Christmas at the Carissa offers a truly enchanting holiday experience, brilliantly blending festive cheer with culinary innovation. As someone who has visited this gem twice this season, I am deeply impressed by its vibrant atmosphere and the unique twist it brings to food and drinks, perfectly embodying the spirit of the holidays.
The menu, curated with a festive theme in mind, is both intriguing and diverse. The dishes, though fittingly seasonal, might not cater to all palates, as I found some to be not entirely to my liking. However, the quality and creativity behind each item are undeniable, making it a culinary adventure worth embarking on.
What truly sets Christmas at the Carissa apart are its drinks. Expertly crafted, these beverages capture the essence of the holidays. Their ability to adjust the sweetness levels without compromising the flavors shows a commendable level of skill and attention to detail. This thoughtful customization enhances the overall dining experience, making the drinks a must-try.
The ambiance of the Carissa, bustling and lively, adds to the allure. It's a testament to its popularity and the joy it brings to the community during the festive season. The chef and staff deserve praise for their excellent work and the festive spirit they infuse into each aspect of the dining experience.
Christmas at the Carissa is a five-star over all experience in big groups especially for those seeking to immerse themselves in the holiday spirit through innovative cuisine. While some dishes may not be to everyone's taste, the adventure of trying new, seasonally inspired foods is worthwhile. I eagerly recommend any pop-up event hosted by the Carissa, as they consistently deliver a blend of culinary excellence and festive charm.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Other
Price per person
$50–100
Food: 3
Service: 4
Atmosphere: 5
What a fun holiday bar. If you want something festive for the holidays this place is it. Fun holiday drinks great atmosphere adorable decor. Even had little ones with us and the out is in a cozy area with couches and the kids had a great time too. Love the ski lift chair too.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Other
Price per person
$20–30
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Here is the best place to have drink with friends and family for holiday gathering.
During thanksgiving we had a great dinner at Novo and saw this place with all holiday decorations but we don’t have time to try it.
Today we are on the way to SoCal again and decided to check out this place.
It’s around 2pm so we only ordered drinks and took a lot of pictures 😆
The waitress is the same lady work at Novo, she is friendly.
I ordered avalanche spritz and latte for my daughter. We both enjoyed the drink and had a great time.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Other
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Great service from hostess, bartender, server, and bar back. The food was good. Drinks were delightful. It is an experience, and definitely the atmosphere will put any grinch in the Christmas spirit. Had a blast listening to music and sharing in the experience.
Rod and Hammer fun at it best.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Food: 4
Service: 4
Atmosphere: 5
We enjoyed a fun time with seasonal drink offerings and appetizers. The service was Friendly and responsive. Thanks for a fun evening.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$20–30
Food: 4
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Aside from the Christmas decorations, this place is a nightmare. I made a reservation for 7pm and we stood in the lobby and waited to be seated for 45 mins. The food was a let down and the alcohol was over priced. The service is terrible and I felt like the people working were rude and didn't show any concern for their job. We had to keep reminding them to check on our table and each time the response was "5 more mins. The people sitting at your table stayed longer than expected." They made no effort to make up for how late they were or even find us another table. There were 4 groups that got seated before us even though our reservation was earlier than theirs. I was at least expecting an apology and a discount on the food. It was so expensive!! This place has so much potential, it is just obvious it is not well managed at all. Highly don't recommend.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Other
Price per person
$20–30
Food: 1
Service: 1
Atmosphere: 3
Upon first entrance, I was super excited to try this restaurant. The decorations for christmas were up and beautiful and the space looked phenomenal. Sadly, that was the only positive about our experience. The food was extremely over priced for how small it was. The oysters were the smallest oysters I have ever seen and given the price of $26 for half a dozen I would have expected something more substantial. There were also pieces of shell in them and I literally choked so hard, tears were streaming down my face. The meat pie was tiny and the meat was dried out. I ordered a well vodka sour and somehow that was $13. As for the service, utterly horrible. The hostess was so sweet and she sat us and brought us water but then it was about 10 minutes until we saw our server. My drink came out after the appetizers and once the appetizers were on the table we never saw our server again. We literally sat at the table with empty plates for about 25 minutes and no one checked on us at all. Finally a different server asked if we were doing okay and we let her know that we just wanted the bill. She said she would let our server know. Another 10 minutes goes by and a manger(at least that’s what I think this guy was)asks how we are doing. Again, I inform him that we simply just want the check. Of course once that happened, about 30 seconds later our server came running out with the bill. I literally never leave reviews for restaurants, but I have been in the service industry for several years and this was one of the worst experiences I have ever had. The server was blonde. Wish I could give a name but she didn’t even bother introducing herself when she came to the table. Just wanted to get our order and leave. Do not recommend this restaurant at all. I know the decorations look awesome, but everything else is atrocious.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$30–50
Food: 2
Service: 1
Atmosphere: 4
Had reservation on Friday for 10-12 people, we arrived early, to enjoy awesome atmosphere and a few Holiday beverages, We made our way upstairs to the game-room loft and enjoyed a few games of pool until everyone arrived. Table was ready on time and service was spectacular. We ordered 5-6 items for each end of the table which allowed everyone to enjoy a taste. I highly recommend the Lobster Gnocchi and flatbread. For desert we shared the Cookies, served in a festive holiday jar. Thank you for making our FriendsGiving a success.
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
The ambience inside was lovely. We got to see it briefly as we were led out back where it was not so lovely. Food and drinks were mediocre. The prices exorbitant for what we got. Really $22 for 3 meatballs? Even Wagyu does not command that high a price. We have cocktails all around SLO and these were the most expensive we've seen. Other places make much better at a few dollars less. The thing that really gave it a 1 was a credit card surcharge added after we had been given the check. I bet most people don't even notice the difference between the original check and the one they sign. Felt very shady. The manager offered to comp a drink but we had already paid and were walking out the door. won't be going back and canceled a reservation for next week.
Service
Dine in
Food: 3
Service: 3
Atmosphere: 5
Place has changed a lot from being SLO Brew. Very modern and cozy. Food is good. Didn’t see a burger but the tacos are great. Very nice outdoor seating by creek. In the heart of downtown SLO. Great place to come meet friends. Relax and enjoy the atmosphere.
