10 served up in historical places

It’s delightful to transport one’s self into the spirit of the past. . . --Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

S outhern California has dozens of historic places to visit but few afford the opportunity to enjoy the charm of the past by dining in their historical surroundings. If you want a chance to absorb the aura of days gone by and get a meal in the bargain, here are 10 places that let you do both:

Rose Victorian Inn & Restaurant--789 Valley Road, Arroyo Grande, (805) 481-5566. Restaurant open daily 5:30-9 p.m. Entrees $11.50-$15.25.

An example of Victorian Italian Stick architecture, built in 1885. Two hundred rosebushes surround the four-story inn painted in four shades of rose. Tucked in a garden behind the inn, the restaurant serves inn guests and offers dinner--steaks, chicken and fresh seafood--to the public.

1880 Union Hotel--362 Bell St., Los Alamos, (805) 928-3838. Dining room open 5-8:30 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays; noon-7 p.m., Sundays. Prices $12 per person.

The original 1880 hotel made of wood burned down in 1886. Rebuilt of 18-inch adobe in the early 1900s, it’s since been restored with 50- to 100-year-old barn wood. Dining room has 100-year-old, hand-carved solid oak furniture. Serves family-style dinner with country baked chicken and platter of beef to hotel guests and the public.

San Ysidro Ranch, Plow and Angel--900 San Ysidro Lane, Montecito, (805) 969-5046. Dining room open Monday-Saturday 8-10:30 a.m., noon-2 p.m., and for dinner from 6 p.m.; Sunday brunches 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. and Sunday dinners 8-9 p.m. Entrees $8 breakfast, $12 lunch, $32 dinner.

Part of a Spanish land grant, Santa Barbara Mission padres raised cattle here. Opened as a guest ranch in 1893. Once a citrus packing house, the dining room serves ranch guests and the public.

Hotel Upham, Louie’s Restaurant at the Upham--1404 De la Vina St., Santa Barbara, (805) 962-0058. Lunch 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday-Friday; dinner 6-9 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, dinners until 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; Sunday brunch 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Lunch $5.75-$8; dinner $18-$25; brunch $10.75-$14.25.

A Boston banker who sailed to Santa Barbara built the New England-style inn with redwood in 1871. Considered Southern California’s oldest continually operated hotel, it serves “creative California cuisine.”

Eastlake Inn--1442 Kellam Ave., Los Angeles, (213) 250-1620. Hours and prices depend on scheduled food adventure or catered event.

Pre-1890, it’s a rare Victorian duplex near the historical Carroll Avenue homes. Offers special holiday feasts, such as “Groundhog Gambol” Jan. 31-Feb. 2 and the “Soaring Hearts” Valentine’s Day celebration, featuring a six-course dinner and dancing at the Rex in Pershing Square, Feb. 13-15. Inn provides for such events as business lunches and romantic dinners. Limit 20 people for sit-down affairs, 25-30 people for buffets.

San Antonio Winery--737 Lamar St., Downtown Los Angeles, (213) 223-1401. Restaurant open daily 11 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Winery open Monday-Thursday and Saturdays 8 a.m.-7 p.m.; Fridays 8 a.m.-8 p.m., Sundays 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Lunch and dinners $3-$5.75, excluding beverages.

Founded in 1917, this Los Angeles Cultural Historical Monument is the last of 60 wineries that once dotted Los Angeles. Guided winery tours Saturdays and Sundays on the hour; wine sampling in the tasting room. Buffet-style restaurant offers an Italian menu. Dine inside next to wooden fermentation tanks or outside in winery’s one-acre park.

1893 Bradbury Building, Bank on Bradbury Restaurant--304 S. Broadway, Los Angeles, (213) 489-1893 (building information) or (213) 620-1893 (restaurant information). Restaurant open 7 a.m.-6 p.m., Monday-Friday. Lunch or dinner about $5.95.

This registered historic landmark built in 1893 has an open gallery of wrought iron, marble and caged French elevators. Building admission for self-guided tours is $1. The restaurant has always been a part of the building and features Continental cuisine.

San Diego Rowing Club Boathouse, Chart House Restaurant--525 E. Harbor Drive, San Diego, (619) 233-7391. Open weekdays 5 p.m.-10 p.m., Saturdays-Sundays 5 p.m.-11 p.m. Entrees $10.35-$23.95.

The San Diego Rowing Club headquarters until 1979, this 1899 boathouse is a San Diego Historic Site and on the National Register of Historic Places. Restored by Chart House Inc., it’s also a museum of old rowing club memorabilia, with dozens of framed and preserved photographs, trophies and rowing sweeps. Serves steak, seafood and salad and has an oyster bar.

Coronado Boathouse, Chart House Restaurant--1701 Strand Way, Coronado, (619) 435-0155. Open Monday-Friday 5-10 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays 5-11 p.m. Entrees $10.45-$23.95.

An 1887 Victorian boathouse also restored by Chart House Inc. The red, wooden structure still has its original cupola. It juts out over Glorietta Bay and is across the street from the historic Hotel del Coronado. Serves steak, seafood and salad.

Hotel del Coronado, Crown Room Restaurant--1500 Orange Ave., Coronado, (619) 435-6611. Restaurant open Monday-Saturday 5-10 p.m., Sundays 5-9 p.m. Entrees $14.50-$19.95.

Five-story Victorian hotel built in 1888 is a state and national historic landmark. The Crown Room, the main dining hall, claims to have the world’s largest all-wood pillar-free dome. Handcrafted of sugar pine with wood pegs, the ceiling measures 611 feet wide by 156 feet long and 33 feet high. U.S. presidents, European royalty and Hollywood stars have dined here.