Harmony Cafe at the Pewter Plough

I brought my visiting sister-​in-​law here for lunch. She has serious allergies due to immune system issues, but she always finds something and is incredibly gracious about it. She ordered a salad and just requested no cheese on top. He (Giovanni) refused — I thought he was kidding! She said she was allergic; he replied that every ingredient is specially chosen and he won’t change it. He said she would just have to order something else. I would have left but she found a soup. I will not return and found this attitude about non-​pre made food unacceptable.

All I can say is Awesome! This is the go to place in Cambria. Great atmosphere! The hostess and chef were so kind. I had the pork sausage burger, a taste explosion, it melts in your mouth, wonderful! The squash soup highly recommended. My wife truly enjoyed the chicken cibatta sandwich!

Waiter was a PSYCHO… asking weird offbeat questions like… whats your religion are you Liberal or what… then when we ordered… he was like please don’t tell me your gonna share your food. and that how he was annoyed how just minutes prior. he drove a couple out of the restaurant because they too wanted shared plates… shesh…what a totally weird human… but the food was delicious…(even though we almost walked out without dinner… we already had 2 glasses of vino just poured… and honestly said… well…maybe then well just finish our wine and depart… at that point he said. oh no… its ok… you can order and share!

I am unsure how to go about reviewing this place… it is such an unusual experience. Charming place and i loved that they played the old records. Giovanni is a very sweet man, the food is delicious, but there are many elements that would keep me from coming back.
You have to come here being completely open to what they are providing you. I came here for lunch with my parents. My mother and i both ordered the chicken ciabatta sandwich and my father the lasagna. The sandwiches came with some greens with a house made dressing.
My mother was able to change the salad dressing to a balsamic since she does not like mayo based dressings, but he would not put my dressing on the side… it was fine though because the dressing was very good.
Overall, the food was delicious. I couldn’t really taste the brie at all on my sandwich, but it had the best pesto I’d ever eaten… extremely fresh and had hints of rosemary. the lasagna my father had was amazing… it seemed like a small portion but it was the best lasagna I’d ever tasted. i would come back for that lasagna…
Here is where it gets a bit strange. We asked for some iced water. After waiting about 10 minutes with only 2 other guests in the restaurant we were served small glasses half full of tap water. i told her i drink a lot of water and asked if she could bring a small pitcher, she wouldn’t. So i had to keep going up to the front to ask her for more, i felt as if i was bothering her and didnt drink nearly as much as i would have liked to. I have a personal problem with restaurants that treat water as a commodity when you’re dining at their restaurant. It was literally tap water. You could at least throw in some ice or get a brita filter. Basically anything i asked of this woman, I felt like I was bothing her.
When it came time to order dessert we ordered a tiramisu but they didnt have any left so Giovanni showed us the pastries he had in the display on the counter and specifically pointed out a dessert labled the «chocolate brooklyn.») I instantly recognized this as being the «chocolate brooklyn babka» from trader joes… i asked if this was the babka and he said «no, i made with chocolate and filo dough.» he kept making statements that insinuated he made it himself, so i believed him. We ordered two slices of it and some gelato. He brought out 2 huge scoops of gelato and a beautiful display of the chocolate brooklyns with chocolate sauce and hand made cream. the cream was absolutely delicious and the cherry gelato was amazing. However, as soon as i tasted the chocolate brooklyn i knew that it was the one from Trader Joes… it also does not have filo dough, it is more like a crossaint dough. My guess is he probably didnt think we would know what filo dough is or that anyone would recognize the one from TJs. Although the dessert was delicious and beautifully presented, it bothered me that he would be dishonest about something like this. if he had just said it came from a bakery or something i would have been fine with that, but telling your customers you make something when you dont is bizarre. he is clearly an incredible chef so he should not do things like this to make people suspicious.
Another issue, was when my parents came back for dinner later in the week, they asked for water and were told they didnt serve water and they had to buy a drink. This was weird considering we had been given some water during lunch… so they paid 2.50 a pop for bottled water. When asking for ice, they were told they didn’t have any.
Then they ordered a basket of bread… my dad asked for butter and was told they didn’t serve butter because it wasnt organic… there is 100% organic butter available so i found that very odd. They did say though that the bread was amazing and didnt need the butter.
There was also a mishap with the table they had reserved being the wrong table, so Giovanni brought over an extra lamb chop for them, they seemed very appreciative of that. My father said the brussel sprouts were amazing even though he generally hates brussel sprouts. They did get a chance to try the tiramusu at dinner and said it was very good.
They agreed that while the food was quite delicious, it that it was not worth the price at dinner to deal with all the other elements and being uncomfortable to ask for anything.
We all agreed that we would maybe go back for lunch as lunch prices were much more reasonable, but they would not return for dinner. There are just so many better places in Cambria where you can get just as delicious food without having to compromise on service.
I am glad we tried it, but I don’t see any reason to go back. I am not a fan of this so called «european style» and they should be aware that most Americans are not accustomed to it. It takes a certain kind of person to truly enjoy this place, and it is something you have to experience for yourself. If it wasn’t for the weird service, I would rave about this place because the food really is good.

