This is a really good place to get an oak smoked steak right off of their Santa Maria Grill. The food 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. read more

For the last 40 years, the Hitching Post has been a Buellton institution, serving oak grilled steaks "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. read more

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Not as great as people say. Food: Hamburger and fries rare and asked for medium rare. Fries not hot. Service: good Ambiance: very nice. Perhaps a coup more umbrellas; lunch time. read more

A quick road trip to Solvang starts with great food! Juicy vegan burgers and flavorful chicken sandwiches, fries, chips, and juice. Great views, outdoor atmosphere, so inviting and memorable! Friendly and vegan knowledgeable staff, I loved it! Definitely coming back soon! read more

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Tonight, we were blessed to have a quiet evening here. The vibe is old school classy. Super date night stuff. The food is what you would expect from a high end joint. Servers are personal a professional......We had the Quail...it was delicious. A rare treat. read more

The Hitching Post 2 - The Grill! Cookin' tonight - Steakhouses Near Me - Buellton, California

We went here for an early dinner. The service was great and very friendly. We ordered the burgers, but they were just okay. The red wine was good. I wish I had ordered a steak. You get a relish tray and a dessert with your meal. I looked all around for Sideways photos, but couldn't find any. The bar was crowded - so maybe I missed it. It's pretty casual for a steak house - but comfortable. read more

The Hitching Post 2 - Steakhouses Near Me - Buellton, California

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This place has been a family spot for us for almost 20 years. We'll sometimes go a year or two without visiting, but we always end up coming back eventually. Watching them cook the meat over the wood fire is still one of the coolest parts of the experience. The smell hits you immediately when you walk in. I also recently found out they do burger specials on certain weekdays and honestly it was one of the best burgers I've had in a long time. Just one of those places that's always been around for us and probably always will be. I'll definitely keep coming back. read more

The Hitching Post 2 - Burger Special - Steakhouses Near Me - Buellton, California

The setting for lunch is gorgeous. It's outdoor under the canopy of oak and willow trees looking over the hills beyond. Service is friendly and quick. We ordered steak with caramelized onion sandwich (very good!), it came with salsa which I am not sure why it was included because it altered the taste, it's better without it, ribeye special, and Deviant ribs (beef rib not baby back). The ribeye is good, cooked just right, the ribs were hard, not falling off the bones. Will skip this in the future. The fries can use a little bit of seasoning, without ketchup it's a bit bland. read more

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I've been seeing this restaurant on the cooking channel and decided to check out their website. I'm so glad I did, I've been wanting to try the Chefs Magic Stuff seasoning. I placed my order and got it in the mail a few days later. I can't wait to try this on steaks. I did use it today on pork chops and it's delicious. I highly recommend this seasoning from here it's good!!!!! read more

I wanted to love this place given the reputation, but it honestly felt overrated. We had a reservation but still ended up waiting 15 minutes just to be seated, which makes you wonder what the point of booking ahead is. Once the food arrived, the seasoning was just too much-everything felt over-seasoned to the point where it masked the actual flavor of the meat. The strangest part, though, was the "veggie tray." I didn't really understand getting a whole raw green onion as part of the spread. read more

The Hitching Post 2 - Steakhouses Near Me - Buellton, California

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Okay Yelpers. We are in Solvang for the night and decided to visit the Hitching Post II of Sideways fame down the road in Buellton. The bar was jammed of course so we were seated in the dining room. I really wanted a steak and I was not disappointed. I had the 15 oz Prime Sirloin medium rare seasoned with their proprietary "magic stuff". Mrs Billy D had the double pork chops. The meals came with baked potatoes but I added rice pilaf as well. Our appetizer was a grilled and smoked artichoke. It was cut in half and hollowed out then grilled and seasoned with you guessed it " magic stuff". There was a mildly spicy sauce but truly the artichoke was so flavorful it didn't need the sauce. Mrs Billy D had a glass of their proprietary Hitching Post Highliner Pinot Noir which was "tighter than a nun's a$$hole" (movie quote). It was fun visiting the restaurant. I didn't see any photos of the movie or actors hanging around but I didn't really look hard. Prices were average for a tourist town. We would come back if our travels find us here again. read more

