Having been advised by a local museum docent that "everybody eats at SY Kitchen", I jumped online…read moreto make a quick reservation for two of us. We walked in early, asked to sit at the bar, and our reservation was honored. The restaurant was bustling but service did not feel rushed or hurried. We were lucky to dine at the bar; Mr. Maciel took truly excellent care of us the whole evening, remembering every request and taking care of every detail for our dining experience. His wine recommendations were also spot on. We decided to focus on three different pastas and were not disappointed. Highly recommended. My absolute favorite was the Wild Mushroom Pappardelle but honestly, every pasta was delicious. Portions were generous and leftovers were promptly boxed up to take home. Folks clearly schedule special dinners here, warranting dressing up, but casual diners such as ourselves also felt comfortable. I'd recommend dining at the bar for exceptional service and a front-line seat to all the action.

S.Y. Kitchen rocks as Santa Ynez's premier restaurant with indoor-outdoor spaces with austere white…read morepainted walls warmed by wood accents. Elite Yelper Isobel L. and I ate at the bar to view the hard working staff in the kitchen and at the bar. Our barman, Mr. Maciel, was really informative and helpful in choosing the right wine to pair by the glass and making sure we were supplied with appropriate dining accoutrements along the way. He even let me sample two alternate wines for me to determine which pairing may be optimal. Perusing the menu, the pasta at S.Y. seemed the most intriguing so I asked that each pasta dish come out one at a time to be paired with the previously discussed wines. 1) SPAGHETTI con VONGOLE E BOTTARGA: Spaghetti was perfectly al dente. Shells of Manila clams were wide open presenting their briny, meatiness. Bottarga seemed like dried mullet roe to add a mild sea funkiness. Roasted fennel for an aromatic licorice finish. Soupçon of Calabrian chiles. All in a light white wine reduction. 1a) Vermentino | Podere San Cristoforo Maremma "Luminoso" 2021: Lively white wine with refreshing citrus and fennel undertone. Good acidity and minerality to cleanse the palate. 2) WILD MUSHROOM PAPPARDELLE: Wide flat, firm wheat pasta. Fresh woodsy, wild mushrooms, thyme, Parmigiano Reggiano. Seems napped with a touch of butter or evoo. 2a) Pinot Noir, Altamarea, Santa Barbara County, 2023: Subdued damask rose and strawberry bouquet. Sparkling garnet red wine as mentioned by Elite Yelper Isobel L. Fruit forward, lush black fruits, mellow acidity & tannins melded well with the creaminess of this pasta dish. Good call by Bartender Maciel. 3) Gigli al Ropeton: Salsiccia, Pancetta, Mascarpone, Pecorino, Pomodoro, Basilico: Mascarpone added creaminess while Pecorino had a right amount of gamey dairy all to create an overriding cheesiness. House made crumbly pellets of Salsiccia Italiana and Pancetta added porkiness. Sugo di Pomodoro has a sweet tomato sauce acidity that unified this hearty dish. 3a) Nebbiolo, Poderi Colla, Alba "Drago" 2023: Good solid red wine from Piedmonte. Heavier dark fruits such as black berry. Light acidity and tannins. 4) TAHITIAN VANILLA PANNA COTTA: Refreshing, light, creamy, vanilla pudding. Caramel, ladies' kisses cookie crumbles and scattering of blueberries and raspberries, sprig of spearmint. 5) PISTACHIO CRÈME BRÛLÉE: 100% Sicilian pistachio inside the thick, dense Crème Caramel filling, which seems similar to Leche Asado, with glazed sugar top coating. 4+ Stars

What a wonderful place! The ambience is impeccable, and the bartender made me a delicious mocktail…read more I came with a friend to celebrate her birthday and they gave her a delicious piece of olive oil cake. We had the special oysters, zucchini blossom and shrimp pasta! All were fantastic! We came on a Wednesday which was kind of slow but they had $10 cocktails and a fried chicken special. I will be back and can't wait to try more of their menu!

We just kind of stumbled upon Pony Kitchen but what a happy accident, I think this was my favorite…read moremeal of our trip We were seated at a cozy outdoor table and service was personal and attentive. My husband and I both got the three course, prix fixe menu and were very pleased with our decision. The meal started with a hearts of romaine salad that was a perfect medley of tastes and textures and just the right size. Next up was steak frites - the best steak I've had in a long time and the shoestring fries were perfectly cooked and savory delicious. The meal ended with a slice of olive oil cake topped with mascarpone crema and blueberry compote. Outstanding meal from start to finish.

We found this saloon nearby Cachuma Lake and it is a charm. They were open for Memorial Day and…read morewelcomed families with children. It's a great place to have a nice meal after camping nearby the lake. The food quantities are large and freshly made. The ambiance is friendly, warm, and western feel. The service is friendly and pretty quick for our group of 9. Highly recommend the steak dinner for 2.

Dick's Last Resort is a restaurant chain on the East Coast that features rude service on purpose as…read morepart of the show. Is that the deal at Maverick Saloon? Because the bartender the other night was grumpy and grumped at me three times times in like half an hour. Once for ordering food at eight thirty when the kitchen closed at nine. Then for scanning the place with my smartphone. Third, for telling him about a woman from the east coast, who was visiting California for the first time Is that an act? Is that California country attitude pointed at a city dude? Should their slogan be "We put the hostility in hospitality?" The French Dip sandwich was good anyway. Curious about the Tex Pistols anyway.

