87623 Wed Jul 06 19:15:13 -0700 2005 6 3 California 0 483108 We are chowhounds from NYC and are moving to SLO. Can anyone provide a brief orientation to the best of San Luis Obispo (and what to avoid?!) Thanks!!! Wed Jul 06 19:15:13 -0700 2005 0 snappycat 1 483114 I live in SLO and love it but it's not a food mecca by any means. There are, however some good places to eat and many excellent wineries. Casual Dining: Big Sky Cafe-serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. The food is good and somewhat innovative. They also have a good selection of wines by the glass. Jaffa Cafe-sort of a Middle-Eastern deli. I enjoy it for lunch. Firestone Grill-very popular with students because it's quite inexpensive. The burgers and tri-tip sandwiches are good. Del Monte Cafe-a "locals" hangout. Best for breakfast. A little more upscale: Novo-A pleasant place with a nice patio. The food is "fusion" with an Asian accent. They serve a good variety of small plates. Bueno Tavola-probably the best Italian in town. They also have a nice patio. Fandango-Basque/French food. It can be hit or miss but I usually enjoy it there. Panolivo-French bakery/cafe. They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. Another hit or miss place IMO. Upscale: The Park-Probably overall SLO's best restaurant. They describe the cuisine as "California rustic". Markets/delis: New Frontiers-mostly organic produce, some prepared foods and very good meat selection. The closest thing we have to Whole Foods (and it's really not close at all). Muzio's-Italian deli with very good sandwiches and a decent cheese selection. High Street Deli-good sandwiches Utopia Bakery-Dutch-owned bakery with some fairly good breads and pastries. Cakery-Nice baked goods, breads and sandwiches Trader Joe's-interesting selection of fresh and frozen food, much of it is organic. They also have a good wine selection and good prices. There are also some good restaurants in other parts of the county, but this will get you started in SLO. Wed Jul 06 20:27:54 -0700 2005 483108 0 SGB 2 483115 Thanks! This is a great list to start us off! I appreciate your efforts. Wed Jul 06 20:41:58 -0700 2005 483114 0 snappycat 3 483116 One place we enjoy going is south of SLO by just a few minutes, the Avila Valley Barn. We drive up from Los Olivos to see the animals, take the tractor ride to pick peaches- or whatever else they are pickin'. And we buy a farm (made there)pie, scones, fresh fruits and so much good food product, all in a open air barn. If we do this trip on a friday- we go on into Avila and the Port San Luis Pier and hit the fish farmers market. They have a daily tank market on the pier, but this is more fun. Wed Jul 06 20:52:22 -0700 2005 483115 0 JalamaMama 4 483118 I forgot to mention the Avila Barn. It's one of my favorites too. Also, I forgot to mention the Thursday night Farmers Market in downtown SLO which is lots of fun. There is also a Farmers Market on Saturday morning in a parking lot on Madonna Road which has some very good vendors. Wed Jul 06 21:28:48 -0700 2005 483116 0 SGB 5 483140 I second most of those choices, SGB -- we especially like the Park, Novo and Big Sky. And I loved my quiche at the new SLO branch of Panolivo the other day, so all the times I've visited of them it's been a "hit." I know, it's not a culinary mecca, but for this former midwesterner it's been a delight to experience California cuisine! I would add... Popolo, for lunch, wonderful roast chicken and salads. Splash Cafe, good clam chowder (wonderful in a bread bowl, totally sinful) and I like their goat cheese/shrimp/pine nut/pesto pizza. Delish. Le Ciel Crepe Cafe, south of town. Inventive crepes, well made food. Mission Grill. Nothing creative, but good food. Same for Mother's Tavern, to a lesser degree. I like their salads, amazingly. Yanagi Sushi and Tsurugi for sushi. Both very good. Oasis -- I was there once and loved my couscous, and I like the Indian food at Jewel of India. Woodstocks for pizza. Or Nuccis. Guiseppe's in Pismo is my favorite Italian and they're opening a spot in SLO. I am really looking forward to it. To avoid, IMHO: F Mclintocks. Most chains. Tortilla Flats. Sakura. Upper Crust Trattoria. Gus' Grocery. Grappolo (except the bar downstairs). Mo's BBQ. Almost all Mexican except Pepe Delgados, which is OK. The Quarterdeck. Marti's. The Black Sheep. House of Bread (go to Utopia for bakery stuff). Corner View Restaurant (boring, overpriced). Cafe Roma (go to Buona Tavola instead). The Shack. Fri Jul 08 01:56:17 -0700 2005 483118 0 SLOLindsay 6 483150 Don't forget Old Country Deli for ribs, tri tip sandwiches and linguica. I wouldn't completely rule out Mo's BBQ. The pulled pork sandwich with slaw is pretty good. The beans are lame though. Not sure about the ribs as I've only had them at farmer's market and found them mediocre. Fri Jul 08 18:18:42 -0700 2005 483140 0 go dvls