Full of Life Flatbread has been holding it down on Bell Street in Los Alamos since 2003 when Clark Staub opened the quirky pizzeria. Whether topped with pepperoni, mushrooms, or caramelized onions, every ingredient is well-considered and well-sourced. Order the hush-hush Beast for dessert.

There are two ways to experience Bell’s in Los Alamos, the acclaimed Michelin-starred restaurant by Daisy and Greg Ryan. For those who are feeling fancy, reserve a table for dinner where Daisy prepares a seasonally-driven prix fixe menu for $90. (Reservations are released a month in advance.) And for those in a more casual state of mind, the bistro-leaning lunchtime menu is solid and also available to-go.

The Central Coast is famous for its barbecue traditions and Nick Priedite has a style all his own. The pop-up that he runs with Brandon Dwan on Saturdays behind Bell’s restaurant draws a line even before it opens at 10:30 a.m. Arrive early for the choicest selection including brisket, sausages, and pork ribs. Save room for the seasonal buttermilk pudding for dessert.

Industrial Eats — the Buellton butcher, make-what-we-want lunchtime destination, and all-around food staple — is still going strong nearly a decade in. Dueling wood-fired ovens turn out personal-sized pizzas, as local fishmongers bring in the day’s catch through the front door and travelers peruse the takeaway section.

Find history, Sideways conversations, and the Central Coast’s best grilled meats at the Hitching Post II in Buellton. This staple Buellton eatery is a must-stop for first-time visitors, thanks to its offbeat vibe, quality chops, and Santa Maria-style barbecue.

When Nathan Peitso grew tired of life in LA and his restaurant Farmhouse, he moved north to Solvang to open Sear Steakhouse along 4th Street. Set inside a historic building, the chops spot is ideal for meaty options like ribeyes and filet mignon, but digging deeper into starters like crab cakes and a bone marrow and bread plate makes the evening all that much more enjoyable.

Comfort food doesn’t get much more comforting than burgers, tacos, and what may be the best fried chicken sandwich in a 100 mile radius. Thankfully at Peasants Feast owners Michael and Sarah Cherney approach each dish with care, a connection to local farms and producers, and an eye towards feeding regulars and travelers alike. Their small-ish cozy corner of Solvang buzzes on weekends, thanks in no small part to the love the Cherneys put into the room.

Good Seed might as well be Solvang’s city hall. Part coffee shop, part bakery, the busy Mission Drive space is teeming daily with locals, tourists, and passersby, all eager for a well-made espresso drink or a cup of drip coffee. The bakery doesn’t disappoint either, with a variety of toasts, breads, granola bowls, and more. Its’ the kind of food and location that makes everyone show up on a busy Saturday morning.

It can be a tough task reimagining a historic restaurant like the Tavern at Mattei’s Inn, but chef Rhoda Magbitang deftly balances meeting the expectations of longtime guests with making the menu her own. Start with the warm focaccia served with butter before settling into platters of squid ink rice and well-prepared sweet breads with sunchokes. A chocolate souffle to finish is a must.

Swing in for lunch or dinner at Bar Le Côte, the seafood-focused sister restaurant to Michelin-starred Bell’s in Los Alamos. Behind the stoves at this Los Olivos gem is executive chef and co-owner Brad Mathews. The menu is chock-full of local seafood and European nods that pair exceptionally well with wines. The head-on Gulf shrimp and saffron buns with sea urchin butter are a must.

Pastries, sandwiches, and other bready delights are the order of the day at Bob Oswaks’s Ballard outpost of Bob’s Well Bread. This Ballard standalone has proven to be a hit with local wine country visitors, so don’t be surprised to find some weekend lines — and Oswaks himself working the counter.

Look no further than chef Luca Crestanelli’s S.Y. Kitchen for seasonal salads and scratch-made plates of pasta like the wild mushroom pappardelle. The Verona-born chef worked in Italian restaurants like Toscana and Nerano in Los Angeles before making his way to the Santa Ynez Valley in 2013.

Get over to Maverick Saloon for a barstool away from the wine crowds. The dusty wooden semi-dive is popular with the locals and features dollar bills on the ceiling, live music and events most weekends, and a full slate of cocktails and pub fare.