Restaurants in Santa Ynez

“Pleasant local place to stop for Mediterranean fare. I had a Lamb Shawarma wrap that was great. Outdoor/indoor.”

“Grappolo in Santa Ynez is a true gem. The food is amazing — bar none, the best ravioli we have ever had. The special pumpkin ravioli was out of this world — we can’t stop talking about it and will probably be dreaming about this dish for the next week. You have to try it! We also had the lemon caper sole, which was equally delicious and perfectly prepared. As self-proclaimed foodies, our expectations were high, but Grapolo far exceeded every one of them. Our server Eric made the evening even more memorable with his warm and attentive service. The quaint ambiance transported us straight to Tuscany — it felt like dining at a family-run hillside restaurant, authentic and second to none. We will absolutely be back — no matter what. Grapolo is a must-visit in Santa Ynez!”

“This is our go-to occasion (birthday, anniversary, small milestones) restaurant. The portions are a good size, service is good, we’ve never had anything bad.”

“My husband and I agree that these were among the best tacos we’ve ever had. We stopped here on a whim, and were absolutely blown away by these tacos! All the ingredients were incredibly fresh, and the staff were kind and helpful. The owner (Cesar?) was there and clearly took a great deal of pride in his business- he told us he sources the corn for the handmade tortillas directly. Such a GEM. Well worth the slight detour!”

“We were so very delighted with our salmon teriyaki dinners, house salads and Jina’s cheesecake — everything was remarkably fresh and delicious, and their smiles added extra flavor, we’re convinced of that. It’s easy to tell that they love what they do, are dedicated to making every bite the best and enjoy feeding people! The outdoor seating turned dinner into an easy picnic, so nice. Thank you, we’ll see you again soon, BBSushi 🌷 and Happy Mother’s Day to Chef Jina! 💕”

“Best wine in the Central Coast. Great experience at the family vineyard, feeding goats and tasting grapes right from the vine!”

“Service was excellent, dinner suggestions were great and we loved our whole experience. Highly recommend”

“Everything is good even the coffee”

“8 of us for lunch. Best place in the area for Mexican food. I had the enchiladas mariscas - shrimp, scallops - fantastic. Everyone loved the food. The service was extraordinary, especially given the large group & the busy lunch hour. We never pass up the opportunity to have lunch here when passing through.”

“Great set-up post Covid. Make a reservation and try great wines. Rich collection of reds, and they surprised me with Icewine. Outstanding service!”

“We had fun. Our host was had the best knowledge on wines. It was overall a good time. Beautiful vineyard definitely will come again.”

“Superb experience at Roblar Vineyards from the moment we entered and it continued through our departure. The hostess was kind, efficient and caring when seating us. Then on to the service that we chose - a wine tasting and lunch (we had made reservations) We received pleasant and informative wine descriptions from our knowledgeable sommelier with each taste and the proper improvised wine-taste choice that he knowingly paired with my meal! Our meals, the roast salmon and a Cobb salad were perfection enhanced with their high standard of farm fresh vegetables. As we finished, feeling totally content and enjoying the ambiance of soaring ceilings of the timber frame tasting room with the massive fireplace warming our souls, we were visited by Matt, the owner. We had an engaging chat, with him entailing the history of the vineyard and its ongoing development of the vines, the farm and the buildings. Finally, we walked the beautiful estate grounds past the active vegetable gardens to the edge of the vineyards enjoying mountain scenery all around. A memorable experience with perfect food, wine, and caring people!
We highly recommend a visit!”

“Paninos is a treat. It is amazing food definitely worth the price. Today was extra perfection. The staff at this location is friendly, helpful and fast service. The atmosphere is relaxing.”

“what a great night out as far as i can remember 😬😁! Great tasting wine three bottles made me sleep well later , the band The new vibe were great and even took the time for a little chat with us and photos , thanks for looking after us and being so friendly hope to make it back again soon !”

