We happen to be in town for the wifey's birthday weekend. After doing some research, I knew this…read moreOlive + Lavender farm would be a great spot to check out. Glad we added it to the itinerary. We arrived on a Saturday afternoon. The olive oil tasting farm is located in a nice neighborhood area in downtown Los Olivos. There is parking accessible in the back parking lot and limited parking next to the olive oil tasting area and boutique shop. As soon as we parked and headed to the olive oil tasting area, we were greeted by a very friendly and hospitable staff member. I appreciated all the information she told us about the property and instructions about the olive oil tasting experience. Their complimentary olive oil tasting was unique and unlike any other olive oil tasting I had ever done before. There were 10 different olive oils to taste from. You are given a freshly made sourdough bread slice to go along with a tray with a menu sheet of all the olive oils. Some of the olive oils that stood out to me were the white truffle, garlic, and Italian honey. We were then encouraged to explore the rest of the property where there was a charcuterie cart, pottery vendor, and complimentary wine tasting on the other side of the premises. This enhanced our olive oil tasting experience even more. The rest of the property was beautiful as there were a lot of tables and chairs for guests to enjoy. Overall we enjoyed our experience at Olive + Lavender Farms. The staff were nice and accommodating. The vibe was relaxing and inviting. The boutique shop were selling a lot of wonderful and distinctive local products in the area. The olive oils price point are in the higher end. Next time we are in the area we would love to come back.

Such a gem of a place. Popped in to hopefully buy some lavender plants in pots. And while they…read moredon't sell lavender to plant (why not!?), they had a lovely selection of other things. We did a free olive oil and balsamic vinegar tasting, and both my friend and I bought a bottle of habanero olive oil, so yummy! They sell bundles of lavender, soaps, cute kitchen things, candles etc etc. A great stop to pick up some gifts and great way to support local businesses.

I love Olive Oil. The staff chooses four combinations of Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar for $10…read more The pairings are perfection. You can make your own choosing or the staff can choose for you of her choice. OMG, they are so good. I will come here again and try more.

I received this olive oil and balsamic vinegar as a gift from my neighbor. All of it is delicious…read more I especially love the strawberry balsamic! I have made many homemade dressings with it. I'm looking forward to one day venturing here myself!

Okay, so imagine going to this place where they make olive oil, right? But it's not just any…read moreplace--it's a fun tasting party with olive oil involved. Extra special when you're married to an Italian. They give you these adorable tiny cups, like for dolls, and you get to try ALL of the olive oils and vinegars they have. Seriously, they want you to taste everything! We ended up bringing home this amazing olive oil and a dark chocolate balsamic vinegar that's so good, it's like a dessert in a bottle but I use it for my salads. We could have stayed there forever, just sipping and tasting all day! Make sure you visit this place when in town.

Service was welcoming and informative. I learned a few new things and was encouraged to try samples…read moreand really explore why olive oils like this are such a thing. I enjoyed reading the signs about olive oil being good for your heart, reducing depression, and many other health benefits. I loved everything I tried. I particularly enjoyed the balsamic and oil pairings, with the cinnamon pear and orange combo being a standout one for me. I also really enjoyed the blueberry balsamic. So many good ones! We did end up buying a few. Yummy.

We made a quick pit stop and this was an amazing experience!…read more I did bring four small bottles home with me because they were so good! They even give you bread to do the olive oil tasting

We have been to Santa Ynez valley for many many times but never knew about this place until last…read moreweekend during the Santa Barbara farm day. My husband and I stopped by to check them out. They sell olive oil, vinegar, honey, tomatoes and seasonal items. We were able to taste the olive oil before purchasing our favorite one. I also bought a lot of tomatoes. They were so good. Can't find it at the stores. We also purchased raw honey. Beautiful property with olive trees and horses. They were doing tours for farm day but we missed it. Friendly staff. Great find... will visit again.

Nothing says "Central Coast" like Susie Q's Brand of seasoning…read more I was born and raised in California, the Central Coast (don't hate me) and I have fond memories of Santa Maria tri tip barbeque in every parking lot in Santa Maria. It is a staple there, believe me. Tri tip is cooked on an open flame, where they are on a grate that you lower up and down on the pit, preferably fired up red oak for a smoky flavor. It's been a tradition since the 19th century and originates from the ranchers hosting feasts from their vaqueros. Susie Q's is a blend of garlic, salt, parsley and pepper, and myself and family of origin brought this delight here to Reno with us when we moved here in the 90's. We refresh our supplies when we visit the Central Coast, and for times in between, we order from the Susie Q's website. In fact, I loaded up just recently and love to give it out as Christmas gifts. You can use this seasoning for anything, meats, vegetables.. mixed it in olive oil and you have a nice dip for your French bread. Susie Q's also sales pinquito beans, which are native to the Central Coast of California. It is a small round bean and is always a compliment to Santa Maria BBQ with a side salad, salsa and bread.

I ordered the Tuscan Herb olive oil, after tasting it at the Pink Lady restaurant in Seattle…read more My second order arrived with a leak, which the company resent immediately! They have a fabulous selection, especially the Lemon variety, which I have recommended to people coming back from Europe, without their oils, due to TSA rules. Just order at the Olive Oil source, and try it!!

