Ellie's Tap and Vine

We visited last night for the first time and were absolutely blown away by the whole experience. The service was spectacular--our server made an excellent wine recommendation and made sure to recommend  retain dishes off our choice. The ambience feels cozy but not stifling; lighting was low to help it feel more intimate. The short rib absolutely fell off the bone, and the flaky crust on the chicken pot pie was reflect. I'd recommend Ellie's to anyone visiting the area. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

What a  delightful experience at Ellie's . We liked it so much the first night we went back again. The restaurant is tastefully situated in a vintage home. We sat outside which was so pleasant and private. The service was excellent. The menu was varied with meat fish and vegetarian options. The halibut was so delicious with a different presentation of orange and fresh herbs. The wine list is incredible- very reasonable and with a great variety.Its not often that a restaurant has so much going for it. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Our elopement reception at Ellie's Tap and Vine was one of the biggest highlights for the trip for our 20 guests. From the beginning with planning, Joy was always reachable and accommodating with our requests. Joy and her team were able to accommodate all of our dietary needs while creating an inspired menu that fit our aesthetic perfectly. The staff during the dinner were the most kind and even took candid photos for us during the evening so we could enjoy the food and conversation. The wine selection is expansive and we chose a couple table options to pair with the meal that everyone loved. There were moments where we thought people might fight over the mashed potatoes and people were amazed by just the enormous salmon portions. All of the food was immaculately prepared and every guest left satisfied. The overall portions were beyond generous and we had leftovers to enjoy during the rest of our stay. You could not ask for a more warm and intimate space than the private room which was beautiful without decoration even though we brought a few items. We cannot recommend Ellie's and Joy enough and will be back on a future visit! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

We got our meal to-go and you wouldn't have noticed because it was as delicious as a sit-down meal. I got the steak and it was to die for, I asked for medium rare and couldn't believe it was actually still medium rare when I finally ate it! The flavor of the steak and mashed potatoes were incredible. Also the bread pudding is a must! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

This is the quintessential neighborhood restaurant where you feel at home as soon as you walk in. Great staff, great service and a gifted chef/owner - the farm to table menu changes each week and there's a fairly comprehensive wine list. That's all you need to know - I love Ellie's... More...

Reviewed on Yelp

We happened upon Ellie's Tap + Vine while looking for different restaurant that had been recommended to us. We were so glad we found Ellie's. The food was delicious! Even their mashed potatoes were the best I've ever tasted!Joy and her brother Jay were both fine hosts and Jay is an excellent chef. Their staff were kind and courteous. Do yourself a favor and take a meal at Ellie's! You'll be glad you did. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Not only is this some of the most amazing food made in our little valley but the owner is also amazing too. The atmosphere is to die for as well!

Reviewed on Yelp

Amazing menu choice, beautifully prepared. Great ambience and really friendly staff. Thank you Joe and the team.

Reviewed on Yelp

I can't recommend Ellie's Tap & Vine enough. Between the ambiance, choice/preparation of food, wine list, and hospitality, our experience was absolutely wonderful. We got the filet, which we were able to have the chef butterfly, and it was perfectly prepared. The chicken cacciatore was delicious and I couldn't even finish it there was so much...but we also deliberately saved room for the bread pudding, which was some of the best I've ever had. And I'm a bread pudding guy. When we first arrived, we were informed that they were short staffed, but we didn't feel that at all. We felt welcomed, and appreciated, and our server did a wonderful job balancing all of our questions and giving us space. If you're in or around Solvang, it's absolutely worth the short, 9-minute drive and there's plenty of parking. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

We ate at Ellie's for the first time tonight. Wow this restaurant is amazing. It is a relatively small local business with incredible food and an extensive wine list. The service is every bit as good as the food. The chef made personal visits to check on guests. Do yourself a favor and wander the couple miles outside the tourist hustle of Solvang to visit Ellie's for dinner. You will be very glad you did More...

Reviewed on Yelp

We dined here last Friday evening.  The service was good, and the water was cold.  My husband ordered the duck and thought it was okay.  I ordered the filet and asked for medium. It came up medium-well (almost no pink in the middle).  I didn't send it back as I wanted to eat with my husband, not after my husband.  The steak wasn't particularly flavorful, but it was tender.  I asked for creamed horseradish but they didn't have any and instead brought me some grated horseradish and mayo to mix together myself.  Mayo?  For my steak?  Creamed horseradish does not usually contain mayo, it is made with sour cream (and other ingredients).  We won't be returning. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

easy restaurant to get to and food is ok. took family there for a meal after funeral services within the last year.  the meal we had has been within the last 12 months.

