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    The Spoon Trade

    4.7 (1.1k reviews)

    The Spoon Trade Photos

    THE SPOON TRADE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - The Spoon Trade

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    Cheesy Sourdough Bread Pudding
    Bethany W.

    A GEM of a restaurant! The Spoon Trade tops many lists, so we had to give it a try when we came to Grover Beach. It exceeded my expectations in terms of thoughtfully prepared food, top-notch service, and cozy farm-house style vibes. All the food we ordered was excellent with strong and distinct flavors and high quality made-fresh ingredient components. Loved all the sourdough bread items like the bread pudding and salad croutons that they make in their bakery. Chicken and Waffles was my favorite dish with the lovely mix of maple, rosemary, kimchi, and sourdough and the perfectly crispy chicken skin. Also loved the Kale and Cauliflower Caesar which was an exciting mix of texture and tang. Everything was good though, including the wonderfully creamy basque cheesecake. I truly can't wait to come back.

    Tyler W.

    Food was outstanding with even better customer service. Very considerate staff with any requests. All the seating options cater to all desires. Will be back to try more great menu options!

    Starting off with sourdough min loaf.
    Jessica N.

    I had the habit amandine, and it was to die for. The fish paired perfectly with the avocado, and the asparagus was almost better than the fish. My partner got the fried chicken and mashed potatoes and loved it. The hot honey was nice, and the mashed potatoes divine. They had music playing a volume you could talk over, service and speed the food came out was amazing. Basically they put the order in, cookies and we had our food.

    Melanie H.

    The spoon trade is nothing that I imagined it to be. It focuses on making everything from scratch and being farm fresh so the quality of the ingredients is definitely what you pay for. That being said, I went into it not know those things and paying a lot more than what I would prefer. The food was very rich and tasty, though, and I'm glad I gave it a try! I got the dumpling soup which was not actually dumplings but mini biscuits floating in water but honestly the broth was so rich in flavor that it added a nice balance to it! It would be cool if they actually traded spoons haha, it would add a nice touch to the place.

    Snack hour menus (food & drinks)
    Nita T.

    Visited for their snack hour (offered 4-5pm, Wed-Sun) and sat at the bar. Along with a few beers (recommend the fruity Raddler for a refreshing spritz), we tried the delectable tartare bites on toasted sourdough ($9), the crispy fried chicken tenders served with a buttermilk dipping sauce ($9), and a shortbread dessert ($13) with fresh berries & cream. Everything was delicious - I only wish there was a bit more! However, they make everything fresh in house with locally sourced ingredients and breads from their own bakery, and the prices reflect this high quality. Bar service was kind and attentive, and from the few patron around us, this seems like a casual, friendly spot where local regulars know the staff personally. Parking was easy in the lot at this hour. We'll definitely be back for dinner! (Front and side patios are both dog friendly, for those wondering!)

    Fried Bologna Sandwich
    Jessica O.

    This is my favorite restaurant in all of SLO County. The food, the service, and the ambiance are all amazing! I've gone twice & both times did not disappoint. The first time I had the chicken & waffles are they are the best I've ever had! The Fried Bologna Sandwich beats what I've had in the South. And the Cheesy Bread Pudding is FANTASTIC!! Definitely order it when you go! I can't speak highly enough of Spoon Trade. I will gladly return multiples in the future!

    Duck, mushroom, goat cheese risotto.  Lovely.
    Trish S.

    Special of the day during our December visit was duck confit, oyster mushroom, and goat cheese risotto. What?! Yes please! We ordered that, of course, along with a few other items to share. Grilled artichoke. Cheesy bread pudding. Delicious! The baby gem salad with burrata, persimmon, green goddess dressing, and a giant polenta crouton was also a big hit. I would definitely recommend everything we tried. Wonderful, creative food, combined with a comfortable atmosphere and lovely service made this a stand-out experience during our trip.

    Chicken & Dumplins were amazing!!
    Carmen Q.

