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 Wednesday, July 23, 2008 Volume: 22, Issue: 50
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New Times / Special IssueBest of 2008Dining Out
BEST NORTH COAST RESTAURANTWindows on the Water 699 Embarcadero, Morro Bay With its impressive views of Morro Rock along the Embarcadero and the overview of active marine life, this restaurant offers a magical setting for dinner that’s quite romantic. But this restaurant along the Morro Bay estuary offers much more than the fresh abalone, albacore, and sand dabs it’s become famous for. Chef Neil Smith expanded the menu with several appetizers and entrées that include Asian-style short ribs, vegetarian lasagna, Rocky Jr. roast chicken ratatouille, and Hearst Ranch grass-fed rib eye steak. “Windows on the Water offers great food and great service. We’re like a family,” said general manager Paul Merkle. “And our No. 1 job is to make our guests happy.” —Kathy Marcks Hardesty runner up: Robin’s
BEST NORTH COUNTY RESTAURANTMcPhee’s Grill 416 S. Main St., Templeton Visiting McPhee’s in Templeton is like stepping into the past, but chef Ian McPhee’s contemporary menu isn’t just about beef and potatoes. This restaurant is an icon in Paso Robles wine country. They offer an excellent selection of Central Coast wines, and chef Ian’s wizardry shows in the way his contemporary cuisine pairs so deliciously with an array of great local wines. A local favorite for nearly three decades, chef Ian is known for his consistently good food and genial servers. He explained that there’s no magical potion that feeds his success—he’s simply giving people exactly what they want: “Well prepared food, served hot and fast by people who are kind, friendly, and always remember their guests.” —KMH runner up: Artisan
BEST SAN LUIS OBISPO RESTAURANTNovo 726 Higuera St., San Luis Obispo Novo means “new” in Portuguese, and the restaurant that bears that name possesses a one-of-a-kind cuisine found in SLO County—an eclectic mix of Italian, Asian, and flavors from around the globe. “The menu is always evolving, and it helps to keep the pizzazz,” said Steve Hawley, daytime operations manager. “But we keep the favorites, too.” Highlights diners can depend on are the grilled salmon salad, tapas (like a fresh shrimp avocado spring roll), or even nachos topped with savory shredded pork. Specials like the shrimp and avocado quesadilla are also a nice surprise. Novo serves an array of beers, wine, bubbly, and even sake. —Christy Heron runner up: Big Sky Café
BEST SOUTH COUNTY RESTAURANTGiuseppe’s 800 Price St., Pismo Beach With two Giuseppe’s restaurants to keep local foodies happy, it’s no mystery that Giuseppe “Joe” Difronzo’s traditional Italian cuisine floated to the top spot. The Pismo Beach location still offers southern Italian specialties like osso buco, lamb, and steaks, as well as that freshly baked, crusty bread. (The new Court Street location befits SLO businesspeople who want lighter salads and pastas. There, dishes feature spring’s sweet peas, saffron, and gorgonzola cheese, but this category’s all about Pismo.) The passionate chef describes it as north meets south in Italian cuisine. Freshly plucked produce comes from his sustainably farmed garden, which he tends just as his ancestors have done for centuries in southern Italy. “This is my life, for better or for worse,” Difronzo said with a laugh. “I might as well make it for better.” —KMH runner up: Jocko’s
BEST RESTAURANT, PERIODNovo 726 Higuera St., San Luis Obispo “It’s not a corporate restaurant,” said Steve Hawley, floor manager at Novo. “The servers dress how they want, and the patrons can, too. It has a ‘slow’ pace … you can relax … and find whatever you’re looking for.” The building Novo is in used to house a cigar factory back in the day. The downstairs is available to rent and can fit about 40 to 60 people. Hawley went on to say that owner Robin Covey “keeps things fresh, even the décor.” The flowers are always fresh, and Covey often trucks things down from San Francisco, like exotic spices or furniture and antiques, things that can’t always be found on the Central Coast. But what can be found here is amazing locally grown produce, a staple at the five-year-old restaurant. —CH runner up: Windows on the Water
