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    Deep Cut

    4.2 (48 reviews)
    Open 5:00 pm - 10:00 PM

    Deep Cut Photos

    DEEP CUT ATMOSPHERE

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    five course menu featured during yesterday's wine pairing event
    Lydia V.

    Last night, I attended a wine pairing event at Deep Cut at the Hard Rock Casino. The event was a collaboration between Deep Cut and Adelaida Winery. The event featured a five course dinner menu pairing each course with specific wines to complement the dish. It was such an amazing event. The service was professional, and as always friendly. There was a duo playing music and singing songs, and the host explained each dish before it came out as well as the wine. It was paired with highlighting the notes and flavors produced from the grapes. The food was absolutely delicious. Everything from the welcome bite all the way through the fifth course was amazing. My favorite however, was the third course the domestic lamb ribs with a sweet and tangy vegetable relish, pine nut purée, and pine nut brittle sprinkled throughout the dish. Deep Cut definitely needs to put this on the menu. My favorite wine of the evening was the 2022 Estate Pinot Noir, Adelaida District, Paso Robles. All of the featured wines from the sparkling wine that kicked off the event down to the port that was served with the fifth course were delicious, but the Pinot Noir was especially good. The restaurant did an amazing job with the seating arrangements. I attended by myself and they sent me at a table of eight that was attended by a group of friends from the Mount Pines area. I had such a great time at this event, not just enjoying the food but also meeting the people I sat with that evening unfortunately I do not have any pictures because I did not want to be rude and whip out my phone during this lovely fine dining experience. Next time, I'll see if I can sneak into the back and take photos of each dish! I would definitely attend something like this again! Enjoy!

    Skirt steak med rare
    Jason S.

    This is my new favorite steakhouse! The waiter brought out complimentary French fries with three dipping sauces. The food was excellent. I highly recommend the skirt steak. Full of flavor and super tender. I also had three sides. The French fries, mac and cheese and mash potatoes. All were excellent. I would recommend not ordering a side of fries and instead getting a different side to try as they bring out fries before your meal. I had an old fashioned drink with my meal. The atmosphere was great as you would expect with a higher end steak house. Great for a quiet date night, birthday dinner or just an evening out with friends.

    Filet mignon
    Ellen K.

    It was my parents 46th wedding anniversary and they wanted to go someplace nice. We've heard a lot of good things about this establishment and rest assured, they didn't disappoint. From the moment we walked in, they treated us like royalty. Which I'm usually not a fan of but it was nice be taken care of. I ordered my steak rare (as I usually do) and rare it was. The mashed potatoes were a little soupy but the flavor made up for it. They even sent us home with a little chocolate cake thing that was so rich and decadent and a card for my parents wishing them a happy anniversary! All of these personal touches made it an experience I will rave about for years to come. And when we were done, we all made a little money at the casino so dinner was basically free! No complaints here!

    Christina R.

    Craving an exceptional steak in an unexpected place? We stopped at the Hard Rock Tejon Casino to check it out and ended up having an outstanding meal at Deep Cut, their on-site steakhouse. The casino itself was impressive, with ample parking that easily accommodates big rigs--making it a convenient stop for truck drivers passing through. We were greeted by warm, welcoming hostesses and seated in a stunning space with beautiful ambiance and a stage ready for live music. Our server Jordan was outstanding--knowledgeable, personable, and genuinely attentive. He guided us through the menu and paired our meal with excellent wines from a thoughtfully curated list. We started with the crispy shrimp, perfectly complemented by chili aioli and charred lemon, followed by custom-cut fries and a standout iceberg wedge with homemade blue cheese dressing, smoked bacon, and fresh toppings. The radish and smoked bacon were a really nice touch that added a lot of flavor. The bone-in ribeye was juicy with excellent flavor, cooked to a perfect medium. My husband chose the three-peppercorn sauce while I went with the hollandaise--both outstanding and really elevated the dish even more. The whipped potatoes with rich Basque butter and the medley of flavorful mushrooms were excellent sides that elevated the entire meal. Service was seamless and well-timed, with every dish arriving at just the right moment. Deep Cut Tejon is a standout steak destination in the Kern County area, perfectly positioned right where the freeway 99 and I-5 inter are split. Whether you're traveling over the Grapevine or just looking for a great night out, it's an ideal stop for outstanding food and live entertainment Thursday through Sunday. The casino is also expanding to include a hotel, concert venue, and RV accommodations. A huge thank you to Jordan and the entire team for a memorable evening.

