We decided to head to Nate's on Marsh on a whim as we had got into to town a little late and my friend finished an appointment a little later than expected. We had to wait a little while, but it wasn't that long, especially on a Saturday evening, which was a surprise to us. We decided to sit on the patio, we were concerned about the weather, but they had heaters which were nice. read more

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I walked in at 2 PM and the host stand was in a really awkward position. When I spoke to the hostess, I told her that I would consider bar seating, full dining, or to go. She told me none of them were available. - I thought this was odd because the website says the restaurant is open until 230 for lunch. She told me that the kitchen was closed. If you're gonna close the kitchen at 2 PM, then your website should say that the closing time is 2 PM. That's just common sense. - She told me that I couldn't do to go food because the kitchen was closed and that they only take to go orders in the first hour of service. This was not on the website and I think it's a ridiculous rule. There are so many other restaurants in San Luis Obispo. Don't go to this one. read more

Nate's on Marsh - New American Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

My go-to restaurant when passing through SLO was Ciopinot (RIP), so when I came up for the SLO Film Fest, a friend recommended Nate's. That recommendation was validated by a notice in the program that Nate's was a sponsor of the festival, and I enthusiastically booked a table for a team dinner the night of our screening. To start, Nate's is a family friendly neighborhood joint that just happens to have a Michelin bib to boot, but don't let that scare you off. He specializes in that farm-to-table new Californian style that the Central Coast is known for. Solid pastas pay homage to owner Nathan Long's history, while locally sourced entrées and wines recognize the Central Coast's bountiful ranchland and world renowned vineyards. The meatballs and polpo are delicious, the ragus hearty, and the pork chop was a favorite, washed down by locally grown grapes. The restaurant itself cozy, a historic 1908 colonial bungalow that makes one feel as if invited to a home cooked meal, and owner Nathan Long made us feel like family. It's conveniently located just off the 101 and outside SLO's bustling downtown so parking is painless, and easy to get to if staying in Avalon, Pismo, or heading to Paso. Needless to say, Nate's punched all the buttons and is now my new go-to in SLO. read more

Nate's on Marsh - Conveniently located off the 101 in a historic bungalow, Nate's is my new go-to local in SLO. - New American Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

Mostly hits but a couple of misses for the four of us that dined at Nate's last night (5/29/26). To start, what a great atmosphere! The service was great as well (we had Travis). The only reason this review isn't a 5 star is based solely on the food and drinks. To start, my whiskey sour was not spirit forward. Too much lemon and simple syrup (sometimes restaurants will skimp on the spirits in order to save money). With that being said, my second cocktail (Vieux Carre) was very balanced and delicious. The other drinks at the table were good. The burrata and bread was flavorful (tart, with the right amount of salt and sweet). The focaccia muffins were delicious but not enough butter brought to the table. I suspect we received one ramekin of butter even though we doubled the order of muffins (4 instead of 2). The crab bisque was good, but again, not great. Lacked any good chucks of crab and was slightly "fishy" tasting (I'm wondering if they added some tilapia). The two salads we ordered (la scala and butter leaf) were good. We ordered three entrees (our friends shared the filet). My pork chop and polenta came on a hot plate, which I love. The chop was flavorful, especially with the bacon braised greens. My wife's dish (Mary's chicken) was good but not spectacular. The filet was disappointing. Not near enough salt or flavor. A good filet should have a slight crust or at least something to make it pop. The sauce it came with did not do the trick. And the potatoes were slightly undercooked. Now, when it came to the desserts, an absolute home run. First, the staff brought out two scoops of gelato (celebrating two 50th bdays at the table) with some fun party candles. The gelato was delicious. My wife had the flourless chocolate cake and it was also delicious. However, the big winner of the night was the Key Lime Curd with toasted meringue. I could spend 30 minutes talking about this. It is exceptional. Literally one of the best desserts I've ever eaten. Please give our compliments to the pastry chef. We would return simply to order that dessert again. So overall we liked our experience but definitely agree there are a few things that could really elevate Nate's and make it better. read more

