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Patrick's Side Street Cafe - CLOSED
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
60 reviews for Patrick's Side Street Cafe
Review Highlights
"...is exceptional, grilled romaine salad, cheese bowl."
(in 5 reviews)
"...a long, beautiful, relaxing day of wine tasting with my..."
(in 3 reviews)
"...has the Winemaker's Lunch (port soaked mission figs, pate..."
(in 3 reviews)
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60 reviews in English
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Review from Richard K.
Manhattan Beach, CA
Updated - 10/9/2011
Sorry you are closed Patrick. The Harvest Festival weekend was not the same without starting it at your place.
Good luck.2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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10/10/2009
Had dinner here last night, and once again - spectacular! We had a large group (12) of people, and… Read more »
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Review from Robert F.
11/15/2010
My wife and I have been coming here for years as we taste the valley and in Los Olivos. We have never been disappointed with the food, which is what most matters when you go out to eat. I recommend the little neck clams, the pork chop, and the wienerschnitzel which I have had as a special.
We find Patrick to be one of the most interesting characters we have met. He has been friendly, funny and charming. Some of you must be either overly snobby, overly sensitive, or lacking a sense of humor.
We will be heading up in a few weeks, and this will be a definite stop as usual. And we will be glad you wont be there. -
Review from Shelly F.
12/26/2010
Went for lunch with my parents and daughter, it was cute and rather nondescript. I was a bit surprised that the owner allowed dogs in the dining room. The owner/chef has an adorable pit bull who is sweet as pie, but my dad was attacked by a large dog years ago and was very anxious about the freedom the dog had in the dining room.
Another patron also brought in a dog who sat at the table with them... This is just strange to me and I have 2 dog.
On to the food, I ordered the crab salad along with the coconut cabbage soup. Both wonderful, my daughter enjoyed the hearts of romaine salad, and it was yummy as well, it was slightly wilted and the cheese melted into the dressing, this was a divine combination. As good as the food was, I did not think it was worth the $60 with tip bill. Did I mention we drank water only. My parents enjoyed a pastrami sandwich, which was pretty thin and average in flavor. No way near worth the $17 price per sandwich. My parents left hungry.Listed in: California
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Review from Wil F.
Los Olivos, CA
1/20/2011
I'm a dog lover, but the owner lets his two dogs roam the area around the restaurant and allows the dogs in the dining room. Pit Bulls are not all the same, but to have one of them roaming freely around town isn't safe or fair to other people walking their dogs in the neighborhood.
Patrick, the owner is definitely the "alpha male" on the property and makes sure everyone knows it. As you'll read on many reviews here on Yelp, he's rubbed many patrons the wrong way. I can understand why.
I've only eaten here once and have no desire to return, more because of the service and "we can do no wrong" attitude, but the food really isn't anything to talk about.
I heard that he recently had to close up shop. I don't know if this is true, but if so, I wouldn't be surprised. Focus on catering to your customers next time around, Patrick! -
Review from Vassi I.
Los Angeles, CA
7/25/2010
I think I mostly adore Patrick's Side Street Cafe because of well, Patrick himself--the owner, the chef, the visionary.
I came to Patrick's after a long, beautiful, relaxing day of wine tasting with my family in Los Olivos. We heard about this place from a family friend who swore it was the most fun she's had at a restaurant and that again, was a result of Patrick himself. So, we went.
Don't get me wrong, the food here is really very lovely. The cheese bowl, the warm duck roasted salad, the prime rib--all of it was delicious. But Patrick made my night. He schmoozed and joked and laughed with each table. When I was uncertain of what entree to order, he asked me what my three top picks were. When I told him he ran back to his exposed kitchen, put together a few plates, came back to my table, grabbed my hand, and brought me into his kitchen to try bites of each entree I was contemplating. It was marvelous!
Patrick is an outspoken, no b.s., borderline crass, aggressive, hilarious and charming character. He might offend some customers, but he also might win you over like he did with me and my family. We drank wine with him, talked food with him, and ate until our hearts and stomachs were content as can be.
It was the perfect end to our day in Los Olivos and I will look back on that dining experience fondly! -
Review from Ben M.
Los Angeles, CA
7/31/2010
Holy crap. I've been to all sorts of restaurants -- from 5 star haute cusine to greasy hole-in-the-wall shacks in the middle of nowhere. I've never had an experience like the one I had at Patrick's. And I mean that in the worst possible way.
Here's the deal. I went to lunch at Patricks, and while our waitress was lovely, she totally forgot our drinks. Don't worry, I'm not THAT petty. I wouldn't dock a restaurant all its stars for something minor like that. Nevertheless, after thirty minutes, she resurfaced (we were in the back patio and thus forgotten) at which point my parents complained about the lack of drinks or starters.
The waitress was very apologetic and said she had completely forgotten. She immediately brought us out our drinks. Certainly it was an oversight on her part, but she rectified the situation, and all was well. Two minutes layer, however, the titular Patrick arrived and asked how everything was. My dad said it had been okay. Just okay? Patrick was shocked. Why was it just okay? My father replied that we'd had to wait practically half an hour for our drinks.
"it's a busy restaurant," Patrick replied.
I forget what my dad said, but it was something along the lines of "So?"
"You ever run a restaurant?" Patrick then asked.
"No," said my dad, not willing to take any attitude. "But I've eaten in many."
"Are you the owner?" my mom then asked.
"No," he said. This surprised us. What sort of employee would go off on patrons like this?
