Dining

This Valentine's Day, try the homemade candy and cookies from three local companies: The Joycup Co., Stewart & Clark Fine Foods and The Chocolate Sheep.

The stunning ocean view from Lido Restaurant and Lounge certainly gets your attention, but so will the waves of flavors created by executive chef Brian Collins and his culinary team, including pastry chef Benjie Puga.

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.

Over the years, the Madonna Inn has become a lot of things to a lot of people — from a landmark destination for travelers to a cherished part of the San Luis Obispo community.

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.

Orcutt Burgers, on Grand Avenue in Grover Beach in what was once a KFC franchise, still has the feel of a fast-food place. But there’s also a fair amount that sets this locally owned and operated place apart.

Given this season of both excess and reflection, perhaps it’s a good time to consider the food and philosophy of Bliss Café in San Luis Obispo, especially if you’d like to explore the idea of a “yogi-style, karma-free” vegan menu.

If you’re going to call yourself a house of bagels, you better have the process to back it up — boiling bagels before baking them. That’s exactly what House of Bagels Central Coast delivers.

A lot of doughnut places take a cookie cutter approach to their recipes and layouts, but Jacob and Jesse Pickering really wanted to think outside the box when they opened their SLO Donut Company in October 2010.

Fifteen years ago, the curtain went up on Broadway Bagel and Coffee Company in Arroyo Grande, and it’s been getting raves ever since.

What do you think of when you hear the words “Embassy Suites”?

At The Graduate in San Luis Obispo, Pierside Restaurant in Pismo Beach and West End Bar and Grill in Cambria, football fans can catch all the matchups while nibbling on game-day fare and sipping some suds.

Linn’s Restaurant in Cambria opened its doors in 1989 and quickly became a destination spot for both locals and visitors, but the family behind it isn’t about to rest on their olallieberries.

Whether you want to sushi or not to sushi, you’ll find something tasty at Toshi’s Sushi Bar and Restaurant in Atascadero.

Molecular gastronomy has been the topic of two demonstrations by Thomas Drahos, the pastry chef at Windows on the Water in Morro Bay, and Ben Lugo, his assistant pastry chef.

Is your tummy growling? Got an empty stomach? Then get your feet moving and head to The Full Belly Deli in Paso Robles.

Looking for a place to get together with friends, meet for a nosh before a show, or pull together some co-workers for a holiday party? Look no further than the aptly-named Gather Wine Bar.

Yes, it is named after an iconic Hawaiian locale, but let’s be clear — you’re not going to find any poi, loco moco or Spam at Lahaina’s in San Luis Obispo. What you will find, however, are hand-formed burgers and fresh seafood.

Downtown diners have a lot more freedom in their fresh food fare now that Liberty Café has arrived in San Luis Obispo.

As the Sunset Savor the Central Coast event celebrates the bounty of our area this weekend, here are a few more local finds worth knowing about: