Read Ranch & Coast Virtually Anywhere
Issue link: http://ranchandcoast.uberflip.com/i/1528611
a shrimp louie salad topped with a huge portion of calamari (the dish I doggie bagged back to the Petit Soleil). Sister restaurants Luna Red and Novo served a one-two punch for lunch and dinner. Tacos are the calling card at Luna Red, but don't overlook the ai Curry Scallops. My wife and I have never had such a problem narrowing down excellent menu choices. Our table became filled with a global collection of Indian-spiced potato samosas, melt-in-your-mouth calamari, spicy and creamy coconut milk curry with tofu, and a salmon bisque chock-full of salmon. Novo's uber-charming outdoor back dining deck rises above a quaint creek and is shaded by a romance novel-esque oak tree. Family-owned and Spanish-styled La Lomita Winery is a short drive from downtown. Within the Edna Valley, it's nestled below the first of the Seven Sisters Morros. A morro, fascinatingly, is an extinct volcano. e VanderHorst family creates estate and single- vineyard boutique wines with distinct bouquets. Inside a cute new hospitality room, we sampled everything from a rosé of syrah with notes of lemon to a grenache that led with alpine strawberries. e visit felt like a neighborly drop-in with La Lomita Wines Director Anneke Vander Horst Hickman. Cambria Bicycle Outfitters is a few blocks from Petit Soleil. We took e-bikes out for an invigorating (pedal-assisted) ride. One stop: High Street Deli, a corner store in a residential neighborhood. It's been catering to locals since 1927, when High Street was still a dirt road. High Street's "world-famous sandos" are heaping high. Next: e Madonna Inn, which probably counts as a high-profile attraction. A couple miles from downtown SLO, a regular beat of tourists come to take a gander at this kitschy, hot-pink hotel. It's like Frank Lloyd Wright and RuPaul co-designed an American Girl Doll experience. We grabbed seats at the copper-topped restaurant bar and ordered two slices of cake. Slices? We'd been warned to split one piece. Pink Champagne and Toffee Crunch sounded equally delish, though. Oops. We barely made a dent. On our last night in SLO, we cruised the evening Farmer's Market. e Los Angeles Times dubbed it a Top 10 California Experience. It's six blocks of Higuera Street and seemed to draw half the town for fresh produce, tri-tip sandwiches, and indigenous camaraderie. Finally, we found Nightcap bar in the Grenada Hotel. Nightcap is long and narrow with a vibe lit by candles inlaid in a brick wall. We ordered espresso martinis. e drinks turned heads — including off-duty bartender Isaiah, who was drinking with his convivial girlfriend. Friendly banter induced a second round of drinks. I ordered the bourbon-based "Death Technique," recommended by our new acquaintances. Smooth. It was the perfect ending in a town that befriended us at every turn. Yes, of course, we'll keep in touch. detour destinations << TOP La Lomita Wines Director Anneke Vander Horst Hickman MIDDLE High Street Deli has been catering to locals since 1927 BOTTOM Madonna Inn is world renowned for its 110 uniquely themed guest rooms and hot pink décor ranchandcoast.com 86 NOVEMBER 2024 RANCH & COAST MAGAZINE