Novo always delivers! We have had dinner here on two separate visits to the SLO area and both times the service and the food were fantastic.

The hidden garden in the back is a pleasant surprise that you wouldn't know from the street. Service is great as is the food. We had the Poke lettuce wraps, Brussels Sprouts, Lamp Chops and the Salmon. Everything was delicious.

Delicious fresh food and drinks. Outstanding service and great patio. Will definitely return next time in SLO and highly recommend.

Pros: Everything except parking and the indoor part of Novo Cons: Limited parking and the claustrophobic inside section Star Ratings: - Overall: 5 - Food Quality: 5 - Food Quantity: 5 - Location: 4 - Ambiance: 5 (for the patio - inside was a 2)...- Menu: 5 - Service: 5 - Price: 5 - Value: 5 - Parking: 2 My wife and I had a few errands in downtown San Luis Obispo and decided to have lunch at a nearby restaurant. But which one? After reading through the reviews of several candidates, we chose Novo because it’s famous for its outdoor patio and we were still in the midst of the Covid situation. - Location: Kind of convenient. It’s in the middle of things on Higuera Street, though you’ll probably need to walk a few blocks if you parked. - Ambiance: Mixed. A dark bar-type place in the front, but a large and full-of-light patio in the back. We sat on the patio because of Covid, but I wouldn’t chose the inside section unless it was cold and/or raining. Fortunately, the weather in this part of the world allows - and even encourages - eating outside 7 or 8 months of the year. Tables for 2, 4 and 6 are scattered throughout…mostly in the shade…and far enough apart for easy conversation. - Menu: Something for everyone. We’ve been mostly vegetarian/pescatarian for the past 30+ years and had lots of interesting sounding choices. - Food: 5 stars, both in quality and quantity. We started with a plate of calamari ($18) with some of the biggest pieces we’ve seen in quite a while. Big and tasty. My wife had a Lobster Roll ($22) and called it “incredible”. I had a cup of Salmon Bisque ($9) which hit the spot. It was rather large and full of flavor and chunks of fish. My only complaint - and a small one - the soup could have been a tad hotter. My main dish, Chow Novo with Shrimp ($27), was a savory combination of vegetables, noodles and shrimp. I’ve got a healthy appetite, but still took about half of my plate home. That’s a great dish. There’s a full list of wines, cocktails and beer. My wife had a Cosmopolitan ($14) and pronounced it woo-hoo while I had a local draft beer. - Service: Very friendly. Our server, Cody C, was helpful and genuinely funny. He managed the tables nearby with a light touch and seemed to keep everyone happy. That’s no mean feat. - Price and Value: Excellent. Novo is not cheap, but we got what we paid for ($98 plus tax and tip). A really good meal, service and atmosphere. - Parking: It might depend on your luck. Parking can be tight in downtown SLO, especially on a midday Friday, but we found a spot around the corner about a block away. Although we live about 35 minutes south of downtown SLO, Novo is a restaurant worth a return visit on our periodic trips to the area.More

Lovely late afternoon dinner on the peaceful deck… we enjoyed the lemon pappardelle pasta dish and the green chicken curry dish… along with a local hazy IPA…We WILL be back!

Celebrated birthday at highly recommended local restaurant. WARNING: do not go downtown on THURSDAY! Higuera Street closed due to farmers market & jammed street fair so parking is next to impossible! Otherwise, after more than half hour trying, a short? (2 block) walk to crowded...outside dining in back. Service nice, a little cold even with heaters but nice ambiance next to creek. Menu somewhat limited. **Best (5 star): lettuce Asian chicken wrap (ask for extra butter lettuce; a whole meal!), rib-eye ($49) steak delicious, halibut (daily special; yum!). **Not good (1-2 star): Korean kimchi short ribs (so tough I couldn’t eat them. Yuk. Kimchi awful and dry). Shrimp and noodles just ok. Yummy deserts (sundaes & chocolate torte) comped for bad ribs. So some items great & some underwhelming. Enjoy. ($240 for 4 with some drinks).More

Great food, service and ambience. Creek dining outdoors. Definitely recommend their lamb chops and scallops. Be sure to make reservations. Public parking close by.