Visit Lompoc and you’ll find a town with old buildings covered in murals, great local coffee shops, fine dining, and more. We discovered Sissy’s Uptown Café several years ago and go back every time we are in town.

Sissy’s was created by the Springer family in 2002 and is a true dining experience. From the chefs to the baker, to the serving staff, you’ll find the family hard at work creating a unique dining experience. Two generations of Springers staff the kitchen and dining area. Everyone pitches in, so it is common for Chefs Janan and Jon to deliver your meal.

Walking in you are surrounded by a funky Pacific Island theme, complete with a parrot sitting in the window, beach murals on the wall. Along another wall is a rack with 300 wines featuring one of the largest selections of Central Coast wines. Candles and flowers top the tables, creating an upscale casual dining environment.

Be sure to check the chalkboard for the homemade soup and the specials of the day. We partook of two entreés, the warm mushroom salad on a bed of mixed greens, with Maytag blue cheese, hazel nuts, and sautéed shitake mushrooms in a red wine dressing. The second was chicken pasta with sun dried tomatoes, kalamata olives, artichoke hearts, a feta cheese cream sauce, topped with fresh basil and parmesan cheese. Both were large portions, making for a complete meal. For a finishing touch, our server suggested a coconut cream pie. The pie filling was heavenly, not too sweet, with a flaky crust to die for and shaved coconut sprinkled across the top. All were served with artistic plate presentation.

The dinner menu runs from fresh coconut encrusted salmon to filet mignon in a Jack Daniels sauce. For lighter eating there are a range of entreé salads, hot and cold sandwiches and burgers. The lunch menu offers an array of options including a nicoise salad (albacore tuna, tomato, egg, parmesan cheese, and house basil dressing), quiche of the day, pastas, cold and grilled sandwiches, and kid’s menu.

The extensive lunch menu has hot and cold sandwiches such as the Turkey, Bacon & Cotswold Cheese, eggplant with roasted red bell pepper & fontina cheese with aioli or traditional roast beef and chicken. You’ll also find pasta, salads, soups. As with dinner, they offer a kid’s menu.

Sissy’s wine store and tasting room are open six days a week. After you enjoy a taste of local wine, choose a custom gift basket to take home. You can top the wine basket off with a handmade gift.

Sissy’s Uptown Café is open for lunch every day except Sunday and for dinner on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Reservations recommended for dinner. Expect to spend around $10 per person for lunch and $22 for dinner, without drinks. There is a large parking lot, or you can bike or walk from your hotel. You can find Sissy’s at 112 South I St. in Lompoc, at www.sissysuptowncafe.com , or call them at (805) 735-4877.

© Bob Mack/Luvs Good Food