    Amy F.

    Not a bad steakhouse, everything served à la cart aka family style. Sides were ok, steaks good but I would recommend getting a topper or sauce as they suggest. The casino allows smoking but the restaurant does not.

    Seared Sea Bass
    Keia C.

    After waiting a couple of months, I couldn't wait any longer. We finally made the trek to the new Hard Rock Casino and I was hangry! We walked around the place, checking all of the offered restaurants and decided to give Deep Cut a try. The place has a very fancy, top tier vibe to it, making my jeans seem inappropriate but I never felt like I didn't belong. We were seated in the very back, directly across from the stage and were informed that in half an hour a live all girl band would be performing. Great! I love live music with my dinner. After perusing the menu, I decided to try the Seared Sea Bass, the Fried Brussels Sprouts, and the Classic Caesar salad while the hubs went with the Bone in Pork chop and the Whipped Potatoes. We also ordered a bottle of the Juggernaut Hillside red wine and were offered a free side of Seasoned Fries with 3 dipping sauces (1. Black garlic 2. Horseradish Remoulade 3. Garlic aioli). Everything was delicious! The bed of tomato heaven that the sea bass was laid upon was absolutely amazing! The Caesar salad was the best I've ever had and since the hubs kept pillaging in it, he agreed. He said his pork chop was awesome and he enjoyed the whipped potatoes as well. Once the music started it was too loud to speak to the servers but the band was good. All-in-all this place was great. I will definitely go back with a full appetite and hopefully there will be another band.

    Black berry lemon drop and strawberry margarita
    Lisa B.

    Went for dinner on Friday night it was our first time visiting Deep Cut at the Hard Rock Casino. The overall ambiance is cool and perfect for date night and I was told they have live music on the weekends. The overall service was good and staff was friendly and provided recommendations. I do think where this place fell short was the food...the crab cocktail was just very bland and the red dipping sauce tasted like ketchup and Clamato it was genuinely just gross I do think the mustard seed dipping sauce was a better option. The fried shrimp was good over all, as far as our main entrees the roasted chicken and sea bass lacked salt and overall odd dish for the sea bass...I was looking for something refreshing and light for dinner and it wasn't that and the cooked carrots were dry and chalky with excessive seasoning and the mash potatoes were decent overall. The crème brûlée was for dessert and it was pretty tasty! Was a little let down by the food so I would say a nice cocktail and enjoy the ambiance before hitting the slots.

    Bone-in Pork Chop
    Emilia O.

    We celebrated my dad's birthday at Deep Cut Steakhouse. Our overall visit was spectacular. Kisha was our waitress and she made the whole vibe. She provided amazing service and has the infectious energy. Dad and I shared the bone-in ribeye (24 oz), sister ordered the file mignon and brother in law ordered the pork chop. We started with two appetizers. 1. Chicken and Caviar: 10/10 chicken nuggets were all breast meat and fried to perfection. Chicken was crispy and piping hot. 2. Thick Cut Bacon: 7/10. Served with a guajillo Demi with sliced red grapes and fennel. It was good but because the menu says "bacon" I was expecting bacon and not pork belly. I had a very small piece only bc I find pork belly to be too fatty. I wouldn't order this again and would definitely try something else. If pork belly is your thing, then you'll love this dish. Sides: 1. Whipped Potatoes with a Basque Butter 10/10. Seasoned perfectly and served hot. Really creamy. 2. Mac and Cheese 10/10, served with smoked bacon and an herb crumble. Again, it's not bacon but chopped pork belly. Nonetheless, I would order again. Pasta was very creamy and not dried out. 3. Roasted Carrots 9/10. This reminded me of Christmas dinner carrots. A sprinkling of cardamom or something similar. Carrots were for tender and served hot. Overall, all side dishes were delicious and highly recommend Entree: 1. Bone-in Ribeye (24 oz) 10/10, Cooked medium rare (as ordered) and definitely enough for 3-4 people. It was deeply charred with a nice caramelized crust and a juicy, tender medium-rare center. I highly recommend the bone-in ribeye 2. Filet Mignon (8oz) 10/10, deeply browned, caramelized crust and extremely buttery, juicy interior. If you are looking for a steak with less fat ribbons than a ribeye, the filet mignon is the way to go. Two people could probably share this (if you've had appetizers) 3. Pork chop (16 oz) 10/10, it had a nice dark caramelized crust with a tender, juicy interior that was just slightly pink. This is enough for 2 people. Dessert: NY Style Cheesecake 10/10, served with a Chantilly cream and berry compote. Definitely order this!! Birthday surprise: a chocolate cake with a candle. Cocktail: 1. Old Fashioned 10/10, made with Angel's Envy bourbon 2. French 75, 8/10, it was ok would not order again. It was refreshing but the lemon juice made it a bit tart for my liking. 3. Cranberry and Tito's pretty standard Overall, service was impeccable, food was fresh and everything complemented each other. The ambiance was intimate. A really personal touch was a birthday card from the Hard Rock with a nice message from Kisha. I have one small complaint, our complementary French fries took a really long time. We were actually served our appetizers and finished them and still no fries. Our waitress did apologize several times. We eventually received the fries and they were amazing!!

