Paso Terra

Friends had told me about Paso Terra and I'm glad I took their advice to dine there – our dinner there was hands down one of the best I've ever had since moving to California (and working as a food/wine journalist). Friendly service, casual and cute atmosphere, intimate, and exceptional quality food. The black cod was life changing and vodka caviar sauce on scallops? Yes, please! They also welcome every guest with a glass of Champagne and an amuse bouche. While not inexpensive (entrees average ($25-$30 each), the food quality is exceptional. A great place for a special occasion.

Andre, the chef knows fish and seafood. My wife's scallops were delicious, tender and cooked to perfection. My fish special was butterfish and was done perfectly. We had the chocolate cake for desert and unfortunately, could not taste the chocolate because of the liberal application of strawberry sauce on top. If you love fish and seafood you will love this place

Extraordinary food! Intimate atmosphere and lovely staff! Andre is a French chef so the presentation of each dish is a treat and the sauces are DELICIOUS!

Had a great dinner. Wednesday french wine was 50%off. Crab cakes were very moist and flavorful. Sparkling wine offered complementary in addition to amuse bouche. Had the scallops and seafood grill. All cooked perfectly. Delightful seafood restaurant.

My experience at Paso Terra was exceptional! I explained my dietary restrictions to the server and asked if the chef could accommodate. She disappeared for a moment and returned informing me that he would make something special for me. It was perfectly prepared, expertly plated, and delicious. Thank you for making our anniversary dinner a success.

EXQUISITE Dining experience!!! A charming husband and wife team that bring together all the elements for a memorable night of fine dining. Great food, fabulous art and ambiance. Everything is excellent, I always try the chef, Andre and his wife, Cristina's suggestions and they have always been on the money! A MUST!!!

Great service and excellent food! Sea bass sashimi style and the octopus Peruvian style are highly recommended as starters. We also had grilled char (make sure you try the crispy skin!) and sand dab. Chablis goes very well with these dishes.

What a lovely establishment. 5 star customer service from Jennifer, Jayden and the whole staff. Haven't felt so cared for in ages. Food is to DIE for. Celiac safe and plenty of gluten free options. Can't miss if you're in Paso!

Great food & service. Thanks for making it a memorable meal for my father’s 70th birthday.

Another Pet friendly wonderful restaurant in downtown Paso Robles near the Square. Terrific food with a wonderful staff

under new ownership and great menu items very delicious and highly recommend this place

My husband and I dined in this restaurant while traveling through wine country on a recent vacation. OMG! It was THE BEST MEAL OF OUR ENTIRE TRIP!!! I had the salmon with a beet sauce. Let me tell ya, it was phenomenal!!!! And I don't even like beets! Our server was very attentive and made sure we had everything we needed. We felt like guests in her very own home! This is a very special place and certainly a treat but you will not be disappointed. Just YUM!!!

One of the best meals I've had. Food was outstanding, service was friendly and warm, and the atmosphere was as if you were family. I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone visiting Paso Robles.

Amazing dinner. Ceviche was great, branzino perfectly cooked. Would skip the trio cakes as an appetizer.

We randomly came across this restaurant after trying a few that were full. The second we stepped inside, the atmosphere was very roomy and the staff were amazing ! They were very kind and welcoming, listening to our questions and helping us out in picking out our food items. When the food came out, it was some of the best french food I have tried in my life. Everything from the crab cakes to the lamb chops were amazing! Highly recommend this restaurant to anyone passing by.

Paso Terra was a small, intimate and delightful place. The little extra touches made this dining experience a memorable one. The chef's food art tasted delicious and looked wonderful as you can see by the pictures. His artistic flair extended to canvas as well. His paintings decorated the walls adding vibrant splashes of color. An absolute must for a culinary experience in Paso Robles.

One of the best restaurant experiences I’ve had in quite a while. The staff was attentive, helpful, and extremely friendly, especially to my dad who is hard of hearing. The food was beyond superb, with fantastic sauces gracefully draped over seafood cooked to perfection. The chef came out and personally greeted each table, which I appreciate - it’s nice to be able to thank them in person. The chef also painted all of the art in the restaurant - fantastique!

We did not have a reservation but the owner graciously invited us in and gave us first class treatment. Complimentary ahi poke and champagne all around. The entrees were simply divine. Every plate had perfectly cooked/grilled squash, wild carrot, green beans and purple mashed potatoes. Our table had mahi mahi, scallops (best ever) and nut crusted halibut. Desert was absolute perfection as well. The head chef even came to our table. Paso terra does French cuisine of the highest degree. They also offer cooking classes.

