Terravant Winery Restaurant

Gotta go with a glass of wine –the tastes are alluring, too small and overpriced. The food is good, though Monday night the atmosphere changes and well, I think it isn’t sure who it’t target audience (or chef) is. Get the more basic meal –burger, pasta –skip the pizza and anything fancy, haven’t seen it work but. it’s ok for a change in Buellton.

Fun and different — for us, the main attraction is the Wine Wall — you get a wine glass and an ersatz «credit card» and you get to pick tastings from a selection of about 25 – 30 different wines. The price differs based on whether you want a 1 oz., 3 oz. or 5 oz. pour (or something like that), you insert your card, you press a button — presto, instant wine tasting! Other than that, the food is pretty good, the service is OK, they have music on weekends which is a plus. Hard to find because it looks like a warehouse from the outside, but just go all the way down Industrial Road to the cul-​de-​sac at the end. Worth a visit!

I had a lovely visit to the Solvang area. Teravant was our first meal. Our server was a very nice young woman. That is the best thing I can say. The food was average. The wine tasting system was interesting, I had seen it before. Three of the wines, higher-​end, I wanted to try were out. There was nobody monitoring the wine system that was in sight. A major missed opportunity as I saw it. However, there were people monitoring the seating of guests, checking in with how you were. It was too late to mention the wine experience. It’s terrific to be nice, attentive, and also attentive to details which was lacking. Really wished I had spent my first evening else where.

Love this place, great food and great atmosphere. Went on Valentine’s Day, only reason it’s not getting five stars is they ran out of the Valentines dinner special by 7 pm. The waitress was super nice and apologized a few times while taking down the signs on the tables. Hopefully they will prepare for next year. Great service, thank you.

Don’t give business 1 penny of your money! I went with my family Saturday night. After taking care of my sister for her 50^th birthday, my husband and I felt a nice glass of wine would be good with our steaks. The staff said they could not serve our group alcohol because we had a toddler with us. So my husband and I felt we could go to the bar and order and drink at the bar if necessary. As my husband is talking to the bartender a short dark haired woman comes up behind the bartender and behind her a man a little taller stands behind to the right of her. They told us that they would not serve us. This angered me especially since the way we’re Ganged up on by minimum wage servers. As an American citizen a retired Navy Chief, I know I have other options in the United States. So my husband and I had a lovely dinner at Figueroa Mountain Brewing company. Much friendlier staff and happy atmosphere! And we were able to walk next door!

My husband and I came here for a night cap, we waited 15 mins for a menu, once we received a menu we ask the bartender for recommendation and he told us «ahhh I really don’t like recommending things because everyone has different taste.» Ummmm your a bartender that’s part of your job. Then we wait another 15 mins for him to come back to take our drink order, at that time he asked if we ever been there before we said no and he gave us a card. Apparently there’s a self served wine bar that we can use the card, we assumed this from observing other couple. We were really excited to go to this place however we left extremely disappointed, and will not be coming back!