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Outstanding! I have been to the restaurant for dinner after 4pm. Always a great spot for a perfect steak. Today, for the first time stopped by for a quick sandwich in the winery section and oh my! Simply wonderful steak and onion sandwich. It was so delicious that I forgot to take a photo of the whole sandwich with fry's. . Tender, soft, flavorful etc. the bread. I mean everything was a 10. I didn't try the wine but the barbecue was just fantastic. Highly recommended read more

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This experience was just whatever. We normally always have an amazing time whenever we're here. This particular visit, we were showing friends around the area and stopped off for happy hour. Which we thought they had.... It was quite busy in the bar area but we were able to find a little spot in the corner with a high table and seats available. We wanted the bar area but were told that we needed to check in and put our name down. Well, we then checked in and put it down incase an opening arise. Asked about the happy hour which we were then told that they didn't have any. Odd when you pulled it up online it said that they offered it. We even showed the bartender which he was surprise to see. Then we asked about their burger deal which it was also online but found out it was only on a Monday. Whoever was in charge of their website needs to update it. Even the bartender was surprised to see it. Anyways, we ended up just grabbing some drinks. It didn't table long to arrive which was nice. By the way, with the seating at the bar. We did noticed that some did open up but people who walked in just seated themselves. Not sure why we had to put our name down as it seemed like it was open seating. Anyways, I've alway love this place for a meal. Both inside the restaurant or having a meal along the bar area. But this visit was just whatever. It's a good thing it was only for drinks. Experience may have been different if it was for dinner. Overall, I do like their menu. It's a staples in Buellton/Solvang that's a favorite among people. It does get packed so reservations highly recommend. Even the bar area, it was pretty busy during the non existent happy hour. Bartender was nice which is always a good thing. read more

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Delicious steak and great service! I've been here twice now and be forewarned if you're coming on a weekend and don't have a reservation you're going to have to wait a bit. Great wine selection and a good, to-the-point menu, but of course you have to get the steak! The first time here, we sat right in the two bar seats that they sit at in the movie Sideways, and the second time we were lucky enough to snag a table right near the window where you can see them cooking the steaks. The artichoke app is also simple and delicious. Can't go wrong here for a meal while in town wine tasting and enjoying the ambiance! read more

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Drove to Solvang from LA. Not really impressed by this place. Food is good but honestly overpriced Service at the bar is great but at tables the service lacked. Menu says meals come with a side of raw veggies yet nobody at our table got any even though we ordered large meals. Hostess/Seating staff were also not too happy nor nice on this Friday evening. They said there were no tables of 6 or of 2 yet there were ppl being seated in 2s & 6s Ambiance is just ok. Nothing special at all. read more

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Heard of this place from a show named Wine O! We were planning on coming to Solvang for Julefest so decided to try it out. The parking lot is massive and seems appropriate for the room inside. The inside reminds me of an old time steakhouse. Like a Cattlemen's for us in Northern California. We were seat quickly and the service was prompt. Trust me we did not leave hungry. Grilled artichoke, pork chops, ribeye steak, fries and baked potato. The meats were cooked to perfection. The pork chops had amazing flavor possibly my favorite. Do yourself a favor and if you like artichokes get the grilled one. The magic dust they season it with is fantastic. Definitely a place to get dinner when visiting the Solvang area. read more

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Everything went well the steak was to die for went with a med rare sirloin steak 7 oz the size was perfect cooked perfectly. Got the 3 course 40 dollar special it was a lot of food . We also ordered a mussels in a tomato base sauce very good . I have to say that cook everything just right the food is presented a the perfect temperature everything was was great . Wife had the shrimp dish she also enjoyed them my dinner comes with ice cream I was pretty full at that time anyway we make it down here every 10 years or so it always a great treat . It definitely our go to steak house when we are down here read more

