Sabor & Sazón: Paso’s new hot dining spot
Courtesy photos.
– My wife and I, being frequent visitors to Paso Robles, usually stay several days. Our last trip, being only overnight, I wanted to try a new restaurant we had heard about, and we are so glad we did!
A gastronomical find
Sabor & Sazón (flavor and seasoning) has been open since mid-August, quickly impacting the Paso Robles foodie scene. This creative Latin Fusion restaurant’s motto is “El Sabor Es Nuestra Esencia” (the flavor is our essence). Take that literally! The flavors in the dishes are aromatic, flavorful, and tantalizing; they will create a party for your palate.
This is a family-run restaurant: The owner, Chef Jorge Magdonal (more about him in a moment), his son Jorge Jr., daughter Belyn (GM), brother Albany (bar), sister Dinora (pastry chef), and lots of cousins all work there!
Chef Jorge is no stranger to the Paso Robles food scene. Paso regulars are familiar with his creativity, smile, and friendliness. Chef has worked in California kitchens (including Paso Robles) over the last 25 years.
Upon our being seated, Jorge Jr. came over to introduce himself and then, with a broad grin, answered my questions about the restaurant. He seemed most proud that his tight-knit family filled every position at the restaurant, making us feel like family.
Looking over the menu, my wife and I ordered a few dishes to share; they were fabulous. We started with the corn souffle. Artfully presented, all I can say is the flavors were blended and layered, and as the expression goes: omg! Just order this, trust me!
We then shared the grilled vegetable salad, replete with freshness and flavor, and as our main, we had (probably the best) chicken marsala ever. And, attention chocoholics: order the decadent homemade tarta de chocolate!
During dinner, Jorge Jr., Chef, and other family members came by to check on us, as they did with diners at all the tables.
I can’t wait to go back for more deliciousness. The only thing that exceeded the creative, tasty dishes was the hospitality. I’ll go out on a limb and say that Sabor & Sazón has set a high bar for hospitality and creative, innovative food in Paso Robles.
With family in mind, the chef will accommodate dietary restrictions, offer gluten-free options, and, being child-friendly, have a kids menu.
The hallmarks of this new hot dining spot are hospitality, friendliness, freshness, flavoring, seasoning, creativeness, and treating all the guests as family. They define “Paso-friendly hospitality.” We’ll be back on our next trip to Paso Robles.
Note: For the month of January, Monday-Wednesday, Chef is offering a $35 prix fixed menu for Restaurant Month (in addition to their regular menu, don’t miss this!)
Sabor & Sazón is located at 841 13th Street in Paso Robles.
Don Sonderling is a freelance writer covering California’s unique lifestyle of wine, food, and travel adventures from Santa Barbara to Napa Valley and beyond. He may be reached at: donsonderling@gmail.com.
