The star of the show was definitely the onion rings!!! OMG -- seasoned to perfection, crispy, and…read moreSO flavorful, especially dipped in ranch. Honestly, I'd come back for those alone! The chicken wings and butterfly shrimp were delicious too. We ordered the wings plain and dipped them in the buffalo sauce, and the shrimp came with two different sauces that were both so good. Service was great! We ordered our food at the bar along with our drinks, and the bartender brought everything right to our table. The busser also came by to help clear our trays, which was really appreciated. One warning: the pigeons are VICIOUS here Do not leave your food unattended because they will absolutely swarm your table the second you walk away! Great food, great service, amazing view, and those onion rings are a must.

I've been coming here for years whenever I visit Avila Beach. Even after the switch to…read moreself-service, I would still regularly stop by for the coconut shrimp to go. Unfortunately, my first dine-in experience since then was really disappointing. The fettuccine Alfredo was just okay, and I definitely wouldn't recommend the steamed clams. But what really ruined the experience was the bartender. I was standing in line at the bar waiting to order a drink. When it was finally my turn, the bartender took the order of someone who had arrived after me but was already seated at the bar. At first, I didn't think much of it. I assumed customers who were already seated were being served first, so I just waited. Then, a white woman who had been standing in line behind me sat down at the bar. The bartender skipped me again and took her order instead. Thankfully, she immediately pointed out that I had been ahead of her and had been waiting first. The bartender eventually took my order, but his attitude toward me was extremely cold and unfriendly. I don't want to jump to conclusions, but after being passed over twice, I couldn't help but wonder if race had something to do with it. That's what made the experience especially disappointing. I've been a longtime customer and have always enjoyed stopping here whenever I'm in Avila Beach. Unfortunately, after this experience, I'll think twice before coming back.

Food was good. Really enjoyed the clam chowder. The French onion was a bit too cheese but we still…read moreliked it. We arrived during the last hour or so so it was definitely busy but our server worked to make us feel satisfied. It was great being able to see the beach as we ate our food. Added a lot of value to our experience!

We'd been to the popular Oyster Place next door and certainly down to this beach area many times…read more As a wedding gift a client of mine gave us a gift card to this restaurant. That was a couple months ago and since I was driving them Monday I thought we should have some dinner I made a reservation online, for 6pm, no problem. Parking wasn't too challenging if you know the neighborhood. Walking up we heard and saw 'n Accordionist playing some French favorites, pretty cool. We were sat right down inside please, it can get pretty windy so... Ella greeted us after a few minutes...now allow me to say the pace in European dining places is slower than here in America and this place followed the traditional rhythm of a relaxed and casual dinner...Okay M went for a Sparkling wine and I stuck with my usual Pelligrino. We mused over the menu for quite a while, we can pace ourselves too A Trio for Monica, half an Ham & Cheese grilled sandwich with a cup of chowder and a caesar salad. My King Salmon (not often available these days) served with grilled asparagus and some roasted potatoes. It was all very good as we took our time savoring the moment. Dessert followed and the crem bule' finished the dinner. We enjoyed ourselves we enjoyed interacting with Ella and we enjoyed our European evening. It was time to go home a make like the French. Good Evening Folks Martin-Foodguy

Lido is our go-to restaurant for special occasions. The food is consistently spectacular, and the…read moreservice is exceptional from start to finish. From the moment we arrive at valet, Jay greets us warmly and makes us feel truly special. The welcome at the front desk is always friendly, the hostesses are cheerful and attentive, and the waiters and waitresses are always friendly. Especially Selina. She is wonderful. Every visit feels polished, welcoming, and memorable. We highly recommend Lido for an outstanding dining experience.

UPDATE -- September 2026 Thank you to the management team…read morefor their quick and prompt response to my Yelp review. Management reached out to me and actually refunded my meal due to the disappointing experience I had. Thank you for taking the time to address the situation and make things right-- I appreciate it!

Small business locally owned. Food was really good. For the location, the prices make sense. I…read moredidn't mind the wine, but I was hoping for a glass of traditional oyster pairing wines as an option, but the owners are in the industry so they highlight their wines. Which are pretty good. No notable flaws, just honestly decent, coming from a wine snob. Only petnat I've tried and liked as well. Oysters were top notch. I would add salt vs just ice as a serving dish though bc they started drowning in water if you don't eat them fast enough. Love that they serve caviar bumps! The fried smoked fish sandwich was awesome. Great bread and extras. Flavorful! People were really nice. Welcoming and inviting. I could sit there every day and be happy.

