Must-see restaurants in Central Coast

Chef Brian Collins, who once cooked at Alice Waters' revered Chez Panisse, has returned to his roots in SLO County. Out of this heart-warming restaurant's…

The Honduran heritage of chef and owner Santos MacDonal shines through at this cosmopolitan bar and bistro translating from Spanish into 'the harvest.'…

With a cult following, this artisan ice-cream shop crafts zany flavors such as bourbon-candied ginger, lemon-verbena–blueberry and ricotta apricot all…

With 'clouds' hanging from the ceiling and tube sculptures wriggling towards them, it's apparent that much thought has gone into the design of this dining…

In a brick-lined courtyard, this vivaciously elegant restaurant pairs art and candlelight with food inspired by Oaxacan flavors and an entire library's…

The county’s biggest and best weekly farmers market turns downtown SLO’s Higuera St into a giant street party, with smokin’ barbecues, overflowing fruit…

Organic produce, baked goods and arts-and-crafts and food booths all give you an authentic taste of the local vibe. Shorter fall and winter hours.

A perennial local foodie fave, this chic and cosmopolitan lair harnesses mostly native products and turns them into triumphs of flavor pairings: Manila…

Nepenthe comes from a Greek word meaning ‘isle of no sorrow,’ and indeed, it’s hard to feel blue while sitting by the firepit on this aerial terrace. Just…

Visit garlic-perfumed Guiseppe's for a leisurely lunch of toothsome salads, pizza and antipasti starring produce harvested on the owner's farm. Out the…

Delve into the appetizers menu – including crab cakes or orange-glazed octopus – or kick off with tuna tataki or fresh oysters from the crudo raw bar…

Fresh, sustainable seafood is artfully presented in any number of inventive ways, and a seasonally inspired menu also carries slow-cooked meats and…

Our pick of Lighthouse Avenue's lineup of low-key global eateries, Zab Zab channels the robust flavors of northeast Thailand. The bijou cottage is perfect…

At a quaint yesteryear lodge, the candlelit, knickknack-filled dining room has a dependably delicious menu of meat-centric culinary Americana, from bacon…

Woodsy restaurant with a deck, overlooking a creek teeming with throaty frogs. The food is standard American – burgers, steak, sandwiches, roast chicken…

Wood-fired treats in this heritage location combining shimmering chandeliers and rustic bricks include grilled octopus, rotisserie chicken and creamy bone…

‘Smoker Jim’ puts fresh-off-the-boat salmon, albacore tuna, ahi tuna and shrimp through the smoker before loading them into toasted tacos and french roll…

Just possibly Carmel Valley's coziest eatery, the Corkscrew Cafe combines a rustic wine-country vibe and a Mediterranean-influenced menu – think wood…

Complemented by sake, craft brews and a buzzy surf-town ambience, Akira's menu harnesses briny-fresh tuna, salmon, eel and shellfish for a huge variety of…

Fresh seafood and regional wines are staples at this supercasual family-owned grill. When the famous Big Bucket – a messy bonanza of crab, clams, shrimp…