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Paso Robles is known as a popular wine country in California on the Central Coast and is part of San Luis Obispo County. Other beautiful cities like Morro Bay, Pismo Beach, San Simeon (where Hearst Castle is) and the Oceano Dunes also belong to San Luis Obispo County, or you can refer to it as just SLO (pronounced like "slow") for short.

Besides for being a wine country, Paso Robles has a very easy-walking downtown area with restaurants, tasting rooms and shops in short walking distance from each other. I've enjoyed my meals in Downtown Paso Robles and at wineries in Paso Robles with vineyard views. They are both different and amazing experiences in Paso Robles.

Tin City is another great area with wine tasting rooms in Paso Robles and is a great destination in itself. Every building is made out of tin! Keep reading this blog entry to read my thoughts on all 16 Paso Robles restaurants that I've visited. I will continually add to this page as I acquire new experiences.

Downtown Paso Robles Restaurants

1. Brunch.

   Brunch. [sic] has a very memorable name for a restaurant and their food is delicious! Their ingredients are high quality and the inside of the restaurant is cozy and cute. I would recommend this place for a special brunch with a date or a group of girlfriends. They also have very nice mimosas. Brunch. [sic] Address: 840 13th St, Unit C, Paso Robles, CA
   

2. Odyssey World Cafe

   Odyssey World Cafe seemed very intimidating when I first stepped into the restaurant. The first thought was, "Do I seat myself?". If the workers do spot you, they'll try to find a seat for you, especially when it was a full house like when we came for the first time! It was lunch time and there were a lot of out of towners coming to visit. The best scenario is you have someone in your party find a table, while someone else orders the food from the counter. Then, they will supply you with a table number and you put it on your table so that your food will be delivered to you when it's ready. It reminds me of Panera Bread but with a local flair on a Cheesecake Factory type menu. They had so many different things and the desserts from their display looked absolutely divine! Everything that I've tasted here was chef-ly done and it's a nice casual place to have food without the extra fluff. We had a slice of their chocolate cake and it was very decadent. Odyssey World Cafe Address: 1214 Pine Street, Paso Robles, CA 93446
   

3. Thomas Hill Organics

   Thomas Hill Organics has a very casual sound to their name but it's nicer than I expected. The service is what elevated the experience for me. We sat outside in their patio in 80 degree weather and it was surprisingly comfortable. With the smell of coffee from a local coffee shop, it really surprised me that this Downtown Paso Robles in a rural city can have big town vibes. I loved it! I recommend the burrata if you like cheese as an appetizer. My husband ordered tacos and I had the fried chicken sandwich and both entrees were delicious! If you want to make sure your food is organically sourced, then there is no question about it with this restaurant at Thomas Hill Organics. Thomas Hill Organics Address: 1313 Park Street, Paso Robles, CA 93446
   
   

4. Fish Gaucho

   Fish Gaucho was the first restaurant that I tried in Downtown Paso Robles! It had a lot of good Yelp reviews and local vibe. It was a no brainer to pick this place when I was craving seafood. What they are really all about is good Mexican food with some fancy margarita options! The service is also fancier than what you'd expect at a local taco shop. Expect to spend a lot of money here! This place can get really busy and when the patio option is what's left in the summer time because all the seats inside are taken, it can be excruciatingly uncomfortable. It often gets to 100+ degrees during the summer months in Paso Robles. Fish Gaucho: 1244 Park St, Paso Robles, CA, 93446
   

5. TASTE! Craft Eatery

   To be honest, the first time I dined at TASTE! Craft Eatery, I was not too impressed. The service was very slow and it felt really stuffy. I've dined at the TASTE! Craft Eatery at both Paso Robles and San Luis Obispo Obispo and although I wasn't too impressed, it seems like the easiest option for the pickiest eaters in your party. They have burgers, fries, soups, salads and some creative options but you won't find too much outside of that range. However, it's a safe choice if you have kids or have a friend who don't like ethnic foods. I shared my entree with my son and it was just the right portion for me and him. My kids never seem to finish their kid's entrees at most restaurants. TASTE! Craft Eatery Address: 810 11th St, Paso Robles, CA 93446
   

