Photo by Teresa Allen

Creative blending of Greek and Mexican fresh cuisine.
Review by Teresa Allen

The Wild Donkey Café
1131 Broad Street, San Luis Obispo (Map)
805 788-0898
Hours: Sun – Wed 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.; Thurs – Sat 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Attire: Casual
Price range: $$1/2 (Most entrees from $9 to $15)
Parking: Street
Alcohol: Beer and wine only

You might come for the curious meeting of Greek and Mexican cuisines. But you’ll return to The Wild Donkey Café on Broad Street for the fresh ingredients and creative menu that features such items as salmon and grilled apricot salad, a chicken and fig sandwich, and a vegetarian souvlaki with broiled mushrooms, tofu and red peppers inside a pita wrap.

The restaurant itself, with just 15 tables, is bright and cheerful with French doors opening out onto the street for fresh air and people-watching. A back, outdoor patio is scheduled to open soon. The owners, Greeks who also love Mexican food, liked the idea of giving diners a distinct choice of cuisines in their offerings. The menu, in fact, ranges from the often raved-about “Wild Donkey” burritos (with a choice of lamb, pork tenderloin, NY strip steak or vegetarian, filled with the usuals but also carrots and zucchini), to a Greek-inspired vegetarian stuffed Poblano pepper that is baked with vegetables and raisins and drizzled with a creamy pecan souce.

Many of the menu items are vegetarian, including such starters as pikalia (an assortment of Greek dips served with grilled, soft honey bread,), dolmathes, and spanakopita – flakey phyllo, filled with spinach, feta, leeks and herbs. You can even buy a side of fresh, locally grown vegetables.

A lamb gyro with red onions, fresh tomato, chopped romaine lettuce and tzatziki sauce brought raves on a recent visit for the tender cut of meat and fresh ingredients. The fig preserves on the fig and chicken sandwich (a large portion served with brie on a soft roll with pesto mayonnaise) kept everything moist and was more than one diner could eat.

Ambiance:

A cheerful, comfortable restaurant with ornate crystal ceiling chandiliers and a cozy, bricked-in wall. Just 15 tables that are set far enough apart for private conversations.

Service:

Helpful and attentive college-age students.

Don’t miss:

Grilled salmon and apricot salad, anything lamb, fresh squeeze lemonade, and an order of peasant potatoes (wedges baked crispy with lemon and oregano).

Pricey but tasty Mexican food, margaritas and deep fried ice cream

By SLO Critic

The prime downtown restaurant space formerly occupied by Native has been replaced by Cielo Cantina–same owners, but a different direction. They have a nice selection of Mexican dishes, a variety of margaritas, and even tequila flights if you want to try out different types.

The Digs:

1023 Chorro Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 (Map)
805-545-9001
Website: cielocantina.com
Hours: Tues. through Sat., 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.; Sunday and Monday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Prices: $$
Attire: Casual
Alcohol: full bar, happy hour
More information: Outdoor seating, reservations accepted, catering, good for kids, groups

The Scoop:

Cielo Cantina is located next to the Mission at Chorro where Monterey dead ends downtown. Several restaurants have been there over the years and this is a new direction from what used to be Native.  While it’s a great location nothing seems to survive at this place but hopefully Cielo will be able to change that.

What Rocks:

I tried the seared ahi tacos and my dinner date had the chile verde enchiladas. Both were good, and I was surprised how much ahi was stuffed into the two tacos. Margaritas were pricey but worth it. Because I’m hardcore deep fried ice cream lover, they got points for having this item on the menu … but they lost some by using strawberry sauce instead of chocolate. (They should offer both.)

What Sucks:

For Mexican food, it’s expensive. Margaritas are $8 – $10 and food dishes start around $9 but most are $12 – $14. But I do have to say it’s not your standard family style Mexican restaurant; its more upscale. It will remain to be seen whether people want that. The service was acceptable. I want this place to make it, but I think this location might be cursed as nothing survives here.

The Moolah:

Prices are a bit high with most items around $10 – $14. Our meal for two and two cocktails each plus one dessert was $65 with tip.

Comfort food made with fresh local produce. Famous for olallieberry pie.

