Whiskey 'N Rye

Where to begin? My husband and I were driving back home from our anniversary trip to Monterey and we decided to stop in Solvang for dinner. After reading reviews about nearby restaurants we stumbled upon Whiskey ‘N Rye Smokehouse. We were able to make a reservation and the hostess greeted us with a warm smile and seated us as soon as we arrived. Our waiter was Jake. His recommendations on the menu didn’t disappoint but I think anything their amazing Chef Augusto and his staff make will hit all your taste buds! I ordered the Whiskey ‘N Rye burger with garlic smashed potatoes and elote corn quarters (so yummy) 10/10!! My husband had the smoked brisket with the three cheese Mac and BBQ baked beans! Everything was mouth watering good! Kudos to the entire staff. I paired my meal with the peachy old fashioned (best bourbon drink I’ve had) and my husband ordered the maple bacon old fashioned with a double shot (second shot is half off) both were so good! Not sure what we did to get our drinks comped by the Chef but we appreciate the gesture! Highly recommend this gem of a restaurant in beautiful Solvang!

This was an excellent meal on Father’s Day. We were in town and at my brother’s recommendation we decided to eat here. The service was fantastic and the food was phenomenal. We had a delicious jalapeño cornbread appetizer with honey butter that was the perfect texture. It was slightly chewy with a nice combination of sweet and heat. The meals were generous portions. The ribs were tender and meaty. The burger was delicious and the street corn was so good. The only bummer was that we were too full for dessert. Next time we will have to try it.

Mandy was amazing! She made everything perfect for my mom’s 80th birthday! We will definitely come back. Our filet was to salty for us she and the manager took care of us. The brisket was like butter . Ribs delicious, beet salad amazing. Corn bread yum

After an afternoon of wine tasting, we were quite hungry. We came here and had such an amazing meal! The server recommended the brisket dirty fries, and that was a highlight of the meal, wow! I still dream about that dish. The loaded mac and cheese was great also, and for dessert we got the cheesecake which was fantastic. Love the casual and fun vibes, service was great, prices were terrific, would definitely come back here!

Dropped in for a late night meal. It was very busy so we sat at the bar. Bartender was welcoming and attentive. Food was outstanding and definitely enough to take home!

Karla Ponce

The family and I asked for recommendations around town and splendidly ended up at Whiskey and Rye. They weren’t able accommodate 5 inside with the short notice but their patio heaters did the job for our evening dinner. Everyone in my family is a little picky and I am Vegan but we all ended up passing around the plates to taste and were VERY happy with the quality of our meal. Keri was an absolute joy as she helped me navigate the menu and offered great recommendations. It is restaurant week so I went with the 3 course meal and chose the smoked Spaghetti Squash which was full of flavor. My family got the wings, grilled salmon, and baby back ribs which they all raved about. They also had amazing craft sodas and zero-proof cocktails for a family that doesn’t drink. We would certainly come back again. Thanks Keri for making the experience memorable!

Angel

Long over due Review: We have been here 3 times over the years and Jazmine was our server each time. She provides amazing service, has a warm smile and bartends too. We got a full rack of ribs which is huge ( half shown in picture ) , brisket, fried pickles and skillet cookie. All the food was delicious especially the ribs. For cocktails we got the country lemonade which is my favorite and a penicillin. They have a huge whiskey list and if you buy a doulbe the 2nd shot is half off ! Highly recommend this restaurant and I'll be back each time I visit Solvang.

Anthony Stewart

We ordered the brisket fries, filet mignon bites and the sweet chili wings. All delicious, but the wings are amazing! Perfectly crunchy and moist. Not spicy at all. The filet mignon was perfectly cooked and was tender. The brisket fries would be last on my list to order again. Not because they were bad, but because we absolutely loved the wings and steak.

Kevin Tadlock

What an awesome find!! We ran into this place, and what an amazing find! I have hands down never had brisket this good! To say I was pleasantly surprised would be an understatement! The food was awesome! The staff was nice! We really had nothing to complain about! We were stuffed full, and that was a good thing! We would definitely like to return to this place! 🤙🤙🤙🤙🤙🤙

robert theobald

Food was good and portion sizes were decent sizes. A little on the expensive side. Brisket flavor was good, but not as smoky as I prefer (notice lack of smoke ring). Mac & cheese side was very good. Wife got the brisket chili that she really liked.

L. Consoli

After checking restaurants for lunch we found this gem of a restaurant nestled at the end of the road. It is gourgeous, upscale, trendy. Matthew the maitre'd won us over. He was exceptional. We had a very friendly warm welcoming reception by him. Matthew gave us his full attention and answered all our questions. He was really genuine in having us as guests. He was very attentive in checking on us during our meal. The menu had several dishes that we liked. Our server was great, very patient and pleasant. There is indoor and outdoor dining. The outdoor dining is surrounded by plants and shrubs, a garden setting. We chose outdoor seating due to the ideal patio weather. The ambience was warm, relaxing and comfortable. Our sandwiches were delicious. It was a wonderful experience over all. We will surely return.

