After our zip line adventure where we celebrated our anniversary, we decided to head over, conveniently right across the street, to wine taste. Ahhh! He poured our first glass and left. I became quite impatient and felt snubbed. Hey! I know we were brown and sweaty from ziplining but we came to taste and if we liked it, we're buying it! $15 per person to taste! I didn't want a bottle just to be proud, but hubby liked the oyster ridge. Well, Got it for him as part of his anniversary gift. 1 star for first impressions. Although, Stacy made it better! So i changed the star selection! 4 star for making my hub feel good after the 2016 oyster ridge pour. Done! He is gonna have it with steak!
Tej S.
Came here on a Saturday, late afternoon. Not significantly busy. Driving from the Bay Area, we were looking forward to our visit as we've heard great things, and love their wines. The place is very well styled, nice clean spacious area. During our tasting, the person attending to us would disappear 5-10 minutes at a time. Other employees were standing around, talking to each other, or engaging in other work. For an avid wine taster, it is expected that the server sticks close by to explain or answer questions, it is a part of the experience. Was highly disappointed in their service. Waiting around for the next pour. There was one sweet employee whom noticed me after awhile towards the end, and came by to help and speak with us. Our attendant was nowhere to be found at this point. Long story short, the wines are good but definitely will not be back anytime soon to their tasting room. I am rating the experience, not the wine.
Cheri L.
Living in Atascadero and having tasted in a LOT of local tasting rooms, Ancient Peaks is an easy favorite. If I was to allow myself another wine club membership right now, they would be it-- no doubt. Let's start with the location: their tasting room is in Santa Margarita-- a bit off the beaten path if you're in "Paso proper", but still well worth the visit. Tons of seating, nice earthy decor, and their staff is wonderful. This place also doesn't pour a single bad wine-- from the sauvignon blanc to the higher-end Oyster Ridge red blend, it is all great quality. I recently tasted from a huge variety of local wineries at WineFest, and it really confirmed for me that while there are a lot of great options, Ancient Peaks has it totally going on. I hate chardonnay (it used to be all that I bought-- you truly can love something until it is dead to you), but their estate chard is a favorite of mine. The rose is also amazing for hot summer nights, and the Renegade red blend, pinot noir, or merlot are all favorites too. Just try things! You can not go wrong. Their food menu might seem basic at first glance, but know that the presentation & quality goes above and beyond. The charcuterie plates are to die for (GREAT quality cheeses, meats, cornichons, nuts, & dates), and their sandwiches are excellent. It's really all in the quality of the ingredients, and they go all out. My parents are members here & speak very highly of the events & pickup parties, although I can't say that I've attended any. 10/10, great food + great wine. Oh, and parking is easy.
Conny L.
We have been tasting at Ancient Peaks several times over the years, and absolutely love them! They offer reds and whites as well as a rosé, and all of their wines are very balanced and amongst the best on the Central Coast. For your tasting, you receive five wines for $15. Not cheap, but worth it! They also have delicious treats from almonds and olives to sandwiches and charcuterie platters, but you can also bring your own food. We like to bring take-out from the Porch Café a few blocks down, then sit on the patio and sip our wine in the sun. The servers are very knowledgeable, and not too pushy about a wine club membership or buying bottles. Our favorite person behind the counter is the refreshingly funny, friendly and very attentive Yarrow. She told us all about the estate, the areas where the wines are grown, showed us a huge fossil oyster and kept us entertained for the hour we were there. We'll be back soon!
Kate K.
Half a block from my house, this place is nestled between a pile of trees, many potted plants surrounding the entrance and patio, picnic tables and veranda, blink and you might miss it while driving the 35mph speed limit within the town limits of Santa Margarita. Inside looks like a typical tasting room; attentive and friendly staff. My landlady is a member, these wine bottles grace her kitchen frequently. She invited me as her guest for a tasting. No frills, no swank. But our pourer went to the reserves dedicated only for the palettes of the privileged. Something I wouldn't have experienced had I not been there with my landlady.
