They have a wonderful burger for Burger Week which The Independent advertises as open from 5-9. We made an online reservation for 5pm and drove up from Santa Barbara. When we arrived on time, they said they don't take reservations for people who want the burger and that there was a waitlist with a 30 minute wait. After much talking back and forth and asking the manager, they finally let us in. The host was disagreeable and wouldn't bend until the manager stepped in after 15 minutes of haggling. Once we were seated, the staff and server were excellent--not to mention the luscious burger.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Alonzo Cudd
New fav place for breakfast! The Bucket of Bacon is a must and the setting is beautiful.Really want to come back at night and check out the bar.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Linsey Silva
This hidden gem in the valley is worth discovering! From the inviting atmosphere to the delectable, indulgent food and welcoming staff, you'll love the sophisticated yet unpretentious vibe at The Victor. Highly recommend dining outdoors next to the fireplace if the weather permits. With every seat being quite cozy, you can't go wrong. I loved the fresh, raw oysters, and the tri tip was cooked to perfection. The bearnaise was buttery and herbaceous, pairing perfectly with the steak. The pot de creme for dessert was phenomenal as well, chocolatey with a hint of sea salt. Reservations highly recommended here. (Brunch was incredible too!)Vegetarian options: Grilled olive bread, carrot ginger soup, Rajas con crema, bruleed brie, black bean burger are all vegetarian. The stuffed peppers are vegan.Parking: There's a parking lot shared by the hotel and that's where the handicap parking is. There's plenty of street parking as well.Kid-friendliness: Although it's upscale there are plenty of accommodations for kids, including a kids menu and high chairsWheelchair accessibility: Wheelchair accessible through the courtyard shared with the Genevieve hotel. Wheelchair accessible seating both indoors and out. The bar also has Wheelchair accessible seating at the bar top, which is a huge bonus.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Farmer Salad, Baked Brie, Oysters on the Half Shell, Cedar Plank Salmon, Well Drinks or Daily Cocktail Special, Marinated Olives, Roasted Chicken, The Deviled Eggs, Frites
Mark C.
Our party of 6 was so looking forward to dinner here, but after waiting over half an hour past our reservation time, we finished our drinks at the bar, paid the tab, and went across the street for a delicious meal. Staff seemed a bit flustered and disorganized, and also didn't seem to care to keep us around. The drinks at the bar were very nice though, and the ambiance in the bar area was very nice.
Ross R.
This was our second visit to The Victor. Our first visit was intimate and the food was very good. Particularly the plank salmon. Last night we took two friends from out of town and had a very unpleasant evening. The restaurant had chosen to put a group of 16-18 fairly inebriated friends at a large table in the middle of the main dinning room. Once they arrived we could no longer converse with our friends. Our waitress became preoccupied with the large group and ignored us even as we were trying to get the check paid so we could depart this nightmare. She at one point asked "if everything was ok" and when I said "except for the very loud group" she said "there is nothing I can do about it !" So our $300+ dinner was ruined to cater to a bunch of inconsiderate "a&@les". So was everyone else's expensive meal in the dinning room. This is all on the restaurant for failing to anticipate the "parting nature" of a large drunk group and place them in a separate space or better yet having the consideration for their other guest by NOT accepting such a large group reservation for the main dinning room. We are local with many restaurant options. We won't be going back.
Carina Powers
We just enjoyed an incredible meal. The salmon was to die for! Thank you Kerri for the 5 star service.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Baked Brie, Cedar Plank Salmon
PJ V.
We are so glad we came to this place. The food and drinks were amazing, but the memorable things about this gem is the quality of service and the ambiance that it gave when we dined here! Tyler was very helpful and always attended to our needs. The staff were very welcoming as well. This place made it on my list as our-go-to when we drive up to Solvang.
lindsey c.