6. Pappy McGregory Pub & Grill

   This Irish pub in Paso Robles is actually pretty family-friendly during the day. It might be a different story past lunch time though, when the drinkers want to come out and meet their buddies for a good time. I'd stick to just coming here for lunch if you have little ones in tow, just to be sure. The service that I had here was attentive and quick. It was close to the Downtown Paso Robles playground so it made it an easy and very convenient choice. They also have lunch deals during the weekdays. Pappy McGregory Pub & Grill Address: 1122 Pine Street, Paso Robles, CA 93446

Food at Wine Tasting Rooms/Wineries in Paso Robles

1. DAOU Family Estates

   Don't be surprised to find a bottle of DAOU wines in almost all grocery stores in San Luis Obispo County or the Central Coast. Their wines are renowned and their estates are absolutely gorgeous! In my opinion as a local, they have the most beautiful vineyards view from a mountain in all of San Luis Obispo County. They also have a food menu that is well thought-out to make sure it pairs well with their current wine list. I had their scallops with my wine tasting and they were classy chef standard. I also highly recommend this place for proposals, rehearsal dinners and special occasions. You'll need to make a reservation for tastings or dining. DAOU Family Estates/Vineyards Address: 2777 Hidden Mountain Rd, Paso Robles, CA 93446
   

2. Cello Ristorante & Bar at Allegretto Vineyard Resort

   If you're coming to Paso Robles as a weekend getaway, I really think Allegretto Vineyard Resort is a great place to stay. They have rooms, their own wines in their tasting room and a full-service restaurant! The resort is also within short driving distance to other wineries. Their restaurant is called Cello Ristorante & Bar and it is located right on the property on the first floor. We've dined here for lunch on Christmas Day so it's a reliable place for a nice meal for the holidays. I've also tasted their wine in their tasting room before. However, it wouldn't be one of my top choices to come here just for wine tasting. It's the resort factor that makes this place ideal for family members traveling here if they need a place to stay and be entertained. The restaurant also has amazing desserts! Cello Ristorante & Bar Address: 2700 Buena Vista Drive, Paso Robles, California 93446
   

3. Vina Robles Winery

   Vina Robles Winery is a very unique winery and vineyard because they have their own amphitheater where many famous musicians have performed! You can check out their calendar and see the schedule of events. Their wines are good and they also have a Bistro that is open during particular time frames. You'll need a reservation for the Bistro though. The service can take a while for food but everything that I've tasted there from salads to burgers have been excellent! Their main indoor tasting room has high ceilings and is very nice. Last time that I checked their website in October, it stated that they've closed their Bistro to revamp so you'll need to check their current hours to see when they'll reopen it again. Vina Robles Winery Address: 3700 Mill Road Paso Robles, CA 93446
   
   

4. Niner Wine Estates

   Niner Wine Estates has a really nice outdoor tasting area with a panoramic view of their vineyards. They have a robust food menu and almost every table also ordered food with their tastings. The service is very attentive and they have a selfie station where you can take a picture of your group and have it emailed to you. I thought that was extra special. We took my husband here for Father's Day and he enjoyed his special lunch here. Niner Wine Estates Address: 2400 CA-46, Paso Robles, CA 93446
   
   

Tin City Restaurants

1. Etto Pasta Bar

   There's not a lot of choices for food in Tin City but it has my favorite pasta spot in all of San Luis Obispo County called Etto Pasta Bar! They cook their own pasta that they made themselves. The service is quick and you can hear and watch the chefs at work. You order and pay at the cashier counter and then they'll bring the food out to your table. The service is casual but the food is not. It's top notch pasta! Etto Pasta Bar Address: 3070 Limestone Way Suite B, Paso Robles, CA 93446
   

2. Lebber's Pizza

   Located in the patio of a wine tasting room's patio, Lebber's Pizza offers a casual and outdoor experience where you can wine taste with their neighbor if you wanted to. Their pizza is made fresh to order and their dough is fantastic. They also have a caesar salad that's one of the best salads I've had in awhile. It's a bit hard to find but if you don't give up and give this place a try, you won't regret it. They are currently located in Hubba Wines' patio space in Tin City. Lebber's Pizza Address: 2929 Limestone Way, Paso Robles, CA 93446
   