What a cute place! Cocktails were great! Loved the burrata app to start- lots of creamy cheese with balsamic olive oil sauce and sourdough bread. The pork chop is what they are known for and it's killer. Served on a bed of the yummiest polenta and kale. The spicy vodka rigatoni was delish and had some kick. Loved the crunchy sausage bits for texture. The rigatoni with meat sauce was the least exciting dish. Their lemon pasta was so good! Ribbons of pasta in a light lemon cream sauce with ricotta and breadcrumbs! We enjoyed the complimentary ice cream (lemon and vanilla) to celebrate a birthday. Only complaint was our server was too quick to clear plates. We were still eating and she was clearing our table- as in mid bite, set fork down for one second and she picked up the plate- that quick. read more

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Came to Nate's on Easter Sunday which offered only a pre-fixe menu. While the menu did feature many of Nate's star dishes, it was also a lot for brunch and I honestly could have forgone dessert which was the least memorable part of the meal in my opinion. For starters, we tried both the crab bisque and the arugula salad. The salad was dressed well and fluffed nicely. The shaved fennel added a nice crunch to the salad and the beets added that nice earthy sweetness. It was a little odd the beets were just two thick slices on the bottom though...not exactly conducive to eating as a salad. As for the crab bisque, it featured a generous amount of crab meat making the soup sweet yet seafood forward. For mains, we tried the breakfast pasta and the lemon mafaldine. The mafaldine honestly blew me away. The lemon was bright with pops of freshness from the mint and the sauce was creamy but not too thick! The breakfast pasta tasted like an upgraded carbonara. The meatiness of the bacon lardon was probably my favorite part of the dish. For dessert, we went with one of each. The strawberry sorbet fit the weather better but the chocolate torte did have that fudgy richness that you just want for the weekend. But, as previously stated, if the pre-fixe menu wasn't required, we probably also could have gone without it. Servicewise, Nate's was impressive. Fountain drinks refills were swapped seamlessly, dishes were described impeccably, and I also loved the little postcard they wrote for our anniversary. Details matter, and Nate's nailed it here. read more

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Coming to Nate's was the highlight of our trip! Great service and delicious food in a beautifully decorated cottage! We got the lemon malfde, mushroom carbonara, and the chicken. Chicken was the group favorite! The servers were very nice and attentive especially since we had a toddler with us. I would highly recommend coming here! Make a reservation since they get busy quickly but they were able to accommodate us without one. read more

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Great place for a dinner date! The food is amazing and the ambiance is unmatched. This is a repeat location for our family!

Great Italian food. Good date night place. Service is good. Drinks are tasty. Expect to spend a little bit of money.

If you are looking for a unique dining and cocktail bar in San Luis Obispo, Nate's On Marsh is a great option for date night, alumni and fam visit dining or girl's night. Set in a renovated home and decorated in horse/western/Ralph Lauren inspired vibes, it has a warm, welcoming atmosphere. Highly recommend the Lemon Malfalde pasta and frozen cocktail. read more

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I made a reservation for 6pm on Friday the 10th. Two weeks in advance. At 550pm I called Nate's to notify them I would be late for res due to traffic and asked what the grace period was.. I was told It was 15 minutes okay I problem. Upon arrival which , I acknowledge I was over that grace period by the roughly 10 minutes. Which sucks but My girlfriend checked in as I was parking and was told by one host, that it wasn't a problem.... We could get seating She was then told by a different short blonde rude host who interjected, that our reservation had already been canceled. There was an empty table and I asked if we were able To have that table and I was told no because apparently the next reservation was coming in early. Okay no problem. However, why did I receive an email at 524PM, over 30 minutes before my scheduled time that A. My res was changed and THEN B. It was cancelled...... at 524. Which is the only reason I'm writing this review. Had the hostess been nicer and more apologetic or accommodating. I wouldn't have an issue but after seeing these emails.... Why was my reservation canceled more than 30 Minutes before I was supposed to be there? I won't bother traveling to visit Nate's anymore, or recommend based on this interaction alone. I spent years in the industry, and I was always accommodating with a smile on my face too. Receipts are posted with time stamps. read more

