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.

I'm laughing because I normally take pictures of my food and I wish I did!…read more Everything was seasoned perfectly, Very tasty! We ordered the Ceasar salad with polenta Croutons, we had the burrata prosciutto board and the mushroom pasta and we sub gluten free pasta. Love that they have gluten free options and a wide selection of options on the menu along with many specials. Can't wait to go back. The service was good The ambiance was nice from the cushions on the bench and concrete table. The olive trees added privacy Highly recommend

This place was AHMazing!!!! Our waitress Rachel was lovely…read moreand my boyfriend and I ordered something that was on the chef special: Pork Chops & Bass. The service was extraordinary, the ambiance warm and fitting. I also had the restaurants famous Artichoke and it was my favorite part of the meal. Topped it off with Tiramisu my ultimate favorite and I couldn't resist. I highly recommend for date night. If you are visiting the area make sure to make a reservation!

We just kind of stumbled upon Pony Kitchen but what a happy accident, I think this was my favorite…read moremeal of our trip We were seated at a cozy outdoor table and service was personal and attentive. My husband and I both got the three course, prix fixe menu and were very pleased with our decision. The meal started with a hearts of romaine salad that was a perfect medley of tastes and textures and just the right size. Next up was steak frites - the best steak I've had in a long time and the shoestring fries were perfectly cooked and savory delicious. The meal ended with a slice of olive oil cake topped with mascarpone crema and blueberry compote. Outstanding meal from start to finish.

Went with my fiancée for Valentine's Day. We both had the truffle tasting menu. The food was…read morefine, nothing to write home about. But there was one glaring problem. My fiancée ordered her steak well-done. I get it--an unpopular choice. But she doesn't order her steak well-done because she thinks it tastes better; she orders her steak well-done because she's squeamish and the red color freaks her out. When the steaks arrived, they were both medium rare. I called our waitress over and asked if they could cook my fiancée's steak a little more. She was apologetic and took the steak back. A few minutes later, my fiancée's steak returned...still medium rare. The kitchen had not cooked the steak more. My fiancée tried her best to eat it, but it made her feel pretty bad. While she was in the restroom, I asked our waitress what happened. She said she was very sorry, but the kitchen doesn't really "do" well-done steaks. Uh....why not? The thought that the kitchen was unwilling to cook my fiancée's steak more is utterly ludicrous. The restaurant business is a SERVICE industry. The object is making your diners happy, not maintaining your sense of dignity by refusing to cook my fiancée's steak to a temperature she's comfortable with. So, thanks to the kitchen's high-and-mighty attitude, my fiancée went home hungry. Unbelievable.

Well, I decided to do a 2025 update to my review 10 years ago. Different staff, different vibe,…read moregreat place to go have drinks out in the country. We've ordered the wings and they're really good and the drinks are good too. Nice country style, unique experience.

Dick's Last Resort is a restaurant chain on the East Coast that features rude service on purpose as…read morepart of the show. Is that the deal at Maverick Saloon? Because the bartender the other night was grumpy and grumped at me three times times in like half an hour. Once for ordering food at eight thirty when the kitchen closed at nine. Then for scanning the place with my smartphone. Third, for telling him about a woman from the east coast, who was visiting California for the first time Is that an act? Is that California country attitude pointed at a city dude? Should their slogan be "We put the hostility in hospitality?" The French Dip sandwich was good anyway. Curious about the Tex Pistols anyway.

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.

Brandy was an absolute gem! She made our party of 8 at the bar feel like we were regulars here…read more Food and drinks came quickly and cocktails were top notch. We hope to be back soon. Brandy definitely made our experience memorable. Hitched 4 Life RV Club

We had dinner AND brunch at Whiskey 'N Rye while visiting Solvang for the first time this weekend…read more Not only was the food delicious, but the service was even better. Mandy B (bartender) is so amazing at her job. She's someone who genuinely cares about the service she's providing and it shows. With so many options to choose from, it's service like this that brings customers back (even twice in one weekend!) We will certainly make Whiskey 'N Rye a regular stop when we visit the area in the future. Thank you for taking such great care of us, Mandy!

We went to Brothers and it was pretty busy, so we sat at the bar--but honestly, it made the…read moreexperience even better. The focaccia bread was absolutely delicious, warm and full of flavor. For my main course, I had the chicken stuffed with goat cheese, served with mashed potatoes, and it was incredible. Every bite was so good--I completely devoured the whole plate. If it were socially acceptable, I would've licked it clean! Thank you for the great service and an amazing meal. I'll definitely be coming back!

