Best North County Restaurant
The Hatch Rotisserie & Bar
835 13th St., Paso Robles
(805) 221-5727
Best North Coast Restaurant
Robin’s Restaurant
4095 Burton Drive, Cambria
(805) 927-5007
Best San Luis Obispo Restaurant
Nate’s on Marsh
450 Marsh St., SLO
(805) 544-4454
Best South County Restaurant
Ember
1200 E. Grand Ave., suite 101,
Arroyo Grande
(805) 474-7700
Best South Coast Restaurant
Marisol at The Cliffs
2757 Shell Beach Road, Pismo Beach
(805) 773-5000
facebook.com/thecliffshotelandspa
Best Breakfast
Sally Loo’s Wholesome Cafe
1804 Osos St., SLO
(805) 545-5895
facebook.com/sallylooswholesomecafe
What’s that I smell? Maybe Sally Loo’s Blue Berrymore Waffles, a signature waffle batter with blueberry-thyme compote, lavender-honey mascarpone, sliced almonds, and orange zest? Possibly an Egg Sando with fried egg, bacon, cheese, veggies, and aioli? Naturally, you could wash either down with a beautifully steamed cappuccino poured to perfection. Not to mention the space’s quaint, inviting, mosaic atmosphere is a treat in itself. That’s just how it is at Sally Loo’s Wholesome Café—The Best Breakfast in SLO County. With extensive breakfast and lunch menus, Sally Loo’s has you covered for something fresh, sweet, refreshing, or all of the above. Do yourself a favor and check it out at 1804 Osos St. daily from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
—Libbey Hanson
Best Weekend Brunch
Lido Restaurant & Lounge
2727 Shell Beach Road, Pismo Beach
(805) 773-8900
Best Family-Friendly Restaurant
Klondike Pizza
104 Bridge St., Arroyo Grande
(805) 481-5288
Best Place to go on a First Date
Novo Restaurant & Lounge
726 Higuera St., SLO
(805) 543-3986
Best Outdoor Dining
Novo Restaurant & Lounge
726 Higuera St., SLO
(805) 543-3986
Tree limbs stretch high above the outdoor tables, providing shade by day. At night, the same branches, wrapped in warm lights, create a cozy ambiance for evening dinners. With the creek right below, people dining at Novo Restaurant & Lounge can enjoy dishes from around the world with a view. If you’re planning a first date, Novo is the place to book because of its variety of food options, ranging from Korean short ribs to mushroom beef risotto. Not to mention, if you’re unsure of your date’s dietary needs, Novo has vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free options. If a dinner date seems too formal, wait until Sunday to go to brunch or maybe catch a late lunch any day of the week. While you’re there, don’t forget to check out the drink menu for wines, beers, spirits, craft cocktails, and house-made nonalcoholic sodas.
—Emma Montalbano
Best Chinese Food
Mei’s Chinese Restaurant
1759 Shell Beach Road, Shell Beach
(805) 773-2908
Best Indian Food
Shalimar
3820 Broad St., SLO
(805) 781-0766
Best Italian Food
Giuseppe’s Cucina Rustica
891 Price St., Pismo Beach
849 Monterey St., SLO
(805) 773-2870
Best Japanese Food
Goshi
570 Higuera St., suite 155, SLO
772 Pine St., Paso Robles
(805) 543-8942
Best Mediterranean Food
Petra Mediterranean Pizza & Grill
1210 Higuera St., SLO
(805) 439-1999
Best Mexican Food
Taqueria El Guero
SLO, Grover Beach, Pismo Beach
(805) 904-0104
Best Thai Food
Thai Boat
3212 Broad St., No. 140, SLO
(805) 594-1638
Best Seafood
Lure Fish House
1101 Monterey St., SLO
(805) 586-1356
Best Sushi
Goshi
570 Higuera St., suite 155, SLO
772 Pine St., Paso Robles
(805) 543-8942
Best Poke
Pokirito
848 Foothill Blvd., SLO
(805) 439-2541
Best Barbecue
Old SLO BBQ Co.