    The food AND service was excellent! Talia (sp?) was so friendly and attentive to us. The sliced grilled sourdough bread app was sooo yummy. They serve it with a side of butter and a side of olive oil with pieces of roasted garlic in it. Smear it on the bread with the burrata with a sip of my sparkling and I did a little dance in my seat! The chicken & dumplins was like receiving a nice big hug from an old friend. The fried bologna sandwich did not disappoint. It was nicely Stacked and tasted great! If you like lemonade-their house made lemonade was tasty and refreshing! My only reason for not rating a 5 is because the prices were a little steep (we also ordered a burger for $$$) and I expected the wine pour to be a little more generous. Other than those minor details it was a great experience and I'd highly recommend you pay them a visit!

    Arnold Palmer, Baked Traditional Ratatouille
    Misty E.

    Ambiance is cute, the taste was awesome. $100 for 1 app, 2 meals 2 desserts and a liter of Palmer. Still seems a bit expensive for us, but the quality was good.

    Fried Bologna
    Bob B.

    We saw this place on Triple D and had to visit on our next trip here. The fried bologna sandwich with house made everything was delicious as was Ysa's cheeseburger! Oh, and those potatoes! Never had them like that before and the portions are huge! The elderberry spritz and Mexi beer were outstanding! What a great find and definitely not a dive! We'll be back next time we visit the area!

    Golden Delicousness
    Sean D.

    The menu is fun and all over the place, they serve a wide variety of scratch made food. I am told they offer different dishes during the various seasons. Currently you can get a $23 bologna sandwich with a bowl of $29 Duck Ramen Soup. The wait staff is fun and attentive. You can tell this is a family oriented establishment. On to the meal. We started with the cheese bread pudding. It was so good I am planning on trying to recreate it at home. If you are a cheese fan you MUST order this. My wife really enjoyed her kale cauliflower Cesar salad. Be aware it is a large portion. Cheese bread pudding on the other side of the spectrum is almost an individual serving, almost, it is rich so I get it. If you are a cheese head plan for small portions. I ordered the bologna sandwich, it was stacked, with layers of thinly sliced and individually fried pieces of bologna, with melted American cheese on a soft brioche bun. It is accompanied with fried cubed potatoes. For $23 I expected more fireworks. I'm glad I tried it but it is not what is going to bring me back. The Fried chicken on the other hand is as good as it gets, as a bonus feature you get a fresh, fluffy waffle. This is a large meal, big portions. The chicken is juicy and moist add the rosemary honey drizzle and salty crunch from the fried, breaded skin and boom, the perfect fried chicken. I was fortunate my buddy shared some with me. What a great pairing. Our table had the duck soup as well and I am told it was delicious and filling. The parking was easy and the ambiance is beach style with a touch of fine dining. Apparently they were featured on Triple D so their popularity has scaled. I would make a reservation. Cheers.

    The bill at the end but the presentation says it all!
    Mike H.

    This was a perfect 100! The ambiance is casual but nice, the food was amazing and the service was off the charts! We started with the grilled sourdough and I had the fried chicken while my wife had the ratatouille. Both were fantastic and we highly recommended them! If you go, I hope you have Tahlia for your server because she made great recommendations for us. If you have one night in the area, this has to be your choice!

    Cauliflower Tikki Masala
    Ivy E.

