Ahhhhh Bell's a dinner my partner and I loved so much we went back the next day for their lunch. The atmosphere is warm, delicate and intimate. The stand outs for dinner was 100% the steak au poivre which was close to if not the best steak I've ever had and the uni crepe with caviar. If I'm going to be completely honest we both did not enjoy the desserts much but I think it's just a personal preference and obviously did not keep us away as we went back the next day for lunch---If you're going for lunch I need you to order that French onion soup and prepare yourself for the religious experience that accompanies the first bite. read more

Bell's - Egg salad sandwich and French onion soup - French Near Me - Los Alamos, California

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Really fun, interesting & delicious place to eat in the area! We came on a Monday for lunch and it was nice to have an option for a great lunch, in a town that can be mostly closed! Beautiful decor, absolutely stunning! A historical building. Nice simple menu with quality choices, you can't go wrong! We got egg salad sandwiches, fries & wine! Yum! Friendly service, they really made a comfortable environment for us with our 5 month old baby read more

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What a find! Stopped in by chance from YELP map for food and this place popped up. Really cute place and friendly staff. Got a breakfast sandwich, ham and.cheese sandwich, and some sweets. Delicious!! First time passing through Los Alamos and will be a regular stop from now on. Also a really neat art place across the way. Worth the stop. read more

Bell's - Breakfast sandwich - French Near Me - Los Alamos, California

Who knew we could experience a Michelin-starred French Countryside restaurant less than 2 hours from Calabasas? The service was impeccable -- from seating us immediately despite our late arrival to the friendly yet unassuming staff members who made each course memorable. In particular, we enjoyed the rare steak with butter and the variety of light French cookies for dessert. We made a weekend of it - with ziplining and staying at the Inn of ZC, and more. This meal was the highlight of our entire stay in the region. read more

Came here for an early lunch on a weekday. Crowds were minimal. Lunch was superb, as always. We ordered the Bell's salad, the pate and the steak frites. The service was spectacular. Our waiter Moses was super kind, friendly, and attentive. Forgot the host's name but he was also great! Will definitely be coming back! read more

This place was amazing!!! I believe my husband discovered this place because of its 1 Michelin star rating. We were quite intrigued, as there aren't (many? any?) Michelin star restaurants in the Santa Inez area. I'm so glad we came here. Based on our trip, it made the most sense to do the lunch - and after talking to many locals in the area, it actually seemed like lunch was the better option between lunch and dinner, for being able to try more fun dishes of your choice. Glad we came. You should definitely make the trip. For the two of us, we ordered: Steak Tartare - delicious!!! Beautifully made, great quality, scrumptious. Egg Salad Sandwich - also, really, really amazing. The eggs were cooked soft boiled, and the restaurant sliced them so beautifully down the middle like a traditional egg sandwich. Steak Frites - also delicious. The fats were very glittery, as well as the butter just resting on top. Gateau Breton - good flavor, great butter, great cake. Service was very friendly and attentive. We were eating outside, it started raining, and they ended up changing our table a few times to make sure we didn't get wet. I really did appreciate that. Hopefully it won't rain on you, and hopefully you can get a cute indoor table seating!! This restaurant was definitely worth the trip from Buellton. That being said, we were working our way back up to NorCal, and this was our stop for lunch. Highly recommended. You won't be disappointed. read more

We were in the Los Olivos area for wine tasting and made reservations at Bell's for lunch. We had my daughter's pup with us and at the last minute I contacted them to see if they can accommodate a dog and they replied and said they could. When we arrived, we sat in the outdoor area which was covered, but was still a little chilly. They had heat lamps at our table which was a godsend. Our pup was able to sit with us so we were very happy. We ordered the Santa Barbara Uni with Regiis Ova "Hybrid" Caviar & Mille Crepe, the French Onion Soup, Chicken Liver Mousse, Braised Beef Cheek Sandwich, Egg Salad Sandwich, Steak Frites, Moules Frites ( Hope Ranch mussels in a garlic saffron broth), and the Poulet et Roquette (chicken with garlic puree, capers, brown butter, and arugula) and french fries. The uni with the caviar melted in your mouth and the soup was cheesy and delicious on this cold winter's day. I liked the Poulet, but it was a bit on the salty side. The french fries were also very salty and we mentioned it to our server who brought us another order which was much better. Overall, everyone loved their meal. My only disappointment was the saltiness of the Poulet entree. The restaurant only had one unisex restroom which seemed inadequate for a restaurant this size. read more