Patrick then moseyed off and returned five minutes later.
"I just checked the computer. You weren't waiting that long." (Never mind the fact that when we placed our drink order and when it was entered into the computer could have been two completely different times, not that it even mattered at this point).
"It felt long to us," said my dad.
"You think I give a shit?" he responded. Omg. I could NOT believe this was happening. What sort of bizarro Wild West saloon had we walked into?
"You think I care if you do?" replied my dad, who was more than happy to give back whatever Patrick was throwing his way. This was beyond insane in so many ways.
At this point, Patrick walked away and then bellowed out over the entire patio of diners "So, you'll never eat in this restaurant again, and we won't have you."
Craziness. And then the coup de grace:
Patrick then announced, "The employees all voted, and you are the MEANEST PEOPLE IN THIS RESTAURANT."
"Then my job here is done," remarked my dad, who was now quietly happy to have gotten under this guy's skin.
Patrick left, and the waitress soon returned with our food.
"Who was that man?" my mom asked.
"Oh, he's the owner," she said. This left us all scratching our heads. The guy was so sensitive that we would DEIGN to open our mouths that our drinks were so late, but when confronted, he pretended like he wasn't the owner? Kind of ridiculous.
Truth be told the food was good, and had Patrick not come out and made such a scene, we would have thought "okay, the waitress was inattentive at first, but she got her act together and the food was nice." Ultimately though, he was such an ass that he ruined the whole thing. Maybe if you're a Michelin star winning chef you can pull that attitude, but when you own a lunch spot in the middle of nowhere, it's a bit ridiculous.
Look, my parents aren't these gauche restaurant boors who raise hell when their every whim isn't catered to. However, the wait for the drinks was quite long, and there was no reason to literally strut out to us and pick a fight. It was so bizarre I almost should give this place five stars for giving me a golden story to tell to friends.
Caveat emptor!
Nice food but not worth the drama. -
Review from Bruce B.
Calabasas, CA
6/27/2010
follow your nose.
I parked my car and started walking around Los Olivos, I always called this town "Mayberry" it just looks like it. Anyway... this place has changed... maybe it was the film "sideways" but the town is now full of wine tasting shops, like every other storefront... I digress.
The smell of meat cooking over Santa Maria Red Oak caught me from the intersection... I saw the wispy blue to the west and headed over. I took a look at the proper Santa Maria Grill with the many Tri-Tips cooking about 18" off the red oak embers and knew we had a grillmaster on hand!
Upon entering the restaurant I could see it was not a bbq joint, but a nicer eating establishment fitting to the wine industry that is now Los Olivos. I requested a seat outside on this perfect summer day and waited for a menu. It had salads... other stuff.... but not the tri-tip that drew me in. Finally the waitress went over the specials and offered chicken or "st louis style ribs" 1/2 or full rack... I ordered a 1/2 and a Negro Modelo and enjoyed the bread and butter she left behind.
I love bbq, and I must say this place made some of the best ribs I have ever had. really. 1/2 rack was $23. on the expensive side but worth it.
the Negro Modelo was only $3.
I hope to visit again to enjoy some wine and other dishes from this gem of "Mayberry" -
Review from Augusta S.
Costa Mesa, CA
3/15/2010
Knowing full well we should have a little substance in our bellies before hitting up wine tastings, we found ourselves at Patrick's Side Street Café, a cozy eatery at the far corner of Alamo Pintado Ave in Los Olivos.
The restaurant itself definitely has a quaint charm to it... I love open concept where you can see executive chef, sous-chefs, chef de partie, etc diligently working together to create something grand... tables are covered in white cloths, and local artwork hangs on the walls. It's always in towns like Los Olivos that you find creativity and eccentricity are in unison. That goes without saying at the Side Street Café...
We wanted to keep lunch somewhat light in anticipation for dinner reservations that evening... and also save room for the tastings we were about to partake in.
I will say, it was a little off putting that Chef Patrick did not want to seat anyone until his kitchen caught up with orders. We stood there.... Watching in amazement as four tables sat empty... why it was an issue to actually seat us, rather than having us stand by the restroom was kind of a bummer... we could have taken that time to peruse the menu and perhaps have something to drink... but no... the chef prefers his patrons stand and wait until his kitchen staff is caught up in the back. After 15-20 minutes we were finally seated.
I ordered the Wine Maker's Lunch - which consisted of house made pâté, chef's choice of cheese, port-soaked figs, glazed pecans, and freshly sliced bread. The pâté was just ok... it wasn't as soft as I prefer and the flavor was just ok... the chef's choice of cheese was variety of blue and actually quite nice. It was sharp and yes, pungent. It paired nicely with the pâté... but again I found the pâté to just be aiiight, not out of this world...it was minced, but I could still taste a separation of ingredients. The port soaked figs were the appurtenance that held the entire dish together. I enjoyed the glazed pecans... they were more or less coated in cinnamon and tasted like a churro, sans the deep fry.
I was more impressed with what my BF and friends ordered. The BF had the Hearts of Romaine salad; a large romaine heart sautéed in garlic olive oil on top of a warm gorgonzola cream sauce. That sauce was outstanding. Very smoky in flavor and complimented the garlic olive oil and lettuce perfectly. The few bites I managed to steal were delicious.
My friends split the Panini sandwich and salad... the Panini they ordered was the special for the day... our waitress informed us Chef Patrick recently acquired a Panini press and was having fun coming up with new Panini creations. Their sandwich was filled with Italian deli meats, two cheeses, and grilled onions... the bread was dusted in parmesan and pressed. I had a bite and thought it was quite good.
