A full grill at the Santa Maria Elks Lodge's "Cook Your Own" Friday, which has become the place in California to find Santa Maria-style barbecue done right.
Photo By Andrew PridgenIf you’re driving along California’s Central Coast, scenic but pricey spots to grab a bite to eat are the order of the day. But if you’re driving up or down Highway 101 or California’s famed Highway 1, you might want something a little more accessible to break up the road trip. We collected some of our favorite restaurants on the drives — both Michelin quality and budget friendly — to bookmark for your next excursion to the Central Coast.
In-N-Out, Westlake Village
The famously consistent food at In-N-Out may be the same everywhere you go, but this high-end location plays host to the stars — it’s reportedly where Prince Harry and Meghan grab their animal-style fries. We don’t need to tell you what’s on the menu at the In-N-Out at Westlake Village, but if you’re in the mood for some star-spotting, this is the spot for your road-trip burger and bathroom break.
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In-N-Out Burger, 30780 Russell Ranch Road, Westlake Village
Harbor Snack Shack, Santa Barbara
People sit outside of Harbor Snack Shack in Santa Barbara, Calif., on May 31, 2023.
Andrew Pridgen/SFGATESpeaking of celebrities, everyone from Barack Obama to Dwight Howard has enjoyed a hot dog at this nondescript Santa Barbara mini mart. There are no bells and whistles, just a damn good dog. If you want to be added to their photo wall, they’re also happy to snap a picture of you and your hot dog for posterity.
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Harbor Snack Shack, 305 W. Cabrillo Blvd., Santa Barbara
Elkhorn Bar, San Miguel
If you’re looking for a destination a little farther from the Central Coast crowds, try quiet San Miguel. About 35 miles north of San Luis Obispo, there’s a favorite “secret” stop of ours: the Elkhorn Bar.
It’s got plenty of Wild West folklore, including allegedly hosting outlaws Frank and Jesse James, and it’s one of the oldest continuously operating bars in the state. Just remember to pick a designated driver if you’re continuing down the road after admiring this slice of California history.
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Elkhorn Bar, 1263 Mission St., San Miguel
A Julia Child tour of Santa Barbara
Don’t take our word for it: These are spots that food icon Julia Child loved in Santa Barbara. Child, who was born in Pasadena, spent much of her later years living on the Central Coast. Along with some spots we already frequent (she was known to enjoy a Costco food court snack and an In-N-Out burger), she also supported many local businesses.
Tamal de verdura, queso fundido with chorizo and a taco de adobado at La Super-Rica in Santa Barbara.
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For less chain-restaurant fare, try Child’s recommended barbecue at The Hitching Post II, some chowder at the Santa Barbara Shellfish Company or the tacos at La Super-Rica, which is still famous today due to Child’s frequent recommendations.
Casanova, Carmel
For those craving fine dining along Highway 1, stop by Casanova, a converted chateau that is now a charming French and Italian restaurant. It also has a special claim to fame like no other: the table where Vincent van Gogh may have eaten his final meal, SFGATE Central Coast editor Andrew Pridgen writes.
Owner Walter Georis was fascinated by Auberge Ravoux, the hotel and restaurant in France where van Gogh spent the last few months of his life. The main dining room at Casanova is patterned after that of the auberge, and in addition to the van Gogh table, Georis brought back other pieces of furniture and even a chef from Auberge Ravoux to Carmel.
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Casanova, 5th Avenue between Mission and San Carlos, Carmel
Nepenthe, Big Sur
Though the interior is stunning, it's the outside dining at Big Sur's Nepenthe that brings customers back generation after generation to the family-owned spot on the region's South Coast.
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“As revelers sit on colorful oversized cushions that adorn the giant concrete stairs out in front or find a quiet corner inside to sip coffee or split the restaurant’s signature Ambrosiaburger, a ground steak sandwich served on a French roll that Lolly [the founder] herself perfected,” Pridgen writes, “the ever-present challenges of the day-to-day still seem to fade as long as Nepenthe exists.”
Nepenthe, 48510 CA-1, Big Sur
Six Test Kitchen, Paso Robles
If you’re looking for a splurge along the Central Coast, swing by San Luis Obispo County’s first Michelin-starred restaurant. Chef Ricky Odbert spent a decade in fine dining in San Francisco but found himself forced out by the housing crisis. Then in his 30s, he returned to his parents’ home to figure out the next steps in his career, and his dad encouraged him to begin a commissary in the garage.
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That was the beginning of what would become Six Test Kitchen in Paso Robles, and in 2019, Michelin came calling.
Santa Maria Elks Lodge, Santa Maria
Few outside the Central Coast know that California has its own homegrown style of barbecue, centered around the town of Santa Maria. And in a humble Elks Lodge is where you will find the epitome of the style. (Note that you’ll need to be an Elk or know an Elk to participate in the Friday “Cook Your Own” dinners.)
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“The secret behind the eponymous barbecue, charred on the outside, pink in the middle, is its simplicity,” Pridgen writes. “No dry rub. No waking up at 4 a.m. to fire up the smoker. No sticky, sweet brown sugar sauces. No burnt ends. It’s as simple as ‘turn and burn, baby,’ at least according to one of its longest-tenured pitmasters.”
Santa Maria Elks Lodge, 1309 North Bradley Road, Santa Maria. “Cook Your Own” dinner every Friday, from 6 to 8 p.m.
Paula’s Pancake House, Solvang
Though not the famous house specialty, the buttermilk stack at Paula's Pancake House in Solvang, Calif., is mighty close to perfection.
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It’s a bit off Highway 101, but if you’re making a detour to Solvang, Paula’s Pancake House boasts some of the best pancakes in California. For this important dispatch, Pridgen brought along the foremost pancake connoisseur of his acquaintance: his 8-year-old son.
“As my son and I dove in, the agreed-upon breakfast exchange never happened,” Pridgen writes. “I’ve seen the 8-year-old completely ignore a plate of carefully prepared dinner, and I’ve seen him take down a trio of store-bought birthday cupcakes at once. But I’ve never seen him eat like this. Midway through, he grabbed his spoon, along with his fork so he could double-fist his bites, just one scoop after another.”
Paula’s Pancake House, 1531 Mission Drive, Solvang
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The best places to eat on the drive along California's Central Coast - SFGATE
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