Popular SLO restaurant opens new location — right on a scenic golf course

Spirit of San Luis now has a sister restaurant in Paso Robles: Spirit of Paso Robles opened its doors Nov. 11 at the River Oaks Golf Course located at 700 Clubhouse Drive.

Mike Stanton and wife Ellen Stanton bought the 35-year-old Spirit of San Luis seven years ago, he said, and when a new opportunity recently came available, they jumped at it.

“It’s a small six-hole golf course that draws a lot of people from the local neighborhoods, but it makes for a great view when you’re dining,” Mike Stanton told The Tribune on Friday. “We weren’t looking for a golf course, it just happens to be attached to one.”

The Stantons decided to expand to a sister restaurant when the space on the golf course opened up, he said.

Stanton said the opening of Spirit of Paso Robles was done without any fanfare so they could focus on operations and work on building the website and social media for the restaurant.

The couple aren’t strangers to overhauling an existing space.

When the pair bought Spirit of San Luis in 2017, it was “ready for a refresh,” Stanton said.

“We brought new food to the menu, cleaned up the inside, remodeled the inside, got the patios all tuned up where we can keep them warm when it’s cold,” he said. “We’ve really freshened it up big time.”

The restaurant lies on the original terminal of the San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport, where guests can enjoy the sight of airplanes taking off and landing with hearty meals of Angus beef burgers, tacos and desserts made in-house, according to its website.

What’s on the menu at new Paso Robles restaurant?

The new Paso Robles restaurant’s menu mirrors all the familiar classic of the Spirit of San Luis one — though new additions include the cowboy Cuban sandwich with smoked brisket and pulled pork, balsamic glazed chicken and Skuna Bay salmon, according to Stanton.

“I thought the whole area of Paso Robles could benefit by having a restaurant like ours,” he said. “It’s really high-quality food, but it’s not pretentious.”

Spirit of Paso Robles has a full bar and offers indoor and outdoor seating, according to an Instagram post announcing the new restaurant. It also offers weekend brunch — a staple at the Spirit of San Luis location.

Stanton said he could even see the Sunday brunch becoming their busiest day.

He said the restaurant’s friendly and casual environment brings “simple food done well,” where everything on the menu is made in house.

“It’s the kind of place you can eat at two or three days a week and not get bored because the menu’s pretty big,” Stanton said. “Lots and lots of variety, but yet everything is fresh.”

For more information on Spirit of Paso Robles

Spirit of Paso Robles is open Monday and Tuesday from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Wednesday through Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

To make a reservation, call 805-257-8003.

This story was originally published December 3, 2024 at 5:00 AM.