Nestled in Grover Beach, California, Pono Pacific Kitchen promises a culinary adventure bursting with freshness, flavor, and good vibes. This spot isn’t just a restaurant; it’s a celebration of all things seafood, served up with a side of coastal charm. Step inside and you’re greeted with a laid-back vibe that instantly puts you at ease.…
Oyster Loft with Executive Chef, Jared Hurst Dinner with a view of The Pismo Pier! Listen to the waves crashing while sipping one of their amazing specialty drinks. Last week I enjoyed a delicious tequila-based cocktail with a hibiscus “bubble”, then watched as it popped with a beautiful puff of smoke sprinkling magic all over…
If you are ready to grab a great bite out and try somewhere new to eat, check out the Olde Ale House in Los Osos! Located next to Rexall’s on Los Osos Valley Road on the way to Montana De Oro State Park, this is the perfect stop for a local beer after a long…
Living in Pismo Beach, where we connect you with some of our favorite people who live and work on the Central Coast. Those community and business leaders who make living on the Coast such a unique and diverse experience. Episode #7 Brian Collins Chef & Owner of Ember in Arroyo Grande, CA Brian Collins…
A word that has been frequently thrown about since that fateful week in mid-March when California shut down to flatten the curve is “pivot”. Business owners are encouraged to embrace the new normal, shift their practices and “pivot” to a new direction embracing the current “situation” and restrictions. Watching our favorite business owners grapple with…
Although the final results of the COVID-19 induced economic shutdown will not be fully understood for months to come, the immediate impact on the restaurant industry has put a spotlight on the ripple effect of shutting down that segment of our local market. Nationwide the restaurant industry employs 11 million Americans. Beyond that however are…
As the Shelter at Home order began to take effect across the Central Coast in mid-March, restaurants were having to decide whether to stay open in a limited capacity or shut down for the time being. Given that most folks in the community a) love to eat out b) want to support local businesses c)…
The annual Valentine’s Day Wine Walk is back and better than ever! With Valentine’s falling on a Friday this year, the Pismo Beach Chamber folks have redesigned the Wine Walk for the weekend! No need to agonize over expensive and elaborate plans for your Valentine! Unlike previous Wine Walks hosted by the Pismo Beach Chamber…
CALLING ALL FOODIES! Sound the alarm! There are just two weeks left to take advantage of SLO County’s “Restaurant Month!” This is a fantastic opportunity to enjoy a three-course fixed menu at many participating restaurants around the county for the low, low price of $30 per person! Plus, many restaurants also offer a wine pairing…
Shell Beach has a brand-new restaurant you won’t want to miss — Cape Cod Eatery, located at 1127 Shell Beach Road, recently opened it’s doors and has instantly become a new hot spot! The Cape Cod Eatery & Taphouse gets its name from the building where it makes its home — previously “The Cape Cod…
If you live in or have visited Pismo Beach then you have been to Rosa’s Ristorante Italiano. This cornerstone of the city restaurant scene has been at the southern entrance of Pismo for 30 years. Chef Doug MacMillan’s parents opened the restaurant – a homage to his mother, Rosa, who was born in Bonito, Italy.…
In California the word “taqueria” can be loosely translated into English as a restaurant that serves tacos and burritos. However, when you dine at La Esquina Taqueria in San Luis Obispo, you know you are going to be able to get classic Mexican dishes. Their take on the classics make La Esquina unique and well worth a visit as my wife and I found out on a recent Sunday night. …
Like any small town, we can be measured by our Parades and Festivals. As Pismo Beach has long been the self-proclaimed “clam capitol of the world” it seems only fitting that our Fall Festival have the theme of all things Clam. Over the years it has grown from a small parade and clam digging contest…
Looking for a fun place with an excellent view in Pismo Beach? Look no further than Pismo’s newest hotspot at Willow located at 2131 Price St. This building used to be the old Marie Calendars right in front of the Sea Crest Hotel. The new owners have done a complete remodel that is so inviting…