We are SO GLAD we came to The Victor, and will have this on our regular dining spot list for years. Since we were celebrating our wedding anniversary, they gave us two complimentary glasses of champagne! We ordered the pork belly appetizer and it was crispy and I enjoyed the thick cuts. For dinner, I ordered the $75 8oz wagu filet mignon which came with creamy mashed potatoes and broccolini. I can happily say i was a part of the clean plate club. This was hands down one of the best filets i have tried. Cooked perfectly and really "melts in your mouth" good. It comes with a reduction sauce and it was also amazing with everything on the plate. My husband got the $42 tri-tip steak frites which was also really good! If you're considering dessert, i am now determined to try and make a chocolate crème pot like this one, one day. So good! Also.. really love the ambiance on the patio and great for dogs. Our waitress was really nice and friendly. We made a reservation for 5:30p which is pretty soon after they open (which i believe is at 5)we found parking right in front. By the time we left around 7:15p, it looked like parking was full and people were parking down the street and walking up. They also accomadate large parties. There was a table on the patio as well of about 20+ people for a holiday party. Really fun atmosphere! Can't wait for our next trip up!
Anita Mazer
Highly recommend
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Joseph Eustermann
Our evening started off with a wonderful treat made by Kayleigh at the bar. Yum! Not only were the drinks great, but so was the service. This was then followed up with the brie for an appetizer and a luscious dinner. Vanessa got a wonderfully moist salmon, and I got a very juicy tri-tip with bearnaise sauce! You can never go wrong with bernaise, but unfortunately, I have found it difficult to find. The Victor didn't disappoint. I'm a huge bernaise sauce fan. It was great with the salmon as well as Kaylee's kids chicken (which was a healthy portion) Again, yum! We will be back. Everyone should visit too.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Seasonal Vegetables, Cedar Plank Salmon, Well Drinks or Daily Cocktail Special, Marinated Olives, Roasted Chicken, The Deviled Eggs
I recently dined at The Victor in Santa Ynez and had a bit of a mixed experience. Let's start with the positives - the ambiance was really nice, creating a pleasant dining atmosphere. The staff was friendly and attentive, contributing to an overall positive dining experience.Now, onto the food. I opted for the Santa Maria tri-tip plate, and while the taste was commendable, I couldn't help but feel a bit underwhelmed by the portion size, especially considering the price. The tri-tip portion was surprisingly tiny, leaving me a little hungry by the end of the meal. On the flip side, the grilled oysters were a delightful surprise - bursting with flavor and perfectly cooked. The Caesar salad also stood out, showcasing freshness and taste.One area that could use improvement is the proportionality of the dishes. In my opinion, the portion of meat in the tri-tip plate paled in comparison to the generous serving of french fries. It would be great to see a better balance in portion sizes, ensuring customers feel satisfied with every element of their meal.In conclusion, The Victor has its merits, with a pleasant ambiance, good service, and standout dishes like the grilled oysters and Caesar salad. However, a bit more attention to portion sizes, particularly in dishes like the tri-tip plate, would elevate the dining experience and make it more worthy of the price point.
Norm Wallis
The salmon was about the best I’ve ever had. I really love butternut squash so I ordered a side of it. That was the best I’ve ever had. By far. Our server was Kerri and she was wonderful. It was like going to your best friends house for dinner. An excellent dinner !
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
April Tang
Beautiful restaurant with incredible ambiance. Cozy yet chic with absolutely delectable food.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Rado L.
Excellent place! Really good food! Try the Devil eggs, the avocado toast, and the Salmon Lox & Rye. We also got the champagne flight! It was extraordinary! Very friendly staff and cool chill vibes atmosphere! I definitely recommend this place!
Jaimee Cachola
I spent the weekend wine tasting in Paso Robles and on my way back to LA stopped by The Victor for brunch. This place was charming, starting from the staff. I phoned before showing up and had a pleasant exchange with the maître d’, asking if they were busy and if it was too late to order (they were closing at 2pm and I made the call around 1:15pm), and he said it was a good time to go so I did. I dined inside which turned out to be fun because I continued the banter with not only with the maître d’ but a few of the other restaurant staff, including my friendly waitress Matthew. The decor of the interior is tastefully Rustic/Art Deco with beautiful furniture and interesting artwork on the walls. And the food was tasty; I ordered the Huevos Rancheros and thought it tasted healthy, flavorful, and close to Mexican authentic. I’d definitely go back here again to experience the warm hospitality and great ambience.