I wouldn't mind coming back here... and trying something else. Perhaps breakfast next time... to beat the rush and hopefully grab a seat immediately. -
Review from Liz O.
3/14/2010
I first met chef/owner, Patrick, as we tried to complete our wine tasting at the neighboring Andrew Murray wine shop. He was enthusiastically demonstrating a Lion's Mane fungus, which he carried in his breast pocket. He ranted and raved about how this "mushroom" was so rare and precious -- blaring out how he couldn't wait to cook with it.
He even let us inspect and smell it...smelling fungus is usually pointless as they often do not smell or do not smell pleasant. it didn't look like something I would ever want to try, but then again, I am hardly the adventurous eater. I am sure if this chef / owner of Patrick's Side Street Cafe, which is revered as one of the best restaurants in Los Olivos (award winning as well), made a dish using the lion's man fungus, I would be inclined to try it out. Plus, this guy was extremely boisterous and his personality was eccentric and unconventional.
I was only intrigued to try his food even more.
The restaurant itself is very quaint -- and often times, a full house. The wait can be a little discouraging, however, many stand around and endure the painful 30min - 1hr wait just to eat here. This was my first time making it INSIDE, so I was definitely eager to try out a specialty plate. That is, until i saw the food prices.
The average plate on the lunch menu ranges between $14 - $25. Including the salads. Now, this is definitely not cheap eats, but the signature dishes lure you in. Our wait was probably about 15 minutes or so -- seemed longer considering there weren't many people occupying tables inside the restaurant. But we heard the kitchen fell behind and so the chef put a halt on the seating.
This was a little unnerving considering we could have easily sat at a table with a cold glass of water and some bread. instead, they coral the patrons in the back area where the bathroom is, creating a cluster fuck for those who want to relieve themselves. i don't know about you, but hangin' out by the toilet doesn't really do much to curve the hunger pains.
After about 15 minutes, we were finally seated. Water came quickly and our orders were taken within minutes. I observed the food portions and for the price, these dishes were definitely huge. But was the food worth it?
I ordered a Parmesan crusted Baguette panini with Italian deli meats, cheese and sweet grilled onion. The panini was delicious; the Parmesan crusted bread was crunchy at first bite, then soft. The meat was not greasy or oily, not even the melted cheese gave off any signs of grease. My panini came with a mixed salad topped with spicy cilantro dressing. Very light with subtle hints of spice.
i actually split my dish with my BF as we were trying to keep it light before our main dinner at the Ballard Inn. My friends also kept it light;
Sauteed Hearts of Romaine with olive oil and garlic topped with a warm Gorgonzola cream sauce and balsamic syrup.
Winemaker's Lunch - homemade pate, choice of cheese, glaze pecans and port soaked figs served with bread.
Overall, i thought our light lunch was decent. However, I must mention this in my review; (granted, I should have brought this discovery to the attention of the waitress and even Patrick himself) as i was digging into the latter part of my panini, I found a blond hair embedded in the cheese. It wasn't like an airborne hair just landed on my sandwich...it was pressed and grilled in the cheese. I pulled it out and sure enough...That certainly ruined my lunch -- but had I not noticed it, it would have been a delightful meal. Hair is harmless, sure. But it's also disgusting. And if i wanted hair in my food, I would have plucked one of mine instead.
There probably won't be a next time at this place -- it's just too crowded, too pricey, and too hairy. -
Review from Maya A.
Glendale, CA
7/26/2010
My husband and I always make it a point to eat at Patrick's Side Street Cafe every time we're in Los Olivos or vicinity.
Patrick knows exactly what he's doing as far as cooking!
We've never had a bad experience with Patrick himself. Yes he's a bit eccentric def not boring which he expresses through his food.
When I go to a restaurant, my main goal isn't to become best friends with the chef/owner and his employees, but to eat, and when I go to Patrick's I eat great food! -
Review from Lois M.
4/26/2010
Hubby and I travel once a year up to SYV for wine buying/tasting. Our first stop is always Patrick's for lunch. This weekend was our fifth visit. So, let's address the "Patrick" issue first.
Folks - He doesn't care what you think of him as a person. You are there to enjoy his food. Come on! It's Los Olivos. A town of less than 4,000 characters - many of whom seem to plant themselves in the restaurant and enjoy shooting the breeze with Patrick. Is Patrick rude? Has never been to us. Is he a schmoozer? Depends on what you define as schmoozing. He's one of the few luncheon places in town unless you want to go to the panini franchise down the street. Patrick is more than willing to answer questions, share a recipe, and to let you know what's good today. He is not interested in being your best friend - you are a tourist passing through his town. Remember - you are treated in the manner you treat others. Come in with a big-town-attitude-look-down-on-country-hicks behavior, and you'll be treated like an outsider.
Prices? Once again - pretty darn reasonable considering the quality and quantity. And, being where he is, it's a good guess that there is a lot of shipping expenses associated with getting the ingredients for his specials. We always start with the warm duck salad with napa cabbage, julienned daikon and carrots. The hazelnut vinegrette is so light and perfect. Hubby went for the crab panini. It was huge. Now, the only minus dish for the weekend was the wine taster's plate. I think Patrick had a very off day for the liver spread. It's not a pate - it's a spread, and this trip's version was very runny. The cheese selections, however, were excellent.
