The Buckeye Roadhouse
Categories: Steakhouses, American (Traditional) [Edit]
15 Shoreline HighwayMill Valley, CA 94941 (415) 331-2600
- Price Range: $$$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Valet
- Attire: Dressy
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: No
- Takes Reservations: Yes
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: No
- Good for: Dinner
- Alcohol: Full Bar
28 reviews
San Rafael, CA
"YUM! I have not tried lunch but the breakfast is yummy. I love the hot chocolate ( you get a tea pot full) and the service is quick and…" read more »
157 Reviews for The Buckeye Roadhouse
I love this place!!!! First time I went was on a rainy day and it was packed. The food was extraordinary and so was the service. But best of all (and the strangest) were the other patrons. Friendly people sitting next to us and chatty. I liked it so much I'm going to go back with my Mama on 5/17/08 before going to see Etta James @ the Marin Civic Center. More to come.
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I ordered filet mignon medium rare, what I saw on my plate was less than half an inch thick well done beat up meat.... seriously it was horrible. My GF had skirt stake and it was terrible as well.
you don't want me to start about bad under-baked desert
frickin $150 for this? never ever, drive for 15 minutes to the city
Sitting at the bar at the Buckeye.
A good friend of mine with a nickname called Buggers comes to this place and regularly eats at the bar for lunch. He first started taking me there two years ago and I knew it was going to be a hit from the word go. I trust his taste implicitly on food matters and whenever I'm in town he often takes me to the Buckeye for a spot of lunch.
In addition to a well established, classic menu served simply and without pretension, you'll get great cabaret from the bar watching the diverse range of people of all ages over a good choice of appetizers including oysters bingo, a house favorite and my appetizer of choice.
All types of people of varying age come to the restaurant at lunchtime and many come in without the aid of walking apparatus, although every time I've been to the Buckeye for lunch there seemingly always appears to be a healthy smattering of oldies being either wheeled in or coaxed out from the valet parking area on their Zimmers. If I found it difficult to get around at their age, I'd still find the energy to go the Buckeye for lunch, it's that good.
The entrees are all solid offerings and I would defy anyone not to enjoy the Petaluma chicken served on mash with spring vegetables and washed down with a bottle or two of pinot noir from local Marin County producer called Stubbs. This is truly a pleasure, as is the barbecue beef brisket where the sauce is so rich it could be safely described as a guilty pleasure - almost in the same vein as getting in your car and driving home after lunch at the Buckeye having gone through half the cocktail list. But that's another story.
Diners at the restaurant will also find discreet and friendly service both behind the bar and at the tables. How one of the staff in particular manages to put up with the gastronomic equivalent of Statler and Waldorf on a daily basis beggars belief. I can only think of one other person in the UK who shares this one's talent who worked at an old restaurant in London called Simpson's in Cornhill, mostly patronized by pin-striped City gents who have a propensity to behave like overgrown schoolboys after having a few too many glasses of claret.
I'm due back in Marin next week from London and I'll be dropping in at some stage to have lunch at the bar at the Buckeye, that's for sure.
Three stories about The Buckeye, in chronological order.
1. In the '70's, I knew a boy whose mother was a waitress at The Buckeye. At that time, it was a real (and real dingy) roadhouse, and it was sliding way downhill. She wore some German-style bib costume thing with a really short skirt and chain-smoked and had an off-and-on thing with her ex-husband. I know! Yipes! Even at like 7, she left me profoundly depressed. And wary of the Buckeye.
2. In the 90's, my dad started suggesting we have our "second Christmases" with his family at this restaurant. Cleaned up and acquired by a gourmet restaurant group, this place was a hit for several reasons: great food, ROUND TABLES, fantastic service, awesome fireplace (y'all know I love that fireplace smell!) and Pops was paying. Now it's our tradition, and I love it.
