Hitching Post

2÷15÷2016− took my husband there for his birthday dinner. He had the rack of baby back ribs, I had the halibut. Both were excellent. The ribs were dry rubbed– just the way my hubby likes them. The halibut was fresh and succulent. Grilled artichoke was wonderful! Next time I’m having the filet. They looked great!

There is not one negative thing to say about «The Hitching Post». It’s a great restaurant that offers amazing well cooked food, the fries tasted so fresh, and both mine and my boyfriends meals were prepared to perfection. The service was on point, someone always there to ask if we needed anything, and to refill our drinks. Making a reservation was easy, and we were seated right by their BBQ pit for the whole experience. :) if you’re looking to take someone somewhere special this is the spot. My favorite part was opening their door and taking in the beautiful view you get to enjoy when entering and leaving Casmalia. Thanks for the wonderful food tonight! You guys really out did yourselves.

The first bite was exquisite. Tender and crispy. The flavor blended so well together, it was juicy with a beatific texture that only true foodies would recognized as «wow.» It was like the first drop of a roller coaster, whips and turns of savory quenching delight without the whiplash. It was grilled to perfection. Every bite there after, was heaven.
Honest review. The words just flowed. Enjoy your dinner!

The best dining experience hands down every time! There is some things that are special in life and every experience that we have at the Hitching Post will always be one of those experiences it just doesn’t get any better kids. Take the time, take your wife out its a wonderful place to experience a excellent dinner with family and friends! Great Job to the entire Hitching Post Staff !!! A+++

We’ve been coming from Bakersfield for about 10 years to the Hitching Post.
We start with BBQ Artichokes & Linguisa for appetizers. HP had some vegetables and crackers sitting out for you also. You will be served shrimp cocktail and a salad before your meal comes.
You have to order steak! It’s Santa Maria style BBQ over an open pit, which has been burning since the 50’s. Most amazing steak we’ve ever had! After your dinner, you also get ice cream for dessert.
Here’s my only negative: Make a reservation, it’s so busy! The last few times we’ve come, we’ve made reservations 3 weeks in advance and then when we check in, they don’t have our reservation for 5 – 10 people. They’ve been able to get us in, but it’s very frustrating to know that you made a reservation that wasn’t kept.

My favorite place. I would go here three times a week if I could. The best steak you will ever have in your life. A ton of food included with your meal… starters, salad, shrimp cocktail, GREAT meal, desert. Step back in time to an old western atmosphere. Creaky wood floors, table seating, great bar with STIFF drinks, back patio with pond, bridge, seating, even a hollow tree to go inside and steal a kiss from your honey! Hospitality is second to none. Do yourself a favor and order a great ribeye. It will become your favorite too.

Aight, this place is where it’s at.
I have been coming here since I was a kid, and it is just so dang good. It’s Santa Maria style bbq at its finest!
The place is in the middle of nowhere, is really pretty in the back, and will feed you so well.
The salad and stuff is really nothing to write home about, and the sides, etc are just okay. SO WHY FIVE STARS? BECAUSE IT’S ALL ABOUT THE BBQ, PEOPLE.
The steak is ridiculously good, and if you’re going to come here one time, PLEASE get steak. The halibut is also SO good, and the lobster… BBQ’d lobster, need I say more?
I would consider this for my last meal. The «meh» of the sides fades away when you’re faced with the best BBQ most people will have. I am certainly biased, but I am in good company saying Santa Maria style BBQ is the best BBQ, and this place does it best, so best of the best here!
Worth a trip, to say the least.

Having lived in Santa Maria for almost two decades, I’m saddened to say I’ve only been to HP twice. I’ve been away from the Central Coast for almost three years now, but no steak or BBQ I’ve eaten while I’ve been away has even come close to what the SM Valley has to offer. Seriously, there is so much good red meat around here. My dear friend and I came to The Hitching Post to celebrate our November birthdays. We were not disappointed.
We had an evening reservation. I suggest you do the same. It was crowded, but this place is popular so don’t come here and expect to be seated right away, especially on a Friday night. You will wait and it will be worth it. In our case we waited maybe 10 mins, if that.
Service — excellent. Our server was prompt and friendly. Food — We ordered the artichoke appetizer. You should GET THIS. So wonderfully charred and flavorful that you will lick every single leaf (?). For the main course, my friend and I decided to split a 15oz sirloin and add the extra plate for $ 10. This turned out to be an excellent choice both for food quantity and price. We received a honkin’ piece of red meat, carefully BBQ’d as we watched through the window, salivating. The flavor will change your life if you’ve never had Santa Maria style BBQ before. We each received a side (she got veggies, I a baked potato), as well as garlic bread, the relish tray, unlimited crackers and butter, and a scoop of ice cream; all included with the price. I was hungry (as is the case when I go out to eat) and I was so full when we left that I was pretty much useless the rest of the night. It can be a PIA, but make the drive out to Casmalia for this food. The only regret you’ll have is that you couldn’t finish your meal.