We were starving after wine tasting, it was a Saturday night, and all the other spots we wanted to check out were super busy. This place had been recommended to us by someone at one of the wineries and we called and were able to get a reservation.
It wasn’t too crowded, but seemed loud. They had live music, but it did not fit the vibe of the place, was distracting, and very echo-​y off the high ceilings.
They have a wine bar fountain where you get a card, you swipe your card and can get tastings or glasses of wine. It’s really cool. Definitely a fun way to try some local wines!
Our food was overall disappointing. I ordered the burger. I asked for medium rare and it came out rare, literally bleeding. I was going to ask them to cook it a bit more for me, but couldn’t get our server over quick enough, so finally just gave up and ate what I could. That aside, the burger was okay, but not worth the $ 17 price tag. I’ve had much better for much less. Two of my friends ordered the rib eye. One asked for it medium and it came out well done, no red anywhere to be found. The other asked for hers well done and it came out literally charred it was so done. Extra well done I guess? They both said the meat flavor was decent, but neither felt it was worth the $ 30+ price tag. My other friend ordered a salad and added ahi tuna to it. There was so much dressing on the salad it was literally drupping off the lettuce. She has to scrape dressing off to be able to eat it. And the ahi tuna was fishy tasting and not fresh at all. Finally my friend ordered the pear and prosciutto pizza. This was the oddest pizza; it had way too many flavor profiles, too much blue cheese and balsamic, not enough pears. The balsamic was too sweet and really overpowering. The pizza dough/​crust was good though.
The best items we had were our appetizers: the mac ‘n cheese and the yuppie crack. Both were good and enjoyable.
Service left a lot to be desired. The restaurant was not full and there appeared to be plenty of servers for the amount of diners, but our server never seemed to be around or he’d come by, ask what we needed, and then never come back with it. We asked for water three times before finally getting it. The food took forever to come out as well and did not come out at the same time (our friend had to wait about 8 minutes after we got our food for her pizza). They did come out and apologized for that, but that was it. When it was time to pay, we waited a bit for them to come get the check, and then my friend ended up taking our cards and cash to the bar to the where the waiters were hanging out so we could pay. Then there was some issue or misunderstanding because my friend wanted change, but they thought all the cash was tip I guess and didn’t want to give her change. I’m not completely clear, but it took a long time and there were issues where there shouldn’t have been. And, the woman (not our waiter) who was helping my friend pay/​sort out the check asked how our meal was. My friend said, okay but not great, and instead of getting details, the woman said, «Okay,» and rolled her eyes as she turned away. Wow… Why’d you ask then?
In summary, overall mediocre and not worth the money. Perhaps go for appetizers and wine, but I wouldn’t recommend coming here for a nice meal.

What a cool design for a restaurant! The self serve wine bar is so much fun. We went with a group of 4 and had a great time tasting the different wines. The food was good but not really tapas style. We had a couple pizzas, salads, and some appetizers. The bacon wrapped dates is one of our usual orders anywhere we go and Terravant’s was one of the better ones we have had. The price for 4 people including food and a lot of wine tastes and half glasses was surprisingly reasonable. We would definitely come back on our next trip to the area.

Came here for lunch after a brief wine tasting elsewhere. They claim they’re a tapas restaurant but that’s only in the sense that you’re paying a decent sum for small plates that you don’t want to share because you’re still hungry!
We shared, between 6 of us:
–cobb salad w/​chicken
–vegetable salad
–scallop with lentils
–Tuna tartare (x2)
–farmers market pizza
The cobb was exactly as expected, but $ 5 for chicken which seemed crazy.
The veggie salad was fine, just roasted veggies with israeli couscous
The scallops were very bland and under seasoned
The tuna tartare was equally bland with underripe mango and pretty flavorless tuna
Suprisingly, the best was the pizza which was olive oil, 4-​cheese blend with pear/​apple slices, pomegranite seeds and pancetta.
For dessert we were treated to «the chronic»: White Chocolate & Cranberry Semifreddo, Popcorn, White Chocolate Ganache. Hands down an incredible dessert and combination of flavors and textures although something we’d never had ordered if it wasn’t comp’d for a birthday. Highly recommended.
Service was fine, and the wine selection seemed alright, although I’d wait to sample until the 3PM happy hour when prices drop a bit.

Got a burger with a cup of interesting lemon asparagus soup w/​chicken, which goes down asparagussy and finishes lemony. Because they serve wine on electronic tap, the place is very cold, so seriously bring a jacket. Ask for the chilly.

