Norman at Norman at Skyview gets one thing undeniably right: the setting is stunning. Overlooking the charming town of Los Alamos and surrounding ranch land, it feels like a true escape and makes for a beautiful lunch backdrop. Unfortunately, the dining experience didn't live up to the property itself. Service was painfully slow, and my dish arrived cooked differently than requested. Beyond that, the food was simply underwhelming and largely forgettable. I'd absolutely return for the property, pool, and views -- just with much lower expectations for the food. read more

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I've driven by this place a million times, and we finally stopped in for my father-in-law's birthday. I'm so glad we did--the food was excellent. The Bates Burger in particular was outstanding. Easily one of my top 10 burgers of all time, and that's including some of the greats I've had in NY, SF, and LA. The seasoning on the meat was spot on, the caramelized onions added the perfect sweetness, and the cheese tied everything together beautifully. The ambiance was another highlight. It has a cool, Palm Springs-style vibe that makes you want to linger. We also ordered the caprese salad, which was fresh, flavorful, and perfect for a warm day. I'd absolutely go back. They did a fantastic job renovating the space, and I could easily see myself coming here with a group of friends, hanging out by the pool, and booking a block of rooms. read more

Norman at Skyview Los Alamos - New American Near Me - Los Alamos, California

As a local, it is always our date night choice! We also love their Taco Tuesdays when we can make it! They always cater to my vegan husband and I absolutely LOVE the vibe here! Grateful for it! read more

The server was very nice. The food was not bad, but not great. There was a large party there so the room got pretty loud. The server made and effort to order our food before they did. She was super polite but really busy. There are many fabulous dining options in Los Almos, this ain't one of them. We ate here because we had a voucher for $25 because the pool was closed. I expected more read more

FOOD: I ordered the BBQ Brisket burger and it was magnificent. Juicy, thick patty, the brisket was tender and the BBQ sauce was just the enough amount and not overpowering the entire burger. You get a choice of a side salad or fries to go along with your burger and I went for the side salad since as a group we did order the garlic wedge fries (which was not served with wedge cut potatoes but regular fries cut potatoes lol). Not sure if they ran out of those cuts or that's how it is really presented but either way the fries were also delicious and perfectly garlicky. The other orders from our group was the Bates burger which again was delicious. The steak frites were yummy and perfectly cooked. The steak was easily cut and seasoned well. We also ordered the focaccia and that mascarpone with black pepper honey was addicting! I wish we could have had more bread lol. So good! We also ordered the Texas style chili, that too, was wonderful. It was packed with meat and the right amount of beans. Deliciously seasoned and came with a jalapeño corn muffin. We didn't really taste the jalapeño but still a good pairing. I just wish there was more of it. It was served in a big bowl but the serving was very shallow so the look of it can be deceiving as to you're getting a lot but not really. It was shared by 4 people but just not quite enough for hungry people lol. Our other friend got the pan-roasted chicken that did not meet up to his expectations. It was small in portion compared to the burger and did not look very filling. We also got to try the cast iron cookie (made to order so it does take a while to come out) but given it is freshly baked please be careful taking the first bite. It is very hot lol. Again, amazingly chocolatey, gooey and decadent paired with a vanilla gelato on top. 6/7 of the orders were top notch so I'd say it's a win! SERVICE: There was only one server for the entire restaurant. One bartender at the bar. No host/hostess so it took awhile to be seated even with a reservation but not too long of a wait. Our waiter did his best to accommodate everyone and each table given he's the only one serving. He was patient and still very helpful with helping us pick our meals, providing recommendations and answering our questions. He still served everyone with a smile despite how overwhelming it could have been for him. Also, the service of the receptionist of the hotel who can pick you up with a Moke mobile down the hill and up to the restaurant was quick and friendly. She was very welcoming and nice. I loved the service. The food came out in a timely manner except for our cookies BUT again it is made to order and I'm sure takes longer to bake than to make a burger lol so be patient. Lovely service and staff. AMBIENCE: Good amount of seatings inside and outdoors during warmer weather. The outdoors does come equipped with heaters but it was just too cold so most people choose indoors anyway. Super cute, intimate setting with booths, tables and high chairs at the bar. Dimmed lighting throughout the restaurant but they do bring little candles or lamps to light up the table if needed. Super cute and romantic vibe. We visited during holiday season so there was a nicely lit Christmas tree by our table and it made the visit nice and cozy. I've lived in the area for a while now and have always wanted to visit and check out the place. Met all my expectations and more. I judged it by its ambiance and pricing from the menu at first, thinking the food was not gonna reflect the prices and although some are overpriced some are justifiable given the quality of the food. Again, it's a unique experience being picked up by a Moke mobile from the parking lot to the top of the hill where the restaurant is located. There is a shed where the phone number is located to call the hotel for a lift. The food, service and ambience were great. Highly recommend to locals and anyone driving by for a visit! Very instagrammable restaurant AND motel! read more

