Best Casual Restaurants in Santa Ynez Valley

We make it a point to visit SY Kitchen every time we’re in Santa Ynez. While most of our experiences have been enjoyable, our most recent visit on November 19th—coincidentally our 42nd anniversary—was truly exceptional. I savored one of the best vodka martinis I’ve had in years at the bar. The service was outstanding, with our server demonstrating professionalism, attentiveness, and a friendly demeanor. Each course was timed perfectly, enhancing the overall dining experience. The food was exemplary, and the manager went above and beyond by checking on us three times to ensure everything met our expectations. It does leave us wondering, though—why is Nella Kitchen, under the same ownership, such a stark contrast in quality and service?

The restaurant was full on a Tuesday evening. Service was good, although they looked a little overworked. The food is quite heavy and certainly I think I would've shared portions had I known we had  the calamari, and there was a massive amount of garlic in it, which I enjoyed, and the flavor was great as well as the tenderness of the squid. Our main courses were very hearty and well cooked. Desert apple crisp was way too sweet with masses of caramel . Overall good but rich and heavy so go hungry and share .

Taylor is the absolute best! Treats us like family every time we go in.

Their food is always excellent. And their servers & wait staff are the best!

I was extremely impressed they were able to customize my menu to be vegan without sacrificing the flavor. Absolutely incredible experience and will be returning!