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It was delicious! I got the pink dry Rose 2024 The chicken tortilla soup SoHo New York steak side of fries Steak was medium well! Everything was amazing and I love the moving sideways! read more

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Only good part was the food, steaks were cooked to perfection, our guest enjoyed their fish platters but we ordered the 10 shrimp plate, mind you, we wouldn't have made a fuss had the waitress not stated that it was 10 pieces. We only got 9.. so we jokingly said that we were missing a shrimp, she had ZERO conversation skills and didn't budge when we ordered something that wasn't on the bar menu and she only acknowledged what was on the menu so we conceded and ordered what was on the menu. We really felt out of place there but the food was great. read more

What a great nostalgic place this is! I only went because I seen this resturant in a movie " Sideways" but dont get it twisted this place has great food!! The BBQ ribs are amazing!! No sauce needed straight up delicious Amazing staff and service with great drinks! This place gets packed, so make a reservation. Great Movie also check it out!!! read more

The Hitching Post 2 - Steakhouses Near Me - Buellton, California

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So dependable and always a fun dinner at the bar. Arrived at 4:30 on a Thursday for a solo dinner. The World Cup was playing at the bar but sound turned down so not intrusive. They have a $40 dinner special going to celebrate their 40th anniversary. A great deal, especially with the sirloin! Had mine medium rare (perfect doneness) with French fries (perfect) and a fresh and plentiful green salad with their delicious, thick blue cheese dressing. I loved that the relish tray had salt-cured black olives - look out for the pits. Also included in the special 40th anniversary is a scoop of ice cream or sherbet (I had the S'mores flavor and it was great). Bartenders were attentive and friendly. I enjoyed their HP Chenin Blanc ($14) and their HP Kick On Pinot Noir ($14, a lighter Pinot, loved it and bought a bottle for $45). The big parking lot has pretty flowers and plenty of spaces. Love coming here for a tasty oak-grilled steak. read more

The Hitching Post 2 - A great prix fixe deal for their 40th anniversary - Steakhouses Near Me - Buellton, California

So great to finally come here for dinner as seen in the movie sideways. The food was incredible! Best steak I've had in a while. Morgan our server was very pleasant and attentive! The wine flight was fantastic!! Grilled artichoke was perfect! read more

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Food was good. We had steaks and they were cooked according to our requests (one medium rare, one medium). The "magic seasoning" they marketed did not stand out. But the steaks were still yummy. The toasted garlic bread slice came with a salsa, which I found curious. Our table was near the windowed area where we can watch the meats on the grill. However, the wait staff was just OK. They weren't rude but they spilled food and got our simple order mixed up. The thing that bothered me the most was when the person I was dining with finished eating and their plates were cleared right away. I was still eating and it made me feel rushed. I was going to share some of my food, but their plate and utensils were taken away already. I'd recommend a little fine tuning with the wait staff. Regardless, I'd consider coming back again. read more

I dined at the bar this last weekend, Sunday night. I had a pleasant meal. I started off with a fabulous Caprese salad special. Unlike most experiences when ordering this item, this restaurant did not skimp on the mozzarella or the balsamic vinegar. This was perfectly portioned and seasoned and fresh! It was oh so delicious! I then had the 8oz. filet Mignon with a baked potato. Once I prepared the potato with provided butter, sour cream, chives and seasoned with salt and pepper, it was delicious! The filet was good, a bit undercooked from requested medium. It also was not particularly well trimmed, having several strands of fat. I enjoyed the classic chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream for dessert. Wine selection is largely localized. I enjoyed a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon I was not familiar with. Service was attentive and friendly. I returned the next evening with my wife. We enjoyed dinner here Monday night this last week. I had to try their infamous burger special and my wife was eager to have their Caprese salad special. We were not disappointed. I had my burger with cheese and bacon, of course! The French fries were phenomenal! They emerged as the highlight of an excellent meal. They were so perfectly cooked, crispy, hot, properly seasoned scrumptious delight! We almost ordered an extra side of fries, yet we were already getting full. I enjoyed a delicious glass of their Cabernet Sauvignon/Syrah blend. Service was excellent, friendly, and attentive. Pleasant, simple dining room atmosphere. read more

