At Orcutt Burgers in Grover Beach, burgers are calling your name

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• Alphy’s Adobe Grill in Pismo Beach

  Alphy’s Adobe Grill in Pismo Beach

  It’s the same, only different. Alphy’s Adobe Grill in Pismo Beach is indeed operated by the same team behind Alphy’s Broiler in Arroyo Grande, but the grill’s menu charts new territory — Southwest territory, to be exact.

  The second Alphy’s, on Five Cities Drive, opened in April 2011 and came about largely because “we needed more space for our catering business, and we’d been looking for a couple of years when this became available” said co-owner Doug Simpson. (He and his brother Lance operate the restaurants in a structure that he described as “not having employees, but partners.”)

  With the new location, which sports a casual feel, Simpson “wanted to do something a little different that no one else was doing — authentic Southwest from scratch.”

• Carla's Country Kitchen in Morro Bay

  Carla's Country Kitchen in Morro Bay

  Carla's Country Kitchen in Morro Bay was opened in 1987 by Carla Borchard. Today, it continues to promise "Great 'Down Home' Cooking," and it definitely delivers on its claim.

• Wilson’s in Paso Robles

  Wilson’s in Paso Robles

  They just don’t make ’em like Wilson’s anymore. They can’t. When this Paso Robles landmark opened at the corner of 28th and Spring, its phone number was three digits, a steak dinner cost 55 cents, and a luxurious abalone feast would set you back 85 cents.

  Currently owned by Harold and Gail Hansen, the restaurant was established in 1948 by Harold’s mother and stepfather, Georgia and Russ Wilson.

  Harold grew up working in the restaurant, and eventually took over the business in 1963, the year after he’d married a young phone company employee named Gail.

• Wee Shack Burger Café in Morro Bay

  Wee Shack Burger Café in Morro Bay

  Don’t be fooled by the diminutive name — the Wee Shack Burger Café is definitely big on flavor and quality.

  Spearheaded by brothers Huy (pronounced “Wee,” hence the restaurant’s name) and Wayne Ngo, this hands-on, family-run business is located in what was the longtime site of Margie’s Diner in Morro Bay. It opened in October 2011, but not before the family brightened up the interior with more windows and festive colors, and spruced up the dogfriendly patio.

  Though Wee Shack is on the well-traveled Main Street just south of Highway 41, Wayne Ngo noted that “because of the location, this building kind of flies under the radar. Our goal — and really all the credit goes to Huy, this was his brainchild — was to create a nice family place for the local community to come and be able to have a reasonably priced burger and beer.”

• Habaneros in Paso Robles offers authentic flavors from across Mexico

  Habaneros in Paso Robles offers authentic flavors from across Mexico

  Varieties of chili peppers are just as diverse as Mexican cuisine, so get ready to explore a spice rack of flavors at Habaneros.

  After more than a decade of working together in Cambria, Gabriel and Adriana Chavez realized their dream and opened their small Paso Robles restaurant in May 2011. With just a handful of tables inside and only a couple outside, you can’t help but feel at home here, especially given Adriana’s warm welcome and her extra touch of putting fresh flowers on every table.

  Gabriel handles the kitchen side of things and says that his own love of fiery food prompted the Habaneros name, a nod to that particular pepper, which packs piping hot piquancy.