BEST NEWRESTAURANT, 2007Native 1023 Chorro St., San Luis Obispo The hottest restaurant in SLO since it opened early this year, Native is unlike anything we’ve experienced before. Local media extolled it, describing it as a refreshing, upscale alternative, a foretelling of how we dine at restaurants in the future, describing soulful dishes that make it soar. San Luis Obispans are equally spellbound. “We’re all so happy that people are so receptive. Our hard work is paying off,” said co-owner and manager Sean Faries. He appreciates the title of Best New Restaurant, but pointed out: “There’s a lot of synergy. The food has to be spectacular, as do the beverages and the entertainment. People are caught off guard and then suddenly see there’s a life to it. Native pulses to a beat of its own.” —KMH
BEST KID-FRIENDLY RESTAURANTKlondike Pizza 104 Bridge St., Arroyo Grande Pizza on checkered tablecloths. Peanut shells on the floor. Alaskan souvenirs on the walls (and ceiling). Need I say more? No, I don’t need to, but I will anyway: sing-along nights. At Klondike Pizza, kids of all ages won’t find themselves singing along with frighteningly bug-eyed animatronic critters. No siree, on the first and third Saturdays of the month, they’ll be singing genuine Americana tunes and other old favorites alongside real people. Plus there are real kazoos for sale for a buck. I’ll say a few more things: the Hokey Pokey. And the Chicken Dance. —Andrea Rooks runner up: Big Bubba’s Bad BBQ
BEST BREAKFASTLouisa’s Place 964 Higuera St., San Luis Obispo Louisa’s is the quintessential SLO diner. Oversized omelets, the option of adding bacon to every meal, bottomless cups of coffee, and back-talking waitresses have made it a long-time favorite among the post binge weekend college crowd, and the pious pre-worship Sunday crowd, too. Belly up to the bar, and get a monster-proportioned breakfast for a good price. Or sit outside and enjoy a lazy batch of buttermilk pancakes. —Kylie Mendonca runner up: Big Sky Café
BEST VEGETARIAN FARENatural Café 698 Higuera St., San Luis Obispo The thing that’s great about Natty Café is that it’s fast, and the cafeteria-style dining/girls in low-cut tops will actually make you feel like you’re back in high school, so maybe health food is like a fountain of youth. Luckily, the food at Natural Café is a lot better than high school cafeteria fare. The restaurant offers great options for herbivores, including brown rice with veggies, nachos, burgers, soups, and some great salads. They’ve got plenty of options to satisfy meat eaters, too. With appetizers and salads for less than five bucks, and entrées for less than $10, you can afford to stuff your face—and feel great afterward. —KM runner up: Big Sky Café
BEST SEAFOODSteamers of Pismo 1601 Price St., Pismo Beach “We go through clams like you wouldn’t believe,” said manager John Smith. “And clam chowder, king crab legs, and Chilean sea bass.” This champion-by-the-sea has it all: from popcorn shrimp and fish and chips to ahi tuna and Australian lobster tail. But if you love seafood and your mate doesn’t, no worries, they’ve got the same choice-grade, aged rib-eye steaks served at McLintocks. Chef Danna Vachal said that there’s much more to Steamers than its breathtaking views—their enthusiastic staff ensures service is consistent: “Our fresh fish comes in six days a week. If they delivered on Sundays, it would come in daily.” —KMH runner up: The Quarterdeck
BEST MEXICAN FOODOld Juan’s Cantina Highway 1 & Pier Avenue, Oceano You gotta have some real mojo behind you, baby, to upset the former magician that held this title for 19 years. But Old Juan’s pulled the crown right out of the hat this year with its authentic Mexican foods. This family favorite offers sizzling shrimp or chicken fajitas, steak asada, carnitas, Sonora Caesar salad, and a kid’s menu that has families coming back for more. Their popular margaritas and cocktails taste great with appetizers like the Mexican shrimp cocktail, taquitos, and nachos. If it’s brunch you crave, you won’t find any hocus pocus in the Huevos Benedicto at Old J’s during their delicious Sunday Ranchero Breakfast. —KMH runner up: Taco de Mexico
