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Far Western Tavern
Category: Restaurants Steakhouses Steakhouses [Edit]
899 Guadalupe StGuadalupe, CA 93434
(805) 343-2211
- Hours:
Tue-Thu 11 am - 8:30 pm
Fri-Sat 11 am - 9 pm
Sun 9 pm - 8:30 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
44 reviews for Far Western Tavern
Review Highlights
"...place is all about the meat; oak wood fired Santa Maria BBQ."
(in 13 reviews)
"Some polenta to go with your pinquito beans."
(in 4 reviews)
"Normally it's 2 NY strip steaks for $50."
(in 10 reviews)
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44 reviews in English
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Review from Dwigt S.
San Francisco, CA
12/30/2011
I've only been here once but had a really good experience. It started when we were greeted by very friendly host staff who seated us right away, and then provided attentive service by the busser and server. Food came out promptly and in multiple courses.
I ordered the 8 oz. filet mignon, which was priced at what I think is the bargain price of $33. This included a plate of crudites, marinara sauce (or a super mild salsa?) shrimp cocktail, salad, a grilled polenta, perfectly-spiced pinquito beans, and garlic bread. Heck, I'm probably leaving something off this list. The steak was cooked to perfection, most importantly.
Oh, and one extra star for the creepy, not used (at least when we went), dark upstairs bar. We decided to check it out for ghosts. :)Listed in: SLO Trips
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Review from Steve P.
Santa Maria, CA
11/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
We had horrible service here but the food was really good. We had an 8pm reservation and didn't get our food until 9:30. The place was not full so its not like they were really busy. Our waiter took a long time to bring simple things like a fruit cup. The kitchen took an equally long time to finish our entrees. Once we finally had our food everything seemed to be ok. The stakes were cooked perfectly and were decent cuts. There is NO drink menu so you should know what you would order from a regular dive bar before ordering a drink. The wine list is ok with a few interesting choices.
With the Hitching Post in Casmalia & Jocko's in Nipomo both being the same distance away from Santa Maria as Far Western, I probably will go with those that have never let me down next time. -
Review from Scott S.
Reno, NV
10/13/2011
My Dad went to high school in Santa Maria (a couple miles east) and told me stories of this legendary steak. When I was 23, I finally went. I've kept coming back even though I live over 8 hours away. On my honeymoon we drove more than 3 hours out of our way just to eat here! The flavor of their signature rib-eye (the only steak I've ever ordered) is this unique smoky goodness that cannot be described accurately.
In case you're wondering where your steak comes from, there's mounted heads on the wall and cow hide drapes on the windows!
If you happen to find yourself within a few hours of Guadalupe, make the trip, you won't regret it. -
Review from Ponch von P.
Santa Barbara, CA
11/3/2011
Last of the "Big 3" steakhouses in the Santa Maria area that I had yet to try (Hitching Post = apathetic service, bland sides/ Jocko's = in a school cafeteria?)
I have to say, Far Western wins hands down. Had the Bulls-Eye steak, which was cooked to perfection. Service was great and the location is fantastic. They are relocating spring 2012, so check it out before they move. -
Review from Lucy L.
12/1/2011 1 Check-in Here
Yummy bloody mary's. Family owned - which is nice. This place could be a historical landmark for how long it's been around. Country western feel to it. Yummy breakfast, even have veggie options.
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Review from Rebecca A.
Oakland, CA
8/31/2011
I'm between a 3 and a 4 on this.
++The bacon wrapped scallops were good however the scallops were undercooked. The garlic soup was very yummy. The steak was great ! Our waiter -Brooks- I believe his name was, was so friendly, -lively- and fun. He was definitely the highlight of being there, because the blood red wallpaper and dead animals staring you down was a little..intimidating. Desert was fantastic! Creme brulee! I'm not a fan of creme brulee but it was really delicious.
- -At one point a second waitress came by and gave us water. We later realized the water had a chunk of meat in it. It was likely unintentional, and was probably some hijinxs of the ghosties from upstairs. -
Review from Emmanuel P.
Santa Ana, CA
11/8/2011
Great Dinner!!! Great Food Overall....Have been there various times and tried different plates but by far the best STEAK in the area!!
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Review from Art H.
Torrance, CA
I would say 3.50/5. The food is great but the prices aren't that friendly. Stopped in on a Sunday afternoon for lunch and it was pretty empty. The decor is taxidermy and animal furs, looks like a old school steakhouse...I guess. Ordered the Far Western Steak sandwich ($15) and that was just alright. Onion rings were avg and the salad was average. The meat was like a tenderized steak or something which I couldn't bite into for the life of me, I had to double fist it and literally pull the pieces apart. That wasn't really expected.