   

Other Paso Robles Restaurants

1. China Gourmet

   The Central Coast area of California has a particular style for Chinese food. It's not like what you'd find in the Chinatown of San Francisco or Los Angeles but if I could pick one place from all of San Luis Obispo County that has a Chinese restaurant somewhat closer to that high standard, then it would be China Gourmet in Paso Robles. Don't have too high expectations because it has been San Luis Obispo County-ized to cater to the local demographics. However, I've always really enjoyed the Chinese food here. They have lunch specials as well if you come during lunch time. It's also located in the same shopping center of a boba shop so if you want both Chinese food and boba, then just come to China Gourmet. Then, go a couple of doors down to get boba. I haven't dined inside yet and have only just went in to take food to-go but once I get home, I'm always satisfied with the portions and taste! China Gourmet Address: 153 Niblick Rd, Paso Robles, CA 93446
   

2. Dragon Palace King Buffet

   My older kid started really enjoying Chinese food even more after I took my family to Dragon Palace King Buffet in Paso Robles. Having my kids try different things from there made it more fun to dine. They had a couple of different sections with soup, salad, main Chinese entrees, fried rice, chow mein and desserts. The food tasted pretty good to me for a buffet. You pay at the front counter first and then pick your table. Then, hit the buffet line and grab whatever you want. If you read reviews from Yelp, you'll see very mixed reviews. I feel like if you've dined at more than 10 Chinese All You Can Eat buffets, you'll appreciate this place a bit more. I've only dined here once and didn't take any photos but I found a Yelp review online that really reflects my views on this place. You can read Eliza J.'s review of Dragon Palace King Buffet on Yelp. Dragon Palace King Buffet Address: 825 Spring St, Paso Robles, CA 93446

3. Tortilla Town

   What really sets Tortilla Town apart from this list of restaurants is they make their own tortillas! If you want authentic tasting Mexican tacos, then Tortilla Town is a must visit! Their shopping center is not my favorite place to park as it's located right off the busy highway but if a craving must be fixed, then I have no choice but to make that drive. Service is Chipotle-style where you order at the counter and watch them make the tacos for you. Tortilla Town Address: 1145 24th St B, Paso Robles, CA 93446
   

4. Firestone Walker Brewing Co. & Taproom Restaurant

   San Luis Obispo County's most famous beer company is Firestone Walker Brewing Co. and they are headquartered in Paso Robles. They have a taproom located on the same property that is big with an outdoor area for games. Their food menu is pretty decent and you can try different flights of their beer on tap! It's a great experience for the craft beer lovers. They also have a kid's menu for those dining in as a family. Firestone Walker Brewing Co. & Taproom: 1400 Ramada Dr, Paso Robles, CA 93446
   

Reading Suggestions:

• See a list of my favorite restaurants in all of San Luis Obispo County.
• See my top 10 favorite wineries in San Luis Obispo County (including Paso Robles and Edna Valley Wine Countries).
• Read my thorough reviews of selected restaurants in San Luis Obispo County.

For the Wine Connoisseur:

Tito's Red Tacos in Pismo Beach got a lot of viral PR before it even opened! The restaurant is owned by a restauranteur who has opened successful restaurants around San Luis Obispo County (Pismo Beach is part of San Luis Obispo County).

There is a belief from a video that was recorded and posted on the internet that he didn't care for the locals. 
 
Well, I'm a local and I dine at many local restaurants around the San Luis Obispo County. I watched the recording and I found that maybe he thought he was in a safe place and was talking to a group of friends, without knowing he was being recorded.

In all honestly, I knew there was a video like that floating around but I didn't watch it, until after I've dined at Tito's. My husband wanted to check out the place and he had no idea that there was that video of him speaking ill of us, locals. My husband had just started working an outage schedule and it's his first day off. I'm not going to shut him down if he wanted to try this new spot in Pismo Beach. So, I kept mum about it and wanted to come in like a regular customer. We found easy parking in front on a Monday morning. I found the murals inside of Tito's Red Tacos very tastefully done. It's October and it definitely matched my October mood.