BEST CHINESE FOODGolden Gong 290 Madonna Road, San Luis Obispo Alex Chang and his family came to the Central Coast in the 1980s, and around the same time his parents opened the original Golden Gong restaurant in Grover Beach, which his brother now owns. In 2003, the San Luis location opened its doors, with soothing décor and an outdoor patio. The restaurant in SLO is roomy, the service is helpful, and—most importantly—the food is delicious. The authentic cuisine includes dishes like Kung Pao with just about any form of meat or poultry, or a poo poo platter for two. Some dishes are even prepared for you right at your table. —CH runner up: Mandarin Gourmet
BEST JAPANESE FOODYanagi San Luis Obispo, Paso Robles, Pismo Beach When you want tasty Japanese food, it’s not difficult to find one of Yanagi’s restaurants—there are five convenient locations from Paso Robles to Santa Maria. “We give Americans what they like,” explained Casey Jung, manager of WOW Yanagi in Pismo Beach. “We take traditional Japanese dishes and alter it with things they like.” They have something for every taste, even for those who consider raw fish more akin to bait than a meal. Combination plates are available for lunch and dinner, with choices like chicken or beef teriyaki, barbecued short ribs, or shrimp and vegetable tempura. At the Pismo 4th Street and Santa Maria locations, they offer the entertaining teppan grill, where the sleight-of-hand chef cooks at the table and flips your food into the air and onto your plate—not many restaurants can perform that trick. —KMH runner up: Tsurugi
BEST THAI FOODThai Palace 1015 Court St., San Luis Obispo “We love to bring out the best of our cuisine and show off the traditional foods of Thailand,” said Teerapan “Tee-Tee” Teeratarkul, who owns Thai Palace and Basil Thai restaurants. He explained that his focus has always been to provide the classic cuisine of Thailand, and it earned him the top prize over numerous competitors throughout SLO County. Every delectable dish is cooked as you prefer it, from mild but intriguingly spicy to as spicy-hot as you can take. According to Teeratarkul, they never cut corners or take the easy way out to save time in preparing their foods: “We only hire people who love cooking, and we never take shortcuts that might lose the quality of the dish.” —KMH runner up: Thai-rrific
BEST ITALIAN FOODGiuseppe’s 800 Price St., Pismo Beach 1010 Court St., San Luis Obispo “When it comes to Italian food, around here it’s personal and we’re passionate about it,” said owner/chef Giuseppe “Joe” Difronzo. “When my family visits from Italy, they say, ‘You’ve done so well.’ And I tell them, ‘This is what you taught us.’” Difronzo believes that people are going back to their roots and re-establishing traditions they learned from their parents and grandparents while growing up. Although the core recipes at both Giuseppe’s restaurants are Difronzo’s, he recognizes the talents of his chefs and allows them some creativity with specials. “My biggest competition in SLO is Giuseppe’s in Pismo, which I don’t mean to sound vain,” Difronzo said. “But people frequently ask for a special dish we make in Pismo.” —KMH runner up: Rosa’s
BEST MEDITERRANEAN FOOD
1212 Higuera St., San Luis Obispo It may not have belly dancers, but the cuisine is good enough to make Jaffa Café the best place to get Mediterranean food around. The inside is spacious and reminiscent of a deli, international style, with a counter for ordering lunch and shelves of stuff to buy and take home to prepare later. The air is constantly rich with the spicy aromas of cumin, garlic, paprika, and tahineh. It’s also hard to compete with their leafy and lovely patio seating in California’s own Mediterranean weather. Thank goodness they have falafel, or this vegetarian would be very sad. —Angela Marie Watkins runner up: Oasis
BEST INDIAN FOODTaj Palace 795 E. Foothill Blvd., ste. A, San Luis Obispo For a long time, I thought I was in on a little secret—maybe the best-kept secret in town. It’s this little place that I like to take my friends for lunch, and they’re always stoked. They’re like, “OMG! This is like the best ever, and I think you are cool.” And I go, “I know, because people tell me that all the time.” So it’s basically the best lunch buffet in the city. I mean, it’s never crowded, it’s inexpensive, and the food is always amazing. Now, it turns out, everybody knew about this all along—it’s the best in SLO! So if everyone else knew about this place, why didn’t anyone ever tell me? —KM
