We've been going here more than 10 years and has been a go to favorite of ours whenever we're in Los Olivos. Love that they've expanded and has outdoor seating available. We prefer to sit by the bar though. The staff is friendly, attentive and very welcoming. The indoor cafe has a cozy but lively vibe. We ordered their beer on tap, Liquid Gravity Brewing Co.- Orange Cream Machine and BarrelHouse West Coast IPA , both outstanding! Also had their Ahi Tostada with avocado and wasabi hash, definitely a shareable plate, really fresh and is a new favorite! Also one of our go to orders, is their focaccia and dipping oil, still as good and haven't changed through the years! Make sure to stop by this place! There are newer places that have opened up around the corner but the Los Olivos Wine Merchant and Cafe is still the best! And by the way did I mention they have an awesome selection of wines? If you prefer wine with your food they also have a tasting flight to choose from!
Kathleen K.
The food here was amazing, the service was superb, the wine list was giant. We loved our food here, the mushroom ravioli was so delicious, the waitress was attentive and helped to guide us in our choices. We will be back!!!
Andrew C.
This had what I might call a bit of a "fancy" menu and the dishes were nicely described and sounded great. When we arrived we were seated inside and the inside decor and feel didn't match the menu. It was loud (there were a few families there) and my gorgeous companion said it felt a bit "Chuck E Cheesy." So, we asked to move outside and that was the way to go. I started with the caesar salad and it was very good. A bit heavy on the dressing but didn't detract from the great taste. I had the short ribs as my entree and they were good, but just not hot enough. I guess I could have sent them back but just decided not to. It came with vegetables and potatoes and they were good. My lovely date had the chicken and it was very good. Our server was very friendly. Parking on the street. This area doesn't have a lot of choices so I'm giving it a 4. Would I go back? Maybe....
Amy A.
Stopped in here for lunch when we were out in Los Olivos doing some wine tasting and it definitely was the right choice for lunch. The food is fresh and flavorful. We were a party of five so we all had something different and none of us had a bad thing to say about our meals. Not only can you enjoy some great food but you can also buy some great wines from them as well. This is a must if you are in the Los Olivos area.
Richard N.
Excellent Food in a Casual Setting..... Pros: Convenient. Excellent menu. Great food. Friendly service. Cons: Back room is lonely. Minimal restroom. Parking can be tight. Star Ratings: - Overall: 4 1/2 - Location: 5 - Ambiance: 4 - Restroom: 3 - Menu: 5 - Food Quality: 5 - Food Portions: 5 - Service: 5 - Price: 4 - Value: 5 - Parking: 3 My wife and I and her brother visited Los Olivos for a few hours on a Friday in March and needed a place for lunch. We walked around and checked the menus of other restaurants, but they seemed to offer dinner prices at lunch so we headed for the Los Olivos Wine Merchant & Cafe. Pros: - The restaurant and wine bar is in a convenient location near the heart of the small downtown area and within walking distance of Highway 154. - When we ate here in the past, the weather was warmer and we sat out front on the patio. This day was cloudy and cool with a stiff breeze so we went inside. The interior is large with an expansive horseshoe shaped bar and lots of tables in a cozy section. The hostess said all tables were reserved so we sat in a small room in the back (see cons) - Menu had lots of good choices for both meat eaters and vegetarians, including appetizers, salads, soups, sandwiches and larger entrees. - Food was great. I started with an 8 ounce bowl of Soup of the Day (Vegetable, $11) and followed that with the Asian Chicken Salad ($21). I "eat well", but that salad was big enough to take half of it home. My wife had the Nicosia Salad ($21) and raved about it while her brother chomped down on the Hot Pastrami Sandwich ($19) with house made fries. It was a dinner sized portion, but he's a "hungry man" and finished it at lunch. - Service from Stacey B was friendly and helpful. Although she mainly covered tables out front and we were in the back, she always had a smile and couldn't do enough. - Parking in Los Olivos is "get it where you can...usually on a side street", but on a cold blustery day, we had no trouble finding a spot on the main street. Cons: - The back room where we sat is meant for the overflow when things get busy. However, it's bare and kind of cold (literally and figuratively) and feels like it belongs in the Elks Lodge (nothing against Elks). The only advantage? It's close to the restroom. - The restroom was just that.....one room with space for one person. Maybe I didn't see another, but a large restaurant should be able to do better. Everything considered - food quality, quantity, value, service and even the back room - the Los Olivos Wine Merchant & Cafe is a great choice for a meal.
Jason Hoffer
Stopped in for lunch at this pet friendly establishment and sat outside on the patio. Food, service and atmosphere were great. Don't miss the pastrami sandwich and fries.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
crisanto santa ana
Came here last year w/ my girlfriend and thought it was decent so this year I brought my family and what a disappointment the food was! Most of the food was super bland tasting & didn't have much flavor and needed more salt or seasoning. Citrus Olive Oil Cake was $12 and it was more like a small microwaved muffin with cream. Took a bit of time for waitress to accommodate us most of the time we were there.
