Avila Valley’s popular sulfur springs, discovered in the 1880s, made the Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort a destination for Hollywood’s celebrities seeking retreat. But it was with the arrival of Chef Evan Treadwell that its Gardens of Avila restaurant has become a dining destination in its own right.
In 2002, attracted by the burgeoning wine regions in San Luis Obispo County, Treadwell fulfilled his long-held dream: providing people who are drawn to local wineries with food that reflects the region’s terroir. Treadmill’s menu changes with the advent of the equinox and the solstice and resonates with Central Coast flair. The resort’s expansive garden, the only one of its kind in this region, provides Treadwell with fresh-off-the-vine heirloom vegetables and the well-chosen wine list features many Central Coast gems.

The tasting menu features two prix-fixe options: the “Wine Country Tasting” and the “Garden Vegetable Tasting,” extraordinary five-course meals accompanied by five wines selected by the chef. You’ll also find favorites like Black Angus New York Strip Steak or Roast Organic Young Chicken.— Kathy Marcks Hardesty

Gardens of Avila, Sycamore Mineral Springs, 1215 Avila Beach Rd.,
Avila Beach, CA (805) 237.9231