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Finally made it to dinner and can check this off my list. I will say that this place did not disappoint. Great ambiance and great service. Again, service fee is added to your check so you don't worry about tipping and so that the employees make a living wage, and it shows. Oyster-we opted to get it with caviar and boy was it tasty. Oyster flavor still came through with the saltiness of the caviar complimenting the freshness of the oyster. It is a bit steep for one small spoonful but if you can, go for it. Salad- I gotta say, quality ingredients really shine through and this is no exception. Great freshness and texture on the lettuce and that vinaigrette is so good! Sourdough and pollen butter are just so good on their own too! Rabbit- might have been my favorite of the night. Perfectly cooked, rich in flavor and so tender. The pastry added some texture and that sauce was the perfect acid to cut through. Usually not an olive fan but this was all great. Steak- I will say that 3/4 of this was amazing. That sauce is rich, the steak was perfectly crusted and cooked but it's rich on rich on rich with nothing to cut through. Not to mention the pepper ends up staying on your lips and palate. I would be curious if you can add some capers or some other acid to cut through so the dish eats a little lighter or ends on an up note. Glacee- for me this was the only disappointing dish. My wife loved it but I felt that the ice cream didn't have enough lemon punch to it. The olive oil was fine and merengue cooked well but it ate too sweet for me. Overall the pricing on the menu is pretty dang good and you leave full. Don't be fooled by some of the pictures, the meal as a whole is a lot of good and you leave satisfied. Definitely recommend coming by even once! read more

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We came here not quite sure to expect other than a great meal. We got exactly what we were looking for. Starting with the uni canapé, set the pace for an amazing dinner and great wine in central CA. For a Michelin starred prix fixe at $115/pp, it's one of the finest, affordable meals you can find in wine country. Don't believe me, head over to Mattei's Tavern... read more

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Everything was perfect. Great mussels. Magical presentation. Service warm, informative. You feel like you have stopped by a friend's home and they were expecting you. The environment feels so relaxing I feel like I am at a spa. read more

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A Sunday day date. Oh what to do? I know, let's see if we can get into Bell's! I have been wanting to try this restaurant for oh so long. Michellan rated! Ok, I am ready to try it out. And so we did. And we were able to get a spot at the bar. Better yet wet met Chris who walked us through the menu at Bell's. My husband and I ordered the prefix lunch. In this case it was Sunchoke Soup, next Chicken Pillard with baby potatoes and chard over a scrumptious sauce, And finally, a buttercake. Oh no, not any other buttercake. This one was extreme. And with the wine pairing Rose, we were set. And so our meal ended. But we will be back! There are so many other plates to try, I can't wait. There is one note. Left a little sour note only because I found out after the bill came rather than prior to ordering. I really hate when a restaurant does that. Add a service charge of 20% with no explanation, hoping we don't notice or ask and still tip? I don't know, but not cool. It marred what was otherwise a perfectly amazing restaurant experience. read more

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Absolutely fantastic. Took a solo day in the area visiting wineries then decided to try out Bell's after seeing the reviews and its Michelin guide mention and can honestly say this meal will be remembered forever. I was able to be seated at the bar immediately but do recommend reservations as it was packed on a Saturday. All of the servers were attentive, engaging, and professional but a special thank you to Jacob for elevating a great meal with quick conversations. I started with the escargot paired with the Cremant de Savoie - the herb and oil blend was nicely balanced and the bread a perfect combination of crispy exterior with soft interior. Next was the braised cheek sandwich - and holy crap the first bite ascended me. This was one of the best sandwiches in my life - the bread, the juiciness of the meat, and the pop of flavors by the peppers was everything I never knew my tastebuds needed. I don't care if you split the sandwich or take it to go, order it. I paired it with the Scala which was a nice compliment. Whether you love yourself enough to take a solo meal and thank yourself afterwards or want to create a memory with friends, family, or a date, come to Bell's. read more

Bell's - Braised cheek sandwich with a glass of Scala - French Near Me - Los Alamos, California