My husband and I came here on a rainy Sunday last weekend with my parents who are regulars at this establishment. They told us beforehand how much they adore the chef here and how invested he is in what he creates — he even types the menu himself on a typewriter — so I went in knowing to expect a chef who is proud of his work and excellent at what he does. Yes, he does not react well to substitutions or omissions, but that’s only because he’s so invested in his craft and has carefully selected all the fresh ingredients. I don’t eat meat, so I was very pleased to find the eggplant burger on the menu… I have to say, I’m still thinking about it! Absolutely incredible! The service is a little slow, but I find it kind of nice as you are not rushed to finish your meal or leave until you are good and ready, definitely the Italian way. This place is wonderful, and the love the chef has for what he makes definitely translates onto the plate. We will be back next time we visit my parents!

Harmony Café is a delight!
Our second time once for lunch today for dinner both excellent
A truly European spot with a few options and super preparation
We ate before a play at the Pewter Plough playhouse and enjoyed every bit
Eat here and enjoy!

Dinner. I had the artichoke cakes, OK but bland. Candy had the caprese salad, very nice, with real bufala cheese and beautiful ripe tomatoes. For my main I had the lamb shank, meaty and well prepared, with Brussels sprouts and tasteless spinach sauce gnocci. Candy had the stuffed chicken breast with carrot purée and Brussels sprouts. The staff became insensed when we asked for salt. Candy was turned off by the improperly cleaned chicken, nerve ganglia and bone chips were left in the breast. When the chef came out to check on our dinners, we talked about the chicken, and he spent 5 minutes telling us this was ok and normal. We were totally turned off, by the poor prep and arrogance of the chef. We do not recommend this eatery.

This European-​style café is a shining pearl of excellence in a sea of mediocre Cambria food.
We came here for lunch and enjoyed a peaceful moment on the patio, surrounded by plants, statues, bees and butterflies. Customers order at the bar, and food is brought out to them.
I ordered the eggplant burger and my husband ordered the chicken ciabatta sandwich. They were both exquisite. The quality of the ingredients was apparent, including a good quality extra virgin olive oil, a perfect blend of spices, excellent produce, fine cheese, and a toasted and delicious bread on both sandwiches.
The sandwiches came accompanied by a beautiful side salad of fresh mixed greens with a light, bright dressing. I can’t tell you how harmonious and perfectly blended the elements of each dish were. We got two scoops of gelato for dessert, chocolate and cherry. Amazing!
Some of the other reviews suggest that the chef does not look kindly on substitutions. Again, this sounds like a conflict of American vs European restaurant culture. In Europe, the chef is seen as an artist, and he will not allow menu substitutions that will result in a sub-​par dish leaving his kitchen. In summary, if you don’t trust the chef to create a dish that is utterly harmonious and perfectly crafted, perhaps you would be better off going to Burger King where you can «have it your way».
But believe me, you can trust this chef to put something absolutely fabulous on your plate using local ingredients! A wonderful find.

