Reviews
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D'Anbino Vineyards and Cellars is the premier live music venue in San Luis Obispo County. The owners, John D'Andrea and Carmine Rubino, had many years of successful, award-winning recording, film, and television careers before moving to the Paso Robles area. They decided to buy a vineyard to continue their Italian family tradition of making wine. Originally the stage in their tasting room was only for the periodic times when the musical family got together to perform. John and Carmine started monthly live performances in conjunction with a monthly Paso Robles wine and arts events. As musicians became aware of the caliber of the tasting room's music-friendly, intimate atmosphere, they began asking to play there. These included local musicians with impressive performance resumes, but also touring and other nationally-known musicians. The type of music varies widely-rock, blues, standards, big band, jazz, blue grass and more. Most recently I heard the Barflyz, a local group featuring Kenny Lee Lewis (who is a guitarist/vocalist with the Steve Miller Band) and his wife Diane Steinberg-Lewis who is a pianist, composer and singer (who played Lucy in the Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart Club Band movie.) D'Anbino's upcoming performers can be found on their website. They usually offer some type of entrée for sale, along with their wines during performances. I recommend making reservations for the concerts because they often sell out. Come early to see the many awards and memorabilia that adorn the tasting room.
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I have been going to Traci McMahan at Paso Robles Tech for several years. Mostly recently, my hard drive crashed and I was in need of accessing some time-critical documents. As it was Saturday, I incorrectly believed Paso Robles Tech so I went to a big office store. They said it would be several days before they could even look at it to diagnose the issue and then they may have to wait for parts. I was surprised to find Paso Robles Tech open on Saturday. They gave me the option of putting my repair as a priority. They quickly installed a new hard drive which they had in stock, updated my programs, and returned it to its original format. They also make house calls for an additional charge.
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Carnevino is a fantastic place for Italian-inspired steaks and other proteins. The superb aged steaks are expertly prepared. There is the option of a variety of sauces to top the steaks. The lamb was also delicious. For those who are less meat-centric, there are interesting antipasti and pasta. I love the clams with pancetta and fresno chili brodetto (broth). They have menus to accommodate those with allergies or food sensitivities, including gluten free. They are a "Green Certified" restaurant which includes no bottled water. Service was impeccable. I did not like the loud rock music that seemed to be unusually loud for a restaurant of that caliber.
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We have been going to Picasso for at least ten years. It is our favorite restaurant during our annual trips in Las Vegas. We love the magical combinations Julian Serrano uses in his French- and Spanish-inspired cuisine. The atmosphere is gorgeous, the wine selection is extensive, and the service is impeccable. Every time we have had the friendly, but extremely, professional service of Robert (who, when we asked, told us he was from Biarritz.) It was so nice that he remembered us each year. My son, who is a chocolate connoisseur and has travelled to many countries, insists Picasso, has the best molten chocolate dessert he has ever had. Picasso is a worthwhile and memorable dinner experience.
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Circo offers a variety of tasty Italian dishes from the traditional pizza and pasta dishes to cuisine more suited for the adventurous such as rabbit, wild boar stew and tortelloni stuffed with oxtail, onion, mushroom and parmesan. We have gone to Circo as a family for dinner on a regular basis for their consistently good food, playful interior, and views of the Bellagio fountains.
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Beach Village at "the Del" is among my top three favorite hotels in the world. The cottages and villas are adjacent to the historic Hotel Del Coronado, (called the Del by we San Diego natives), which dates back to 1888. Beach Village rooms have a casual, yet luxurious beachside vibe. Our family has stayed in the same corner room during our annual summer weekly visits, dating back to the first year it opened. We chose a two bedroom suite, which had one large bedroom with a king bed, and the other with two queens, each room with its own fireplace and bathroom. There is also a central living area with a gourmet kitchen, fireplace, dining room and living room area; the couch in the living room has a fold out bed. We enjoyed sitting on our patio for coffee in the morning. All of the main hotel's many activities, pools, dining and drink venues, and children/teen activities are available to those at the Beach Village, but not the reverse. For Beach Village patrons, complimentary breakfast is served at the ocean view Windsor Club Cottage, as well as appetizers and drinks (for a fee) in the afternoon. There are many small private pools dotting the grounds of Beach Village, and a reserved beach area so you don't have to schlep all the beach gear. I love the beach shells they leave in the room each day. I keep a jar of them on display in my home to remind me of our wonderful trips. This will be one of your most memorable, fun family vacations ever. It is expensive, but they offer packages and deals for off-season travel.