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My wife and I have been eying this spot for a couple years now. We love taking the dog up to wine country and every time we want to go either the timing does not work out or we find ourselves at Full of Life because...flatbreads. So it's only natural that last week I take my family and the dog up and we eat at Bell's with everyone except...my wife. I tell her we will go back soon, but she remains skeptical. Except this time for real we will be going back and it's going to be soon because the food was really good and reasonably priced. And, lastly and most importantly, they gave big love to our pittie/mastiff mix which we think is the cutest doggo in the world but I can find many folks who would disagree with this but...I digress. Service was on point and the ambience was laid back but still clearly evident that take their food and craft seriously. The star of the show is that egg salad sandwich. I mean....something like that ain's supposed to look or taste that good but it really does tick all the boxes. The steak frites and the mussels which was the special of the day hit the spot too. I'm not too familiar with French cuisine but what I can say is that when it comes to butter they are Liberal with it! Think Bernie Sanders Liberal. Might come back and try the fixed menu next time but sticking to the regular lunch menu was great too. This place has a Michelin Star and I think it really captures the "where to eat while traveling" thing that they started with. This also happens to be the only Michelin Star place I've dined at and they let me bring my 70lb dog in for the meal...I'm down with that. read more

I booked Bell's months in advance to be sure that we could come. It is a small restaurant with about 15 small tables. It is casual, bistro vibe with a prix fixe menu. There are servers everywhere and you shall never want for anything. The food was fantastic. I hate uni, but that uni, caviar and crepe bite (that I slivered into four bites) was out of this world. We paired this with a local Sauvignon Blanc (Storm). Next up, we enjoyed the trademark salad, which is an amazing blend of salty and sweet. For my entree, I had the lamb en croute, which is one of the best bites ever. Tender lamb in a crunchy shell on a bed of little white beans in a verdant sauce. The risotto was a little different. I am not sure how I feel about that foam, but it worked well on the fresh sourdough bread. The lemon thyme cake was HEAVENLY. I ate all of mine and half of my friend's. The lemon curd was sweet and creamy, the cake was moist with a perfect crumble and the meringue was toasty fresh. I do wish they had wine pairing, but it meant that we could bring a bottle from our own cellar. They decanted the wine, and we enjoyed every sip! read more

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Wow! We stumbled upon Bell's during an impromptu visit to sample wine in Los Alamos. Thankfully the maitre d' was able to sit us at the bar where we had front row seats to the kitchen action, what a treat. The hubby and I shared French fries, Bell's salad w/steak, and ham and cheese buckwheat crepes. The hubby enjoyed a lager and I had a sparking ginger drink and ended with coffee and vanilla glacee and gateau Breton. The salad was fresh, fragrant and steak cooked to perfection, buckwheat was generously filled with ham and cheese, delicious nutty flavor. Their coffee was amazing, smooth and bold. Their ice cream was topped with a drizzle of olive oil and sea salt, which was a perfect combo. Hands down the best was the gateau Breton, a butter cake...moist, delectable without being heavy. The attention to detail, care, and service were top notch. I've ambience is calming and aesthetic is chic without being pretentious. It's not surprising they have earned a Michelin star! We can't wait to go back for dinner! read more

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Pure Deliciousness! We had late lunch reservations on a Monday. We arrived and were promptly greeted and seated on the rear patio. It was our first time here, and when we walked into the small front dining room, it was extremely loud, so we were relieved to be seated out back! Service was both friendly and pleasant. We started with their steak tartare and escargot, which were both delicious. We then shared their signature Egg Salad sandwich, along with the frites that came with the tartare. We finished with a sharing a slice of their yellow cake and Iced Coffee. The whole meal was divine. We highly recommend making a reservation for this special place. The building dates back to being built as a: Bank of Italy location, which was originally the name of today's, Bank of America. Enjoy!! read more

I was invited by a friend to come and try Bells during the lunch service. I'd describe myself as a picky eater that doesn't eat anything outside of typical ordinary food. I was nervous to try snails, raw scallops, and chicken liver mousse for the first time. I'm glad that I did, everything I tried was delicious and the service was exceptional. We sat outside which had a pleasant ambiance. Will definitely return soon and highly recommend a visit to everyone who's passing through the Central Coast. read more

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I cannot believe it has taken me so long to write this review, but sometimes life gets crazy I guess. Nevertheless I wasn't going to let this one slip because it was that good! My friends and I went to Bell's around the second week of September for lunch and it was one of the best lunch experiences I've ever had! I'll start by saying that the service was great by everyone we encountered, but our server, Nevin, was exceptional. I rarely remember my server's name, but he was that good. He was knowledgeable on all the food, beer, wine, and he was just a pleasant person. Now to the important part, the food. Everything was superb! The Santa Barbara uni is a must try! An unexpected delight for us was the chilled ajo blanco soup. I don't normally like chilled soups, but was delicious and so refreshing for the hot day. I personally had the beef cheek sandwich and it was very good, but my friend had the egg salad sandwich and that was a winner for me! The best egg salad sandwich I've ever had! I am so happy I got to try Bell's and I hope to be back one day as it was all that and more. It is definitely worth the price. I also cannot forget to mention that their kid's menu is pretty good. My niece had a peanut butter and wildflower honey sandwich that even us adults loved! read more

