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Dining

San Luis Obispo -- A friend joked that the dining scene is San Luis Obispo is SLO food, meaning you won't find Michelin stars but you will encounter wonderful comfort food, locally sourced ingredients, fun servers and some eye-catching locations.

Even during busy periods - think Cal Poly parents' weekend - it's relatively painless to get a nice table at an acceptable hour.

Downtown is a great bet for visitors, but outlying locations also offer intriguing options.

A warning for those accustomed the Bay Area dining scene: You're no longer in the land of small portions. Think splits.

APPLE FARM

You're staying on Monterey Street's motel row and have a desire for a more substantial morning repast than your lodging's continental breakfast. Voila! The Apple Farm is an easy walk.

The cowboy sausage, a spicy grilled link, is served with fried potatoes, onion, green and red peppers and two eggs ($12.50). It'll supercharge a long day of walking and hiking, and it comes with a large yet light house-made biscuit and preserves.

The Apple Farm is also a hotel, and serves lunch and dinner, too.

2015 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo; (805) 544-2040. www.applefarm.com . Wine and beer. Reservations and credit cards accepted. Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily.

BIG SKY

The owner had a Cajun restaurant in Los Angeles, and the staff says that influence is here, too. I'll grant a sliver of that, but for me the bottom line is an eclectic mix of comfort food, some of which is totally luxe.

The lobster mac and cheese ($18.50) with smoked bacon and peas is creamy decadence. If you're worried that the stern person at the next table is a cardiologist, try the Italian tuna, basil and cannellini bean salad ($12.95), a refreshing yet filling dish with a lemony zing.

1121 Broad St., San Luis Obispo; (805) 545-5401. www.bigskycafe.com . Wine and beer. Credit cards accepted. Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily.

EUREKA

You have found it. This small chain (10 outlets in California and one in Seattle) specializes in converting tired, old spaces into hip, upscale joints. The San Luis Obispo location is a smart-looking former bank. Although Eureka prides itself on its whiskey selection, the secrets are the local beers and fab burgers.

The original burger - a 7-ounce patty on a soft bun with traditional garnish ($9.75) - is a great choice. You can balance the fat with a kale salad ($8.95), which combines the ubiquitous greens with toasted garlic and walnuts in a lemony vinaigrette. If you want to go for a touch more gusto, lasso the cowboy burger ($11.95), which adds bacon, shoestring fried onions and a knock-your-socks-off beer barbecue sauce.

1141 Chorro St., San Luis Obispo; (805) 903-1141. www.eurekarestaurantgroup.com . Full bar. Credit cards accepted. Lunch and dinner daily.

GRANADA

This restaurant is one of the most charming places in town - especially the front patio. It's a delight, with comfy cushions and pillows on the perimeter benches. Yet it's also an ironic blend of old school and hip - "bitchy" is used on the wine list. Good choices for food include the rock fish ceviche ($13) and a wonderful Cuban panini ($14 ) with braised pork, cheddar and peppers.

1126 Morro St., San Luis Obispo; (805) 544-9110. www.granadahotelandbistro.com . Full bar. Reservations and credit cards accepted. Lunch Monday-Saturday; brunch Sunday; dinner nightly.

KOBERL AT BLUE

This converted space in a historic downtown building specializes in locally sourced fare with a twist on American tradition.

The duck sausage flatbread ($10) is a savory, almost pizza-esque, appetizer that's big enough to share. I was in heaven to find sauteed veal liver ($28) with bacon and a hearty Cabernet reduction and mashed potatoes with crème fraîche. On the other hand, the seared ahi ($32) offers a lighter choice.

998 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo; (805) 783-1135. www.epkoberl.com . Full bar. Reservations and credit cards accepted. Dinner nightly.

Gardens of Avila Restaurant at Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort 1215 Avila Beach Rd. San Luis Obispo, CA 93405 Toll-Free: (800) 234-5831 Phone: (805) 595-7365 Great dining in a lush, romantic setting, with a menu ranging from classical dishes to international flavors. A wonderful place to dine after relaxing in our private natural...

Custom House / Mr. Rick's 404 Front St. Avila Beach, CA 93424 Phone: (805) 595-7425 While dining with us you are just steps away from the ocean in Avila Beach. Our Central Coast beach-side location holds beautiful views with a casual atmosphere. Your dining...

Cafe Roma 1020 Railroad Avenue San Luis Obispo Phone: (805) 541-6800

Calago 450 Marsh Street San Luis Obispo Phone: (805) 541-5393

Cambria Pines Lodge Restaurant 2905 Burton Drive Cambria Phone: (805) 927-4200

Carlton Restaurant & Grill 6005 El Camino Real Atascadero Phone: (805) 461-5100

Cavalier Restaurant 7415 Hearst Drive Highway 1 San Simeon Toll-Free: (800) 826-8168 Phone: (805) 927-3276

Chablis Cruises / Big Rock Charters 1215 W. Embarcadero Morro Bay Phone: (805) 772-2128 Enjoy our two-story riverboat for harbor cruises, dinners, brunches and private charters. Weekly Sunday brunch cruises.

