Robert "Rob" N.'s Profile

Unlike most of the food places along King St, King St Cafe is actually pretty casual and a great place to run over to when I need a quick bite to eat.  The sandwiches themselves have so far all been delicious and lately I've been somewhat addicted to their bean & rice burrito (they microwave it, which would normally put me off but it's still delicious) as it's near-impossible to get anything actually Mexican on the east coast.  The workers themselves are extremely friendly and the main lady who typically works there now generally remembers me after having gone there so many times.  Overall King St Cafe has had good food and the prices are right when I don't feel like paying $15 a plate elsewhere in Old Town.

Ordered this when I suddenly developed a craving for Chinese food after Leonard and Sheldon were discussing Cashew Chicken in Big Bang Theory.  Amazingly enough I was sitting down with a fork in hand less than 20 minutes later (they must have a teleportation device or something).  Unfortunately I have to be honest that the cashew chicken was some what bland, but even bland cashew chicken is better than the pasta I would have otherwise cooked for dinner.  The chicken fried rice on the other hand was pretty delicious for only $6 and will double as lunch for tomorrow.  Given that I don't have many options here in Old Town this will likely be my go-to place for Chinese food in the future.

Overall it had both decent naan & curry (a-la the name), with a comfortable atmosphere.  It isn't anything extravagant, but a great place to drop in and get a quick bite to eat with some friends if you're in the area.

While most chain coffeeshops have gotten a bad tinge to them due to the Starbuck's takeover, this Peet's gives the opposite impression.  Not only is their coffee excellent, but the employees are always cheerful and helpful in selecting what you're looking for.  It's definitely a chain coffeehouse but with San Luis Obispo's small town feel.

I'm not quite sure what real New York Pizza is like, but after eating here I'm not sure it really matters.

While the service itself was very casual, the waitress was helpful enough to retrieve anything we needed rather quickly.  The menu takes a while to peruse through as there is a wide variety of pre-designed pizzas, each unique in their own way.

I personally ordered the Pop's Pesto Pizza, which was absolutely delicious.  It featured a thin crust and just the right amount of sauce/cheese.  My only regret is not having ordered larger than a small.

Located near the end of Benicia's First St near the water, this small diner sports a classic mom & pop feel, with food to support its image.

While I've only eaten here on a few different occasions, the food was always of consistent quality and rather tasty.  You can't go wrong with the burgers and the fries are always fresh cooked.  Add a milkshake that's almost pure ice cream and you have a meal that's bound to satisfy anyone seeking a good (but maybe not too terribly healthy) lunch.

Just be warned: they bring you the shake in a glass...and then a metal tin that has twice as much milkshake as the glass does.  Unless you're sure you'll be able to stomach it all, I'd recommend splitting the shake with a friend.

While the name and the sign's font might make you think of a tire store, don't be fooled.  This place has by far the best tri-tip sandwich I've ever had, and incredible fries to accompany it.  While the price of $8 for a sandwich might seem a little high, I can only preach that you get what you pay for.  If there was ever a sandwich I could eat myself to death with, this would be it (assuming I could afford it).

The exterior is deceiving as the inside is huge (but for good reason).  With several HDTV's and two huge projector screens, it's a huge sports center when games are on.  Just be careful about timing issues as it is often busy, with the line sometimes out the door (taking 20+ minutes) if there's a big game on.

Tucked away in the center of downtown-SLO, this place is great for a midday cup of Joe or a quick bite to eat.  The interior is roomy with local paintings hung on the walls for purchase, and its own "secret garden" in the form of a brick patio in the back.

While the coffee isn't always immediately fresh as they use your standard metal thermoses, they offer a rotating variety of organic/fair-trade coffees that often still hold a great flavour.

I havn't tried a wide variety of their foods, but there's almost always pastries available from the local bakery and sandwich varieties that change daily.  The sandwich I tried was fresh and delicious, until I discovered to my dismay that I'm not a fan of hummus (had never tried it before).  Otherwise, I've had a breakfast burrito on an early morning bike ride and I can't wait to get another.

Personally I love this place.  Living in the dorms is hard enough, but trying to do homework is darn near impossible.  Uptown is a great place to go if you just need to get away, do homework, or hang out with friends.  With free Wifi, it's a great place to drag your laptop and camp out at (I've done so for 6+ hours at a time), but be warned that it's often hard to get a seat with the amount of people there.

The coffee itself is superb compared to anything else I've found in town.  It isn't excessively strong, but has a wholesome, smooth flavor to it.  I havn't tried many of their other beverages, but the ones I did try were always of good quality.  

The best thing about Uptown though are the baked goods.  If you go here, I cannot stress enough giving into the temptation to buy a muffin or scone.  They are always baked daily, and being individually wrapped maintain moistness throughout the day.  To top it off, the majority of the muffins and scones have chunks of fresh fruit that only lend to the amazing taste.

The only downer are the chairs.  They are metal framed, woven chairs that you sink causing the frame to cut into your leg (not literally "cut" but you get what I mean...right?).  I'd recommend grabbing one of the basic plastic chairs from outside and using it instead.