36 Best American Restaurants in San Luis Obispo

“Amazing food and ambience“

“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!“

“We had the bacon wrapped dates, Brussel sprouts and coconut shrimp tacos with key lime pie for dessert. Perfect amount shared by two. Every bite was delicious! Very creative drink menu, non alcoholic. Lovely outdoor seating and dog friendly.“

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

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

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

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

“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. ❤️“

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

“Our experience with the restaurant and Van our waiter was excellent. The reason I did not give it a 5 star was because when we arrived the hostess/waitress was not concerned that we had a 5:00 reservation to celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary, never acknowledged it, even though on open table site asked if was a special occasion. She sat us down and handed us a wine list which had red sauce on it, she clearly saw it and did not acknowledge it. It would have been nice it someone would have acknowledged our celebration. That's all. We went there because our son gave us a gift card and restaurant was recommended by a friend. We were visiting not locals. Thank you .“

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

“Pretty good stuff from what I saw. I was there visiting a friend.“

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

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

“Delicious food and a most excellent Bloody Mary.“

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

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

“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!“

“Watch out for the chairs!“

“Overall, great place! They only lost points for me for taking a considerable time to bring out the food, and the indoor seating had poor lighting. Otherwise, portions were good, lots of options, tasty food (and could accommodate an egg allergy safely!) Kind staff, and sunny outdoor seating“

“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!!!“

“Had an amazing experience at the grand opening of Park 1039! Chef Bradley curated such an amazing menu and the GM koby and all the servers were amazing! The charcuterie board was amazing to start complimented amazingly with rose of gernache by Grafted followed by the Coca Catalana to die for! Had a taste of the GSM very light bodied and food pairing wine. Then followed by Braves fries were truly a work of art the flavors were amazing also paired well with the albarino from Grafted as well! Then rounded off with the imported Gelato. And this was just a touch into this spainsh influenced absolutely delicious menu paired with great wines a must stop for quick bite or a meal with friends! The atmosphere is open and fun for any occasion!“

“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“

“Though I’m a smoker and smoking is banned in Downtown SLO I’ll still put my 40 year old habit on hold for the libertine we always enjoy the atmosphere and the people along with the beer“

“Another tasty chicken joint 🐓 🤤“

“The location is key. This is a wonderful place to have a meal, especially if you're staying at the resort. The menu is brief, but filled with enough delicious items to choose from. The terrace is especially nice: romantic, great ambiance, terrific light as sunset turns to night.“

“If you want to pay a premium for your order, and then not get what you ordered, please pay a visit to The Burger Den! oh and if you ordered through a delivery service or their website, good luck finding a phone number to contact them when they fudge your order. Food 7/10 Service 0/10 reliability 0/10“

“Working around the corner last week, I decided to pop in for lunch. I only get 30 min so time is of the essence. I was greeted with a smile immediately, seated and drink order taken. Once my lunch order was taken it took literally 5 min to receive it-this is what I call top service. The place was remarkably clean, staff was super friendly and great, and to top if off, I was out of there within 20 min. I have a have had bad experiences at other Dennys, but this one changed my thought about it all together. I will defiantly be back when working in SLO again. Thanks Dennys team!“

“Clean and comfortable rooms. Exceptionally hot shower. Friendly Staff. Free games in the restaurant (do yourself a favor and get a smashburger from there)!!!“

“Just stop in for the pictures and then leave. Food not even close to decent. Just keep driving towards the coast. We had the steak sandwich and halibut steak. Tums for dessert it is..“

“Awesome, beautiful and very relaxing place!“

“Working around the corner last week, I decided to pop in for lunch. I only get 30 min so time is of the essence. I was greeted with a smile immediately, seated and drink order taken. Once my lunch order was taken it took literally 5 min to receive it-this is what I call top service. The place was remarkably clean, staff was super friendly and great, and to top if off, I was out of there within 20 min. I have a have had bad experiences at other Dennys, but this one changed my thought about it all together. I will defiantly be back when working in SLO again. Thanks Dennys team!“

“Great food. Great vibe. 10/10“

“We enjoy going to The Habit Burger Grill, especially using the app and taking advantage of the rewards and special offers. The more often you visit, the better and more frequent the rewards can be, which makes it a great value.

One thing we’ve noticed, though, is that the food quality, taste, and customer service can really depend on which location you visit. Some locations are excellent, while others have been disappointing enough that we even reached out to the company after one bad experience.

That said, when The Habit Burger Grill is good, it’s really good. We especially love our local neighborhood location, where the food is consistently fresh, delicious, and high quality.“

“It wasn't super busy. We sat at the bar. Ally was our server and bartender. She killed it! Very welcoming and attentive. Food was great quality. We even signed up with the rewards program because of Ally. Will absolutely be coming back, especially if service continues to be like hers. 👍“