Emilia P.
Quaint and cozy- Farm to table- Cash only- Take a bottle of vino- Go early- Perfect after a day of wine tast!
James S.
We went there for lunch upon the recommendation from Hummer Tour place just across the street. Nice and homely environment! We had hot roast beef on ciabatta bread with mixed beans chili on the side. Very Delicious! They're definitely on the "Come-back" list!!!
Rachel M.
One of the best restaurants in the county! Never had a bad meal here. Kid friendly. Great wine and beer list. Food is locally sourced.
Krysten A.
the mussels and the goat cheese brí»lée were fantastic. the butter that was served with the bread should have been room temp - it was rock solid and impossible to spread. but the extra half order of bread I was brought to sop up the mussel broth was most appreciated! I also just kind of straight up drank a lot of that broth, it was great. the mains were a little unimaginative - protein, veg, starch. my brother and I got different proteins with the same accompaniments? the garlic mash seemed a bit institutional and the elk was a bit tough. the steak knife they provided was awkwardly huge. the veggies were nice and crisp but seemed pretty much unseasoned, and I have to say I really did not like the crispy strings on top of the mash, they kind of poked my mouth with every bite.
Vince E.
Pictures dont do this place justice. My first experience was so pleasant, we came back for dinner again, the very next night. Rustic, friendly, quaint but most importanty, delicious. I always stop here when passing through.
Amazing food, great service and cozy atmosphere!! A must try if ever in the area! Just know you must use cash or check only!
S R.
As always, fantastic food amazing service and an all around perfect experience. The Range never fails to deliver an absolutely amazing dinner.
Chad M.
Everything was really good. Amazing service, food was incredible and the ambiance is pretty spectacular. I'm American, and have been fortunate to make great friends while traveling the world. This is the place I'll take them to showcase modern American wine country cuisine; while giving them a taste of 40/50/60's country music and culture. We had the carpaccio, curry squash soup, fillet, and the prime rib. All very, very tasty.
Daniel B.
Fantastic, quality food made with care served fresh. From the pickles to the bread to the salads and mains (sand dab and elk medallions oh my!?)- it is all good. Don't forget the dessert wine (sweet cheeks) with your Creme brí»lée made with local honey and lavender. The Greek Cowboy is the best server I have ever had. He is beyond amazing at his job.
Sheena N.
I usually don't give 5 stars but I feel that they really deserve it. It's not just the food but the service, ambiance, and hospitality were amazing and on point! We came here on a Friday night at around 7:30 and waited about 25 min for a table. It's NBD because there is a saloon across the street and they will call you when your table is ready. As others have said, don't forget to bring cash to this place. No credit cards here. First of all, the bread here is bomb! They give you 3 types of bread - a corn bread, a sliced baguette, and one other one. They were all super good with the freshly whipped butter. We also used this to dip in the sauce that our mussels were in. We split several items on the menu - caesar salad, mussels, and the ribeye. It was actually the perfect amount of food for the 2 of us even though we were both hungry. We liked everything we ate! They even split the plates for us so we didn't have to exchange plates. The caesar salad was made with very fresh, crispy lettuce and presented as whole leaves with caesar dressing, croutons, parmesan, and an anchovy on top. Maybe it was a little too much dressing for my taste so I just scraped a little off. The mussels were pretty amazing! Very fresh and came in a buttery white wine sauce. The sauce was definitely not a broth that you would want to drink unlike other preparations of mussels since it was on the heavier side. However, it was great to dip your bread into. As our main, we shared the ribeye and they split it in 2 plates. It was cooked perfectly medium rare and they even added extra potatoes and grilled vegetables since we split it. The coffee sauce drizzed on top added a nice flavor. Loved the decor of this place, very western and they even have Texas long horn on the wall. Everyone that works here is super nice! As we were walking back to our car, one of the guys that works there who was dressed as a cowboy even gave us a sticker!
