Category Archives: California

Lido Restaurant

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**** (4 stars)

The food is good here, with a wide range from a casual pizza to a tasting menu. But the real highlight is the amazing wine list, with 1000 selections at (mostly) reasonable prices. There is a focus on regional wines from the central coast, but also great selections from Napa and Europe.

The outside dining area atop the click can’t be beat. And our server was extremely helpful, even finding us a couple of cans of diet coke from elsewhere in the resort to take back to our rooms. (And the resort is magnificent.)

Lido Restaurant
Dolphin Bay Resort & Spa
2727 Shell Beach Rd
Pismo Beach, CA 93449
(805) 773-8900
http://www.yelp.com/biz/lido-restaurant-pismo-beach

Dolphin Bay Resort & Spa

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***** (5 stars)

I have been to many deluxe resorts and hotels around the world, but I have, categorically, NEVER had a nicer room than the one at Dolphin Bay Resort. The vast, two bedroom space features spaces dining and breakfast areas, a large, well-equipped kitchen, luxurious baths, a full laundry room, and spectacular ocean views from two balconies. Seriously, we’re ready to move in.

Dolphin Bay Resort & Spa
2727 Shell Beach Rd
Pismo Beach, CA 93449
(805) 773-4300
http://www.yelp.com/biz/dolphin-bay-resort-and-spa-pismo-beach

Robert Hall Winery

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**** (4 stars)

The first Paso Robles winery to wine the “Best Winery in California” title by taking the most medals at the fair. The wines are perhaps not all categorically great, but the reserve wines are extremely well made. The tasting room policy of free tastings with the purchase of a bottle is highly appreciated.

Robert Hall Winery
3443 Mill Rd
Paso Robles, CA 93446
(805) 239-1616
http://www.yelp.com/biz/robert-hall-winery-paso-robles

Eos Estate Winery

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*** (3 stars)

This is a lovely facility owned by Firestones. Most of the wines poured here are actually fro other properties, with only the Cabernet locally grown. Some wines are from as far away as Napa.

Overall wine quality was only mediocre, with several wines exhibiting sulfite or sorbet issues.

Service was friendly, and pricing is reasonable.

Eos Estate Winery
2300 Airport Rd
Paso Robles, CA 93446
(805) 591-8050
http://www.yelp.com/biz/eos-estate-winery-paso-robles-2

Taqueria Los Pericos

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**** (4 stars)

I love this kind of dive place, where you order at a counter, serve yourself from the salsa bar, and the food is authentic.

Excellent (presumably house-made) rustic chips. The nachos and chicken quesadilla weren’t too impressive, but the fish tacos were excellent, nicely spiced and great with an extra squeeze of lime.

But the highlight was the beef tacos, which were perfectly spiced, with delicious marinated beef with just the right crunchy edges to give the whole thing some texture. Probably the best beef taco I’ve ever had.

Taqueria Los Pericos
139 Water St
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831) 469-7685
http://www.yelp.com/biz/taqueria-los-pericos-santa-cruz

Duke’s

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**** (4 stars)

I have a sentimental attachment to this place, because I used to go here with my parents in the 1960s, when it was The Sea Lion. In those days the waves splashed against the glass in the bar. Since then rocks have been added to protect against storms, but there is still an amazing view. I’m sure the food is better now, too. A variety of fresh fish selections are available, along with a variety of preparations.  On a recent visit we enjoyed a hummus trio appetizer, tuna poke tacos and a roasted basil and black garlic fish presentation. All were excellent, and the greens that came with the entree were scrumptious! It’s a great place for a seaside break from the city.

Duke’s
21150 Pacific Coast Hwy
Malibu, CA 90265
(310) 317-0777
http://www.yelp.com/biz/dukes-malibu-malibu

Ye Olde Kings Head

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**** (4 stars)

If you like English food, this is a great  spot for it. Most is authentic, and what’s not authentic is in general an improvement. The BLSt used English bacon, and was a delicious combination of ingredients. The Ploughman’s Platter was more extensive than any I’ve had in England. And the chicken salad had just the right amount of curry.

The decor is really charming, much quainter than most real English pubs.There’s a cozy dining space and also a more traditional pub.  There’s also an extensive outside dining area along the sidewalk.

Next door is an English shop where you’ll find many hard to obtain foodstuffs.

Ye Olde Kings Head
116 Santa Monica Blvd
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 451-1402
http://www.yelp.com/biz/ye-olde-kings-head-santa-monica

Melisse

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**** (4 stars)

This is a good, but not great restaurant. The preparations are elaborate, and most results are quite tasty, but it is rare that things come together in that transcendental experience where the whole is greater than the sum of the parts.

The wine list is good if, expectedly, pricey. There are some hard to find gems, although no great depth of vintages.

Service is efficient and accommodating, neither stiff nor particularly friendly.

Atmosphere is understated although the open room and fairly bright lighting aren’t particularly intimate.

A fine restaurant, but after two visits to check it out, not one that beckons me back.

Melisse
1104 Wilshire Blvd
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 395-0881
http://www.yelp.com/biz/melisse-santa-monica-2

Vibrato Grill Jazz

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***** (5 stars)

This is my favorite spot in Los Angeles, and I have hundreds of candidates for that list. I like to go around 6:30 because the opening act is great dining music. It’s usually piano and bass. The place has amazing acoustics, and you can hear every note perfectly, yet still have a dinner conversation in a normal voice.

And what food! Anything beef is great, but I like the tuna tartare, salads, and enjoy the lamb lollipop appetizer as an entree.

Great wine list–although somewhat pricey, there are a few gems. Check out the Opaque Petite Verdot if you like big, chewy monsters.

Vibrato Grill Jazz
2930 N Beverly Glen Cir
Los Angeles, CA 90077
(310) 474-9400
http://www.yelp.com/biz/vibrato-grill-jazz-los-angeles

RockSugar Pan Asian Kitchen

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***** (5 stars)

Amazing decor, and great food. I love being able to get Thai, Vietnamese and Indian cuisine all in one place. Favorites were the summer rolls, samosas and short rib vermicelli bowl. The two or three course lunch is a great deal. It was our server, Jordan’s, first day, and she did an amazing job.

RockSugar Pan Asian Kitchen
10250 Santa Monica Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90067
(310) 552-9988
http://www.yelp.com/biz/rocksugar-pan-asian-kitchen-los-angeles-2