We saw this place on DDD and our mouths started to water when we saw the Mezzi Paccheri Alla…read moreGenovese being made! We knew we had to plan a trip to Flour House. And we did just that for our wedding anniversary. Flour EXCEEDED our expectations and more!! OMG it truly was THE BEST Italian meal we've had since our trip to Italy! Here's why: We started with the arancini. You get three balls and they are so incredibly flavorful with a hint of smokiness to them at the end. OMG ORDER THESE. We also had the pizza special of the night which had mortadella. MORTADELLA is our favorite!!!! The pizza was so light and airy we could've easily had a pizza to ourselves. ORDER the pizza!! We originally we going to do separate entrees but decided to share the Mezzi. OMG it blew us away! The flavor of the meat sauce is so delicious! You can taste an onion base and you'll want to eat a bowl of it! The past noodles were big and held the sauce so well. Everything about this entrée was above and beyond our expectation! I ate this less than 24 hours ago and I'm still talking about how amazing the dish was. Thank you for the most incredible meal of our lives! We cannot wait to plan another trip just to come to your restaurant! It is perfecto!! Millie Gratzi!!

We have been here more than a couple times and always have a great experience…read more I love the ambiance in here. Everything is so bright and you can feel a breeze from the large open walls/windows. There is a nice patio that meets the creek outside, however I always favor the bar. We have had the same bartender the last couple of times, a blonde woman who I believe also manages sometimes. She is great and made great recommendations to us for drinks. I gave her a few options I was interested in and she chose the Roman Glow for me and said she actually was apart of creating the drink. I LOVED IT! We also always have to get their espresso martinis. Both drinks were amazing and I happily come back just for those drinks. We like the Cacio e Pepe pizza. I learnt they took my favorite pasta off of the menu recently :( . That's okay, like I said we will come back for the drinks and the pizza. The churros with Nutella for dessert were so good I definitely over ate because I could not stop lol. Chef is very talented, congratulations on such a beautiful restaurant.

Best Clam Chowder I'ver ever had. Best Ravioli I've ever…read morehad. WOW oh WOW!!

Popped in here for lunch on a drive back down to LA. The staff were friendly. They helped while…read moredeciding between two items. I got a chicken panini for lunch and it was great! I enjoyed the crispy bread with the melted cheese and warm chicken. The chips were okay. I would ask to sub for a side salad if possible. The overall restaurant was pleasant to be in. It seemed family friendly as we saw a couple with a baby at a booth. They had a little area for quick sandwich orders or gelato. The cake in the dessert case looked incredible but we were too full to try any of them.

The food was delicious and service was impeccable. While visiting Morro Bay I wanted to dine at a…read morenice restaurant with quality food and came across Buona Tavola on yelp. The food matched and surpassed the rave reviews. One of the owners or managers informed me that I have the option of asking for half orders, which was wonderful. This allowed me to try different foods on the menu without feeling overwhelmed, and I was able to enjoy my Tartufo Italiano Al Cioccolato at end of my meal. Everything tasted delicious and the owner/manager made sure I was happy with everything. There was a bit of a wait for each course to arrive, but I appreciated that because it allowed me to rest after each course. It also made the dining experience relaxed and pleasant, without feeling like I needed to shove the food down my throat and get out. Overall it was a very pleasant experience. I will definitely return here next time I'm in town.

Was hoping for a great experience after hearing so many good things about this place. The menu…read morelooked amazing and was excited to determine what out of everything that looked so good we were going to order. Started off with the clams and mussels dishes. Flavor was great and there weren't many that were served that weren't open. Prior to that they delivered an olive dip for the bread. The bread was delicious but some good olive oil would have been perfect for what was served. Next up was the pumpkin and ricotta pasta. Flavor was good and probably the best of what we ordered. Last dish was the steak with mushrooms which was a special. Ordered medium rare and has to send it back since it was over cooked. We rarely send stuff back but this was way over medium. Overall this place left me not thrilled with the experience and food. Our busser Hugo was amazing and on point and should have been serving instead of the staff we did see serving. When we told the manager they ignored our comment. Disappointed for sure. Not sure I'll give this place a try again.