    Chopped salad! Delicious. We ordered it as an appetizer
    Ms Darth V.

    This was a really nice place to gather for dinner with friends. The ambiance was really something. The hostess were great and the service received from start to finish was wonderful. Brittany waa an amazing waitress. Really great at recommending and being honest about the items on the menu. It was a party of 6. Prices are reasonable and the quality and quantity of food was really good. The only issue was the wait time. Our food took about an hour due to the big o' pork chop so be prepared to wait if you order the pork chop. Every item we ordered was delicious with the exception of the brussel sprouts. They were not what we expected. It was more like brussel sprouts shells or something. Not good at all. It felt like chips lol. Very different but not great for my taste. Everything else was honestly super delicious. The sauce the chicken had was the best thing I've ever tasted. So so good! The pistachios and cilantro creamy combo was out of this world!

    Crunchy Shrimp...... Devine
    Mark W.

    Deep Cut - A Welcome Revelation in the Bakersfield Dining Scene By someone who understands that steak, like life, is all about execution There's a moment, walking into Deep Cut on a packed Saturday night inside the Hard Rock Casino, when you realize this isn't merely another casino restaurant. The room hums with energy--open, airy, elegant without pretense--and yet what truly defines the space is the hospitality. Service here feels choreographed but warm, attentive but never overbearing. Keilei, our server, brought a level of care that would stand out in any major city. Danniele, the bus girl, moved with precision and grace that elevated the entire evening. You simply won't find service like this anywhere else in Bakersfield. But of course, the point of coming to a steakhouse is the steak. My wife chose the filet, cooked perfectly to medium, tender and balanced--exactly what a filet should be. I went for the skirt steak, which is a statement in itself. Putting skirt steak on a menu is the kitchen telling you they know steak. It's the hardest cut to execute well, demanding technique and timing. Deep Cut delivers a very good version--solid, satisfying, elevated with a bright, confident chimichurri. Not unforgettable, but a steak cooked with intention. Appetizers shined. The crispy shrimp--six large, sweet, beautifully battered shrimp--were some of the best I've had anywhere. If they can replicate that quality nightly, it's destined to be a signature dish. Salads were equally thoughtful. My wife's Caesar was crisp and classic. My chopped salad, though, was something truly special: candied walnuts, dried cranberries, blue cheese, and a vinaigrette that tied the entire bowl into a quiet little symphony. And then, a clever twist: complimentary fries instead of bread. Warm, crisp, unexpected--and honestly, delightful. Prices are fair. Not cheap, but reflective of the elevated service and flavors you simply can't find anywhere else in Bakersfield. If you're looking for a special evening--one that feels intentional, polished, and genuinely memorable--Deep Cut is a must-visit.

    Sandra G.

    I went to this for friends and family day. And I have to say that the whole casino is beautiful. This restaurant is amazing. Everything went well. There's steaks and seafood on the menu. I ordered the fish and my boyfriend ordered the steak. Everything was perfect. They gave us some complementary french fries to start up with and let me just tell you they are my new favorite french fries! They came with three different dipping sauces. The barbecue was the best sauce. My second favorite was the wasabi sauce. The third one I don't remember. I got a daiquiri. I guess I assumed it would be an ice blended one, but this one tasted really good anyway. The mac & cheese is to die for and we had a crème brûlée to finish it off. I think this was the best crème brûlée I ever had. I could see myself in the future, coming out here to gamble and leaving with a large fry and dessert.

