(L) Happily married Baker/Caterer Cino Pasciuto     (C) Frank's menu     (R) Splash Cafe in SLO

Top 10 Local Eats

These are my favorite local eateries because the food is good and the cost reasonable.  Some offer extras and little surprises. Scroll down further and you'll see Mike's recommendations for Central California (he gets around more than I do and has a double income).

1. Buona Tavola http://www.btslo.com/paso.html

Northern Italian. Located in downtown SLO on Monterey next to the old art deco Fremont Theater. Although the interior is tiny, there is a charming courtyard behind the restaurant, equipped with heaters. My favorite dish at this Zagut-rated restaurant is an amazing pasta: pumpkin-stuffed ravioli with a marscapone cheese sauce, accented with toasted walnuts.  While lunch here may cost you a wee bit over $10, you will pay that much for a chain-quality pizza and salad at the California Pizza Kitchen downtown. BT also has a new location in Paso Robles but I haven't visited it yet.

2. Taco Temple  http://centralcoast.citysearch.com/review/761213

Baja Mexican and California Fusion.  Located in Morro Bay on 2680 Main Street in a shopping center off Highway 1, this is the real thing. Your fish tacos will likely be made with halibut, not tasteless cod.  Their carne asada anything is good. But my favorite is the crab cakes, best I've had this side of the Chesapeake Bay.  Sides are unique and tasty.  Beware: Get there early, especially on weekends – well before noon – or you will stand in a long line.  Expect no ambience or happy waiters who sit down at your table to chat.  This place is all about the food. I skip the desserts, but many people don't. Like everything else, they taste freshly made, I'm told. The prices are a bit higher than the Baja-type chains, but oh, so worth it.

3. Dorn's Breakers Cafe http://www.dornscafe.com/

Seafood and more.  High atop a cliff overlooking Morro Bay harbor, above Embarcadero Street, this venerable old restaurant has the best views in town plus great food.  I usually opt for the fried Washingtn State oysters – always plump, fresh and coated with a light crispy batter. While you can sit outside on their balcony, which has a wind screen, I typically wind up inside. Definitely ask for a seat near the window, and you might catch the Singing Seagull who performs whenever the spirit moves him.

4. Papi's  http://www.virtualslo.com/business/Business.php?id=158

Mexican.  Pronounced "Poppy's."  Just off the square in Paso Robles on 13^th Street near Pine, Papi's is where you'll see the Mexicans eating. My favorite is the machaca eggs cooked with shredded beef and cheese. I've been known to go for their chili fries too, which are killer! They have a salsa bar complete with fresh radishes. You can grab a cheap breakfast here, too: 2 pancakes, 2 eggs and 2 pieces of bacon or ham for $3.95.

5. Berry Hill Bistro

Contemporary. On the square in Paso Robles on Pine Street. Although I've only eaten here a couple of times, it was good, an upscale but casual spot to grab some lunch between winery visits, especially if you're on the way from Highway 46 east to west, or vice versa.  Their claim is "comfort food featuring homemade frites and panini sandwiches." They also offer fresh berries from Berry Hill Farm, their sister business.

6. Old Edna Deli http://www.oldedna.com/ts_fialas.shtml

Gourmet Deli. Actually, the name is Fiala's Deli, but it's located in the old Edna Village site, along with an authentic "blue belly" barn, an old school house, a Disney-style tree house, the McGregor Vineyard, a mini-museum, and more.  Get them to fix you a picnic and dine al fresco on the deck or even in the vineyard. This is a great lunch spot when you're visiting the scenic Edna Valley vineyards, with their mile afer mile of trellised vines stretching up the rolling foothills.

7. Splash Café/SLO http://splashbakery.com/

Seafood Plus. The original Splash Café is in Pismo Beach, but the new one on the corner of Monterey and California Boulevard in SLO sports a vibrant façade a la Provence, a fabulous bakery, and a hand-made-chocolate shop!  The chocolates are produced by a Cal Poly professor who teaches the only undergraduate chocolate production class in the U.S.  First, sample the rich signature Splash chowder (it's even sold by CostoCo).  Since you've obviously now blown your diet anyway, have a latte and some of the wonderful chocolate treats. Parking can be tough, so be prepared to make a couple of trips around the block before you find a space. And pray you can fit your car into the tiny parking spaces.  If you're already parked downtown on at one of the motels on Monterey Street, take the trolley. In fact, you can even stay next door at the cheerful Petit Soleil B&B.

9. Frank's (You ain't ever going to see a Web site for Frank's.)

Burgers & Dogs. Alas, Frank is like Betty Crocker, a fictitious persona.  But the food is real. Although the real owner has passesd away, his son is carrying on. The crowning triumph here is the breakfast sandwich (and the breakfast burrito.)  If someone enters the building where my office is located with a Frank's breakfast sandwich, I can sniff it out instantly and start drooling! For the health conscious, Frank's does their fries in rice bran oil, and they have a really good marinated chicken breast sandwich.  During the school year, you want to arrive for lunch before noon, to beat the students.

10. Skipping Stones Catering

Born in  Gaeta, Italy, Ciro Pasciuto started La Panzanella Bakery in Seattle in 1989, later developing "Croccantini" crackers and winning recognition for them from the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade.  His passion for the artisanal "slow foods" philosophy powers Skipping Stone Productions in Paso Robles, which provides catering and bread for special events. Alas, because he doesn't want to be tied down to a store, your best bet to taste his chewy loaves is on Friday and Saturday at Willow Creek Olive Oil Ranch on Vineyard Road.

Mike’s Restaurant Picks

Reading the menus for the Bakersfield Wine society dinners will give you an idea of Mike’s “palatial” preferences – from homemade wild boar ravioli to kobe beef.

San Luis Obispo County

• San Luis Obispo: Cafe Roma and Buona Tavola (Note we agree on Buona Tavola)
• Paso Robles: Panolivo, Villa Creek and Bistro Laurent 

Central California

Bakersfield

• Valentien Restaurant & Wine Bar - superb French-California fusion
• Luigi's, classic Italian with a great deli next door.
• Uricchio's Trattoria, among the finest Italian eateries anywhere.
• The Lie-N Den (maybe the best burgers in California, but for sure in Central Cal).
• JM's Rosedale Cafe - everything's good here.
• The Knotty Pine (superb pastrami)

Casmalia
The Hitching Post (the original)

Avila Beach

Guadalupe
Far Western Tavern in Guadalupe

Oxnard
Mrs. Olson's Coffee Shop at Hollywood Beach

Ventura
71 Palm Restaurant in Ventura, fabulous French

Visalia
The Vintage Press - legendary