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Please note that Aly’s has sadly recently, but I will still leave my experience here as a food diary.
One of the best meals we ever had was in Paris in a little restaurant tucked away down an alley near our hotel. It is often that those unassuming places are where you will find a real culinary experience. We had a similar experience at Aly’s Restaurant in Solvang, California.
We had come back from a day exploring Santa Barbara and were tired and very hot! Traveling in the summer can be brutal. On top of that, it was a Monday and believe it or not, many restaurants are closed in Solvang. Luckily, Aly’s Restaurant was open. We hesitated on Aly’s a little bit because we weren’t sure if we wanted to spend too much money on dinner, but ultimately made that our plan. And it was worth every penny.
We were able to walk right in shortly after opening without a reservation. Richard, our host, server, and owner of the restaurant, promptly sat us, brought us fresh baked bread, and offered a bottle of wine from their selection that evening. Richard was so friendly and accommodating throughout our meal. We really felt welcomed there, which is how it should be everywhere!
European Ambiance
We came to Solvang because I wanted to get a little touch of that European experience we loved so much, while not having to travel quite as far. Aly’s (named after Richard’s wife) is such a quaint little restaurant.
I felt transported back to Paris as soon as I sat down and took a moment to look around. We really only intended on having some wine, appetizers, and maybe a little dessert, but everything was so good, we ended up splitting an entree for dinner!
Complimentary Amuse-Bouche
I just love saying those words (complimentary = free stuff = winning!). Also, you sound so fancy saying amuse-bouche right? Really though, amuse-bouche is a one-bite hors d’oeuvre designed to prepare you for what’s to come from the chef.
In this case, it was a vegetarian bite with mushrooms (and I think tomato?), some sprouts, chives, and a tasty bean sauce. Really nice way to open up the meal experience.
Dungeness Crab Trio
The best way I can describe this is a little bit of California with French flavor! We almost actually considered ordering two of these! You get one crab cake, one crab enchilada, and a small cup of crab bisque. It was hard to pick a favorite out of the three, but I think I enjoyed the flavors of the bisque the most – probably because it reminded me so much of those rich, French flavors we got to sample in Paris.
Lobster Mac & Cheese
I tend to order mac and cheese wherever I see it on a menu. As a pescatarian, lobster with mac and cheese are words that equal sweet bliss. This dish at Aly’s is made with truffle butter and homemade croutons. Wow. The flavor in this was so good. So salty and savory. Some might say the lobster was a little too salty, but it was just to our liking. We really like our savory foods! I relished each bite, trying not to eat too fast because we didn’t have any entrees coming up at the time.
The Halibut Entree
We were so in love with the appetizers that we decided to split one of the fish entrees, which they gladly plated on two plates for us – how graciously accommodating! It was a beautiful little work of art. I almost didn’t want to disturb the plate!
The fish was cooked to perfection. The vegetables – carrots, potatoes, and white and purple cauliflower, were delicious. And that sauce. Ohhhhh the sauce! I soaked up every last bit of that with their homemade bread (Richard says it’s his mother’s recipe – and be sure to ask for it warm).
Panna Cotta
If you follow our blog, you’ll know how much we indulged in panna cotta when we were in Italy. Whenever we see it on a menu, we gotta get it! It was nice and creamy, served with raspberry sauce and berries. A perfect end to a great meal.
Prices are a little on the high side, but Solvang is a popular tourist destination, and that’s just the way it is there. Plus, Aly’s is a fine dining restaurant, and the care they put into each dish is really evident. If you are going to spend money on a meal in Solvang, make it count at Aly’s! You’ll have an amazing dining experience you won’t regret.
The only thing I would say we did not enjoy 100% was the rosé wine (however, we did get a bottle of it for a decent price since it was one of their specials). Pinot Noir or Syrahs are great choices in the Santa Ynez Valley area, so I would suggest trying out of one of those, or perhaps a Sauvignon Blanc to accompany the lighter dishes.
We really did not expect to have such a fabulous meal experience while visiting the area, so this really made for a great way to end our trip in Solvang. If we ever make it back, we would love to drop into Aly’s and see what special creations they have on their menu. I highly recommend you put Aly’s Restaurant on your list of places to dine when you are visiting Solvang and the Santa Ynez Valley area! Be sure to make yourself a reservation so you can guarantee yourself a spot to enjoy this delectable experience.
Be sure to check out our Solvang Weekend guide for recommendations on where to stay, what to do, and other places to eat!
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