This Italian restaurant truly stands out for its commitment to freshness and quality. From the very…read morefirst bite, you can taste that everything is made from scratch--nothing feels processed or rushed. The pasta is perfectly prepared, the sauces are rich without being overwhelming, and every ingredient tastes incredibly fresh and thoughtfully sourced. And then there's the tiramisu... absolutely out of this world. Light, perfectly balanced, and not overly sweet--it's the kind of dessert you think about long after you leave. What I appreciated most is that even after enjoying a full meal, I didn't leave feeling heavy or weighed down. That's rare, and it really speaks to the quality of the ingredients and the care in preparation. This is the kind of place you go to when you want a truly satisfying meal that still feels clean and elevated. Definitely a spot I'll keep coming back to.

Best Italian dinner of the year. Both their Lamb Chops and Duck were above and beyond. Their…read moregreen salad with mushrooms was also outstanding! The Pistachio Gelato was a perfect ending to the meal. Our server was friendly and added to the experience. We will be back soon!

My hubby and I were in SLO for one night and were really in the mood for Italian food. We'd walked…read moreto Giuseppe's (very crowded and loud and I hate sitting on high chairs - I like my feet on the ground when I eat!) but it really didn't smell good so we hoofed it over to Mama's Meatball. Ohhh what a difference! The nose doesn't lie. Our wonderful server, Carla, brought us a plate of garlic knots, which were so welcome as we were very hungry! We ordered the appetizer meatballs, which were as fluffy as clouds and so flavorful - served in a beautiful fresh marinara we dipped the garlic knots in. We also shared the Barbabietola salad, which I want to recreate at home but I doubt I could make as delicious a dressing. I always love to try gnocchi when I can and I was over the moon with these - lovely and fluffy and drenched in the same wonderful marinara as the meatballs - smooth and rich with just the right amount of acid - with a thick layer of mozzarella, ooey and chewy at the same time. My husband chose the Cavatelli Alla Norcia, which was as delicious as he'd hoped it would be. As hungry as we were, the portions were very generous, and we wanted to try dessert, so we opted to bring our leftovers to eat later, and ordered the tiramisu. We were surprised and delighted when Carla returned with a little cart and assembled our dessert right in front of us! (I won't give details - spoilers!) Everyone who took care of us was friendly and warm. We didn't feel rushed but the service was efficient and we were fed and done in very little time. I wish we lived in the area because I'd love to try everything on the menu - especially the pizza, as a nearby table ordered one and it looked *beautiful*! We will definitely come back when we're passing through SLO again!

Mama's Meatball managed to accomplish something I didn't think was possible: provide terrible…read moreservice and terrible food on a completely empty Tuesday night. Let me be clear -- this wasn't a busy Friday rush. This was a slow, quiet evening where there was absolutely no excuse for how neglected we were. Our water glasses sat empty the entire meal, and not once did anyone seem concerned enough to refill them. We weren't checked on. We weren't acknowledged. We were just... there. Then came the Mac and cheese with braised short ribs -- or more accurately, a plate of fat masquerading as a meal. Not tender. Not rich. Not edible. Just large, rubbery chunks of pure fat with barely any actual meat. I spent more time performing surgical removal trying to find something worth eating than actually enjoying dinner. In the end, most of it sat untouched because there was simply nothing salvageable. What was almost more insulting was that no one noticed. No one asked how the food was. No one questioned why a nearly full plate was being cleared. No apology. No concern. Nothing. It felt like once the food hit the table, the staff mentally clocked out. There was zero pride in the service and zero accountability for the quality of the food being served. San Luis Obispo is full of restaurants that genuinely care about their guests and the experience they provide. Mama's Meatball, unfortunately, felt like a place going through the motions -- collecting money without delivering even the basics. I won't be back, and I wouldn't recommend anyone waste their time or money finding out the hard way.