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Do yourself a favor and visit Nate's on Marsh!! We had the wild arugula salad, calamari, lunch burger, and lemon madalde. Everything was cooked to perfection! You can tell the ingredients were fresh and high quality. The surprising standout for me was the arugula salad. The fresh, quality ingredients really got to shine through. The ambiance is adorable. It's cozy and feels like you're dining inside someone's home. The weather was beautiful out so we opted to dine on the patio. My bf and I were visiting for our anniversary and our server Rick went above and beyond to make it extra special. He was very attentive and personable. We will be back next time we're in SLO! read more

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Obsessed. Ask for a seat by the dining room window. Perf for people watching. I had the sauv blanc and chopped la scala salad for lunch. Perfect pairing and delicious! Two people next to me had birthdays and the presentation given them was so chic! My server Ella was so warm and had great recs. read more

Nate's on Marsh - New American Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

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We celebrated a birthday this weekend and the whole experience was wonderful! Service was 5 star and we love the decor and comfort. Our party had the 6 oz filet. Hamburger, arugula salad, pork chop and lemon pasta and everyone was satisfied. We'll be back!!!! read more

Nate's on Marsh - 6 is filet with carrots and fingerling potatoes - New American Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

Great ambiance with large and small pocketed rooms for all different types of dining experience. Service was just extraordinary and that will happen anywhere in this place, even if you are just in the lounge for a cocktail; again, outstanding service. The food has always been delicious, this visit was no different, only this time I had the opportunity to try one of their specials, Veal Osso Buco and it did not disappoint- JUST DELECTABLE! Start your dinner with a specialty cocktail- I had the VIEUX CARRE (bourbon/cognac hybrid drink that they artfully craft to perfection and serve on a single ice cube- smooth as silk!) This place is a San Luis Obispo institution and you will not want to ever miss a chance to dine here; you will see what I mean! read more

Nate's on Marsh - Veal Osso Buco, this was a special that evening! - New American Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

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Intimate setting and parking in the back. Staff is very attentive and feels high end Enjoyed the mocktails and the recommendations from our waiter were on point. Appetizers: focaccia muffin, polpo, burrata Entrees: lasagna, spicy rigatoni read more

Nate's on Marsh - Spicy rigatoni - New American Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

We enjoyed a terrific dinner at Nate's on Marsh in San Luis Obispo. This was our third time here in the past two years. It was as good as the last two times. Hubby had the Lamb Ragù. He hasn't tried anything else because it was so amazing the first time. I had the Lemon Mafalde with added Prawns. The pasta is house-made and so fresh. Everything was so delicious from the cocktail to the soup to the salad to the entree. Our server, Summer, was delightful and fastidious. We sat at a window table and thoroughly enjoyed it. I highly recommend this restaurant if you're in the area. read more

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I visited for the first time with my sister, who was in town, and wanted to treat us to a special dinner. I had recently come into some extra money and was excited to celebrate with a meal at a restaurant I'd been wanting to try after seeing the owner's TikTok content. We arrived as walk-ins on a Saturday night. Before I paid for parking, my sister checked on availability and was told that while tables were fully booked, two seats at the bar would be opening up shortly. Great, I paid for parking and we headed in. When we arrived, we were then told a table might be available in about 10 minutes. After waiting, another host informed us there was actually no table available. I asked if we could still sit at the bar as originally discussed, and was told yes, with about a 10 minute wait. Unfortunately, that 10 minute wait turned into over an hour. During that time, we watched multiple groups get seated at the bar while we remained outside waiting. When we checked in, we were told they were preparing a spot for us and to give them just a minute. Another 20 minutes passed before we were eventually told that the bar was full and there was no table available, and the host wasn't sure what to do. At that point, we told the staff that if there truly wasn't a place for us, we'd understand and would leave. After checking again, they were able to fit us in, although there was only one stool available and they had to find another seat for me. Once seated, we ordered promptly. Our salad arrived, but our pasta took about another hour to come out. We left two separate times to extend our parking across the street and the pasta still wasn't out. The gentlemen working behind the bar were kind and professional throughout the evening, but eventually I had to ask whether our entrees were still coming or if we should simply leave. I completely understand that Saturday nights are busy and that we were walk-ins. The staff were doing their best, and I appreciate their efforts. However, after roughly 2.5 hours of waiting and uncertainty throughout the evening, the overall experience was disappointing, especially given the cost of the meal. What makes this especially frustrating is that the food was absolutely outstanding. The pasta was genuinely one of the best meals I've had in a long time, which makes me wish the service experience had matched the quality of the food. I'm sharing this because I would love to come back and give the restaurant another try. I hope management is aware of how this situation was handled, as I don't think our experience reflected the quality of the restaurant itself. read more