Why has tinned fish been hidden from me and The Wife, when everyone, who is anyone, has known about…read moreit forever? Back to Shuck Shack. We were visiting Avila Beach for my birthday week and decided to try out Sinor-Lavalle's wine tasting room a block back from Front Street and just down the way from our AirBnB. We met the owner and he suggested to mosey on over to Shuck Shack. We walked there, on Front Street, and met Evan, the GM. Evan took great care of us with some nice wines and then told us all about the tinned fish they had. Tinned Fish Sidenote: Two weeks before this trip if I heard the phrase tinned fish (TF) I would have thought oily mackerel or sardines smelling nasty. While I like anchovies, I was not prepared for TF. We were just in SanFran and The Kid's roomates were eating TF. Really? Yuck! Then we went to the Vintage Press in Visalia, CA, and 1/2 page of the large menu was 20 or 30 versions of TF. WTF? And now we were in Avila being told about the options and how delicious they were. Back to Shuck Shack. With Evan's guidance, we ordered a number of items off their menu including oysters (hauled in that morning), smoked trout TF, local salami, LandChos and Gildas. Check out the menu pics for descriptions. Paired with some great wines it was a fantastic culinary experience. Adding on to that the great service and setting of Avila Beach makes this an easy 5 star experience. GO! EAT VERY WELL!! HAVE FUN, Damnit!!!

An Unforgettable Birthday Dinner with Breathtaking Ocean Views!…read more We came to Ventana Grill in Pismo Beach for a Sunday night dinner date to celebrate my wife's birthday. This place definitely gets packed, so I highly recommend reserving a table in advance. We were lucky enough to get a window seat, and the outdoor patio views of the ocean are simply amazing! On top of that, the staff here has definitely become even more friendly--our server, Zach, was super efficient and attentive throughout our meal. The food was incredible from start to finish: * Mahi Mahi Fish Ceviche: We started with this alongside fresh tortilla chips, and it was honestly one of the best ceviches we've ever had. * Clam Chowder Soup: This special clam chowder came served with Parmesan cheese bread, which was absolute perfection. Again, hands down one of the best soups we've tasted! * Molcajete Surtido: For our main dish, we ordered this classic feast loaded with grilled colossal shrimp, arrachera steak, chicken breast, chorizo, spring onion, jalapeño peppers, nopalitos, avocado, pork rinds, molcajete salsa, queso fresco, and corn tortillas, served with a side of rice and beans. All the meats were so tender and flavorful, and the rice and beans were really nice. We were so full that we didn't even get to touch the tortillas! To top off a wonderful evening, they brought out a complimentary ice cream with a candle to celebrate my wife's birthday, which was such a thoughtful and sweet touch. Whether you're planning a special date night or a family outing, we definitely recommend Ventana Grill!

Have been here several times over the years, while on vacation to San Luis Obispo and Pismo Beach…read more It has the best dining views in the area with full views of the beautiful Pacific Ocean. The menu on our recent visit has been updated and now offers more Latino style offerings, with emphasis on Seafood and fine meats with Latino seasonings and styling. The posole is delicious, yellow fin tuna prepared well and was plentiful. Our server was friendly, efficient, offered suggestions and checked on us regularly. There was a wedding on the patio, which was fun to witness from our booth and plenty of activity from the ocean life we could view. Overall, a delightful experience!

Novo has always been a great experience and the dishes are always delicious. We've been coming to…read moreNovo for years and it has been our traditional dinner spot. The staff is always friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. We have always been seated outside and love it when we are lucky enough to have a table along the creek side. The curry dishes, brussel sprouts, and ahi nachos are great to share. The outdoor seating is relaxing under the oak trees. Appears to host families with parents visiting their kids attending Cal Poly. Always a great evening.

Novo is located directly in the middle of the Main Street of SLO…read more There is a small bar seating area inside before you're lead to a back patio for dining which is lit up by sting lights and plenty of heaters. I didn't care for the lack of music outdoors because it got way too quiet when it was a small amount of people outside. I ordered the ahi nachos ($24) and added avocado ($3). I think the nachos should come with avocado but they do give a generous portion of avocado when you add it. My friend ordered the ahi crab roll and felt it lacked flavor and really needed a sauce with it. Everyone else in my party really enjoyed their dinner. I also did not care for the fact they had small appetizer plates already set up at each seat. We did not use them so the waitress took them back but now I wonder if they just stack them back up for distribution because they are "clean" or if they waste water by washing plates because they were put out. Either way, it made no sense to me and felt like it was a waste. I might go back to this place but I don't think it's anything that has a wow factor and there are other options downtown I would try next time.