670 Higuera St., SLO
3870-3 Broad St., SLO
(805) 285-2473
Best Vegan Food
Ziggy’s
594 California Blvd., SLO
1227 Pine St., Paso Robles
(805) 439-4399
Best Vegetarian Food
Ziggy’s
594 California Blvd., SLO
1227 Pine St., Paso Robles
(805) 439-4399
Best Food Truck
Taqueria El Guero
SLO, Grover Beach, Pismo Beach
(805) 904-0104
Best Chef
Garrett Morris - Sichuan Kitchen SLO
977 Foothill Boulevard, SLO
(805) 888-7752
facebook.com/profile.php?id=100076593596132
Best Caterer
TASTE! Craft Eatery
2900 Broad St., SLO
810 11th St., Paso Robles
(805) 200-2978
Best Butcher
Arroyo Grande Meat Company
120 E. Branch St., Arroyo Grande
(805) 489-2693
Best Fish Market
Giovanni’s Fish Market and Galley
1001 Front St., Morro Bay
(805) 772-2025
facebook.com/GiovannisFishMarket
Best Burrito
Taqueria El Guero
SLO, Grover Beach, Pismo Beach
(805) 904-0104
Best Breakfast Burrito
Lincoln Market & Deli
496 Broad St., SLO
(805) 543-3443
facebook.com/LincolnMarketandDeli
Best Taco
Taqueria El Guero
SLO, Grover Beach, Pismo Beach
(805) 904-0104
Best Burger
Sylvester’s Burgers
Los Osos, Atascadero, Oceano
facebook.com/sylvesters.burger
Best French Fries
Firestone Grill
1001 Higuera St., SLO
(805) 783-1001
Best Sandwich
High Street Deli
350 High St., SLO
1326 Second St., Los Osos
(805) 541-4738
I can’t imagine capping off a swim in the ocean on a sunny beach day in SLO County without a sandwich, and High Street Deli delivers. The almost 100-year-old market and deli evolved from carrying essentials like milk, chewing tobacco, and fishing gear to the famed sandwich joint that draws in locals and tourists alike. Avoid the lunch rush and order tried-and-true hits like Dutch Punch, turkey pesto, Highzenburger, and Beef Dip Doobie Style online. But you can save your wallet and curb your High Street craving, if you drop in at 4:20 p.m. when the price drops to $8.50 a sandwich. The offer runs until 5:30 p.m. For more of a kick, you can ask to make your sandos “stoney"—sandwich makers will load your orders with the extra ingredients of their choice. SLO visitors can also admire the iconic Eskimo Pie mural on the outer wall on the side of the shop. Check out High Street Deli’s Baywood Park location for the exclusive burger sando menu.
—Bulbul Rajagopal
Best Steak
Jocko’s Steakhouse
125 N. Thompson Ave., Nipomo
(805) 929-3686
Best Hot Chicken
Dave’s Hot Chicken
299 Madonna Road, SLO
(805) 706-0600
Best Pizza
My Friend Mike’s
2324 Broad St., SLO
(805) 464-6438
Best Wood-Fired Pizza
Flour House
690 Higuera St., SLO
(805) 544-5282
facebook.com/Flour-House-SLO-1103189849695534
Best Salad
Firestone Grill
1001 Higuera St., SLO
(805) 783-1001
Best Chowder
Splash Café
197 Pomeroy Ave., Pismo Beach
(805) 773-4653
facebook.com/SplashCafeChowder
Best Ramen
Raku Ramen
799 E. Foothill Blvd., suite A, SLO
(805) 439-3088
Best Fish & Chips
Splash Café
197 Pomeroy Ave., Pismo Beach
(805) 773-4653
facebook.com/SplashCafeChowder
Best Mac & Cheese
Black Sheep Bar & Grill
1117 Chorro St., SLO
(805) 544-7433
Best Ice Cream
McConnell’s Fine Ice Creams
868 Monterey St., SLO
(805) 439-5055
facebook.com/mcconnells.icecream
Best Froyo
SLO Froyo n’ Italian Ice
956 Higuera St., SLO
(805) 437-0166
facebook.com/profile.php?id=100073203202519
Best Doughnut
SloDoCo
Atascadero, SLO (two locations)
(805) 782-9766
Best Dessert
Madonna Inn
100 Madonna Road, SLO
(805) 543-3000
While walking into the Madonna Inn can be an experience in itself, nothing tops sinking into one of the padded, spinning coffee bar chairs at the Copper Cafe and indulging in a slice of Pink Champagne cake the size of your face. Now, if cake doesn’t tickle your fancy, the menu includes several pie options from banana cream to cherry, as well as options for milkshakes and sundaes. Diners can order dessert from those pink bar chairs or straight from their table at the Madonna Inn Copper Cafe or Alex Madonna’s Gold Rush Steak House. Whether you’re craving some color and nostalgia or just something sugary, dessert at the Madonna Inn is a sweet memory in the making.
—Emma Montalbano
Best Pie
Linn’s Easy As Pie Cafe
4251 Bridge St., Cambria
(805) 924-3050
facebook.com/linnseasyaspiecafe
Best Bread
Bread Bike Bakery
2060 Parker St., SLO
(805) 242-1588
Best Bakery
Bread Bike Bakery
2060 Parker St., SLO
(805) 242-1588
Best Olive Oil
SLO Olive
958 Higuera St., SLO
(805) 439-2455