Did I mention the bread and dipping oil that comes at the start of the meal? He makes a great dipping sauce that has a sweetness running through it (citrus?). You can get quite full on this.
So, for those of you that were turned off by Patrick's 'charm' or lack thereof: you don't have to eat here. Go back or continue on to Solvang (depending on which direction you came from) and go into one of the tourist restaurants (many of them owned/run by the Chumash tribe) and enjoy tourist food. There is also a Subway there for those of you that are complaining about the price. For those that have never been, and find yourself with time to enjoy an unhurried meal in Los Olivos, do try this place. Have the glass of wine and listen in on the rather opinionated conversations taking place between Patrick, the workers, and the locals that park themselves at the bar and front table.
Oh, and be nice to Lucille. I'm no animal lover, and have a hard time dining in places with dogs, but there is something about Patrick's that makes it all seem right. -
Review from Archie R.
5/5/2009
Wanting to "hide the salami" one last time this past weekend, I opted for the "torpedo sandwich" at Patrick's.
The torpedo is a monument to all things meat and contains salami, pastrami, ham, turkey with mozzarella and tomato all toasted up nicely ala Quiznos.
Just the sight of this monolith on the menu made my "about to be clogged" heart flutter with giddy anticipation.
With mouth watering and eyes wide open, I take my first bite only to realize that the sandwich doesn't want to let go.
Has the sandwich decided to bite me back?
(don't laugh, it's happened before)
Nope, it was the outer skin left on the salami that was 1/2 in my mouth and 1/2 attached to the sandwich.
Yeah, super fun.
Now repeat until the sandwich is done.
The sandwich was delicious but it was killed by lingering pig parts.
Not to be missed is the cilantro dressing on the salad.
Casing. -
Review from Marco I.
Goleta, CA
2/7/2008
OK- so yeah Patrick can be a little rough to deal with at times and can certainly get on the wrong side of a few people. To me, that's just part of the charm of this place.
The wife and I typically try and sit up at the bar to get a good view of what is being cooked, and to hear what all the servers and especially Patrick are talking about- you are in such close proximity that you can often get brought into the conversation, and on occasion maybe help taste out a new dish or even a new wine he is pouring- one time he even gave us half of the bottle of Bordeaux he was drinking when he wanted to switch to white - wife was allowed to take a big slice of cheese from a wheel that was at the bar next to her that she was practically drooling over
Sure maybe he is drinking a bit as he works, so what. He is a great help when you ask about recommendations for food, wine, or who is tasting well in the valley. Not to mention an amazing chef.
The food here is simply amazing- we have had most of what is available on the menu and not once have been disappointed.Listed in: Top Restaurants
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Review from Daddy O.
Long Beach, CA
12/27/2009 2 photos
We had such high hopes, what a disappointment! If I'm going to spend $40 on two small lunch plates, the food had darn well be good, if not spectacular. Also of note, they do not take reservations, the seating is first come first served.
Backstory: My wife and I frequently make the drive up and down the 101 from Santa Cruz to LA. We've tried different pit stop restaurants along the way and have largely been disappointed. For the first time ever, we decided to make our pit stop in Los Olivos. As we were pretty hungry but on a moderate budget, we wandered around the town a bit and stumbled upon Patrick's. The menu is really what enticed us.
So we enter. Every table is full. This is at 2:00 on a Sunday. Good sign, I'd suppose. No hostess to seat us. We look around some. Admire the ceiling a bit. Is that crown molding up there? Was that window crooked? Tick tock...still no hostess. We wander up to the bar, where there are two seats, hoping to seat ourselves. We look around sheepishly to make sure it's okay. Still nothing. Finally after about 5 minutes we're acknowledged. The waitress tells us that the chef is seating people personally. Okay, sure.
We get our table and order. I get the Torpedo Sandwich with salad & hazelnut vinaigrette, she has the Winemaker's Lunch (port soaked mission figs, pate, goat cheese, bread). No problems here on out. We chat with a neighboring table about Fred Savage. Then, the food arrives. Disappointing is an understatement.
Wife's plate had 4 minuscule morsels of cold untoasted bread, chopped liver, some candied pecans, goat cheese, and some super boozy figs. The "pate" was really a mousse of liver, and the bread lasted about 4 bites. My salad was drowning in the dressing. Inedible. The sandwich, while flavorful, was essentially stacked high with meat and nothing else on a soggy kaiser roll. Somehow this was the highlight of our lunch. It gets better though. In my salad, was a big soggy piece of receipt paper. Lucky I hadn't touched much of my salad, or I might have eaten it.
So all this seems pretty grim, right? Well, no problem, in swoops our server to make everything swell. Only. Not so much. Our server all but disappeared. We spent what felt like an eternity trying to make eye contact with the wait staff, bus person, and the chef (who was wandering around shmoozing with customers and drinking wine instead of maybe, you know, running his kitchen).
Finally our server showed up. We asked for some more cold stale bread so we could finish the cheese and liver on the plate. And we mentioned the plucked piece of paper from my plate. Our server didn't seem surprised, and said something along the lines of "oh, looks like some receipt paper got mixed into your salad, I'll let Patrick know." Instead, she just scurried off without a word to anyone else.
I don't mind paying top dollar for high quality ingredients. I don't even mind if there are mishaps along the way as long as they're addressed. But to spend almost $20 each only to be served mediocre food and be ignored, even by the sociable chef, was too much. We'll never return. -
Review from Steve P.
