50 Best American Restaurants near Avila Beach

“I love this place so much. Sarah was working and she is truly an absolute gem and so knowledgeable! She gave us a perfect wine recommendation. We were just there during the farmers market, sunset, great wine, amazing oysters! Don’t miss this place.“

“Stopped by Mulligans at Avila Beach Golf Resort and had a great experience. It was nice and quiet, the food was really good, and the staff was super friendly and inviting.

It’s kind of tucked away at the end of the beach walk, we actually thought it was just a wedding venue at first, which they do host as well, but it turns out it’s the golf clubhouse. Really welcoming spot with genuinely good people who take care of you.

We’ll definitely be back, next time to play the course right by the ocean.“

“We decided to try them on a whim, simply because I was curious to finally try escargot. Everything was so delicious! We just tried them today, and they are now on my list of absolute favorite places! The food is so delicious, the staff are amazing, and the views are stunning. 10/10. I can’t wait to come back!“

“Good food and great atmosphere“

“Amazing food and ambience“

“always GREAT! Very cool nw menu every month!“

“We were immediately greeted and seated (we made reservations online in advance)... our waitress greeted us within a short period of time and took our cocktail order... I'm happy they offer my favorite wine, Austin Hope Cabernet by the glass... I've only known Ember to offer it!... My son ordered a Ni Rada? Martini that tasted how I imagine a household cleaner to taste, he reluctantly sucked it down... we didn't bother to complain but we wouldn't recommend it... he later ordered a Paper Plane Martini which he liked better... After reading other reviews, I see we didn't get the initial bread w/Ricotta offering, probably for the best since we've cut down on gluten and wanted to try a pasta dish... We started with a (not pictured) POLPETTE (large meatball) and it was moist, flavorful, & yummy... alongside PAPPARDELLE RAGU, I was hesitant about it due to not being a fan of lamb... however, it was cooked perfectly without any hint of the game flavor I dislike... my only complaint is there isn't a gluten-free pasta substitute option... It may not be Michelin standard... but it would be great to have some gluten-free Ancient Harvest pasta with any of those yummy ragu/pasta sauces available for the many people with gluten sensitivities... MARY'S 1/2 CHICKEN was flavorful and yummy with the silky mashed potatoes... and the melt-in-your-mouth OSSO BUCCO and tasty polenta did not disappoint!... The atmosphere is cozy with home-style elegance... From the initial welcoming greeting, the friendly & timely food service, the "in-tune" staff that directs you to the restroom without having to ask, the constant spotting of Nate's friendly smile as he ensures his operations are running smooth and the thanks for your patronage as you leave... our experience was pleasantly memorable... This was my 2nd visit to Nate's... the first time I had the pork chop which was flavorful, tender and simply superb... We will return!“

“Urbane Cafe went above and beyond my expectations with their teacher appreciation day. I enjoyed my free meal and the 1:1 attention and greeting that welcomed me to the location. It was my first visit to any Urbane Cafe and Arroyo Grande did the name and their store proud. Thank you.“

“3 piece fish chips very small pieces over seasoned fries. Fish bite wet in mouth with oil. First time here“

“Well established and great reputation. Very good service.“

“We loved it! Excellent breakfast! Laid back atmosphere with friendly service. We especially loved the pancakes.“

“Hands down best burger ever had! Service was great but the food was literally amazing!!“

“I had to get my Spirit burger and sweet potato frie Fix! soooo good. But honestly the whole menu is great“

“We simply loved our first time at Kitchen & Vine today! (SLO Public Market). I enjoyed the classic breakfast. Hearty, high quality bacon! Delicious. The potatoes were awesome. I grew up on a farm, and on breakfast like this, and I love that I can find it "farm fresh" here in SLO. The sourdough bread was fantastic! It had us ask "do you make your bread or who does?" Back Porch Bakery was the response. So great. Peter said to me, "please get some." 😊 We also loved the setting, the spaciousness of the place. Really big patio and outdoor space. And, a wonderful woman took our order. She totally heard me, got us and delivered. See, my husband likes his hot food really HOT in temperature and his cold food really COLD. So when we order we always make a special request about it. She was so great AND when she brought his Carnitas Scramble out it was STEAMING. 🥰 It was also delicious. Finally, our dog Sophie was seen and appreciated. A server came by and asked if he could bring her a bowl of water. A big bowl came and she lapped it up appreciatively. We'll be back. We already know it's going to be a favorite. Wonderful energy. ❤️“

“Feels like an island getaway! Service has always been superb, the food tastes incredible with a beautiful presentation, and visit the very personable bartender for a well made cocktail or mocktail! We will always come back.“

“Wonderful place to relax and enjoy great food and cocktails.“

“We love this place and everyone in it, especially our server Lily, she's a wonderful and beautiful woman with the biggest heart and even better service. My family comes in every couple of months and always leaves with a smile because the hospitality is incomparable to any place, but Lily is on a whole other level of being an amazing person. If you ever think of making the stop to this place, just make the decision and commit and you will have a experience unlike any other“

“I had the tuna bowl and the filet Mignon with mashed potatoes. My friend had the Mushroom Alfredo pasta. Everything was delicious.“

“Service was outstanding! Food and beer great as well. First time there and will go back.“

“I had their chorizo and eggs so yummy!“

“The best Tri tip tacos I've ever had and super fast service and friendly courteous staff and highly recommended“

“Cool hangout, we sampled a few of the beers and are planning on trying the food.“