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Been here more than a few times. What a gem. Love this place. The ambience is so unique & laid back. The drinks & food are all amazing. The servers are incredible. Can't wait to go back. read more

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We came here to celebrate my boyfriend's birthday and were so happy with everything! First off, the ambiance is beautiful. It's the perfect date night spot. Thoughtfully decorated with the perfect balance of fanciness and homeyness vibes. Service was pleasant. I didn't get our server's name but she was very kind, knowledgeable, and attentive. For food, we started off with a Cesar salad. It was covered in delicious Parmesan cheese and we couldn't stop eating it! Absolutely addictive and tasty! I ordered the mushroom carbonara which had the perfect amount of creaminess and a nice flavor. My boyfriend got the ribeye dinner which was phenomenal. The steak was perfectly cooked and melt in your mouth good! The fries were light and crispy while the broccolini was full of flavor. Everything was a 10/10! We were too full for dinner but our sweet waitress brought out a birthday gelato for my boyfriend. The gelato was so good and the perfect dessert to end our dinner. We were so happy with our visit and look forward to coming again next time we are in SLO! read more

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If you can snag a reservation for Nate's on Marsh.. don't hesitate! Some locals told us they are close to being Michelin star recognized so it's about to be even busier. Nate's is a super unique restaurant inside of a cottage style home. It has a cowboy ranch / Ralph Lauren type style which was so cool. We scheduled an anniversary dinner here and they made us a little welcome card! To start, we had the rosemary focaccia muffins and the caesar salad. Both were absolutely delicious... the caesar is an absolute must... I didn't want it to end. I got the spicy rigatoni vodka which was also really good. It definitely lives up to the "spicy" and is not for spice sensitive folk. My boyfriend who loves spice even said it was a bit much for him. Overall a really really cool restaurant and an absolute must if you're in the area. read more

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This place is great. My favorite out side the steak is the lemon cake. There are to many places the serve such a great cake

What a wonderful experience on the patio. Audrey went out of her way to accommodate my family with medical concerns. She made sure that we have the exterior patio, and everything here was absolutely perfect. We had a beautiful dinner to celebrate family and Thanksgiving. Thank you all so much. I can't wait to come back. read more

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The food was superb and so was the service. My wife really loved it! Oh and so did I.

Nate's deserves its Michelin rating. It is really fantastic, and by far the best restaurant in SLO. From the service to the food to the atmosphere, it is top notch. read more

Nate's on Marsh - Front sign - New American Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

We have eaten at Nate's before and looked forward to this visit with company. We had reservations and were seated promptly. Our server was informative and friendly. We first ordered the lobster bisque, which was smooth and flavorful. The focaccia muffins were delicious, but there was not enough seasoned butter for our double order. For wine, we chose the Nate's and Herman Story special red, which was superb. We ordered the grilled octopus, but unfortunately, it was not grilled. When you grill something, it is to get a char on the outside and soft on the inside. This is my expectation. The octopus was cooked properly but not grilled. We all got the special filet, cooked to perfection, but it ended there. The meat was tender but not seasoned--no salt and pepper, nothing. A filet is a delicious cut of meat, but with little fat, it needs seasoning. The sauce appeared to be added after it was cooked and just sat on top, doing nothing for the seasonless filet. For dessert, we had a very good tiramisu and grasshopper. We were greatly disappointed with the three filets. Hopefully, it was just a mistake, since everything but the octopus was very good. read more

Quite possibly the best salmon dish I ever had (the top was perfectly crispy, the inside cooked to perfection) a nice light lemony orzo and asparagus; it was such a delight. Love the ambience, easy parking and the service was top notch. Not a single thing needing improvement! read more

