I can't say I didn't eat well in California either.  If you happen to be in the Golden State, and looking for a few good places, allow me to make some recommendations.

Right before heading back down south from Nacimiento, my sister and her husband decided we should go into town for dinner.  That town happens to be Paso Robles, which is turning quite upscale.  It's almost turned into the central California equivalent of Santa Barbara.  As we were rolling in around 9 PM on a Tuesday night, the place we originally were going to go to was just closing.  So we started wandering the streets looking for open restaurants.  Suddenly Shannon said, "How about we go that Greek place?"  We took a seat in their courtyard area and looked around at the decidedly Spanish style decor, and glanced over their small menu and lengthy wine list and Sarah said, "I don't think this is a Greek restaurant honey."  It's actually called Villa Creek (with a C), but the writing on the sign did look Greek, so I'll give him a little credit.

The best restaurants always have short menus.  They do a few things, and they do them very, very well.  Between the Butternut Squash Enchiladas, Pan Seared Alaskan Halibut Arugula Pesto and Grilled Buffalo Rib Eye, we made absolute pigs of ourselves.

And if you're in the Santa Barbara area and looking for good seafood, I would recommend The Fish Enterprise Co.  A nice beer selection, and very good seafood no matter what your taste.  And of course, I can't mention seafood and Santa Barbara without mentioning Brophy's, which is right on the ocean.  You can never go wrong with their clam chowder and caesar salad.