Authentic French cuisine. Very unique flavor. Specialized in seafood. Great service. Very impressive. We even met with the chef.

This was our first time eating at Paso Terra and it came highly recommended. I was very happy with how last nights dinner went. Chef Andres creativity was astounding. Pays attention to the details. A restaurant of this caliber I was expecting the bill for 5 people to be rather steep, was less than half of what was anticipated. I cannot wait to go back. And I'm sorry I didn't take more pictures.

Traffic backed up on 101 do we decided to stop by Paso Robles for dinner. Google maps took us here and it was a great meal. The fish was well prepared, fresh and delicious. The wine was carefully selected, and the staff was really friendly. Highly recommend this place -we will for sure come back!

We pulled up right when they opened and were greeted with a smile and a glass of prosecco and salmon amuse-bouche. We were able to visit and learn the background of the chef/owner and his wife. The food was perfectly cooked and delicious. We had the escargot, scallops, and the artic char special. I would recommend this charming restaurant.

Really excellent French-Mediterranean style dishes. Everything was wonderful, from the ahi poke amuse to the scallop and salmon appetizers to the mixed seafood grill and roasted vegetables. We also really enjoyed Chef Andre's delightful water color paintings that decorate the walls.

Paso Terra is one of the best restaurants I’ve ever been to. The food was beyond amazing, and the scallops were the best I’d ever had. The staff is friendly, attentive, and extremely knowledgeable about the menu. I can’t say enough good things.

One of the best dining experiences. Both the owner chef and wife came to talk to us

Juan Orozco

We randomly came across this restaurant after trying a few that were full. The second we stepped inside, the atmosphere was very roomy and the staff were amazing ! They were very kind and welcoming, listening to our questions and helping us out in picking out our food items. When the food came out, it was some of the best french food I have tried in my life. Everything from the crab cakes to the lamb chops were amazing! Highly recommend this restaurant to anyone passing by.

Brenda Walther (BKay)

Paso Terra was a small, intimate and delightful place. The little extra touches made this dining experience a memorable one. The chef's food art tasted delicious and looked wonderful as you can see by the pictures. His artistic flair extended to canvas as well. His paintings decorated the walls adding vibrant splashes of color. An absolute must for a culinary experience in Paso Robles.

Liesl Olson

One of the best restaurant experiences I’ve had in quite a while. The staff was attentive, helpful, and extremely friendly, especially to my dad who is hard of hearing. The food was beyond superb, with fantastic sauces gracefully draped over seafood cooked to perfection. The chef came out and personally greeted each table, which I appreciate - it’s nice to be able to thank them in person. The chef also painted all of the art in the restaurant - fantastique!

Naz Stobe-Kirst

We did not have a reservation but the owner graciously invited us in and gave us first class treatment. Complimentary ahi poke and champagne all around. The entrees were simply divine. Every plate had perfectly cooked/grilled squash, wild carrot, green beans and purple mashed potatoes. Our table had mahi mahi, scallops (best ever) and nut crusted halibut. Desert was absolute perfection as well. The head chef even came to our table. Paso terra does French cuisine of the highest degree. They also offer cooking classes.

yung-chin Chen

Authentic French cuisine. Very unique flavor. Specialized in seafood. Great service. Very impressive. We even met with the chef.

Michael Miller

This was our first time eating at Paso Terra and it came highly recommended. I was very happy with how last nights dinner went. Chef Andres creativity was astounding. Pays attention to the details. A restaurant of this caliber I was expecting the bill for 5 people to be rather steep, was less than half of what was anticipated. I cannot wait to go back. And I'm sorry I didn't take more pictures.

Par Botes

Traffic backed up on 101 do we decided to stop by Paso Robles for dinner. Google maps took us here and it was a great meal. The fish was well prepared, fresh and delicious. The wine was carefully selected, and the staff was really friendly. Highly recommend this place -we will for sure come back!

Erin White

We pulled up right when they opened and were greeted with a smile and a glass of prosecco and salmon amuse-bouche. We were able to visit and learn the background of the chef/owner and his wife. The food was perfectly cooked and delicious. We had the escargot, scallops, and the artic char special. I would recommend this charming restaurant.

Steve Ringer

Really excellent French-Mediterranean style dishes. Everything was wonderful, from the ahi poke amuse to the scallop and salmon appetizers to the mixed seafood grill and roasted vegetables. We also really enjoyed Chef Andre's delightful water color paintings that decorate the walls.

