Grace and Rose brings fresh energy to Paso dining scene
Julie and Justin Fischer
Husband-and-wife team behind The Wine Merchant open new venture downtown
– Paso Robles continues to up its game in wine, hospitality, and food, and that’s a good thing.
On my recent trip to Paso, we visited a newly opened recommended restaurant, Grace and Rose, and it definitely lived up to and even exceeded the positive reviews we heard. Personally, I think it’s the new hot spot in town. Be sure to make your reservation.
Opened on August 1 by Julie and Justin Fischer, the husband-and-wife team behind The Wine Merchant at Paso Walk, they have created a success story that highlights food creativity, ambiance, and that essential ingredient, hospitality.
One of Paso’s greatest charms is that it retains that early 20th-century small-town vibe and friendliness—that is what our group felt as we walked up the steps to the hostess stand.
Located in a 110-year-old, three-story farmhouse downtown, you are greeted, and you sense the relaxing, delicious, enticing evening ahead. The dining room is cozy, but when the weather is right (and most nights it is), sitting outside on the wrap-around porch is unbeatable. We enjoyed dining on a perfect fall evening, sharing a bottle of wine, browsing the menu, as we decided which of the creative dishes to order and share.
Ingredients are farm-to-table fresh, sourced locally whenever possible; otherwise, they come from reliable and sustainable purveyors. One of the specials, the night we visited, was red snapper, the day’s fresh catch from Ragged Point.
All the options will delight your taste buds. You might want to try fresh oysters from Morro Bay or the tomato and burrata toast from Munak Ranch (an organic and sustainable farm in Paso Robles).
The restaurant is located in a 110-year-old, three-story farmhouse downtown.
Personally, the cup of corn chowder and crispy Brussels sprouts were the perfect shareable starters for a fall evening, followed by a savory Niman Ranch pork chop and Petaluma brick chicken—yum! And for dessert, the flavorful signature Basque cake is what sweet memories are made of… this is a must!
Along with the tempting dishes, the presentations are skillfully and artfully arranged, offering a feast for both the eyes and the palate.
My suggestion: Bring others along so you can share! The menu is well designed, offering options for every taste, and what Justin creates with the flavors is truly magical.
Be sure to review the wine list, which features a variety of local and international options. There is also a separate cellar wine list, carefully curated for wine connoisseurs, mainly including library wines from Paso Robles.
There’s more to say, but the best way to describe Grace and Rose is for you to experience the friendly Paso Robles atmosphere and food yourself. In just about three months, Grace and Rose has already made a significant impact on the local food scene.
And when it comes to service, a shout-out to our server Kaitlan, whose knowledge, personality, and sense of humor made our evening more enjoyable.
However, don’t trust me… go yourself and trust your palate. Bon appétit.
More information is available at graceandrosepaso.com.
Don Sonderling is a freelance writer, covering California’s unique cultural lifestyle of wine, food, and activities, from Santa Barbara to Napa Valley and beyond. He may be reached at: donsonderling@gmail.com.