Last minute order for pizza and wings and boy am I glad this was recommended to me…read more The pizza was delicious, full of cheese, the sauce was tasty and the pizza crust was buttery and garlicky standard. My only issue with the pizza was the girl who took my order forgot to say pepperoni on the entire thing, however it was loaded with toppings. Lots of mushrooms and bacon. The wings were nice and plump and the sauce was tasty! A great buffalo sauce. I just wish they were a little more well done. They are delicious though

After a very long day of cross country travel, delays, and only small airplane snacks for breakfast…read moreand lunch, I was ready for a big dinner after finally getting all checked in to my hotel. I asked the front desk for their recommendations, and of course they recommended a place next door and while it was fancy with an elaborate menu, my low blood sugar state was craving some serious high calories so I opted for Gino's as it was also very close to my hotel. When I entered the place, I was the only customer there. I wanted to order the lasagna, but the nice young lady taking my order mentioned it would take some time to prepare, so I asked what she suggests something big and won't take long to make and it was classic spaghetti & meatballs, so I ordered that. Five minutes after sitting down, the young lady brought me a huge Cesar's salad. I'm not a big salad guy, but this was delicious! The lettuce was very fresh and the sauce and croutons were surprising very tasty. It was so good, I had to compliment her for making such a nice salad. A few minutes later a good size plate of spaghetti & meatballs arrived and two large pieces of garlic bread. Everything was satisfyingly good. I dined on this feast for 45 minutes and made the short walk back to the hotel feeling great. It was so good, I went again the next day and tried the lasagna. That too was good sized and very delicious. Next time I'm in SLO, I'll definitely come back again.

Food, delicious. Service, excellent. Ambiance, lovely…read more Entrees: Flat iron steak Lasagna Shrimp Chicken Parmesan All well prepared, presented, and delicious. Wine: Cabernet (Which one escapes me... was too preoccupied with enjoying it.) Dessert: Tiramisu Creme brulee Need I say more? Perfect dining experience for our out-of-town guests, and for us.

I absolutely love this place--does that tell you enough?…read more As someone who is quite particular about Italian-style food, especially with having paternal grandparents from Puglia, Italy, I often feel disappointed by what I find. However, this restaurant truly exceeded my expectations. They don't attempt to be overly authentic, they are! They serve Italian food at its finest in the SLO area, and I greatly appreciate that. I was first introduced to this place by one of my colleagues in our industry. We decided to hold a speaker program here, and it turned out to be a brilliant choice. My second visit was just as enjoyable, and I would highly recommend the following dishes: - Bruschetta - Mozzarella Caprese - Calamari Fritti (a bit spicy) - Insalata Café Roma - Orecchiette con Cime di Rapa, Salsiccia, e Pecorino (this dish resonates with me since orecchiette originated in the region of my family's heritage) - Osso Buco alla Milanese - Scampi Piccata - Salmone Alla Griglia When it comes to dessert, here's what I would recommend: - Caffe Affogato - Spumoni Ice Cream covered in a chocolate shell You may wonder why I chose these. The Caffe Affogato and spumoni are what we, as true Italians, consider authentic. Tiramisu, while delicious, is a non-traditional dessert that was invented much later. Just "think about it and forget about it" ;-) lol, even though it's really good! Tell em Joey sent you. Ha! Ciao!

We decided to head to Nate's on Marsh on a whim as we had got into to town a little late and my…read morefriend finished an appointment a little later than expected. We had to wait a little while, but it wasn't that long, especially on a Saturday evening, which was a surprise to us. We decided to sit on the patio, we were concerned about the weather, but they had heaters which were nice.

Came to Nate's on Easter Sunday which offered only a pre-fixe menu. While the menu did feature many…read moreof Nate's star dishes, it was also a lot for brunch and I honestly could have forgone dessert which was the least memorable part of the meal in my opinion. For starters, we tried both the crab bisque and the arugula salad. The salad was dressed well and fluffed nicely. The shaved fennel added a nice crunch to the salad and the beets added that nice earthy sweetness. It was a little odd the beets were just two thick slices on the bottom though...not exactly conducive to eating as a salad. As for the crab bisque, it featured a generous amount of crab meat making the soup sweet yet seafood forward. For mains, we tried the breakfast pasta and the lemon mafaldine. The mafaldine honestly blew me away. The lemon was bright with pops of freshness from the mint and the sauce was creamy but not too thick! The breakfast pasta tasted like an upgraded carbonara. The meatiness of the bacon lardon was probably my favorite part of the dish. For dessert, we went with one of each. The strawberry sorbet fit the weather better but the chocolate torte did have that fudgy richness that you just want for the weekend. But, as previously stated, if the pre-fixe menu wasn't required, we probably also could have gone without it. Servicewise, Nate's was impressive. Fountain drinks refills were swapped seamlessly, dishes were described impeccably, and I also loved the little postcard they wrote for our anniversary. Details matter, and Nate's nailed it here.