The Harmony Café is one of the most special restaurants in which we’ve ever eaten! Having moved to Cambria recently from the little town that gave it its name, the Café still offers the most incredibly delicious and healthy dishes. Chef Giovanni Grillenzoni uses mostly organic, local ingredients to produce some of the most beautiful and tasty dishes imaginable. Lunch is served every day of the week but Tuesday, and dinners are served as well on Friday and Saturday.
The chicken ciabatta is an extraordinary sandwich, with organic chicken breast, pesto, and brie, and comes with a side of mixed greens dressed lightly and flavorfully. The Chef has a light touch with all his dressings and sauces, each distinctive and delicious, with a rare brightness. His soups are amazing – the lentil soup with arugula is rich, with lentils not too soft or too hard, his zucchini and apple soup is a wonderful surprise of flavors that seem made for each other, his potato and kale soup is both light and richly flavorful, and his watercress broth with chicken dumplings is fabulous.
All the Chef’s salads are terrific – he makes a great papaya salad, a green bean salad, a summer salad, and an amazing butter lettuce salad with almond slivers and a touch of cheese. Most of the pastas are made in house by the Chef himself, and they are both delicious and cooked to perfection. In fact, everything that comes out of the Chef’s kitchen has seemed perfect to us, an even more miraculous feat because with few employees, the Chef will often deliver orders and bus tables himself. He is a real magician, with a reverence for the ingredients he uses and for the art itself.
Dinners have been beyond outstanding, like braised lamb with homemade gnocchi and roasted brussel sprouts; salmon in puffed pastry; porterhouse steak with sautéed spinach and roasted Yukon potatoes; braised rabbit; fettuccine bolognese. And oh, the lasagna! It was so good, it was like eating the dish for the very first time.
For dessert lovers, the homemade gelato is fantastic (cherry and fig are my favorites), the tiramisu is the best we’ve ever eaten, and the afagato (vanilla gelato with a shot of espresso poured on top) is out of this world.
I could go on – the point is, everything at the Harmony Café has been deeply satisfying and enjoyable, and in addition, it simply is the best value in town. There is a profound earthiness to the food, which clearly reflects the Chef’s origin in Modena, Italy. Nothing is fussy or overdone, and everything has a simple elegance that is mind-​expanding. We’ve been truly inspired by the Chef’s cooking, how he brings the best out of every ingredient and blends them so perfectly. There is both a lovely indoor setting and a beautiful garden patio with additional seating. The Chef himself has always been warm and very appreciative of our business, and we love the food and atmosphere he has created adjacent to the Pewter Playhouse. Oh, the menu changes every two weeks, always keeping things at the Harmony Café fresh and interesting!

Last night I went to this quaint place for dinner. I have had lunch there a few times and it is always so good.
I decided to be adventurous and have the lamb, not something I would normally order. I don’t even know how to describe it. Everything was just amazing. The potatoes and squash for excellent compliments to the main dish. The lamb was served with this amazing wine sauce that was beyond delicious. And the tenderness and flavors combined were just perfect.
And for having one server and one guy in the kitchen, the temperature of the food and the service were spot on excellent.
And the wine was the best I’ve had

The ambience includes a cozy garden with statues, flowers and blooming plants. Lovingly created and maintained. The inside seating is also delightful.
I had the eggplant burger with basil pesto feta cheese and tomato. It comes with a small crisp salad. The salad dressing was delicious, flavorful and fresh. The basil pesto had a unique flavor of rye or caraway seeds (not sure). But what I do know for sure is it was delicious. Only complaint is that they skimped on the tomato so only half the sandwich had tomato on it. The eggplant was cooked just right which can be tricky if not done properly. Treat yourself for and authentically adorable café experience.
I rated the service lower because the sweet lady at the counter didn’t seem to know answers to common questions the guests had about the food ingredients. And Giovanni was around but acted like he would rather have been someplace else, i.e. not terribly friendly that day. Guess we’ve all been there at some point!

So unique and pleasant inside I wish I could spend many more hours here. Calming classic colors /​furniture/​big window overlooking the street… lovely green patio (at the entrance to the playhouse). We really enjoyed our food and the deserts. Stuff (or owner) were really nice and fun.
Another place along hwy 1 to stop by again.