We also got the Bulls-eye steak medium-rare ($30) and was very disappointed. The steak was cooked past medium and was pretty tough. Was it good? I think it would have been but didn't have the chance to taste it correctly. I got fries that those were average.
The highlights for me was the chicken tortilla soup, that was the best chicken tortilla soup I've ever had. I cleaned that plate. If the mean stopped there it would have been a fiver. I also am a big fan of their salsa and beans. The salsa looks like the kind you buy in the supermarket, but it is done well. Very subtle spice and with the steak, the sides were perfect. Central CA steak with salsa and beans is probably my favorite way to have a steak.
I was excited and disappointed at the same time. Some good things and some bad things. You can tell the food is quality and good but overcooking a steak is a big no-no for me. If I were ever in the area again I wouldn't mind going there, but I don't think I would go out of my way. Still had fun though. -
Review from Laura V.
Encino, CA
10/25/2011
I used to go here when I was little, then when I moved to SLO it was nice to have a treat once in a while.
I love this place sooo much, I like the crudites they give you at the beginning of your meal. I also like the ambiance. It has super good/flavorful steaks. -
Review from KC O.
Sunset Beach, CA
7/21/2010 1 photo
Hadn't been to a ghost town in years. Guadalupe is as dead as Irvine after 10PM. Felt a little out of place since KC was the only patron that didn't pull up in a horse n buggy.
KC was open to the idea of a steak but, to be perfectly honest, KC thought the place was a little steep. They actually ask for $25 for a chicken breast dinner. Even though KC is a millionaire, he was scared to look at the price tag for a t-bone.
No worries though. Grabbed a beer and chilled in the tavern. It's a pretty cool place to temper a turrible turst but the dining room was a little too folksy for this pimp. Polished off the Bud, stepped over a few tumbleweeds in the lot and KC was off to the Hitching Post for a t-bone. -
Review from Sydnie S.
Reno, NV
5/28/2011
You know it's a good dinner when the only thing you can say to the person you're with is "Mmmm" and "Oh my gosh" and other grunts or sighs of satisfaction. That's how the meal goes when I eat here. My first time was 2 years ago and since then, I compare every steak to the one I ate at the Far Western Tavern. I returned today and somehow it was BETTER than I remembered. Can you describe a steak as...creamy? Because that's what it was. Buttery, creamy, melt-in-your-mouth filet mignon. The skin of the baked potato was well-coated in sea salt and the sour cream that comes with it is the thickest I've ever beheld. It tastes like there is garlic in it, but there are no minced pieces, so maybe it's really magic mixed in. The vegetables and salsa make a surprisingly good combo. I'm not a fan of shrimp cocktail, but it comes with your entrée, as well as a salad with...a pickled beet. Oh man, I almost forgot grilled French bread. Be sure to get some of that as well.
The restaurant definitely has a saloon-type atmosphere; there are a few furry friends on the wall and country songs playing in the background. I feel like I should dress up more for a $32 meal, but jeans and a t-shirt are definitely appropriate. Our service was wonderful. We got there around 6:15pm on a Saturday and without reservations we were seated in another room, which was actually great because most of the meal we were by ourselves! If you're thinking about getting the top sirloin because it's $7 cheaper than the filet and $11 cheaper than the ribeye, I say get the cut you will enjoy the most. How often do you find yourself in Guadalupe? If you're me, once every two years. At that rate, I feel like it's appropriate to splurge what I make in 3 hours on my favorite cut of steak.
All this writing about steak is making me hungry. I think I'll enjoy my
amazing leftovers now.
One last sidenote: They tend to cook their steaks on the rare side, so order a step above what you normally do. Par example, if you like medium, order medium-well. -
Review from Charley C.
Atascadero, CA
7/17/2011
I like the far western and have for decades, it is second only to Jocko's in my opinion, but still a five star dinner / lunch. From the simple hamburger I last had for lunch (big juicy, fresh, hot, and tasty - YUM - GRUNT - YUM) to the big steaks for dinner, this place is a dream. Enjoy - more history later when we look at the history and the reminiscing of some one whose very old memories add even more romantic flavors to the story of this long standing great steak house
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Review from Deborah F.
Philadelphia, PA
8/13/2010
GREAT steak place. My husband and I found this place through google maps and we fell in love. We were visiting the general area (Nipomo actually) for our anniversary.
We called ahead about 8:00 p.m. on a Sunday night and asked if there was a line and how late they were open. 'Actually we close at 8:30, but if you're nearby we'd love to have you,' the host said. My husband said we didn't want to make them stay late but the host protested again that they'd love to have us. I insisted my husband say where we were coming from. 'Nipomo? Oh that's only 15-20 minutes away. Come!' I decided that anyone with that level of customer service on the phone was worth trying out.