I could not be more pleased with my experience with The Olive Oil Source Wholesale Store. They…read morehave an excellent website replete with a wealth of information on the industry, especially for folks getting into the business. You can tell that the products and services they offer are well curated based on many years of experience. And when you call to ask questions or seek advice, they answer your call and are happy to help, all of which leaves you wishing this level of service was the norm rather than the exception in today's world.

I live in Santa Barbara, planning an out-of-town trip, and was looking for gift for a host at…read morewhose home I would be spending a couple of nights. Viva Oliva was perfect. A small, local company, they offer a large variety of very reasonably priced gift choices. The sales associate was very friendly and helpful. (I chose a beautiful gift box of gourmet olive oil/vinegar pairings.)

I absolutely adore this shop!! The vibe is very charming, intimate, and warm. I have never seen so…read moremany different infused olive oils and balsamic vinegars before. I really appreciate that you can taste the products. I found so many I loved and tasting the notes helped me better envision what I could use each one for and how it fit into my cooking style. I also like how they offer each product in two sizes. The people here are so warm, friendly, and knowledgeable as well. They were so ready to help and give information about their store and their products.

I had the pleasure of tasting several varieties of olive oil, and each one was delicious in its own…read moreway. The oils were fresh, smooth, and full of flavor. Their balsamic vinegars are equally impressive, with rich, well-balanced flavors that are wonderful for salads, cooking, or simply enjoying on their own. Owen was knowledgeable, friendly, and happy to share information about the different varieties. The shop was clean and inviting, making the entire experience enjoyable. The Italian music playing in the background added such a charming touch and made me feel as though I had stepped into a little shop in Italy. I highly recommend stopping in and trying these exceptional olive oils and balsamic vinegars.

New name. Same great product. Our trusty bottle of Aged Balsamic gave us its last drop of liquid…read morejoy so we checked to see when We Olive was open. OH NO !!! We Olive isn't in SLO any more !!! It's now called SLO Olive. Hmmm. RELIEF - same people, same products, same easy vibe. They just dropped the franchise name. Whew. Traded the old bottle for a new one and we're good to go.

Woody's Butcher Block absolutely lived up to the hype. I ordered the single-patty burger, pulled…read morepork taco, brisket taco, coleslaw, and potato salad, and every single item was outstanding. The burger was juicy and flavorful, the tacos were packed with delicious smoked meat, and the sides were fresh and complemented the meal perfectly. As someone who visits this area often, this will definitely become a regular stop. Highly recommend!

We pulled into Woody's based on a desire to eat Central Coast BBQ but to do it fast because we had…read morean appointment in L.A. and needed sandwiches. All 4 of us ordered the Tri Tip sandwiches. The tri tip was very flavorful! probably the best tri tip I had ever had. TH=here was some good smoke flavor in that meat. Sliced very thin, it was so easy to eat. No fighting the meat. Bread was buttered. BBQ on the side was Sweet Baby Ray's. I found that the BBQ sauce took away from the sammich, so I did very little dipping. If I come again, which I hope I do, I will order that sammich, but prepared in the same manner in which they prepare the roast beef sandwich. We took some chile verde sausages home to try, and those have a strong and memorable chile taste. For people who do not like spicy, beware. For the rest of us it is a satisfying burn. It is a pork sausage. Wife denied the purchase of the blackberry habanero sausage, so I will be left wondering about those. We also grabbed their pesto mayo. We will be trying that this week. I think I would have liked it on my tri tip sammich. I love pesto on anything. Place ain't cheap, but what is?

Oil's Well That Ends Well…read more Locally owned and grown olive oil company that saw its humble beginnings over 25 years ago (1996) when the founder, Theodora Stephan, planted her first olive trees in nearby Santa Barbara--with her first harvest in '98! Fast forward to today, and they've grown from a roadside farm stand to having won multiple award for their EVOO, as well as having two boutique stores, this one and one in Solvang, to go along with a mass production facility in nearby Buellton. The Good: *Friendly, no pressure customer service *They have monthly olive oil and balsamic vinegar clubs *Over 40 food products to choose from, including their award-winning EVOOs, balsamic vinegars, mustards, spices, sauces, and more. *All EVOOs are organically grown *Lotions, bath salts, and other skin care products *EVOO tastings The Meh: *Store is a bit on the smallish side and cramped for an ogre, such as myself. The Ugly: *A lot of prices are not displayed/not marked on the products. I know, I know if you have to ask... But, anywho, that's one of my pet peeves about places like this. It's not difficult to just make things clear. TLDR: Cute little store in a charming town. If you love EVOO like I do, then definitely check them out.

We were directed here from our hotel in Solvang (the Landsby) that stated they offered…read morecomplimentary olive oil tastings to Landsby guests. The paper we were given by the Landsby said "no reservations required". As soon as we walked in, the sales associate was very rude and asked if we had a reservation. I simply stated that we did not because the paper said no reservations required. She said "yeah we need to change that. well, it's going to take me a while to get it ready". We said it was fine and patiently waited. The olive oils and vinegars themselves were tasty, but we will definitely not be coming back here due to not feeling welcome and not friendly service. We felt very awkward being there and were going to buy a bottle of vinegar but decided not to given how uncomfortable we felt. Don't waste your time.