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5 Stars - Worth the Wait, and Then Some I've been wanting to try The Hitching Post ever since I saw it featured in Sideways, and after finally making the stop, I can say--it absolutely lived up to the hype. On our way home from a family vacation in San Francisco, I purposely took the scenic 101 route south, planning stops at UC Santa Cruz, Morro Bay (overnight), Cal Poly SLO, and finally lunch in the Buellton/Solvang area. We arrived at The Hitching Post early afternoon on a Wednesday--too early for the main restaurant (which opens later for dinner), but luckily their wine shop next door was open for lunch. And what a great find that was! The wine shop had a cozy, rustic charm with shaded outdoor seating and a beautiful view of the Santa Ynez hills--and even an ostrich ranch next door. The atmosphere was relaxed, and everyone seemed to be enjoying their meals with a glass of wine in hand. It's one of those places where you can instantly feel the good energy. The lunch menu is well-curated, priced around $16-$30, with a nice variety of daily specials. My daughter and I both ordered the steak sandwich, my wife went for the steak salad, and my son had the pulled pork tacos. We added a couple of sides of fries to share. Let me just say--this was one of the best steak sandwiches I've ever had. Perfectly tender, thin-sliced tri-tip, caramelized onions, all served on a grilled brioche roll. Every bite melted in my mouth. I literally tried to eat it slowly just to savor it longer. My wife's salad was equally impressive: simple, fresh, and flavorful--thin-sliced tri-tip on crisp iceberg and greens, blue cheese crumbles, and sliced green tomatoes. As for my son... he's 12, didn't say much, but he polished off his pulled pork tacos without pause, which says it all. The staff was incredibly friendly and attentive, and the overall vibe was just one of people genuinely enjoying good food, wine, and the California sun. I'm already planning a return trip to try the full dinner menu in the main restaurant. But if you're in or passing through Buellton or Solvang, do yourself a favor--eat here. You won't regret it. read more

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It is with great disappointment that I write this review. I've been wanting to visit this restaurant for years, and today I finally had the chance. The place was absolutely packed, and I came in expecting an amazing experience that unfortunately never happened. To be fair, the staff was great and the service was good, but the food was honestly mediocre, especially considering the prices. I ordered an $80 ribeye, and it was truly disappointing. It had barely any char, very little flavor, and honestly tasted like the kind of steak you'd expect to pay $28 for at a diner. I'm not exaggerating. I tried everyone's food in our party, and the same issue came up across the board: nothing was memorable or special. My son's steak came with rice pilaf that genuinely tasted like it came straight out of a supermarket box. The fries were no better than fries I've had at countless pubs. I didn't send anything back or complain during the meal because I don't like making a scene, but after waiting years to try this place, the experience was a major letdown. It feels like this restaurant may be relying more on its reputation and history than the quality of the food being served today. read more

Stopped by Hitching Post for lunch and was seriously impressed. The burgers were great, juicy, flavorful, and cooked just right. You can tell they don't cut corners. But honestly, the best option of all? Mexican Cokes on the menu to go with that great burger and fries! There's just something about that real sugar in a glass bottle that takes the whole meal up a notch. Simple, satisfying, and definitely worth the stop. I'll be back! The staff was exceptional and friendly! read more

