Montemar is the quintessential Sunday wine sipping destination…read more With a secret garden like backyard that goes on for days, you'll find quiet coves for private conversations and stages for fun shows. It's the ultimate in a fully functional "backyard retreat" We brought our dog June, in an effort to give her June-cation deux. Recently her big brother Jackson had passed and she was left quite distraught. We figured a weekend out with numerous pets and lovers from fellow wine lovers would brighten her day. And boy did it. Montemar was a last minute addition to our schedule. We hadn't even planned on staying the night but did last minute when we found a great hotel deal that included dogs. I had been curious about the Lompoc wine scene for ages and this was the perfect opportunity. Lucky for us it was a quiet Sunday afternoon and June was given free reign of the backyard. We tasted a few flights and then opted to share a bottle of the Grenache blanc Pet Nat - perfect for a balmy Late fall afternoon. We loved the chill vibe here and would recommend to anyone with low energy pets. We can't wait to return and try out more wines and literally just chill and hang. It's such a peaceful environment for that!

I took my MIL here after relocating to the area. We had a great time and tasted delicious wines!…read moreThe service was friendly and informative. The ambiance was fun and cute. Overall, a wonderful experience!

We stayed at the Inn at Mattei's Tavern this past weekend and had dinner at the titular Tavern, an…read moreupscale contemporary restaurant in a reincarnated central California stagecoach stop dating back to 1886. The inn leans into the old west aesthetic, but the tavern is just elegant and attractive, with leather furniture, a high vaulted ceiling, and a lot of windows. It was pleasantly bustling on a Friday night, with what seemed like a mix of hotel guests and other visitors. Los Olivos has a population that hovers around 1,000, so this restaurant, like the stagecoach stop, is there to serve travelers. Accordingly, service was first class. There was a full bar with elaborate cocktails and plenty of wine from the area. We ordered two rounds of cocktails, as we planned to drink wine all weekend, and they were all very good. The Vaquero Campfire was a refreshing mezcal drink with pink peppercorn, honey, and charred grapefruit. The Cigars & Horses was a boozy mix of bourbon, yellow chartreuse, and smoked cinnamon. Los Rancheros Vistadores was a pleasantly bitter tequila cocktail, with reposado, amaro, Aperol, and orange olive oil. And the Pinochle Punch was a smooth blend of milk-clarified rye, cognac, and orange. We ordered wines by the glass to go with our entrees, and these were both lovely, too. The Sandlands Lodi Red Table Wine and the Racines Mattei's Cuvée, a Chardonnay that must have some connection to Mattei's Tavern. The food was delicious. We started with a half dozen oysters with mignonette and lemon and Gin's tuna carpaccio, topped with scallion, radish, ginger dressing, and cold-pressed California olive oil. Then we had Mattei's house focaccia, served with cultured butter and herb oil, and the country pâté, with cherry, tarragon, and sourdough. The entrées were both excellent. The Channel Islands rockfish was beautifully cooked, served in a vibrant tomatillo sauce with hoja santa, with sides of roti, grilled avocado, and grilled lime. The Colorado lamb was tender and juicy with a nice spiced crust. It came with couscous, vadouvan, mint yogurt, onion, and dates. For dessert, we shared the affogato: vanilla ice cream, Handlebar espresso. Hard to think of a better way to wind down a big meal. We charged dinner to the room and got $100 through a hotel promotion. This covered some of our drinks. The Tavern is not a cheap restaurant, but it is a great one, well worth checking out on your visit to Los Olivos.

Been here twice now and trying to be fair about it…read more The food is genuinely great and pricing feels in line with other spots around here. Not cheap, but not over the top either. Service is where things fell short both times. It took about 40 minutes to get our breakfast after ordering, and it was pretty obvious the plates had been sitting under a heat lamp for a bit. I used to work in food service, so it's something I tend to notice. We weren't in a rush, but we did need to be in and out within an hour. By the time the food came, we had maybe 15 minutes to eat and had to ask for the check right away just to stay on schedule. Overall, it's a great spot if you have the time to hang, but I'd be cautious coming here if you're on any kind of timeline.