Austin Hudgens

Paso Terra is one of the best restaurants I’ve ever been to. The food was beyond amazing, and the scallops were the best I’d ever had. The staff is friendly, attentive, and extremely knowledgeable about the menu. I can’t say enough good things.

semara st. Denny

One of the best dining experiences. Both the owner chef and wife came to talk to us

Margot W

What a lovely establishment. 5 star customer service from Jennifer, Jayden and the whole staff. Haven't felt so cared for in ages. Food is to DIE for. Celiac safe and plenty of gluten free options. Can't miss if you're in Paso!

One word... Orgasmic! I had the Coq au Vin tonight, just WOW! Wonderful wine (Austin Hope cab sav), incredible chocolate mousse, and the most friendly, beautiful waitress ever. What an incredible experience!

Wonderful service and attention to detail. So glad that I moved to Paso so I can spend more time at this restaurant. What a delightful owner and expertly prepared dishes.

Highly recommend you try this little gem in Paso! We had a large group of 7 people and the owner personally took care of us. Most had the mixed grill or paella and both were divine. Also had the apple tart with pistachio ice cream for dessert and boy was that good! Wonderful restaurant with a smaller more intimate dining room. Not too many customers that night, so it was quiet and the whole table could converse easily. What a great experience.

Shelley Stone

Wonderful service and attention to detail. So glad that I moved to Paso so I can spend more time at this restaurant. What a delightful owner and expertly prepared dishes.

Russ Hanush

One word... Orgasmic! I had the Coq au Vin tonight, just WOW! Wonderful wine (Austin Hope cab sav), incredible chocolate mousse, and the most friendly, beautiful waitress ever. What an incredible experience!

April Allison

Highly recommend you try this little gem in Paso! We had a large group of 7 people and the owner personally took care of us. Most had the mixed grill or paella and both were divine. Also had the apple tart with pistachio ice cream for dessert and boy was that good! Wonderful restaurant with a smaller more intimate dining room. Not too many customers that night, so it was quiet and the whole table could converse easily. What a great experience.

Loved it! Great seafood. Great presentation. I would come back any time. The outside and the decor is on the sparse side and may be misleading; i didn't expect to find ths foodie gem judging by the outside. Worth taking a side tour off 101.

Food tasted good but the portion sizes were very small. Extremely friendly staff! They were open all day on Valentine's day.

Paso Terra Bistro has only been opened for two weeks, the logistics and ambiance need more work, however, the food and welcoming hospitality was 5 stars!!

Gloria Fama

Paso Terra Bistro has only been opened for two weeks, the logistics and ambiance need more work, however, the food and welcoming hospitality was 5 stars!!

Changed under the new management and not for the better. Very sad!

Delicious seafood! Enjoyed the friendly, upbeat, and attentive waitstaff. Would recommend a change in lighting (florescent lighting for a nice dinner date was a bit harsh) and more upscale decor. Overall a 3+ star but could be more with a few upgrades. Would visit here again!

3.5 to 4 stars. Good food but fairly traditional surf and turf options if flavorful. The florescent lights killed the mood and the indoor seating seemed close and loud. Hosts were very friendly

alyssa meyer

Delicious seafood! Enjoyed the friendly, upbeat, and attentive waitstaff. Would recommend a change in lighting (florescent lighting for a nice dinner date was a bit harsh) and more upscale decor. Overall a 3+ star but could be more with a few upgrades. Would visit here again!

JB Fenix

3.5 to 4 stars. Good food but fairly traditional surf and turf options if flavorful. The florescent lights killed the mood and the indoor seating seemed close and loud. Hosts were very friendly

Came here for our anniversary dinner got sat outside in an uncomfortable spot, my chair kept getting hit by the waitresses as they walked by. One of the waitresses had an interesting almost dismissive attitude with us, like we were wasting her time. They gave us some wine and a bite sized treat for our anniversary which was a nice touch. We ordered lobster bisque, escargot and the seafood grill. Everything and I mean Everything was beyond salty. To the point where it felt intentional. It was ok food with the salt but with less salt would have been GREAT food so it seems strange that there was so much. The water glasses they gave us had floating dirt and dust in them which was gross. It kind of ruined our anniversary dinner and we ended up leaving early taking our food to go because we felt unwelcome. Like they didn’t want our business.

