3 Best Restaurants in Temecula, North County and Around

Every morning at 3 am, chefs are hard at work in this scratch, stone-hearth kitchen where nearly everything is produced in-house, including the sauces, dressings, and breads baked with a sourdough starter dating back 120 years. Handcrafted sandwiches range from steak-mushroom melts with smoked blue cheese to turkey with aged Brie and balsamic compote, and the pizzas are large enough to share, though most people find themselves walking out with a to-go box—especially if they start with “Mother’s Meatballs,” made with Kobe beef, bubbling in a cast-iron skillet. If you didn’t save room for dessert, take a leisurely stroll around Old Town and come back for the bread pudding, a treat that lures people time and again.

California native Blythe Wilson and Sardinian-born chef Pietro Cinus met while Wilson was exploring the Tuscan countryside and together they brought all things Italian to Temecula. Grab a seat and try gnocchi, ravioli, and soft breads all made by hand; the bustling scratch kitchen integrates spicy sausage and aged pecorino imported from Italy. The carpaccio di polpo (octopus) is bathed in olive oil, and the risotto is mixed with a medley of fresh seafood.

Step into South Coast Winery's dimly lit restaurant, where prices are high but wine pours are generous. Wooden pillars divide L-shape booths where servers deliver favorites like the charcuterie platter, prime rib, and roasted salmon with wild mushrooms; hearty eaters will appreciate the selection of pork chop and grilled filet mignon. Outdoor tables overlooking the lawn illuminated with market lights are equally romantic. Guests at South Coast Winery, or neighboring Carter Estate Resort, can charge their bill to the room.