Hottest restaurants in SLO County? These spots had most reservations in February
Looking for a dinner date destination in San Luis Obispo County?
OpenTable released the latest edition of its monthly Diners’ Choice rankings for San Luis Obispo and Paso Robles on Thursday, March 5.
The online reservation platform looked for local eateries with the most bookings and the best reviews in February, spotlighting peoples’ favorite restaurants across the area.
OpenTable analyzed nearly 500,000 new global diner reviews in February and sorted the results by location to “help you discover new favorite restaurants,” according to the booking site.
“It’s a great partnership: you reserve, eat and review,” OpenTable said. “We listen ... and deliver the results for all to benefit.”
Here’s which local restaurants landed the most reservations:
Alex Madonna’s Gold Rush Steak House
- Location: Madonna Inn, 100 Madonna Road, San Luis Obispo
- Hours: 5 to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, 4 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday
The iconic Alex Madonna’s Gold Rush Steak House at the Madonna Inn is beloved for its pink aesthetic and “whimsical, European atmosphere,” the inn said.
Its expansive menu features oak-pit-barbecued steak, prime rib and fresh seafood, with the hotel’s iconic pink champagne cake for dessert.
As of Friday, March 6, the restaurant had an average OpenTable rating of 4.6 stars out of five.
OpenTable reviewer Kelly of San Francisco said the steakhouse offers a “great ambiance, excellent steaks, live music, good waitstaff, good drinks, generous pour on wine (and) to-die-for cake!”
Copper Cafe and Bakery
- Location: Madonna Inn, 100 Madonna Road, San Luis Obispo
- Hours: Open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m
At the Madonna Inn, the Copper Cafe and Bakery is a popular spot for both tourists and locals.
The cafe’s atmosphere is charming and inviting, the San Luis Obispo hotel said, with copper counters, tons of natural light and Bavarian imagery that “will transport you to a quaint European village.”
The bakery, which has an average rating on 4.6 stars on OpenTable, sells a variety of cookies, pies, pastries and desserts.
OpenTable reviewer Pearl of the Central Coast said the Copper Cafe offers good food and fast service.
“It is such a beautiful place to eat,” she wrote.
Nate’s on Marsh
- Location: 450 Marsh St., San Luis Obispo
- Hours: 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4:30 to 9 p.m. Thursday through Monday
Nate’s on Marsh, at the tail-end of San Luis Obispo’s downtown area, said it serves up Michelin-mentioned entrees that are “the best comforting dishes worth craving.”
The eatery, which had an average rating of 4.8 stars on OpenTable, offers a full bar and a California-centric wine list.
In addition to ribeye steak and salmon piccata, Nate’s On Marsh is known for its decadent pasta dishes.
“All the pastas are amazing,” OpenTable reviewer Brenda of Las Vegas wrote.
Lure Fish House
- Location: 101 Monterey St., Suite 100, San Luis Obispo
- Hours: 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday
Lure Fish House in downtown San Luis Obispo said it features an oyster bar and a full-service menu with “the freshest sustainable seafood from trusted sources.”
The restaurant had an average 4.6-star rating on the site as of Friday.
At Lure Fish House, patrons can order ceviche, charboiled oysters and lobster.
If you’re thirsty, the restaurant also has a full bar and a plethora of craft cocktails and local wines, Lure Fish House said on its website.
OpenTable reviewer Paul of San Francisco said both the food and service were “excellent.”
“We dined two nights in a row,” he wrote.
Nicola Restaurant
- Location: 11560 Los Osos Valley Road, San Luis Obispo
- Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sundays
Executive chef Nicola Allegretta, the man behind Mistura and Mama’s Meatball, recently launched a new culinary project, Nicola.
The restaurant blends Italian and Peruvian culinary traditions in a nod to the unique fusion cuisine known as bachiche, the restaurant said.
“When the first Italian settlers arrived in Peru generations ago, they didn’t just blend flavors; they built a new culinary identity, one where Italian tradition and Peruvian ingredients came together to create something entirely unique,” Allegretta said on the restaurant’s website.
The eatery, which has an average OpenTable rating of 4.6 stars, has a crudo bar, wood-fired pizzas and an assortment of pastas.
“Delicious food and vibrant atmosphere,” OpenTable reviewer Cecile of the Central Coast wrote. “Service and entrees were at the level of a Michelin star restaurant.”
Mistura
- Location: 570 Higuera St., San Luis Obispo
- Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sundays
Peruvian restaurant Mistura serves upscale eats in downtown San Luis Obispo that combine a variety of culinary influences, including Italian, Japanese, Chinese and Italian cuisines.
“Mistura is an authentic tribute to the diversity of Peruvian food, proposing familiar yet unexpected and adventurous flavors,” the restaurant said on its website.
The restaurant, which has a 4.5-star rating on OpenTable rating, also pours Pisco-centered cocktails and sells hand-crafted desserts.
“Every course was absolutely delicious, thoughtfully crafted, and beautifully plated like a work of art,” OpenTable reviewer Bridget of Los Angeles said.
Il Cortile Ristorante
- Location: 608 12th St., Suite 101, Paso Robles
- Hours: 5 to 10 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday, 5 to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday
Il Cortile Ristorante, a rustic, fine dining Italian establishment in Paso Robles, crafts seasonal menus packed with fresh local ingredients.
Executive chef Santos MacDonal creates “a melody of exceptional homemade pastas, fresh seafood, top quality meats and antipasti,” the restaurant said.
The Italian restaurant had a 4.8-star rating on OpenTable.
OpenTable reviewer Brian of New York City said the food and service were top-notch.
“It was the perfect experience from the moment we walked in the door till the time we finished our dessert,” he said.
Bear & The Wren
- Location: 570 Higuera St., Suite 2, San Luis Obispo
- Hours: 4 to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, noon to 8 p.m. Sundays
In The Creamery Marketplace in San Luis Obispo, Bear & The Wren cooks up Neapolitan and Detroit-style pizzas using a wood-fired oven.
The Italian restaurant, which had a 4.9-star rating on OpenTable, combines an upbeat and relaxed atmosphere with hand-made pizzas and open-concept kitchen.
OpenTable reviewer Ryan of the Central Coast praised the restaurant for its high-quality food and drinks, well-price menu and “exceptional” service.
Mama’s Meatball
- Location: 570 Higuera St., Suite 130, San Luis Obispo
- Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday
This authentic Italian restaurant in downtown San Luis Obispo combines quality local ingredients with home-style cooking, the restaurant said on its website.
Mama’s Meatball had an average 4.4-star rating on OpenTable.
OpenTable reviewer Gail of the Central Coast said the food was superb when she visited in January.
“We are never disappointed,” she wrote on OpenTable. “The food is beyond perfect. Thank you for the best food in SLO.”
Cafe Roma
- Location: 1020 Railroad Ave., San Luis Obispo
- Hours: 4:30 to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday
For more than 40 years, the Rizzo family has been dishing up Italian specialties in San Luis Obispo.
The restaurant, which had a 4.8-star rating on OpenTable, gives customers a taste of Italy with a “vintage Italian bike hanging above the bar to the Murano glass chandeliers and Tuscan murals,” according to its website.
Diners can order off a menu featuring homemade pastas, wood-fired pizzas and fresh seafood.
“Cafe Roma is an absolute gem,” Joannie from the Central Coast wrote on OpenTable, going on to gush about the delicious food, fabulous service and perfect cocktails.
