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Diners' Choice: Best Value restaurants in Santa Ynez Valley

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OpenTable
Updated January 05, 2025

Looking for the best value restaurants in Santa Ynez Valley? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!


A photo of Petros Restaurant at Petros Winery restaurant
Petros Restaurant at Petros Winery
4.9
4.9 (968)
$30 and under
Mediterranean
Los Olivos
About the restaurant
Our menu is a combination of the best ingredients that Greece and California cuisine have to offer. We import olive oil, feta, honey and oregano from Greece, the freshest organic vegetables from our farms in Los Olivos and wineries of our great state. Come enjoy lunch, dinner and wine indoors or on our beautiful patio. We can also host your next event!
Top review
JoanVIP
Dined 7 days ago
Thoroughly enjoyed our dinner here - wonderful food, great service, good value. We will be back!
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A photo of Lamb Chops of a restaurant
Popular dish
Lamb Chops
A photo of Shrimp Saganaki of a restaurant
Popular dish
Shrimp Saganaki
A photo of Caesar Salad of a restaurant
Popular dish
Caesar Salad
A photo of Ellie's Tap & Vine restaurant
Ellie's Tap & Vine
4.8
4.8 (675)
$31 to $50
Farm-to-table
Santa Ynez Valley
About the restaurant
Welcome to Ellie's Tap & Vine... Join us for seasonal cuisine, elegant ranch ambiance and great wine! We are Valley to Table dining, working with many local farms and purveyors; We look forward to seeing you soon! Our menu changes regularly, so please feel free to visit our website: www.elliestapandvine.com or follow us on IG and/or FB.

Our restaurant is located in the heart of Santa Ynez. We boast amazing outdoor seating with great views and because it is often a little chilly in the evening, we have heaters. We are also dog and cat friendly.

We know re-adjusting to dining out is a strange experience for everyone and we are all slowly returning. For now, we will be suspending lunch service.


Top review
AmyVIP
Dined 5 days ago
Yet another wonderful evening at Ellie’s. Food is always great. We had the pâté appetizer, the beef stroganoff and crab cake between the two of us. Such great flavors and taste. Joy is always so warm and so much care goes in to this restaurant. And it shows. You won’t regret visiting. Feels like home.
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A photo of Ellie's House Made Bread Pudding of a restaurant
Popular dish
Ellie's House Made Bread Pudding
A photo of Lobster Roll of a restaurant
Popular dish
Lobster Roll
A photo of Alaskan Halibut of a restaurant
Popular dish
Alaskan Halibut
A photo of Leonardo Ristorante & Pizzeria restaurant
Leonardo Ristorante & Pizzeria
4.8
4.8 (1387)
$31 to $50
Italian
Solvang
About the restaurant
Highly anticipated opening by Chef Leonardi Curti.
Top review
Maura
Dined 1 day ago
The food at Leonardo's was great, as in past visits. The tortellini and the osso buco were standouts. The restaurant was packed, and we had to wait a long time (about 30 minutes) past our 7 pm reservation to be seated. The staff did their best, but the customers inside were not leaving. The front of house hostess said she'd comp us dessert, a kind gesture. However, after initially attentive service from our waiter, who took our orders promptly and brought out the food quickly, he seemed to lose focus -- perhaps he was too busy or too tired as the restaurant's patrons started to leave. After our meal, we had to flag him down to order dessert; and that took so long to arrive that we ended up having to cancel it and leave, as one of our party felt ill. I will go back, but will make sure either to plan to get to the restaurant not later than 6 pm or after 8:30 pm.
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A photo of Orecchiette of a restaurant
Popular dish
Orecchiette
A photo of Brothers Restaurant at Red Barn restaurant
Brothers Restaurant at Red Barn
4.9
4.9 (1367)
$31 to $50
American
Santa Ynez Valley
About the restaurant
The Nichols brothers, Matt & Jeff, grew up in Ames, Iowa where their love of cooking, good food and a sense of family and community was nurtured.

The 2013 opening of their second Santa Barbara Wine Country restaurant, Brothers Restaurant at the Red Barn in Santa Ynez, allows them to offer visitors and locals alike great food, wine and hospitality. The brothers strive to have legendary service, innovative cuisine, and a welcoming and comfortable atmosphere that causes you to return time and again.