After our zip line adventure where we celebrated our anniversary, we decided to head over, conveniently right across the street, to wine taste. Ahhh! He poured our first glass and left. I became quite impatient and felt snubbed. Hey! I know we were brown and sweaty from ziplining but we came to taste and if we liked it, we're buying it! $15 per person to taste! I didn't want a bottle just to be proud, but hubby liked the oyster ridge. Well, Got it for him as part of his anniversary gift. 1 star for first impressions. Although, Stacy made it better! So i changed the star selection! 4 star for making my hub feel good after the 2016 oyster ridge pour. Done! He is gonna have it with steak!
Came here on a Saturday, late afternoon. Not significantly busy. Driving from the Bay Area, we were looking forward to our visit as we've heard great things, and love their wines. The place is very well styled, nice clean spacious area. During our tasting, the person attending to us would disappear 5-10 minutes at a time. Other employees were standing around, talking to each other, or engaging in other work. For an avid wine taster, it is expected that the server sticks close by to explain or answer questions, it is a part of the experience. Was highly disappointed in their service. Waiting around for the next pour. There was one sweet employee whom noticed me after awhile towards the end, and came by to help and speak with us. Our attendant was nowhere to be found at this point. Long story short, the wines are good but definitely will not be back anytime soon to their tasting room. I am rating the experience, not the wine.
Living in Atascadero and having tasted in a LOT of local tasting rooms, Ancient Peaks is an easy favorite. If I was to allow myself another wine club membership right now, they would be it-- no doubt. Let's start with the location: their tasting room is in Santa Margarita-- a bit off the beaten path if you're in "Paso proper", but still well worth the visit. Tons of seating, nice earthy decor, and their staff is wonderful. This place also doesn't pour a single bad wine-- from the sauvignon blanc to the higher-end Oyster Ridge red blend, it is all great quality. I recently tasted from a huge variety of local wineries at WineFest, and it really confirmed for me that while there are a lot of great options, Ancient Peaks has it totally going on. I hate chardonnay (it used to be all that I bought-- you truly can love something until it is dead to you), but their estate chard is a favorite of mine. The rose is also amazing for hot summer nights, and the Renegade red blend, pinot noir, or merlot are all favorites too. Just try things! You can not go wrong. Their food menu might seem basic at first glance, but know that the presentation & quality goes above and beyond. The charcuterie plates are to die for (GREAT quality cheeses, meats, cornichons, nuts, & dates), and their sandwiches are excellent. It's really all in the quality of the ingredients, and they go all out. My parents are members here & speak very highly of the events & pickup parties, although I can't say that I've attended any. 10/10, great food + great wine. Oh, and parking is easy.
We have been tasting at Ancient Peaks several times over the years, and absolutely love them! They offer reds and whites as well as a rosé, and all of their wines are very balanced and amongst the best on the Central Coast. For your tasting, you receive five wines for $15. Not cheap, but worth it! They also have delicious treats from almonds and olives to sandwiches and charcuterie platters, but you can also bring your own food. We like to bring take-out from the Porch Café a few blocks down, then sit on the patio and sip our wine in the sun. The servers are very knowledgeable, and not too pushy about a wine club membership or buying bottles. Our favorite person behind the counter is the refreshingly funny, friendly and very attentive Yarrow. She told us all about the estate, the areas where the wines are grown, showed us a huge fossil oyster and kept us entertained for the hour we were there. We'll be back soon!
Half a block from my house, this place is nestled between a pile of trees, many potted plants surrounding the entrance and patio, picnic tables and veranda, blink and you might miss it while driving the 35mph speed limit within the town limits of Santa Margarita. Inside looks like a typical tasting room; attentive and friendly staff. My landlady is a member, these wine bottles grace her kitchen frequently. She invited me as her guest for a tasting. No frills, no swank. But our pourer went to the reserves dedicated only for the palettes of the privileged. Something I wouldn't have experienced had I not been there with my landlady.