    Signage in restaurant area. On stage
    Stella B.

    I was invited by a friend to join them at the steakhouse for dinner. Of course we accepted. We had reservations which I suggest you do because with evening entertainment, it gets busy. The service is really good.We enjoyed the hostess.And the table service was great. This is our second time making a reservation and going to dinner here. So there's definitely a learning curve since this place is new. So far the choices of food from the skirt stake to the shrimp cocktail to the sides, which are served family style have been really good. Prices are elevated but are manageable. The restaurants matradee is really kind and accommodating. It's nice having dinner and be able to hear some good music. I think my main complaint out of the two times that we have attended here for dinner was letting the staff know that there is a food allergy? They need to be much more careful in serving something that someone is allergic to on the plate. They're fixed for the air is just to bring you an empty plate.So you can move the food over. For me, I think that is not the appropriate way.They should make sure that the staff once they've been notified that when they put your order in, they make sure to tell the cooks or whoever is preparing your plate to make sure to eliminate the foods you're allergic to, because this can be very deadly. But so far it's been to the point where it's been avoidable, and we are able to control by what we order. But if you haven't been here, and if you have the extra cash to indulge in a nice dinner, I do recommend it.

    Bacon Mac and cheese
    Daniela D.

    We decided to try the steakhouse for our weekly date night and we are so happy that we did. We had an amazing view of the stage where they have a band 4 days out of the week. We had an amazing waiter that thoroughly went over the menu with us and was a pleasure to speak to. I believe his name was Jordan. Filet minon, Caesar salad, bacon mac and cheese were delicious. We definitely plan on visiting again.

    Bacon appetizer

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    11 days ago

    Nothing in the reservation process mentioned 21+ only for the restaurant. Waste of time.

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    The professionalism of the staff, the knowledge of the food fantastic menu and steaks as well as very thoughtful side dishes.

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    7 months ago

    The steaks were amazing!!! Keisha was a great waitress and her recommendations were on point. Thank You

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    Willow Ranch

    Willow Ranch

    4.1
    (1k reviews)
    32.8 mi
    $$

    The sirloin steak was very juicy and tender. Breakfast was delicious. Well recommendedread more

    I cannot say enough great things about this place! My son and I stopped here a couple years ago on…read moreour way home to the Bay Area from Southern California. I was tired of fast food on our road trip and wanted something more real. We stopped here to check it out and everything about our experience was perfect. From the moment we walked in the door we were greeted within 30 seconds even though the 3 servers on the floor were VERY busy, they got back with us within a minute, sat us, and immediately got a drink order. When they came back they asked if we were ready to order. We were in a hurry, so when the Server came back to quality check our food we ordered dessert to go and asked for the check so we could get back on the road as we were eager to get home. We were so impressed with our service and honestly, the delicious diner food, that we planned to stop here again on our way home from our yearly trip this year. We had a different server this year, but everything about the experience was identical. Wonderful, tasty, timely, kind... Thank you, Willow Ranch staff, we will certainly make you part of our plan every year! I also wanted to note that I am a career server and the details matter to me. It is so amazing when someone like myself can receive the kind of service that I am proud to give when I'm working. I also witnessed the front of house staff engaging in friendly banter with the kitchen staff and I just love that. I am also close with the team on our line and I think that makes a huge difference in the overall performance of the restaurant.

    Photos
    Nice decor
    Nice decor
    Cheeseburger
    Cheeseburger
    Minestrone soup

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    Minestrone soup
    Hungry Hunter Steakhouse

    Hungry Hunter Steakhouse

    4.0
    (1.2k reviews)
    22.2 mi
    $$

    10 stars! Hands down - great customer service and amazing ribeye!…read moreI have been staying in Bakersfield for work and tonight, I ordered the ribeye. I ordered the ribeye, medium rare. It comes with either the option of super salad so I chose a salad. It also comes with two sides, and I chose the rice, pilaf and steamed vegetables. Madison took my order over the phone. She is very friendly, helpful, patient and told me the order would be ready in 20 minutes. I arrived at exactly 20 minutes and my order was ready. She brought the food out and quickly took my payment. Easy peasy transaction. The ribeye was perfectly grilled at medium rare. It is so tender, juicy and flavorful! Major kudos to the chef! The rice pilaf is to die for as well as the steamed vegetables. They went so well with the perfectly grilled ribeye. I definitely recommend, I will return and absolutely love my dinner!

