Nella Kitchen & Bar

Wonderful restaurant in downtown Los Olivos. Great service, and a wonderful atmosphere. It was the perfect place for a romantic dinner with my partner. The food is amazing! It was the first place we've eaten at that had such a wide selection of specials. The baby artichokes was one of them, and did not disappoint. My partner thoroughly enjoyed the wine she had there. If we're ever in the area again, we will go back because it's worth it!

One of our favorite restaurants in the area to visit!! The food and drinks are always on point. We particularly love the little side room with the window to watch the kitchen working. In fact we recently visited as a special request by my nine year-old for his birthday dinner. He loves the steamed clams and watching the Pinsas coming out fresh from the oven! Ask for Abel for top notch service and don’t skip dessert, the profiteroles are fantastic!

Recommended by somebody in solvang, we were delighted to find this fancy spot tucked away in Los Olivos. We are suckers for bolognese and the pics looked great. Needless to say it blew our expectations away. We’ve eaten at some of the “top” Italians spots in LA and this killed them. The service was top quality and atmosphere and lighting was elegant but not stuffy. The consistency and flavor of the bolognese transported us to Tuscany. The Tagliatelle, unusually squiggly, were cooked to perfection. Add a great local red wine, some fresh baked bread and Normandy butter and you have yourself a great evening.

I’ve been to Nella’s a few times before and always had nice experiences, which led me to pick Nella’s for my rehearsal dinner a couple of weeks ago. It was phenomenal and the perfect choice! Heather and her events team were such a pleasure to work with and did an outstanding job hosting us in their patio. The cocktails and wine were good, and the dishes were even better—especially the pinsa!

Seriously some of the best food I have ever had. I brought my mother here on her birthday weekend and we were passing by and just stopped in. So glad we did!! The food was just incredible and it was such a nice environment with great service. I recommend to everyone

One of the best meals we’ve ever had. Ohhhh my it was amazing !! Our kids took us there while on vacation last week. I long to return !!! We live in San Diego and want to find equivalent. So great!

Best in class ingredients and amazing chef. Would eat here every day if I could. World’s best tuna tartare, local trout, pastas, pizzas. Great vibe. Couldn’t recommend more.

The service at Nella Kitchen & Bar wàs next level. We loved our experience. Shaved truffle pizza was most amazing. The tagliatelle was quite good. The artichoke appetizer featured 5 of the smallest tastiest artichokes ever. We are poking forward to returning soon.

Best of Los Olivos! Nella is renowned for flatbread but it is also a fine dining experience. Their menu is filled with anything from ocean to prairie. The seating is elegant either inside or on the veranda. Our friend Chef David Slay was gracious to offer high praise of Nella. He too is a local proprietor of Slay Estate and Vineyard in SY, and has several exceptional restaurants himself in Manhattan Beach, CA. I wouldn't hesitate to suggest Nella to anyone in the vicinity. Top shelf and worth it!

Another wonderful meals with great company. We've been here a few times and each has always been an amazing experience. Both with myself and my company. Service has always been great and each of our waiter for all visit has been amazing. I don't know how often menu changes but majority of the things we ordered was same as last visit during Christmas. The truffle pizza, is a must. That's part of the special I believe. The scallops crudo was great, perfect pair with all the topping. Of course the burrata and the calms. Starters were great and flavorful. Mains, we had the lamb which was cooked to our liking and excellent. The ciopinno, broth was great but potion wise is kind of small but still great. Bolognese, flavors were great. And the truffle pizza, one of the best dish there. We actually had room for desserts, both were excellent. Service was excellent, food was great. Each of our experiences has always been amazing with friendly staff.

This was a lucky find. I had dined nearby a few days before but being later in the day and a town that closes up early Nella was still open for service and weren't we a lucky crew. Despite being a warm day the patio was comfortable and perfect for people watching. Mom and daughter in tow we enjoyed a wonderful dinner finishing off our visit to the central coast. We had the Fess Parker Chardonnay which is always a delight. We started with a beautiful strawberry salad, followed by the sunchokes which were creamy and earthy. The tuna tar tar was gone in a flash then topped it all off with two deserts the Lime Panna Cota and The gelato with chocolate berries. I will be visiting Nella again.