My husband and I visited Talley Vineyards today during our trip to Pismo Beach, and the property is…read moreabsolutely gorgeous. The atmosphere is peaceful and welcoming, and the staff was very friendly. Vincent provided excellent service, and we even had the opportunity to speak with the owner, who greeted us warmly and engaged in a pleasant conversation. As an educator, I truly appreciated the calm and relaxing environment--it was the perfect place to unwind. The wine was delicious, especially the Rosé, which was my favorite. I highly recommend this winery and definitely plan to visit again with friends and family. A beautiful place with great service and wonderful wine!

Fantastic wines, gorgeous property and fabulous wine pourer! Thank you Vincent for making it a…read morememorable experience!!

This was a memorable discovery for me on a recent return visit to the Central Coast while dining…read morewith local friends. All dishes were given with care but not necessarily to overly impress, meaning that the portion size was generous rather than dainty. The experience of the place was considerably more sophisticated than I recall from the Central Coast of almost 20 years ago when I lived in the area. (Granted, time has passed, but still refreshing to see.) Staff also seemed happy to be there and engaging with diners, more than merely doing their jobs. Thank you Ember for raising the bar and impressing this out of town guest!

Everything about Ember is superb! From the moment you enter, seated, order a cocktail, meals,…read moredessert service... Yes it is that wonderful. Ambience is for everyone ie., dates, groups, just because. Don't believe me? Check it out for yourself. Oh, and no pics? No time for any. It's the type of establishment you show up and just enjoy.

I, along with approximately 13 other school district administrators, used their meeting rooms for…read moreour annual 2-day planning retreat. It was a great place to have the retreat and I definitely plan to come back again: - The grounds were beautiful. -The food for breakfast and lunch was reasonably priced, abundant, and good. We were able to sit inside or out on the deck that overlooked the fairways and the bay. -The room was comfortable, with the added bonus of having windows that completely surrounded the meeting room portion, which allowed us to have great views. Chairs were very comfortable and the staff let us come in the night before our event to set up. -There were adequate, clean bathrooms for males and females. -The staff were very helpful and friendly. I can't stress enough how pleased we all were with the staff, the facilities, and the awesome views!

I cannot recommend Olive + Lavender Farms highly enough. From the moment you arrive, it feels like…read morea hidden gem tucked into the heart of Los Olivos. They offer a complimentary olive oil tasting, allowing you to truly appreciate the depth and character of each variety. The fresh bread served alongside the tasting is crafted from scratch in nearby Los Alamos at Bob's Well Bread Bakery, and it is delicious. A few of my personal favorites were the Santa Ynez, Garlic, and Habanero olive oils. The Garlic was so outstanding that I immediately purchased a bottle to take home. It is incredibly versatile. The setting itself is just as memorable as the tasting. There is ample charming outdoor seating beside a small creek, and the gentle sound of flowing water creates a peaceful, almost meditative atmosphere. The vibes are truly immaculate. Inside, the shop is beautifully styled and filled with thoughtfully selected gifts and, of course, an impressive array of olive oils available for purchase. Hayley (sorry if it's spelled wrong) was especially warm and helpful, making the visit feel welcoming. They also offer WiFi, which allowed us to linger a bit longer and get some work done. It is rare to find a place that combines quality, hospitality, and atmosphere so seamlessly.

A great experience. Cute outdoor space for pets, kids, and adults…read more The free olive oil tasting also gave us 7 different oils and 2 vinegars to sample with pieces of bread to enjoy. My favorite are the white truffle, SY herbal blend, and garlic olive oil for the flavored oils. The arbequina and korineiki were great balanced flavors. I enjoyed the barrel aged balsamic vinegar so much I bought some to enjoy at home. The two women who assisted us were so nice and welcoming as well

SUPER nice employees, generous portions of good, fresh food. What a nice surprise to find on our…read moretrip up the coast. We'll definitely be back!

I had some surgery in Santa Barbara and stopped for lunch in Los Alamos on my way home to Morro…read moreBay. Ordered a BLT sandwich and it came with fries. Nothing special here. The ambiance was OK, but weird when I went to pay and they wanted me to use my Apple Pay. It worked but I don't usually have to use it at restaurants. Perhaps this is a new trend? Might stop again if I am passing through.

