If I could be grateful for one thing the COVID-19 pandemic and all of the associated safety guidelines for businesses have spawned, it’s definitely the move from inside to outside.
Outdoor dining is so hot right now, and it’s a beautiful thing. Sitting with the breeze in your hair, dining al fresco on a patio (or in a parking lot) with a lovely little adult beverage within reach. These are the things vacations are made of, and you only need to head over to Old Town Orcutt to experience the strolling satisfaction of hopping from wine bar to brewery to dinner as late afternoon rolls into evening.
On a recent Saturday afternoon, my friends and I decided to do just that—masks in tow and an evening of laughter and good company ahead of us. The goal was to do a mini crawl with food and wine picked up along the way, which we absolutely accomplished.
We hit the strip around 4 p.m. with a stop at Vino et Amicis Wine Bar, where we lounged, drinking Final Girl’s rosé of pinot noir on the back patio next to Naughty Oak Brewing Company’s outdoor space.
Due to the COVID-19 regulations, alcohol needs to be accompanied by food, and Vino et Amicis’ accompaniments included a charcuterie and cheese platter, olive tapenade with bread, and pistachios. As the couple to our right tucked into their seats with a bottle of white and bread with tapenade, staff refilled the propane tanks on the outdoor heaters and the fire pit tables—a prelude to the chilly evening to come.
People walked past us down Clark Avenue toward the Wine Stone Inn and along the driveway in front of us toward Blast 825 Brewery, which was where we were headed next. The place was buzzing. Tables cordoned off in the parking lot were still waiting for the overflow, but beneath the covered walkway, two-by-two, diners imbibed 6 feet apart, leading into the existing outdoor eating area, which Blast 825 expanded.
It was around 5 p.m., but already there was a wait. Masked people stood in groups along the sidewalk and in the parking lot, chit-chatting, as staff scuttled from table to table taking orders, delivering drinks and food.
The place was poppin’.
One of my friends had cocktails on the brain, and ordered a Southwest Side—a refreshing, slightly sweet experience of Cutler’s vodka (Santa Barbara), muddled cucumber, basil, and fresh lime—after we were seated. Blast’s cocktail menu features local spirits, and their appetizers were just what we were after.
I stuck with an Ampelos pinot noir from the Sta. Rita Hills, and we ordered a gigantic German pretzel, which came with a delicious cheese sauce and stone-ground mustard; deep fried chicken strips covered in a chili garlic glaze; and Brussels sprouts sprinkled with balsamic and Parmesan cheese. You know, another petite snack before dinner.
As we finished chowing down, the 6:30 p.m. reservation we had at Pizzeria Bello Forno buzzed in. Our table was ready. Perfect timing! And yes, we were going to eat more. When in Orcutt, right?
Sauntering over to Bello Forno, I noticed the tables outside of Old Town Mexican Café were starting to fill up. And Bello Forno’s street-side socially distanced patio tables covered with old-school checkered tablecloths were also full of happy eaters.
We were seated beneath the awning just outside the open windows of the empty restaurant. I wasn’t disappointed. Hearing the voices of fellow diners drift into the evening breeze as we ordered yet another glass (don’t worry, we got a ride) of locally produced wine—Opolo Mountain zinfandel from Paso Robles—and glanced over the menu, I felt almost normal (except for when I donned my mask to hit the bathroom).
Picking out pizzas, we laughed and continued catching up, cheersing to being safely out and about during the pandemic. As the Chicken Bianca, Fig Jam and Prosciutto, and Hot Honey Pepperoni were placed on the table, we could smell the telltale crisp crust of wood-fired pizzas. My personal favorite, the fig and prosciutto, was well-balanced savory and sweet with a touch of Gorgonzola and balsamic reduction.
And even though we could feel the fullness of a night of eating setting it, our waitress convinced us to try the homemade deserts, which included a cheesecake unlike any other I’ve tasted. It was sweet, tangy, and silky smooth. Kind of like a night on the town.
Editor Camillia Lanham hopes outdoor dining outlasts the pandemic. Send tips to clanham@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Oct 1-8, 2020.