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First of all, the view and ambiance are amazing! We encountered problems with slow and problematic service but the servers themselves were lovely and professional. The problem is the food. Every dish seemed like something pulled from a fridge, like an unexpected person showed up for a meal unannounced. Tuna poke appetizer had cold hard rice that was dry and in big clumps. Bates burger, ordered medium rare, was well done and dry. My partner ordered the chicken and it was dry and nearly inedible although flavor was good. We left and went to another Los Alamos restaurant to supplement our dinner: I can only recommend that you go for cocktails and the cool retro vibe. read more

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We came here after checking in at our stay in Los Alamos, since it was the only restaurant open on a Monday night. We made a reservation on Open Table just in case because we were VERY hungry. It is a cute place, on the smaller side and has a more modern take on seating. Some tables had couches and others were the traditional chairs/booths. After looking over the menu, we decided to order the focaccia bread, bates burger, and the mac n cheese. The focaccia bread came out with this delicious mascarpone cheese topped with honey and pepper on top. At first, we were a little worried but the blend of flavors were IMMACULATE! We contemplated ordering another one. Next the burger and mac n cheese came out. The burger was a bit dry, and it came out well done when we asked for medium (they ask how you would like it cooked when ordering). The potato wedges that come with it were very good, hot and fluffy. The Mac n cheese was the star of the show. We got the mushrooms on the side since we never had BBQed mushrooms before but they added such a complex flavor with the truffle cheese in the macaroni. We ended the night with their cookie skillet and it came with salted Carmel gelato (the menu says vanilla). She confirmed that the flavor was okay before putting the order in. Overall, we had a good night here and the view was beautiful. Side note: they have you park in the bottom lot if you are only coming for the restaurant and there is a number you call. They pick you up in the golf cart and drive you up! And they offer the same service to come back down! Thank you Alex (unless it was Ally we are arguing over your name) for such a positive energy and personality. read more

The staff is kind. The pool is great. But I've been here several times over the years and the food is always disappointing. Today: soggy, flaccid fries. read more

This hotel is a work of art--a brilliantly transformed old highway motel that's been converted into a truly cool space. We drove over for dinner on a Friday night from our Airstream campsite in Buellton, and struck gold with our timing. The entire hotel happened to be booked by two separate birthday party groups who had gone off-property for dinner, leaving us with the restaurant completely to ourselves. We made the most of having the place to ourselves and went heavy on appetizers: crispy yellowtail, tacos, and the artichoke dip. For our main course, we split the hamburger and upgraded to the garlic parmesan fries--definitely worth it. The real standouts of the evening were Hanna's expertly crafted milk punch (she's an amazing human), that incredible artichoke dip, and most importantly, the sunset we came for in the first place. The whole experience felt like we'd discovered a hidden gem. read more

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We used to be weekly regulars at Norman and then John Smith, the restaurant manager, left and they have never been the same since. We come back occasionally to see if things have improved. Sadly, today was a low point. We showed up a little after 4:00 for an early dinner only to find out they were on a reduced "bites menu" until 5:00. OK that's on us. But the bartender could hardly have been less interested in serving us. We ordered guacamole and chips and an order of fries. Guac took 10 mins. But tasted good. Fries took 20 mins and had been cooked too hot - brown on outside, underdone on inside. When we decided to leave and got our check, it was the first time the bartender paid attention to us. NOW she was sweet. Yet amazingly she said to me, "How did your Cadillac taste? - I thought I made it way too sweet." Ummm and yet you served it to me?! I guess we need to take another break from Norman - which is sad, because it is a great location and a great looking restaurant. We ended up leaving not in a good mood and that defeats the point of going out to eat. read more