They have a wonderful burger for Burger Week which The Independent advertises as open from 5-9. We made an online reservation for 5pm and drove up from Santa Barbara. When we arrived on time, they said they don't take reservations for people who want the burger and that there was a waitlist with a 30 minute wait. After much talking back and forth and asking the manager, they finally let us in. The host was disagreeable and wouldn't bend until the manager stepped in after 15 minutes of haggling. Once we were seated, the staff and server were excellent--not to mention the luscious burger.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
New fav place for breakfast! The Bucket of Bacon is a must and the setting is beautiful.Really want to come back at night and check out the bar.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
This hidden gem in the valley is worth discovering! From the inviting atmosphere to the delectable, indulgent food and welcoming staff, you'll love the sophisticated yet unpretentious vibe at The Victor. Highly recommend dining outdoors next to the fireplace if the weather permits. With every seat being quite cozy, you can't go wrong. I loved the fresh, raw oysters, and the tri tip was cooked to perfection. The bearnaise was buttery and herbaceous, pairing perfectly with the steak. The pot de creme for dessert was phenomenal as well, chocolatey with a hint of sea salt. Reservations highly recommended here. (Brunch was incredible too!)Vegetarian options: Grilled olive bread, carrot ginger soup, Rajas con crema, bruleed brie, black bean burger are all vegetarian. The stuffed peppers are vegan.Parking: There's a parking lot shared by the hotel and that's where the handicap parking is. There's plenty of street parking as well.Kid-friendliness: Although it's upscale there are plenty of accommodations for kids, including a kids menu and high chairsWheelchair accessibility: Wheelchair accessible through the courtyard shared with the Genevieve hotel. Wheelchair accessible seating both indoors and out. The bar also has Wheelchair accessible seating at the bar top, which is a huge bonus.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Farmer Salad, Baked Brie, Oysters on the Half Shell, Cedar Plank Salmon, Well Drinks or Daily Cocktail Special, Marinated Olives, Roasted Chicken, The Deviled Eggs, Frites
Our party of 6 was so looking forward to dinner here, but after waiting over half an hour past our reservation time, we finished our drinks at the bar, paid the tab, and went across the street for a delicious meal. Staff seemed a bit flustered and disorganized, and also didn't seem to care to keep us around. The drinks at the bar were very nice though, and the ambiance in the bar area was very nice.
This was our second visit to The Victor. Our first visit was intimate and the food was very good. Particularly the plank salmon. Last night we took two friends from out of town and had a very unpleasant evening. The restaurant had chosen to put a group of 16-18 fairly inebriated friends at a large table in the middle of the main dinning room. Once they arrived we could no longer converse with our friends. Our waitress became preoccupied with the large group and ignored us even as we were trying to get the check paid so we could depart this nightmare. She at one point asked "if everything was ok" and when I said "except for the very loud group" she said "there is nothing I can do about it !" So our $300+ dinner was ruined to cater to a bunch of inconsiderate "a&@les". So was everyone else's expensive meal in the dinning room. This is all on the restaurant for failing to anticipate the "parting nature" of a large drunk group and place them in a separate space or better yet having the consideration for their other guest by NOT accepting such a large group reservation for the main dinning room. We are local with many restaurant options. We won't be going back.
We just enjoyed an incredible meal. The salmon was to die for! Thank you Kerri for the 5 star service.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Baked Brie, Cedar Plank Salmon
We are so glad we came to this place. The food and drinks were amazing, but the memorable things about this gem is the quality of service and the ambiance that it gave when we dined here! Tyler was very helpful and always attended to our needs. The staff were very welcoming as well. This place made it on my list as our-go-to when we drive up to Solvang.