I really enjoyed my meal here, but I did not enjoy the price of the special truffle pizza. I wish the waiter mentioned it was $45! It was delicious and we ate it all, but I might think twice of ordering it if I knew beforehand. It wasn't on the menu, so you don't know the price. We also ordered the spinach tortellini and that was good too! Ambiance was airy, big and bright. Our waiter was nice but once we ordered, we barely saw him until we asked for the check.

We wished the bartender was more warm, we would have ordered more food but it seemed as if we were a burden to her at 330pm when it was slow. The restaurant/bar had a cute ambiance anyways.

Ambiance is nice. Prices very fair, especially considering it's a hotel restaurant. I ordered their cioppino, which was delicious. My wife ordered their flatbread pizza and their meatballs. The pizza, while flavorful, tasted--but didn't look--greasy. The meatballs were dry. As far as the service, it was New Year's Day for dinner, and they were busy, and our server was very attentive. I would return to eat a small plate and drink at their bar.

The pizzas here were delicious, and not too heavy. We sat outside and there was plenty of availability at lunch time on a Monday. Two things to flag: - While our waiter was great, he didn't mention the price of the "specials" so we were a bit surprised when we got the check. $45 for a personal size pizza surprised us. It makes sense given the healthy portion of truffle, but I think the price should be mentioned when listing off the specials given it is double the price of the pizzas on the menu. - The website mentions a dress code of no tank tops, sporty clothes, or flip flops. It didn't seem to be enforced when we went, but is something to be aware of if you are planning to come here.

Loved their margarita pizza. Serves one unless your doing family style. Meatballs, which is what determine to be a real test, are delis. Fried artichokes compliment with their tasty favors. My advice is stop in and stay a spell.

More of this, please Was in Los Olivos last summer and had the pleasure of dining at Nella for lunch. It is a beautiful, inviting restaurant. My parents, sister, and I all loved our meals (pizza, pasta, meatballs, fish). I couldn't wait to come back. So, I did. Last week I brought my husband to Nella for dinner and enjoyed the same cozy ambiance and pleasant staff. We started with the tuna tartare, while my husband had the bolognese for dinner and I had the branzino (fantastic!) If you are staying in the tiny walkable town of Los Olivos or nearby Santa Ynez and craving seafood or Italian, do yourself some good and have a delicious meal and cocktails at Nella. Cheers

I went for the first time last night with friends to try out this place and we all enjoyed everything we ordered as well as the service and ambiance. They have both a nice outdoor patio as well as inside dining. We opted for the patio and they pulled shades down once the sun was going down so it wasn't too hot or in our face. All the food was excellent, we'd all go back and order everything we had last night which is a testament to how much everything was thoroughly enjoyed. My only complaint is the corkage fee was rather high. At $30 per bottle that seems out priced for the area. I'm used to paying anywhere from $10-20 for fees so be warned if you're bringing bottles which is what we did.

One of the best restaurants on the central coast! We went here for our anniversary and it is one of the best meals I have ever had. We ordered the scallops and truffle pinsa to start. For my entree I had the lamb, even if you don't like lamb I highly recommend it. My husband does not usually like lamb and he said it was the best he's ever had. He is a steak guy and he liked it more than his Prime New York steak. The drinks, dessert, and service were also excellent!

9.5/10 Excellent food, beautiful patio and lounge and delightful staff. We ended up dining here twice since our first experience was so good. The cocktail selection is lovely - but the execution of those cocktails is absolutely top flight. The Roquette Fuel is perfect for a hot day and loaded with savory, yet refreshing notes. We had a handful of different appetizers over our two visits and all of them were on point. Our bartender was knowledgeable, efficient, super friendly and generally just adorable. We couldn't have asked for better.

Super cute spot to grab lunch or dinner. Lovely patio and ambiance. Great service and yummy food. A little pricier. The pastas and clams were the table favorites. Not a place for sharing, charged for split plates.