    Heidi Daniel's host from Michael David in Lodi. The brothers are the fifth generation to farm the…read moreland and make delicious wines. This is sustainable farming at its best. Their wines are Mostly Stainless steel fermented. Our Servers Kyle, Syaun & Seth were outstanding. The salmon confit was delicious but a tad too salty. The pork tenderloin with bacon jam was a big miss! The onions were just sweated with very minimal bacon. The polenta was thin & mushy sadly a disappointment. Usually the food is wonderful for these wine events. I don't know why things went awry today. But I have been to many of these events and will be back again. Everyone has the occasional hiccup. The wine was fantastic and Heidi was an entertaining and educational hostess for the winery.

    Photos
    Happy hour with hubby.
    Happy hour with hubby.
    Whiskey Peppercorn Top Sirloin
    Whiskey Peppercorn Top Sirloin
    Dinner and drinks!

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    Dinner and drinks!
    Sagebrush Annie's

    Sagebrush Annie's

    4.4
    (5 reviews)
    31.8 mi
    $$$

    This review is going to be a little out of character from my other reviews. I usually don't give…read morestars based on emotions... my feelings about a place have little bearing on the experience other people may have. What I usually consider important are the empirical facts: Is the food good? The service? Decor and ambience? Etc. Such rational ratings are simply impossible with Sagebrush Annie's: For many reasons, I would rather eat here than any other restaurant I've ever been to, yet this is far from what most people would consider a perfect restaurant. So why do I love it so much? A lot of it is the owners, Larry and Carina Hogan: Sagebrush Annie's is the ultimate mom-and-pop place. This friendly, dedicated, hard-working couple have built a winery and restaurant from the ground up... literally. Larry himself built the event center, and can tell you exactly how many stones and bricks went into its construction (something like 14,388 of one and over 16,000 of the other). I won't ruin the almost legend-like story of how the Hogans created this place by retelling it: Larry tells it with such down-home simplicity and warranted pride, that I don't feel it is mine to tell. Suffice to say that after a lifetime that included fighting in the Korean War, ranching cattle, and battling cancer, Larry somehow came to create a Cabernet Sauvignon that has won medal after medal at competitions all over the country. His 2004 vintage won best Cab at the San Francisco competition, against over 450 other labels. Karina runs the restaurant. Er, I mean she *is* the restaurant: Greeter, seater, chef, pastry chef, waitress, bus boy. She does it all. She also plays piano at the wine tastings. This is truly a Renaissance couple to beat them all. Larry cooks the beef. You would expect the beef to be good coming from a former cattle rancher, and it is. But when you combine it with Karina's exciting, amazing side dishes, soups and salads, you are taking steak to a world-class level that you would simply not expect out here in the sticks. She is a self-trained chef who retains a sense of wonder about cooking... She likes to surprise herself as much as her guests. It is like eating the meals of a young master chef with much promise, who makes up for lack of mastery with sheer enthusiasm and whimsy. To call the restaurant "funky" is an understatement. Between the steer head on the wall (yes, it was one of Larry's herd), the deer head, the wine bottles piled up on the bar, the old tables, the place has, shall we say, a very iconoclastic ambience... but it is like dining at something out of a novel. Even while you are sitting there, you can't quite believe it is real. We've taken friends who were hesitant even to step into the place after seeing the sign out front made out of branches and twigs. Once you taste the wine and the food though, you know you have stepped into a culinary Twilight Zone. All this may explain why they've been selling out dinner seatings since February 2009... and why there are so few cases of wine left. Their 2007 Zinfandel (first ever) is one of the best I've ever tried, second only to A. Rafanelli. This place is simply off the hook in terms of experience, homey ambience, and kindness. Do not think of it as eating at a restaurant; think of it as dining at a friend's house, where they have invited too many people for dinner and don't have time to sit with you themselves. To complete this illusion, Karina herself will walk you to the door at the end of the evening to say good night and wish you a safe trip home. However, the critic in me can't give a rave without pointing out the honest downsides: 1. Location. This place is in the middle of nowhere. Really. Although only about 90 miles from Valencia, it will take you nearly three hours to get there. Google maps will send you ON A DIRT ROAD for the last 15 miles. (You can actually take a paved road, but it adds 20 miles to the drive.) Plan on an adventure. (It's much easier coming from the coast or from Bakersfield, but still a long drive. On the plus side, it's a gorgeous drive, too.) 2. Premises. I don't think the restaurant seats more than 20 people. So, they are likely to be booked when you want to come. We were there recently, and I think they only had one seating for the evening. Dinner went from 4:30 to nearly 9. This is a (slow) dining experience that you will never forget. Don't come with someone you can't really tolerate, as you will spend a long time with them. I was there with my wife, sister and brother-in-law, and the time just flew. It seemed like an hour, and we were shocked to see it had been over four. (Actually, that wasn't all the meal... it also included a wine tasting of about six different bottles, each poured and explained by Larry himself.) If you are a jerk, snob, or food snob don't go here. You WILL be disappointed. If you want a long, slow, magical meal, served by really nice people in a rustic getaway, this is the place for you.

