5 SLO County restaurants are some of the best in California, Michelin Guide says
Five San Luis Obispo County restaurants are among the best in California, according to the Michelin Guide.
On Wednesday, the guide announced 37 mouth-watering additions to its Michelin Guide California selection.
“These establishments are highlighted as ‘new’ on guide.michelin.com to help food lovers enjoy new discoveries before the full selection is revealed Dec. 5 at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles,” the Michelin Guide said.
Beloved among foodies, the Michelin Guide famously awards stars to high-quality restaurants around the globe.
Its California-centric guide highlights some of the most acclaimed eateries in the Golden State.
SLO, Arroyo Grande spots featured in Michelin Guide
Among the SLO County restaurants joining Michelin Guide California for the first time on Wednesday was Ember in Arroyo Grande.
The restaurant serves “Italian-inspired California cuisine” including wine-braised duck ragu and wood-oven fired pizza, according to its website.
“Its inviting industrial-rustic interior is the perfect setting for their heartfelt and down-to-earth cooking,” the Michelin Guide said of the restaurant. “You’ll likely never tire of the contemporary menu filled with comforting favorites.
The restaurant, located at 1200 E. Grand Ave. in Arroyo Grande, opened in 2014.
Nate’s on Marsh in San Luis Obispo also made the list.
Located at 450 Marsh St., the restaurant serves “contemporary American cuisine with Italian soul,” including butternut squash ravioli and salmon piccata, according to its website.
Michelin Guide California called the restaurant’s founder and namesake, Cal Poly graduate Nate Long, “the consummate host.”
“The service is exceptionally warm, though it certainly doesn’t hurt that the menu is loaded with classics and riffs on favorites that will have you coming back for more,” the guide said.
Nate’s on Marsh opened its doors in 2021.
3 Paso Robles restaurants make California list
Three Paso Robles restaurants joined the Michelin Guide California lineup on Wednesday, including Les Petites Canailles.
According to its website, the French restaurant’s farm-to-table “menu evolves with the seasons and what surrounds us.” Current offerings included beef cheek bourguignon and roasted monkfish.
“Meals begin with a warm gougère (savory choux pastry) before moving on to a selection of hearty appetizers,” the Michelin Guide said. “The menu features several entrées, though most eyes land on the perfectly cooked steaks.”
Les Petites Canailles opened at 1215 Spring St. in Paso Robles in 2019.
Michelin Guide California also added The Hatch Rotisserie & Bar, which serves up “wood-fired comfort food” such as rotisserie chicken and shepherd’s pie, according to its website. The restaurant opened at 835 13th St. in Paso Robles in 2015.
“It’s all hail to the bird at The Hatch,” Michelin Guide California said. “This downtown Paso Robles restaurant reveres the rotisserie and roasted chicken is indeed the must order.”
Finally, the Michelin Guide picked in bloom, which opened at 1845 Spring St. in Paso Robles in early 2022.
According to its website, in bloom’s goal is to “to embrace and support the community and let California’s Central Coast shine in every dish, cocktail, & wine served” by “collaborating with local farms and purveyors.”
“Their cooking is confident, and their dishes really come alive,” the guide said.
The restaurant’s menu features such sumptuous choices as soy-glazed octopus and chicken angolotti.
Central Coast eateries highlighted
Elsewhere on the Central Coast, Michelin Guide California added three Santa Barbara County restaurants — AMA Sushi in Montecito, Bar Le Côte in Los Olivos and peasants FEAST in Solvang — along with a Ventura County spot, The Dutchess in Ojai.
This isn’t the first time Michelin Guide California has recognized SLO County’s stellar culinary scene.
In August 2021, the statewide guide added three local restaurants: The Restaurant at Justin in Paso Robles, Six Test Kitchen in Paso Robles and Ox + Anchor in San Luis Obispo
Six Test Kitchen became the first SLO County restaurant to earn a Michelin star that September.
This story was originally published November 10, 2022 at 5:30 AM.