Planned a wine tasting day up in Los Olivos, and thought it would be convenient to stay in town for dinner. What a treat. Server Forrest was on fire with his recommendations and attention to detail. Our orders (2 bone-in ribeye steaks and the filet) came out perfectly cooked and in a timely manner. The noise level was perfect in that we could easily carry on a table conversation without raising our voices. Would definitely return next time we're in town and in need of a first-class dining experience. Thanks, Mike

Cozy with comfort food. Lovely meal for a quick stop. Hospitality very welcoming from the first step in the walkway.

I recently visited Nella for a friend's birthday. We had reservations for dinner later that evening and thought we can grab a drink before dinner. Upon ordering a double fortaleza drink, I was told by the bartender that he did not recommend getting a double and somehow included that we were in wine country, which I found irrelevant. He continued stating that it wouldn't be responsible for him to serve me this drink. He suggested I start with a single and grab another if I thought I needed one. While it was nice for him to be concerned about my drinking, I did find it very out of place for someone to tell me this since I had just gotten there and was immediately cut off. Now, I didn't think I needed to explain to him, but I am a local and I am very aware that we are in wine country, not sure if it's because of my race that I immediately got categorized into an irresponsible drinker by ordering tequila when everyone else is drinking wine. I would understand if I walked in stumbling after a day of wine tasting or acting irrational, please cut me off and send me home. That night, however, we simply went out for dinner to celebrate a birthday. We had NOT had any wine as this was our first stop. The drink, in fact was for my husband, which can handle drinking a double fortaleza and rather than ordering a fancy drink can really just enjoy sipping on tequila neat like anyone else would whiskey. I had simply tried to order him a drink since he was waiting in the bathroom line. I didn't find it appropriate , nor has this ever happened to me that I get a lecture on drinking responsibly when I am in my 30s and simply looking to have a drink with friends prior to our dinner. I can also afford to spend as much money as anyone there that is not of my race. It's not about the double tequila, we did fine without it, it's about the immediate labeling and lecturing that I found a bit offensive and quite frankly uncomfortable, I wonder if everyone gets told to drink responsibly and is monitored as they do? ..... I think because of this service I would rather support another business that does not judge the minute I walk in.

Ambiance here is beautiful, the service is above and beyond. From Annie the hostess greeting us with a smile. We sat outside and she made sure we weren't cold.... The baby artichokes were very tasty and delicious. The bread was fresh and warm. It Hit the spot. My friend had the flatbread it was amazing I had the Cioppino, I like it, just could have had a little more flavor to the broth. The manager helped us with every need. Very knowledgeable. Definitely will be back. Thank you Annie for your awesome service.

If I could this place a 10 star review, I would. My guy Lance, best bartender/server Ive ever had. He continuously made sure we had enough drinks, apps, desserts, water, and laughs. The vibe was so immaculate with little cute couches in the corner, fire place, warm lights, great photo lighting, everything a girl needs. did I mention the house-made Bolognese ?

Nella Kitchen & Bar was great place for a special dinner for my wife and I. They are located at the Fess Parker Wine Country Inn. Parking is available in their back lot or on the street. Reservations can be made on open table. You can either choose to sit indoors or out on their porch. Immediately after getting seated, they brought out bread and butter. We ordered their ribeye steak. The steak was cooked medium rare as we requested. It was well seasoned and the chef served it to us precut. We also had a spinach side. The spinach was garlicky and good. Service was good. They are a good restaurant. We enjoyed dining here.

Food is so good. Wine selection is impressive. The staff are so sweet and accommodating. I wasn't feeling the best so I just ordered a soup. Our server Stephani recognized this and offered to make me tea with ginger. My stomach settled soon after and I was able to sleep that night. Stephani deserves to be recognized for going above and beyond. We will be back 100 times because of her.

We stopped by Nella for appetizers & drinks after several locals had recommended it. I really loved their clam bake dish - it was massive too lol. The olives appetizer was delicious too. They have a wonderful cocktail menu which was a fun break from all of the wine tastings. Will definitely need to come back to try the flatbreads - we saw several come out and they all looked so so good.

We had a wonderful time. This location has had numerous restaurants. This is by far the best. The service is great. The food is awesome! Small fruit fly problem. Still a 5!

A great place to have a meal after wine tasting. Their menu has something for everyone. The baguette, meatballs, pasta, and duck are all delicious!

We called and made a reservation for 4 adults, and 2 kids for outside. We were not aware that dogs were not allowed on the patio as we have never come across that policy for outdoor seating anywhere else in California. We got seated at our table and we had two young children who were starving, and after we were all seated, the hostess realized we had a dog and kicked us out. We understand that places have certain policies, but our dog was well behaved, and it was clear that the kids were very hungry and to find another place in peak of lunch service on a weekend is extremely difficult. We even offered to tie our dog up by the edge of the restaurant which they declined. In addition to that, the hostess was very rude about it. Aftet we left, I looked up the policy on the website, which does state that they don't allow dogs but it also says that the staff will always ask you if you have a dog in your party when making a reservation, which the hostess did not. Hopefully next time they can be clear in advance about their policy and also be less rude about it, especially when there's kids at the table.

Delicious food with a relaxing ambiance. Will definitely return. Highly recommend for a casual yet elevated dining experience.

One of many reasons to visit Los Olivos. Great for lunch time cocktails, wine sipping, and their famous Pinzas - chef's kiss!

My food was excellent ...had the chopping ....clam appetizer was good...artichoke apitizs Er was flavor Les and,skimpy... Wife,on the other hand had the filet mignon...it was tough and leathery...she sent it back Service was great ...both the server and manager took care,of the situation ... Drinks martinis excellent Desert was,pana cota ...not bad... Hope your experience is better ambiance was good

Sous vide pork chop was tough as though they ran out but didn't want to tell us so they just grilled one. Chilly night but they seated us at a cold table and then took away the heater. Ostensibly because it was under the porch ceiling but another table also under the porch ceiling was allowed to use their heater. The Maitre d'hotel sent the bus over to our table to tell her had to turn the heater off. When I asked to speak to the maitre d' he did come over but never offered a different table. They picked a bad night to do all this as it was my wife's birthday and she really looked forward to a really good tender pork chop ($56).

Go no farther, this is a great place to dine in Los Olivos. The bread and butter is out of this world. We always get the meatballs with marinara sauce and dip the bread and butter into it. The tuna tartare is excellent and the Pinzas are a form of pizza with fluffy crust and fabulous toppings that's lighter, and better than a pizza. the neologist is handsome and charming. The weight staff is fun and friendly. The atmosphere is authentic loose Olivos. It just is hard to find something better than this.

Everything was AMAZING 10/10, waitress gave great recommendations. Perfect dinner date night.

My wife and I had our small wedding dinner here a few months ago and we absolutely loved both the atmosphere and the quality of the food. The whole place is just beautiful and the staff was very helpful throughout the evening. Thanks again to Heather for coordinating our event, we really had a great time!

Being regulars over the years to Los Olivos, we have dined numerous times with our dogs on the patio of Nella Kitchen & Bar (and previous businesses at this location). On 10/9/2023 we were turned away and told that as of 2 months ago they instituted a no pets policy unless they are service dogs. So in a town where almost every business is dog friendly, they have chosen to shun pet owners. We crossed the street to Los Olivos Wine Merchant & Cafe and had a fantastic dinner with our two small well-behaved dogs on the patio. We also splurged on a $100+ bottle of wine. (Sorry, Nella!) I also highly recommend Ellie's in Santa Ynez where we always get amazing service and outstanding food...with our dogs on the patio. If you have beloved four-legged family members who go everywhere with you, don't bother with Nella. They don't want you as a customer or your money.

Great food, especially the tonnarelli. Love the ambiance with the farmhouse exterior and Italian modern interior. Service was solid. Been here twice and can't wait to return. The menu is simple and easy to follow without any fluff. Well executed and gorgeous plating as well. Highly recommend.

Came in on early Saturday dinner around 5 p.m. The pork chops and truffle pizza were skillfully prepared by an actual chef. Service was provided by a friendly and professional wait and host staff. Unfortunately the experience one expects in a pricey, fine restaurant was undermined by a barman (tall, pinkish complexion, no hair, early 40s) and a busboy who seemed unable to restrain comments that may have been motivated by underclass resentment of an obviously educated, affluent ethnic minority customer. They became subdued after they seemed to learn my status (after my credit card was taken). But the damage was done. Management may want to teach the help how to control racial resentment and behave professionally. Otherwise, this restaurant will have an uphill battle in an era when California's affluent consumers are majority minority.