As chefs, the brothers continue to experiment with new dishes and cuisine, but always with that “from scratch”, homemade element. Fresh ingredients from local producers, a wine list that showcases the region’s award-winning wines and a comfortable and historically interesting atmosphere that takes you back to the romance of the old west. They want you to feel at home, and experience all the best of Santa Barbara’s Wine Country.
Top review
JeffreyVIP
Dined on Jan 10, 2025
We finally made it to Taco Night on Thursday!! It was amazing….perfectly cooked meat, crispy taco shell, and super fresh greens! As always the service was phenomenal!
A photo of SY Kitchen restaurant
SY Kitchen
4.9
4.9 (3869)
$31 to $50
Italian
Santa Ynez Valley
About the restaurant
RESERVATIONS



Reservations for parties of 5 or more please call restaurant directly.

S. Y. Kitchen requests a credit card to hold a reservation of 6 or more. You may cancel by calling the restaurant by 5 PM two days prior to the reservation. After that cancellation is subject to our policy and fees may be incurred. All credit card information will be processed securely.

Top review
SLOnurse14VIP
Dined 2 days ago
We had a wonderful lunch yesterday at S.Y. Kitchen!! George waited on us and he was very engaging and knowledgeable about the menu. The minestrone soup was delicious and the Parmesan crisp added that salty bite it needed…wish the crisp would’ve been alittle bigger though! Loved the cauliflower dish! The cauliflower was cooked perfectly and the burrata and green sauce were a lovely addition!! I had the mushroom and pasta dish…out of this world!! So rich and warming…with loads of mushrooms…so pleased! Even a guest getting seated commented on how good it looked!! My husband had the Niçoise salad and it was excellent and full of ingredients…no skimping here!! Very flavorful!! For dessert, we had the chocolate gelato with brûlée bananas…it was decadent yet light and finished off the meal perfectly!! The only miss was the bread…we’re fans of Bob’s but this bread was so thin and kinda of tough…I’ve had much better bread from there. Also we got the salami and olive pizza to go and it was delicious but there was plenty of salami but only one piece of olive per slice! Would’ve loved to see a lot more olive on there!! Despite those missteps, we left happy and full!! We’ll be back!!
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A photo of Margherita of a restaurant
Popular dish
Margherita
A photo of T-Bone Truffle Sliders of a restaurant
Popular dish
T-Bone Truffle Sliders
A photo of Wild Mushroom Pappardelle of a restaurant
Popular dish
Wild Mushroom Pappardelle
A photo of Whiskey 'N Rye restaurant
Whiskey 'N Rye
4.6
4.6 (232)
$31 to $50
Barbecue
Solvang
About the restaurant
An American Smokehouse and Tavern, Whiskey 'N Rye features a varied menu of barbeque classics along with an eclectic mix of modern wine-country cuisine. Our dining experience focuses heavily on grill and smoke cooking techniques, with several unique signature features including our Hickory Smoked Brisket and Baby Back Ribs, Grilled Romaine Caesar, Smoked Spaghetti Squash, BBQ Chicken, Grilled Flatiron Steak with Chimichurri, and our Whiskey 'N Rye Brisket/Short-rib Burger, just to name a few. Enjoy your meal with our full bar featuring Signature Craft Cocktails, Zero-Proof Elixirs, and more than 60 specialty whiskeys from both local as well as national and international distilleries. With both covered patio and cozy indoor dining areas, Whiskey 'N Rye is the perfect spot to enjoy a relaxed afternoon or evening dining experience. Also visit us for the Best Happy Hour in town hosted Mon. to Thu. from 4:00pm to 5:30pm. Featuring $10 Craft Cocktails and 1/2 priced Appetizers!
Top review
JeffVIP
Dined on Jan 8, 2025
Awesome whiskey bar menu with food to match. Wine list needs help.. Good service !
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A photo of Solvang's Best Happy Hour of a restaurant
Experience
Solvang's Best Happy Hour
A photo of Nella Kitchen and Bar restaurant
Nella Kitchen and Bar
4.7
4.7 (1101)
$31 to $50
Californian
Santa Ynez Valley
About the restaurant
Opened in August 2020, Nella Kitchen & Bar offers fresh, modern California cuisine and focuses on 'Roman Pinsas'.
Meals are served on the front porch overlooking Grand Ave where guests are warmly welcomed, or in the cozy Dining Room which also has a private Wine Room that can host family seating and private parties.
Cocktails are focused on classics and served in the Lounge with a lot of bar seating.
As much as we love pets, we only allow service animals at Nella, thank you for understanding.