3. A couple of years ago, at one of our aforementioned family things, I excused myself to go to the ladies room. It's a nice place, so I was pretty shocked to hear the volcanic eruptions of a defiant stomach coming from one of the stalls. Even more puzzling, these noises usually not heard outside of a middle school locker room or Tijuana taco truck were accompanied by some low murmurring. When I -- hurriedly -- exited my stall moments later, I was even more surprised to see a woman carrying a $5,000 handbag with her dress tucked into her stockings lurching all over the bathroom, still talking to herself. Or me. The lack of eye contact and the fact that this conversation had started when she was alone with her... er, thoughts... left me unsure. WASTED RICH WHITE LADY SIGHTING!
Just goes to show, rich people have no more dignity than anyone else when drunk. And fart like sailors. Truthfuly, it's always been a dream of mine to be a wasted rich white lady, but now I've had to reassess. Because of the farting.
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Delicious for dinner but not for brunch. We have come here many times for dinner and have enjoyed every minute. With a great restaurant like this in Marin, you have to make reservations or the wait is a nightmare.
When we came here for Easter brunch we had high expectations but it was quite disappointing. The food was too oily/rich and there wasn't anything to rave about.
Favorites for Dinner:
* Oyster's Bingo
* Dungeness Crab Cakes with Tomato Corn Frise Salad
* The "Wedge" Iceberg with Bacon & Point Reyes Blue Cheese Vinaigrette
* Pan Roasted Local Sole with Rosemary Potatoes and Tartar Sauce
* Manila Clams and Andouille Sausage Linguini with Pinot Grigio and Garlic
* Marinated Skirt Steak with Caramelized Onions and French Fries
Been here many times and have never been disappointed. They will make special meals for vegetarians and will not glare at you wondering why you are coming to a die hard carnivorous restaurant. The meat dishes always sound interesting and friends say they are excellent. Very attentive service. One of those places you could easily stay all evening.
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Oh me oh my, what a tasty and tasteful restaurant!
I've been here twice and had a great time on both occasions. This place has a definite "Old-School" classiness about it. Almost like a country club, but anyone can have a good time here. It's actually full of conversation and laughter. It's on the pricier side, but the quality of your meal and drinks are worth it.
Start with the oysters. They're cooked a little bit, with cheese and garlic. Amazing. Each time, I've ordered the hanger steak. It's cooked to my liking (medium rare) and I get it with a side of mashed potatoes and vegetables. Their wine selection is extensive and top quality. I've drank a few good glasses of wine here.
Hospitable service, wonderfully cooked meals and a friendly, homey atmosphere.
Afterwards, for dessert, it's a nice place to talk and wind down. I got the s'more pie for dessert...wow...so delicious. It's a popular item there, and it's no surprise why.
So what do you do when you're hungry after a day of driving around Marin, and are getting tired of the frou-frou, the chic, the cutesy-kitsch? You go to the Buckeye Roadhouse. So what do you do when you find out that the Roadhouse, completely contrary to it's name, is NOT a bastion of maniless with short-tempered short-order cooks, overweight waitresses, and cheap bottled beer, but rather a finely appointed restaurant with a menu put together by a proper chef?
You pretend to be surprised. Then, to your actual surprise, you order a salad. And much to your continued surprise, you like it. A lot.
I forget what my companions ordered; they were covetous of my selection anyway. Which is not to say they didn't each clean their plates. The House Smoked Chicken salad reminded how good a salad can be. I need to get back someday to try out a few more selections. I never had reason to expect so much from a roadhouse!
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I love love LOVE the Buckeye. I have been coming here for years and have never had a bad meal or a bad drink.
The ambiance is so elegant and classy yet cozy and relatively laid back. The wait staff are extremely professional. They have valet!
Make a reservation if you can, but if you go last minute you can usually squeeze into the bar area and curl into one of its sumptuous leather booths.
Ok if I was ONLY rating the food it would be 5 stars hands down but since I'd only give the service 3 stars, 4 it is.
It is very rare in my life that I clean my plate and that is exactly what I did when eating here. I started off with a Mojito and for those of you who enjoy this drink you know that places can either SUCK at making them or ROCK. This one ROCKED! Perfect blend, not too minty and just how I like it. The bread was warm, the butter soft, the onion rings and sauce were awesome and that was just the beginning. I ordered the skirt steak which is served with caramelized onions and french fries, I was ecstatic when it arrived and the fries were of the shoestring variety! This entire meal was excellent, I ate it all and also managed to eat some of my friends beef brisket (which was also amazing).