Dinner at Brothers Restaurant At the Red Barn was easily one of the most memorable steakhouse…read moreexperiences I've had. The filet was phenomenal -- honestly one of the top three filets I've ever eaten. Perfectly cooked, incredibly tender, and full of flavor. The sides were just as impressive, and the Mud Pie for dessert was absolutely ridiculous in the best possible way -- rich, indulgent, and unforgettable. We went on Sunday night, the day after Valentine's Day, and the place was packed (good thing they take reservations). We'd had an unfortunate experience the night before at a different local restaurant, but despite the crowd, we were seated right away at a great table. The atmosphere strikes that perfect balance: relaxed but upscale, with a retro country steakhouse vibe that feels both classic and comfortable. The staff was outstanding -- attentive, professional, and genuinely welcoming. We also enjoyed a fantastic local cab from Brave & Maiden that paired beautifully with the steak. From start to finish, it was a perfect evening. This place absolutely lives up to its reputation.

I can see why this place is a Michelin star restaurant. It's worth the price but if you want a…read moreslightly cheaper experience then do the brunch. Honestly the steak is a have to and so good! The ambiance makes you want to spend your whole day there. The bar is well stocked and the staff is friendly, knowledgeable and attentive. I highly recommend you try if in the area.

The novelty of spinning records wore off fast, and what could've been a cool, defining feature for…read morethe place ended up feeling more like a missed opportunity. Kelly seemed more focused on catering to a small group of guys in cowboy hats than maintaining the vibe that actually makes this spot stand out. Instead of reading the room, she and her May 1st bartender colleague locked into a single stream of country music that clearly wasn't resonating with most of the crowd. That's really the frustrating part, it wasn't just a music choice, it was the complete lack of awareness or willingness to adjust. People weren't being heard, requests were ignored, and the whole "records" concept felt pointless when it was treated so rigidly. If you're going to lean into vinyl as part of the experience, it should feel curated, responsive, and a little bit special, not like someone just putting on their personal playlist and tuning everyone else out. The drinks were genuinely great, which makes the situation even more disappointing. The potential is clearly there, but the execution on the atmosphere just didn't match. If the records are going to stay, they should actually be used to enhance the environment, not limit it. Otherwise, it might be better to ditch the gimmick entirely rather than let it drag down what could be an otherwise standout spot.

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.

Stopped here for lunch on Wednesday. What a fabulous place!…read moreFrom flatbread pizza to crudo, and to the wine selection, it was truly perfect. We sat outside as it was a really nice day and the great service, the menu options, and the music was all chill vibe we needed after a 4 hr drive. Thank you and I will be back! Cheers!

We enjoyed a nice lunch at Nella Kitchen & Bar on our way out of Los Olivos the Sunday before last…read more I made a reservation, but it didn't seem necessary, at least when we went at 11:30, right at opening. The vibe was pleasant and a little bit fancy. No lowly brunch menu here--we had raw fish, medium rare steak, and red wine. I suppose not everyone wants all that before dinner. Nella is an attractive restaurant at the Fess Parker Wine Country Inn. The dining room looked charming, but we opted to sit on the patio, which was comfortable and breezy. Service was great, attentive and prompt. We were in and out in an hour, as planned, but we could've lingered longer. The food was delicious, starting with the $9 bread and butter--French baguette with a bright yellow block of salted Bordier butter. The salmon crudo was fresh and silky, finished with Fresno chile, citrus, passion fruit, avocdao mousse, calamansi vinegar, and fresh basil. My favorite dish, though, was the spring salad, a vibrant assembly of Tutti Frutti Farms sugar snap peas, fava beans, kumquats, calamansi pickled red onions, arugula, pecorino, and rosé vinaigrette. I don't typically go for salads without meat, but this one was superb. For our entrées, we shared a Margherita pinsa and the filet mignon. The pinsa was an airy flatbread, topped with San Marzano tomatoes, fior di latte, basil, and sea salt. The prime cut filet was flavorful and satisfying, cooked a tender medium rare and served with yu choy and green peppercorn sauce. We ordered two Italian reds by the glass, which went well with everything, but especially with the steak. The Grosjean Vallee d'Aoste, a Gamay , and the Clos Venturi Vin de Corse "1769," a Sangiovese Sciaccarellu blend. I'd been to SY Kitchen once before and plan to go to whatever restaurant the group is about to open up in Montecito. These people obviously know what they're doing. We had a lovely lunch at Nella Kitchen & Bar and would recommend it to anyone visiting Los Olivos.