Great ambiance and attentive staff! Made dinner reservations on a Sunday for a birthday. Highly…read morerecommend reserving a table as it was busy. The seafood was cooked very well and the portions were great! We plan to come back next time we're in town. The waiter brought out a vanilla ice cream with fudge and a candle for the birthday girl which was sweet. Our favorite and most unique dish was the tequila shrimp pasta. We felt the salad was overdressed/slightly soggy & the chowder wasnt the most creamy but everything else was amazing!

Came here on a Friday for lunch during Memorial Day weekend. Parking lot wasn't full so got a spot…read morefor Lure patrons. We got seated pretty quickly since they weren't busy at 2 pm. First time here after a 3.5 hr drive to SLO. Service - 3.5 stars. So I gave this mainly because my wife (not me) seemed to not vibe with our waitress. In fact, I can tell my wife felt our waitress was being rude when she was asking questions about the menu. There was definitely tension with my wife in that she had to talk about the rudeness of our waitress. As for myself, I didn't take the waitress nodding to my wife's question as being rude but whatever. Thing my wife did notice after we gave our order was that our waitress didn't bring the complimentary bread and butter and we had clearly seen two tables in front of us get that. In fact, my wife had to go to the front desk to ask if free bread was given. For that, 3.5 stars So I had the lunch special - Wild Pacific rockfish with cilantro lime rice and pineapple cole saw. The rice- 3 stars. Nothing special , hard to differentiate it with regular rice since flavor was subtle and I couldn't taste any lime to it. Pineapple Cole slaw side- 5 stars. Very light and refreshing . Had a bit of Dijon taste to it with small pineapple pieces. Both me and my wife enjoyed it (when I had her try it) The rockfish -3 stars felt like it was a bit dry. Had to ask for tartar sauce just to give some zing as well as salt and pepper My wife had the salmon, side of clam chowder and cilantro rice. I tried the salmon and was pretty good taste and seemed more fresh than store bought. Overall, it was a decent experience for a seafood place but not a wow factor. Would I come back again? I think it was good to try it out but there are too many other seafood places to try in the SLO/ Pismo beach area

These are not the same cookie we fell in love with. We always go to the Cayucos store on our…read morevisits. Unfortunately this cookie is no longer special. Thick, dense brick. Not worth the visit anymore. I get that it's probably quicker and cheaper to make them in huge sheets and then cut them into bricks BUT they've lost the texture and taste. Sorry to see them fade into memory like so many other items. But the fond memory will always remain.

The recent change from the original round cookie to this new square brick shape has completely…read morealtered everything that made these cookies special. The texture is no longer the same, what was once perfectly balanced, soft, and indulgent is now dense and uneven. The bake feels off, the mouthfeel is wrong, and the overall enjoyment and flavor have taken a noticeable hit. Let's be honest: nobody likes a square cookie brick. This isn't a cookie anymore, it's a compromise. What makes this especially painful is how much I loved these cookies. I've traveled to Paso Robles and the main location multiple times specifically for them. That's how good they were. They were perfect. No notes. Worth the trip every single time. To see that quality sacrificed to accommodate heavy demand is deeply disappointing. I understand growth. I understand scaling. But not at the expense of the very thing that made people fall in love in the first place. This was a beloved product, and the change feels careless. Sadly, after experiencing this new version, I won't be making this stop anymore. It's not the same cookie and that loss is real. Please reconsider. Some things don't need fixing. Ambiance seems to have taken a hit and customer service is lacking to be charging the same price.