Corner View Restaurant & Bar 1141 Chorro San Luis Obispo Phone: (805) 546-8444 San Luis Obispo Restaurants

Cracked Crab 751 Price Street Pismo Beach Phone: (805) 773-2722

Deborah's Room 11680 Chimney Rock Road Paso Robles Toll-Free: (800) 726-0049 Phone: (805) 237-4149

Dining with André 1032 Pine Street Paso Robles Phone: (805) 227-4100

Doc Burnstein's Ice Cream Lab 114 W. Branch St. Arroyo Grande Phone: (805) 474-4068 Premium ice cream parlor- named one of the best in California by Westways magazine! Family fun in downtown AG. Our home-made ice cream is alos sold by many other parlors inthe...

F. McLintocks Saloon - Arroyo Grande 133 Bridge Arroyo Grande Phone: (805) 481-1700

F. McLintocks Saloon - Paso Robles 1234 Park Street Paso Robles Phone: (805) 238-2233

F. McLintocks Saloon - San Luis Obispo 686 Higuera Street San Luis Obispo Phone: (805) 541-0686

F. McLintocks Saloon and Dining House 750 Mattie Road Shell Beach Phone: (805) 773-1892

Flying Dutchman 701 Embarcadero Morro Bay Phone: (805) 772-2269

Hoppe's Garden Bistro & Wine Shop 78 N. Ocean Avenue Cayucos Phone: (805) 995-1006

Klondike Pizza 104 Bridge Street Arroyo Grande Phone: (805) 481-5288

Koberl at Blue 998 Monterey St. San Luis Obispo Phone: (805) 783-1135

Lido Restaurant 2727 Shell Beach Rd. Pismo Beach Phone: (805) 773-8900

Linn's Main Bin 2277 Main Street Cambria Phone: (805) 927-0371 Temporarily closed due to fire damage. Our specialized Linn's products, baked and frozen foods are still available at our Farmstore- just 5-miles up Santa Rosa Creek, Cambria.

Madonna Inn Coffee Shop 100 Madonna Road San Luis Obispo Toll-Free: (800) 543-9666 Phone: (805) 543-3000

Mama's Meatball 570 Higuera Street The Creamery San Luis Obispo Phone: (805) 544-0861 Upscale fine Italian cuisine take-out. Closed Sundays.

Marie Callender's Restaurant & Bakery 2131 Price Street Pismo Beach Phone: (805) 773-0606

Marisol Restaurant at The Cliffs Resort 2757 Shell Beach Road Shell Beach Toll-Free: (800) 826-7827 Phone: (805) 773-3555

Marre's at Avila Beach 6460 Ana Bay Dr. Avila Beach Phone: (805) 595-4001 Open Wed-Sun, 5 - 9 PM only.

Matthew's 1215 Spring St. Paso Robles Phone: (805) 237-7333

Mother's Tavern 725 Higuera San Luis Obispo Phone: (805) 541-8733

Murder in Mind Productions PO Box 9 Arroyo Grande Phone: (805) 489-3875 Interactive Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre performed by Professional Actors at the Spyglass Inn Restaurant in Shell Beach and select locations throughout San Luis Obispo and Santa...

Muzio's 870 Monterey San Luis Obispo Phone: (805) 543-0800

Natural Cafe - SLO 698 Higuera St. San Luis Obispo Phone: (805) 546-9200

Novo Restaurant & Bakery 726 Higuera San Luis Obispo Phone: (805) 543-3986

Orchid Restaurant, The 60 State Park Road Morro Bay Phone: (805) 772-5651

Palo Mesa Pizza 2790-C S. Halcyon Arroyo Grande Phone: (805) 474-9924

Park Restaurant, The 1819 Osos St. San Luis Obispo Phone: (805) 545-0000

Paso Robles Inn Steakhouse 1103 Spring Street Paso Robles Toll-Free: (800) 676-1713 Phone: (805) 238-2660

Quarterdeck Restaurant - Arroyo Grande 1500 W. Branch St. Arroyo Grande Phone: (805) 481-3474

Robin's Restaurant 4095 Burton Drive Cambria Phone: (805) 927-5007

Rose's Steak & Fishhouse 725 Embarcadero Morro Bay Phone: (805) 772-4441

San Simeon Beach Bar & Grill 9520 Castillo Drive San Simeon Phone: (805) 927-4604

SeaVenture Restaurant 100 Ocean View Pismo Beach Toll-Free: (800) 662-5545 Phone: (805) 773-3463

Splash Cafe - Pismo Beach 197 Pomeroy Pismo Beach Phone: (805) 773-4653

Splash Cafe ~ Artisan Bakery 1491 Monterey St. San Luis Obispo Phone: (805) 544-7567

Spyglass Inn Restaurant 2703 Spyglass Drive Pismo Beach Phone: (805) 773-1222

Steamers of Pismo 1601 Price Street Shell Beach Phone: (805) 773-4711

Taj Palace, Cuisine of India 795 Foothill Blvd., Suite A San Luis Obispo Phone: (805) 543-0722

Tanner Jacks 2796 S. Halcyon Road Arroyo Grande Phone: (805) 473-8485

Two Blocks Off The Beach 791 Dolliver Street Pismo Beach Phone: (805) 773-0332

Villa Creek 1144 Pine Street Paso Robles Phone: (805) 238-3000

Windows On The Water 699 Embarcadero #7 Morro Bay Phone: (805) 772-0677