I am looking for some restaurant recommendations for San Luis Obispo.

I will be there next week for a few days - work thing, so no time to sightsee, unfortunately. I've been to SLO several times, but it has been a few years since I have been down that way, and I am sure my restaurant recollections are out of date.

Any type of food except sushi is good, for budget, I'd like to keep the entres under $20. I might have a colleague with me or I might be by myself - so no overly romantic settings

Thanks.

The Madonna Inn

One of our favorites is Vieni Vai Trattoria. Italian menu is varied and everything we've tried we've loved. Highly recommended is the thin crispy crust pizza. If you like good fish and chips and chowder, the local favorite is Splash Cafe at 1491 Monterey St. It's very casual (order at the counter and find a seat) and there is often a line out the door, but the line goes fast. If you're in town on a Thursday night, much of the town turns out for the farmers market downtown.

Our son attends Cal Poly, so we are in town a few times a year. Enjoy your stay.

We loved Big Sky Cafe http://www.bigskycafe.com
Fun atmosphere & great prices on the food & wine.

SLO is a college town, so there's an abundance of mediocre/cheap restaurants and a complete absence of great ones. We've been living here a few years now and honestly I can't recommend anything. Splash Cafe has pretty good clam chowder but is otherwise a grease pit, you can get consistently fair food at the Madonna Inn, Spyglass Restaurant, Big Sky Cafe (trendy) or Cafe Roma. For a quick bite Mo's and Firestone Grill aren't bad, as is Sam's Manhattan Pizza in Pismo (they get their mozzarella from Wisconsin, and it's some of the best I've ever had).

I plead ignorance to coug_gal's recommendation -- we've never been to Vieni Vai Trattoria but will certainly give it a try.

You won't starve in SLO, but especially if you're used to the Bay Area, don't expect much here in the way of food.

Thanks for the recommendations. My experiences with SLO have been when I was in college - visiting friends down there - and when my sister-in-law was in college and visiting with her and her friends. Now I am going as an "adult"

I also like Big Sky, for breakfast and lunch and Mo's BBQ for lunch. A dinner spot my daughter and I enjoy is Novohttp://www.novorestaurant.com/welcome.fsp
I like Brad's in Pismo Beach for Tri Tip and DH likes their BBQ clams.

The Gardens of Avila is very, very nice. We enjoyed a great dinner there, it is located at the Sycamore Springs Resort. You could take a soak in one of their hot springs after dinner! ***kim***

FYI, $20 at the Gardens of Avila will buy you a few glasses of wine.

fdecarlo, maybe 2 glasses of wine at Gardens of Avila with $20.-, LOL.

I originally was going to say a glass of tap water and giggles from the staff, but that would have been a little unfair..

Another fan of Big Sky Cafe.

Novo is also getting good reviews from my foodie friend in SLO. (They're a sister restaurant to Robins of Cambria).

You might check their website about restaurant week.

novorestaurant.com

I know this is an old thread. Anyone have some current info as I will be in SLO next week and would like some recommendations. Good food more important than price for me. Thanks!

The only places I've eaten at in SLO are the Madonna Inn and the Apple Farm. Both were very good if looking for affordable basic American food. Now the pink room at Madonna Inn might be considered romantic so you might want to avoid that, but at least it will give you something to talk about.

Bueno Tavola is good if you like Italian food. ***kim***

Small, great Italian food, and off the beaten path:

Mamma's Meatball! At the Creamery on Higeura street. No frills, no reservations, great food, modest prices, small. Also one in Avila at Sycamore Hot Springs.

http://www.mamasmeatball.com/

Upper Crust on Los Osos Valley Road. http://www.uppercrustslo.com

F.McLntocks in Shell Beach. Also a smaller more rustic one on Higuera in SLO.

http://www.mclintocks.com/

Madonna Inn is always good.

Last two are good places to try for out of towners.