We arrived at 8:20 (10 minutes before official closing time) and were greeted with a smile and a gracious seating in the main dining room. The place doesn't look like much on the outside but the inside is fantastic. Cow heads on the walls (some deer too), cow hides for curtains. If you're vegan, this is not the place for you. I'm sure that places like this are easier to find in, say, Texas or Oklahoma, but in California it's rather rare.
We ordered the special at the back of the menu (Clement's special? I forgot the exact name). Normally it's 2 NY strip steaks for $50. But this time they were featuring filet mignons, so we took them up on that. I asked for my medium rare and my husband asked his to be medium. They cooked them *perfectly*. I've never had such a perfectly medium rare steak, pink on the outside, deeper pink on the inside - not rare and not medium. My husband's was also perfectly cooked.
The dinner came with a side of ravioli (meat & tomato sauce - SO good), crudite, salsa, crackers, grilled garlic bread, beans (delicious sauce - normally my husband goes for black over pinto beans but he adored these), and soup or salad. I had salad, my husband had soup, and we were both pleased (no iceberg here - a nice baby greens salad).
Brooks was our server and he ROCKED. There were only three other parties in the dining room when we arrived and by the time we got our dinner we were one of two parties. Soon we were the only ones. He always made us feel like we were somehow doing him a favor by being there and keeping the whole staff late. He even talked us into dessert (peach crisp with ice cream - also excellent). Our wine (a pinot noir) and water glasses were refilled regularly and he was never pushy. We sent our compliments to the kitchen for the steaks and they sent back comments about how delightful we were.
Seriously, both of us agreed that the service was better than a 5-star restaurant (except less snooty and a little more fun) and the food was 5-star quality.
On our way out we shook hands with the host who greeted us with a smile and thanked us for coming. Everyone stayed until we left - 30+ minutes after the last people had left.
Definitely make your way to Guadalupe for this place! -
Review from Charlie L.
Covina, CA
3/30/2011
Ummm sorry honey...maybe we should have come for dinner???
It's deceiving when you find Far Western Tavern on the 10 best lunch menus of Santa Maria. It's actually in Guadalupe, a long lonely stretch away.
Friday afternoon lunch in a lifeless dining room with windows five feet from the ground. The room lacked a view beyond taxidermy, a drink station and a bathroom door. I didn't use the restroom, so I am not sure of the setup, but the entrance looked way to close to use it in peace.
The first thing brought to our table was butter and salsa maybe to go with the saltines on the table, it just threw us off since we hadn't ordered at that point. We ordered a shrimp cocktail that never arrived, oh well. The Far Western Steak Sandwich is mentioned as tenderized Wagyu top round on the menu. Tenderized?! It was moderately ground, a couple more grinds and they might want to call it a HAMBURGER!! But it's a classic I guess. Linguica Sandwich was a spicy sausage, not too bad. These sandwiches are not dressed with anything, so the taste can get old fast. Just meat and bread, we couldn't get through half of them. The beans served on the side taste straight from a can with a dash of powdered chicken bouillon. Their salsa tastes like it came from New York City, New York City!?! Yes! Truly a cowboy meal though; meat, carbs, and starch.
Come here for; the side salad that has ONE slice of an amazing marinated beet, steak fries (probably straight from a distributors freezer but still good) with Far Western Tavern Seasoning, I think you can purchase this seasoning too, and last but not least a great wait staff. The staff is very friendly and accommodating. -
Review from lemonjelly l.
Santa Barbara, CA
The Far Western holds a special place in my list of food favs. It takes effort to get to, and that greater efforts yields a greater sense of reward.
My family started coming to the Far Western since childhood, on the yearly camping trip to Los Osos. The annual trek has fallen to the wayside, but when the wanderlust to Central California picks up, this is the place I feel drawn to.
It's pretty much a guarantee that anyone I bring here has not heard of it before, or even heard of Guadalupe. I'm fine with that. I can quietly covet my Far Western and HP1 while others go stampeding over to any business touched by that Sidewong movie or whatever it's called.
To me, this is one of the benchmarks of the central Californian steakhouse, second only to HP1 because it opened 6 years later in 1958. But it goes a step further by providing two distinct dining areas - the saloon and the dining room, and providing all the detail of meatlover's restaurant down to animal skin curtains and booths, and rooms wallpapered with cowhide.
Meals, unless ordered a la carte, come with many little side dishes. It's a gut-buster, yes, but it's all so good that it's hard to pick your battles. Just nibble on little bits of it all and put together a doggie bag.
First, crudite and salsa, or maybe it's called a relish tray. The platter has radishes, pickles, carrots, celery, peppers and spring onions. Much crunching to keep your mouth busy while perusing the menu.
Next, shrimp cocktail. Dozens of itty bitty shrimps with a dollop of spicy cocktail sauce.