Linn’s
2277 Main St., Cambria (Map)
805-924-3050
Reservations: Accepted, but not essential
Hours: 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily
Prices: $$
Attire: Casual
Alcohol: Beer and wine only
More information: Family dining, kid-friendly, take-out
Cuisine: American

John and Renee Linn started out in the 1970s with a farm and country fruit stand outside Cambria that became a popular stop for tourists heading to Hearst Castle. Then Renee Linn began baking pies with the local olallieberry, and their business took off. Today they run Linn’s restaurant, which they opened in 1989, as well as the adjacent Easy as Pie Café, Linn’s Gourmet Goods in downtown Cambria, the farm and roadside stand, and an Internet food business offering frozen, ready-to-cook pies and other products.

The menu features fresh fruit and vegetables from the Linn family’s farm and neighboring farms, including seasonal citrus, berries, apples, apricots, lettuce, vegetables, herbs, tomatoes and avocados. The beef also is local, from the Hearst Ranch in nearby San Simeon, where cattle are raised on native grasses growing along the Pacific coast.

The Hearst burger consistently draws raves from customers, and the pot pies reap the benefits of Renee Linn’s skill with flaky crusts for her fruit pies. The salmon and seafood dishes are also excellent, particularly the Seafood Pasta. If you want to splurge on olallieberries, try the olallieberry lemonade, milk shake, sparkler or tea.

Service:

This family-owned, family-run restaurant generally draws good reviews for casual, friendly service. If you want a simpler dining experience, take a short walk up the hill to the Easy as Pie Café, which offers counter service and the same pies, plus soups, salads, wraps and sandwiches. Or hit the small take-out and grocery area at one end of the restaurant, or stop in at the Gourmet Foods store that’s a short walk up the hill.

Ambiance:

The restaurant was extensively remodeled after being destroyed by fire in 2006. It has the feel of an old building that has been restored to its former splendor, with wood floors, massive oak antique pieces and large wood-framed partitions with etched-glass designs. It’s a comfortable setting for comfort foods. Dress casually and relax.

Don’t miss:

You absolutely, positively can’t miss the olallieberry pie. It’s what draws most of the people in the dining room, it has won numerous awards, and it is packed with olallieberries, a flavorful cross between a blackberry and a raspberry that is little-known outside the Central Coast. Last year, Food Network host Marc Summers made the pie his choice for the “sliced” category in “The Best Thing I Ever Ate” series. Summers discovered Linn’s while living in San Luis Obispo about 20 years ago.

Sports bar meets burger joint in a college town. Plus, a great patio.

Photo by cplbasilisk/flickr

Firestone Grill
1001 Higuera St., San Luis Obispo (Map)
805-783-1001
Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sun. through Thurs., 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Fri. and Sat.
Prices: $
Attire: Casual
Alcohol: Full bar
More information: Student-friendly, budget-oriented, outdoor dining, take-out.
Cuisine: American

The Firestone Grill is a San Luis Obispo institution, drawing a mix of Cal Poly students, tourists and other locals for lunch and dinner. The tri-tip sandwiches draw raves, as do the ribs and fries. There’s a secret menu, but we can’t tell you about it or it wouldn’t be a secret. (Pssst, ask for the “Liddell” if you like a sandwich with shredded chicken, barbecue sauce and cheese, but skip the “Boyyyyy You Are Stupid Sandwich.”) It’s a meat-eaters paradise, but there also are salads and a vegetarian sandwich if you’re so inclined. Don’t be surprised to see a line stretching out the door as you arrive, particularly on weekends, but don’t get discouraged – the line moves quickly, and the food will be up before you know it. The seating inside can get jammed, and diners taking their time may be asked to leave to make room for new customers. The spacious patio outside is a great spot for most of the year. The restaurant is named for the Firestone store that used to occupy the site, with gas pumps where the patio now stands. You’d never know it.

Service:

It’s mostly up to you – you stand in line to place your order, wait for your number to be called, and then pick up your food, utensils and napkins at the counter. The service gets mixed reviews on websites, but Firestone boasts nearly 9,000 fans on Facebook and favorable write-ups even from foodies, who love the tri-tip sandwich.

Ambiance:

It’s a noisy, fun place with good American food. It looks like a sports bar, with a concrete floor, basic tables and chairs and big-screen televisions. There’s some attitude – Firestone proudly took down all of the “best place for tri-tip” awards awhile back and kept the one that the staff liked the most: “Second-best place to break up.” (First place went to “the beach”.) It’s a good spot for catching sports on TV (and check out the signed jerseys on the walls), grabbing a bite to eat and doing some people-watching.

