Ember

From the outside, nothing about Ember seems particularly noteworthy. But don’t be fooled. Located on a sleepy street in Arroyo Grande, the suburban town next to Pismo Beach, this bright spot in a glorified stripmall is one of the most exciting places to eat on the Central Coast. Order the kale and sausage pizza, the avocado salad, and the ahi tuna crudo that will ruin all other crudos for you. Their cocktails are also all made with the same fresh ingredients as the food, and you’re going to be drinking a lot of them. Spending a night on Ember’s fantastic side patio is required SLO dining.

photo credit: Jakob Layman