As for the service, we didn't have a reservation and were seated immediately (I had high hopes) our waitress however was much more concerned with everyone else in the place to bother with us on several occasions. In order to get our bill and then pay it we basically had to set off flares to get her attention. Thank god the food was great, next time I'll make sure not to sit in her section!
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Living in SF on a daily basis sometimes makes you lose perspective on where YOU/I are actually living. This is quite possibly one of the greatest places on the planet to call home.
Driving across one of the most famous national monuments (the majestic Golden Gate Bridge) in a rush for a business lunch, I look back on to the Bay, Alcatraz island, the sail boats that dot the deep seablue waters and the skyline of SF....and you realize WOW....but I digress.
This was my first trip to Buckeye's and you quickly realize that charm does not just reside in San Francisco but is complimented and enhanced by it's nearby sister communities. Marin County and its cities -- Mill Valley, Sausalito, Tiburon and others are no slouch. It is like the Greenwich to Manhattan or Newport Beach to Irvine or Santa Monica to downtown LA....there is just a whole lot of old and "smart" money here. Lots of finance, hedge funds type of companies in old 1970's low rise office buildings.
The Buckeye Roadhouse services these people. You do not dress up for Buckeye like you would for Gary Danko or Michael Minna. Buckeye's is a charming and warm older restaurant. Waiters are dressed classically and provide you approachable service. It is country with money. Try their hamburger which is quite possibly the best burger I've ever had. I want to go for happy hour next time and see the wild cougars next time and go for dinner.
Cool place...reservations highly recommended and valet parking plentiful.
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Good steaks. Nice atmophere. Good service.
Can't go wrong with the Oysters Bingo and the Dungeness Crab Cakes. Their dugeness crab louie salad is far-out (did I just say that???)
The rib-eye, pork chop, BBQ ribs, filet, and the skirt steak - all delicious. And of course, you have to pair these with the mac and cheese side dish (complete with ham). Oh my gosh.
They have a great selection of yummy cocktails too.
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Great food, wonderful ambiance and impeccable service. What else can you say. I've dined in the bar and in the main restaurant and both offer different experiences, as one might expect, but there's no question both provide a quality dining experience.
You can't go wrong with dishes like the Chili-Lime "Brick" Chicken with stuffed pasilla chili and Avocado Salsa, the Petit Filet Mignon with Green Peppercorn Sauce, Sauted Spinach
and Gruyre Potato Gratin or the Mongolian Spiced Pork Chop with Apple-Apricot Chutney and Curried Mashed Potatoes. The desserts are fantastic too...
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After noticing this place driving by on the 101, we finally decided to give it a try. We went on a Monday evening and it was packed.
I had the Cesar salad and skirt steak. The Cesar had a nice creamy dressing, but lacked the anchovy garlic kick that I like in Cesar, it tasted more like a glorified ranch dressing.
The skirt steak with grilled onions was really tasty. Huge portions, the onions were nice and tangy and complimented the marinate of the steak well.
I also tried the file mignon. It was a tough and chewy for a fillet and the green peppercorn sauce didn't pair very well.
The service was very good. And overall I think it is a decent steakhouse for the portion size and cost.
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I've only been to the Buckeye twice in my life but both times were great. They have amazing staff that treats each table as though they are very special guests. They are trained well and know their menus. The food is incredible, and again, this is based off of the three total things I've eaten there or sampled from a friends order. It is a special, great place to eat and I wish I could afford to to it more often!
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Solid place to eat. I try to eat here two or three times a month. It is established and the menu shows it. Osyters Bingo is hands down the greatest oyster dish out there. The duck is consistent though better when it has a berry sauce. The filet and new york are always good.
Solid wine list and they always have something good by the glass.
The servers are great and the management seems to just let the place run. Seems to make everyone happy.
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When I was a boy, the Buckeye was a sucktasic, run down place all the fossils went to. Someone fancied it up back in the 90s and everything costs a lot more now - but it's good! Avoid it on off nights when the b-team is in the kitchen though.
