Diners' Choice: Good for special occasions restaurants in San Luis Obispo / Paso Robles

OpenTable

Updated June 05, 2025

Looking for the best special occasion restaurants in San Luis Obispo / Paso Robles? 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!

Japanese Restaurant Goshi

5.0

5 (551)

$30 and under

Japanese

San Luis Obispo

About the restaurant

Located in the heart of San Luis Obispo downtown, serving authentic Japanese food starting from Sushi and traditional tei-shoku. Don't forget to enjoy soothing sake and Japanese beer!

Top review

Steven

Dined on May 25, 2025

Great food and service . Always a wonderful experience

Cafe Roma - San Luis Obispo

4.8

4.8 (1787)

$31 to $50

Italian

San Luis Obispo

About the restaurant

For over four decades, the Rizzo family has been serving authentic Italian cuisine in San Luis Obispo. At Café Roma, you can indulge in homemade pastas, wood-fired pizza, and fresh seafood. Don't miss classic dishes like Osso Buco with Saffron Risotto, shortrib pappardelle, and Bistecca alla Fiorentina.

Inside Café Roma and you'll feel like you've been transported to Italy. From the vintage Italian bike hanging above the bar to the Murano glass chandeliers and Tuscan murals, every detail has been thoughtfully curated to celebrate Italian culture.

Pair your meal with one of the many wines on Café Roma's extensive list, which changes monthly to include new and exciting Central Coast and Italian finds.

Café Roma is a popular destination for locals, vintners, families, travelers, and professionals alike. Whether you're looking for a romantic date night spot or a gathering place for friends and family, you'll find it here.

Top review

Patrick

Dined 2 days ago

Amazing service and great food! Owner is awesome get the Negroni!

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Raid the Wine Cellar Tuesdays

Il Cortile Ristorante

4.8

4.8 (4296)

$50 and over

Italian

Paso Robles

About the restaurant

Welcome to Il Cortile Ristorante, Downtown Paso Robles' newest fine dining Italian restaurant. We invite you to join us to enjoy our seasonal menus created with the freshest ingredients available sourced by our surrounding local and regional landscapes by Executive Chef Santos MacDonal, providing a melody of exceptional homemade pastas, fresh seafood, top quality meats and antipasti. A top destination for exquisite wines, picturesque landscapes and beautiful weather, Paso Robles provides the perfect pairing for Il Cortile's rustic Italian fine dining.

Top review

Joyce

Dined 6 days ago

Our dining experience was awesome. Friendly people, great ambiance, excellent food. A definite repeat experience!

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Pappardelle al Cinghiale

Parchetto

4.7

4.7 (222)

$50 and over

Californian

Paso Robles

About the restaurant

Nestled in the heart of Paso Robles, CA, Parchetto (pronounced Par-kett-o) offers an exquisite dining experience, blending the elegance of fine dining with the ambiance of casual cuisine. From the moment you step into this charming environment, you will be welcomed by a warm inviting, atmosphere that harkens back to a different time. The décor combines elements that were restored from a century ago with contemporary touches that exude elegance without pretense.

At Parchetto, impeccable service and sumptuous cuisine come together to create a dining experience that is both sophisticated and comfortably relaxed.

Top review

WolfgangVIP

Dined 5 days ago

Very good food as well as service. Definitely recommend it in Paso. Thank you Natalie for your kind service!

Alex Madonna’s Gold Rush Steak House, at Madonna Inn

4.6

4.6 (4642)

$31 to $50

Steakhouse

San Luis Obispo

About the restaurant

Enjoy an award winning dining experience in our world-famous pink and gold Steak House - offering a comfortable and opulent dining atmosphere. Indulge in a delicious oak-pit-barbecued steak, fresh seafood, chicken, or vegetarian entrees. Featuring a superb wine list, decadent world-famous desserts and a whimsical, European atmosphere. Boutique shopping makes for a fun experience before or after you dine with us.

Top review

Abby

Dined 3 days ago

It was an amazing experience! We came for our anniversary and we were greeted with a Happy Anniversary! Service was amazing, food was amazing, ambiance was amazing. We enjoyed everything about the place. Their cakes are great too! Our lamb and ribeye were both cooked as we requested. The cocktails are great also! Kenji made our drinks to perfection as well!

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4.6

4.6 (588)

$31 to $50

Italian

Atascadero

About the restaurant

Cielo Ristorante is an Italian-inspired concept located in the heart if Atascadero. We have curated a distinct menu showcasing Italian dishes with a modern twist. We are the perfect place to come and enjoy with your loved ones.

Top review

Jane

Dined 4 days ago

Excellent food and dining. Would highly recommend. The roof top bar is great place to start the evening but recommend staff at the roof top bar let those who have reservations for dinner downstairs know that they have to finish their drinks at the rooftop bar, and unable to take downstairs to the restaurant. We left drinks half full as our table became available. Also, the restaurant needs to have Cabernet Sauvignon choices available by the glass. Currently just available by bottles only. The food is excellent as well as ambience. Parking available without having to pay, so nice.

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Copper Café and Bakery, at Madonna Inn

4.5

4.5 (2082)

$31 to $50

American

San Luis Obispo

About the restaurant

The Copper Café is popular with tourists and locals alike for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, in a warm and charming atmosphere. Copper counters, rich Bavarian woods, and lovely natural lighting will transport you to a quaint European village. Our Madonna Inn Bakery, featuring world-famous cakes, pies, cookies, along with French and Danish pastries remains open and available for walk-in and pre-ordered items.

Top review

Jessica

Dined 6 days ago

Copper Cafe is a tradition whenever I’m in the area. The food is always delicious and the portions are generous. They have the best biscuits outside of the south. The food continues to impress, but the service wasn’t what we’ve had in the past. I felt like I was an inconvenience, not a paying customer. Definitely not as friendly as this place is known for. Maybe it’s because it was full?

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The Black Cat - Cambria

4.5

4.5 (723)

$30 and under

Californian

Cambria

About the restaurant

Open since July 4th, 2002, Black Cat Bistro is known for serving Innovative Farm Fresh Fare. The menu changes often as Black Cat Bistro consistently strives to present fare that is reflective of seasonal, local produce and organically raised or sustainable product.The food is especially cognizant of wine pairings to electrify the palate. The Black Cat has received the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence for nine years in a row.

Black Cat Bistro is small with 45 seats and this is part of what makes it such an intimate dining experience. The service is attentive, unpretentious and refined. The dining rooms are decorated in soothing colors and fabrics. Down pillowed benches frame the edges of two of the three rooms. Candle light adorns the tables covered with white linen. Food is served on white china and wine in crystal Riedel stemware.

Top review

Gene

Dined on Jun 10, 2025

Many menu choices; great food; great service. We'll be back!

The Steakhouse at Paso Robles Inn

4.4

4.4 (1040)

$50 and over

Steakhouse

Paso Robles

About the restaurant

Known for our expansive menu of hearty steakhouse fare and as one of the most sought-after Paso Robles restaurants, The Steakhouse at Paso Robles Inn is proud to serve a variety of carefully-crafted plates that bring together the fresh ingredients of California’s Central Coast. Set amongst a beautiful backdrop and offering both indoor fireside dining and patio dining, The Steakhouse at Paso Robles Inn invites you to discover dishes that are abundantly flavorful and naturally tender. Brought to the table by generations of farmers, our Certified Angus Beef has passed through a rigorous process to evaluate for marbling, maturity, sizing, appearance and tenderness.

Top review

Donna

Dined 1 day ago

Food was great! Everyone from the Hostesses to the waiters and other dining staff were so accommodating and friendly. Will definitely come back.

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Popular dish

Steak Bites

The Oak Grill

4.3

4.3 (396)

$31 to $50

Bistro

San Luis Obispo

About the restaurant

The Oak Grill Features new Californian cuisine showcasing the freshest ingredients from the Central Coast, celebrating each season with its unique offering and flavor profiles.

Top review

MatthewVIP

Dined on Jun 17, 2025

Finally made it over to Oak Grill to try their Happy Hour. Service was excellent, prices were solid, fries delicious, and both shrimp ceviche & crab roll were good. Thank you!

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Popular dish

Salmon

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