    It was truly a great experience to stop and taste here. We didn't have reservations, but thankfully…read moreLarry was there expecting another person. He was kind enough to welcome us and our dogs in and let us do a tasting. There is a great patio supplying plenty of shade from the hot sun in the valley. Larry was a pleasure to talk to about wine and life as he has a lot to share. The wines are excellent and we had a hard time picking out a couple favorites because they were all good. It is an absolute must to make reservations and stop here if you are a wine lover. From the street it doesn't look promising, but once you get inside and taste the wine you won't care how the street front looks. Plus there is a beautiful converted barn in the back for events. Can't wait until next time we go back through.

    Photos
    Sagebrush Annie's Dining Room
    Sagebrush Annie's Dining Room
    View of vineyard behind Sagebrush Annie's

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    View of vineyard behind Sagebrush Annie's
    The Iron Cactus

    The Iron Cactus

    4.1
    (306 reviews)
    45.0 mi
    $$

    I got the Tombstone burger cooked medium rare with the side house salad and ranch. 10/10. Small…read moreplate, big salad, ranch was great! The burger was absolutely delicious. Super juicy, full of flavor, cooked perfectly, melted cheese. Every bite was delicious. I'm that type of person who's picky with my water at restaurants and it was smooth tasting and clean. Didn't taste like it was sink water or anything. Our server Riley handled our big party pretty well and made sure we were all taken care of. Thanks Riley! I will definitely be back

    Last night we went to Iron Cactus for a date. The food was actually good, but unfortunately, the…read moreservice was subpar at best. From the moment we sat down, it felt like everyone was in a rush to get us in and out. Our waitress came over almost immediately and, without even a hello or introduction, simply asked what we wanted to drink. We also ordered a BBQ chicken salad, and the waitress asked what kind of dressing we wanted on it. I thought that was a little odd because I've always known salads like that to come already tossed or prepared with the dressing. When I questioned it, she acted like I was the weird one for asking. Throughout the meal, the service continued to feel rushed and impersonal. Even the person who brought out our food basically just dropped it on the table and walked away. The food was good, but when you're going out for a nice dinner--especially on a date--you expect the service and overall experience to match. Unfortunately, that just wasn't the case for us last night.

    Photos
    Modern / rustic Iron Cactus theme! So cute!
    Modern / rustic Iron Cactus theme! So cute!
    The Iron Cactus
    The Iron Cactus

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    The Hitching Post 2

    The Hitching Post 2

    3.9
    (1.8k reviews)
    74.8 mi
    $$$

    This is a really good place to get an oak smoked steak right off of their Santa Maria Grill. The…read morefood here is good, and I absolutely love the taste of the oak that screams Central Coast. (If you sit in the middle of the easternmost dining room you'll have a great view of it.) I've had numerous steaks, their pork chops, lamb, and quail and it's all delicious. Right now I am absolutely in love with their duck. It's really good. The wines here are great as well. They make their own wines, and specialize in Pinot (their Big Circle Syrah is pretty good too). They really care about their wines and it's very apparent in their taste. The service here is excellent as well. This is an amazing place that we make sure to visit every time we're in town.

