Our Story
From our Family to Yours,
Los Olivos Café is not about us; it's about you. We see ourselves as stewards of a story we're all part of together.
Family-owned and operated since 1995, this place was built on a love of hospitality. Feeding people and providing a space where guests gather to make memories, celebrate, propose to the ones they love, or simply enjoy a little downtime is our joy. None of it would be possible without the people who show up every day to make it real, from our farmers and kitchen staff to our front-of-house crew. They carry this passion forward and make every guest feel genuinely welcome.
There's something truly special about 2879 Grand Avenue. You can't help but feel it when you arrive. No performance, no show, just genuine hospitality and real food, made with love. This is what LOCAL tastes like ™.
Sam and Shawnda
Meet Our General Manager
Matt Williams is, in many ways, the soul of Los Olivos Café. A familiar face since 2007, Matt has worn nearly every hat in the building — wine sales, wine club manager, even cellar rat for Bernat wines. He holds a B.A. in Geology and pursued a Ph.D. in Seismology, yet kept finding his way back. Why? In his own words: "I missed the people; the regulars I have genuine relationships with and the camaraderie with team members."
A Level 1 Sommelier with the Court of Master Sommeliers and father of three, Matt could have built a career in a lab. Instead, he built one here. One relationship, one regular, one team member at a time.
Meet Our Executive Chef
Chef Alex Garcia didn't take the straight road to our kitchen; he took the right one. He once dreamed of becoming a Marine, then set his sights on the police force, until a torn ligament had other plans. He even spent a few years in construction, managing a home build from the ground up. But the restaurant world kept calling him back.
Raised with a first-generation, build-it-yourself work ethic from helping his parents run their landscaping business, Alex started in our kitchen the same way so many of our best have: as a dishwasher. He worked his way up to line cook, then Sous Chef, stepping up naturally to Executive Chef when the role was called, already part of our family.
He lovingly carries on our Los Olivos Café classics while bringing his own signature smoked meats, locally inspired seafood, and a continued creativity using produce from our organic farm. What sets Alex apart isn't just his cooking; it's the way he makes everyone, team and guest alike, feel like they belong.
Meet Our Sous chef
Marco Sanchez once dreamed of going pro on the soccer field, but the team-first spirit that made him a strong player is exactly what he brings to our kitchen. He started as a dishwasher at the Los Olivos Café in 2006, where a high school cooking class sparked his love of pasta and a friendship with a classmate named Alex — yes, now our Chef Alex. Little did they know they'd still be slicing, dicing, and sautéing side by side two decades later.
After high school, Marco was promoted to the line and went on to cook at restaurants throughout the Santa Ynez Valley. When his old friend became our Executive Chef, Marco was thrilled to return and stand by his side, now proudly serving as Sous Chef.
What he loves most about Los Olivos Café is the menu that never stands still, one that grows with the seasons and the creativity behind it. A father of four, Marco shows his kids every day what it means to be part of a team.