The bar on the weekends is full of the last vestiges of the mighty Marin hot tub culture of the 1970s. It's quite a sight to see! Yeah baby!
Also, Stan is the most awesome car parker ever.
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For the best liver and onions, and also the best skirt steak, this is definitely the place. The atmosphere is nice, with a real fire going in the fireplace. That's my favorite place to sit. The desserts are sensational. My favorites so far have been the pineapple upside down cake, and the key lime pie.
When your boyfriend the conspiracy theorist decides that the world IS going to hell in a handbasket and starts obsessively buying gold and silver coins so that when the economy inevitably crashes (thanks Bush, you NOB) he will have stockpiles of precious metals in the house that actually have currency value...it's a capital idea to make him buy you dinner here after he tricks you into attending an Antique Jewelry sale in Sausalito so that he can buy more coins. Hey, whatever, I got a blingy Marilyn Monroe-style rhinestone bracelet out of it and some new shoes.
Not to mention lunch/dinner at this fine establishment. Walking in with no res on a Saturday at 2pm, we were immediately seated at a comfy booth in the bar. At first I thought maybe they frowned upon our casual attire, but then I noticed all drop-ins were being seated where we were. Better that way anyway, service was quick and friendly and I had a clear view of the wine list. It's easy to keep us winos happy.
I ordered the Petaluma chicken which was cooked in a way ALL chicken should be: crispy on top, sliced through the middle so it cooked all the way through. Served with buttery mashed potatoes, and sauteed spinach...two of my favorite sides. My coin-collector dork of a bf ordered the beef brisket with horseradish mousse and mashed potatoes. It was a huge portion and even with my help, he was stuffed silly by the end. They had sparkling rose available by the glass, which I love, so that kept me appeased.
I thought the food was great...don't know what all the complaints are about. And it sounds like you get better service if you come on off hours and sit in the bar. You can avoid the annoying blue hairs and snooty Marin types that way too.
Great place for a romantic date when you want to spend too much coin before the economy collapses and we're all living in an apocalyptic warzone with zombies.
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Don't let the name fool you. This is a fine dining experience. Even though it sounds like a truck-stop, this lodge-like restaurant is keeping it real. Real fancy. The service was impeccable and our server was very friendly and very knowledgeable about everything on the menu. I'm a huge steak fan so I wasn't disappointed in the menu - there were at least 4 different red meat options. Vegitarians beware! This restaurant is all about meat and game, although you could fill up on all their tasty, carb-laden sides. I have to comment on the Oysters Bingo. Holy crap they were amazing. If you are interested in sitting by a fireplace, eating a huge, perfectly cooked steak, sampling amazing, cheesy sides, and drinking a great bottle of red wine, then this is your place.
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Sunday morning wake-up text:
"Meet us at the Hyatt bar at 12. Your mimosa will be waiting"
Uh, yeah.. Anyone who knows me knows that there are two things I can't say no to - 1) Brunch and 2) a reason to drink in the morning. So we finish our drinks at Hyatt, pile in the car and drive out to Marin. Ah, the sun is shining brightly...such a lovely day to drive across the Golden Gate and eat and drink ourselves into a happy Sunday coma.
We got there about 1:30 and headed straight for the bar. The place was PACKED. No seating anywhere. So we stood in the bar, sipped mimosas, shot the shit and dodged the servers as they loaded up the patrons sitting at the bar booths with the most appetizing looking plates of food. We stayed at the bar for about 45 minutes before putting our names on the list to get seated for brunch. We waited about 10 minutes for a table. The dining room is classy, the patrons are classy, the wait staff is well-trained in the art of ass-kissing - and the food...UMMMMMM!
If you have nothing else on the menu you must have the oysters bingo. OMG, oysters with garlic and cheese? You betcha booty baby. It's been a month since I've been here and I still crave the oysters bingo. I also had the brioche french toast with fried bananas, berries and smoked bacon, while I sipped my Kir Royale. I was such a happy girl. I don't remember what anyone else had but I know that when we stumbled out we were all fat, drunk and happy. I also know that I can't wait for another spontaneous Sunday with nothing to do and no place to go.
Where will it be next...