Food great, ambience great view service great i love their signature cocktails read more

Norman at Skyview Los Alamos - Marry chicken very good - New American Near Me - Los Alamos, California

Incredible service and great food! My husband and I were celebrating our anniversary and Tina and Jacob made the entire experience feel special. Thank you for having us, we'll be back over and over again! read more

I had a magical time today! I took a really good friend that I have not seen in forever, to lunch at Norman's. The beet burrata salad, the salmon , & the burger were terrific. The pretzel was incredible!! Our server Hannah was hospitable and chill. That girl can read a room! There was another gal that was also very nice. OMG, that pretzel cheese sauce?!! read more

It's too bad that the restaurant does not rise to the level of the place. The location at the top of a ridge is wonderful with beautiful views of hills and vineyards. Just look up photos of Skyview to see how it delivers in its name. The food at Norman is unfortunately quite a disappointment. We ordered poke and the rice seemed like it was days old. Our burger, ordered medium rare came gray throughout, tough and dry. The pan grilled chicken was beyond tough. The leather cover on the drink menu was more tender. Our dinner was at 6:30 pm on a Saturday and the place was less than half occupied at its fullest. We left very disappointed. At least they comped us for the overcooked burger. read more

We recently stayed at the Skyview Hotel and spent the day by the pool celebrating a friend who had just earned her master's degree. Our group consisted of teachers in our 40s and 60s enjoying a relaxing day by the pool. The bartender was working alone and clearly very busy. While service wasn't particularly attentive, we understood and even helped bring our empty plates and glasses back to the bar. She wasn't overly friendly but everything seemed fine. After being at the pool from about 10 AM to 5 PM, we showered and returned to the restaurant for dinner. When our server Jacob came to take our drink order, he awkwardly told us his manager had asked him to "slow down" our drinks because she knew how much we had earlier at the pool. We were confused and asked if our behavior had been inappropriate in any way--were we loud or disruptive? He said no. For context, each of us had about three drinks over the course of seven hours while eating full meals. About 30 minutes later, the manager Hannah approached our table and said she "could have cut us off" but had only slowed things down. When we again asked if we had done something wrong, she said it was for our safety because we could "vomit and choke on our own vomit." We were shocked by this comment, especially since we were staying at the hotel and not driving anywhere. The entire interaction felt unnecessary and embarrassing. We decided to have our dinner packed up and ate in our room instead. Our server Jacob later brought a complimentary dessert to our room and apologized, assuring us our behavior had not warranted this treatment. The next morning, the hotel manager Naomi was extremely apologetic, comped our meal, and handled the situation very professionally. Jacob and Naomi are the only reason I'm giving two stars. It's unfortunate because the restaurant is adorable and the food was excellent. However, Hannah's comments completely overshadowed what should have been a joyful celebration we had been planning for months. I hope the customer service improves, because it would be a shame to see such a lovely place decline due to interactions like this. read more

This is that place that everyone sees and says "I want to go there oneday" off the 101 in Los Alamos, north of Buellton. We went there, it was groovy - the word is back! We had brunch at Norman the restaurant at the Skyview motel. French Toast Bananas Foster for me, Fritatta for hubby, although we split everything as usual. I can tell you how perfectly prepared and unique everything was but you really need to try it and see for yourself. Service was expert and friendly The restaurant is dog friendly too. read more

Great ambiance- you will need to walk up and down the hill for parking. Cute reserved hotel. Food was solid and service was a bit chaotic. Spaghetti squash and shepherd's pie very good. Schnitzel and Caesar average at best Go with Chef's dessert read more

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Such a cute place! I've been passing by here for years and have been wanting to try it and finally decided to take the plunge. They drive you up in a golf cart because it's on hill. It's an adorable motel with a pool and I'm dying to stay there some day. We chose to sit outside on this beautiful day. Our server let us know about the specialty drinks which we decided to try..very yummy and pretty. The yellow fish crisps were amazing. I wanted more. The chilaquiles were such a nice surprise. Just the right amount of spice (not too spicy). We will def be back. read more