Food was amazing I got the romini salad and the bread + butter My friend got the meatballs We both left happy. The drinks were also very good We both got the roquette fuel and it was soooo perfect Light and fleshing I'd definitely one back

Service was okay, ambiance was just so so. We were celebrating an anniversary and brought a bottle of wine (screw top) and they wanted to charge us $30 as a "Corkage" fee even tho no cork removal was involved! We asked for a discount but they wouldn't consider it. We then looked over the menu (only 6 entrees) and needed a translation from the waiter. The entire menu was grossly overpriced with small portions. We ended up leaving before ordering, since we had lost our appetite. Ended up going over Santa Inez to our favorite Italian restaurant and will write a raving review for them. Restaurants are gouging customers and still blaming it on Covid! Everyone needs to boycott these restaurants and spend time looking for others with reasonable pricing with better choices. Good Luck

My partner and I had a nice lunch date here on a Saturday afternoon. We were surprised to find the main street "Grand" bustling with people. We had a reservation and were seated immediately despite arriving early. Almost all the food was very good. I particularly enjoyed the refreshing signature spritz and my main entree of filet mignon. The steak was cooked to perfection and served upon a bed of rich and savory spinach. My husband's lamb was to his liking as well. The only hiccup of the meal was the soup special of Chanterelle soup. We were surprised by the pureed mushrooms but it was the odd bitter taste that made this particular item a disappointment. The service was friendly, although at times a bit overly enthusiastic/frequent. All in all, we had an enjoyable meal and I wouldn't hesitate to return here in the future.

Head to the bar! Head ONLY to the bar. Enjoy a fabulous cocktail from Chris Hewes himself while you get access to the full menu. Highly suggest a caesar and baguette to go with your margarita or spritz!

We made a reservation for dinner here on a Friday night for my sister's birthday and we were so excited since it has come highly recommended by so many people (also Vogue magazine!) we heard nothing but wonderful things about the food/ambiance/etc. We arrived for our reservation and the weather was CRAZY windy - like blowing glasses and trash cans over windy. They put our group in the middle of the outdoor patio - we sat there for a few minutes and realized we were not going to be able to eat our dinner inside of an F5 tornado. I went and asked the hostess if we could have an indoor table and explained the situation - indoor tables were all booked and wouldn't be available until a few hours later Granted this hostess is extremely young but I had to help her problem solve - like maam I am not getting paid to work here you are -- we went from having a table to sitting in a row at the bar for dinner (the hostesses solution) Not ideal but whatevs we were ready to eat and drink. The staff could not have been more annoyed with our party sitting at the bar! We were ordering tons of food and cocktails and they could not wait to get us out the door! My sis was literally mid bite of her dumb flavorless "pinsa" when tatted/hat wearing/LA wannabe bar tender man legit handed her a box and was like "DO U WANT TO TAKE THIS TO GO?" They never again asked us if we needed refills or another round - I think they were bothered that we were taking up 5 seats at the bar during big spender boomer business hours. They finally shooed us out of there and we left pretty disappointed. Everyone in town was recommending this spot and I would say don't bother - the food is meh (we ordered the meatballs and they were legit the same taste and consistency of Trader Joe's frozen meatballs) the famous pinsas are fine but beware they will cut the shit out of your gums - the salad we ordered was straight fire I will give them that. Overall super unfriendly, unaccommodating, and not that delicious. I would def skip this place when in town - there are way better options!

Two different locals who work at fine establishments in Los Alamos recommended this spot for their "pinsas" (not knowing what that was). We went there and sat by the fireplace ordering exactly that! Wine and Pinsa on our evening date was lovely. We were so glad it was recommended!

Good food, great service, nice ambiance. Not too many choices in Los Olivia - this one hit the spot.

