Diners' Choice: Good for special occasions restaurants in California Central Coast

OpenTable

Updated December 05, 2024

Looking for the best special occasion restaurants in California Central Coast? 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!

Olivella - Ojai Valley Inn

4.9

4.9 (461)

$50 and over

Californian

Ojai

About the restaurant

Ojai Valley Inn’s signature dinner restaurant, Olivella, holds the Forbes Travel Guide Four Star and Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence designations. Chef Andrew Foskey is proud to present a seasonally driven menu with a commitment to valley-grown ingredients and techniques inspired by Italian tradition. As a complement to our cuisine, the award-winning wine program showcases expertly curated discoveries and classic bottlings from notable California and Italian producers.

Guests are invited to enjoy our multi course dining experience starting at $125/ person, plus tax and gratuity. Please note that a la carte dining is not available.

We kindly ask that any updates or cancellation to your reservation be made no less than 24 hours prior. Should you not cancel your reservation within 24 hours, or do not arrive for your reservation, you will be subject to a fee of $75 per person.

In keeping with the atmosphere, Olivella is intended for guests 10 years and older.

Top review

Rachaelvip

Dined 1 day ago

Our waiter, David was so knowledgeable and fun! The food was delicious each dish was just the right amount so we never got too full. Standouts were the crudo, steak, and salad. McConnell’s dessert was magical!

Brothers Restaurant at Red Barn

4.9

4.9 (1357)

$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

Tomvip

Dined 3 days ago

Always great! Steaks are awesome. Perfectly cooked. French onion soup. Great. Salad. Great. Service is the best.

Pono Pacific Kitchen

4.9

4.9 (628)

$31 to $50

Pacific Rim

Pismo Beach

About the restaurant

Pono Pacific Kitchen offers Pacific Rim cuisine that focuses on local favorites with a style of cooking and presenting dishes that combines ingredients, influences and techniques from not only Hawaii but also Asia, California and Mexico and the western coasts in general.

Top review

peggy

Dined 2 days ago

Pono offers some of the best seafood on the central coast. excellent service.

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Popular dish

Georges Bank Scallops

Marisol at the Cliffs Hotel and Spa

4.8

4.8 (1366)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Pismo Beach

About the restaurant

Marisol translates to The Sun and the Sea; and no where is this more evident than through the flavors of the food. The menu at Marisol has been developed as New Spanish-American Cuisine. As the premier choice of Pismo Beach restaurants, all of the dishes at Marisol are prepared with a soulful touch by Chef Troy Tolbert and Pastry Chef Derek Brown, featuring produce from fields of local farmers, seafood fresh off the boats of local fishermen, and naturally raised meats and poultry. The wine list for Marisol is awarded by Wine Spectator and has an amazing Selection of wines by the glass page with many local wines from Monterey to Santa Barbara County. For the finest oceanfront dining experience, try our award-winning Pismo Beach California restaurant Marisol at the Cliffs Hotel and Spa. For hotel information, please visit https://cliffshotelandspa.com/

Top review

Caseyvip

Dined 4 days ago

Stunning sunset view! Great service and lovely cheeseboard.

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4.7

4.7 (3848)

$31 to $50

European

Pacific Grove

About the restaurant

A favorite among Fandango regulars is the succulent Rack of Lamb; other menu items include Fresh Seafood, a variety of pastas, delicious and exotic Mediterranean dishes such as paella and Couscous, and a tempting selection of excellent steaks. Several daily specialties are also available.

Desserts we offer, Souffle, Profiteroles, Chocolate Mousse

Top review

Janicevip

Dined 3 days ago

Haven’t dined here in a few years, so decided to celebrate my 70th birthday here. Outstanding service! Amazing food! Cute atmosphere….almost like dining in someone’s home….we sat by the fireplace. I had the pasta puttanesca and my husband had the short ribs. Both were delicious and filling. We also ordered the Grand Marnier soufflé for dessert….highly recommend! Then our waiter surprised me with a candlelit free dessert! Many of the staff stopped by to wish me happy birthday….they even put party streamers on my table! Will be back to dine again! Thank you for a wonderful birthday dinner.