Quaint and cozy- Farm to table- Cash only- Take a bottle of vino- Go early- Perfect after a day of wine tast!
We went there for lunch upon the recommendation from Hummer Tour place just across the street. Nice and homely environment! We had hot roast beef on ciabatta bread with mixed beans chili on the side. Very Delicious! They're definitely on the "Come-back" list!!!
One of the best restaurants in the county! Never had a bad meal here. Kid friendly. Great wine and beer list. Food is locally sourced.
the mussels and the goat cheese brí»lée were fantastic. the butter that was served with the bread should have been room temp - it was rock solid and impossible to spread. but the extra half order of bread I was brought to sop up the mussel broth was most appreciated! I also just kind of straight up drank a lot of that broth, it was great. the mains were a little unimaginative - protein, veg, starch. my brother and I got different proteins with the same accompaniments? the garlic mash seemed a bit institutional and the elk was a bit tough. the steak knife they provided was awkwardly huge. the veggies were nice and crisp but seemed pretty much unseasoned, and I have to say I really did not like the crispy strings on top of the mash, they kind of poked my mouth with every bite.
Pictures dont do this place justice. My first experience was so pleasant, we came back for dinner again, the very next night. Rustic, friendly, quaint but most importanty, delicious. I always stop here when passing through.
Restaurantji Recommends
Amazing food, great service and cozy atmosphere!! A must try if ever in the area! Just know you must use cash or check only!
As always, fantastic food amazing service and an all around perfect experience. The Range never fails to deliver an absolutely amazing dinner.
Everything was really good. Amazing service, food was incredible and the ambiance is pretty spectacular. I'm American, and have been fortunate to make great friends while traveling the world. This is the place I'll take them to showcase modern American wine country cuisine; while giving them a taste of 40/50/60's country music and culture. We had the carpaccio, curry squash soup, fillet, and the prime rib. All very, very tasty.
Fantastic, quality food made with care served fresh. From the pickles to the bread to the salads and mains (sand dab and elk medallions oh my!?)- it is all good. Don't forget the dessert wine (sweet cheeks) with your Creme brí»lée made with local honey and lavender. The Greek Cowboy is the best server I have ever had. He is beyond amazing at his job.
I usually don't give 5 stars but I feel that they really deserve it. It's not just the food but the service, ambiance, and hospitality were amazing and on point! We came here on a Friday night at around 7:30 and waited about 25 min for a table. It's NBD because there is a saloon across the street and they will call you when your table is ready. As others have said, don't forget to bring cash to this place. No credit cards here. First of all, the bread here is bomb! They give you 3 types of bread - a corn bread, a sliced baguette, and one other one. They were all super good with the freshly whipped butter. We also used this to dip in the sauce that our mussels were in. We split several items on the menu - caesar salad, mussels, and the ribeye. It was actually the perfect amount of food for the 2 of us even though we were both hungry. We liked everything we ate! They even split the plates for us so we didn't have to exchange plates. The caesar salad was made with very fresh, crispy lettuce and presented as whole leaves with caesar dressing, croutons, parmesan, and an anchovy on top. Maybe it was a little too much dressing for my taste so I just scraped a little off. The mussels were pretty amazing! Very fresh and came in a buttery white wine sauce. The sauce was definitely not a broth that you would want to drink unlike other preparations of mussels since it was on the heavier side. However, it was great to dip your bread into. As our main, we shared the ribeye and they split it in 2 plates. It was cooked perfectly medium rare and they even added extra potatoes and grilled vegetables since we split it. The coffee sauce drizzed on top added a nice flavor. Loved the decor of this place, very western and they even have Texas long horn on the wall. Everyone that works here is super nice! As we were walking back to our car, one of the guys that works there who was dressed as a cowboy even gave us a sticker!