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Be careful when you order an older wine here. I ordered a glass of port, which was a 3-ounce pour for $19. At least one ounce of this was sediment. I am very familiar with older ports, and they do have a lot of sediment. However, you are supposed to pour it through a filter before serving it to your guests so that nobody has to chew their wine. After only a few sips, there was so much sediment I could barely drink it. They must have given me the last of the bottle, with all the dregs. When I asked the waitress about it, she told me sediment is normal in this port, and she brought me a coffee filter. I do not appreciate paying full price for a partial serving. The chanterelle mushroom appetizer was tasty, as was the duck breast. However, the rest of the food was nothing exceptional. The ribs were fine, but the meat was difficult to remove from the bone. The skin on the baked potatoes was not crispy at all. The meal would have been ok although not memorable, but the $19 glass of sediment heavily tipped the scales towards a disappointing dinner. We will not be coming back. read more

The Hitching Post 2 - Chanterelle appetizer - Steakhouses Near Me - Buellton, California

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I am surprised HP2 does not have it's own listing. For lunch, you don't dine in the original Hitching Post 2 building. Separated by a parking lot, HP2 is the casual, smaller menu patio seating experience for lunch. It is dog-friendly and relaxing. The service was friendly and not pretentious. I had the burger and it was amazing. They have a gluten-free bun option, just ask, which is great for those with diet restrictions on gluten. read more

The Hitching Post 2 - HP2 for Lunch - Steakhouses Near Me - Buellton, California

Almost 2 stars, because I was expecting a lot more based on reputation, but it wasn't a horrible meal, just a forgettable one. If I can't remember anything about the food, that's always a 3 star experience. I know you've seen it in Sideways - so you feel you have to go, but if you've dined at fine steakhouses, you won't be impressed here. If you don't really know what prime beef should taste like, you may really like the old school vibe here. And that I get. If I return, I'll just sit at the bar and hang out. Burger night would also be an option. Started off with the Shrimp Stuffed Pasilla Pepper with corn relish. Very forgettable and very light on the shrimp. Can't see them on my photo. Good cheese content, but I would pass on ordering this again. 2.5 stars 12 oz Filet Mignon - Not the most tender filet I've had. It was kind of dried out even though it was cooked to a correct medium rare. I'm guessing the dry rub is on the steak too long, as the salt in it can take the moisture out of the meat. Would be better to just add the seasoning while grilling. Salsa on the side is very strange. I asked the waitress if it needed it? She said it was a central coast thing. I tried it with the steak, no thanks. The steak by itself had a good flavor, even if it was a bit tough. 3 stars. Wine flight.... When in Rome. I wasn't impressed with any of the Hitching Post's wines. Just kind of generic tasting. I'm also not a wine connoisseur. But I did go to a winery the next day, who asked where else I'd been, and that guy does know his wines, and had nothing but bad things to say about Hitching Post wines. Now maybe that is local jealousy, I don't know. But I loved his winery's wines, and didn't like Hitching Post, so maybe my wine palette isn't that ignorant. 2 stars read more

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Been wanting to try this place for some time. Had a wine flight to start and the pinots were very good. Wasn't disappointed by any of them. Ordered the filet and the steak was amazing and had a great flavor. Had a back potato and it was just a plain back potato. Wished the side game was a little better. Service was really good. Our server was friendly and attentive. Definitely recommend checking this place. Ambiance was perfect. I will be doing a taste at their winery soon. read more

Stopped in for lunch with family while touring the area. This is one of the spots we truly enjoy! Steak dinner is never let us down horrific to choose us from! Besides being on the sideways trail, this is just a great spot! Recommendation with two thumbs up! read more

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The best thing about the hitching post is that Sue was an awesome server, quick, witty and didn't mess around! You can tell she's is experienced... nothing like a great server! We ordered steaks and ribs. The steaks were very good. Well cooked and nicely seasoned however the ribs should be taken off the menu! I like baby backs dry so I figured that these would be perfect since they serve them dry, however, they are undercooked and not worth the money!! Overall this is good place to eat. read more