Had a lovely lunch here on a romantic stay-cation. Several friends in LA had recommended it during a getaway in the small town of Los Alamos (or nearby Santa Ynez, Santa Maria, Solvang, Santa Barbara). Chris, our server was knowledgeable, warm, and friendly. The staff and other servers were all hospitable and kind. Definitely recommend for a Michelin star lunch that feels affordable compared to big city prices. Note: we did not have dinner, which may be prix fixe. If you are on budget, they have 20% off for Takeout lunch, or dine in is a la carte. Great option(s) for those who may not be accustomed to fine dining often! read more

Bell's - Savory Crepe - French Near Me - Los Alamos, California

We had the Panna Cotta, Chicken Liver Mousse and Steak Tartare. The first 2 were wonderful! The steak Tartare was fresh tasting but flavorless. It was served by itself with no bread or crisps of any kind. When I asked for bread to go with it, she said we can add an order onto your bill! I've had steak Tartare many times, I've never had it served alone with nothing! Overpriced to start with, and then they nickel and dime you on top of it. read more

Bell's is a French-inspired Bistro in Santa Barbara county by Per Se alums Daisy and Greg Ryan. There has been so much overwhelmingly positive praise about Executive Chef Daisy's work, so I had high expectations going into my dinner. Well, expectations exceeded to the point where my friend and I had to go back a few days later for lunch before leaving Santa Barbara! At dinner every course was hit after hit - from the first luscious bite of Santa Barbara uni and caviar on mille crêpe, to the simple but stunningly bright salad, and ending on sweet citrus notes of blood orange and meyer lemon desserts. Lunch was a more casual menu with traditional French bistro fare such as Burgundy snails and steak tartare. Simple and solid. If I had to just recommend one meal, I would definitely say try the dinner prix fixe menu, though you can't go wrong with lunch either. read more

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A quaint restaurant with relaxing vibes located on the main street of the small town of Los Alamos. Nestled between vintage antique shops, sits this gem of a restaurant. The service was wonderful, the waiter offered some great wine recommendations that were exactly what I was looking for on a breezy, warm afternoon. They have a vast selection of wines, including orange which if you've never tried, you should. Everything coming out of the kitchen looked amazing! The stand outs were the mussels and pomme frites and the egg salad sandwich I really wanted to try, but sharing plates and not everyone is a fan of egg salad. The tuna sandwich was very lightly dressed nestled in between a crusty, soft warm roll. It was served with homemade hips which usually I am not a chip person, but these were addictive. This restaurant is a great place to spend an afternoon, indulging in delicious food and unique wines. read more

Bell's - Tuna Salad Sandwich and chips - French Near Me - Los Alamos, California

One of the best customer service restaurant's I have ever encountered. They have such great response time messaging on social media that we were able to score last minute reservations when a spot opened up during our drive to Paso Robles. Their prix fixe menu at $75/pp was a steal (although, I have been told they will be raising the price to $90/pp soon). Everything looked so good on the menu that we had to order extra items on the side. I love French food and this French Bistro was exceptional! The Santa Barbara Uni with Regiis Ova Hybrid Caviar for an additoinal $15 was so savory and yummy. We also added Rusty's Sourdough & Cultured Butter for the table which was delicious as well. The San Clemente Island Yellowtail Crudo was so very fresh and refreshing. The tomato tart was magnificent and flavorful. And, not enough can be said about the MC Ranch Lamb Roulade. My wife and I are not lamb people but the way this dish was prepared was so good with pistachio, cauliflower and mint. It was not gamey at all! The pan roasted white sea bass was cooked perfectly and paired well with the apricot and anchovy. The hand cut tagliatelle was very rich and creamy. We ended the night with the almond financier and gateau breton. Both desserts were a perfect ending to a great night! read more