We are SO GLAD we came to The Victor, and will have this on our regular dining spot list for years. Since we were celebrating our wedding anniversary, they gave us two complimentary glasses of champagne! We ordered the pork belly appetizer and it was crispy and I enjoyed the thick cuts. For dinner, I ordered the $75 8oz wagu filet mignon which came with creamy mashed potatoes and broccolini. I can happily say i was a part of the clean plate club. This was hands down one of the best filets i have tried. Cooked perfectly and really "melts in your mouth" good. It comes with a reduction sauce and it was also amazing with everything on the plate. My husband got the $42 tri-tip steak frites which was also really good! If you're considering dessert, i am now determined to try and make a chocolate crème pot like this one, one day. So good! Also.. really love the ambiance on the patio and great for dogs. Our waitress was really nice and friendly. We made a reservation for 5:30p which is pretty soon after they open (which i believe is at 5)we found parking right in front. By the time we left around 7:15p, it looked like parking was full and people were parking down the street and walking up. They also accomadate large parties. There was a table on the patio as well of about 20+ people for a holiday party. Really fun atmosphere! Can't wait for our next trip up!
Highly recommend
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Our evening started off with a wonderful treat made by Kayleigh at the bar. Yum! Not only were the drinks great, but so was the service. This was then followed up with the brie for an appetizer and a luscious dinner. Vanessa got a wonderfully moist salmon, and I got a very juicy tri-tip with bearnaise sauce! You can never go wrong with bernaise, but unfortunately, I have found it difficult to find. The Victor didn't disappoint. I'm a huge bernaise sauce fan. It was great with the salmon as well as Kaylee's kids chicken (which was a healthy portion) Again, yum! We will be back. Everyone should visit too.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Seasonal Vegetables, Cedar Plank Salmon, Well Drinks or Daily Cocktail Special, Marinated Olives, Roasted Chicken, The Deviled Eggs
Restaurantji Recommends
I recently dined at The Victor in Santa Ynez and had a bit of a mixed experience. Let's start with the positives - the ambiance was really nice, creating a pleasant dining atmosphere. The staff was friendly and attentive, contributing to an overall positive dining experience.Now, onto the food. I opted for the Santa Maria tri-tip plate, and while the taste was commendable, I couldn't help but feel a bit underwhelmed by the portion size, especially considering the price. The tri-tip portion was surprisingly tiny, leaving me a little hungry by the end of the meal. On the flip side, the grilled oysters were a delightful surprise - bursting with flavor and perfectly cooked. The Caesar salad also stood out, showcasing freshness and taste.One area that could use improvement is the proportionality of the dishes. In my opinion, the portion of meat in the tri-tip plate paled in comparison to the generous serving of french fries. It would be great to see a better balance in portion sizes, ensuring customers feel satisfied with every element of their meal.In conclusion, The Victor has its merits, with a pleasant ambiance, good service, and standout dishes like the grilled oysters and Caesar salad. However, a bit more attention to portion sizes, particularly in dishes like the tri-tip plate, would elevate the dining experience and make it more worthy of the price point.
The salmon was about the best I’ve ever had. I really love butternut squash so I ordered a side of it. That was the best I’ve ever had. By far. Our server was Kerri and she was wonderful. It was like going to your best friends house for dinner. An excellent dinner !
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Beautiful restaurant with incredible ambiance. Cozy yet chic with absolutely delectable food.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Excellent place! Really good food! Try the Devil eggs, the avocado toast, and the Salmon Lox & Rye. We also got the champagne flight! It was extraordinary! Very friendly staff and cool chill vibes atmosphere! I definitely recommend this place!
I spent the weekend wine tasting in Paso Robles and on my way back to LA stopped by The Victor for brunch. This place was charming, starting from the staff. I phoned before showing up and had a pleasant exchange with the maître d’, asking if they were busy and if it was too late to order (they were closing at 2pm and I made the call around 1:15pm), and he said it was a good time to go so I did. I dined inside which turned out to be fun because I continued the banter with not only with the maître d’ but a few of the other restaurant staff, including my friendly waitress Matthew. The decor of the interior is tastefully Rustic/Art Deco with beautiful furniture and interesting artwork on the walls. And the food was tasty; I ordered the Huevos Rancheros and thought it tasted healthy, flavorful, and close to Mexican authentic. I’d definitely go back here again to experience the warm hospitality and great ambience.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5