“We stayed at Vespera Resort last December for a local anniversary staycation with our two dogs, and it far exceeded our expectations. From the moment we checked in, the front desk staff made us feel so welcomed and celebrated—especially Danielle, Aiden, and several other team members whose names I can't recall, but whose kindness made a lasting impression. The little touches throughout our stay, like a surprise delivery of wine and cake to our room and genuine warmth from every staff interaction, made our celebration feel truly meaningful. Thanks to this stay, we’ve already booked a return visit for our next celebration in October. We’re so grateful to the Vespera team for making our anniversary unforgettable.“

“We are from the Bay Area, but Zorro’s is probably my top restaurant for Mexican food among all we frequent. Tastes are exquisite. A very large selection. Staff is friendly and efficient. I wish we could go there each week, but alas, we would have to travel 200 miles to do so. You will not regret this. Enjoy and savor the experience.“

“What a fantastic experience! From the moment we walked in, everything was outstanding. The food was absolutely delicious—authentic Italian flavors, generous portions, and every dish was prepared perfectly. The service was incredibly fast without ever feeling rushed.
A special thank you to Grace, our waitress, who was totally awesome. She was friendly, attentive, knowledgeable about the menu, and made sure we had everything we needed throughout our visit.
I also had the pleasure of sitting at the bar with Carlos, who was professional, personable, and made the experience even more enjoyable. His great attitude and excellent customer service truly stood out.
Overall, this restaurant deserves a 5-star rating all around for its amazing food, fast service, and exceptional staff. I highly recommend it and will definitely be coming back!“

“Amazing Gluten free options as well as great burgers!“

“Delicious food and a most excellent Bloody Mary.“

“Dining out and given the option of a special is always a treat and i usually go for it. one word to describe the skirt steak last night GROSS...never have i seen or been served such a horrible piece of meat. embarrassment for your chef/ kitchen and then our server. Lisa was so helpful and caring, sure it messed her up for awhile too. by the way its librarian lisa. bottom line no way should a kitchen send out such a tough piece of meat, I couldnt even cut it . it was either not prepped correctly or the supplier might needs replaced? sorry we're locals and enjoy the patio and will continue for breakfast, but the dinner menu is off limits.“

“Beautiful ambiance. The guitar player’s music hit just the right balance of soul/jazz. The dishes were fantastic and the portions substantial.“

“Amazing food! I love this place, the food is sooo good, fresh and good quantity and friendly service. Today, I had one of my fav: biscuits and gravy, hash browns and a pancake!!!!!!! Can’t wait to go back“

“Just the best food, service, and vibe. If you haven’t checked this place out, you should. You’ll be a regular in no time.“

“Always awesome with great food and good drinks.“

“Sidecar is a must here in San Luis Obispo! The staff and the owners and everything about the place will knock your socks off. I think it’s high time. You guys open a second Sidecar by me in So Cal!“

“Delicious Mac n cheese and very good tri-tip, loved the breezy seating and friendly staff!“

“We had an amazing meal for my daughter's birthday and our server was great.“

“Awesome, beautiful and very relaxing place!“

“7 of us went there after a hike. Food and service was excellent!!! Will definitely be back!“

“When traveling along the coast, I always make it a point to stop at ManRock Brewing Co. Beers are incredible (loved the “Get Him a Hoppy Bag” triple hazy IPA), food is great and comes out fast (try the bacon covered hot dog) and service is always friendly. Was surprised and happy to find they were open July 4th too! Was also able to get some cans of my favorites to bring home.“

“Watch out for the chairs!“

“My mom and I had been driving all day and pulled into Hoagies about 2 minutes before closing time. We asked CJ and Taylor if it would be possible to still order some food. They said they were happy to do so! Then we told them they we both have celiac disease and asked if they could give us something gluten free. They both went out of their way to read labels for us and even asked if we would like to have corn tortilla strips on our salads instead of croutons (which are not gluten free). They couldn’t have been nicer! As a plus, the food was delicious. Susan and Megan“

“First, I feel that this restaurant has some of the best food in the county! Last night we went there with 2 other couples and had a fantastic meal...however, the real highlight was our server Erik!!! Wow, some of the best service I think I have ever had, he was engaging, funny, very professional and very knowledgeable! His tableside manners were amazing and he was always nearby to take care of us all! Erik....Thanks buddy...we will ask for you next time we come in!!!“

“Great service Great food Good selection of beer & wine“

“Great food and drinks! First time there def won’t be the last!“

“Wonderful staff and service! The food is fresh and delicious, and the cocktails too. We love coming here for happy hour to catch the beautiful sunsets.“

“Firestone food. Delivered and made for you. It's a no brainer.“

“Awful service!!! We needed a table for 2 and was told 5 minutes so we put our name on the list. Another server came to the next couple in line. Asked how many and the server took them straight to a table. At one point there were no servers on the floor for a solid 10 minutes. Nobody checked on us and we wanted another beer. I went to the bartender to order the beers, having to pay separately because they can't transfer the tab to the table. Not to mention that the bathrooms had ZERO toilet paper. None of the stalls. Not a good experience“

“Great patio , great food and a friendly staff 💜“

“Another tasty chicken joint 🐓 🤤“

“Good food and good service“

“My girlfriend and I had an amazing experience eating at the Gardens of Avila . I had the Pacific Halibut . the fish was cooked to perfection and was fresh and very tasty. My girlfriend had the salmon and it was equally delicious . The vegetables are so fresh and great tasting that accompanied our meals. we loved the ambience of the restaurant as it is part of the Sycamore hot springs resort hotel . We had a great waitress who recommended coming to stay at the hotel that has hot spring tubs in each room . We were presently surprised by this and will very much make reservations to stay at the resort in the very near future. So weather or not you stay at the hotel or not the Gardens of Avila is a great restaurant Overall a very spectacular restaurant to eat at and at a great value.“