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Swung by here for lunch at the recommendation of a friend. Started out with some escargot, terrine (yummy!), and bread. Tried the famed egg salad sandwich which did not disappoint. It has a tomato-jam sort of condiment on it which admittedly I had never had on an egg salad sandwich but it was very tasty. I personally need salt on everything and never hold that against any chef as I know my taste buds are persnickety, so I did have to ask for salt which was brought out in a little bowl. The server was very attentive and ensured we always had drink refills. The place is small and the decor is exactly what you'd expect of a "franch" restaurant. read more

Bell's - Egg salad sandwich - French Near Me - Los Alamos, California

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My husband and I came here for lunch on a Monday in May. We were driving back to LA from Paso Robles and had heard about Los Alamos being a cool town to visit and picked Bell's to eat lunch at. We came in without a reservation around 12 pm, and were seated immediately in the outdoor dining area at the back. The restaurant's ambiance felt elegant in an understated way. The restaurant was about half full at the time we dined. We were immediately brought menus and glasses of water. Our waiter was both friendly and efficient. We never waited a long time to get anything we needed. We ordered the escargots to start. My husband ordered the chicken for his main, while I had the steak frites. Everything we had was high quality and delicious. I would definitely eat here again should we find ourselves in Los Alamos in the future. Since we dined here, Bell's has received a Michelin star, so I'm glad we were able to try it. read more

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We had a very nice dinner at Bells for a special occasion. Service was on point and Daisy and her team are very thoughtful hosts. The service was not rushed and takes about 2 hours to complete as the restaurant doesn't do high volume but rather focuses on quality and service It is a fixe price menu and you pay for your beverages and some add ons. Overall, we enjoyed our dinner and the only down side was that they didn't have any decaf tea or coffee. Make sure though that you make reservations at least 3-4 weeks out as seating is limited and they do charge a deposit for your reservation which is applied to the cost of your meal. read more

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Bell's is a well-known Michelin star restaurant nested 45 min outside of Santa Barbara in a homely town with a solid prix fixe menu that spans uni to fresh veggies to steak au poivre. Once you walk in, the service is quite delightful where they make you feel at home and at ease but far from overbearing. We were fortunate to get seating with a great view of the kitchen. For food, there's always the uni caviar on crepe - the caviar is highly recommended by everyone and definitely elevates it to a perfect bite (we had a course without and it certainly lacks the punch). Other standouts include the steak au poivre - well cooked and good quality. And fries were nice to munch on. There was a rabbit roulade course that was fine - didn't love the flavor as much. The peach pasta course was interesting - liked the texture of the paste and the peach was fresh and sweet. The desserts were delicious though - nice ice cream and pie dishes. Would recommend and worth the drive if you're already planning a Santa Barbara trip as its good food for the price. Parking outside read more

The food was very fresh. We started with the "Panna cotta" with uni and ikura. The uni was very fresh and was perfectly balanced with the creamy and crunch of the ikura. The sardines in the tin was from Spain and paired with house made crackers and cultured butter and a spicy sauce; again the texture and taste balanced. Also had the pork terrine with a toast and baby greens and was delicious and light. The final appetizer was the escargot and it was also very good. For the mains had the steak frite,,egg salad sandwich and Bells salad. All were very fresh and the sandwich came with these house made pickles that was perfect to cut the creaminess of the eggs. The service was excellent and "down home" accommodating. Mica went over the menu very thoroughly and gave us suggestions since this was our first visit. The ambiance was very relaxed; we sat in the front of the restaurant which was painted white and had clean neat appearance. They also have seating in the back patio area with lots of plants. Overall worth the drive from Avila beach. read more

Finally made it out Bell's and we were glad we made the trek. More and more I find myself intentionally avoiding pre-perusing the menus of new restaurants we go to but it was hard to avoid the delicious images of the caviar and uni mille crepe so I knew I had to have it. "She will be mine!" Cut to our lunch, we were seated at a really nice outdoor table, appropriate for a baby stroller (my niece) and nicely shaded. It was a nice day out and the perfect weather. We started with the tinned sardines, the mille crepe and the chicken liver mousse. The sardines were not our taste but we were glad we stepped outside the box to give them a try. The chicken liver mousse was delish but the star of the whole entire show was the mille crepe. If I had my druthers (as in, it was just me and hubby), I would have made a meal out of 3 orders of that. Yum. For entrees, we ordered everything but the mussels on the lower half of the menu and doubled up on the steak tartare. I'm a steak tartare fanatic so that was a non-negotiable. It was *chef's kiss*. Everything else was also delicious - my mom dubbed the steak add-on on her lunch salad as "the best steak she has had since she got here" (in Aug) and that's high praise indeed. But perhaps the biggest surprise was the egg salad sandwich. It's completely unlike any other egg salad sando we've ever had with a layer of some fruit jam that cut through the richness of the yolk and took it to another level. Service was attentive yet chill - something I don't think anyone anywhere else has accomplished. Our guy checked up on us at regular intervals but wasn't overbearing or intense. He just wanted to make sure we weren't thirsty, dead or dying. Everyone else we encountered was super sweet and nice. Bell's is definitely worth a trip out to Los Alamos. We'll have to give the dinner a try next time. read more