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There is a reason why this area is often referred to as Mill(f) Valley. Search the reviews on here, and you'll notice 5 of them reference "cougar" (rightfully so). All the milfs seem to hang out in the more secluded restaurant section while all the cougars prowl on the bar side. The divorce rate is pretty high for Southern Marin and well let's face it, the women just don't like to stray far from their nests.
I must say I was a little disappointed in the place. I sampled the skirt steak and the filet mignon and both just didn't do anything for me (dry, lacked flavor). Even the sides of fries, mac and cheese, and potatoes were just blah...
On top of all this, reservations are recommended (anywhere from a couple days to a couple weeks). I find this hard to believe.
On a side note, we were seated to the left as you enter the main eating area. There was a picture of what looked like the marshmallow man from Ghostbusters washed up along the shoreline of a beach (random, I know).
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This is my second favorite restaurant in the Bay Area! I love the atmosphere, the attitude of the staff and most of all the food. They have the best risotto period. They are always busy...for a good reason but are still very accomodating. The decor of the place goes right along with the concept of the entire restaurant. They have great wines, appetizers, entres and desserts. From top to bottom it is just a wonderul experience.
Truly, a restaurant done right. Classic and classy. This restaurant does not have all the trendy frilly San Francisco things about it. It is decorated similar to a lodge with that same warm feeling. The wine list is extensive the martini's are amazing, the food is fantastic, and the staff is nice and helpful. I have been here several times and never had a complaint. I love the oysters bingo, and the meatloaf. For a casual night you can have dinner in the bar area in one of the comfy booths, or dinner by the fire... I want to go back.
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The Buckeye Roadhouse has a ski chalet cozy homey feel complete with a loft and a fire place. We went there on a Friday night armed with a reservation which is a definite must if you actually want to sit somewhere besides the bar. As we arrived early, my friend and I decided to start with cocktails at the bar before we were seated at our table. I ordered a cucumber concoction with a hint of elderflower and vodka while my friend went for the famed lemon drop. The cucumber drink was unique, refreshing, and almost spa-like. Well, except for the fact that it made me rather tipsy after a few sips. Once our table was ready we ordered two appetizers, the goat cheese/ portabello mushroom torte and the grilled artichoke with lemon and some kind of aioli dipping sauce. Both were flavorful and delicious. I should comment on the bread that is served since I am of course a huge fan of the bread. This one is a very moist, fresh, soft and chewy levain type which is absolutely heavenly spread with slightly melted butter (it will melt because the bread is warm and fresh from the oven). For dinner I ordered the Petaluma chicken breast with garlic mashed potatoes, spinach, carrots, and a delightful gravy. My friend ordered the duck which came with a mushroom and goat cheese bread pudding. The chicken was fragrantly laced with rosemary, tender, with crispy skin. I am not a fan of potatoes, so I cannot comment on the quality of these however I did try my friend's mushroom goat cheese bread pudding which was amazing. For dessert we ordered the lemon pudding with hucklberry sauce which consisted of a very lemony pudding cake floating in a lemon-creme anglaise sauce with a hint of purple hucklberries. It was very good, and on the lighter side of the dessert spectrum. I also tried the chocolate bread pudding which was intensely chocolately and gooey and above all tasty tasty. I can't decide which one I like better. Probably depends on the mood. All in all I had a great experience at the Buckeye and would definitely come back if I happened to be in the area.
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Up until this Sunday I had only visited the bar. And I have loved my visits thoroughly. Typically ordered the bloody mary (quite delish) and a few appetizers to share and left a happy lady. My last visit involved an early Sunday dinner in their main dining room. Atmosphere was A+. Service another A+. But then came alone our entrees. Eh. The brick chicken reminded me of one of those sit down mexican joints in a strip mall. Like a Chevy's I guess. My husband got the ribs which were good but not out of this world. And it seemed weird to have such a casual presentation for such a price tag. I will go back but only to the bar and stick to the apps.