See my instagram video reel of my visit at Tito's Red Tacos. 

The cashier at the counter was super nice. My husband ordered their Famous Red Queso Tacos with Birria and I had the second item on the menu list, Puffy Rolled Tacos with Carnitas. I tried them both and they were delicious! I wanted to find an excuse to not come back but from my first experience, I think I will come back. The friendly cashier experience, fast service and pretty murals were enough to make me forgive the owner for that video. I think (and hope) that as a seasoned restauranteur, he knows that the locals contribute to a good percentage of sales. They're more quiet and discreet in conversation but they still help bring in the money and sometimes bring in tourists, like me. I regularly bring in tourists from San Diego to the area who come to visit me! I heard that he apologized afterwards but I don't know if there is a video of that floating around. Here are the pictures of our food that we ordered below.

I like to root for local businesses, especially if they are amazing. I almost feel like this particular spot and address is cursed though. In the 4 years that I've lived here, it's been 3 different businesses. It's a block from Pismo Beach Pier so the location is great and I hope they will survive. We'll find out in time.

Tito's Red Tacos Address: 690 Dolliver St., Pismo Beach, CA 93449

Reading Suggestions:

• Review of SeaVenture Restaurant in Pismo Beach
• Review of Oyster Loft in Pismo Beach
• Review of Vista Steak & Seafood in Pismo Beach
• Review of Ventana in Shell Beach/Pismo Beach
• Review of Kanpai Sushi in Shell Beach/Pismo Beach
• Review of the food at the The Rooftop at Inn at the Pier in Pismo Beach

Tacos for at Home:

HerScan is a breast cancer screening service using ultrasound. I found out about Herscan from a friend who is an RN and decided to book an appointment.

I had just turned 40 and my nurse practitioner left the medical office that I had been going to for the past couple of years. This is the 3rd nurse practioner in the past 4 years who have left the area. Instead of waiting around or calling around to schedule a check up that might take months for an availability, I figured I'd go ahead and schedule this breast ultrasound myself for $285 at HerScan (might cost more over time) . They were coming to Goleta (Santa Barbara area) and I didn't mind making that 1.5 hour drive for peace of mind. It also gave me an opportunity to have a "me" day and find a nice lunch spot somewhere close by.

HerScan does not take health insurance, which is something to consider. I've never had a mammogram before but I heard the compression from it is painful and if they notice a lump, they'd have you schedule an ultrasound anyway. I was no where near meeting my deductible and a breast ultrasound normally costs more than a thousand dollars, even with insurance unless you've met your deductible. This is what I heard from a friend. You should check your insurance coverage to make sure what it covers and doesn't cover.

Booking my HerScan Appointment

To book my time with HerScan, I went on the HerScan website and chose the closest location to me, which in this case was Santa Barbara, Goleta to be exact. I saw that they were going to have it at a hotel's meeting room less than a month away. I selected the time I wanted and then was hoping for an email confirmation but did not receive one that day. I figured I did it right because when I went back to the reservation page, the time I had selected was no longer available since I had taken it already.

About a week before my ultrasound date with HerScan, I received a reminder email and then a text as well! I responded to the text that asked me to confirm my time and I replied 'YES'. I was getting excited. A couple of days later, they sent me an update text telling me that they changed the venue from a Hilton Garden Inn to The Leta Santa Barbara Goleta. I was fine with that! The pictures of the new venue looked nice online.

Ultrasound Day

When it was the day of the ultrasound, I dropped my kids off at school and then made a drive to Goleta right away to ensure that I get there on time. I arrived 45 minutes early but I popped into the HerScan room really quickly to tell them I've made it and to make sure that I was at the right place. The technician marked my name from her list and asked me to wait in the lobby. She'd find me when it's my turn. There were a few appointments before mine. I realized I had some digital forms to fill out so I sat down in the lobby and clicked on the link from my text where HerScan sent me to fill out a couple of authorization forms. After I was done with that, I went to the restroom in the lobby. It was a nice restroom with many stalls. After I was done, I sat back down in the lobby and played some rounds of Royal Match until it was my turn.