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This is my second time stopping here on a roadtrip. Both times the food was great. We got the Caesar salad and poke this time. Our son got the hamburger plain. Our food was so yummy. The service was great and the atmosphere is fun, charming and lovely. read more

Perched on a hilltop connected to an old style motel. Small booths and tables with a quiet low chill atmosphere. We grabbed a 6 top. Some classic and original cocktails. Good burgers with inconsistent vegetables (looking plate to plate). I ordered a skirt steak off the menu and my friend ordered a skirt steak special. They were the same but mine unknowingly cost $12 more, hah! Recommended Slainte read more

We generally love going to The Norman. This visit was with some friends. Ambiance is great and it wasn't too busy, but the food quality was off this time. The portion on the blackberry and goat cheese was small, the hangar steak was small and wasn't really seasoned unfortunately. We also had the shrimp and grits but the shrimp were overcooked and tough. The cocktails though are always great and on point. They have by far the best Paloma. Hopefully food quality and prep can be improved. Especially based on the prices charged. As a reminder, if you are dining and park at the bottom of the hill, to call when you are about to pull in and they will send a moxie car down to get you so you don't have to walk up the hill as there is no parking next to the restaurant l. read more

Norman at Skyview Los Alamos - Nothing like their Paloma!! Yum! - New American Near Me - Los Alamos, California

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We arrived at 6:00 p.m., only to be told that the restaurant was already sold out of the one dish we had come for on the Restaurant Week menu. Drinks didn't arrive until after the first course. The dining room was uncomfortably cold--we kept our coats on throughout the meal and politely asked if a few windows could be closed. Out of five windows, only two were closed, and not until around 7:30 p.m. The portions were shockingly small. While I understand that Restaurant Week menus can be more limited, these were by far the smallest portions I've ever been served at a participating restaurant. Service was largely nonexistent beyond taking our order. No one checked on us, refilled our water, or asked if we'd like another drink. To make matters worse, the main course arrived cold and lacked flavor. Overall, this was a disappointing experience and fell well short of expectations for Restaurant Week. read more

Love the hotel and the restaurant had wonderful food and even better service (shout out Tina behind the bar) highly recommend!

In an unsuspecting motel on top of a hill, Norman dishes out beautifully crafted cocktails and delicious food. read more

Norman at Skyview Los Alamos - Shrimp and grits - New American Near Me - Los Alamos, California

Soooo good! I was at the hotel to babysit and the food was delicious! Goat cheese salad with berries and crostini! Yum! read more

1- problem is they have no parking for the restaurant. It is all for guests at the hotel. There's a few spaces on the road or you can park below and hoof it up. 2- waitress took our order, we saw her write it down. But she never put our bar drinks order in, and we were brought to appetizers instead of the Caesar salad, we ordered. We had to actually walk over to the bar to get our drinks done and ask about our salad. She was busy shopping on Amazon. We could see it on her computer when she stood in the corner of the restaurant. 3- there was a table of four very loud, very drunk patrons. They really disturbed at the entire restaurant as it is one giant open room. It is the job of the manager or the bartender to ask them to keep it down. No one said anything to them someone from our table had to go over and ask them to keep it down. They had two little dogs under their table unleashed in the middle of a restaurant. I would give the food about a three rating, but this service deserves a one rating There are so many nice restaurants in that area. I would take my $200 and go somewhere else. I will not be going back here. read more