You know what I like more than anything else?
Mother Effen great service. Our Fidel Castro looking waiter was soooo helpful.
Pear pizza and chicken Sam SAMs
Dank

So, it looks beautiful and calming and pleasant, but the experience was «eehhhn.» To start, we got there, and they ask if we had reservations. Ummmm. There were like no joke 4 – 5 tables being served, tops (we did have one, but WTF).
So, we were served the «Yuppie Crack» first. I can see how some might like it, but to me it was too sweet and the bacon was too thickly cut. Not my fave, but it may be yours, because I’m not the biggest fan of fruits like dates.
Next up was a margherita pizza. Oh dear. It looked and smells delicious, but because it had sliced tomatoes on the top, the sogginess of the tomatoes soaked through the crust. Picking up a piece of that pizza was like picking up a flimsy dead fish.
As for the wine? Well I’m no sommelier, and I suppose the selection seemed nice, but I got a bug in my glass, I noticed, once we sat down. Gross. They took that off the bill but it just grossed me out.
They get an extra star for lovely ambiance and a great acoustic musician that night. But I won’t go back, due to the terrible food and the bug in my wine.

Very disappointed with their customer service. We walked in on Labor Day weekend, Saturday. It was still Happy Hour at the bar area and we couldn’t sit in the dining area for dinner. We had two kids under 12 and a newborn. We went to the bathroom to wash up and during that time we «missed» the happy hour specials. So we decided to try some wines. As we were checking out the wines, we noticed that they started seating for dinner. We asked if they could please move us to the dining areas we how it was now open. One waitress said let me check in that. And in the few seconds the first waitress walked away another waitress came up and said NO. WE CAN’T MOVE YOU. WE HAVE RESERVATIONS AND PARTIES COMING IN. Here we are sitting at a high table w bar chairs. Not the best place for kids much less a newborn. As we ordered we glanced over, plenty of open tables. As the food came in we looked over agin. Yup! You guessed it! All the tables that were open since the dining area opened were still vacant! Not at all impressed w the service. I’ve heard great things about the food but if the service isn’t as good as the food, it’s not worth it. Btw the newborn we had was quiet the ENTIRE time we were there.
This was my first and last visit to Avant. I’ll take my business elsewhere.
I also took a pic of how «full» the dining area was and I’ll make sure to share it.
Happy Labor Day!!!

Loved the tasting options… Taste, half or full glass!
The ambient lighting was very nice and appropriate!
We had the poppers which were delicious and spicy! The mac&cheese had good amounts of lobster in it… Yummy!!!

Walked in 20 minutes before happy hour ended and was told seats would not be available till 5 pm. Sat next to women’s restroom, at 515 we asked to be seated and one lady said «give me 2 minutes» shortly followed by a different server claiming their seating area was booked and reserved already. Told all tables where reserved.
Took a picture at 610 and notice how all the tables are full… BS.
Good food, good wine, crap service.

Sunday night and not many in the restaurant. Given the spiel on the wine wall and a card to dispense the wine. This gimmick is way over priced. Cheap Pinot runs 5.00 for 3oz pour. Get a 6oz pour for 10.00, think not. At this rate you pay 40 for a 19.00 bottle of wine. I had beer and it was priced right. Hummus dish and Italian Spicy pizza. Food was OK but not great. Service was very slow and not many in the restaurant so this was a concern. Their computers were down which expedited problems. Decided to use cash because I was concerned about card not getting run correctly. We might give them another chance if and when we are back in the area. Currently, the jury is out on this place.

I’ve been to Terravant twice while visiting the central coast of California and loved it both times. The first time I went with friends who introduced me to the restaurant, then several months later I took my wife there during a trip back.
As you arrive, you might think you’re on the wrong road or might have passed the restaurant, but fear not. Drive past the warehouses you see on your right, go through the cul-​de-​sac and onto what looks like a private drive around the last industrial building and suddenly you’re back behind everything, parking, and looking at the glass front of the restaurant. Go in, head up the stairs and be prepared for wine tasting and tapas, put together in the best of ways. You’re seated in a large room with a bar on one end and a very cool view of where some of the wine making magic happens on the other. Between the two along the back is the «wine wall». It’s exactly what it sounds like: bottles of wine in groups of four that run the length of the wall. Reds, whites and dessert wines are all there for you to taste, or enjoy a half or full glass along with your food.
The tapa menu has small and large plates and enough variety that ensures there’ll be something there for just about anyone. Be sure to try the Yuppie Crack to start. Small plate recommendations include the Seared Scallops or the Mac ‘n’ Cheese (with bacon!). If you want more, the large plate Grilled Mahi Mahi or the Burger are tasty. The wood-​fired pizzas are also very good. If you’re in a pizza mood, try the Spicy Italian. Finally, don’t forget dessert. order the Chronic to share. You’re welcome.
While there was a decent crowd both times, the room stays pretty quiet and you’re able to enjoy the music. Both times I went for dinner there was live acoustic music, as is the norm Thursday through Saturday. Very enjoyable!
Next time you’re near Buelton, be sure to make time to enjoy a meal at Terravant.