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This was the best meal I've ever had. True fine dining and high-end service in the most charming and unassuming little place. The experience was magical from start to finish. We went as a party of 7 so we were able to try a little of everything. Literally each dish was perfect, so I'll only touch on a few highlights. The Grassy Bar Oyster is the perfect introduction to a stunningly intentional and delicate flavor journey. It is followed by delicious sourdough with just a hint of fennel seed and a slightly sweet crust, which is accompanied by a magical salad. Each option of the first course is designed to bring out the essential quality of the meat. The sweetness of the yellow peach and the herbs of the goat cheese tempered the saltiness of the anchovies and allowed their flavor to truly shine. Very similar effect with the beans and the lamb merguez. Each of the main courses was fantastic. Dessert options were both excellent but I thought the garden mint glacee was the stronger of the two. The glacee was perfectly made and the "garden mint" flavor reminded me of chewing on mint leaves in my grandmother's yard pretending to be a big league ball player back when big league ball players chewed tobacco instead of wearing gaudy jewelry. read more

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We loved dinner Bell's so much that we decided to come back the next day for lunch! The dinner pre-fixe was very special and I loved the different bites - especially their steak au poivre and fresh scallops. Lunch was phenomenal too - especially their chicken liver mousse (with fresh strawberry jam) as well as their egg salad sandwich. It's a must if you're in the area, and definitely worth the drive out from LA. 10/10 service too - they were really helpful when it came to recommendations. read more

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Tried bell's for the first time for lunch. Wanted to go by esp as we were going to be Santa Barbara area! Food: -sea urchin caviar on crepe: my partner enjoyed it! The sea urchin was literal melt in your mouth and the caviar was a good buttery lightly salty yum. For me personalllly, i liked the caviar on its own! But the crepe felt like doughy butter and so it took over when i paired all three together. I'm also not a big crepe person so again this order was more for my partner! I just had a little taste :) but if you are a bit more a flaky croissant bread type enjoyer and lightly buttered stuff, hope this helps! -egg salad sandwich w pickles: the toasted bread... WOW it was perfect! I looooveee sandwiches of all sorts and the toasting perfection I was impressed! Each bite was perfectly crunch :) the egg salad didn't seem mayo-ey or overly anything but just really well made eggs which i loved! And it seemed to have a layer of tomato something- kinda paired as tomato soup in my head. It is very one taste so the pickles i found were genius in pairing! Now... for the price point and here, I don't think I would come all the way to Los Alamos for this sandwich. But as a one time try and if a friend wanted to come, I'd definitely consider it again -beef cheek sandwich: I was so impressed by the softness and crunch of the bread! (I guess im a bread gal) but it was very good and the meat was tender and moist and it was flavorfullllll! I do prefer the egg salad one to this, but this one packed more flavor in each bite just in the nature of what it is. Ambiance: -very casual ambiance, we sat outdoors and it was a little chilly cause of the wind but it was nice!! Prefer outdoor seating in the nice sunny -lots of families and just comfy casual luncheon vibes Service: -the staff checked in a lot and I think that may be more high end, so forgive my lack of experience there, but it was a bit unexpected and a bit distracting for me just from my date. But they were respectful, prompt, friendly, all of the good things! I'm also not a big water drinker so the reaching over to refill my cup every sip i took was a bit of a surprise to me- again, it's just not my experience so much so that specific to meeee and my preferences Overall: -if in the area or if a friend wanted to go, I'd have no qualms about it and would love to come by. Love the family vibes and comfy delicious eats! But on my own, I don't know if it's something I'd go out of my way for or choose on my own. We did only do the lunch menu so dinner could offer other things too! What they did provide was really well made though so i don't want my preferences to cloud that! read more

Everything was amazing. The food, the service. who would've thought that a little nothing town like Los Alamos would deserve to have this wonderful restaurant. Think twice the next time you just drive by read more