Top review
TreshaVIP
Dined 2 days ago
Nella is one of our favorite local restaurants. Highly recommend.
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A photo of Lamb Chops Scottadito of a restaurant
Popular dish
Lamb Chops Scottadito
A photo of Sausage & Potato of a restaurant
Popular dish
Sausage & Potato
A photo of Steamed Clams of a restaurant
Popular dish
Steamed Clams
A photo of The Gathering Table restaurant
The Gathering Table
4.6
4.6 (125)
$31 to $50
Contemporary Asian
Solvang
About the restaurant
Welcome to The Gathering Table, Solvang’s newest culinary gem. Led by acclaimed Chef Budi Kazali, renowned for his innovative Asian cuisine with French influences, our restaurant promises an unforgettable dining experience.

Chef Budi Kazali brings his mastery to every dish, infusing flavors from his Indonesian heritage with local ingredients sourced from nearby farms. Whether indulging in his signature dishes or exploring new creations, every bite at The Gathering Table is a celebration of culinary artistry.

Situated amidst Solvang’s picturesque streets, our restaurant offers a serene outdoor dining area, perfect for enjoying Chef Kazali’s creations al fresco. Inside, savor handcrafted cocktails at our full bar or host an intimate gathering in our Private Dining Room, where every detail is tailored to exceed your expectations.

Discover a place where exquisite cuisine meets warm and approachable hospitality at The Gathering Table!
Top review
Peter
Dined on Jan 10, 2025
Lovely new restaurant in Solvang. Interesting menu with "Asian fusion" mixes of local ingredients with some Asian influence. Creative and a bit complex...not a steak and potatoes kinda place! But a fun exploration of flavors and textures, with great service and very nice ambiance.
A photo of Hitching Post II restaurant
Hitching Post II
4.7
4.7 (5143)
$31 to $50
Steakhouse
Buellton
About the restaurant
Here, on the Central Coast of California, BBQ has always meant grilling over an open fire of red oak, a style of cooking that is native to our area and goes back to the days of the Spanish Rancheros. By combining the old and the new, we have created an exciting cuisine with outstanding steaks, ribs and chicken, along with fresh fish and seafood and vegetarian options. We also create our own (world class) wines for sale in the restaurant and to the public. Hartley Ostini Hitching Post Wines have garnered an excellent reputation. Try them here or purchase on our website for your enjoyment at home.


Top review
Benton
Dined 3 days ago
Favorite steak place in all of CA if not the entire country! Thank you Hitching Post!
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A photo of Filet Mignon (5oz) of a restaurant
Popular dish
Filet Mignon (5oz)
A photo of Grilled Artichoke of a restaurant
Popular dish
Grilled Artichoke
A photo of First & Oak at the Mirabelle Inn restaurant
First & Oak at the Mirabelle Inn
4.7
4.7 (1220)
$50 and over
Californian
Solvang
About the restaurant
We are excited to welcome you to First & Oak! We offer outdoor seating on our heated patio & inside our intimate dining rooms. Seating is limited, a credit card is required & will only be charged for cancellations. Please allow us a minimum of 24 hours prior to avoid any cancelation fees.

We offer two dining experiences: Traditional Three Course or a Chef's Five Course Tasting Menu.
Parties of 6 or more please call. When reserving standard (indoor) or outdoor seating (Please be mindful regarding the weather, it tends to get chilly as the night goes on), please choose which experience you would prefer & let us know of any dietary restrictions, Vegan request needs a days advance notice.

First and Oak is located inside the Mirabelle Inn, & was awarded a Michelin Plate designation in 2022. We offer a seasonally-inspired menu that highlights local & organic ingredients prepared in a thoughtful manner. Our dining room operates with the mindset of warm compassionate attentive service.
Top review
Julie
Dined on Jan 11, 2025
Everything about the he experience was wonderful.
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A photo of TRUFFLE ROASTED CAULIFLOWER of a restaurant
Popular dish
TRUFFLE ROASTED CAULIFLOWER
A photo of CHOCOLATE & HONEY of a restaurant
Popular dish
CHOCOLATE & HONEY
A photo of PASSIONFRUIT TART of a restaurant
Popular dish
PASSIONFRUIT TART
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