Chill winds and short days make this the perfect season for visiting with friends over fabulous dishes of soul-warming food. To encourage diners to sample the fare at area restaurants, the Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce and Visitor and Convention Bureau has launched Dine Out: Santa Maria Style, a two-week bonanza of gustatory delights.
Just in time to jumpstart holiday celebrations, Dine Out: Santa Maria Style kicked off Nov. 30 and continues through Dec. 13. This second-annual event features special fixed-price menus, including entrees and extras, at seven restaurants throughout the Santa Maria Valley.
“This promotion offers a way to treat yourself to a great meal at a nice price during the hectic holiday season,” said Gina Keough, manager of the Santa Maria Valley Visitor and Convention Bureau.
“It’s also timed to coincide with the Santa Maria Valley Wine Country’s ‘Wine Christmas’ passport weekend on Dec. 5 and 6,” she added, “as we expect to have a lot of ‘foodies’ in town who want to experience the local cuisine.”
Prices for the meals start at $10.09 and continue with the “09” theme to $20.09, $30.09, and $40.09, depending on the restaurant and the meal selected. Prices don’t include tax or tip, and can’t be combined with other discounts or promotions.
Participating restaurants are among some of the region’s most popular, including the Casmalia Hitching Post, the Garden Room Restaurant at the Historic Santa Maria Inn, and Vintner’s Bar and Grill at the Radisson Hotel. Chefs at each location have fashioned tempting menus to tickle the tastebuds of locals and visitors alike.
At the Hitching Post (Casmalia location only, 937-6151), the Ostini family dishes up a memorable meal of 7-ounce top sirloin and scallops ($30.09), or Australian lobster tail ($40.09). Both entree selections are available for dinner only and served with bay shrimp cocktail, green salad, potato or grilled vegetables, garlic bread, ice cream, and coffee.
Chef Araizaga, over at the Garden Room Restaurant (346-7908), offers a feast of filet mignon and shrimp with sides of garlic mashed potatoes and asparagus with a demi-glaze sauce. Also included are a baby spinach salad tossed with bacon bits and raspberry vinaigrette, and salmon tartar on a wonton crisp ($30.09).
The Vintner’s Bar and Grill at the Radisson Hotel Santa Maria (928-8000) offers three different fixed-price menus, all including a choice of one “wine by the glass” selection, or soft drink, coffee, or tea. The meals also include vegetables and soup or salad, as well as a scoop of ice cream for dessert.
[image-2] Beef lovers may want to try the English cut prime rib, plated with garlic mashed potatoes and lots of au jus. If you prefer poultry, the Champagne chicken picatta features a breast of chicken sautéed in sparkling wine with lemon, butter, and capers, and served with rice pilaf ($20.09).
If the occasion calls for something with a little fire, order the blackened snapper, encrusted with Cajun spices, finished with a beurre blanc sauce, and accompanied by sweet mango salsa and rice pilaf ($20.09).
Guadalupe’s Far Western Tavern (343-2211) promises to dazzle diners with a 7-ounce petite prime top sirloin cooked in red wine reduction, and served with grilled polenta and your choice of housemade soup, salad, or bay shrimp cocktail. Look for Santa Maria pinquito beans on the side, as well as fresh salsa, grilled French bread, and an apple dessert ($30.09).
For Asian flavors, head to Bamboo Garden (928-2525), where you can choose a seafood lunch
special, complete with sui mai dim sum, soup, appetizer, and dessert ($10.09).
In Nipomo, Mary’s chicken rules at Adelina’s Bistro at the Monarch Club (343-7501), where the roasted entrée comes with potato puree, wilted greens, and natural juices. It’s served with a bistro salad made with fresh greens, cider vinaigrette, cherry tomatoes, and goat cheese, and—to put a sweet finish on the meal—lemon mousse topped with fresh berries.
If you’re touring the wine trails with guests or simply on the run, stop by Quizno’s on South Bradley Road (928-4280) to pick up a boxed lunch. The Wine Country lunch features your choice of a full-sized sub, chips, and a cookie, with a fountain drink on the side ($10.09), while the dinner box holds double that ($20.09).
Last year, the Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce and Visitor and Convention Bureau deemed the Dine Out: Santa Maria Style promotion such a success that they decided to do it again. According to Keough, they hope to make it an annual event, timed each year so folks can enjoy an affordable, soul-warming meal at the region’s restaurants and get a happy head start on holiday celebrations.
K. Reka Badger can out-dine just about anyone who dines out. Contact her at rekabadger@hotmail.com.
This article appears in Dec 3-10, 2009.