By Teri Bayus
It’s time for reflection and to access the value we left on the world this year. I had a fantastic year that I was elated to share with you. New eateries dazzled me and old favorites came back to my view. Here are my Top 10 picks for best restaurants this year:
10. Atari-Ya — I reassessed the first sushi bar I found when I moved here in the 1990s and was pleased that Atari-Ya still offered the freshest fish, traditional sushi and owned by Keiko Hongo. Sit at the sushi bar and asked what is fresh, they are honest and have the best Albacore anywhere. I like everything, but especially the Temaki sushi of spicy scallops with topiko, radish sprouts and Sriracha mix. Nigiris of yellow tail, salmon, tuna, and snapper are followed by tamago (egg cake), as Atari-Ya is one of the few sushi bars that makes its own. It is all outstanding, so don’t let the neighborhood scare you, magic is waiting behind those doors.
Located at 1551 Stowell Center Pl., in Santa Maria, call 922-0025.
9. Fig Good Food — Food should serve the soul as well as the body. When a culinary master creates an establishment with the one goal of providing the best nutrition and taste, we are blessed in flavors. Fig Good Food is such a haven. Run by Chris Dillow, part of the gastronomic royalty of our area, Fig offers the best of a Mediterranean style diet with roasted meats, house made pasta, chutneys, salads and sandwiches large in flavor while served in a tiny, efficient galley. Fig is small inside with only 14 seats, so take out is their specialty. Fig Good Food is at 5945 Traffic Way, Atascadero, 460-9900.
8. Fish Gaucho — This distinct eatery in Paso Robles has captured my Mexican food loving palate. Executive Chef, Chris Beckett, whose jacket reads “El Jefe,” is a gentle giant who recognizes his stellar staff and wonderful heritage coming together to make Fish Gaucho successful. This restaurant and tequila bar offers a fresh, healthy twist to traditional Mexican food, with an authentic atmosphere, Latin music and a tequila selection made up of the finest elixirs. Located at 1244 Park St., Paso Robles, 239-3333.
7. Sea Venture — While the bar boasts stunning sunset viewing and a full menu and to enjoy at the bar, the restaurant has at its helm one of the best and brightest chefs in the area, Casey Walcott. Casey changes the menu with the seasons, but my favorite dish is the delectable, lobster Vol-en-Vent. This amazing multi layered tartlet is swollen with sautéed lobster, shrimp, grilled asparagus and cubes of fingerling potatoes that sits upon a cloud of lobster cream sauce. Every bite is perfect a harmonious experience. Located at 100 Ocean View Ave., in Pismo Beach, 773-4994.
6. Oki Momo — There is a false preconception — food that is good for you lacks flavor. That is rarely true. In the hands of a masterful chef, even the healthiest meal can become a symphony of flavors and textures. I pleased we have nourishing cuisine at Oki Momo Asian Grill. The menu includes dishes with Korean, Chinese, Japanese, Thai and Vietnamese influences. Every offering is delightful, but my beloved is Pho, an enchanted street food from Vietnam. It is comfort in a bowl. It sustains and cheers you. I travel to San Francisco for a bowl of this delight, but now (for the first time) it is done correctly in SLO. My other favorites there are Korean BBQ chicken wings and the Thai chopped salad. Find them at 2256 Broad St., Ste. 120 San Luis Obispo, 439-4198.
5. Kuma-Kuma — Kuma-Kuma Sushi Rolls and Bowls is headed by two sushi chefs that turn fish into a work of art. Sushi Chef’s Hidehiko Nogi and Jeff (Razor) Fujiwara have created a menu that is my culinary utopia. From the tuna poke with raw tuna served with a mango salsa and a bit of cayenne and macadamia nuts; to the Kuma Omakase with scallops, salmon roe, fresh local halibut and tobiko. It’s as tasty as it is beautiful with the lemon carved into a swan and celery whittled into a bonsai tree. The bowls of noodles are prepared in-house daily. Add all the extras, garlic chip, shoyu egg, nori, sweet corn and spicy kimchi to receive the full ramen sensation. But the most unusual and favorite item is the loco moco, a Hawaiian influenced dish with white rice, resting under two slices of Spam, savory gravy, sliced pineapple and a poached egg. Kuma is located at 2011 10th St., Los Osos, 528-6767.
4. Rosa’s — Consistency, romance, culinary delights and perfect service. It is always so good to go home to Rosa’s. This is the one restaurant I frequent more than any for all occasions. From a business lunch to celebratory meals, Chef and owner, Doug McMillian, is perfection in putting together an impeccable staff, menu and atmosphere. My favorite is the tuna capriccio with a thin layer of smoked ahi tuna covered with arugula leaves, onions and capers. They are famed for cioppino, ossobuco and steaks. If you need to satisfy many, Rosa’s is a sure bet every time. Located at 491 Price St., Pismo Beach, 773-0551.
3. Ember — They have established themselves as the best of the best in national, regional and local press. Ember continues to be the first restaurant that locals recommend, and they deserve every accolade. The love and devotion that goes into preparation is stupendous; the heart of each employee is felt in this flawless dinning experience. Brian Collins is the heart of this gastronomic enchantment and a wonderful host. The menu changes monthly on the first, but some of my favorites are the prosciutto wrapped artichoke stuffed with burrata mozzarella; the Cayucos abalone made with crispy pork belly; and The rib eye steak. I usually order as many appetizers as we have quests, so we can try everything. Gary always has all the desserts. Ember is located at 1200 East Grand Ave., Arroyo Grande, 474-7700.
2. Mistura — The “Ah-ha!” moment of an idea; the touch of a loved one; the taste of a new food that opens your senses; these are the fabric of a life well lived. Chef Nicola Allegretta is one of those rare artists, and his new offering, Mistura, a Peruvian restaurant is his best canvas to date. I love everything, but my favorite is “habla causita,” a trio of causas that is a distinctly Peruvian dish. Seasoned whipped cold potatoes crowned with wild shrimp, king crab and ahi tuna Tartare. My other love is anticuchos de Carretilla, grilled natural beef heart marinated with aji panca. The alpaca carpaccio was so good, I nearly fainted with joy.
Thinly sliced served with an aji Amarillo, sliced heirloom cherry tomatoes, avocado with a swirl of aji verde. They have a “fajitas” type dish and empanada’s for the less adventurous, but everything is superb. Mistura is located at 700 Clubhouse Dr., Paso Robles, 238-3333.
1. The Spoon Trade — Rarely has a new restaurant so captured this writer’s soul like The Spoon Trade. It is a special place and I find myself dining there once a week. I can say that I have successfully eaten every item on their menu — each one superior to the previous. Coming home after years in the big city dining game is a gift that Brooke and Jacob Town bestowed on us with The Spoon Trade. With their partner Patrick Bergseid, they have built a culinary oasis. Comfort food is our first pleasure, representing the memory and flavors of our youth. When we revisit the sensory effect, it is more than taste buds and fullness. It’s literally a remembrance of grandma, our childhoods, and our lives. This is a restaurant with a palette and imagination to combine comfort and haute cuisine. Favorites are chicken and waffles, the tri tip Tartare, pepper crusted New York steak and well, everything on the menu. Find them at 295 Grand Ave., Grover Beach, 904-6773.