Camarillo, CA
Updated - 4/11/2010
For God's sake what is with all the low star raters. Their main issue is with the owner. This makes Yelp not what it should be. Knock it off!
I base my ideas of a decent restaurant on my own observances, which in my case, have been extensive to say the least. I know good food and I darn well know good wine. So...
1. Is the food good enough to compare with the price asked?
Patrick's Side Street Cafe is excellent. Wanna know why? When I first went to this absolutely great place, I ordered the Prime Rib. It was excellent. I then went on a Thursday night the next week and ordered the Rib Eye. It was excellent. I then went the following Sunday at 5:45 pm I had the Prime Rib. Again the best I have EVER had ...BAR NONE HANDS DOWN THE BEST. The wife had Trout. The best she ever had. We fought over her last piece.
I have been on a Saturday, Friday, Sunday, Wednesday over a ten week try at all varying hours of operation. " Come on, I thought. There has got to be a time that it fails or the bad thing happens that these other "reviewers" had experienced."
I mean come on...We aren't popular. We don't brown nose and neither does this restaurant, but it just can't be consistently excellent. Regardless of singing or quietness, and I have been there when we were the only ones in the place, and other times when we had to wait to be seated in a noisy, packed, atmosphere, so one has to face facts...
But excellent every time? I mean ...Come on, It can't be true.
Oh yes it can...Over 20 visits spanning every conceivable hour and day that they served dinner the food was OUT "F"ing STANDING.
2. Is the server (hired help) nice?
Oh really...Come on...They are people. Sometimes people do and act like human beings. Sometimes people can make a mistake or appear that they don't care. Why don't you cry babies go work as a dishwasher sometime. Try looking at things differently next time and I bet the things you look at, will indeed change. In other words...Get over it and get over yourselves for God's sake!. Walk into Patricks and wait to be seated. They aren't Dennys. They get busy. They are human.
Is there room for improvement? There always is, but....
Now I was really thinking..."Ok, ok....So Patrick acts the way he does." He has been trite with me on occasion. But why am I there? I am there to eat damn it , not to be kissed and have wind blown up my ass! He talks to his customers instead of getting in the way of the hired staff that he pays to do their job. At least this place lets you see full (heads on) into the kitchen. That aspect right there blows the other establishments out of the running. So what if he jokes and talks to his friends? He likes what he does. I think these other reviewers were just peeved that they did not get to know Patrick. After getting to know him I can honestly say that the guy has a really big heart. What he thinks of me, quite honestly, I do not care. Los Olivos should be honored he hangs his hat there.
As for dog issue? if you don't like dogs, why on earth did you visit Los Olivos to begin with? I bet you don't understand the love of a dog and if you do have one, for God's sake, give it to someone that will.
Bottom line...
Food Excellent.
Staff... beyond nice.
Owner... He is a person like all the rest of us. Get over it. If you want to eat your meal in peace go to In and Out Burger at 1:00 am. Until then, quite frankly, grow up.
For those that want an outstanding dinner, take my word for it. Try the Prime Rib. You'll thank me for it and probably know you want your portrait done by me because of my ability to know good food and damn good art as well.
Try forgiveness, it will set you free and peace will be at your doorstep.
S and N1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/11/2010
FANTASTIC FOOD
Want to have a real dining experience? Go to Patricks Side Street Cafe located in… Read more »
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Review from Nate H.
San Francisco, CA
2/9/2009
I've had two very pleasant experiences at Patrick's, from food, ambiance, and service perspectives.
What really shines is the ambiance and service. Their back-patio is great, and resembles more of a garden than a restaurant. My trips were a while back, but what I can remember is that the food was great, and each time we were greeted by the owner, Patrick. He chatted us up and it was a pleasant experience, you get the feel that you are in the backyard of someone's home and they just happen to have a really great chef living there! I will return on my next trip to Los Olivos.
For those with your gripes....get over it. Yelp is not for when you're looked at wrong by a server, or a chef out back is trying to joke around. If that happens twice at the same place, Yelp about it. But life is too short to overreact about little quips, IMHO. -
Review from Stephanie W.
Venice, CA
12/29/2009
When we saw Patrick walking through town showcasing his rare find, lion's mane mushrooms, we knew we had to try Side Street Cafe. One of the "friendliest" restaurant owners I've met, Patrick invited my girlfriends and I into the kitchen to "ooh", "ahh" and "wowww" his new treasure.
Side Street Cafe serves up big, big portions. We split the delicious, hearty mushroom appetizer (served over creamy, savory polenta), soup, 2 entrees and had plenty leftover.
The sweet potato with cumin soup was heaven in a cup. Creamy, rich, smokey flavored sweet potato that got tastier and tastier with each spoonful... perfect for a chilly, winter evening.
My main entree was the rib eye. The cut was double the size of an L.A. steakhouse portion and covered in spicy peppercorn sauce. Accompanied with your choice of potatoes or saffron rice and brussel sprouts.
Sadly, no one had room for dessert, so a return trip is needed to try the chocolate banana, banana cream pie, and Heath creme brulee.
Cozy dining room including bar/counter service and open kitchen. Definitely stop by when you're staying or passing through town. -
Review from Ryan R.
Newbury Park, CA
11/1/2009
This place is an amazing find. We have been here 2 times now and have been blown away with the quality of the service, and he food.
The first time I went, I had the corned beef sandwich (haven never eaten corned beef before).. It was spectacular and even though I was full, I couldn't stop eating it and devoured everything on the plate.