BEST PIZZAWoodstock’s Pizza 1000 Higuera St., San Luis Obispo Every time I pull an endless string of handkerchiefs from my sleeve, I can’t help thinking of the endless stretch of mozzarella on a good slice of pizza. General Manager Mike Swift said that the restaurant has an “upbeat, high-energy-level atmosphere that appeals to a broad variety of people—not just to college students, and not just to non-college students.” Woodstock’s pizza crust is made fresh daily, and they spread a variety of different sauces across it: “Pesto sauce, creamy garlic sauce, and, of course, our Woodstock’s red sauce,” said Swift, who noted that he’s “ecstatic” that Woodstock’s has won the Best Of award no less than 20 times. —Brent Parker runner up: Klondike Pizza
BEST STEAKJocko’s Steak House 125 N. Thompson, Nipomo At Jocko’s, nothing much has changed since Ralph “Jocko” Knotts ran the bar from the early 1900s until 1952. His family still owns it and they’ve kept it consistent, from their steaks, spareribs, sweetbreads, and chicken to the popular pinquito beans they serve. Rain or shine, there’s always a line of folks waiting inside and outside to discover what the thrill is all about. The 30-day aged Spencer steak (rib eye) is No. 1 here and outsells every other entrée. But it’s not black magic, it’s the flaming pit of red oak that makes their steaks taste so good. —KMH runner up: F. McLintocks
BEST TRI-TIPFirestone Grill 1001 Higuera St., San Luis Obispo What could be so special about a piece of meat that Santa Maria lays claim to inventing and is widely known to be “the best” at many eating establishments around town? Darnell Harris, Firestone Grill’s manager, has a theory that sums up the cut’s popularity, albeit circularly: “The public loves it so much because it’s the best. We make it as fresh as possible, and cook it nice and slow.” So it’s low and slow—and that barbecue sauce Firestone uses doesn’t hurt either. —CH runner up: F. McLintocks
BEST BURGERFirestone Grill 1001 Higuera St., San Luis Obispo Meat lovers unite! Come one come all to this den of draft beer and battered foods, otherwise known as Firestone Grill. Stay for the locally loved thick, juicy burgers with their signature bun—and the add-on options don’t hurt, either: avocado, melting cheese, onions, or bacon. For the lighter side, try a garden burger or a veggie, salmon, or chicken sandwich. And don’t bother trying to call. They’re always busy, so just show up and enjoy the ride. And the food. —CH runner up: Sylvester’s
BEST BARBECUEMo’s Smokehouse BBQ 1005 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo 221 Pomeroy St., Pismo Beach Mo’s also won for Best Ribs in SLO, so what is it about the place that makes it such a juicy draw? It must be the variety of barbecues they offer, like the barbecue chopped chicken salad; shredded pork, chicken, and beef sandwiches; tri-tip sandwiches; BBQ pork ribs; and the list goes on. Or maybe it’s how the meat is slow-cooked for hours to achieve a tender state that will satisfy our carnivorous needs. Or perhaps it’s their homemade specialty barbecue sauces that stimulate people’s tasting pleasure. Well, whatever that “it” factor is, Mo’s sure has it—and it’s won over the hearts of barbecue lovers. —Jen Ingan runner up: Firestone Grill
BEST RIBSMo’s Smokehouse BBQ 1005 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo 221 Pomeroy St., Pismo Beach Mo’s Memphis Pork Ribs, Philthy Phil’s Ribs, and the people’s favorite, Sweet Carolina’s Pork Ribs—it doesn’t matter which ribs you choose to grub, all of them are slowly smoked for hours and topped with Mo’s specially made sauces to make them super tender-juicy and melt off the bones and into your mouth. Keep a moist towelette on hand for these. “We’re lucky that people continue to like us. Our ribs are extra special,” said Larry Kowalski, founder of Mo’s Smokehouse BBQ. This year marks Mo’s 15th year of operation in San Luis Obispo. That adds up to a lot of messy hands and chins. —JI runner up: F. McLintocks
BEST SALADFirestone Grill 1001 Higuera St., San Luis Obispo The pungent blue cheese, the perfect ranch dressing, the fresh red bell peppers, and, of course, the tri tip. Enter Firestone Grill on any given day at lunchtime and you won’t be able to hear yourself order the steak Cobb salad from the front of the fast-moving line—but it doesn’t matter. Your taste buds will thank you later for devouring this tummy-pleasing version of the standard Cobb salad. Firestone also offers a Chinese chicken salad and a special “Firestone Salad” that features feta cheese and pine nuts. If you’re going to eat your vegetables, this is a tasty way to do it. —CH runner up (tie): Big Sky Café runner up (tie): Natural Café
