The Allegretto Vineyard Resortin Paso Robles, California, announced the official opening of Cello Ristorante & Bar for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, every day, under the direction of executive chef and food and beverage director, Eric Olson. With creative dishes made from regionally farmed and foraged ingredients, alongside an extensive domestic and international wine list, garden-to-glass cocktails, and craft beers, Cello is an upscale, casual Mediterranean-inspired restaurant.
“Allegretto is a joyful place,” says Anna Olson,general manager. “Nowhere is that more evident than in the act of breaking bread together here at Cello, among an abundance of fresh flavors, good company, and the beauty of our surroundings here in Paso Robles.”
Recalling an era when the local inn was a region’s destination for the finest culinary delights, Cello boasts a menu that skews rustic Northern Italian, along with spices from Allegretto Owner Douglas Ayres’ global travels. Guests can enjoy dining by candlelight at intimate tables or join the communal tables, sit fireside at the outdoor fire bowls or take on a game of bocce ball on the restaurant’s comfortable heated patio.
Most recently serving as executive chef at Centrally Grown in Cambria and the Ojai Valley Inn & Spa, Chef Olson brings a world of experience and a global culinary education to Cello, where his talent for eclectic menu-crafting and formal training combine to accentuate Allegretto’s warmth and authenticity. Chef Olson prides himself on deep relationships and knowledge of the local farmers and purveyors with whom he works on a daily basis, as well as a knack and passion for foraging indigenous ingredients. The restaurant’s open kitchen design encourages spectators while the outdoor chef’s garden supplies herbs and produce for Cello’s vibrant fare.
The interplay of food and wine is key to the Cello experience. The long bar and extensive wine list feature exceptional wines from the Central Coast, especially Paso Robles, as well as producers from across the globe. Cello also offers bottles from its proprietary wine label, sourced from a vineyard in Willow Creek District owned and operated by the resort. Additionally, Cello offers several craft beers on tap and a menu of signature cocktails sourced from top-shelf spirits and ingredients from the chef’s garden.
