San Luis Obispo offers a wide variety of restaurants, from easy take-out to fancy-schmancy gourmet fare. Check out the delectable dishes offered at these San Luis Obispo restaurants.

slocialite.com's top picks for San Luis Obispo restaurants (see also San Luis Obispo wine tasting):

Novo: It means "new" in Portuguese, and this fine establishment offers fine fusion flavors from around the world. With a delightful tapas menu featuring such international items as potato samosas, Brazilian satay skewers, and the restaurant's take on sashimi, there's something for everyone. The Chow Novo stir fry noodle dish is popular, as is the salmon bisque. Try the restaurant for lunch or dinner. Novo has a great selection of lunchtime sandwiches, including staples such as the BLTA on ciabatta, as well as fancier choices, such as the portobello and chevre on focaccia or the five-spice chicken sandwich. Also recommended are Novo's lavendar lamb rack and the chilli chicken wings. Their creme brulee is to die for. Novo has also recently added late night hours, with late-night food, drinks and dancing until 1 a.m. Thursdays through Saturdays. We love the atmosphere of Novo restaurant, especially the outdoor seating area by the creek, where it can be a romantic evening out on a warm summer's night. Novo: 726 Higuera St., San Luis Obispo, CA 93401, (805) 543-3986

Big Sky Cafe: Open your mind and your palate at this "modern" restaurant. Big Sky Cafe serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, and there's never a boring item on the menu, which is influenced by cultures from around the world. For breakfast, try their pesto chicken sausage scramble or the Devil's Mess, which has onions, mushrooms, chiles, herbs, spicy sausage and spinach all scrambled together with eggs. For lunch, we recommend the Vietnamese Banh Mi pork loin sandwich or the smoked salmon BLT with avocado, paired with the Big Sky Cafe's tasty chili. We recommend the vegetable spring rolls or chicken satay with Thai peanut sauce for appetizers. Dinner menu items include the goat cheese and spinach-stuffed chicken breast, grilled sea scallops with Mediterranean linguini, and the adobo-rubbed angus ribeye. The atmosphere is nice and open, with a painted ceiling reminiscent of an open night sky. A fun and international atmosphere. Desserts are divine here, too, with five-spice creme brulee and their staple beignets.

Tsurugi: Considered one of the most authentic Japanese restaurants in San Luis Obispo County, Tsurugi has the usual offerings with a sushi bar as well as sit-down dining. There's also outdoor creekside dining you could try on warmer days. Tsurugi also offers other specialties such as their spicy tuna tempura roll or their delicate egg custard, broiled to soft perfection. Their shrimp tempura is hands-down the best in town - light batter deep-fried to a crisp, paired with a salty/sweet dipping sauce. Their California rolls are also wonderful. Try Tsurugi's dinner combinations, which include an appetizer, sushi, tempura, a main dish (we recommend teriyaki or sashimi), dessert, salad, miso soup and rice. A delightful and filling dinner just right for those wanting to try a little bit of everything.

Palazzo Giuseppe: A trendy and upscale Italian restaurant in a fairly new downtown San Luis Obispo development. This place has fine outdoor dining right on the promenade, perfect for being seen on a day out. Check out their traditional Italian dishes with a contemporary twist. It's also a great gathering spot for some wonderful martinis.

Firestone Grill: Inexpensive and oh-so delicious. Perfect for when you're not watching your diet. Their tri-tip sandwiches are amazing. Slabs of juicy meat on lightly buttered and toasted buns. Flavor-packed seasoned fries, ranch sauce and their house barbecue sauce round out the perfect meal, maybe paired with beer on tap and a side salad. What's not to like? Other options are available, such as ribs and sandwiches. For a healthier option, try the chicken breast or salmon sandwiches. The place can get pretty crowded, but it's the quintissential college food stop, along with Woodstock's Pizza, which happens to be right across the street. The atmosphere is sporty and loud, but it's all part of the fun. Firestone Grill: 1001 Higuera St., San Luis Obispo. (805) 783-1001.

Check out these other great San Luis Obispo restaurants, grouped by style: COMING SOON!

• American
• Japanese
• San Luis Obispo Bars and Clubs
• San Luis Obispo Hotels

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