To die for: the salmon encroute and the rack of lamb! The chocolate dessert of light-​as-​a-​feather-​chocolate-​cake + warm chocolate sauce & a few berries is the best dessert we’ve ever tasted. Pipestone Chateauneuf du Pipe tasty. Thank you Chef Giovanni!
Update: a few days later we enjoyed lunch: amazingly delicious baked white fish (capers and rosemary) on lentils and an excellent eggplant burger with caramelized onions, pesto, tomatoes goat cheese + mixed greens. Gelato for dessert (espresso & cherry). Oh my! This is the most delightful Cambria restaurant + an excellent wine list.
Six weeks later: Consistently excellent.
We visit Cambria about once a month. We enjoy eating in Cambria’s many good restaurants. Harmony Café, is one of the very best restaurants in Cambria! It is reasonable too.
We have enjoyed wine + several dinners and several lunches at the Harmony Café. The white fish with capers and rosemary + lentils is outstanding, the appetizer of mac & cheese + shrimp is delicious with an interesting presentation in a martini glass, the artichoke cakes are an excellent vegetarian version of crab cakes, the bouillabaisse is wonderful and the tiramisu is absolutely to die for.

We discovered that Cambria’s Harmony Café at the Pewter Plough is back, and open for lunch and dinner.
(The quick back story is that Giovanni, the restaurant’s owner, had a disagreement with the lease holder at the original location in the town of Harmony, a few miles south of Cambria. It’s an interesting tale; ask Giovanni, a colorful character, to fill you in on it.)
We ate outdoors in the patio. Lunch was cheap and delicious — I had the warm pork sandwich with caramelized onions and roasted veggies, and cheese; DW had warm chicken, pesto, brie sandwich. The sandwiches were a little under $ 10. Last time we split pasta with Italian sausage and tomato sauce. All the dishes were fresh and made to order.
Giovanni sat and talked with us for a while and explained how he avoids all the corporate food suppliers — Sysco and U.S. Foods — and sticks with locally grown and raised foods. Coincidentally, while we were eating, one of the restaurant’s suppliers — a local farmer — walked in with two sacks of just-​picked vegtables.
They have a decent wine list — lots of local Pipestone and Niner. Only one beer of note, Firestone 805. There are lots of good breweries nearby in SLO, so I’m hoping they’ll beef up the list.
A big surprise was the coffee — strong, robust, and rich — and we learned it came from Joebella Coffee Roasters in Atascadero.
Even with inexpensive prices, the bill came to $ 60 for the two sandwiches (they came with small side salads), three glasses of wine, and a couple of cups of coffee.
We don’t live in Cambria, but the next time we visit, we’ll definitely stop in for dinner. We found the restaurant’s FB page and menu here:

Grabbed a quick bite here on our way down the Pacific Coast Highway! We really enjoyed the ambiance here — felt upscale and cozy without being pretentious. We each had one of their sandwiches and they were all tasty! They had a great window seat that my infant had fun crawling around on to stretch his legs. Prices were very reasonable!

Great Lunch Spot in Cambria
This cute historic structure houses a fine gourmet lunch spot. Ordering was «half service», which was odd, but the food is exceptional. Beef on polenta was tasty, as was the chicken/​pesto ciabatta. The sweets looked great, but we were so satisfied from lunch that we passed on them.
Curiously, you order at the bar, but all drinks are canned/​bottled, otherwise, it was a pleasant, delicious experience.

This place is a find! I would describe it as dressed up casual. It is a charming café and the courtyard patio is adorable. I believe that the owner is Italian and the quality in the food shows. Everything was delicious. The tomato soup was made from fresh tomatoes. The vegetarian lasagna was very tasty. All of the ingredients seemed very high quality and it showed in the finished product.
You order at the bar and we paid at the beginning. It is attached to the playhouse so look for that and go in. The staff was friendly and extremely helpful.

Would really liked to have tried this place but when the chef is so arrogant as to refuse to remove the cheese from a portobello mushroom burger, then I have to pass. My daughter wanted the fish, but asked for the chef to hold the capers. He wouldn’t. We left without ordering. So they would obviously rather lose business than change anything to better please their guests? What a shame.