I really loved the Presqu'ile Winery. It is really a step above the other wineries in the area. The…read morewine was my favorite in this area that I tasted and they have such a nice indoor and outdoor area The food with the wine and food tasting was delicious. Ours had couscous , salad, lamb kabobs, hummus and cheese with pita bread. I guess it does change monthly or quarterly. The charcuterie boards looked amazing and are a good option if you don't want a multi course meal. Our server was really great and attentive and gave us plenty of info on the wine

Presqui'le Winery never fails to amaze me!…read more Whenever my MIL visits, we always make it a point to visit Presqui'le. The weather was beautiful. Sunny, warm, slight breeze with an amazing view of the mountains and ocean view. The food is so fresh because it's all farm to table. The chef changes the menu every season, so you never really get the same things twice! I really enjoyed eating everything on the table today. The service is always good, but today prompted me to finally write a review. I think Alex (boy Alex) has been my favorite server thus far! Since I've been traveling heavily, I haven't been able to maximize my membership. (Thus leading me to cancel it after 3 years) However, my experience today was enough for me to renew it! Thanks Alex!

There's something about winning a Novo dinner package at th Lumina Alliance Gala auction that feels…read moreless like luck... and more like destiny making very good decisions on your behalf. Novo Restaurant & Lounge donated to the Lumina gala, and I was the happy bidder who took it home -- which means a beautiful evening is officially on my calendar. Novo has always had that effortless allure... tucked along the creek, glowing just enough, with the kind of atmosphere that makes you linger a little longer than planned. Supporting women and families in need and setting someone up for a memorable night out? That's how you do it. I'll be enjoying every bite with a little extra appreciation... and probably a touch of smug satisfaction. Scarlett Cougar (AKA Sher McG)

Novo is such a cute spot. I was definitely a little confused coming in because the front desk is…read moreall the way in the back patio, past the kitchen hall. Once you get to the patio, the dining space is so cute! There's so much greenery and what seems like a small stream of water. Our waitress was really friendly. I had a hard time deciding on which craft cocktail to order, so she recommended the apricot drop. (It's on the list of my all time favorites!) My favorite part of the meal was the ahi nachos. The food was really tasty, but I think a little too rich for my palette. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience tho!

A big group of us went to 60 State Park Restaurant at the Inn at Morro Bay to enjoy the beautiful…read moreambience and just to celebrate life. We were greeted immediately by a very friendly waitress, who set us up at a table for eight with a spectacular view of Morro Rock in the back bay. My husband and I had been here for hors d'oeuvres before, so we had scoped out the menu. I knew whatever I had should involve some coconut shrimp. I ordered a Sauvignon Blanc while we contemplated the menu. One couple of our party ordered pasta with shrimp or pasta with salmon. My husband got the grilled chipotle salmon, and a couple of us got the captain's plate which had a big assortment of fried coconut shrimp, calamari, and fish on a bed of fries. It's the most spectacular view on the coast and it is perfectly set up as a happy hour hors d'oeuvre bar. There's a long bar, many different sized tables and even an outdoor area with tables on the porch. The food might be kind of standard fair but it's well done and it's very generous portions. The bartenders very skilled at making drinks. The server even suggested a honeybee martini which sounded very tempting, but most of us stuck to wine. The servings are very generous. The food is crisp and succulent seafood. The extravagant chipotle salmon was a little bit spicy, but well cook cooked throughout with delicate rice under it. Several people in this group have a prodigious sweet tooth, so we perused the desert menu after the meal. One couple got the triple berry tart, while my husband and I split the cheesecake. As a former New Yorker, I have high standards for cheesecake and this was a good B+ effort. It could've benefited from some caramel sauce or maybe more fruit on it. It was the perfect place to gather, to share lots of jokes and fun!

Walt from Walt's Adventures reporting from the 60 State Park at the Inn at Morro Bay in Morro Bay,…read moreCalifornia. The restaurant has tremendously fine views of the bay and has additional parking for non guests. The Fish n chips was very good with the fish in contention for the best I've ever consumed. The fries were prepared with the upmost craft. Regrettable, the Cole slaw was a miss... dry. The shrimp tacos and the beans were also favored but, like the previous dish, the rice was also in need of moisture. The Steak Frites was the highlight of the table and a must order. The deserts were both fantastic but the Apple Cobbler was to die for. If you traveled 100 miles only to order the cobbler... it would be worth your time. Clearly there was a master chef behind the scenes wielding magic. Being the first night at the Inn, the Inn seems to be a hidden gem of Morro Bay. I would recommend venturing to this peaceful refuge.