Where to wear my little red dress to dinner on the Central Coast?

January 26, 2018 10:40 AM

Hi MeFites...before I moved out to California I bought a fabulous cocktail dress. It’s a dark red velvet and was intended to be my New Year’s Eve dress but unfortunately I got sick and it’s been burning a hole in my closet since. Is there anywhere on california’s Central coast-we love in Nipomo but will travel as far as Santa Barbara to the south or Cambria to the north- that I could wear it to dinner tomorrow without feeling way overdressed? Would especially love an Italian and/or seafood place. Bonus points for a place that’s not tooooo stuffy or pretentious. We live in the hills and manage to stay away from civilization most of the time :)
posted by sparringnarwhal to Food & Drink (6 answers total)

I can think of two lovely restaurants in San Luis Obispo that are on the dressier side: Ciopinot (seafood), and Koberl at Blue. They both have very good food and feel a bit like special occasion places (but I wouldn't call either stuffy).
posted by marlys at 11:37 AM on January 26, 2018 [1 favorite]

I would go to the steak house at the Madonna Inn. Not necessarily for the food but for the experience and the decor.
posted by otherwordlyglow at 12:01 PM on January 26, 2018 [2 favorites]

Santa Barbara-
Wine Cask (pricey)
El Encanto (hotel overlooking SB)
Bacara Resort (don't remember the name of the fancy restaurant, but it's also way pricey)
Ca'Dario

Montecito
I think Coast Village road opened after the flood slides , so Tre Lune is pretty great. Lucky Cafe is more happening though.

I liked Novo in San Luis - but it's not terribly fancy, but it is nice.
posted by mrzz at 1:58 PM on January 26, 2018 [1 favorite]

Cafe Roma , Italian nice place by the train station great bar SLO .
posted by hortense at 2:27 PM on January 26, 2018

I like the Sea Chest in Cambria, which is seafood and neither stuffy or pretentious, but you'd be a bit overdressed. I don't think anyone would care though, it's that kinda place.

Problems: they don't take reservations and it's cash only. But omg so good.
posted by elsietheeel at 8:16 AM on January 27, 2018

Lido in Pismo Beach
posted by lazuli at 9:06 AM on January 27, 2018