The last of the places we visited on our Los alamos day trip! Located just outside the main strip, up on a hill with beautiful views. The retro decor is pretty cool and the whole vibe is welcoming. We had reservations but decided to just eat and drink at the bar. The bartenders were very friendly and attentive.Overall the service was quick and attentive. The paloma- made very well, good mix of alcohol to everything else so it's not super strong but you still know there's alcohol in there. Refreshing and just a good starter drink. Yellowfin crisps- really delicious. Crispy and the yellowfin cooked perfectly. The texture was great and I would definitely order this again. Skuna Salmon- Over all the dish was great but definitely need more puree and reduction to go with the big filet of salmon. I think i ate about 2/3's of my salmon, while portioning the puree, so the last third was all salmon. The salmon itself was cooked perfectly and had crispy skin but definitely needs the puree and reduction for the complete taste on your palate. Overall the experience was a good one. Pricing is definitely on the higher end but i don't think they're too far off since the food was quality. We came on a slow day so didn't experience much of a wait and the bartenders were attentive. There was a hiccup as they ran out of olive juice for the martini so had to order something else. If you're not on a budget and want a chill and cool experience then consider coming here. PS: i did try the cornbread but didn't eat enough to make a review but the bite i had was really good. read more

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I'm always on the hunt for date night spots where I can get a real good cocktail and this place checks all the boxes. Staff was very attentive and friendly. The food was very good. The corn ribs were delicious! definitely worth the try! I had the pork chop, husband had the salmon and we inhaled our food. As far as cocktails: I had a margarita and a spicy paloma, both were excellent. We sat outside, they have a lovely mellow patio that has everything and a great view: big trees with lots of shade to keep out of the heat; wind blocks and heaters for the cooler evenings. i am local so I'm actually really glad we decided to give this restaurant a try. I think the Skyview might be a great staycation one day. We look forward to returning! read more

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House Rosé is perfection, so crisp. Cute space for drink especially if you're staying at Skyview. They have a super cute charcuterie board perfect for two! The service was great, the staff was super kind read more

Quaint, out of the way motel that has been restored to its Mid-Mod magnificence. The restaurant was warm and welcoming and the staff was friendly and attentive. You have to park in the lot at the bottom of the hill and call for a ride in the "Moke Mobile" so you can be shuttled to the top. The views are stunning and if it's a particularly nice weather day, sit outside near the pool. My husband had the Bates Burger and I enjoyed the Chilaquiles with pork chile verde. We would absolutely eat here again and are planning to come back and stay in the Spring. read more

Norman at Skyview Los Alamos - Outside of the restaurant - New American Near Me - Los Alamos, California

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We went there for restaurant week (only the second day of this week long event) and immediately they tried to tell us we couldn't do restaurant week. Turns out they were just out of the steak. The three course meal took 2 1/2 hours because of the extremely slow service, but the portions size was enough to consume in five minutes. My crabcake was literally the size of a quarter. The chicken entree was the size of a chicken nugget. My husband ordered one drink and it took 45 minutes to get and we were the only group there. The atmosphere there is cute, but the food and service makes me never want to go there again. read more

Wanted to get away from LA for the Thanksgiving Holiday and decided on this restaurant for dinner as they featured a special 3 course menu @$75.00 per person though only had 3 choices for main entree none of it being turkey, still overall the place looked good as the ambiance seemed very nice. We were seated outside (the only ones) with no complaint as all the tables seemed to be occupied inside though we had a reservation and was hoping then when a table did clear up we would be offered that. Asked our waitress for a heater to be turned on for us which they finally got someone around to help with after asking a second time though at this point we were just about finished with our meal. One of the choices, the duck my mother had was basically inedible and stopped eating after a few bites. What really left a bad taste was the service. You would think for a special holiday and for the price the service would be a bit more attentive with no checks on if everything was ok after a few minutes of having the entrees delivered or no comment on when we asked to have the dishes cleared and nearly a full plate taken away. Had to track down our waitress inside to get the check as we were both ready to leave this disappointing place which I had high hopes for. read more