Then, your choice of soup or salad. Go with the soup unless you love roughage of any kind because the salad tends toward the simple iceberg although the croutons look housemade. If you're with someone, get both. The soup that day was beef and vegetable and I thought it was lovely. Good chunks of smokey flavored and extremely tender beef. The vegetables were sturdy and not overcooked.
The main course arrives with a bowl of Santa Maria's own pinquito beans and a basket of garlic bread. If you really need to ration your stomach space, pass on the bread, but it's really good to dip it into the beans and hard to resist.
Our main courses were the ribs and the 8 ounce portion of the cowboy steak, medium rare. The ribs were grilled and slicked with a citrus bbq sauce. I really liked the flavor for not being overly sweet and the ribs were good to gnash the teeth on. Not falling off the bone like traditional bbq, but it's still possible to clean up those bones properly. The ribs are two 10 ounce racks, price is $35.
The cowboy steak in the 8 ounce portion was $25, cooked right to our specifications, very juicy and tender.
The main dishes come with a choice of starch, we got a baked potato and the grilled polenta. The polenta was very simple in flavor, which was good to soak up the steak juices. The baked potato came with a pot of sour cream and sliced spring onions.
The Tavern serves up a lot of local wine, and the server came make recommendations. The wine prices are quite decent, with a push to order a bottle rather than a glass. The price of a glass is roughly half the cost of getting the whole bottle.
There are other steakhouses within 30 miles that have a similar menu, down to the crudite and shrimp cocktail, but I like Far Western because of its authenticity without being pretentious, but still having an atmosphere of dignity where you can feel comfortable dining in boots and jeans, or in your Sunday best.
Parking's a snap. The city is a bit of a ghost town to begin with, so if there isn't parking on the street, there's plenty in the public lot just across the street. And there you can admire some of the fine murals of Guadalupe. -
Review from Steve S.
Ventura, CA
11/6/2011
Among best steaks we have ever eaten. Service was very good but a touch slow. Grilled asparagus was outstanding. House Cabernet had good color, nice aroma, tasted good and was $7 per glass.
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Review from Christopher H.
Kensington, CA
9/4/2006
"Home of the famous red-eye steak." And for good reason--it's one of the best steaks you'll ever have. And you would never expect it from the location, in small, dusty Guadalupe, otherwise known as a largely Hispanic bedroom community.
FWT is run by the Minetti clan, who are friendly enough, and add a unique Italian twist on classic Santa Maria barbecue fare. Some polenta to go with your pinquito beans? Sure, why not? It works.
The tavern itself is in an old hotel building, estbalished in 1912, and hasn't changed much since, if the decor is any indication. That and the cowskin booths in the bar area add to the "Western" feeling, which is good or bad, depending on personal preference. For those who want posh accoutrements to match the posh prices for the food, the dining area is more conventionally styled.
It's certainly worth the trip. Like i said in the beginning, it's one of the best steaks you'll ever have, certainly in the $20-30 price range. I only wish the service was a little faster. I ate during the downtime between breakfast and lunch and it still took 45 minutes to receive my food. -
Review from Mike D.
Saugus, CA
6/19/2007
Took a major detour to check this place out and was massively underwhelmed. I have a fair amount of experience in the beef over oak game and these results are easily bested at home with a Weber kettle. Unless your travels take you through Guadalupe, don't bother.
Funny thing is, we ran into someone who works with my wife, some 150 miles away. -
Review from Timm T.
Kihei, HI
6/23/2009
Okay, so it's been a while. I lost my mojo in April when my sweet dog Wheezy the Love Muffin died. Since then, I haven't been able to get it together enough to be brilliant for you, my loyal readers.
So for the past few weeks, I've been on my "Find my Mojo Tour" through the Greater Central Valley of California. Yesterday, I took the 198W-41S-46W two-lane highway combo from Tulare to San Luis Obispo. 120 miles in FOUR hours. Thats after driving from Berkeley to Tulare (FIVE hours) earlier in the day. Great.
Anyway, here I am in SLO, and that always means one thing: Jocko's in Nipomo. Except that this time, I get a tip about another place called Far Western Tavern in Guadalupe.
Guadalupe is my kind of place. Just a little town out in the middle of all the farms and ranches along the Central Coast. Seriously, this town doesn't even have a stop light. How great is that?
So I get lost, and go way to far south, and then have to drive back up through miles of fields. It was a great drive. I roll into town and right up to the place, It's not hard to find, it's the only place in town with a fresh coat of paint. Ah, but the inside is the best. The dining room is like being at the Ponderosa. Dark wood paneling half way up the walls, topped by ruby red wallpaper. Plus, pictures of cowboys, pictures of cows, and lots of horns and antlers.
This place is all about the meat; oak wood fired Santa Maria BBQ. I had the top sirloin, plus salad, BBQ beans, potato, and the vegetable plate. It's an awesome amount of food, and the meat was tender with great flavor. Don't be a moron and ask for steak sauce like the people at the table next to me. Some people just don't belong at a place like this.