Reviewed on Yelp

I have been here twice in the past 1.5 years but sadly last time did not leave a review. After this experience I felt I needed to support this wonderful business and leave my sincere thoughts. My travel partner and I shared the shishito peppers and Granny Smith apple salad for appetizers. Entrees consisted of the crab cake and Tuscan style ribs...all of the food was amazing. Our server was Kristina and she was attentive, knowledgeable, and sweet! The chefs/owner Joy and her brother both came out to check on our experience and meals. It was clear the care for the food and positive dining experience starts at the top and works it's way down to the entire staff. My travel buddy and I both commented that if the restaurant was open the other nights we were here we would have gladly come to Ellie's versus our other choice! Try it out! You won't regret it! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

First time visiting the Santa Ynez and Solvang areas. Wanted to have a special dinner for my husbands birthday. The owner and I think chef as well personally contacted me to see what wine or champagne we would like. So that was super awesome and sweet. We actually got to our reservation early and we were worried we would have to wait. But we got seated right away. The entire staff was amazing and so accommodating. They said we had the table for as long as we wanted. We probably spent about 3 hours there. The appetizers and food were excellent. Such a cute and inviting place. We would definitely love to come here again. Thank you everyone for making my husbands birthday dinner the best!! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

I don't know how it gets any better.  Literally the best filet, best salmon, best crabcake and love all salads and appetizers.  The owner is the Chef "Joy" and she is just that!  Everything about her, the restaurant, the ambience, the staff, the location is joyful and outstanding.  People are lined up at nearby restaurants and have NO idea what they are missing!  I think it's a hidden gem and amazing!  Absolutely the best filet ever for the value...in a named steakhouse you'd be charged double for what you get at Ellie's...it's a MUST and a huge MISS if you don't get there!!!! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

This place was recommended by the people who let us use their house for the weekend and it did not disappoint.  Staff was really helpful and although short handed, made sure that all our needs were taken care of.  The wine list had a lot of options and good representation of the local wineries.  I went for the Sangria since we were doing a lot of wine tasting over the weekend - one of the best glasses of Sangria I've had.  The food was delicious - sea bass was nicely prepared.  The choc ice cream in kaluha was a nice finish - not too heavy.   Enjoyed talking to Joy, the owner, and hearing about how her mom inspired the restaurant.  I am looking forward to the next trip up to try some additional menu options. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

I had tuna melt sandwich for lunch at Ellie's. First thing i did after lunch was go to Panino and order tuna sandwich. Ellie's had one slice of bread with not memorable tuna and salad without dressing. It is silly.

Reviewed on Yelp

The staff here is very nice and welcoming - so much so that it will keep me coming back again. Nice outdoor seating with heating , good wine list to select from

Reviewed on Yelp

Ellie's Tap & Vine was a perfect choice for my son's wedding rehearsal dinner!The event space is stunning! It has just the right combination of rustic and elegant that made the event high end without feeling stuffy or cold. And Joy made the planning process effortless.  She expertly guided us in decor choice, as well as the menu. Her staff is top notch, and the chicken, salmon, and a variety of side dishes served family style were delicious!Everything came together beautifully to create a memorable evening. I look forward to dining at Ellie's Tap & Kitchen again. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

I enjoyed our second visit. Although we tried different dishes this time (filet Mignon - excellent- and anchovies in olive oil with saltines and hot sauce for me; duck breast and Pate,  for my husband) I wish there were a couple more dairy free options on the dinner menu and vegan dessert options. Everything was delicious; wish I could have eaten more! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

My family was staying across the street at the Santa Ynez Inn and found Ellie's. We went back two nights in a row because we were very impressed by the food and staff. Delicious Wild Salmon, Fillet and Short Rib entrees. The green beans, mash potatoes were cooked perfectly and my 6yr daughter loved everything too! This restaurant can compete with the best restaurants in Santa Ynez and Solvang. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