The ultrasound technician called each name out in the lobby. When it was my turn, she realized she had been running 15 minutes, which I didn't mind because I didn't have any where I had to be within the next hour. However, she was very sweet about it and apologized to me.

While the lady before me was putting her clothes back on behind the curtains, the technician explained the process and said she could't let me know the results today but that a radiologist will look at my ultrasound and send me my results within 10 business days. I understood and then she asked me to pay. I paid by credit card and when the lady was done dressing, the technician sanitized and cleaned the room. Then, she alerted me minutes later to tell me that the room was ready. I only had to take everything from the waist up off.

She put warm gel on the ultrasound tool and started on my right breast and then to my left. I felt that she spent extra time on the left breast. I hope she didn't find a lump and I remembered that she couldn't discuss her findings or results that day and only a radiologist can have the authority to do that; and that the results will be emailed to me. So, I kept those thoughts to myself as I'm sure she doesn't want to have to repeat herself.

After all of that was done, she stepped out and let me put my clothes back on. When I was done, I said 'thank you' and that was it! It was a very easy and stress free process.

I'm sure HerScan changes the venue periodically but I enjoyed hanging out at The Leta Santa Barbara Goleta, where I had my Breast Ultrasound Screening done by HerScan.

I had lunch at a nearby pho restaurant and took some to-go food home for later. I even stopped in at Macy's on the way home for a quick look before returning home in time to pick my kids up from school. It was a good "me" day.

This blog post was not sponsored by HerScan or The Leta Santa Barbara Goleta Hotel. I'm just writing my review as an awareness to help other females navigate through life and life's hurdles.

Kits for Female Reproductive System:

DAOU Family Estates, or as many refer them as DAOU Vineyards, in Paso Robles is renowned for their French wines and amazing vineyards view. Upon arrival on Hidden Mountain Road, we drove up the narrow road (meant for sharing both directions without lines) and through rows of vineyards that they own, we reached the top of the estate to the tasting room, where we stepped out to an overlook of their vineyards and hills of Paso Robles.

[View from Parking Lot of Daou Estate]

We arrived 10 minutes before our reservation time and decided to take a quick stroll around the vineyards and the chilly fall winds of the morning hit us abruptly like a boxing match. Around early-fall in Paso Robles, you get really chilly weather in the mornings but then it'd get hot to about mid-80s at peak during the day. It's this contrast every day around this season that makes the area the perfect place for growing wine grapes.

As we stepped inside the tasting room, we were greeted by the DAOU team and was welcomed with a welcome drink. Then, the hostess led us to our seats in the patio. Shortly after, our attendant came and asked us if we would like some blankets because it was a chilly morning at 10AM. We said, 'yes', and then she came back with our first pour of our tasting flight and 2 blankets. This is the second time a winery offered us blankets for a chilly morning during the fall season while wine tasting and I love this extra service! While waiting for our food to arrive, the attendant encouraged us to explore the property and walk down to the little amphitheater to get a great view of the vineyards. I got to walk up really close to the vineyards and be inches away from the wine grapes. It was an amazing estate experience and the property is very well kept!

Our food arrived a little bit after our second pour from the tasting menu. We saw that they had scallops on their food menu and decided to share it while we wine tasted. It was a great choice! It's a pretty penny for their food menu but the food was excellent so it made it worth it. It paired well with the second pour from the wine tasting menu, but I had forgotten that she said that so I drank the whole glass before our food arrived without thinking. Thankfully, our attendant noticed and went ahead and poured me another tasting of it without me having to ask! This is very attentive service and it goes to show why DAOU is so renowned and popular for tourists and visitors.

The scallops dish only came with 3 scallops and since my husband knew I enjoyed my first one, he sweetly let me have the 3rd one without having to split it. I would order this dish again if we ever come back in the future.

We try not to visit the same winery twice unless we're club members because there are 300 wineries, vineyards and tasting rooms in Paso Robles alone! Paso Robles is part of San Luis Obispo (SLO) County so if you include all of SLO County, there's even more than that. We're locals since we live in the county so if we want to go on a wine tasting adventure, we still have hundreds left to pick from. From the time that I posted this blog, we've finally hit the 50 mark and this took almost 5 years.