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the C restaurant + bar

4.7

4.7 (1217)

$31 to $50

Seafood

Monterey

About the restaurant

Our family-friendly Monterey Bay restaurant is close to the Aquarium, situated over sapphire waters and immersed in the natural beauty of the California coast. The C restaurant features only seafood endorsed by Seafood Watch of the Monterey Bay Aquarium. The delicious Arctic Char featured on Executive Chef Matt Bolton's menus is similar to salmon in taste, texture and color, but is available year-round, and is rated a "best choice" by Seafood Watch.

Located at the upscale InterContinental The Clement Monterey hotel on Monterey Bay. Every table at the C restaurant has a view of the pristine and scenic Monterey Bay. Marine life sightings abound, including dolphins, whales, harbor seals and sea otters. Enjoy the parade of sea creatures and shore birds as you savor the finest in California regional cuisine.

Top review

Lori

Dined on Nov 30, 2024

Excellent wait staff food was great and restaurant was nice so was the music

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4.6

4.6 (501)

$31 to $50

American

Carmel Valley

About the restaurant

Voted "Best Restaurant in Carmel Valley 2023"!

Located in the picturesque Barnyard Shopping Village just off of HWY 1 between Rio Rd and Carmel Valley Rd. Sur at the Barnyard is where foodies, beer lovers and families escape the stresses of their day-to-day lives to enjoy a great meal!

If you don't see a reservation available give us a call anytime and we will be happy to assist!

Need a reservation for 7 or more? Give us a call at 831-250-7188 or email us any requests at reservations@suratthebarnyard.com

Top review

Christinavip

Dined on Nov 30, 2024

Our food was delicious and the service was even better. Our server as well as the manager came to check on us several times throughout our meal, which we appreciated. We had the calamari strips, steak tacos, and lobster ravioli, all which were amazing. We will definitely come back next time we visit the Monterey area.

Cielo

4.5

4.5 (542)

$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

Joan

Dined 7 days ago

Girls night out for a birthday celebration. Planned on Happy Hour on the rooftop, dinner reservation at 5:15. Turned out roof top bar was closed for a private party. Ok it's the Holidays I get that. Got the last table at the bar. Happy Hour service was fair, got better once drinks were back at premium price. It was quite busy as it was Tree Lighting Ceremony which we did not know about until we got there and tried to park. Extremely busy that night. Food was good. Chicken Alfredo, Spaghetti with (giant) meatballs and Oso Bucco. Our first time there. I would go again on a less crowded occasion.

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4.3

4.3 (377)

$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

Markvip

Dined on Dec 5, 2024

Pleasantly surprised. We stayed at the Hotel Cerro and ate here expecting a hotel restaurant experience but actually the food was very high tier and delicious. The Branzino was a piece of whole fish super meaty and well roasted. Service was great as well. Very well cooked food and we will be back sometime again. The restaurant is a tad bit noisy even with only a few people cause of the brick walls and high ceilings. It's slightly odd that they don't allow same day OpenTable reservations since it was pretty empty when we went. The one negative I'll mention is that they kept the temp really cold for some reason like it almost felt unheated. Not sure why. Turn up the temp guys! Anyway, good food and that's what matters and the rest of the stuff can get worked on.

Rockfish Harbor Grill

4.2

4.2 (157)

$30 and under

Seafood

Monterey

About the restaurant

We are excited to transform Monterey Bay's best location into the newest, freshest, seafood restaurant. Enjoy an all-new ambiance, waterfront tables, and exciting menu items!

For more than one hundred years, fishing has been a vital part of Monterey’s economy. Monterey’s historic Fisherman’s Wharf with its colorful shops, seafood markets, and flavorful restaurants, is a reflection of that history. Rockfish celebrates Monterey’s fishing tradition and enjoys the Wharf’s most expansive, panoramic views of the working harbor.

Stop by and enjoy a cocktail and our stunning views at the restaurant’s bar and lounge. Our ambiance is casual California and it’s suitable for visitors of all ages. Come see for yourself. You’ll be glad you did!

Top review

Lesvip

Dined 5 days ago

The location, view, food, and staff are all great. You will like it. :)

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