But, luckily for us, the rest of us do. That is, if you can find the frickin place!
I give it four steaks. And the tour continues.... -
Review from Davey G.
Los Angeles, CA
8/10/2009 2 photos
The Far Western Tavern is the place my dad would go "ga ga" over. Animal heads on the walls, a sign out front that warns the building could collapse at any moment should an earthquake strike, and patrons dressed in their Sunday best who all look like they own gigantic ranches.
My friends and I desperately sought out Santa Maria BBQ in Santa Maria. No dice. Apparently the locals keep it all to themselves because we couldn't find a trace of billowing smoke, smoldering ash or charring flesh anywhere in town. We stopped in the parking lot of a few weirdo looking fabric stores and consulted the iPhone apps. The recommendation: Far Western Tavern about 8 miles west in Guadalupe. What? Where's Guadalupe? Why isn't there BBQ in Santa Maria. At this point, we didn't care. We were hungry and annoyed at the city of Santa Maria and it's mythical BBQ.
We filed in and were greeted by a troupe of friendly staff who led us into the main dining room -- where every wall was adorned by the head of a cow, bull or other friend of Wilbur's. Being that we were seated and waited on, we kind of knew the idea of a tri-tip sandwich wrapped in butcher paper with a side of beans and sauce in tiny plastic containers would be out of the question. Oh well, this place was highly recommended and it was all we could find short of driving to Los Olivos for an alternative.
The ranchers steak sandwich, served open face, was what we all settled on. (The waiter insisted we order this. It's not the "classic" BBQ sandwich listed on the menu, but apparently that sandwich is made with mechanically tenderized meat that looks straight out of 1958.) Awesome recommendation! The steak was juicy and well seasoned and large! You couldn't actually eat it as a sandwich because it was a whole steak, so that was kinda weird. In addition to a side of beans and salsa, you get your choice of monster onion rings or fries. For $12, that's one heck of a deal, my friends.
A few quirky things about the restaurant:
- you can order a 10 oz. steak as a side dish
- upon being seated, the table is served a plate of crackers and salsa
- i wasn't kidding about it being a risky place to eat, there's a sign outside warning that the building can collapse in the event of an earthquake -
Review from Steve A.
Carlsbad, CA
9/27/2007
I have a great-uncle in Santa Maria, and we come here when we visit him. What an aroma as you approach the restaurant - oak churning away.
The decor is Roy Rogers cowboy and can be offputting, but the real reason to be there is the terrific steak.
One of my favorites! -
Review from Eric F.
Moorpark, CA
11/18/2009
The Bull's-Eye steak is the one against which I judge all others. It is truly exceptional.
Our family discovered this place following a casual suggestion to my grandfather from a couple sitting in the spa at a Pismo hotel decades ago. Coming here is now a family tradition. We have made one-day trips up from LA just to get a steak at the Far Western. I brought my girlfriend here to woo her and now we have been married for 11 years.
Look this up in your GPS. Order the Bull's Eye steak. Put the salsa into the beans to spice it up but don't fill up on the courses that come before the main dish. I can't vouch for your marital success but I know you will have a superb meal.
For whatever reason there is an Amtrak stop in Guadalupe, it has to be here for the Far Western Tavern. -
Review from f. d.
Santa Maria, CA
1/30/2011
If you are a steak eater like me, don't just walk....RUN to this place! I am very fond of a good steak. You will find meat seasoned and cooked to perfection. Light oak essence though the meat. Not over seasoned. The food was served hot and served as I ordered medium. Very nice people ready to please. They went out of their way to accommodate. I really enjoyed the dinning room. I was pleasantly surprised. I enjoyed seeing the undisturbed decorations on the walls over the years. Reminds you of walking back in time over fifty years ago. (love it) on every visit. Bring your own wine if you must, you may not do it a second time.....they have a big wine list. Very hard to beat.
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Review from Amanda G.
Staten Island, NY
First and foremost I'd like to say how amazing our service was while dining at the Far west tavern. Our waiter, BROOKS is the true definition of someone who loves what they do and it truly truly shows. knowledgeable about the menu, beyond friendly and didn't rush at all from the moment we sat down to literally walking us out the door. He made our night and even gave us some history about this quaint town. This restaurant was recommended through Frommer's travel book for California. A little out of way but soooooo worth it. From the roasted garlic soup with croutons (yummy!!) to my filet mignon cooked PERFECTLY that absolutely melted in my mouth with each bite. A very smokey taste which was irresistible. My friend had the prime rib with a cream corn sauce drizzled with crispy onion rings. Very happy we didn't say no to desserts: Banana. Fritter (almost a zeppoli with banana) with chunky monkey ice cream and a cheesecake filled burrito fried with cinnamon sugar with a blackberry purée and vanilla bean ice cream. Perfect ending to a perfect meal. Wishing this was on the east coast! Would highly highly recommend it! and ask for Brooks!! :)
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Review from Chantal D.