The second time, I had the "Croz" salad.. Absolutely amazing. Im usually not one for salads but we were doing a big wine run and wanted something light. By far this was the best salad I have ever had in my life.
A funny thing happened the first time though... A couple next to us (rather snooty with a man who was so pompous about the wine list) ordered, and the lady got a salad, but she instructed the waiter to have the dressing on the side, none of this, and none of that. A few moments later the head chef came out and asked "why", to which the lady said "its the way i like my salads"... The Chef, neither miffed nor frustrated explained to her that this wasn't Denny's and he was a chef, and that all his plates are hand crafted and meant to taste a certain way.
I thought at first "Wow" but then realized that he was right.. The last thing you want is someone ordering food the way they want it, not liking it, and walking out with a bad experience rather than having them taste the food the way you want it experienced.
Great place, and we found it only by luck after being so frustrated with the line at Los Olivos Cafe, which I will never eat at again.Listed in: Central Coast Wine Tasting
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Review from Jennifer E.
Tucson, AZ
7/3/2010 2 photos
Patrick's is good. They were not busy the day we dropped by and still service was a little slow. We wanted to try a little of every thing on the menu so we decided to get an appetizer and 2 entrees. We ordered the cheese bowl that was made up of all these melted cheeses and served with bread. It was absolutely delicious.
I ordered the chicken poblano and my BFF ordered the pastrami with a side of clam chowder. My chicken was awesome. The red chili sauce that was on the dish was perfect. I eat a lot of mexican food and this sauce was great. I was in love with that dish.
My bff had his sandwich and soup which was really delicious too but I won. My dish was better.
We ordered to glasses of wine which were very expensive.
Our lunch was pricey but good. -
Review from Carol C.
Sacramento, CA
10/16/2009
We had dinner at Patrick's tonight and it was wonderful. Patrick was firing up the wood-burning smoker out front as we arrived, so eating something cooked with this method seemed like the way to go.
We thought about getting the fondue appetizer, but then heard about the heirloom tomato bisque and we all had a round of that instead. It was the best tomato soup any of us have ever had. We're apparently not alone in this line of thought as we heard that it has been featured in Sunset magazine more than once.
After that steaks were calling and we had both the New York strip and the Rib-Eye. Both were amazing and had a wonderful flavor from the smoker.
If you're ever looking for a great diner in Los Olivos, give Patrick's a try. His multiple CIA degrees will make your taste buds very happy! -
Review from james s.
Altadena, CA
1/25/2010 3 photos
We stopped by the Side Street for lunch. It was a warm, sunny day so we chose a table outside in front.
We couldn't have had a better meal. I had a sausage plate, which was perfect. It was a nice mixture of sausages. The salad was made of local greens and was fresh and crisp. I enjoyed a nice glass of white wine from the area.
Our waitress was helpful, friendly and our service was great.
My son enjoyed the dessert where you pick a frozen banana and roll and dip it in chocolate and other goodies.
We enjoyed our meal here and if I am ever in the area again I will seek out another meal here! -
Review from Dan and Tif S.
San Marcos, CA
8/1/2009
I hadn't read any of the previous reviews before having lunch here with my wife recently. I don't think we encountered the owner during our meal, although some of the staff were a little different. Not to feed any fires, but I saw tables of people from lots of backgrounds eating here, and they all seemed to be having a good time.
I thought our food and service was fine. I had a sliced pork sandwich and my wife had a pate and cheese plate. It was pricey but I figured that was just how all the places must be to survive around here. Lunch for two and a couple of drinks was around $60.
They certainly seem to know the definition of a full pour if you're having wine with your meal. -
Review from Courtney S.
Los Angeles, CA
5/15/2007
We really liked Patrick's! Yeah, the rope is weird, and Patrick is a bit of a character. But he was friendly and meant well-- he was really looking out for the customers and when the couple next to us didn't get their food in a timely fashion, he really stepped up to the plate and made sure they got comped.
My food was great! I got the Poblano Chicken and my husband got the trout. The corn cake/polenta with the chicken was fantastic! The trout was done just right. I'd go back. -
Review from Beachgrub M.
Redondo Beach, CA
3/17/2007
Those reviews are from a while back and I have to disagree. I have never been for dinner but gone for lunch about a dozen times. It has always been very nice.
They do the big entree salad thing very well. Interesting sandwich options like roast pork on homemade bread, etc. Usually there are a couple of specials that have been quite nice when I have had them. Good local wines with a large by-the-glass menu with usually some pretty interesting choices you can't find in retail. Much less of a zoo than the Los Olivos Cafe and Wine Emporium around the corner.
What I really enjoy there is that Patrick knows how to run a restaurant. He is always working the room, helping out the staff, generally keeping it moving. I couldn't believe his hustle one busy wine weekend we were there. One of his waitstaff was deep in the weeds and he just dug it all out, held some people at the door until it all came back under control. Nicely done. -
Review from housephiliac h.
West Hollywood, CA
1/30/2009
Yea Patrick is a handfull but it works for me. Great food. Spectacular liver pate. The chickens are great to watch too.
Oh and the pasta sauce he made with tons of Syrah in it the last time i was there was freakin BLAZIN!!!! -
Review from Ella B.
Los Olivos, CA
6/20/2010
love the outdoor patio and the irreverent (owner?) BBQ-ing and singing to the passer-by-ers.
courteous staff and yummy lunch menu of salads, sandwiches, bbq, and pastas.
the prices are a little steep, but it's a great way to start off your day in the Valley.