BEST TACO
2680 Main St., Morro Bay The queue outside reveals that there’s nothing supernatural about Taco Temple. Owner/chef Adam Pollard said they get fresh produce every day to create their unique salsas and toppings for their fabulous tacos. Their delicious fillings include carnitas, fresh fish, chile verde, beef, chicken, or veggie, all prepared in house. The establishment is family owned and operated from the heart, and that makes all the difference. “People don’t just come to your restaurant just because you’re there. We don’t put out a plate of slop,” Pollard said pointedly. “There’s nothing sort-of-good here. A lot of hard work goes into everything, from the tacos, tostadas and salads to the desserts Dawnelle makes daily.” Dawnelle, by the way, is Adam’s wife and partner. —KMH runner up: Old Juan’s Cantina
BEST CURRYThai Palace 1015 Court St., San Luis Obispo The reason Thai Palace’s curries are so popular is because they’re made from fresh local herbs and spices, according to Teerapan “Tee-Tee” Teeratarkul, owner of Thai Palace and Basil Thai restaurants in SLO County. They’re nothing like other ethnic cuisines that prepare dishes with curry from a box. Teeratarkul explained: “Most curries aren’t even close to the Thai style. We use fresh lemongrass, chiles, galangal, and other ingredients to make a curry paste.” Their spicy red curry with dried chili, basil, and coconut milk is a house favorite. Their green curry, which seems mild despite a complex blend of spices, is irresistible. Tee-tee said that their new pad phat, which is less soupy compared to typical curries, is rapidly growing in popularity. One taste of their spicy concoctions will have you mesmerized. —KMH runner up: Thai Classic
BEST SUSHIYanagi Pismo Beach, Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo When most Americans think of sushi, they think of the rolls: the rainbow roll, the caterpillar roll, and the spider roll. And if there’s anyone who could be considered a conjurer at creating these creative spirals of fish, veggies and rice, it’s Jay Chang, owner of the five Yanagi Sushi and Grill restaurants. Here, the sushi is as aesthetically pleasing as it is tasty. The Yanagi roll is a house favorite, but don’t miss out on the special sashimi treats like the North Shore with yellowtail and jalapeño and an irresistible sauce, or the albacore tataki. —KMH runner up: Tsurugi
BEST CHOWDERSplash Cafe 197 Pomeroy, Pismo Beach 1491 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo Since 1989, Splash Cafe has served up its classic clam concoction, receiving national attention and local accolades along the way. Thick and flavorful, with the perfect clam-to-cream ratio, this chowder keeps locals and vacationers coming back for more. The Pismo location alone serves more than 15,000 gallons of clam chowder each year, and the recipe has gained attention from Bon Appetit and Gourmet magazines. The chowder house opened a branch in San Luis Obispo in 2006, making its famous soup more accessible to inland residents. If you find yourself closer to Costco than Pismo or uptown SLO, you can buy a fresh-frozen bulk helping of Splash Cafe’s famous chowder. Plus, the creamy, clammy goodness and its accompanying bread bowls can be yours via the Internet. —AR runner up: Windows on the Water
BEST SALSAOld Juan’s Cantina 649 Pier Ave., Oceano Salsa! It’s a magical potion that has food lovers spellbound. It’s loaded with ingredients that are actually good for you—and it’s even low calorie. But let’s face it: Not all salsas are created equal, and that’s why Old J’s was voted numero uno. Owner John Verdin makes the salsa the same way his mother made it—he said that he only “tweaked it” to make it better for scooping it up with their crispy tortilla chips. Verdin also explained that it’s made mild to appeal to the California palate. Of course, if you’re looking for some kick, ask them to stir in some of their habanero salsa to give it the black magic you crave. —KMH runner up: Vallarta’s