My Team, my husband, my friends and family – we all work hard, and we like to unwind. Our favorite type of atmosphere is one that feels a little cliché – a bar where “everybody knows your name.” When we find it, we tend to become their best customers. It’s our go-to spot for a…
Want to do something fun to celebrate Cinco De Mayo and do good for the community at the same time? Fin’s Seafood Restaurant in Grover Beach is the place to be! Fiesta at Fin’s is holding its “dinner for a cause” on May 1st from 5:00pm to 9:00pm. All proceeds will be going towards Five…
Poke is a sushi-grade seafood dish that has long been a favorite in Hawaii and is having a surge of popularity here on the mainland. Here on the Central Coast, where we have access to high-quality, fresh seafood, it’s a given that this trendy meal has finally arrived! Poke is a great appetizer, lunch or…
Avila Beach has always been a family favorite. While Pismo is the obvious choice for visitors, Avila stays a bit more quiet and feels a bit more like a small town. It also has the best weather on the Central Coast, often remaining sunny and warm when fog is still hovering over the other beaches.…
Grover Beach is a happening little beach town all year long but come August of every year, it is a rockin’ town with their fantastic Stone Soup Music Festival & Street Faire. The dates this year are Saturday, August 27th from 10am-9:30pm and Sunday, August 28th from 11am-5pm. Some streets are blocked off near Ramona…
Downtown Pismo’s newest restaurant is a “must-visit”! Upstairs from Wooly’s at 101 Pomeroy, this upscale venue overlooks the Pismo Pier and sweeping coastline views from Vandenberg to Avila. The setting and ambiance of the Oyster Loft is beautiful with low lighting and gorgeous décor. We have visited twice since opening and were wowed each time.…
Avila Beach has a brand new restaurant that is a must try on your next visit. Mersea’s of Avila is in the same family of restaurants as Dorn’s of Morro Bay and Duckies Chowder House of Cayucos. The restaurant is at the end of Harford Pier on Avila Beach Drive. You can soak in the…
We live where others vacation — so I admit we are a bit spoiled. You have to have a good reason to venture North over the Cuesta Grade and into the hotter reaches of our County (away from the Ocean), In recent years however the reasons have been stacking up. North County isn’t just about…
With over thirty years in the food business, Kathy Marcks Hardesty provides great information about our local Food & Wine businesses here on the Central Coast. She loves writing about great food and wine, entertaining your senses and placing you on the edge of your seat as you look forward to trying the next great new restaurant…
Gnocchi. Ricotta Gnocchi. Ricotta Gnocchi atop a bed of gently sautéed Bloomsdale spinach. Gnocchi in a brown butter sauce. Gnocchi with a dusting of artichoke fritti. This is a glorious dish and I hope it remains as a revolving item on the menu at Ember. But you never know what inspired new dishes might arrive…
Years ago I was invited to a friend’s birthday party that was being held at Debbie Duggan’s Central Coast Culinary. I had met Debbie on a few occasions working at KSBY as she was our local “celebrity chef”. She would rise ridiculously early to inspire us with a fantastic (and fast) dish on the morning show.…
We found ourselves playing tourist in our own backyard a few weekends ago and decided to try a few new things. While we waited for our standup paddling reservation at Central Coast Standup Paddling we found ourselves with time to kill on the boardwalk in Morro Bay. So we did as we do and looked up restaurants we…
Being locals, it can be hard to surprise us. On the other hand we also find ourselves falling victim to routine, returning to the same ol’ haunts over and over again. So it was through an effort to help our son learn to navigate traffic on his bicycle better that we were pleased to discover…
In Grover Beach, what folks must keep in mind when heading to Fin’s is that it’s a family restaurant with a seafood focus — It’s on the sand, folks, at the entrance to the beach at the bottom of Grand Ave. So, if you don’t like seafood or families, I would choose another restaurant! That…