Located at the end of a cul-​de-​sac. The dining room is on the 2^nd floor with a view of the luscious, green mountains and the winery. What was a first experience for me was a wine dispensary! There were over 35 wines to drink They give you a credit card to select the different wines. You can choose a sample, half a glass, or a full glass of wine.
As for the menu, there are limited options for food. However, the chefs do a great job. For appetizers, definitely ask for the poppers. I had the salmon, which melted in my mouth. Lastly, have the ice cream and popcorn, which is the best combination for desert. What a great idea!
Check out this place for an impressive date. We took our dad out for father’s day here.

This place is pretty unique! It’s definitely off the beaten path so don’t be discouraged if it’s your first time going here and you are using GPS to guide you! If it wasn’t for my friends knowing the location of this place I don’t think I would have found it honestly.
Once you arrive here the winery/​restaurant is located upstairs.
What’s unique about this place is the self serve wine machines they have! This can definitely get you in trouble so beware; especially if you’re a wine lover like myself. The waiter provides you with a credit card that is assigned to your table, and it allows you to insert it into the machines so you can make your choices.
You have 3 choices: Tasting, Half Glass, Full Glass
There are tastings as low as .95 cents! Not too shabby at all and it’s a pretty generous amount.
The red wines are a bit more pricier than the whites.
The food was pretty good! For tapas i’d definitely recommend the Yuppie Crack… Applewood-​smoked bacon, California dates, goat cheese, balsamic reduction, and basil oil.
2^nd choice — Wood-​Fired Brie… Dried cranberries, basil oil, balsamic reduction, toasted walnuts.
Sausage pizza was yummy! My friend let me try her scallops and they were also fantastic!
Can’t wait to return to this place again.

*Review only for desserts and wine
Came here for some dessert and wine and it was alright. I enjoyed how you could just swipe a card at the self-​serve dispensers to taste the variety of wines they had available in 3 different serving sizes. However, I feel like the variety at the actual stations were eh, nothing special. Of maybe 8 – 10 that I tried, I only liked one of them. Also, basically every other time we sampled something, the machine would only give like half the actual tasting portion and flash on a light saying bottle empty even though it was pretty full. Meh getting gyped a little.
For desserts we had the Chronic and Bread Pudding. The Chronic was basically an enormous bowl of White Chocolate & Raspberry Semifreddo with Popcorn on top. It was eh. I couldn’t really taste the white chocolate and it wasn’t actually raspberry flavored, only had dried raspberry pieces mixed in. The portion was incredible but the flavor was mediocre. The bread pudding was nice. Not too mushy and had good flavor but it was nothing special.
The one thing I didn’t appreciate was that our server kind of treated us like broke little kids. He kept saying how young we looked while staring too long at our I. Ds, insinuating that they could be fake –_​– Really? I understand you have to check I. Ds, that’s obvious, but you don’t need a «scare» tactic lmao. And also while explaining how the card to taste the wines worked, he kept mentioning over and over not to worry, that the cards were checked and have $ 0 balance on them. Okay? We get it… It’s not like this place is $$$$$, or even $$$ lol.
I would have given this place three stars for the experience because it had a cute atmosphere just to chit chat with friends and do some exploring but the actual wine selection, desserts, and weird server definitely deserve 2 stars. Like Unilocal says, «Meh. I’ve experienced better.»