Dog friendly patio.
Lunch for two was about $42 with tip, $50. -
Review from Jennette B.
Pittsburg, CA
7/17/2010
My husband and I went here because I read they were dog friendly - BUT while I was admiring Patrick's dog he came out of the back kitchen and walked near his dog - when his dog got excited to see him and jumped up he slapped her across the face so hard that she cried out. I was so shocked I just walked back to my table for my own dogs and left immediately. Wow what and ass! Dog Friendly he is NOT!!!
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Review from Brittanny O.
Moorpark, CA
11/27/2010
Mediocre, poorly cooked ribeye + name-calling by the staff = one star.
My friends and I ended a lovely day of wine tasting at Patrick's. My ribeye was gigantic but there was no sear on it and it was underseasoned---not really what I look for in a steak. I would have offered three stars, but we endured an awkward and embarrassing exchange between the owner and his wait staff when the bill came. One of us had hot steak juice spilled on us and two of us didn't eat, yet 20 percent was added after tax, which we disputed. The owner, to his credit, asked if we were OK, but then he dressed down his staff in the dining room. When we left, a server slammed the door in my face and called us all jerks.
I don't think we'll be back.
Edit: The Side Street Cafe's menu online indicates that 18 percent gratuity is added for parties of six or more. I guess that extra 2 percent was the "F-you" fee. Also, my steak was nothing like the one described on their website (no crust, no demi-glaze). -
Review from Austin L.
San Diego, CA
12/2/2010
What a miserable time. Do not spend your money here... You'll be punished for it.
The food was not bad. The cheese bowl was tasty, but the ribeye was unseared and mediocre at best.
The service however, was really bad. Aggressively bad. McDonald's treats their customers better than this.
At the end of my meal, the owner came up to our table and asked if everything was going okay. I told him it was not okay at all. One of the servers had spilled food on my friend's lap (without apologizing!), one of the waitresses was exceptionally rude, and we'd been charged a mandatory gratuity that we did not owe and they did not deserve.
So instead of just fixing the problem, Patrick, the owner, calls our waitress -- the one who had not been rude at all -- over to the table and starts making fun of her and chewing her out while we watched, dumbfounded. It was UNBELIEVABLY awkward.
As we were leaving, the other waitress, the one who didn't get yelled at in front of the customers, called us jerkoffs.
This staff has serious interpersonal issues, and the food (especially at these prices) does not make up for it at all. Do not eat here. -
Review from Kaj HeGe H.
San Francisco, CA
7/31/2010
This is actually 3.5 stars, but since that is not available, giving 3. The place was a very nice surprise, since we did not expect too much there almost at the end of the street. Very nice inside and nice personnel. And both the Paella and the Trout were good. Definitely worth checking out instead of some of the quite sleezy cafes right in the middle of the town.
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Review from Brian W.
Fullerton, CA
8/10/2010
What a waste of time and money.
My wife and I visited this past weekend while we were up visiting Los Olivos for the day. After waiting 20 minutes to be sat, not because there were no tables, but because the staff couldn't be bothered to clear and reset them, we were finally seated.
It took the waitress nearly 15 minutes to take our drink order and another 10 to bring the drinks back. I realize they were busy, but I worked in restaurants for years, and they had more than enough people on to be able to handle the number of tables in the place.
We finally were able to order and then got to wait another 40 minutes for the food. Considering the prices, to say the food was a let down would be an understatement.
I had the Gaucho pork, which consisted of sliced pork which looked like it came straight out of a cold cut pack, on top of bread, covered in what was little more than mayo with some herbs mixed in. It tasted about as appetizing as that sounds.
My wife had the tri-tip special. $20 for 3 strips of trip-tip on a plate with a cup of soup. That was it. While it was flavorful meat, it was nothing noteworthy, and definitely not worth the price.
And for everyone claiming the proprietor is some great character, I have to disagree. He's little more than a jackass that puts on a show for the people visiting. The menu is bland and generic and his antics are little more than what you'd expect at Dick's Last Resort or another 'fun and different' restaurant of that type.
Save your money and go elsewhere, there are too many other great options in town. Bad service and a generic, over-priced menu with little to show for it. -
Review from L L.
Manhattan Beach, CA
6/29/2010
We have been here twice and enjoyed the food both times. The owner is friendly. However, the service is not the greatest. They always seem overwhelmed with too many tables. I would give them four stars but the prices are ridiculousfor what you get and they have NO SODAS! To serve a sandwich $12.00 and then charge $2.50 extra for a slice of cheese is absolutely ridiculous. Again, the food is good but don't come here if you are in a hurry.
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Review from Sean M.
Orange County, CA
3/15/2010
We were in town for the day for wine tasting and wanted something to eat before we got started. I had the "Panini of the Day" and it was fantastic! It was pressed just right and the bread was perfect! Patrick is a great guy and has a very nice restaurant with great staff as well! I'm making this a MUST during my next visit!
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Review from Carla B.
9/15/2006
The owner, Patrick, was quite friendly when my friend and I pulled up there one day to ask directions. So decided to go back another time and try the food. Blech...
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Review from missus h.