This is a very cute restaurant in a mixed use building in Santa Ynez.  They have indoor and outdoor seating at the bar.If you want to come for a few glasses of wine or a bottle it is definitely worth it.  The food was pretty tasty as well.  Great salads but they were out of some of the appetizers on a Saturday night.  The entrees were very well presented and tasty as well.  The one thing we noticed thru dinner service inside was that we kept coughing.  We believe this is due to smoke in the dining room.  As it turns out there is no hood vent over the area where they are doing the cooking and the dining room was smoky.   Towards the end of dinner service it was very noticable.  The staff was friendly but wasn't as attentive as we would expect.  I would also skip desert all together and go to Nella's for profiteroles instead as the poached pear was bland and the mascarpone tasted like cream cheese.Overall, not a bad experience but for over $100 per guest I would expect more. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

An absolute gem of a restaurant if you happen to be passing through to or staying in Solvang. Space is tight, but well worth every inch as the food was sublime. We started off with the warm carmelized apple salad with blue cheese (I don't like blue cheese so I asked for goat (heavenly btw)). One does not usual think warm when one thinks salad, but let me tell you,Chef Joy KNOWS what she is doing and it was simply amazing. For our entrees my wife had the Mary's roasted half chicken and I had the Seared Salmon. Hands down, some of the best chicken I've had in my years, tender, juicy, each bite an explosion of flavor along with whipped potatoes that just melt in your mouth. The salmon was cooked perfectly, delicate and tender it flaked beautifully. A tad salty, but delicious none the less.Lastly, something I'd been eyeing the entire time since we arrived, Ellie's Warm Brioche Bread pudding with a serving of vanilla ice cream. Now I'm not always this excited about bread, but when it is sweet, moist brioche, with warm caramel, how could I say no? Probably my absolute most favorite part of the meal.If you are there at the end of the night when the kitchen closes, you may get a surprise visit from the lady of the house herself, Chef Joy. It was an absolute pleasure meeting her and she takes the time to learn the names of the people on her reservation list, to me that says something about her character.Bottom line: great atmosphere, amazing staff, exceptional food. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Cute place with an inspired menu. You can tell the owner is passionate about food and comes up with some very creative ideas. The wine list is well priced and the little things like the wooden box setups are a very nice touch. The execution on some of the dishes could've been better but we enjoyed the atmosphere and the staff was pleasant and attentive. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

If you're in the Santa Inez area this restaurant is not to be missed.  We went on their 1st Wednesday night open in a while because of Covid.  It was my birthday,  a special occasion and I felt the love from the moment we walked in the door.  We were greeted and given a yummy glass of sparkling wine.  The menu looked amazing and hard to choose.  We ordered the artichoke dip, the rustic bread that came with it was the perfect blend of chewy and crunchy.  YUM.  The food came quickly and was Hot.  I had the duck and pork belly pot pie, total comfort food.  All around a great time.  The Chef was a delight and came out to check on us and visit.  Excellent Birthday meal. Darling restaurant.  I will be back. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

I'd like to start with the positives. Firstly, amazing job at creating a Covid friendly outdoor space. Located along the side of their restaurant It's private, inviting, and warm. Second, beer and wine list is great. They even made some excellent suggestions to pair with dinner. Third, staff is incredibly friendly and the chef had even come to our table to apologize for the inconveniences of the night. Sadly, the top three took a backseat to the fact my party was allowed to sit at their table and order without being told half of the menu was '86'd' (no longer available.)  we had already ordered drinks and an appetizer + salads. When we got to dinner they made us aware that the short ribs were no longer available then followed with 'also the chicken and salmon are no longer available.' Something they acknowledged we should have been told before being seated. On top of that, we requested more bread for the artichoke dip we had and were told that had sold out as well. For the food we were delivered, which were filets, they were a 3.5. Cooked to order but a little disappointed with the lack of sear and grey color. However, that was not consistent throughout the table, as one of the filets was perfect. Nice color and great taste. The artichoke dip should be called a garlic dip. While delicious in its own right, I'm not sure it even had artichoke in it. I'm willing to give this place another shot but for now- 3.5 More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Such a great experience - amazing food and wine!! Get the pork chop! Kristina was our waitress and she was awesome

Reviewed on Yelp

Incredible. Ellie's is now my new favorite place to eat my feelings. The muscles were absolutely amazing- just flavorful enough with littlehints of Thai chilies, and don't pass up the crab bisque, it's an amazing little bowl of heaven. Thank you to such an amazing staff with such a unique menu! More...

Reviewed on Yelp