Best Lunch Restaurants in Santa Ynez Valley

We come to the Santa Ynez Valley a couple times a year and make it a point to come to Ellie’s every time. The food and service is consistently excellent and the crabcake is not to be missed.

The menu is exquisite, great influence of asian cuisine. Great selection of specials also. Third time being here, and definitely not the last.

Tara and Ezelle greeted us and Anthony and Luis gave amazing service as did David the sommelier. Can’t wait to go back.

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?

I went with my girlfriend for a quiet lunch. We had a lot to discuss. The food was very good, but our server was a real motor mouth. Very pleasant, but he went on and on. He was very sweet, but was not picking up our cues to move on. He kept suggesting that he sit down and join us. A little much to say the least. Someone should gently remind him why he’s there.