Santa Clara, CA
2/24/2010
AMAZING. My sister who lives in San Diego, and myself being from the Bay Area have made it a quarterly tradition to meet each other almost halfway in Los Olivos to have dinner together at Patrick's. The food is incredible, even if you opt for merely a cheese plate. Wine pairings are also fantastic, many wines not available in stores are poured here and compliment the food perfectly. Nicely located off the main drag by half a block or so; just far enough to get away from the other establishments, such as those featured in a particular movie, and the clientele that blindly frequent such places due to their infamy. Patrick's is a find that you almost want to keep to yourself, but then realize that you're just being selfish.
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Review from D. S.
Studio City, CA
1/20/2010
Bad Night OR overrated?
I had heard so much about this place and I had been warned that Patrick was a "real character." Fair enough. We walked in and stood there, in a half-full restaurant on a Saturday night and it took about 5 minutes or so for anyone to come up to us (no one even looked at us prior.) Patrick was busy grandstanding with his fans at the bar...too busy to come up to us and see if maybe we wanted a table. Finally, a very busy and nice waitress comes up to us and seats us. The waiter comes over after several minutes and says, "Sorry about the wait. What can I get you?" (Whatever happened to, "How are you doing tonight?" or any nicety...) We order wine and then, several minutes after that, find out that in this half-full restaurant, there aren't any clean wine glasses left. I was floored! In LOS OLIVOS, on a Saturday night, in a restaurant that is barely half-full, THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH WINE GLASSES? Are you KIDDING ME? So we wait and wait and wait and wait. Over 10 minutes. After about 5 minutes into waiting, Patrick the owner ambles on over to the counter right behind us and...POURS HIMSELF A GLASS OF WINE. Again, I had to ask...ARE YOU KIDDING ME RIGHT NOW? Once our glasses came, that evidently Patrick the owner had been washing (as the dishwasher didn't show up for his shift) our glasses were still wet, and Oh, Yeah! They smelled like bleach. Is that normal? It has never happened to me before. We shared the fondue...it was DELICIOUS! I had the abalone. It was good. I can't remember what my boyfriend had. I think it was good, too. Not great.
So, the dishwasher didn't show up...is that the reason for all this? Was it just a "bad night?" Maybe on a good night, Patrick would have been "funny" or "quirky" or a "character." But, it wasn't a good night and so he instead came off as pompous and attention-seeking as he made his way through the night playing his harmonica and joking LOUDLY with the customers. We don't live there and had never been to his restaurant, so we aren't members of his Big Fish in a Tiny Pond Fan Club.
Either way, not going back. I'd spend your time at American Flatbread in Los Alamos instead. That is GREAT food and they value their customers. -
Review from Andy L.
San Diego, CA
5/10/2009
If you enjoy astonishingly high prices, slow service (our waitresses comment; Shit happens...) and poor food quality, by all means rush over and visit Patrick's. Otherwise, stay far, far away.
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Review from T- K.
Los Angeles, CA
1/22/2010
For the amount of irritation that this place caused me and my tablemate (see DS review for details), 2 stars is generous, and it's only a testament to the fact that at least the food was very good, and at least the service was horrible out of negligence and not as a result of the staff being outwardly unfriendly. That said, the fiasco with not having any wine glasses, then getting ones that were wet and bleachy, coupled with having the owner of the place pour himself a large glass of wine right in front of us... Inexcusable. The waiter was nice, and as I said yes, the food was good. But the entirety of the experience was extremely disappointing and should not happen in a place like this. The first part of the experience sets the tone, and our was standing around for several minutes and being ignored. The bill was $130 for two, and for that I expect a very good experience.
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Review from david s.
Sherman Oaks, CA
5/31/2010
Most idiots are happy eating at a white washed sterile corporate restaurant. Me? Not so much. What a pleasure to stumble upon Patrick's Cafe after spending the day with five kids that were beginning to drive me nuts. I had given up on having a civilized dinner at Los Olivos with children because well it's not so much a kids place. As a last resort, because our car was parked in front, we checked out Patrick's restaurant. He had a huge table right next to the grill that he was tending. Table for 12 outside with kids next to a grill? I'm sold. Anyway the kids and Patrick hit it off from the go. Patrick also was pawning food from the grill to us from the start. He was offering us grilled garlic supplied by the garlic guy, onions and ribs. Yes the man likes to have a glass of wine in his hand while manning the grill, but what? That's the way it is done. I wish I was Patrick.
Onto the food. I'm a steak guy and hate steak houses because they fall short of what I can do with less and for less. Patrick's rib eye? perfection! The kids pasta? I hate pasta! Just not Patrick's. Everyone loved the food and all the kids tried to out do each other for the Chefs attention. I will however point out that if you like to create your own meal you are SOL. DO NOT MAKE CHANGES TO THE MENU! Patrick is a chef and wants to live or die by his own sword. He created a menu to be had the way it says on the menu. Don't go making changes. If you like Cobb salad but not bacon don't order the Cobb without bacon you will piss off the chef and get the waitstaff in trouble. Quirk? yes. But again he designed it. Buy it the way he created it. A man is entitled to his vision and thought being respected. Try Patrick's, it is the real deal, full of character and character is what makes America great. -
Review from Ken W.
Burlingame, CA
5/28/2010
The 'Patrick' issue is legit. The food during our meal had some great highlights but also some glaring problems, all of which could be overlooked if Patrick was a charming guy. Instead he boorishly intrudes seeking compliments, gives his own rave reviews, and has zero listening skills. It didn't take long after we poured out of there to discover his colleagues in town have no use for him. Sorry, we know the restaurant biz is brutal and tough, but he only makes it harder on himself by not having any internal governor over his behavior.