It was Valentine's Day. My boyfriend and I were in Santa Barbara to celebrate. We were just winging the day as it went, but we realized during lunch that we needed to make a reservation for dinner somewhere if we wanted to eat out that night. He searched a very broad area online, found a few available options, and picked Norman on a whim. I am not going to lie - I was a little skeptical upon arrival when I saw the giant motel sign. Also, the motel and restaurant are located at the top of the hill while the parking lot is at the bottom of the hill, and I dreaded the thought of having to walk up and later down that hill on a chilly night. To my relief, there was a sign with the phone number for their tram. I called the number, and the tram quickly came and brought us up. I discovered that we were not at a motel - there once was a motel, but it has since been transformed into a boutique hotel with a nice restaurant. Once we were inside the restaurant, we were quickly seated and presented with the Valentine's Day menu. It was $70 per person for a 3-course meal. I had the yellowfin poke, surf 'n' turf, and white chocolate raspberry custard. He had the compressed watermelon, pork tenderloin, and bread pudding. We added the cast iron cornbread to share for an additional charge. The cornbread was too salty, but everything else was fantastic. We ended up not eating much of the cornbread, but we enjoyed everything else and were so stuffed at the end of the night. The service was top-notch. Our server was attentive. The rest of the staff was great as well. After our meal, the tram quickly came and brought us down the hill. Once I got into my car, I realized that I had forgotten my phone at the restaurant. I was partway with driving up the hill to get my phone, but our tram driver had already made it back down to meet me with it. I am not sure if Skyview Los Alamos is a good place to stay at - it looks like a cute spot. I can say though that it is a great place to dine at. The food is tasty. The staff is friendly. The service is great. The prices on a normal day are reasonable, and there is a happy hour menu. The prices for a Valentine's Day prix fixe menu were as expected. We had a lovely experience and would come here regularly if we were locals. read more

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Had the opportunity to finally make it up to this cute little gem on the hill. Food was delicious and service great. Quaint place with 33 rooms on the hill. Fire pits and pool available. Restaurant has a great bar and fireplace and piano to set the mood read more

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Loved our dinner tonight, the service team and the ambiance! -Brussels-Must have and among the best Brussels dish we've ever had! Bacon, cranberries, parm and blueberry balsamic...so good! -Beet and Burrata Salad-Creamy delicious burrata with red beets, cherry tomatoes and arugula -Burger-Just get and don't think! -Shrimp and Risotto-Loved the truffle, mushrooms, cheese and the spinach that all combined for amazing flavors that surprisingly complemented the prawns Included some pics of the interior. read more

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This place has so much potential. My friend and I came on a Friday night and the place was pretty empty. We enjoyed the margarita, goat cheese crostini, risotto, and salmon. The risotto was delicious! The sauce with the salmon was served cold which threw me off. The biggest issue with this place was that an entire wedding party rented out the motel and towards the end of our dinner they completely took over the bar and were obnoxiously drunk. I really felt the management should have said something, but they were buying a lot of drinks so maybe that balanced it out for them. I would be nervous going here again that I may not be able to enjoy a quiet dinner. I'm going to stick with only visiting during lunch. read more

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Finally got to try the restaurant at Skyview. The remodel in this place is amazing. Perched on top of a hill overlooking Los Alamos it was beautiful and felt like taking a step back into a simpler time. We started with Bloody Mary's the featured horseradish infused vodka! Delicious. From there we had Barbacoa tacos and the Bates burger. Yes so cute right, old school hotel with a Restaurant named Norman! Perfect day, great food! We had to top it off with a frose. It was refreshing, if not a little too sweet for me. All in all it was a wonderful experience. We will be back! I hope next time we can stay for the night in one of their clean and cute rooms. read more

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The food was so delicious and affordable with a super beautiful ambience! Servers were very kind and we burned a few calories walking up from the parking lot read more

A great spot for a quiet meal with lovely (optional) outdoor seating! Went for a weekend brunch... Superb food, outstanding staff, excellent views. Highly recommended! read more

Norman at Skyview Los Alamos - Walking up to the restaurant from the parking area. - New American Near Me - Los Alamos, California

This place is awesome! We happened upon it while passing through Los Alamos on a short road trip, and I was craving a cocktail and needed a snack. After driving by other disappointing local spots, I saw a sign (literally) for a motel and figured, why not take a gander? I'm so glad I did. Tucked away up in the hills was this adorable little boutique motel with the best restaurant/bar in town. The staff was super friendly and greeted/seated us immediately. The bar had a decent selection of liquors and a good bartender who made us some fantastic drinks. I sampled a martini and a whiskey sour but with scotch, which I highly recommend. They had Laphroaig, which I am partial to. For a late lunch, I enjoyed sampling their fish sandwich, which was pretty tasty and came with a fresh slaw that I really liked, and their avocado toast. I will definitely be back to this little hidden gem again! read more

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