Nate's on Marsh - Chocolate gelato and Paloma Spritz - New American Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

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This restaurant is located close to downtown and has parking in the back. There's also paid parking in the street. The establishment is a converted house so there are different dining rooms and a bar. We arrived on a Sunday at 5:45 and the restaurant was already busy. Reservations are recommended if you want to be seated in a short time. I ordered the Caesar salad, which is big enough for two people. The salmon picatta was my entree. The salad had the right amount of dressing and a lot of tasty Parmesan on top. My salmon was cooked perfectly and I enjoyed the sides as well. Dinner lasted about 2 hours due to the amount of time it took to receive our food. I also noticed they didn't have bussers so our waiter was busy taking plates, filling waters and giving out to go containers. If you're planning on going somewhere afterwards or don't enjoy a leisurely meal, skip this restaurant. read more

Nate's on Marsh - Salmon Picatta - New American Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

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If I had one word to describe Nate's, it would be decadent! At least that's the direction I went on my visit there. My boyfriend and I took a trip to Arroyo Grande for a super quick getaway and decided to try Nate's on Marsh based on all the great reviews. We got a reservation for right when it opened at 4:30. The restaurant is a classy, very green, and a fun place to just have drinks or have a meal. The bar area was already pretty lively when we arrived. It was a cold and windy day so I went for lobster bisque to start and my boyfriend got a Caesar salad. The lobster bisque had big chunks of lobster and was very thick and rich. The salad had a very healthy serving of cheese with huge croutons. Both were delightful. For my main dish, I got spicy vodka rigatoni. I love spicy pasta and this dish did not disappoint. Spicy enough with a rich vodka sauce. My bf got the spaghetti pesto which was good but did not have a strong pesto flavor. It was very mild and a bit disappointing for a pesto lover like him. We shared tiramisu to end the meal and it had a lovely orange flavor from the Grand Marnier. Aside from the spaghetti pesto, everything was 10/10, including the service. Well done, Nate's! read more

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This place is amazing!!! I planned a birthday trip to SLO with my partner and decided on Nate's for my birthday dinner, and I'm so happy that I did! The food was everything I wanted and more, plus it not only ended up being my birthday dinner but engagement as well! It was all happy vibes for us, they set up a little birthday sign on the table and welcomed us with complimentary champagne. For food, we ordered the polpette (meatball) and shrimp cocktail as appetizers. The polpette is a must and the shrimp was meaty and big so I was a fan. We shared the chopped la scala salad, spicy vodka rigatoni and ribeye as our entrees and this was filling for the two us. They were all really good, I would order each thing again. Plus they have complimentary bread and butter that went perfectly with the polpette. This place exceeded expectations for me and now it'll always be special since it was our first dinner as an engaged couple. Thanks Nate's on Marsh for helping make the night so memorable! read more

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Love SLO and here again for wife's birthday. Nate's was outstanding. It was "Martini Monday" and the place was absolutely PACKED. That said, we were sat right away (reservation), and had terrific, timely service by a server who was perfect in execution. We had pasta and the food was excellent. The food, the service and the high energy vibe made this a great call. We'll be back! read more

The service here was quite nice, but there was some faults the steak and the broccoli tasted burnt and over salted. The Bolognese was rich and very good other than that maybe if they try different things. Better food in SLO read more

Nate's on Marsh - New American Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

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My friends and I had a super experience at this little gem of a restaurant. We were there at 11:30 am (opening time) for an early lunch. We sat outside on the patio next to Marsh st. We were all very pleased with our lunch choices and the lime ice tea was so refreshing! My friend is a vegan, so we try to choose a place that will have several choices for her as well. She says she really appreciates Nate! Thanks. read more

My family takes a yearly trip out to SLO, and we're always looking for good spots to eat in town while we're here. We first visited Nate's on Marsh last year, and had a pretty good experience. We really wanted to try out more of their menu and decided to return this trip to see how we'd like it compared to last time. Starting off with the strongest thing about this spot, the location and overall aesthetic of the space. Imagine a cozy, stylishly decorated home that also just happens to be a restaurant. It's casual but also a little upscale, perfect for date nights or a gathering. The restaurant has tons of charm, as long as you can deal with it feeling a bit crowded on the inside. This spot is busy and from my impression, you'll definitely need reservations on a weekend night. We visited on a Saturday and waited a bit even with our booking. After waiting we were seated at the wrong table, and while we didn't mind either way, we did have to get up and move after being seated since another reservation quite literally had the table we were at. Luckily our correct table was ready for us, but given the popularity of the spot don't expect any last minute changes or accommodations on a busy night. Additionally, expect a bit of a wait for your food and drinks. We didn't get our main entrees til almost an hour after being sat. This seems to be mainly on the kitchen and bar, as our server was amazing at her job and frequently checked in on us. Food wise Nate's is a little bit of a mixed bag. Our starters, the rosemary biscuits and wild arugula salad were highlights. Both items were fresh, and tasted amazing. The main entrees were a bit of a stumble however. They were completely out of our original selections (the burger and pork chop) so we settled on pastas for the table. None really stood out. My spaghetti pesto was missing the pesto flavor, and unfortunately just took on a strong flavor of the greens it was cooked with. It wasn't particularly a bad dish, but it's not a good pesto pasta either. The other two pasta dishes my table ordered were tasty, but nothing special. When we visited last year we were also unimpressed with our entree choices (we ordered steaks last year that came to our table overcooked), so it was a bit disappointing to see more of the main dishes let us down. Aside from that we enjoyed all the cocktails we ordered and still managed to enjoy our meal overall. You definitely are not gonna have the best meal of your life here, but you will have a very pretty space to eat in and friendly service. You'll also have a pretty pricey bill. I think this spot is a little more style than substance, but it's still absolutely worth a visit if you want a nice dinner in SLO. read more

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My boyfriend and I tried this place for the first time and it was great. I loved the muffin starters, overall very average pasta. Service was average l, there was nothing about the place was special. Would want to come back during happy hour and give it one more chance. read more

Nate's on Marsh - New American Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

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Had a birthday lunch here it was delicious. I went with two other girlfriends for our birthdays. It was wonderful. I have heard that the brunch here is fantastic. I would love to try that very soon. read more

This is a great special occasion restaurant. I found the food seasoned and cooked well. The octopus was my favorite of the night. Definitely on the Pricey side. It's an intimate setting so it can get loud. There was a table with a very loud lady who ruined the vibe for us. read more

The ambiance is amazing and staff is so friendly and attentive. That's probably where the best attributes stop. We started off with burrata and bread. The burrata is as swimming in olive oil and the accompanying garnishes are way too vinegar and salty. The rest of the food was just okay, nothing to write home about. I'm actually really surprised this place was rated so highly. There are so many other fabulous restaurants downtown to choose from that we don't feel the need to come back again. read more

Quality/Quantity - After a FULL day at the wineries, we tried to come here for a light meal. But ended up leaving so SO full! We finished everything except the complimentary bread. Butter Leaf Salad - Home run with my wife. She really enjoyed this salad. Pappardelle Ragu - My dish. It was good, but it did not taste like the pasta was made in house. Mushroom Carbonara - My daughter's dish. She is a huge mushroom fan and enjoyed her meal. No room for dessert. Atmosphere - A house converted to a restaurant. Maze like. Clean, organized, cool decor. Indoor and outdoor dining available, but tonight was just indoor. Clean and good size bathrooms in the rear of the building. Small full bar. Open 5 days a week from 11:30am to 9pm, closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Plenty of free street parking. I believe they have a small parking lot in the back of the building. Service - We walked in today, no reservations. The hostess said it would be a half an hour wait until we would be able to get a table. But within 10 minutes, she called us in. Travis did a good job. Professional. There was a very small issue with the check (different price charged versus the price on the menu) and he corrected it without hesitation. Price - $75 + tip. Owner Comment - Congrats on your success in SLO since 2021. read more

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I loved the pasta and I had a pasta attack and I just want to eat the pasta forever and it was so delicious that I wanted to give it five stars . . read more