San Luis Obispo, CA
9/2/2009
We had the most amazing server here, and it's a shame I don't remember his name!!! He was helpful and personable, excited but not a cheerleader, attentive but not hovering, and gave us one of the best dining experiences we've had in a while.
The setting is slightly strange, almost time-traveler-esque, and the only other people there our age were probably a few of the waiters. The bar is great and the bathrooms are tiny. I let my imagination run wild when I imagined this place prior to its being the present "Far Western Tavern."
That all being said, I really wasn't all that excited with my steak.. I ordered the filet to compare it to other places, and it was exactly what I expected, no bells and whistles here. Nothing to make it five-star material though, but through and through, it was a good and complete meal. -
Review from Chinwe N.
Hermosa Beach, CA
1/15/2010
I came here with a work group after a long day of touring Vandenberg AFB. Let me say this place is like walking into an old-fashioned Texas steakhouse! From the cowhide drapes to the cattle/oxen/steer heads adorning the walls of the back parlor, this place is tres cute with a lot of history!
Our service was great (big ups to Brooks!) given the size of our group. We had the ravioli, sauteed mushrooms and mountain oysters for samplers (mushrooms were awesome) and I had the Ribeye special for my main course. My steak was delish and the grilled polenta was very tasty. Topped that off with a chocolate cheescake for dessert and I had to be carried out of the restaurant.
Would highly recommend a visit if your ever in the area. -
Review from Sandi G.
Palo Alto, CA
2/10/2007
You're probably thinking why the heck is a veggie person reviewing a steak place. Well, if a meat-eating person can review a vegan restaurant from a carnivore perspective than I can certainly review a steakhouse from a veggie point of view. Right?
So, I'm at Far Western for a family get-together dinner, they wanted to come here, so here I am. Unfortunately, we didn't have the forethought to get reservations and had to wait for a big enough table to open up. The decor is very country western and there's plenty of room to wait in the "saloon" part of the restaurant. But once you are seated there's more waiting in store for you, the wait for the food to come out is unbearably long.
I had a dinner salad, pretty basic and forgettable and the grilled vegetable plate. It was just ok. The veggies were way undercook. If I wanted it raw, I would have had a salad. So the next time we go, I tell the wait person that last time the veggies were on the raw side, could you please make sure that they are cooked. Out comes my food and the veggies were microwaved to death and then slapped on the grill for 2 seconds, presumably to get the grill marks on them. It tasted awful. How hard is it to grill vegetables? Sheesh! A backyard bbq would been way better and tastier than this.
Anyways, it sounds like the meat entrees this time around were also subpar so we won't be going here again anytime soon. I'm dancing a country western jig about that.Listed in: The SLO Life
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Review from Richard B.
Laguna Hills, CA
2/13/2011
Yeah, I am a cowboy! Felt like that when I discovered this at 18, 34 years ago, when actual ranchers and farmers were slugging back whiskey at the bar. I was in my college years and into dirt bag camping and punk music. Drove up and knew I had discovered something real and visceral, like walking into a Merle Haggard song. If you love the best parts of a cow grilled over oak, you will love this saloon and dining hall. Steak and beans and garlic bread. Hard to go wrong when it came off the owner's ranch that morning. Fresh tasting is the understatement.
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Review from Randolph M.
Box Elder, SD
10/14/2008
The FWT is second only to Jocko's and better than the Hitching Post (strictly from the standpoint of value/quantity/quality of steak). Service can be a bit spotty, but the steaks are excellent. The New York steak sandwich lunch is quite good for not too much $.
It's fun to hang out in the saloon portion and imagine life in the early 1900's. The building was built in 1912 as the Palace Hotel. Atmosphere is way better than Jocko's or the Hitching Post. -
Review from Chris O.
San Luis Obispo, CA
11/15/2008
I will say that the pork chops were outstanding! They had the best, smoky flavor I've ever had. My request to have them cooked more on the medium- rare side was met with perfection. (In my opinion, there is nothing worse than overdone pork!)
The only reason why I did not give FWT five stars was due to some of the strange flavor combinations on some of their other items. Our group ordered the sweetbreads as well as the stuffed mushrooms to start. The sweetbreads were good however they were served speared by frilled toothpicks with a side of cocktail sauce and focaccia-style bread. The mushrooms were covered with a heavy brown sauce that overwhelmed their flavor.
As far as decor, it's charming cowhide all the way! Oh, and you half expect the animal heads in the dining room to start talking to one another- like at Disneyland's Bear Country Jamboree! -
Review from Richard M.