The tasting fee that we paid was $50 a person at DAOU (most likely will increase over time). For Paso Robles, it is considered more expensive than the majority of the wine tasting rooms in the area but still considerably cheaper than most wine tasting fees in Napa Valley. I would definitely recommend coming here if you're looking for a wine tasting experience with a birdseye-like view of a beautiful estate. They also offer a food menu so this makes it a great option for a special lunch with friends.

You can view my short video of my entire visit from the drive up to the walk down the vineyards below. Just press the white triangle play button.

After my memorable tasting experience and visit at DAOU Family Estates, I've put them under my top 10 wine tasting rooms to visit in all of San Luis Obispo County and had to bump one of them down. See my current top 10 favorite wine tasting rooms in the county.

DAOU Family Estate Address: 2777 Hidden Mountain Rd., Paso Robles, CA 93446

Entertaining at Home:

As a San Luis Obispo County local, Clos Selene is one of my top 10 favorite wine tasting places in all of the county. It's romantic, intimate and every tasting that I had was so smooth. A tasting session here requires a reservation ahead of time and also a tasting deposit, which they charge immediately to hold your reservation. Then, on your reservation date, they will refund the deposit later on the day after you have arrived and just charge you for what you owe at the end of the tasting. It is quite a process but well worth it if you've been to many wineries before and want something extraordinary.

We booked a 10AM reservation a few days before to visit on a Friday morning right when they opened. Google Maps sent us to a wrong turn but we found the place after making a U-turn. We arrived at the gate about 13 minutes before our reservation time and the gate was locked. We used the gate box to talk to a personnel and they opened the gate for us. Here is a video with the opening of the Clos Selene gate, as well as, the estate views from our visit below:

As we drove past the pretty vineyards, we found a sign for 'Parking' and quickly saw a sign that marked the owner/winemaker's home and that the tasting room is to the right of it. We're glad we noticed that to make sure we didn't try to enter their private home. This is how the tasting section area looks like as we were walking from the parking lot area. Not all winemakers live on their own vineyards estate so this is very special. They are hands-on and close by.

Shortly after we've arrived, a few other cars arrived. We were surprised that two other parties also made a 10AM reservation!

As we stepped up to the host stand, we were alerted by the staff member that our attendant will come get us shortly and that we could sit on the bench or gray chairs right by the host stand and the umbrellas while we waited.

It was a short few minutes when our attendant got us. He led us to what I felt was the best seat in the house! They were nice outdoor couches with a phenomenal view!

It was the chilly morning so our attendant said he'd come back with fresh French bread, part of their service, and some blankets. Cuddling with my husband with blankets and a view of the vineyards on comfortable cushions were all so surprisingly romantic!

We were already wine club members to four other wineries in San Luis Obispo County, with two places that have a tasting room in Paso Robles as well. Since there are 300 wineries in San Luis Obispo County, we prefer to just go taste as many different places as we can instead of joining another membership. In the four year that I've lived here, I've only visited about 45 wine tasting rooms. That averages about once a month and at our pace, it would take a long, long time to even reach the first 100, even as a local.

However, for the wine connoisseur, I definitely recommend Clos Selene! As mentioned above, they are one of my top 10 favorites in San Luis Obispo County (includes Paso Robles and Edna Valley). See my top 10 wineries in San Luis Obispo and my thoughts about each of them in this rank post.

Suggested Reads:

• Read about wine tasting rooms that I've visited in Avila Beach, a classy beach town in San Luis Obispo County.


• See pictures of beaches that I took in San Luis Obispo County, which includes Pismo Beach, Morro Bay, Grover Beach, Avila Beach, Shell Beach and Oceano.


• Read about Cambria, a quaint beach town in San Luis Obispo County that is famous for their annual mile long Christmas lights and Moonstone Beach.


• Read about my top favorite restaurants that I've visited all over San Luis Obispo County, as a local.

Anniversary Gifts: