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    The Willows

    3.9 (268 reviews)
    Closed 5:00 pm - 10:00 PM

    The Willows Photos

    THE WILLOWS ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Intimate
    Romantic
    Classy

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    Recommended Reviews - The Willows

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    Reviews With Photos

    Crab Cakes appetizer
    Anthony N.

    We visited The Willows while checking out the casino this past Wednesday evening and really enjoyed everything at this restaurant. We were seated right away and had excellent service from everyone, especially our waitress Alicia. She really took care of us, answered our questions about the menu options and was wonderful. We ordered the crab cakes as an appetizer and for entrees we got the veal osso buco and jidori chicken plates. Everything was fantastic. The veal was one of the best dishes I've had in a long time. It was mentioned during our visit that we were celebrating my mother's birthday, and Alicia brought over a lovely ice cream cake desert, which was very kind and appreciated. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The decor and ambiance inside was really nice and I was especially drawn to the beautiful light fixtures and wall art decor.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Many thanks to the Willows Team for such a wonderful meal. It was a 5-star experience!

    New York steak was made to perfection
    Ruth O.

    Having our steak dinner here at the willow was one of our favorite things to do while visiting Solvang but last night our service was horrible. First the host was rude by having us walk to the patio then telling us we had to go back to the lobby and wait. Our server seemed to love to say "no we don't do or we can't do that" if I am paying that amount I'd appreciate a good service.

    Mac and cheese ... read review for secret
    Alia S.

    Well... I think the photos speak for themselves! Steaks were both amazing. The filet melted in my mouth, hardly took even a push on the knife to cut and the Gorgonzola was the perfect complement. Corn and the spicy sauce... yes please! Send more please! Ok the Mac and cheese was gooey inside and just perfectly crusted and crunchy on top! Ok here's the secret... menu reads "torchio, Parmesan, aged cheddar"... What it doesn't say is it's topped with cheese-it s !!! No joke! [[HIGHLIGHT]]The atmosphere here is just like you want it to be. A little darker, a little cooler and a lot yummier than the rest of the casino![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Our waitress was great ... very very sweet and very personable! I'm not going to lie though... this was a romantic birthday dinner I was treating my boyfriend to and as much as I enjoyed the banter we got a whole life story from her. I had just driven up from la to meet him here for dinner and we were just wanting some alone time. I think we know more about her than her therapist, that she chatted freely to us about! I spent many years in management and service in the restaurant industry so I always really do value a server who can be themselves with guests.. BUT this was a very expensive romantic dinner for two that became for three... particularly when she brought out my boyfriend's birthday dessert. A time when a couple wants to share their hopes for the next year. Again when she brought the check to be signed... something I don't really like doing while my server is watching. I always tip at least 20% and this was no exception. Next time though I guess we will have to speak up and ask for some alone time!

    Crab cakes.,  Real cesar salad with a real anchovies.        And lollipop  amb Super Delicious
    Nallely G.

    Great place, amazing atmosphere and food is phenomenal [[HIGHLIGHT]]love everything about this place inside the casino upstairs, great for a Romantic date or just for goid food and cocktail[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]

    Rib eye steak (split), garlic mashed potatoes, cosmo
    Cassandra O.

    [[HIGHLIGHT]]Great ambiance and service.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Food and drinks were delicious. Staff were very accommodating and helpful.

    New York State bone in dinner everything was great except for the box mashed potatoes. It's sad that they cant splurge for real potatoes.
    Jennyfer S.

    The steak was good and the sides were good. It's except for the mashed potatoes that clearly tasted like powder box mashed potatoes. Upsetting for a bill of $230 for 2 people . The waiter Marco was amazing

    Peppercorn crusted filet mignon
    Joanne P.

    Absolutely loved our Valentine's Day dinner! Booked our reservation in December '22 and decided it'd be better to have a table indoors. Although there's heat lamps outside- one could never gauge weather that far ahead of time. I didn't want to deal with having any hiccups. With that being said- once we checked in, ladies were given a long stemmed red rose by the hostess. I should've took a photo of the Valentine's Day menu $85pp w/ an additional $30 wine flight option. Hubby ordered the shrimp cocktail for his appetizer. And man! I have never seen shrimps that HUGE before! I ordered the lobster bisque. And I love how chunks of fresh lobster were at the bottom of the bowl. The bisque is poured from a carafe. We both enjoyed our 7oz medium filet mignon. Both were peppercorn crusted. I enjoyed every tender melt in your mouth bite. Pour over the light gravy. The sides we picked were the mushrooms, garlic infused mashed potatoes, and the Mac n cheese. Thought I was gonna have room for dessert. But, silly me. We walked away with leftovers from our side dishes. Staff was amazing and always checked in on us.

    Black widow margarita
    Julia R.

    Willows is a great place for a meal if you are at the casino or nearby. The atmosphere is not "romantic" to me because you have to go through the casino to get to it, but it has a good vibe overall and casual attire is usually fine. The cocktails are great--honestly one of the best lime margaritas I've ever had and the raspberry mingle is like an adult capri sun. Some of the menu items do switch up, like one of my favorites the beet salad is gone but it's been replaced with an amazing fried cauliflower/sweet chili sauce appetizer. Steaks are good quality and the sides are all fantastic so you really can't go wrong. Wait staff is so friendly too!

    We each get our own tomahawk steak every time we come here
    Jennifer K.

    The very first time we came here last year I got the tomahawk steak and my wife got a ribeye but after she tasted mine she loved it. Since then we've been here twice just this year(2024) and have been getting our own tomahawks because it is so good that we know if we shared just one it wouldn't be enough for both of us. We came here on 12-29-2024 randomly because my wife said she had to use up whatever was left on here chumash card before it expired. It was so busy and packed. Since it was a last minute dinner plan we did not make reservations so opt to be seated outdoors to be seated quickly. The service last night was not upto par compared to the last two times we were there. [[HIGHLIGHT]]If the bar area was not crowded we would have ate there instead.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]I was a little worried about it being cold and windy last night but their heat lamps were pretty up high so it wasn't too hot or cold.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]The best part of being outside was the fresh air, the restaurant inside smelled a lot more like cigarettes than usual maybe because there were soooo many more people than usual cause of the holiday season.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Once we were seated it took 10 minutes for someone to serve us water & bread while letting us know that a server will be with us soon. Well the server didn't come out until 15mins later to take our order. They forgot my wife's mashed potatoes and I knew our server wouldn't come check up on us once all our food was out even if we needed more water. When he finally came out because I kept looking, I told him he forgot my wife's mashed potatoes so we just asked him to pack it to go and by time he brought it out we wanted take the leftovers. We ended up staying in the restaurant til almost closing time(we got seated around 7:50pm)because it took the server soooo long to pack our leftovers. Also maybe cause everyone who ate outside all finished and we were the only ones left. [[HIGHLIGHT]]They also turned off the heat lamps and I started to get cold while waiting for our leftovers to get packed and for the check come out.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]Since it was a fairly long wait and maybe someone saw me cross my arms cause I was cold someone turned my side of the heat lamps back on[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]. When the server finally came back with our packed leftovers and check we told him we had a twism deal, he told us that if it's more than a $100 it doesn't apply but he talked to the manager and he also apologized for not being attentive that next time we come he would be better and because of that we actually got the twism deal. Which definitely made up for the lack of service that night. We love this tomahawk steak too much to not come back.

    Alaskan King Crab legs and a side of Mac and cheese! Yummm!!!
    Dan N.

    Frank and Chef Sergio are pretty consistent on delivering tasty items at Willows. Even if you don't plan on gambling in the casino or catching a show, you cant go wrong at Willows. Service is always on point and they have a great selection on the menu as well as the bar. We'll worth a visit if you are looking for great steaks or seafood.

    Rosa G.

    I love this restaurant definitely the best I've ever had. The lobster was cooked to perfection so was the steak. Service was amazing and they were able to get us a reservation same day for a group of seven. it is so convenient that you can have a nice dinner and then have fun at the casino for a while. everything that we ordered was delicious no complaints. I will definitely be coming back here. The surf and turf is Amazing highly recommended it!

    Arugula Salad
    Ceecee T.

    First off, nothing bad to say about the food at all. It was amazing. The place was beautiful and the dishes looked even more amazing than I had expected. I came for a late dinner for my bday which my boyfriend had told the staff and made note of it when making the reservation. The staff was more concerned with the other tables than ours. Waters were not refilled. The service was pretty bad but atleast they weren't rude. I'm assuming because we were young and one of the only colored guests we were not being attended to much. Kinda sucks because it was a bday dinner and I just wanted to feel good as we came into town that night and came hungry. Oh well, maybe next time we'll just sit at the bar so we don't have to worry about the service.

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    7 months ago

    The food and service is excellent! Restaurant is pricey but worth it!! Would definitely return!!

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    Page 1 of 7

    The Willows Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - The Willows

    Are nice jeans acceptable attire? And does anyone know the cost of the corkage fee?

    Karen, jeans are acceptable attire. The dress code is pretty relaxed. As far as the cork fee I do not have an answer.

    Do we get free dessert, if it is your birthday?

    Yes. It is ice cream.

    View All 4 Questions

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    S Y Kitchen

    S Y Kitchen

    4.4
    (1.1k reviews)
    0.4 mi
    $$$

    Having been advised by a local museum docent that "everybody eats at SY Kitchen", I jumped online…read moreto make a quick reservation for two of us. We walked in early, asked to sit at the bar, and our reservation was honored. The restaurant was bustling but service did not feel rushed or hurried. We were lucky to dine at the bar; Mr. Maciel took truly excellent care of us the whole evening, remembering every request and taking care of every detail for our dining experience. His wine recommendations were also spot on. We decided to focus on three different pastas and were not disappointed. Highly recommended. My absolute favorite was the Wild Mushroom Pappardelle but honestly, every pasta was delicious. Portions were generous and leftovers were promptly boxed up to take home. Folks clearly schedule special dinners here, warranting dressing up, but casual diners such as ourselves also felt comfortable. I'd recommend dining at the bar for exceptional service and a front-line seat to all the action.

    I came here for a birthday celebration and to be honest I wasn't expecting much, just another…read moreItalian spot. But I was actually really impressed with the food here. The pasta and pizza were excellently prepared, the drinks were fun, and all the appetizers we had to share were delicious. The restaurant itself is also really cute and has a nice ambiance perfect for girls night or date night! I'm only taking off a star because I think it was really busy and we felt a bit rushed. They tried to clear our plates before our last dish came out and then we were offered the check before we were offered dessert

    Photos
    S Y Kitchen
    Butter squash soup
    Butter squash soup
    Signature watermelon  margarita and espresso martini

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    Signature watermelon margarita and espresso martini
    The Tavern at Zaca Creek

    The Tavern at Zaca Creek

    4.4
    (210 reviews)
    6.0 mi

    We stayed at the inn and decided to make it easy and make reservations at the Tavern. They give you…read morescones to start your meal and they were amazing! Savory and one of the best scones I've ever had! Didn't even need the sweet butter that came with it. We had the crab beignets for an appetizer. Very nice and light, fresh crab just missing a some salt. My fiancé ordered the burger with their version of fries and I had the scallops pasta. My fresh scallops were perfectly seared and paired with the beautifully blanched veggies and pasta. All fantastic, just missing a little salt. Burger was really well made and so were their fries. Service was ok, a little hands off for such a slow night. Well decorated inside and out with lots of plants. The whole place is dreamy!

    A charming restaurant with a lovely, quaint ambiance that creates an immediately welcoming setting…read more The service was exceptional gracious, attentive, and genuinely personable. Our party was warmly greeted upon arrival and made to feel completely at home throughout the evening. The cuisine was very good, and the overall dining experience was thoughtfully executed. One minor note would be that one of the pasta dishes could have been drained slightly more prior to plating. Otherwise, the meal was excellent. I would gladly recommend this restaurant to others seeking a warm, inviting atmosphere paired with attentive service and excellent food.

    Photos
    The Tavern bar
    The Tavern bar
    Ahi tuna salad
    Ahi tuna salad
    Baked Alaska

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    Baked Alaska
    Coast Range

    Coast Range

    3.9
    (777 reviews)
    3.3 mi
    $$$

    The dog has "retired" and gone to live on a farm…read more In general it might get accolades because there's not much else in Solvang. IMHO it's good not great. Service is friendly, the patio is nice, food is pretty good, bar is mid. Artichoke: have had it a couple times, always slightly undercooked Pierogies: have had a couple times, better with the peach jam on the side Potato puree: REALLY buttery Parker House rolls: great with the little cigar of butter! Tomato and peach salad with burrata: fantastic Skirt steak appetizer: my husband loves it Jalapeño creamed corn: not much jalapeño flavor, have had better Bar: meh We go when we're in Solvang, but for a Michelin star restaurant I was hoping for better.

    After a week on the road, I was craving something delicious and packed with protein for both myself…read moreand my child. As we passed by, the enticing menu caught our eyes, especially the children's skirt steak and fries--exactly what I wanted for her! However, I have to admit, the prices were on the higher side, which is typical for this type of restaurant. Still, given what we were paying, I was surprised by the lack of attention to detail, especially regarding cleanliness. There was quite a bit of dust on the ledge near our table, which triggered my allergies and led to a couple of sneezes. To add to the disappointment, our rolls arrived well after our entrées. By the time we finally got them, they were cold and a bit hard. When they did reach our table, a server in training accidentally dropped a salt and pepper shaker into our plate of rolls, and surprisingly, didn't seem to think twice about it. On a brighter note, our main server was delightful, and the beef stroganoff was nothing short of heavenly. The meat was incredibly tender, and the mushrooms swimming in red wine sauce were a true highlight. I did find it a bit off-putting to see a surprise 2% surcharge tagged on to cover labor expenses. Honestly, I'd prefer higher menu prices that reflect the actual costs, rather than this nickel-and-dime approach. Employees deserve fair wages, but those extra fees can be frustrating. After all was said and done, my child's meal, my beef stroganoff, and just two rolls--with tax, a tip, and that extra charge--brought our total to just under $100. When I asked to take my leftovers home, I was handed a container to pack it all myself. Maybe it's just me, but when I'm spending that kind of money, I expect a bit more attentive service.

    Photos
    Interior
    Interior
    Spicy tuna and crispy rice
    Spicy tuna and crispy rice
    Potato Cake ($5/side)

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    Potato Cake ($5/side)
    Dos Carlitos

    Dos Carlitos

    4.1
    (697 reviews)
    0.3 mi
    $$

    The food was excellent. Especially the black bean and corn dip! It's to die for! We bought a quart…read moreto bring home. The Chicken taco was the best I've ever had! The shell of the taco was so crisp yet light. Good Magaritas too! My husband's Carnitas burrito was so flavorful. The servers were very nice and very attentive. The inside of the restaurant had tasteful decor. Leather and bent wood chairs, lofty ceiling with open beams. Attractive paintings and porcelain pieces hung on the walls. Very Mediterranean ambiance. There is outside seating but it was too hot for that, inside was pleasantly cool.

    As vegetarians, my family usually struggles to find decent offerings at Mexican restaurants,…read moreusually settling for bland bean-and-rice burritos, cheese enchiladas that clearly were made haphazardly (if not out-right cooked from the freezer), or calorie-bombed nachos. This is not the case at Dos Carlitos in Santa Ines! Yes, my kids split the order of nachos, but the ratio of black beans, tomatoes, and guacamole to cheese made this mother happy. The vegetable tostada was loaded with grilled vegetables and the freshly-made tortillas were incredible! Finally, the cheese enchiladas (we're creatures of habit) were freshly cooked, with more of those in-house tortillas, and they were, according to my husband, some of the most delicious that he's had in a long time. Service was courteous and prompt, and we were greeted by the host in a very pleasant manner. I have to give a shout-out to our busboy, who was fantastic, ready with water or chip refills before we even thought to ask (whatever his name was, he was working Thursday, July 23 at noon). In short, Dos Carlitos is a first-rate Mexican restaurant! We love how it is not loud or overfilled with patrons. One might balk at some of the high prices, but in general I have to say it was overall worth it!

    Photos
    Relaxed vibe
    Relaxed vibe
    Beef tostada
    Beef tostada
    Dos Carlitos

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    Craft House At Corque

    Craft House At Corque

    4.2
    (499 reviews)
    3.2 mi
    $$$

    Celebrating our nation's 250th birthday in beautiful Solvang!…read more We ate at Craft House four times during our visit--and for good reason! It is, in our opinion, the best restaurant in Solvang. Every meal was exceptional, and the service was consistently outstanding. From the moment we walked in, Daniel welcomed us with a warm smile that made us feel right at home. At our first breakfast, Taylor provided friendly, attentive service that set the tone for the rest of our visits. That evening, we enjoyed the cauliflower appetizer, beet & burrata salad, short rib grilled cheese and black tie burger. Every dish was absolutely delicious. On our second breakfast visit, Sandra took wonderful care of us. She is such an asset to Craft House--knowledgeable, personable, and genuinely welcoming. Sophia, who brought out our food several times, always greeted us with the biggest smile. You can tell she truly loves what she does. Lorenzo and Nora were also fantastic servers who helped make every visit memorable. Over four visits, we sampled several different entrées and breakfasts. The avocado toast and chorizo quesadilla were definite standouts, and every meal exceeded our expectations. A heartfelt thank you to the entire Craft House team for your incredible hospitality, exceptional service, and outstanding food. We can't wait to return!

    Our favorite spot in Solvang. We come 3 times a year and this is always our dinner spot ( sometimes…read morewe'll come twice if we're there longer). Everything we have ordered has been amazing. Some favorites are the short rib grilled cheese, Korean filet salad, pizza, pasta, Brussel sprouts,, cocktails, I mean everything is so good! Live music outside on weekends is a vibe. Service is always great! Whenever we bring family or friends here they all have loved it! I usually make a reservation for a Saturday night but there's always some open tables available.

    Photos
    Inside front.
    Inside front.
    The BEST Black Tie Burger
    The BEST Black Tie Burger
    Our table.

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    Our table.
    Leonardo's Ristorante & Pizzeria

    Leonardo's Ristorante & Pizzeria

    4.3
    (797 reviews)
    2.5 mi
    $$$

    I was visiting in the area and a local recommended this restaurant. The restaurant is big and…read morespacious on the inside and also had outside seating. We went for lunch to try out a couple things. We were seated immediately and offered menus. We ordered a seared ahi salad, calamari, bolognese, and mushroom pizza. The ahi salad was delicious. The vinaigrette was delicious and refreshing. The ahi was seared just right. The calamari was flavorful and crispy. It also came with some shrimps which was a nice surprise. The bolognese was nice and hearty. The pizza had the perfect crust thickness and tasted even better when I baked it for dinner later in the day. Overall, we enjoyed everything we tried and would like to come back on the next visit.

    Last year, our visit was great! This year, not so much. They sat us in a room in the back which was…read morejust ok. It didn't have the energy that the main dining room has but our party was 9, so we understood! The service was not that great. Didn't like our snotty waitress and the food servers were also rude. The food was meh this time. The bruschetta was salty, the ceasar salad was tasteless, the chicken piccata was lousy. It barely had any sauce, the potatoes were dry and looked like Terds, and the spinach had a long, black hair wrapped in it. The chicken parm was great and so was spaghetti. The pane cotta was pitiful. They cut back on the portion size. Tiramisu was bleh and they served us melted spamoni! All around bad night, August 4th! Unfortunately we will not return.

    Photos
    Interior
    Interior
    Calamari
    Calamari
    Cutest setup

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    Cutest setup

    The Willows - seafood - Updated August 2026

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