If you are ever near Los Alamos, CA, plan to make a stop here. We had lunch on our way to Berkeley and what a good choice! We tried the uni and caviar panna cotta, wild Burgundy snails, steak frites, and the pork terrine with a side salad. The panna cotta was unexpected with a hint of sweetness as a foil to the uni and caviar. Terrific, and the snails were even better than those I had in France, and I have been searching for a good one ever since! The service was friendly and polished and we will plan another trip to have dinner here, I understand there is a motel across the street so will be sure to indulge in their wine list! read more

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I will be coming back here anytime I'm in the area 100% . I loved the food so much!! Especially the bread I've never had better bread and the Uni appetizer I could have had 5 of those! I don't think u could go wrong ordering anything on the menu read more

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It's been 2 years since we have been at Bell's and we had an incredible experience! The tasting menu was fantastic and we shared each of the dishes. The salad was amazing- perfectly dressed with the right amount of salt/pepper seasoning. The squash and merguaz plates were savory and delicious! The sea bass was prepared with mushrooms and zucchini with an amazing broth-incredible! Steak and frites- over the top! It was great to reconnect with the great employees at Bell's- there has always been a great focus on customer service, and it was great to see Ryan (congrats on your success!) and meet Axel for a wonderful dinner experience! read more

Very confused about our experience here given the high ratings and the Michelin stars! The ambiance is nice and food was good but service was terrible. I went with a group of friends for lunch. Everything started off great - we got the smoked salmon app and a salad - both were fresh and delicious. Then we waiting an hour and fifteen minutes. Neither the server nor the floor manager came over to check despite everyone around us getting served. It felt like we were just ignored. Eventually we waived him over and he sheepishly smiled and offered no explanation - just that the kitchen was working on the food. And then he said he would bring out some bread because at that point we were all hungry. Even the bread took forever. Finally, the manager brought the food out and apologized and said "it'll be worth the wait". The lack of communication was bizarre - I've never waited an hour and 15 min for an egg sandwich. It was good but not worth that long a wait. Also, the bathroom could have been cleaner. Was a little surprised about that, too. The entire restaurant tables turned except for ours in the time we were there - they could not have acknowledged it less. One of the worst lunch experiences. Did not come close to meeting my expectations based on the reviews. We must have just been the unlucky table or maybe lunch service is not the same as dinner. TBH, I would not come back. read more

