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ORCUTT. Widely regarded as one of Santa Maria's top eateries (it's in nearby Orcutt, but don't be picky), Chef Rick's has established a name for itself by serving up innovative, Big Easy-influenced dishes that range from crispy catfish with jalapeño tartar sauce to shrimp-crusted sea bass with baby spinach to black bean-and-chipotle ravioli with Yucatan green chile-tomato sauce. The atmosphere reflects the charm and wit of the owner-chef, who's known to walk around the room in flashy garb, stopping off at tables to chat animatedly about his "funky fare." Dinner reservations are accepted.
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Cracked Crab
751 Price St, Pismo Beach, CA 93449 · 805-773-2722
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PISMO BEACH. This shabby-looking crab shack, located right on Pismo Beach's main drag, doesn't gain its high marks for an elegant, candle-lit setting. Indeed, old wooden tables and a few nautically themed pictures are about the extent of it – then again, considering that buckets of Dungeness or Alaskan King crabs are thrown across the tables, white linens probably aren't very utilitarian. While crab dinners are the place's forte, the menu does contain such options as filet mignon or char-grilled chicken for those who don't dig the crustacean. Reservations are not accepted.
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SHELL BEACH. One of the area's most popular restaurants, McLintocks has built its reputation on Old West hospitality and terrific grilled meats. The restaurant, which overlooks the ocean, sports a cattle-ranch interior, complete with old-timey general store, butcher shop, and saloon armed with decks of cards and checkerboards (to make the wait for a table more palatable). If steak is your thing, you're in luck, since theirs are recognized far and wide as Santa Barbara County's best. Meanwhile, BBQ ribs and country-fried potatoes are well worth any wait. For larger groups, a heated outdoor party space is available.
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Garden Room
810 S Broadway, Santa Maria Inn, Santa Maria, CA 93454 · 805-346-7908
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SANTA MARIA. The elegant Garden Room at the Santa Maria Inn combines Continental charm and elegance with innovative California cuisine to create one of the area's more unique dining experiences. Select a cozy table by the romantic fireplace or beside an alluring fountain, the dining room's collection of original artwork that seeks to capture the spirit of Santa Maria. Diners seeking more casual environs can opt for the adjacent English-style pub, the Tap Room, where they can enjoy the likes of a Monte Cristo sandwich, shepherd's pie, swordfish steak, or even prime rib.
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CASMALIA. To say that Casmalia is a classic American cowtown would be an understatement, as visitors would no doubt attest upon seeing the town's premier restaurant – a rustic, roadside barn that specializes in California-style barbecued steaks, ribs, chicken, and seafood. Main dishes are prepared the old-fashioned way (using an indoor pit heated by red oak). Meanwhile, the decor in the dining area – furnished with old wooden tables and chairs, weathered walls littered with Old West memorabilia – provides the perfect setting for enjoying a 22-ounce T-bone and a few glasses of Santa Barbara County wine. Dinner reservations are accepted.
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NIPOMO. Since back in the 1950s, this quintessential California roadhouse has been serving barbecued meat with that distinctive Santa Maria flavor. Jocko's is known far and wide for savory oak-pit pork chops, which, rumor has it, go surprisingly well with a number of Santa Barbara County wines. Accompanying the main dishes is a bevy of tasty sides, like home fries and pinquito beans. Speaking of flavor, the restaurant's interior boasts a little of its own, with knotty pine paneling, the occasional cinder block, and rustic tables thrown in for good measure.
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Restaurant Marcella
2860 Grand Ave, Fess Parker's Wine Country Inn & Spa, Los Olivos, CA 93441 · 805-688-7788
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LOS OLIVOS. Both comfortable and casually elegant, Restaurant Marcella is a Fess Parker enterprise. Boasting a fireplace, outdoor dining, and an interior that recalls southern France with its refined rusticity, the place makes for a lovely dining destination. Expect a menu of Californian cuisine and dishes that boast locally grown produce and foodstuffs. Naturally, great wines from the Parker vineyards are part and parcel of the enterprise.
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SANTA MARIA. This traditional Central California grill is one of Santa Maria's more popular gathering spots, either for meeting friends for after-work cocktails or enjoying barbecued filet mignon, a NY strip, or a rib-eye. In a rustic display, all main courses are prepared in plain sight – the oak-wood barbecue grill sits behind a window and is visible from just about every table. The bar menu features a wide range of finger foods, from tasty buffalo wings to famous seasoned potato skins, and the Tavern room offers cozy quarters for people waiting for a table in the main dining room.
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PISMO BEACH. This elegant seafood restaurant, whose contemporary dining room offers spectacular views of nearby cliffs and distant Port San Luis, is the younger sister of Shell Beach's F. McLintocks Saloon. In its time, Steamers has become popular with locals and with frequent visitors to Pismo Beach. Its innovative seafood dishes perfectly complement its upscale atmosphere. The restaurant is also a great place to gather for after-work cocktails.
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SANTA MARIA. The signature restaurant of Santa Maria's Radisson Hotel, this elegantly appointed place offers tables with terrific views of the surrounding countryside and of Hancock Field's landing strips. Vintner's menu features an array of classic American steak and seafood dishes, as well as Northern Italian-influenced fare. The wine list, meanwhile, bears a local theme, featuring scores of Santa Barbara County labels. Dinner reservations are suggested.
Looking for a restaurant? We've explored the options, checked with critics, and pounded the pavement to offer only the best. Recommendations come complete with contact information and a brief description highlighting the important features of the restaurant. Fit our choices to your mood, or let us guide your tastes. You'll likely find a few places that not even locals know about.
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