Ember

If you're anywhere in San Luis Obispo, you're surrounded by miles of farmland—and this is one of the best restaurants to taste it. Brian Collins packs his wood-fired, New American restaurant with hand-formed pizza dough, local produce, ethically raised meats and Central Coast wines. You'll find rotating items such as ricotta gnocchi with artichoke chips and wilted spinach, and the burrata-stuffed prosciutto, but you'd better be ordering a pizza or three and enjoying them outdoors on Ember's stellar side patio.