I've ever tasted. 3. Steak Tartare 4. Steak Frites 5. Wild Burgundy Snails - we used the baguette to sop up all that butter. When sharing with 3 or more people, then do order this, otherwise it's a bit too rich and heavy when eating with my 4 prior faves. Can do without: 1. Chips & Dip - you're better off with the crepe and caviar. I think it was the chips that weren't a good complement this dish. Best time to dine is lunch as it is priced fairly well. Reservations are a must. Free street parking. Anytime my gf and I go to Paso Robles to pick up our wines or just go wine tasting, we either stop by on our way to or from PR. read more

Bell's - SB Uni with Hybrid Caviar & Mille Crepe - French Near Me - Los Alamos, California

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Okay, Lovely staff, Very poor service. Everything we ordered was so slow to come out. Water included. Asked for kids drinks - no lids for the plastic cups. Very dry/re-heated tasting chicken for our one year old. It was like cardboard. So-so quality on the moules frites. This is not Michelin. Have had Michelin on many occasions, so this was a huge disappointment. read more

1. Santa Barbara uni, caviar and crepe: This was okay. Just crepe with uni and caviar on top. 2. Steak frites: nicely flavored crispy fries. Tough steak 3. Chicken paillard: sauce is good but chicken dry 4. Chips and caviar: chips reminded me of less salty slight stale Lays. The caviar flavor wasn't particularly strong so the overall flavor is potato. 5. Braised beef cheek sandwich: this has good flavor. 6. Egg salad sandwich: i like the toasted slight sweet bread but I've had better egg salad This place did not live up to its hype. Maybe diner is better. Too expensive for the food you get imo. read more

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I loved our waiter Allen. He handled my personality well despite me calling him a boy once. It was accidental and not meant in a bad or demeaning way. Actually a compliment when you get to be my age. Anyhoo service is top notch. They want you to finish your plate and feel bad when you appear less than satisfied. I gave my husband my sea urchin and Allen said I should have let him know because he would give me something else. What he did give me was a creamy cold gazpacho soup that was out of this world! Food is really good. read more

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Went here for a friend's birthday dinner. We each got the 5 course tasting menu. We decided to get different plates so we could sample as much as possible. Everything was superb! Definitely will be back! read more

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So this is a Michelin star restaurant and boy does it live up to the rating! First off, this is a very unassuming place. It's about 20-30 minutes from Solvang and if you plan on drinking during dinner, you will want to use if of the TWO taxi companies (yes, you read correctly) to get there. NOTE: Message me for details regarding taxi/Uber services n/around Solvang Now, when you arrive, you look around and the restaurant is situated in a VERY small town that seems deserted. The restaurant building itself is quite small and not much to look at either. Don't be fooled. This is the place and you'll be glad you came. It's quite nice inside and the food is fantastic! It's a very casual Michelin star restaurant compared to others which is off putting at first. But it's Michelin star service through and through! The only complaint, which isn't really a complaint, is that it's a prix fixe menu that changes from time to time. If you don't mind that, great. If you're like me and have reservations about those type of menus, you are best to look up what they are serving that week before you go. read more

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Totally deserves the Michelin star rating and worth the drive from Santa Barbara. The Peppercorn steak was the best I've ever had.

Bell's is definitely worth the trip. We went for the set dinner menu and it was great value, especially considering there was not a bad dish. Menu changes weekly, but recommend ordering the Steak au Poivre as it's the house specialty and delicious. Service was great as well! read more

Incredible! This experience was top to bottom such a special dining experience. The halibut was so delicate and delicious and my favorite item of the night. Course by course I fell more in love with this quaint little spot. They also went above and beyond to provide exceptional service. It was a special place to celebrate my birthday. read more

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Excellent pizza. Just the right crust, perfect toppings.... Have eaten there and gotten take out! Looking forward to trying more of the menu, but the pizza is definitely on point! Congrats! Definitely miss Pat and Kathryn and their awesome team, but the "two guys from Northern Italy" are doing it right! read more