A word to the wise . . . go on Mondays for prime rib night. It is very good and rivals more established places in the City, like House of Prime Rib. This was the scene of Man Night VII whereby a group of guys I know get together to socialize and partake in an exceptional meal. Needless to say we were not let down. The food was sensational from the Oysters Bingo, Crabcakes, Ahi and Chicken Wings on the appetizer menu to the Prime Rib which they actually cook as you request. The ambiance from the dining room to the bar is warm and inviting especially on a cold winter evening. Our server was an ambassador for his profession and took care of everything we needed, often before we even made a request. The wine list is pricey but at least you get what you pay for and the selection of beers from bottles to whats on tap is top notch. The desserts are worth an extra hour in the gym, especially the Smores Pie! Request a table near the fire place if you can and don't worry about parking, they have valet (just tip well so they keep it).
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My Fav steak place, city included.
Normally Marin food is pretty sub-par, but the buckeye is Great!
Food:
Oysters Bingo? You'll remember the 1st time you met!
The petite filet is super yummy, with a great tasty peppercorn sauce + potato gratin. I highly recommend
Service:
Always very friendly, knowledgeable, attentive but not overattentive.
Normally it's really busy, but you'll not feel rushed, at all.
Ambiance:
If yours is a romantic outing, you'll love the fireplace. It's totally got a dark wood Tahoe lodge feel. Oh- there's this crazy painting of the stay-puff marsh mellow ghost busters thing- odd, but whateves.
Did I mention the Spectacular oysters bingo??
Absolutely fabulous! Even at 2pm in the afternoon the place was packed. I was in love with my dish, the BBQ Beef Brisket. I would recommend that to anyone! I do agree with everyone else that the crowd is a little older, but that didn't stop Tyler Florence and his son from having lunch there. I happened to look up and see them as they walked into the dining room. I'll have to make another trip to try other items, or maybe I'll go back just for that BBQ Beef Brisket.
Update: 3/12/08 - Had to go for a business lunch... got the burger it was great and I did not find a bug... hence they are on my top Marin Burger list
I just don't get it... I think their food is below par.. the service is horrible... and because I have had to go there several times (its a group thing and I can't be the odd man out) I seem to always get a bug in my food... honestly... a BUG!!!!!
So Friday night I had to go for a celebration. I ordered the rib eye steak. The quality of the meat was not even as good as I could buy at Molly Stones and cook myself. How can a rib eye ever be tuff?
As for the building it is beautiful. The location is perfect and so it is really hard to not like this place.
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6 more reviews before my 400th!!!
(my dinner last night, yes for Halloween, how boring! i know, well, i did do something after eating, but that doesn't matter, but keep reading...and if you wanna take a lil lookie on what i had for lunch yesterday, read my next review, it was soo gross, well worth it since this saying is soo true... "never judge a book by its cover.." this is THE PERFECT EXAMPLE FOR THAT.)
***
So we decided to go for a diff twist and grab dinner in the North Bay. It was nice, I suppose, something different from the ordinary SF dinner.
Tucked away in this parking lot alley, right off the 101, this place isn't exactly THE BEST place to be... The interior feels like those camping lodges.
I was slightly disappointed.
Ordered:
We started off with 2 drinks
-Raspberry Martini w/vodka (0 stars) tasted exactly like that robitussin cough medicine . YUCK. Didn't have a lick of a raspberry taste. $10.75
-Fiji guava juice w/tequila w/lime ($9.50) 1 star. Again, like the raspberry, you could HARDLY taste the guava.
Basically, the drinks were SUPER DUPER strong.
Appetizers:
Oysters Bingo (house fave) tasted like quiche and it still tasted hella good. $12.95 You get a dz, and regardless, omg, I was killing myself knowing how fattening these monsters were. I ferget what was in them, but basically spiniach, asiago cheese and some type of liquor.
Salad:
The "wedge" w/bacon and blue cheese vinaigrette - $7.95. 1 star. Go easy on splashing the vinaigrette. It was literally drenched! Too strong. Plus, there were HARDLY any bacon, prolly 3 lil teeny bits.
Entrees:
Petaluma Chicken Breast w/mashed potatoes and veggies $16.95 (2.5 stars). Chicken was cooked well and was chewy, and mashed potatos was just mashed potatoes, and idk why they say they have VEGGIES when they only had 3 lil strings of spinach. For the price, so NOT worth it.