Aly Arce

Where to begin? My husband and I were driving back home from our anniversary trip to Monterey and we decided to stop in Solvang for dinner. After reading reviews about nearby restaurants we stumbled upon Whiskey ‘N Rye Smokehouse. We were able to make a reservation and the hostess greeted us with a warm smile and seated us as soon as we arrived. Our waiter was Jake. His recommendations on the menu didn’t disappoint but I think anything their amazing Chef Augusto and his staff make will hit all your taste buds! I ordered the Whiskey ‘N Rye burger with garlic smashed potatoes and elote corn quarters (so yummy) 10/10!! My husband had the smoked brisket with the three cheese Mac and BBQ baked beans! Everything was mouth watering good! Kudos to the entire staff. I paired my meal with the peachy old fashioned (best bourbon drink I’ve had) and my husband ordered the maple bacon old fashioned with a double shot (second shot is half off) both were so good! Not sure what we did to get our drinks comped by the Chef but we appreciate the gesture! Highly recommend this gem of a restaurant in beautiful Solvang!

Mike Juliette

Wanna say we found this jewel during our visit to the town and am not gonna waste the opportunity to leave a good review of this great place. Coming from Costa Rica, I went to celebrate my birthday on Oct 19th, we had a delicious dinner aligned with a top notch service; the waiting time was almost nothing, ended with a delicious cake with ice cream. I loved the atmosphere and in general a 20 of 10; great for any celebration, dates, groups or families. Hope to comeback someday soon to the beautiful town of Solvang, and of course, visit you guys again!

Jim and Mags

This was an excellent meal on Father’s Day. We were in town and at my brother’s recommendation we decided to eat here. The service was fantastic and the food was phenomenal. We had a delicious jalapeño cornbread appetizer with honey butter that was the perfect texture. It was slightly chewy with a nice combination of sweet and heat. The meals were generous portions. The ribs were tender and meaty. The burger was delicious and the street corn was so good. The only bummer was that we were too full for dessert. Next time we will have to try it.

Erika Anderson

Mandy was amazing! She made everything perfect for my mom’s 80th birthday! We will definitely come back. Our filet was to salty for us she and the manager took care of us. The brisket was like butter . Ribs delicious, beet salad amazing. Corn bread yum

Alexander Merzlak

This is a great place for a meat-based dinner when visiting the area. The steak was excellent, and the brisket was amazing, one of the best I've had so far. The local whiskeys tasting flight is really recommended!

Karen Rosenthal

After an afternoon of wine tasting, we were quite hungry. We came here and had such an amazing meal! The server recommended the brisket dirty fries, and that was a highlight of the meal, wow! I still dream about that dish. The loaded mac and cheese was great also, and for dessert we got the cheesecake which was fantastic. Love the casual and fun vibes, service was great, prices were terrific, would definitely come back here!

Michael Ortiz

Food was awesome and drinks we're amazing. Great atmosphere and Mandy and Brandie are bartenders we're awesome(The DynamicDuo). Definitely will be coming back. Service is exceptional 👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽

Candace M

The food was very delicious and flavorful! The serving was good enough to share and the staff were amazing. I will 100% come back and try more of their food. This place was so good it was even recommended by some locals that said it was a definite must try hands down.

J. C. Lima

This spot is located in Solvang! The service is exceptional, the food was amazing! If you are a carnivorous being like me, stop by while visiting Solvang! You will not be disappointed! Drinks are great, too!

Andrew Diller

Absolute amazing experience as always. Food is over the top delicious. Service is stunning. Brandei is incredible. If I could give Whiskey N’Rye a 10 I would. Couldn’t ask for more! And to top it off it’s consistent, visited 3 times and all 3 times have been the same results of amazing experience!

TONYA ALBRENT

We ordered off the “restaurant week” menu and had the brisket with Mac and cheese and smashed potatoes. It was all so delicious but the dessert of smores chocolate mousse was absolutely amazing! I would love that on the menu full time! Our waitress Carrie was so attentive to our needs and even made a fresh pot of decaf coffee for me. You definitely need to request her! Can’t wait to return again!

Food was great here! The atmosphere was chill and service was good. Friendly staff and delicious food. The whiskey was whiskeying! Delicious drinks. Prices were okay for California. I’d go back again.

Be prepared to wait up to two hours to be seated here! That’s what we were told and many other guests as we approached. Fortunately, we were seated within 10 minutes after we mentioned removing ourselves from the wait list. There was some outdoor seating available on the right side of the building (bring a thick jacket, as it gets very cold outside). It would be great to allow reservations, but they don’t take any. The great service made up for the inconvenience. Our server frequently checked in with us. We recommend the following appetizers: - Loaded Mac n Cheese (love the jalapeño spicy taste) - Fried Pickles (surprisingly addictive) The Cobb Steak Salad is highly recommended! It’s incredibly delicious. And you’ll love the tenderness of their Smoked Brisket plate. The sandwich version is also good: Smoked Brisket sandwich. Other tasty items included: - Carolina Pulled Pork Sandwich - Brisket Chili

Ray Gonzales State Farm Agent

Be prepared to wait up to two hours to be seated here! That’s what we were told and many other guests as we approached. Fortunately, we were seated within 10 minutes after we mentioned removing ourselves from the wait list. There was some outdoor seating available on the right side of the building (bring a thick jacket, as it gets very cold outside). It would be great to allow reservations, but they don’t take any. The great service made up for the inconvenience. Our server frequently checked in with us. We recommend the following appetizers: - Loaded Mac n Cheese (love the jalapeño spicy taste) - Fried Pickles (surprisingly addictive) The Cobb Steak Salad is highly recommended! It’s incredibly delicious. And you’ll love the tenderness of their Smoked Brisket plate. The sandwich version is also good: Smoked Brisket sandwich. Other tasty items included: - Carolina Pulled Pork Sandwich - Brisket Chili

AJ F

This spot truly delivers a delicious BBQ experience! Their sides, especially the elote corn, are absolutely stellar and elevate the entire meal. Even if you're not a carnivore, their salads are delicious. Plus, the service is always welcoming and attentive, and they have a great selection of local beers.

Just ordered wings and onion rings as we weren't overly hungry. Food was great. Maybe a little over priced. Good service. Only disappointment was the whisky (and whiskey) list. Not enough non bourbon and american whiskeys and definitely over priced by 1.5x to 2x. Curious how much whiskey they actually sell. Did not see anyone order whisky while we were there. Definitely worth a visit if you're in Solvang and wined out

Good for family. Pricy, expect an hour wait during dinner. They have good area in front with heaters for waiting. Inside dinning area is small with bar seatings. There is outside dinning as well but for parties of 2 for what I noticed. We had to order the trio sampler (brisket, rib & pulled pork) since they don't let us order the ribs & brisket (they dont have enough meat). We didnt like the pulled pork of out the 3 meats (hence why we didnt order the trio in the 1st place), dry, greasy, sweet, not to mention this dish arrived barely warm. But we didnt fussed over it since the place was hectic & busy, not to mention it was 8pm when we got the food. I ordered the brisket dirty fries, which was the best out of all, flavorful, hot & juicy. The wings were OK, it came with BBQ & lemon pepper. And coming from the person who loves sour things, the lemon pepper ones were too sour, they need to season this better. Also got the whiskey n rye burger cooked medium, it was ok, not as juicy as I hoped & lack flavor. Their fries were good.

Chi Nguyen

Good for family. Pricy, expect an hour wait during dinner. They have good area in front with heaters for waiting. Inside dinning area is small with bar seatings. There is outside dinning as well but for parties of 2 for what I noticed. We had to order the trio sampler (brisket, rib & pulled pork) since they don't let us order the ribs & brisket (they dont have enough meat). We didnt like the pulled pork of out the 3 meats (hence why we didnt order the trio in the 1st place), dry, greasy, sweet, not to mention this dish arrived barely warm. But we didnt fussed over it since the place was hectic & busy, not to mention it was 8pm when we got the food. I ordered the brisket dirty fries, which was the best out of all, flavorful, hot & juicy. The wings were OK, it came with BBQ & lemon pepper. And coming from the person who loves sour things, the lemon pepper ones were too sour, they need to season this better. Also got the whiskey n rye burger cooked medium, it was ok, not as juicy as I hoped & lack flavor. Their fries were good.

Came here for Valentine's Day dinner and unfortunately the experience didn't come close to living up to the hype. Be aware: they do NOT take reservations. We checked in at 5:16 PM and were quoted a 1 hr 45 min wait. What was frustrating was seeing multiple open tables while several parties, including us, were still waiting. When I politely asked the hostess, she responded with attitude, which didn't help the situation. That any establishment, doing the volume they do, to require people show up and wait around for more than an hour is absurd. We were eventually seated at a tilted four-top tucked along the side of the building, even though smaller less precariously placed tables were open. Odd seating choice, maybe intentional... Food was disappointing overall. - Baby back ribs: tough and undercooked - Pulled pork: mushy and bland - Brisket: eatable, but forgettable - Old Fashioned: undrinkable, sent it back The cornbread skillet with honey butter was actually very good and was comped. The only bright spot was our server Michelle C and another staff member--they were friendly, attentive, and professional. This was the only bad meal during our 4-day visit to the area. Between the long wait, hostess attitude, and less than mediocre food, we will not be back.