BEST BRUNCHThe Cliffs Resort 2757 Shell Beach Road, Pismo Beach The award-winning Sunday Champagne brunch at the Marisol restaurant at The Cliffs Resort in Pismo Beach blends California coastal cuisine with modern Latin flavors to provide an array of food sure to compliment every taste. The restaurant offers smoked salmon and a variety of seafood, sushi, omelets, and waffles. There’s also a fruit and cheese and Latin buffet, salads, breakfast and lunch entrees, pastries, desserts, and, of course, Champagne—definitely worth your $36. Seniors pay $29, and children 5 to 13 years old only pay $13.95 for brunch. Better make reservations. —JI runner up: Sea Venture Resort
BEST DELI
350 High St., San Luis Obispo What’s a great sandwich without a little potato salad? Or chips? Maybe a cookie? High Street makes a tasty meal between two pieces of bread, and has all the side salads and great drinks to go with it. There’s also liquid bread—they have beer in lots of sizes (12 oz., 22 oz., and even 40s). Or, if you prefer, crack open an old-fashioned soda in a glass bottle—brewed with real sugar, not corn syrup. If all that’s not enough, the skilled staffers make every order with love. You can see it in their eyes. —KM runner up: Gus’s
BEST ICE CREAM /YOGURTCold Stone Creamery Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo, Arroyo Grande Pick a flavor, any flavor. Brooke Brundage, owner of San Luis Obispo’s Cold Stone Creamery, said that what makes Cold Stone special is “the ability to customize any way you want.” Brundage said that her favorite flavor and mix-in combo changes from week to week. Currently, it’s cheesecake with chocolate chips, graham cracker pie crust, and caramel. Drop some money in the tip jar, and the employees will break into song. But that’s not the only entertainment at Brundage’s store. “Some nights you can come in and find our employees throwing the ice cream,” she said. She added that she once saw an employee throw ice cream across Higuera and land it in a customer’s cup. —BP runner up: Bali’s
BEST DESSERTMadonna Inn 100 Madonna Road, San Luis Obispo Chocolate curls the size of your hands adorn the Madonna Inn’s most famous of desserts. These memorable cakes are layered with whipped cream and Bavarian cream, piled high with frosting, and topped with white-, pink-, or milk-chocolate shavings. The Inn’s dessert menu also boasts cream pies, fruit pies, cookies, French pastries, hot fudge sundaes, and Madonna’s Delight—a local twist on a traditional banana split. But let’s get back to the cakes: black forest, banana nut, pink Champagne, lemon coconut, and apple spice. Plus toffee crunch cake—a gold mine of toffee nuggets clinging to a cliff of cream. And at the Copper Café, you can get just desserts until 10 p.m. or take home endless deliciousness any time of the day. —AR runner up: Novo
BEST SANDWICHHigh Street Deli 350 High St., San Luis Obispo In probably the biggest upset of the Best Of season, High Street Deli grabbed two titles from the formerly undefeated Gus’s grocery. But High Street does make a great sandwich—fresh ingredients stuffed into fatty rolls or laid out between sliced goodness and daily specials keep customers coming back. Don’t forget the 4:20 special: Get any sandwich for $4.20 from 4:20 till 5 p.m. —KM runner up: Gus’s
BEST BAKERYUtopia 2900 Broad St., ste. 100, San Luis Obispo What better way to start off the morning than with a ham-and-cheese croissant and a cup of hot coffee? That’s Edam cheese, by the way. You’re getting this popular breakfast from Utopia, a Dutch bakery. And you’ll be drinking Peet’s coffee—Utopia was the first place in SLO to brew and serve the specialty brand. You’ll be off to a good start for many a morning if you make Utopia your breakfast bakery: koffiebroodje (Dutch coffee bread), bear claws, coconut Danishes, chocolate croissants, orange-poppyseed scones, apple turnovers, blueberry muffins, saucijzebroodje (sausage muffins)—the menu goes on and on. And that’s just breakfast. This bakery also offers a lunch menu—sandwiches on fresh-baked breads, plus salads—and is known for its “perfect chocolate cake” and wedding cakes. The aforementioned chocolate perfection confection is chocolate cake layered with dark-chocolate ganache and frosted with dark-chocolate butter cream. ’Nuff said. —AR runner up: Carlocks