Christopher Grant
Loved everything about our al fresco lunch experience. Could have made a meal of the Grilled Za'atar Flatbread appetizer. Wife and I both loved our pinot noir flight, especially the Rare North from Willamette Valley. Service matched the food and atmosphere. Probably the best meal during our week in the Santa Ynez Valley.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Andrew McDougall
Great place for lunch and dinner. Food fantastic. Service was great! I absolutely love this place. Wish I had a place like this in the first AVA where I live.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Chris W
Went to lunch yesterday for the first time and love everything about the experience! The menu and food is 10 stars!! Even the folks sitting next to us were blown away. Was so impressed will be dinning there once a month (at least). Everything is grown on their farm! The frocacia bread is a must have with every meal. The salads are amazingly delish and so is the made in restaurant soup. The sandwiches and entree selection are why we will keep returning because we want to experience every single one. Pricing is very fair. Reservations are suggested. Dog friendly patio dinning. Cant wait to go back!
Very over priced and underwhelming!! I stop at this little town each year on my way to visit my family. This was the first time I was disappointed with food and wine. Cheers to next year!!!
Reyer and Associates
Absolutely fabulous. A great dinning experience. Food excellent as well as the presentation. David our serve was excellent and the music added a special
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Christina G.
This place never disappoints!!! Food is always amazing ! Every time we visit Los Olivos ... we have to come here for a meal !!
Stephanie B.
Wow! A great experience. This is a large restaurant with a big bar and a substantial patio. We walked in for lunch without a reservation - luckily it was winter and we were seated immediately at the bar. It is a sort of casual French bistro vibe with lots of wine decor. The specials enticed us as did the wine list. The friendly server let us sample a couple of wines before settling on the Bernat Sangiovese. We ordered the kale Caesar special together with the roasted butternut squash pizza with onions, kale and gorgonzola. We ordered the pizza GF and literally asked our server several times if he was sure that it was GF because it was SO good. But, I never had a stomach ache so have to believe. The kale Caesar was similarly well prepared with lots of cheese and a nice and ripe avocado. It was a fantastic, reasonably priced (for wine country) lunch.
Debbie L.
Popped in for a lovely dinner. We were sat right next to the fireplace which I appreciated much on a cold night. Our servers were both fantastic, attentive and very friendly. I usually don't go for vegan dishes but I wasn't feeling very well so I ordered the Vegan Capellini and it was delicious! So much flavor for a vegan dish. I would order this again even as a meat lover. The pizza was great and my fiancé polished it off. The bottle of Austin Hope was fantastic and a liter! Appreciated that later when we had a couple glasses at home. They also have a vast wine selection there so you can do some shopping as well. Lovely little cafe!
We've been going here more than 10 years and has been a go to favorite of ours whenever we're in Los Olivos. Love that they've expanded and has outdoor seating available. We prefer to sit by the bar though. The staff is friendly, attentive and very welcoming. The indoor cafe has a cozy but lively vibe. We ordered their beer on tap, Liquid Gravity Brewing Co.- Orange Cream Machine and BarrelHouse West Coast IPA , both outstanding! Also had their Ahi Tostada with avocado and wasabi hash, definitely a shareable plate, really fresh and is a new favorite! Also one of our go to orders, is their focaccia and dipping oil, still as good and haven't changed through the years! Make sure to stop by this place! There are newer places that have opened up around the corner but the Los Olivos Wine Merchant and Cafe is still the best! And by the way did I mention they have an awesome selection of wines? If you prefer wine with your food they also have a tasting flight to choose from!
The food here was amazing, the service was superb, the wine list was giant. We loved our food here, the mushroom ravioli was so delicious, the waitress was attentive and helped to guide us in our choices. We will be back!!!
This had what I might call a bit of a "fancy" menu and the dishes were nicely described and sounded great. When we arrived we were seated inside and the inside decor and feel didn't match the menu. It was loud (there were a few families there) and my gorgeous companion said it felt a bit "Chuck E Cheesy." So, we asked to move outside and that was the way to go. I started with the caesar salad and it was very good. A bit heavy on the dressing but didn't detract from the great taste. I had the short ribs as my entree and they were good, but just not hot enough. I guess I could have sent them back but just decided not to. It came with vegetables and potatoes and they were good. My lovely date had the chicken and it was very good. Our server was very friendly. Parking on the street. This area doesn't have a lot of choices so I'm giving it a 4. Would I go back? Maybe....
Stopped in here for lunch when we were out in Los Olivos doing some wine tasting and it definitely was the right choice for lunch. The food is fresh and flavorful. We were a party of five so we all had something different and none of us had a bad thing to say about our meals. Not only can you enjoy some great food but you can also buy some great wines from them as well. This is a must if you are in the Los Olivos area.