Marinated Skirt Steak w/carmelized onions and fries ($19.95) 1 star. First of all, they cooked the meat all wrong, I requested medium rare and it came out super duper burnt and I wasn't willing to get it redone since we waited almost 30 mins for it to come out. Tasted exactly like Korean BBQ (Kalbi), so here I am sitting thinking I'll get a juicy part of meat. NOT WORTH IT.
For a Tuesday evening, it was extremely packed.
There's a dining area, left of the bathrooms and a bar area, on the right. I guess you can pick the dining area if you're ON for a first date/anniversary, but make sure to make reservations, and since we were simply in the eating mode, and didn't want to wait an extra hour, we chose the bar, which worked out well...There were 3 tvs, one huge screen (satellite version) next to the bar, and 2 towards the end (real time)...
I think the bar is a great way to get yourself buzzed early and kill some time while you wait for your table in the dining area.
Overall, the service was quite slow but the server was very friendly and accommodating. He was also very attentive to our needs and came at the appropriate time to pour water and such. I think it's quite overpriced given the taste of food. It can get super loud so prepare for that.
I work in Marin County the week, and I have to say, I KNOW what it means when people say Marin type of people, and there you go, this is a VERY MARIN-Y type of place.
Not coming back that's FOR SURE. FOOD FREAKIN SUCKS!
Free valet parking though.
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I took Mrs. Ubermick here for her birthday, based on recommendations from some family folk, and since I personally believe that a good meal involves the use of vegetables only as a garnish, it didn't take a lot of convincing.
The joint was jumpin', as it usually is on a Friday night. Complimentary valet service is a very nice touch, although soured a little by hoity-toity Mill Valley types pulling in with their Land Rovers and other luxury SUVs and not understanding how the whole "there's a line, buddy" system works. But hardly the fault of the restaurant.
Service in there was excellent. Bar was cramped but even at the height of the dinner crowd waiting for tables, our barman had us our tasty beverages in a snap, along with a plate of calamari we ordered to snack on. Drinks were small and pricey tho. And the calamari was... ok.
Dinner itself - again, the service was great, with our waitress being friendly, helpful, and speedy (and cute too... sigh. That almost earned me a night on the couch!). Again tho, the food was so-so. For the most part, I'm just a dumb Mick - but I know meat, and this meat was okay. The four of us at dinner each ordered something different - two types of steak, one salmon, and one lamb. It was presented nicely, as you'd expect from a high-end steakhouse, and in surprisingly big portions. Don't get me wrong - everything was good, but that was it... good. Not great. Not excellent. Just... good. Dessert followed - I had a chocolate bread pudding that was again, good.
Maybe I went in there expecting a little too much, but when the bill came I think we all agreed that we expected more. Not in terms of the service, or the ambiance (or certainly not quantity!) but quality. When you pay premium steakhouse prices, you expect premium steak, and that just wasn't there. I'd go back, but only if someone else was footing the bill.
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Read so much about this place, we had to give it a try. After a day of cruising through Marin, we thought we would stop by here for an early dinner. Great location, conveniently located off of the freeway.
We didn't have reservations, so we were seated in a booth in the bar area. It was a little bit loud, but not uncomfortably so. Started with the smoked chicken wing appetizer. Delish.... meaty and smokey, they were really good.
Main courses were the BBQ brisket, and the pulled pork sandwich. The brisket was tender, and portion generous. The sauce was really good -- not too sweet or tangy, just right. The mashed potatoes that come with it were smooth, and creamy. YUMM. The pulled pork sandwich had a more spicy bbq sauce on it, which was very satisfying. It came with some really fresh tasting coleslaw, and some potato chips that were a great contrast to the sandwich.
Would definitely visit again.... for the great food, and for the fun people watching in the bar. It was a little bit of an older crowd, but it made for an interesting scene!
Parking and ambiance are some of the better things at this place. Have been coming here since it was the old buckeye and it has slipped a little over the last couple of years. Definite "cougar" bar as some have mentioned, but what the heck I don't mind that too much at my age. The leather bar booths are the best seats in the place, the main dining room can get way too loud and the upstairs dining room is like sitting at the card table at your aunts Thanksgiving dinner. If you can wait, request a bar booth. The food is good and generally consistent, nothing to scream about. Price is definitely on the high end.