Sacramento, CA
11/26/2010 Seated via OpenTable
Five of us share three entrees - two of the rib-eyes and some ribs. My son is still finishing the ribs and we took at least one serving of rib-eye home. We used open table to make a same day reservation which wasn't necessary but we appreciated knowing we wouldn't have to wait - which we didn't. The food was great and being able to split for $7 wan't at all bad because everyone got a salad and appetizer. I like my meat medium rare but the server suggested medium for the rib-eye and he was right - very pink center. I have eaten here several times and have never been disappointed by the food or service. Even the bartender said good night on our way out.
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Review from Tom R.
Encinitas, CA
6/20/2010
In the days when I traveled to Vandenberg for launches, three steak places were recommended to me: The Hitching Post in Casmailia, Jocko's in Nipomo, and this place. I've tried all three, but keep coming back to this place.
The atmosphere is nothing special, but the service is very good and the steaks are exceptional. I can't talk about the other main dishes, but can heartily recommend the steaks. All meals come with a variety of sides. Don't miss the pinquito beans. They are a Santa Maria Valley specialty and well worth trying. -
Review from cleen d.
Ripon, CA
9/22/2009
folks, this is what a true vintage steakhouse is all about.
juicy tender salty-sweet meat -- YES!
actual cow-hide curtains and upolstery -- YES!
being seated in the middle of a dining room where all of the taxidermy elk and buffalo heads are staring directly as you as you feast on meat -- YES!!!
driving truly to the middle of nowhere to experience this awesomeness -- YES!
dining within a building that warns it could fall at any minute if an earthquake were to happen -- YES!
tasty dangerous excitement!!! -
Review from Patrick K.
Concord, CA
6/10/2010
This place was pretty darn good. 5 starts for the food. I had the aged boneless rib eye. Outstanding although just a little under cooked. 5 stars for the aumbionce. Nice western ranch decor. Warm and inviting. 3 stars for service. Our waiter was gone for 20 minutes after we ordered drinks. The salads came out and like 3 minutes later the entrees came out. The waiter was setting our dishes on our silverware and not correcting it. I guess this is a pet peeve of mine. 3 1/2 stars for the price. This place was a little more pricey than I expected. Its not like it's in down town Santa Barbara and there is not middle man on the beef from what I understand . Maybe I don't know the whole story but I just thought is was a little high. I would definitely come back. This place is indeed a gem.
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Review from Manny A.
Irvine, CA
11/4/2007
OK If this is actually the place that I think it is (and where I think I went) It was fabulous. Granted, I went for a wedding and not to the regular restaurant (so I can't speak to the menu) but the food was really good. My aunt set up a wedding rehersal dinner here (rented out the top floor, bought the liquor, mariachi band, cake, etc.) so I will speak to the service and the food.
Food- my family is mexican and we are a bit persnickity about mex food. Additinally, my aunt is quite the cook herself and has pretty high standards. Anyhow lets start with the appetizers. One thing that this place has going for it in the mex category is that it is surrounded by field so there are plenty of local folks (latinos of mex origen) who know their food and help set the local standard. The Guacamole, chips, and salsa were great (good execution, nothing to write home about but satisfying and delicious) but the main course was much, much better. At this point I have to say again that I don't know what the rest. menu looks like and this may have been a one off with lots of direction from my aunt but... The choices that we had when we RSVP'd were chicken or steak. That said, I opted for the chicken and but the time we were sitting at the table and the waiters brought the food I had completely forgotten what I had ordered (1.5 months earlier. Needless to say, both dishes came with a chile relleno and sauce on top of the meat or poultry. Wow! talk about heavenly... we also got beans and rice on the side. The combo of the barbequed meat with the chile relleno (not at all greasy but massively flavorful)
and chile sauce was a revelation. I have spent ~18 years in the good mex food desert of San Francisco and miss comfort food like this. Beans were spot on with consistancy and flavor (another area where many, many stumble) and rice, well what can you say about rice... it was good.
Service- OK I think that we kind of overwhelemed the staff with ~80 (city) people but they did a decent job with a bit of prompting.
Overall great experience. If I am ever in the Santa Maria area again, I will certainly go back! -
Review from Keri M.
Newark, CA
6/12/2007
The Hitching Post and Far Western Tavern are my favorite places for steak in the Santa Maria area. Far Western is slightly quieter, making it a better place for a conversation. In over 20 years of coming here, I've never had a bad meal.
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Review from Christopher C.
San Diego, CA
8/16/2008
This place rocks! For the kind of restaurant it is, it deserves five stars. But, because of the fact that it generally won't accommodate anyone with "special" dietary needs (vegans, vegetarians, and those who won't eat beef shouldn't come here), I have to give it four stars.