    For the last 40 years, the Hitching Post has been a Buellton institution, serving oak grilled…read moresteaks "West Coast BBQ" style and their own wines. Like many people I heard about it because of the movie Sideways with Paul Giamatti. Despite its notoriety, this place feels authentic and hasn't been over taken by the fame monster...not in the slightest. They just offer great food, great service, and great wines. For all the hype, this place was better than I expected. The patio views out back were sweeping, and I highly recommend coming here when it's still light out (lunch or an early dinner) so you can see what I mean. The views were better than the scenery at some of the winery vineyards in the area. For lunch, I took the recommendation of the worker and got "the best thing on the menu" which was their steak and caramelized onion sandwich. I dont normally order this kind of thing but she convinced me of it and I am glad I listened to her. It was juicy and savory, and the steak was so nicely seasoned. Whenever I've gotten a steak or beef sandwich before usually you have to dip it in au jus bc it's on the dry side, but this was not the case at all here. There was no aioli or sauce to drown out or hide the quality of the meat. It was perfection. We also tried the grilled chicken sandwich which also was beautifully seasoned and slightly blackened and had the juiciest tomato with it. Overall: a very simple lunch but done extremely well, with the best outdoor views in town. As a bonus, birders may appreciate seeing the occasional hawk high overhead or the abundant Blue Jays on the patio. Ample parking on sight.

    Photos
    Seat at the bar - always interesting people watching
    Seat at the bar - always interesting people watching
    Grilled Artichoke
    Grilled Artichoke
    Mixed greens salad with blue cheese

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    Mixed greens salad with blue cheese
    Horse in the Alley

    Horse in the Alley

    4.6
    (324 reviews)
    21.4 mi
    $$$

    Horse In The Alley is a Bakersfield classic. Sure, it's expensive, but always feels worth it. It's…read morea steakhouse, and the steaks are all delicious. Last time there, I had the tuna filet because it cost less than the beef or lamb, and it was equally good, The escargot is very good too. This place has some real history and it reeks of it from the horseshoe shaped bar to the one table reserved for the in house ghost. Back in the day this location was once called The Office, so when businessmen were having a drink after a long day, they could call home and say "Hey Honey, I'm gonna be a little late, I'm still at The Office," and they wouldn't be lying. There's still the remains of an olde phone booth near the bar. I wish I could afford to eat here more often, the "Brandy Blu Filet" is melt in your mouth awesome.

    On a scale of 1-10, Horse in the Alley is a 2 in Los Angeles and a 9 in Bakersfield. We walked in…read morewith high hopes. They lasted about 30 seconds. There was no host stand, no greeting, and no indication of what we were supposed to do. I eventually asked the bartender about our reservation. He seemed mildly annoyed that I had interrupted whatever invisible task he was doing and told us we'd have to wait for the host. So we waited. And waited. Once seated, we ordered drinks and were served warm bread with butter knives. The problem? There was no butter. Instead, there were candles heating cups of drawn garlic butter that nobody explained. The waiter described it as a powerhouse flavor. Imagine garlic butter LaCroix. Technically present, but only as a rumor. The pacing of service was glacial. Not relaxed. Not upscale. Just slow. The entire evening felt like a social experiment where everyone involved was pretending to operate a fine dining restaurant while waiting to see if customers would notice. We ordered the stuffed mushrooms, which were apparently a house favorite. I sincerely hope that's no longer true. The filling was confusing enough, but someone decided to glaze them with a sweet sauce that made the entire dish taste like a dare. We took a few bites and surrendered. Then came the steaks. My fiancée ordered the filet medium rare. It arrived with the texture of warm oatmeal and was drowning beneath balsamic reduction and Gorgonzola. The steak itself was so soft and underdone it resembled a pink marshmallow more than beef. My strip steak arrived covered in gravy. Not a sauce. Gravy. To complete the experience, we both ordered baked potatoes. Because surely nobody can mess up a baked potato. We were informed that bacon and sour cream would cost an additional $2. Nothing says "premium steakhouse" quite like nickel-and-diming toppings for a baked potato. By the end of the meal, we were struggling to identify a single redeeming part of the experience. The service was slow. The food was baffling. The atmosphere felt like everyone--staff and customers alike--was participating in the same awkward experiment. Horse in the Alley desperately wants to be a fine dining destination. Unfortunately, wanting and being are two very different things. ***Our server Samantha was very sweet and even comped the stuffed mushrooms. But this was easily the worst $200 I've ever spent.

    Photos
    Tito's Martini
    Tito's Martini
    Horse in the Alley
    Tito's martini

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    Tito's martini

    Deep Cut - steak - Updated August 2026

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