The Hitching Post 2 - Steakhouses Near Me - Buellton, California

This is an authentic old school steak house with old school charm. The space for dinner is different than for lunch. The dinner seating area is dimly lit but not too dim. The Santa Maria BBQ is visible through glass and the smell is intoxicating. It is impossible to go wrong with any item on the menu. We ordered Chantrell mushrooms for appetizer as well as the grilled asparagus, and both were amazing. At our table, we had several cuts of steak, prepared differently, one was butterflied, one was as it was, I had the pork chops, and we had the Keylime pie for dessert. Gina, our server was attentive, Kind, and very welcoming. If it can be grilled, this place knows how to do it, right. All the desserts are made in house, and you can absolutely taste the homemade goodness in every bite. There was a really nice vibe and buzz to the restaurant where it wasn't too loud, but you could tell everybody was having a great time. Sharing a wonderful meal. This has to be one of the absolute best restaurants in all of Buelton and possibly in all of Santa Barbara County. Put this restaurant on your list, make reservations and go with a few people that you love to share a wonderful meal with. There is something for everybody from Quail, to steak to pork chops, and you will not be disappointed. **** if you go through the reviews and see anyone with less than five stars for this restaurant, see what they're complaining about and read the rest of their reviews. Some say their food is under seasoned, so they must clearly drench their food with tons of salt or have no taste buds. People complain about the silliest things. This place is absolutely amazing and you will be pleasantly surprised and come back over and over be cautious of reviews from people who act like they know food.**** read more

The Hitching Post 2 - Steakhouses Near Me - Buellton, California

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I ate here back in 2018 because of Sideways. The steak was incredible. I always tried to recreate or find that char grilled flavor steak. The way Hitching Post does it is just perfect. I visited again this year and checked to see if I was just chasing a perfect red wine & steak buzz I glorified in my head. Nah, they're really on point!! It was just as good as I remember. I switched the red wine for dirty martini's. What a great dinner. read more

We came here on a recommendation and the ribeye was really juicy and delicious - went well with the chimichurri sauce. However, the best thing hands down is the Wagyu tri tip steak and caramelized onion sandwich. Our friend ordered it and we took one bite and I went straight to the ordering spot to get a sandwich myself. Some of juiciest meats in the area. A great spot in the Santa Barbara area read more

The Hitching Post 2 - Steakhouses Near Me - Buellton, California

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I recently got to enjoy dinner here and it was so good! Hitching Post always delivers. They have great service and the meal is always delicious. Their wines are great and pair well with the different meal choices. I appreciate how much parking they offer. They've got a great location right off of the 246. read more

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My bf wanted to eat here because of the movie sideways lol. Long story short... all the food was plain and under seasoned. Had to use salt on everything (minus the artichokes) including the steak and the clam chowder. Very underwhelming. We got the prime sirloin, gulf shrimp, grilled artichoke, and chocolate torte. The best thing was maybe the rice pilaf. The shrimp was cooked and cleaned well but again no flavor. Grilled artichoke was overly salted and ok but def not worth 20 dollars. I would recommend coming for lunch for the cheaper prices if you decide to come here. The place itself was very 80s and had a unique vibe to it. read more

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I was really pleasantly surprised with this place. I'm a huge fan of Sideways so I knew I had to eventually try it. It's much smaller than I expected, but great feel and ambiance. The food was 5/5 stars, really, really good. And the service was great too. I would have given 5 stars in my review, but I felt like the portions and presentation for the price were a little lacking. Overall an excellent experience and we're really happy we went. Try the Corn quesadilla, it's excellent. read more

The Hitching Post 2 - 12 oz rib eye. Great flavor. Small baked potato. This is a $78 plate. - Steakhouses Near Me - Buellton, California

I have been around Buellton/ Solvang for a huge portion of my life but never ate at Hitching post until recently. We were all pleasantly surprised how good it is. Place needs a remodel for sure but steaks & service were excellent read more

The Hitching Post 2 - Steakhouses Near Me - Buellton, California