Zorro's -- Mexican Food & Sangria for the Win!…read more We were on the hunt for somewhere different from our usual Mexican food spots and somehow ended up at Zorro's. I'd never been, but my boyfriend had been here before for breakfast--apparently he had been holding out on me because he'd never tried dinner! The people were super nice, the food was solid, and most importantly... THE SANGRIA. Absolutely delicious! It may not be medically prescribed, but it definitely itches that Mexican-food craving when you need a fix. Was it the most life-changing meal we've ever had? No. But it was good, the atmosphere was friendly, and we had a great time. Sometimes you just need chips, salsa, Mexican food and a really good sangria to put the world back in order. We'll definitely be back--especially when the Mexican-food itch starts acting up again!

Sante Fe something but not what I ordered. I'm sad, I was hungry for good Mexican food. I want…read moreMexican food for the cumin, chili powder, onions and bell peppers, this was a Denny's/Ihop dish. The potatoes were unseasoned, egg whites were runny/undercooked. (I asked for over medium) & after waiting 5 - 10 minutes for the waitress, I ended up ordering a more food because this wasn't good. I'm hoping the chili verde redeems my opinion about this place. Bussers / Host were super nice and attentive! 10/10 Clean restaurant Chili I verde is good!

The ribeye steak was the BEST ONE hubby and I have had ever. No exaggeration. Our poor dogs only…read moregot a few bites because it was just that good. We also shared a mushroom and sausage wood fired pizza that was amazing also. Drinks, service was great. Our server suggested a Stolpman wine that was perfect for the perfect ribeye. It was our anniversary and I couldn't think of a better place to celebrate.

Had a bunch of apps and had the dinner entree. Didn't take a picture of the pizza, but it was…read moredefinitely my favorite. Got the Pepperoni Pizza. Loved the desserts. Trifle was my favorite. The toasted marshmallow dessert was great. Would recommended you're feeling a little bit more gluttonous and gain for the extra calories. Super rich and decadent would recommend but trifle was my goat.

I love the concept behind this restaurants. I'm always a fan of variety and their menu being…read morestructured around combing small items like sliders, sides, and salads is perfect for me. I opted to do a trio with the bahn mi, tip o' Argentina, and the garlic fries. The food was good I forgot to take a picture! The tip o' Argentina was solid with the garlic aioli and the chimmichurri perfectly complimenting the steak and the lettuce and tomato adding a little bit of freshness. The buns they use for all of their sliders are soft, slightly sweet, and don't fall apart while you're eating. The Bahn Mi was even better. I love pork but was a little skeptical about pulled pork on a slider riffing on the flavors of a bahn mi. To my surprise and delight, it tasted just like grilled Vietnamese pork, which was perfectly complimented by the fresh and pickled veggies and surprisingly hot jalapeño. Finally, I got the garlic fries which were a massive portion, crisp, and very garlicky. Everything was good and with such a large and customizable menu, I'd definitely return if I was in the area again. I also want to give a shout out to the bartender, Kelsey. I sat at the bar and her service was attentive and she was very knowledgeable about the menu. We got the opportunity to chat for a bit and I loved her vibe, so definitely consider sitting at the bar if you're dining solo or with a friend.

We saw the great reviews for Taste and were really excited about the concept of being able to…read morechoose from so many things that we made this our first stop in our time in SLO. It is a bit off the beaten path I thought, in a seemingly industrial area and parking was hard to find at 12:30 on a Monday. We had to go down the street and around the corner since the lot was full. I got a Gouda Burger, the summer crunch salad, and garlic fries. My wife and kid also had a slider but did Italian Sprouts, mac and cheese with bacon, and sweet potato fries. The slider was good- tasty but a little messy to eat. Both servings of fries were really generous. The salad was a good mix of ingredients. However the mac and brussels sprouts were a bit disappointing. For some there is no such thing as too much bacon but for us both of these dishes definitely had too much bacon- so much that we left a lot of the bacon! And don't get me wrong, I do enjoy my bacon. Overall, a good concept but we'll definitely try some non bacon dishes next time!

Everything was fantastic!!! The food, the service and the…read moreambiance. Beautiful inside and the outdoor patio was delightful.

Was looking for a takeout spot so I could stay in and watch Hallmark movies the last time I was in…read moretown. The grilled salmon was perfectly cooked and went so well with the creamy mashed potatoes. The chicken livers with onions were so flavorful and generous in portion that I actually needed more pita bread. Because chicken liver is rich, we definitely weren't left hungry and would definitely get both again.