Bell's is housed in the former Bell Street Farms, gourmet delicatessen and market  space which was established by Jamie Glück.  This mini Beaux Arts style building may be the most formal looking structure in all of Los Alamos except for the Victorian Mansion with unusual themed rooms making it the Disneyland of bed & breakfasts.  However, during the Pandemic pleasant back patio dining is the default mode for their noted 5 course prix fixe menu when I dined on 2021-2-19. Tyler, my excellent waiter-sommelier & sage food advisor whose familiarity with the food being presented as well as deep knowledge of French cuisine & wine in general, made for great wine pairings and my stay at Bell's a revelatory experience.  He is an expert at creating warm, accommodating, welcoming hospitality on par with what I experienced at inimitable Gary Danko & Bar Crenn.  I'm sure Tyler's stint at Trois Étoile Guide Michelin Atelier Crenn helped polish his already formidable skill set. Bravo!!! 1) Amuse Gueule:  Soft plush, sweet sea minerality, light organ meat funk Santa Barbara Uni topped w/ optional Regiis Ova Hybrid Caviar that is Malossol, mildly fishy, buttery, nutty, soft. The base is thin Millefeuille de Crêpes/mini pancakes slathered with butter fat rich, fermented Crème Fraîche.  All the textures are soft, plush, suave continuing on to infinity. 1a) Crémant de Jura, Domaine Rolet Père et Fils NV:  Vin Pétillant/fizzy wine with scent of bread, grapefruit zest; flavours that are yeasty, dry sweetness, smooth yet acidic, touch bitter. Finish is dry, yeasty, tingly. "70% Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Trousseau in the base wine blend (Poulsard and Savagnin are allowed for the balance)" 2) Salade of Finley Farm Lettuces:  Nice palate cleanser. Shallot & date vinaigrette is sharp, sweet, oniony. 2a) Crémant de Jura, Domaine Rolet Père et Fils NV 3) Motley Crew Ranch Rabbit en Croûte:  This rabbit died for a good cause. It was a Confit braised for 8 hours in its own juices and fat. Texture reminded me of pulled pork enclosed in a golden brown, flakey Pâte Brisée pastry shell. Garnished with bitter, medicinal celery top leaves. (Good application of waste not, respect all parts.)  Sauce Bordelaise added red wine based fond de cuisine Umami & gastrique. Initially this dish looked like a golden Île Flottante sitting in a sea of dark, venous red wine. 3a) Black Sheep Finds, Syrah, "Holus Bolus", Sta. Rita Hills, 2018:  Deep ruby red. Scents of strong blueberry, blackberry, medicinal cherry, brown sugar toastiness. Classic Rhône style, but more smooth & sweet. Suave acidity, brandied cherry, slight burnt creosote, green pepper note. Ending in peppery,  bitter, brandied cherry finish.  4) Steak au Poivre:  5oz Culotte/Top Sirloin Cap, Boneless. This may be the definitive au Poivre west of the Atlantic Ocean. Almost elliptically, cylindrical in shape encrusted with dark, spicy, smoky cracked black pepper then seared grilled brown on the surface contrasting to the rubid, red core and dusky rose medium rare finish. It's visually stunning to carnivores. Beefy Umami, whisper of fatty chaw yet soft w/ blood minerality from the aging.  The over the top finisher is the Peppercorn Sauce. Deep meaty, brothy, thickened & punctuated by peppercorns. Pommes frites seemed to be double fried. Crisp w/ a creamIness & good earthy potato flavour. 4a)  Habit Cabernet Franc, Coquelicot Vinyard, Sta. Ynez, 2019:  Bouquet is earthy, brandied cherry, blueberry, woody, bell pepper. Tastes  sweet, grainy texture from the tannins, cherry, blackberry, compote of black fruits. Ending in a sweet, fruity raspiness. Good rough red wine to stand up to strong aromatics of the black pepper. 5) Gâteau Breton:  Sort of like a cross between  cheese cake & Crema Catalana custard. Dry, heavy compressed texture. Eggy, buttery, toasted sugar, pound cake lIke. This cake crosses many pastry borders. 5a)  Manzanilla 17/71, Jerez, Alexander Jules, Barrel Solera, 2013: "This comes from the great Sanlúcar de Barrameda producer, Bodegas Argüeso. It is a barrel selection of the San León solera, which is the source of Argüeso's serious Manzanilla Reserva." Bouquet  of over ripe bananas. Woody, nutty, astringent, bit dry, bitter which is a good contrast to the sulphury egginess of the Gâteau Breton.     Tyler and rest of the staff were friendly, helpful, and made me feel at home. It was comforting to see the late afternoon sun fade to dusk and to the velvety darkness of evening. I feel that Bell's ranks at least Une Étoile Guide Michelin status. Restaurants in Los Angeles that have comparable food competence and less service than that given out by the likes of Tyler have achieved that status.      5 stars Note that Bell's does not have a phone - contact them via Instagram or email. read more

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This (now) iconic lunch and dinner spot has earned all of its rave reviews honestly. We found it years ago when a very kind, sort-of famous, winemaker generously gave us the inside scoop about Bell's being her favorite Los Alamos stop. The food: I prefer lunch, happily munching on their egg salad sandwich, their house-made saltines and tinned sardines (not house-made) with butter, their chicken liver mousse, and my absolute favorite: the steak tartare. Everything is divine. If you explore the prix-fixe dinner, the sea urchin is always remarkable (and comes with a cool story), I've never been disappointed by any seafood dish, and the steak au poivre is remarkable. The space: Again, I prefer their outdoor patio, but you do you. If you land an inside seat, it's a super quaint remodeled bank with a bit of an 'old West timey' vibe. Another option is the bar, where you usually get to interact with the kitchen. The service: Just the sweetest, nicest people. Everyone has always been attentive, informative, and personable. Without getting any more flowery, this spot is an absolute gem. We recommend it to everyone - not just as an "if you're in the area" stop but also as a "you must make a special trip to Bell's in Los Alamos" destination. read more

It's really a 3.5. We wanted to love this after not loving Pico up the street a couple years ago. We were very impressed that even though the power had been out they were still going strong. Things we loved: portion size, plating, service (of the wait staff), uni, bread, wine selection, salad and dressing, frito misto, lamb app, bass, ambiance made you feel special and felt genuine Things we didn't love: all of the desserts had a flaw, too many hazelnuts on the mushroom risotto, the steak was almost inedible because it was spicy and also not tender, the hostess was very aloof and it was hard to watch her interact Will we be back - maybe read more

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