Excellent Food in a Casual Setting..... Pros: Convenient. Excellent menu. Great food. Friendly service. Cons: Back room is lonely. Minimal restroom. Parking can be tight. Star Ratings: - Overall: 4 1/2 - Location: 5 - Ambiance: 4 - Restroom: 3 - Menu: 5 - Food Quality: 5 - Food Portions: 5 - Service: 5 - Price: 4 - Value: 5 - Parking: 3 My wife and I and her brother visited Los Olivos for a few hours on a Friday in March and needed a place for lunch. We walked around and checked the menus of other restaurants, but they seemed to offer dinner prices at lunch so we headed for the Los Olivos Wine Merchant & Cafe. Pros: - The restaurant and wine bar is in a convenient location near the heart of the small downtown area and within walking distance of Highway 154. - When we ate here in the past, the weather was warmer and we sat out front on the patio. This day was cloudy and cool with a stiff breeze so we went inside. The interior is large with an expansive horseshoe shaped bar and lots of tables in a cozy section. The hostess said all tables were reserved so we sat in a small room in the back (see cons) - Menu had lots of good choices for both meat eaters and vegetarians, including appetizers, salads, soups, sandwiches and larger entrees. - Food was great. I started with an 8 ounce bowl of Soup of the Day (Vegetable, $11) and followed that with the Asian Chicken Salad ($21). I "eat well", but that salad was big enough to take half of it home. My wife had the Nicosia Salad ($21) and raved about it while her brother chomped down on the Hot Pastrami Sandwich ($19) with house made fries. It was a dinner sized portion, but he's a "hungry man" and finished it at lunch. - Service from Stacey B was friendly and helpful. Although she mainly covered tables out front and we were in the back, she always had a smile and couldn't do enough. - Parking in Los Olivos is "get it where you can...usually on a side street", but on a cold blustery day, we had no trouble finding a spot on the main street. Cons: - The back room where we sat is meant for the overflow when things get busy. However, it's bare and kind of cold (literally and figuratively) and feels like it belongs in the Elks Lodge (nothing against Elks). The only advantage? It's close to the restroom. - The restroom was just that.....one room with space for one person. Maybe I didn't see another, but a large restaurant should be able to do better. Everything considered - food quality, quantity, value, service and even the back room - the Los Olivos Wine Merchant & Cafe is a great choice for a meal.
Stopped in for lunch at this pet friendly establishment and sat outside on the patio. Food, service and atmosphere were great. Don't miss the pastrami sandwich and fries.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Came here last year w/ my girlfriend and thought it was decent so this year I brought my family and what a disappointment the food was! Most of the food was super bland tasting & didn't have much flavor and needed more salt or seasoning. Citrus Olive Oil Cake was $12 and it was more like a small microwaved muffin with cream. Took a bit of time for waitress to accommodate us most of the time we were there.
Loved everything about our al fresco lunch experience. Could have made a meal of the Grilled Za'atar Flatbread appetizer. Wife and I both loved our pinot noir flight, especially the Rare North from Willamette Valley. Service matched the food and atmosphere. Probably the best meal during our week in the Santa Ynez Valley.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great place for lunch and dinner. Food fantastic. Service was great! I absolutely love this place. Wish I had a place like this in the first AVA where I live.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Went to lunch yesterday for the first time and love everything about the experience! The menu and food is 10 stars!! Even the folks sitting next to us were blown away. Was so impressed will be dinning there once a month (at least). Everything is grown on their farm! The frocacia bread is a must have with every meal. The salads are amazingly delish and so is the made in restaurant soup. The sandwiches and entree selection are why we will keep returning because we want to experience every single one. Pricing is very fair. Reservations are suggested. Dog friendly patio dinning. Cant wait to go back!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Curry Chicken Salad, Artisan Cheese Plate, Reuben Sandwich, Steak Frites, Focaccia with Dipping Oil
Restaurantji Recommends
Very over priced and underwhelming!! I stop at this little town each year on my way to visit my family. This was the first time I was disappointed with food and wine. Cheers to next year!!!
Absolutely fabulous. A great dinning experience. Food excellent as well as the presentation. David our serve was excellent and the music added a special
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
This place never disappoints!!! Food is always amazing ! Every time we visit Los Olivos ... we have to come here for a meal !!
Wow! A great experience. This is a large restaurant with a big bar and a substantial patio. We walked in for lunch without a reservation - luckily it was winter and we were seated immediately at the bar. It is a sort of casual French bistro vibe with lots of wine decor. The specials enticed us as did the wine list. The friendly server let us sample a couple of wines before settling on the Bernat Sangiovese. We ordered the kale Caesar special together with the roasted butternut squash pizza with onions, kale and gorgonzola. We ordered the pizza GF and literally asked our server several times if he was sure that it was GF because it was SO good. But, I never had a stomach ache so have to believe. The kale Caesar was similarly well prepared with lots of cheese and a nice and ripe avocado. It was a fantastic, reasonably priced (for wine country) lunch.
Popped in for a lovely dinner. We were sat right next to the fireplace which I appreciated much on a cold night. Our servers were both fantastic, attentive and very friendly. I usually don't go for vegan dishes but I wasn't feeling very well so I ordered the Vegan Capellini and it was delicious! So much flavor for a vegan dish. I would order this again even as a meat lover. The pizza was great and my fiancé polished it off. The bottle of Austin Hope was fantastic and a liter! Appreciated that later when we had a couple glasses at home. They also have a vast wine selection there so you can do some shopping as well. Lovely little cafe!