BEST OUTDOOR DININGNovo 726 Higuera St., San Luis Obispo Even on a chillier and windier day in San Luis Obispo, the patio at Novo is a refuge of warmth. A pristine and calm setting—with a massive oak tree standing solidly in the middle of all of the action—“the patio speaks for itself,” said manager Steve Hawley. “The reason we are in business in the first place is to provide excellent service,” he explained. “The creekside dining sets us apart. And we offer patio heaters and blankets.” —CH runner up: Buona Tavola
BEST MEAL FOR YOUR MONEYFirestone Grill 1001 Higuera St., San Luis Obispo The newly renovated Firestone Grill is almost certainly the best restaurant to get the biggest bang for your buck. There are no fast-food-like combo meals, but you can get a savory tri-tip and pig sandwich, along with some seasoned fries and a drink, all for less than 20 bucks. And don’t forget: They stuff the daylights out of their sandwiches—no stingy-looking fine-dining stuff here, man! The casual atmosphere won’t make you feel ashamed about stuffing your face, either, so you can feel fine about leaving a little bit heavier, while your wallet’s only a little bit lighter. —JI runner up: Margie’s Diner
BEST MEAL WHERE SOMEONE ELSE PAYSMadonna Inn 100 Madonna Road, San Luis Obispo If a truly fine dining experience is pleasing to all your senses, then Alex Madonna’s Gold Rush Steak House offers a Fine dining experience (note the capital “F”). First, the eyes are treated to lavish decor. While the nose and ears take in the aromas of grilled filet mignon and the sounds of clinking china, the body is treated to plush upholstery. The mouth has the pleasure of tasting the Stilton cheese endive spears and prime rib it relished ordering. Finally, your sixth sense (about allowing Mr. Big to pay) will be richly rewarded. As one might expect, a Fine dining experience involves more than a few cents. The Madonna Inn’s meals—$33.95 for the French filet mignon, $29.95 for the prime rib, $82.95 for the filet mignon and Australian lobster, $31.95 for the spring lamb chops—are worth every penny. More so if those pennies belong to someone else. —AR runner up: Giuseppe’s
BEST HANGOVER FOODFranks Famous Hot Dogs 950 California Blvd., San Luis Obispo So here’s the scenario: You wake up in the morning—or afternoon—with a splitting headache. You swear you can feel your whole head pulsating. Or maybe you just swear while you search for relief. Either way, you have time to come to grips with what you did … or think you did the night before. After accepting that what’s done is done, you chug a whole glass of water to quench your thirst. You open the fridge, but—damn!—no food! Looking for a quick fix, you hop in your car and take a quick drive to Franks Famous Hot Dogs, where an array of comfort foods awaits. You peruse the pancakes, breakfast sandwiches, burgers, fries, sausages, and, of course, the hot dogs. You order as much food as you can buy with whatever change you have left to spare. You stuff your face and find relief. It’s like chicken soup for the post-party soul. —JI runner up: Margie’s Diner
BEST WAIT STAFFNovo 726 Higuera St., San Luis Obispo They are informative. They are friendly. In fact, Louie Young, a SLO native (his grandmother was even born here), takes it all to the next level. His expertise in all things Novo is mind-boggling. In addition to his plethora of knowledge when it comes to the delicious food, Young takes a wine tasting class each Wednesday to keep up on what Novo serves to its guests. The employees at this downtown eatery are caring, attentive, and, as Young points out, most are locals. He’s been at Novo for almost two years, so say hi next time you go in. —CH runner up: Tahoe Joe’s
BEST FISH MARKET
1001 Front St., Morro Bay Serving Morro Bay—and everyone else who’s savvy enough to find the best seafood around—the DeGarimore family has owned and operated this fish market and galley for 25 years. They’ve always lived by the motto, “Expect the best.” There’s no secret to their success: They sell fish that’s at the peak of its season, according to Giovanni DeGarimore, who manages the family store and restaurant. “It’s about consistency. We buy directly off the boats. Not many shops can do that,” he pointed out. “My father started it all, and I’ve been in the fish business since I was a kid. Fish is in my blood.” Besides award-winning clam chowder, the market offers fresh treats like fish tacos and crab quesadillas, all priced at less than $10. —KMH runner up: Olde Port Fisheries
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