Don’t miss:

Well, duh, it’s the tri-tip sandwich – juicy, tender beef that has been gently charred, glazed with sweet, Kansas City-style barbecue sauce and placed in a fresh roll.  Ask for extra sauce if you want more than a glaze. Also, check out the ABC burger (translation: avocado, bacon and cheese). Get a big order of the seasoned fries to split (there’s plenty for two) and, of course, a couple of beers. Grab a table on the patio on a sunny day, and you’re in Central Coast heaven.

John Leach

Authentic, made-to-order Thai food that’s worth the trip to Baywood Park.

Noi’s Little Thai Takeout
1288 2nd Street, Los Osos/Baywood Park
805-528-6647

It’s not often that a SLO resident can say a local restaurant has great Asian food without adding the caveat, “for the Central Coast.” Noi’s is a notable exception. This cozy outpost in the so-called “business district” of sleepy Baywood Park turns out dishes that would hold their own in the foodie zones of Los Angeles, San Francisco — even Bangkok. The limited menu features a daily curry special along with a handful of ever-present curries and noodles. The ingredients are always fresh, and the food is made to order. In fact, if you have a hankering for a particular menu item and it’s late in the day, it’s a good idea to call ahead to make sure they haven’t run out. Noi’s is one of those special places that locals like to keep to themselves. (Sorry, neighbors. The secret’s out.)

Service:

Eating at Noi’s is like being a guest in a friend’s kitchen. The hospitality is as noteworthy as the culinary creations.

Ambiance:

The restaurant is tiny, with indoor seating for about four guests. But the beautiful front deck, which is decorated with intricate wood carvings, a fountain and a Koi pond, has several wooden tables and umbrellas. Great for outdoor dining on warm days.

Don’t miss:

The Monday curry is a butternut squash concoction that blends bamboo shoots, basil, red chilies and coconut milk in just the right proportions. Fans of Thai noodle dishes will love the mild but flavorful pad-see-yew.

Classic Indian-Pakistani cooking in a friendly, homey setting.

Shalimar
2115 Broad Street, SLO
805-781-0766

It may seem unlikely that a restaurant that offers a dirt-cheap lunch buffet could also serve date-worthy dinners, but Shalimar does just that. Its menu blends traditional favorites with some original creations that appeal to both cautious and adventurous eaters. Dishes emphasize flavor over fire, and the presentation is free of frills. This is good, classic Indian-Pakistani cooking in a friendly, homey setting.

Service:

This family-owned, family-run restaurant operates with the genuine warmth and attention to detail that are hard to find in a college town.

Ambiance:

Tasteful décor, dim lighting, Bollywood videos on a wide-screen TV. Lots of noise during the lunch buffet, but quieter at dinnertime.

Don’t miss:

The creamy, flavorful chicken tikka masala is a mainstay of the Shalimar buffet. A lesser-known hit is the bangan bartha, a delicately spiced eggplant dish for people who didn’t think they liked eggplant. The fluffy, fresh-baked naan is the perfect vehicle for scooping it all up.

Tasty tapas from one of SLO’s favorite restaurant families
By SLO Critic

Luna Red is owned by the same people who bring you Novo Restaurant in downtown San Luis Obispo as well as Robin’s in Cambria. This is a fun new establishment with a tapas style menu and a great wine list to compliment their yummy dishes.

The Digs:

Luna Red Restaurant
1009 Monterey Street, San Luis Obispo
(805) 540-5243

The Scoop:

Located right down from Fremont Theater, Luna Red has a fantastic presentation, and everything looks amazing. You will have trouble choosing what to get as it all looks so good.

What Rocks:

The fish tacos without a doubt. But I recommend trying a variety of tapas and sharing. The pastrami was also very good. A perfect place for lunch or after work for a glass of wine and some wonderful dishes in a great atmosphere. The staff was also great.

What Sucks:

The wait time to get the food was a little long being it was not busy when we arrived, but they are very new and getting the kinks worked out. When we left, it was packed, so get there early.

The Moolah:

Prices range between $9-14 for lunch. Dinner ranges between $8-24 depending on what you order (tapas vs. full dinners).