One thing we quickly noticed in Solvang is that there aren't many places open late, so finding High…read moreRoller Tiki Lounge open until 11 PM was a huge plus! After a delicious dinner nearby, we stopped in for drinks, live music, and a good time and this place delivered. They had a great live band playing fun tunes that really set the atmosphere. The vibe was relaxed, lively, and exactly what we were looking for to end the night. Their drink menu is packed with creative and fun options. I ordered the Mango Michelada, and it absolutely did not disappoint. Our waiter was also fantastic, very attentive, friendly, and kept checking in on us throughout the night. If you're in Solvang and looking for a fun late-night spot with good drinks, music, and great service, High Roller Tiki Lounge is definitely worth stopping

We wanted to start our Friday night by grabbing a drink and checking out High Roller Tiki Bar, but…read moreunfortunately, our experience was disappointing from the start. After walking in and passing the host stand, a server who was seated at the bar got up, walked us to a table, and suggested we sit on the loveseat. The host was friendly and welcoming, and the space itself seemed promising. We were excited to settle in, have a drink, and check the place out. The restaurant was nearly empty when we arrived, but shortly after we were seated, a larger group came in. From that point on, it felt like we were completely forgotten. The server focused on the larger party, taking drink orders and delivering beverages as more guests from their group arrived. Meanwhile, we sat waiting without any acknowledgment. Another group of ladies was seated nearby and appeared just as confused about who was helping them. We both work in the restaurant industry, so we understand that larger parties can demand attention and that things don't always go perfectly. We tried to be patient and give the team the benefit of the doubt. However, after waiting more than 15 minutes without anyone checking on us, taking a drink order, or even acknowledging our table, we decided to leave. What made the experience especially frustrating was that the restaurant wasn't busy when we arrived. We never felt welcomed beyond being shown to our table, and ultimately it felt like our business wasn't valued. Hopefully this was just an off night, because the atmosphere and concept seemed like something we would have enjoyed. We'd be willing to give it another chance, but first impressions matter, and unfortunately this one missed the mark. Sadly, it looks like we definitely missed out on the famous Bowl for Two.

Brandy was wonderful! Friendly, kind, and always smiling. She provided great service and made us…read morefeel very welcome. Thank you for such a pleasant dining experience!

Had the most amazing meal at Whiskey & Rye! Received such friendly service and great…read morerecommendations from Mandy. Overall, just a great dining experience!

I was in town on a friend's trip and a local friend brought us to brothers. I would say this was…read moremy very favorite meal of the trip. It's a nicer restaurant than most, and very well plated. The atmosphere is 'fine dining' but with a more casual feel. The service was also incredibly attentive. There's a parking lot right out front, which makes it incredibly convenient. We were a large group and ordered a lot of items, but the ones that really stood out were the Salmon/Dill on Crostini, the Tuna Tartare and the Mushroom Soup...by far the best we had the whole trip. I look forward to coming back some day!

Indoor and outdoor seating options…read more Pros: -delicious food -great service -when we went, the outdoor seating had heaters and live music -complimentary birthday dessert Cons: -n/a

Vaquero Bar is a great spot in Solvang, especially since it's open later than most places in town…read more The cocktails are consistently good, and I love that you can order food right at the bar. The donuts were the perfect sweet treat, and the spicy tuna on crispy rice was absolutely delicious. The atmosphere is fun and welcoming, making it a great place to unwind after exploring Solvang. I'll definitely be back!

The novelty of spinning records wore off fast, and what could've been a cool, defining feature for…read morethe place ended up feeling more like a missed opportunity. Kelly seemed more focused on catering to a small group of guys in cowboy hats than maintaining the vibe that actually makes this spot stand out. Instead of reading the room, she and her May 1st bartender colleague locked into a single stream of country music that clearly wasn't resonating with most of the crowd. That's really the frustrating part, it wasn't just a music choice, it was the complete lack of awareness or willingness to adjust. People weren't being heard, requests were ignored, and the whole "records" concept felt pointless when it was treated so rigidly. If you're going to lean into vinyl as part of the experience, it should feel curated, responsive, and a little bit special, not like someone just putting on their personal playlist and tuning everyone else out. The drinks were genuinely great, which makes the situation even more disappointing. The potential is clearly there, but the execution on the atmosphere just didn't match. If the records are going to stay, they should actually be used to enhance the environment, not limit it. Otherwise, it might be better to ditch the gimmick entirely rather than let it drag down what could be an otherwise standout spot.

The only time I seem to go for Happy Hour these days is when I am out of town. Actually, staying in…read moreSolvang this time around meant no driving required, so first stop, HH at Mad and Vin inside the Landsby Hotel Every item we ordered was on point. Between the olive and fig bruschetta and Santa Ynez sliders with duck fries so good, I should've ordered a full order of those fries, to go with that Chata-tini of rum, horchata, cream, cinnamon, my only regret is not returning the next day for dinner.

Our dining experience at this restaurant on Sunday, July 12th…read more Overall, we had a wonderful time, largely thanks to our server, George. He was excellent--he walked us through the specials, took our orders accurately, and provided fantastic service throughout the evening. The food was outstanding. We started with the Pomegranate Spritz, which was excellent. The bread and butter service with the baguette, chimichurri glaze, and pickled onions was delicious, and we noticed almost every table was ordering it. The New England Clam Chowder soup special was creamy, delicious, and generously portioned, as was the perfectly fried calamari. For our main course, we both had the short ribs, which were fork-tender and paired perfectly with the creamy mashed potatoes. The only disappointment of the evening was that we had noted in our online reservation that we were celebrating our anniversary, but this was never acknowledged during our visit. Despite this minor oversight, we had a great experience and will definitely return the next time we are in Solvang. Please pass along our compliments to George and the kitchen staff.