If you like to eat beef, you have come to your Mecca! I've never yet been to any other place that has BOTH sweetbreads and Rocky Mountain Oysters on the menu. (After all, if you're going to eat a cow, you might as well use every part.) The smell of red oak smoke is noticeable outside the restaurant, and when you get inside, the velvety red wallpaper and leather covered chairs and booths replete with cow skin curtains let you know the kind of place you're in. All they need is someone playing whorehouse piano in the corner, and you'd be practically invited to go in, get drunk, eat a bunch of red meat, and then challenge someone to a six-shooter duel in the streets at high noon the following day. I felt naked without my spurs. (And don't wear flip-flops in there unless you want to be stared at by locals the whole time while you take your meal.)
I didn't fast for three days prior to ordering my meal, and that was a bad idea, as portion sizes are incredible here. They need to have a disclaimer next to their state-mandated "Enter at your own risk--historic building not reinforced for earthquakes" sign: "Your meal will be a test of your man- or womanhood, so come here famished, or not at all." I wasn't that hungry, so I figured that an appetizer and a salad would fill me up. Turns out that the appetizer alone satiated me for the next two meals.
I ordered the Rocky Mountain Oysters (yes, the testicles of calves, if I have to be specific), which my server discreetly referred to as "Mountains," and which I ordered not to be disgusting, but because I figured that if I was going to try these things once, it should be at a place like this. This appetizer was easily enough for 4 people, and I'm a 6'3", 250-plus-pound, full-grown man. The cocktail sauce they were served with was also delicious, and all I had to do was forget about the Chevy Chase movie "Funny Farm," where he broke the "lamb fries" record (mine were bigger--they were "calf fries") and everyone got grossed out. Mind over matter, baby, mind over matter.
Strangely, the calf fries were really good, although very slightly chewy. I woke up the next morning with so much testosterone in my system I felt I could skin and eat a live grizzly bare-handed. The Cesar salad I ordered to accompany the appetizer was unfortunately so drenched in dressing I could barely eat it, so order the dressing on the side, if you get the Cesar. But, who on Earth would come here to eat salad?!!?
There was a nice bread basket served with our meal, as well as a plate with olives, pickles, lettuce, celery, carrots, and a couple of other things. My wife ordered the tri-tip sandwich, which consisted of oak-smoked beef seasoned with salt, pepper, and parsley, served naked on Texas toast. I scoffed at the lack of sauces or vegetables on her sandwich, but she told me to try it. Suddenly, I was ensconced in the only barbecue tradition California is known for--simply seasoned oak-smoked beef that was originally made famous in the Santa Maria area, right here where the Far Western Tavern is. I started to question my days spent over preparing rubs and sauces with 20 ingredients or more and smoking ridiculously diverse cuts of meat with equally exotic woods on my Silver Smoker into the night for this simple, clean beef flavor that was much closer to home and was hiding under my nose all along.
I guess you should only eat here if you have what it takes to enjoy it. There's a Tex-Mex flavor about the place, but the oak smell makes you realize that you're about to eat something several cuts above anything you can get in Arizona, Texas, or New Mexico. Prices are reasonable, if not cheap for what you're getting. You won't find pinquito beans elsewhere in the Southwest, either, much less earthquake warnings. I doubt you can easily find the same kind of saloon-style atmosphere anywhere else in California, too. After all, I only got stared at for my flip-flops, nothing more. Where else can a red-meat and gun-loving Green Party liberal sidle up with red-meat and gun-loving Republicans, anyway? -
Review from pam w.
Solvang, CA
5/8/2011
My boyfriend and I come here every year for his birthday. We LOVE this place. We went just a few days ago and the service was amazing. Our waitress was so nice and helpful and the manager was very friendly. This will be a staple for us every year!
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Review from Alicia D.
Visalia, CA
5/23/2010
This place was very delicious!!! Everything about our experience was wonderful!!! We had a fabulous waiter named Brooks who took service to the next level... He made sure everything was perfect for us and when my steak was a tiny bit more done than I would like... He offered me a new one and when I refused he insisted we have free dessert eventhough I said it was not necessary!!!! I highly recommend this place and will definitely be dining there again in the near future!!!!!!! Well done FWT!!!!!!
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Review from Scott V.
San Jose, CA
4/26/2010
This is a hidden gem of the central coast. Anyone who frequents McKlintocks, Jockos or Madonna steakhouse will be in for a great surprise when they eat here. Brought my daughter, who is a steak fanatic, here for an early Cal Poly graduation celebration. The ambiance in the dining room is quiet and relaxed, while in the originally decorated bar the locals have a great time. The steaks are unbelievable - I'm not normally a fan of rib-eyes because of the marbling, but the Bull's Eye on their menu is the tenderest, biggest and most flavorful rib-eye I've ever had. The service is superior! Be sure and ask for Brooks. Also, the wine list is very reasonable priced.