    On a last minute birthday outing, my best friend and I found this place via Yelp and Google and quickly ventured over on a busy Wednesday night. Initially, we requested outdoor seating, but the sunny weather in Santa Maria missed Grover Beach that day. . After checking in with the host, we waited less than ten minutes and were seated at a half booth table near the patio entrance and restrooms. The space is bigger than small, but not quite large with all kinds of spoons hanging above the host stand. It was clean and spacious enough to walk through without hitting the back of someone's chair. . I can't remember our server's name, but he was a tall, bald gentleman with a firm and raspy voice. Very well versed on the menu and answered any and all of our questions. Everything on the menu here is made from scratch which always sets the taste test bar high. They own the local bakery across the way, Grover Beach Sourdough, so of course all the menu items containing bread are made with their phresh dough and flour daily. . To my pleasure and surprise, there were many vegan and vegetarian options on the menu so no one misses out on the fantastic food here. We started off with the Cheesy Bread Pudding which was an all around favorite for everyone at the table. I kept it light with the Tomato Soup that came with a side of potatoes which were soft and hot upon biting into them and golden crisp on the exterior. . Since it was a birthday outing, I ordered a dessert beforehand (the shortcake), but ended up with the Brown Sugar Pot De Creme, although it wasn't what I ordered, it was really tasty and again everyone I was dining with loved it. I asked them to put a candle in it for the birthday girl and they delivered on that end. For four people our grand total was approximately $126 before tip. Worth every penny. . Cannot rave about this place enough, it's really a diamond in the rough and well worth any and all hype. If you're looking for upscale food with a welcoming casual atmosphere, go to The Spoon Trade!

    Halibut (partially eaten lol)

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    9 months ago

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    Thanks Carmen! :)

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    9 months ago

    Ambiance was fun, funky. Service was great and food was very good. I had the meatloaf. Chocolate cookie for desert. I'll be back.

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    9 months ago

    Love the food here! The duck ramen is hard to beat. Every time I've come here the food and service has been excellent.

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    Page 1 of 27

    Ask the Community - The Spoon Trade

    Can you do the snack hour/happy hour outside if you have a dog with you?

    Probably not, since you need to at the bar.

    Is Patrick there?

    Yes! He asked where you are...

    View All 5 Questions

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    A pretty decent restaurant in the Pismo beach area if you are looking for a chill, slow-paced,…read morewell-decorated place to eat at. As soon as I walked in, I was mesmerized by the refrigerator row of wine/champaign bottles. The bar area is well decorated with a dark background and small lights to emulate a dark starry night. Their service was not good in our L.A.-opinionated minds. Yes, we were greeted and seated immediately upon arrival. We waited maybe 20 minutes before someone eventually came to take our order. Mind you, the whole time we were ready to order, the waitress who seated us was walking back and forth, setting up tables around us. She clearly saw that we were ready to order but didn't even offer to take our orders or get another staff who could. This is a place to come to if you are NOT in a hurry and are here to simply chill and take life SLOCAL style. The food here seems like a fusion between American and Mediterranean style. 1. Octopus Appetizer (4.5/5) Large octopus tentacles served with a combination of vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, roasted peppers) toasted with garlic and olive oil. The vegetables and octopus were all cooked very well. The octopus was fresh and melts in your mouth. 2. Grilled Asparagus (2.5/5) Large asparagus that's seasoned lightly, but it was not cooked correctly. It had a very stringy-fibery texture. 3. Philly cheesesteak (2/5) The hoagie bread was grocery store quality at best. We were sad that it wasn't even toasted or warmed up, so ended up ditching the bread/bun and just ate the inside. The cheese was at least nicely melted. The onion and bell peppers were fresh, but the steak was "meh." Definitely not quality beef. The beef itself was also not seasoned enough, so was bland and dry. 4. Onion rings (5/5) Fried to perfection. Loved that the onions were fresh and it was easy to pull apart with each bite. The aioli sauce that its served with is plain and bland though. 5. Crab cake (4/5): Crabby patty anyone? All I tasted was fried Panko batter. Wish the patty itself had more flavor and spice. The garlic aioli sauce that came with it though was good. 6. Dr. Marquis Salad (4/5): Fresh spring mix lettuce topped with ground beef and crispy bacon, tomato, sliced avocado and tossed with their house-made olive oil, salt and pepper dressing. Overall, it was a hearty salad with plentiful flavor. It was just a bit weird to have ground beef in salad, but I guess that's what makes this salad dish unique

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    The Spoon Trade - newamerican - Updated May 2026

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