“very good. Disabled parking is in the back. Great service.”

“Such a fun random stop! This wine bar has the perfect mix of cozy and creative, surrounded by beautiful artwork with a really welcoming, laid-back vibe.

What really made the experience, though, was the company. We loved getting to hang out with Tammy and Robert. Great wine, great conversation, and an all-around memorable experience.”

“Overall this was a pretty fun experience for us. At least as far as a trip to Starbucks goes. Yes, we ventured a trip to the casino looking for the Grains & Grounds coffeehouse bakery which soon turned into a slightly confused, dark & flashy, casino lit, cigar smoke infused, hunt and discovery of Chumash's back-of-the-house, hole-in-the-wall, Starbucks gem! I'll admit I was disappointed at realizing our Google maps wild goose chase ended in finding a 'boutique bakery/coffee conglomerate consolidation. But as early morning, albeit last minute, adventures go we still got a lot of enjoyment in playing around with a delightfully glittered, Almond Honey Cake fluff and a dark chocolate & gold gilded Cake Pop! Wow!!
But while I can't say either confection knocked my socks off in the taste category, I will give full marks for imagination and whimsical presentation. So I'll conclude by admitting that I'm deeply curious to sample whatever else they've got for next time.”

“The Victor is very appealing, outdoor seating a cozy lounge area, plenty of sparse seating to enjoy the beautiful and bright airy SY. My food was disappointing, I got the steak Benedict, as you can see the steak looks rough and it was. The salad, a side wasn’t that great either, it had way too much yellow and usually that’s when the lettuce is going bad. I felt like I was eating yesterday’s left overs. My glass that I had water in smelled bad I can tell that dishwasher water needed to be changed. The server wasn’t too attentive either. Great concept however ! Maybe it was just a tough brunch that day. I’ll try something else next time.”

“Drinks were awesome. I love the coffee ice cubes in my wht mocha. Definately worth trying them out.”

“All great bands food drinks staff customers!! Our favorite place to play! CROWN City Bombers love the Maverick Saloon!!”

“The kinda old school breakfast joint with excellent food that other old school breakfast joints wish they were. The corn beef hash, chicken fried steak and hash browns are some of the best I’ve ever tasted.”

“Their breakfast burritos are delicious, and they’re friendly as well. Would recommend the habanero sauce if you love spice! 🙏 Perfect place for a quick stop or for a loaded breakfast ☺️”

“We came here for a wine tasting. It was beautiful with plenty of nice photo ops and the staff made it an overall fun experience. I had to leave with a membership and a couple bottles of my favorites.”

“Great wines, great atmosphere and great service, all with a laid back, relaxed but attentive service and good explanation of the wines being sampled. Highly recommend.”

“Setting up reservations was easy through OpenTable. Our dining experience was amazing at Willows! The food was delicious, even as leftovers for days during our travels. Good price for a group of 4 people. We look forward in returning on our next trip!”

“It was a memorable birthday celebration ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Willows at Chumash delivered one of the finest dining experiences we've had in a long time. From the moment we arrived, the atmosphere was elegant, welcoming, and perfectly suited for a special evening. The food was exceptional—beautifully prepared, expertly presented, and absolutely delicious. Every course reflected a level of care and craftsmanship that truly elevated the experience. What made the evening especially memorable, however, was our server, Andrew. His professionalism, attention to detail, and genuine hospitality were outstanding. Andrew anticipated our needs before we even had to ask, provided excellent recommendations, and struck the perfect balance between attentiveness and allowing us to enjoy our meal uninterrupted. He made us feel valued as guests and played a significant role in making the evening so enjoyable. Outstanding food, exceptional service, and a memorable atmosphere—Willows at Chumash exceeded expectations in every way. We look forward to returning, and we hope to have the pleasure of being served by Andrew again. He is a tremendous asset to the restaurant and exemplifies what great hospitality should look like.”