Originally Posted by
Dan Druff
Didn't realize Chumash was that close to you.
What are some good restaurants in Santa Ynez/Solvang?
I drive through that area several times per year, and would probably stop to eat there more often if I knew what was good.
For Italian I recommend
Trattoria Grappolo.
Willows inside the casino is actually pretty good but overpriced, dinner for 2 is easily $150+
The Vineyard House is a decent place built in an old victorian house, food has always been good and very reasonably priced. Usually they have a dinner for 2 special that included 2 entrees, an appetizer, dessert and a bottle of wine from a local winery for $50.
Root 242
is also an excellent choice. It is actually owned by the casino but is located in Solvang. It is run by famed celebrity chef Bradley Ogden. On the way to the casino is also a great little local grocery store / deli that makes great food. It's called the Los Olivos Grocery. My favorite is the Cachuma Chicken sandwich. It's a grilled chicken breast on toasted sourdough with fresh avocado, tomatos, lettuce, jack cheese, mayo and pepperoncinis. If you continue north on the 101, stopping for a steak at
Jocko's in Nipomo is definitely recommended. Nothing fancy ....just damn good steaks. You can get a 18 ounce Spencer cut (ribeye on the bone) for about $25. The place looks like a dive, but has the best Santa Maria style BBQ on the Central Coast. Everything is cooked over an open flame of red oak.
If you are wine drinker, you would probably enjoy staying over for a night or two and visiting some of the wineries. The movie Sideways was filmed around here.