What a nice place! I have been meaning to go here for some time and was very pleased that I finally made it there for dinner. The ambiance is great with both indoor and beautiful out doors seating when the weather permits (most of the year). We sat inside as it was very cold outside at the time. The decor is modern and clean with very nice features including great bar seating and even a private event room. The service could not have been better. Our server was there right away asking for drinks orders and telling us about the specials. We were with another couple and needed time while we caught up on what everyone did over the holidays. There was no pressure and yet we were not forgotten as often happens when you made the waiter wait. The menu selection had something for most tastes but was not too big. A menu which is too large is typically a sign for doing everything okay but nothing great. They have a reasonable selection of wine by the glass and a larger selection by the bottle. The food came out on time and in order (no one was given appetizers while someone was given their main dish). The wait staff was always near bye but not hovering. Everything was great, from the salad and Crudo starters to the steak, pasted and duck mains. We even shared profiteroles for dessert. The price is the one thing I would comment on. Of course they are not inexpensive. The price was up to what similar places are charging today i.e. a lot. It is the only thing that will damp my enthusiasm for frequenting the place more often. Of course this is just a sign of our times. On another note, I would not go there with young children for dinner inside. The environment would not be right. It may be better for lunch or even if outdoor seating is available. I would recommend Nella's to anyone.

Horrible service. The woman working the front with short, blonde hair was extremely rude and looked down upon us when asked questions. We were shocked. The food was salty and below average for taste. Very disappointing. We were sad because we LOVE SY. We won't be returning. I would not waste your time or money here.

Hello Nella! What a fabulous foodie experience! Oh how wonderful you are! We had an absolutely fantastic meal! Located in the heart of Los Olivos - a quaint wine tasting town with lots of great shops and spots to visit! We've been several times and love walking around with our little pup! First of all I want to give a shout out to our server James! Thank you for being so attentive and making our time and meal truly enjoyable :o) We started with a bottle of Syrah, some Castelvetrano Olives Garlic confit, orange zest and Marconi almonds w/Rosemary & Maldon salt as well as the Nonna Nella Meatballs w/Fresh tomato sauce, pecorino & parsley - ALL were wonderful! (Forgot to take pictures) My son and husband ordered the Lamb Chops, Scottadito, porcini mushrooms, roasted bell peppers & potatoes, fresh thyme-All wonderfully flavored and Cooked to perfection! My daughter in law and I both had their special pizza-shaved black truffle mushroom, porcini mushrooms & sausage omg!! Amazing! She also enjoyed a glass of orange Riesling! We indulged ourselves with a couple of espressos and an Irish coffee FABULOUS!! Dessert too!! The Fresh pineapple carpaccio w/strawberry marinate, ginger & mint and the Profiteroles Cream puff, chantilly w/dark chocolate. Ahhhh! Must try! Everything was amazing! Heads up...a VERY expensive meal! Well worth it though-a special occasion or date night type treat for sure! I highly recommend! Can't wait to come back!

We had lunch at this place yesterday. The food is excellent. I left my wallet on the table after paying and forgot to take it. I reserve my judgment until I go back and talk to the manager one more time.

We came to Nella's after a day at the winery and hot springs. Let me tell you it did not disappoint! We started with French baguette and butter. For the main dish we ordered the branzino and the spinach tonnarelli. Overall it was a great dinner, I just wish the pasta had a little more sauce. The service was great, they checked on us often to see if everything was to our standards.

We used to stay at the Fess Parker Inn, which was never cheap but at least not offensive in terms of price as it has become post-Covid. The restaurant used to be Greek but is now Italian, and a great improvement. Essentially the Inn has gone down in our esteem for becoming pretentious while the restaurant has gone up in our esteem for its excellent food and service. We had a light lunch with pizzas, meat balls, mussels, a carrot salad, all excellent, and then some lime and pistachio pannacotta as well as chantilly and dark chocolate profiteroles that were outstanding. Combined with the great service, we were happy to revisit the Fess Parker Inn while avoiding being taken for a ride.

Kelsey is great. She had great recommendations for both wine and food. The pork chop was certainly the best I've had. The "Pinsas" bread is really out of this world. Overall a great experience. I'd definitely return.

Loved the burrata salad! The flatbread was also good. Service wasn't the best. Sat for 15 minutes before we had to ask for a waiter. Fire alarm kept going off as well (although wasn't their fault due to work upstairs) but annoying nonetheless. 1 star taken off for the service, sadly.