Overview

Dining at Somm’s Kitchen in Paso Robles feels less like a restaurant visit and more like attending a dinner party thrown by your incredibly knowledgeable, world-traveled friend who just happens to be a chef and sommelier. From the moment you walk into this intimate 16-seat spot, you know you’re in for something special.

This is not a typical restaurant with servers bustling around or menus that leave you second-guessing your choices. Here, there are no choices. Chef Ian Adamo takes care of everything. The night unfolds as a culinary adventure with at least eight courses shared between couples, paired with at least a dozen wines from around the world. Ian is a one-man show—cooking, pouring, storytelling, and somehow making everyone feel like they have a front-row seat to something magical.

We’ve eaten at plenty of chef’s tables over the years, but Somm’s Kitchen stands out. It’s a rare place where the food, wine, and atmosphere come together perfectly. We left vowing to make it a mandatory stop on every Paso Robles trip from now on.

About the Chef

Chef Ian Adamo isn’t just some guy who decided to open a wine-focused restaurant after a few good trips to Europe. His career has been shaped by decades of work in both kitchens and dining rooms across the globe.

He cut his teeth at legendary New York spots like Le Cirque and Le Grenouille, learning the importance of precision, hospitality, and, let’s be honest, how to survive in high-pressure culinary environments. When he moved west, Ian joined Lampreia in Seattle, a restaurant that went on to win a James Beard Award during his time there.

But the kitchen wasn’t his only classroom. Ian also entered the prestigious Masters of Wine program in London—a notoriously challenging course of study that involves blind tastings, theory exams, and more late-night wine analysis than any reasonable person should endure. His wine expertise eventually took him everywhere, from Hong Kong wine competitions to Parisian dining rooms and Cambridge University lecture halls.

Ian describes Somm’s Kitchen as a “laboratory of ideas inspired by tradition and culture.” After experiencing his food and wine pairings firsthand, that description makes perfect sense. His cooking doesn’t feel constrained by any particular style or cuisine. Instead, each course feels like a snapshot from a different chapter of Ian’s culinary journey.

Chef’s Counter Experience

Let’s talk about the Chef’s Counter Experience because, honestly, it’s the heart and soul of what makes Somm’s Kitchen so special. There are just 16 seats arranged around a curved granite counter, putting you face-to-face with Ian for the entire meal. It’s part theater, part dinner, and part wine class all rolled into one.

The night we visited, the meal featured wines from Saxum Vineyards. If you’re not familiar with Saxum, here’s a quick primer: they make some of the best Rhône-style wines in Paso Robles, with waitlists that stretch for years. Seeing their bottles lined up for our dinner was like spotting a celebrity in the wild.

The Chef’s Counter Experience costs $155 per person, which, given the quality of the food and wine, feels like a steal. Each night, Ian serves eight courses (shared per couple) and pours at least a dozen different wines. That’s right—twelve wines, thoughtfully paired with every bite.

Ian’s approach to wine pairing is anything but predictable. One minute, you’re sipping an earthy, old-world Syrah; the next, you’re tasting an aromatic white wine from some obscure vineyard Ian discovered during his travels. With each pour, Ian explains the why behind the pairing. He doesn’t just mention tasting notes like some sommeliers do—he tells stories about the winemakers, the soil, and how the wine’s acidity or tannins play with the flavors of the dish.

The food itself changes daily, depending on Ian’s mood, the market’s offerings, and whatever creative spark hits him that morning. On our night, we enjoyed a diverse lineup of dishes that ranged from light and delicate to rich and hearty. Every plate arrived with that “just-right” portion size that leaves you satisfied but still curious about what’s coming next. The pictures below give a pretty good idea of what you can expect.

The Price

At $155 per person, the Chef’s Counter Experience feels like a bargain compared to other high-end tasting menus. Considering you get eight courses and at least twelve wines, it’s hard to imagine a better value, especially in wine country.

Unlike many wine-focused restaurants, Somm’s Kitchen doesn’t allow corkage. This makes sense, given the nature of the experience. Ian curates the pairings to match the food, and bringing your own bottle would disrupt the flow. 

Conclusion

Somm’s Kitchen is one of those rare dining experiences that manages to be both educational and incredibly fun. Chef Ian Adamo has created a space where food, wine, and storytelling collide in the best possible way.

The food is inventive without being fussy, the wines are world-class, and the atmosphere feels more like a dinner party than a restaurant. The Chef’s Counter Experience offers incredible value, especially compared to the steep prices of other chef’s tables in wine country.

If you’re planning a trip to Paso Robles, make this a priority. Book your seats early—word about Ian’s culinary magic is spreading fast. We’ve already added Somm’s Kitchen to our must-visit list for future Paso Robles trips. Alongside Les Petites Canailles, it’s one of those can’t-miss spots that perfectly captures the charm and creativity of Paso’s food and wine scene.