Oh yeah baby. The Buckeye Roadhouse. Not for the faint of heart.
Out-of-this-world i may not make it through dinner so i can go out and get silly oysters - got 'em
To-die-for-lamb shank that falls off the bone if you make it past the oysters - yup
Delicious cocktails that give you that warm, heady feeling- keep 'em comin
Need I say more?
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Ah, the Buckeye. I have a soft spot in my heart for this little Marin staple.
In my first Bay Area life, our crew used to stop at the Buckeye when headed back to the city after our trips north hiking, camping or just generally making merry outside. We'd come in all sweaty and dirty and sit at the bar eating oysters, drinking grapefruit cocktails and having fun. Wonderful memories of good times and good food.
When we moved back and actually started living near the place, my man and I were pretty excited to return, although we were somewhat apprehensive. What if it wasn't the same? What if it had gone downhill? Oh no!
I can't believe we even worried about it. It was terrific: same great food, same great time (even with our crew's expanding brood of children). An enduring testament to classic recipes and an accessible, laid back approach to dining.
This morning, I noticed that the Buckeye had a little coffee stand for morning commuters. I stopped on my way into city and was impressed to see lots of fun little goodies and various hot beverages. I attempted to buy a small black coffee to top off my overly milky home brew [bleh], but after seeing how little I needed the lady gave me the coffee for free. So sweet!
[Of course, this only prompted me to buy something else and give her the coffee money as a tip (you never really overcome the lessons you learn as a server), but the casual kindness (and, turns out, pretty good cup of joe) really made a difference in my day.]
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Meg Ryan at the Mercer Kitchen. Matthew Perry at Frisson. I love celebrity sightings at restaurants and got another opportunity at Buckeye. I won't name the celebrity, but will give you some not-so-subtle hints:
College of Culinary Arts graduate
Ate with son Miles
Food Network star
Emphasis on uncomplicated recipes, bright flavors and fresh food
Traveled throughout the US to rescue recipes from 911 disasters
Eat This Book
Real Kitchen
Is a nearby resident
Awarded an honorary doctorate from Johnson & Wales University
Needless to say, this person is one of my idols in the cooking world and I felt like such a groupie when I saw him. He apparently is good friends with chef Robert Price as well.
Food: 5 stars. This place is a godsend for those who like BBQ...and for those who don't. The restaurant does both equally well, as evidenced by the delectable lobster bisque we had to start, along with the crispy yet non-greasy calamari "fritto misto" with tomatillo salsa. The entrees were heavenly. The meat on the BBQ beef brisket comes apart so easily. The Buckeye barbequed baby back ribs are not too meaty but come in a sweet, smoky sauce - you don't ever want to run out of ribs. Another winner was the chili-lime "brick" chicken, which provides you with a generous cut of both dark and white meat chicken that is flavorful and juicy. The dishes were huge, so we unfortunately had no room for dessert (although I've heard good things about the s'mores pie). I peeked over to see what Mr. Celebrity was eating - I saw him scarfing down the half dozen oysters and the hamburger - he seemed to be enjoying both.
Service: 3 stars. On a scale of 1-10, our server gets a 10 when rated on gregariousness. Unfortunately, this is accompanied by a loud, booming voice that carries throughout the entire dining room. I could hear his conversations with guests at other tables (including this story about his kid's crayon drawings - he even brought one out to show the guests sitting at the table next to us!). He's definitely a nice guy, but not the most professional for a restaurant of this caliber.
Atmosphere: 4 stars. The interior is reminiscent of a Tahoe ski lodge, which is perfect for those cold winters and cold summers. Highlights include a huge fireplace at one end of the dining room and the wood smoker out back (which I saw Mr. Celebrity checking out). Other than the celebrity, everyone else here is pretty darn old.
Hits: Chili-lime "brick" chicken, BBQ beef brisket, BBQ baby back ribs.
Misses: I see old people.
If You Like This Place, You'd Probably Like: Rutherford Grill, Martini House, Fog City Diner