Chace McGuyer

Came here for our anniversary dinner got sat outside in an uncomfortable spot, my chair kept getting hit by the waitresses as they walked by. One of the waitresses had an interesting almost dismissive attitude with us, like we were wasting her time. They gave us some wine and a bite sized treat for our anniversary which was a nice touch. We ordered lobster bisque, escargot and the seafood grill. Everything and I mean Everything was beyond salty. To the point where it felt intentional. It was ok food with the salt but with less salt would have been GREAT food so it seems strange that there was so much. The water glasses they gave us had floating dirt and dust in them which was gross. It kind of ruined our anniversary dinner and we ended up leaving early taking our food to go because we felt unwelcome. Like they didn’t want our business.

We went over Mothers Day weekend while visiting. Service was very good, but the food was disappointing. The entrees were all similar - generic vegetable medley of carrots, cabbage, etc, potatoes starch and fish smothered in a hollandaise like sauce. From a business standpoint it is brilliant, but disappointing for the consumer. If you have to smother my grilled fish in sauce, then you don't know how to cook and serve fish. It was all very bland unfortunately and reminded me of banquet entrees.

Wow was this a waste of an evening! We were seated at a table with 2 used glasses of water that we had to move. The server dropped off two small salmon amuses; no idea what they were because she dropped them and ran off. The starters were stuffed squid and escargot. The squid was like rubber and the escargot was tasty but the sauce was very watery. For mains we had a mixed seafood plate and the paella. Both were very disappointing, bland, and the paella lacked any crispness. Definitely won’t return after the poor food and service.

Nathan C

Wow was this a waste of an evening! We were seated at a table with 2 used glasses of water that we had to move. The server dropped off two small salmon amuses; no idea what they were because she dropped them and ran off. The starters were stuffed squid and escargot. The squid was like rubber and the escargot was tasty but the sauce was very watery. For mains we had a mixed seafood plate and the paella. Both were very disappointing, bland, and the paella lacked any crispness. Definitely won’t return after the poor food and service.

So… I haven’t returned a dish from a restaurant in 20 years. Based on reviews we decided to dine at Paso Terra. We were met by the owner, Christine, who gave us a nice table and we proceeded to order: Branzino, Octopus, Crab Cakes. The first thing that struck us is that almost every dish coming out of the kitchen had squiggles of a strange mayo based sauce all over the top. My Octopus was mushy and swimming a a yellow sauce. (Turmeric??) and the Crab Cakes were very thin and covered with the “magic Mayo”. The Branzino was overdone and mushy, with the “mayo”. We returned all plates and then the owner came over very PRISSY and cleared the table without saying anything she did offer our wine complimentary, which was nice. We decided not to order anything else. When the bill came we were charged for the wine, which was okay even though we didn’t expect it. We paid the bill, left a tip for our waitress and got up to leave. Christine was standing at the front door so I went up to her and mentioned I had owned a restaurant and understood that restaurants sometimes had an off night. She just stood there and glared at me, not saying a word. I said we were sorry and she just glared!!! In my experience as a restaurant owner the customer is right and being gracious is paramount to return business! Needless to say we weren’t treated that way and won’t be back.

If I could give zero stars I would. I didn’t even have to eat here to know that it is not a welcoming place. My mother and little brother are visiting from out of town and we wanted to stop and grab a bite to eat after seeing the field of lights. It was 8:10pm. As soon as we walked in, the room went from chatter to complete silence. The guests and waitresses (who were all primarily Caucasian) looked at us from head to toe in a very judgmental way. Not even acknowledging that we were in the room. I had to ask if the place was closing because we were being ignored. After standing for a bit waiting for the waitress to ask the cooks if they were willing to take us so late, we decided to leave because of the negative energy we were welcomed with. I am Hispanic, very ironic to have prejudice and pretentious people eating here with the name that it carries. Will never come here again and will not suggest this place to any person of color.

I will never return to this restaurant. We arrive around 8:10pm and as we entered the door a waitress was clearing a table and said something about how we had just missed the rush and then turned and went into the kitchen. The kitchen door stayed open and another woman gave us a smug look and came out to us. We expect to be greated but instead she looked us up and down then told us the kitchen was closed. My son said that was disappointing and she snapped at him and said something snotty. It looked like several tables had just been seat so apparently we weren't the "right type" of patrons. If she had been polite I would have never left a review like this but I've never been treated so poorly. Too bad as the three of us found another restaurant and spent $250 plus a generous tip for our waitress and bartender. Just looked at several of the other reviews and apparently we are not the only ones at were deemed "not appropriate" patrons. Glad we took our money elsewhere.