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The Ojai Valley Inn and Spa is one of my three most favorite hotels in the 35+ countries I have travelled in the world. Upon arriving, I find the relaxing, casually elegant ambience immediately evokes a giant exhale. We have been coming to the Inn for over 15 years. The rooms are luxurious and cozy, many with fireplaces or scenic views of the surrounding grounds or mountains. Be sure to catch the special "Pink Moment" which occurs at sunset when brilliant shades of pink color the sky as the sun sets behind the east-west facing Topa Topa Mountains. I love, love, love the Mind and Body Studio located the Spa Ojai building. They offer many different classes throughout each day, such as Pilates, many types of Yoga, water exercise, stretching, cardio, spinning, Qi Gong, sometimes dance, and more. The Inn also offers classes for the mind such as meditation, physical wellness, and art classes at the Artist Cottage and Apothecary. There are fun activities to entertain kids and teens. We like to go horseback riding, which the Inn arranges. There are excellent tennis facilities and a great course for golfers. At check-in, staff whisk your clubs to the clubhouse where your shoes and clubs are readied for your day on the course. We have had great food at all of the restaurants; The Oak Grill has the best Cobb salad I have ever had. Jimmy's Pub is a good casual après-golf place for snacks and drinks. Maravilla is the signature restaurant which serves great steaks and seafood. On the weekends, they have entertaining live jazz in the intimate lounge. The Inn is pet-friendly and very kid-friendly, but there are several adult-only areas as well. We took our dog on our last stay, and he was quite welcome. There is a short walking trail into downtown Ojai if you can tear yourself away from the Inn.
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Estrella says their "Latin Riviera" cuisine is influenced by foods from Spain, the Caribbean, South America and Mexico. My first time there was for a winemaker dinner, so we were able to sample a variety of their dishes. I have recently dined their twice more. I generally do not like fruit in my savory dishes, and many items on their menu have this combination. In fact, the lunch special Southwestern Caesar salad I had today had pineapple on it. Otherwise, it was tasty with a complex, mildly spicy unique take on the traditional Caesar. I am very particular about cooked shrimp, and theirs was perfectly grilled, not at all rubbery as is often the case. Last time I was there I had the Puebla-inspired Cemita Poblano sandwich, with a crispy breaded pork cutlet, roasted poblano pepper, Mexican queso fresco, and avocado on a toasted telera bun, (a version on the typical Mexican bolillo roll) spread with tomatillo-chipotle sauce. My friend enjoyed the Yucatan-spiced chicken salad. Having travelled in that area of Mexico and in nearby Belize, I inquired if they used the spice annatto, common to the cuisine of those areas, in the spice-rubbed chicken and they confirmed they had. Annatto, derived from red achiote seeds, provides a subtle almost smoky depth and color to recipes. They have great Sangria and a good selection of local, South American and Spanish wines. Estrella's interior is a lively orange, punctuated with Mexican pottery and rustic-looking seating. Limited seating is also available at the bar. There is also shaded outdoor patio seating; they said dogs are welcome on the patio, but on this visit I did not bring my little dog because it was over 100 degrees. Instead I sat at a table tucked into the bay window, which gave me a good view of Paso's City Park and passersby; however, the carpet under me, apparently the only carpet in the restaurant, was ratty and soiled. Staff were friendly and accommodating. I recommend taking a look at their online menus (you will have to ignore the typos) to make sure this restaurant has choices that will please all in your dining party.
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I have been a fan of Buona Tavola since they first opened their San Luis Obispo location, and then at their second location in Paso Robles, just a block and a half from the City Park. Owner, Chef, Antonio Varia, is an animated, amiable and talented chef. The dishes are delicious, always skillfully prepared. The carciofi ai petali di parmigiano is a delectable fresh salad of diced artichoke, Roma tomatoes with shaved Parmesan in a balsamic vinaigrette. After returning from Italy's lake region, we had the porcini mushroom risotto at Buona Tavola. I told Antonio that it tasted exactly like the mushroom risotto I'd eaten in Italy; he said that was the same area where he was raised. Although he focuses mostly on Northern Italian cuisine, he does some wonderful Southern Italian dishes, such as the Fetuccine al sugo di carni miste, pasta in a braised chicken, duck, veal, and beef in herbed meat sauce. An Italian friend said it was great, reminiscent of that cooked by his mother. Being a seafood lover, I enjoy the linguine ai frutti de mare, which has manila clams and mussels in a lightly-spiced light tomato broth. Buona Tavola's special pasta of the day is a good choice. The restaurant has a large selection of grappa; trying it once in Bassano del Grappa Italy was enough for me. They have a full bar, tasty homemade limoncello, and a good selection of local and Italian wines. Wait staff are professional and attentive. Besides the casually elegant indoor seating, there is seating also available at the bar or on the small patio. Since the restaurant is on Spring Street, the patio seating sees a significant amount of traffic.
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Goshi Japanese Restaurant is the best Japanese eatery in Paso Robles and Atascadero. They focus on traditional Japanese cuisine with some non-traditional offerings. This is not the place for those who like the over-the-top fusion combinations. Seating at the sushi bar is ideal for those watching the precise, skilled preparation of fresh sashimi and sushi. Some of the chefs have been at Goshi's since it opened. They offer the typical Japanese fare offered in America including rice and udon bowls, tempura, teriyaki and bento boxes which they call "San Luis Dinner Combinations." The menu offers items that will appeal to neophyte and experienced diners of Japanese cuisine. For the latter, there are tasty options on the daily special board on the wall in the sushi bar area. I love the simple, tasty marinated seaweed salad. Courses come out as they are ready, so there is often a lag between the service of the cooked food and the sashimi/sushi. Reservations are recommended as otherwise it can be a long wait to be seated. Goshi's is family-friendly and staff is friendly and generally knowledgeable. Wine, sake and beer are available.
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