| Avila Beach,
California--Are all California piers the same when it comes to
eating out (out on the ocean)? Not really. Olde Port Inn in Avila Beach
is a case in point. Located on one of three piers in the Avila Bay (two
are public and one is private), San Luis Wharf features this restaurant
with awesome views and an incredible wine list that reflects Central
California Coast's passion and appreciation of what a grape can become.
While the full bar is mentioned in their literature, it's the wine list
that gets all the attention, stealing the show.
The only pier between Santa Barbara and Monterey to feature an indoor
restaurant with full menu and bar, the food prices at the Olde Port
range from approx. $10 to $30-something for an entree. We stick to the
two or three "cheap" items on the menu such as a fish taco or hamburger,
though we have dined with family members and sampled their more
expensive faire. In all fairness, there's hardly a pier restaurant in
California that garners top awards for its cuisine. Of all the piers
we've dined at and seen, we still continue to rank San Clemente Pier's
Fishermans Restaurant as the best value for good food. That said, Olde
Port Inn has a great story line from a can-do guy who built the place
for a couple hundred bucks worth of wood. Having grown the family
business into one of several San Luis Obispo enterprises, the family
likes to stick with fish dishes as their specialty.
Reviews range from "excellent" to "not very good". To be honest, my
food was fine for a pier restaurant dining with amazing views. It was
pretty much on par with other pier restaurants throughout California
where people will get in line and wait just for the right to have a
superb dinner view. And the views--they are the highlight of this
special harbor cove where the mountains (or rolling hills) surround the
pier, and the ocean is visible at the pier's end where the restaurant
sits.
Everyone loves the special tables that have glass tops allowing you
to look down into the Pacific Ocean. There are many seals and sea lions
harboring at this pier's docks but you can't see them much when you look
down through your dinner table glass.
Harford Pier
Port San Luis
Avila Beach, CA 93424
(805) 595-2515
www.oldeportinn.com
|