I spent many years on the central coast and have only had the opportunity to avail myself of this gem in the country… two times!
Let me just say they know how to do meat! Flavor of the red oak and spices meld to create joy on your palate… I had a top sirloin that was awesome and paired with their own highliner pinot… that’s all you need! and really want… ok, so the relish tray is good, the bay shrimp cocktail — ok, salad — not memorable, garlic bread — delish, baked potato — meh, sherbet — refreshing…
ok, so the whole reason for making trips to this bbq mecca is for the fabulous bbq and their wonderful central coast pinot! hahaha i am a sonoma county pinot snob and i think the hitching post pinot is a player!
so take the detour when going thru the central coast and go to the original hitching post in casmalia for the bbq and drink their wine that’s made in buellton! btw sideways was a stupid movie… merlot is an excellent varietal and finally making a comeback!
remember two things… bbq and wine… nuff said!!! now go get some…

I’ve been here a few times now. And it’s been with a large crowd.
The first time I went we were very late from the time we were suppose to arrive with our group. So ultimately we thought we might not be well taken care of and was I wrong!
I will talk about the few times that were the memorable ones.
We were seated outside with just the people who were late with me (about 5 people in total) the chef actually brought us some appetizers for free to try out and offered special items not listed on the menu. The food was great and the service was unbelievable.
I remember every time I had wanted something like water, butter etc there was someone already waiting on us and asking us if we needed anything or if the food was ok.
Another time I’ve gone was with a very large group of people. It was with the ferrari car club of america group during our yearly Vadenberg AirForce base exotic car show.
They had a special menu for us and even specialty cocktails for us to choose just for the occasion.
I ordered the ribs with potatoes. For appetizers we had shrimp cocktail and a salad.
The Ribs… I actually sent back. Now let me clarify why before you think they aren’t any good. The ribs are smoked very lightly and more so boiled. Then seared on the grill for marks. Now hey I’m not entirely against this… it works for some places. but for here it does not. The ribs were way over cooked and very under seasoned. I asked to return this plate and opt for the Halibut.
WOW am I glad I did. The Halibut was cooked absolutely perfect. Seasoned well and plate presentation on point. I honestly think it’s the best halibut I’ve ever had at a restaurant ever. I can cook myself much better halibut… but that’s cooking for myself obviously.
The shrimp cocktail isn’t really a shrimp cocktail it’s more like a cold shrimp soup lol. But it was still tasty.
The salad was your basic salad nothing to write home about.
Either way I definitely recommend this place if you want some good quality food. The atmosphere can be different everyday. So I can’t entirely comment on that.
Food: Above average
Décor: Above average in the aspect if interesting.
Staff/​Customer service: Amazing, fast and professional. No complaints.
Cleanliness: Very clean
Bathrooms: N/​A

Salty!
Like… Waaayyyy too salty.
Like… The kitchen staff must all smoke cigarettes and their taste buds are totally shot to hell where they can’t taste anything anymore.
This is my only gripe with dinner tonight.
That and the jerk-​off who parked his truck in the middle of the street. I shit you not, some assclown decided it was perfectly acceptable to put his ford truck where it blocked an entire lane of traffic.

Man OH MAN! that STEAK was good!
I stopped into town from Los Angeles for a launch viewing at the Air Force Base, and for a small BBQ joint, I was blown away.
The steak that I ordered (bone-​in rib chop) was incredible. more on that later.
The service was on point. I was surprised, because on the surface, this restaurant seems like a casual Cowboy joint. the servers ensured that each and every dish that came with our party’s respective meals were timed and staged in such a way that nothing was waiting to be touched. the next «course» (salad, cocktail, entrée, dessert) arrived as empty dishes were being swept away. major brownie points on dining experience there.
I initially balked at the prices, but that is my own misjudging. they really care about the quality of their meat, the way they cook, and the server here. The dining experience really made for a perfect vehicle for the meal.
The STEAK: Delicious. Luis, the master behind the grill here made sure that everyone’s steak (different cuts, sizes and weights) were done at the same time. they were perfectly seasoned and charred on the outside, done to a perfect medium rare for mine and a buddy, and medium well for another member of our party. The flavor didn’t mask any of the «beefiness» of the steak at all. Subtle enough for the quality of the meat to really shine, yet present and accounted for when tasted. I preemptively asked for steak sauce. Big mistake, because it wasn’t needed! I even dabbed a little bit of steak into it. It actually made it worse!
The side dishes/​accompanying (salad, shrimp cocktail, garlic bread, ice cream, and coffee) were acceptable, but this place really is about their meat. My 30 oz. masterpiece was eaten, picked over, and shamelessly gnawed on.
I was too full and didn’t care. Would do again.

This place felt like it’s in the middle of nowhere. Well, it kind of is, but it was worth a visit for the perfectly cooked steak in unpretentious environs.
I ordered the top sirloin with some reservation as I usually prefer a ribeye, but I’m here for work and have a limited budget. Shouldn’t have been worried. It was cooked to a beautifully juicy medium rare as requested and had incredible flavor.
A few of the sides were a little off the mark, but plentiful and appreciated nonetheless. What am I supposed to do with the basket of crackers, crudite, green onions, pickles and butter? I went with onions on buttered saltines and had the carrot and celery sticks with the overdressed, half limp salad. Do yourself a favor and get the dressing on the side. The popcorn shrimp cocktail was underwhelming, but I’m here for the steak anyway.
The service was friendly and prompt.

It’s a little pricey but the food is excellent. The meat is quality and well seasoned. no need for any kind of steak sauce. I enjoy the vegetables they give you before your meal and the food portions are very large. You definitely want to come with an appetite and save room for dessert. I love the black cherry ice cream. The restaurant looks a little dumpy but it’s clean and the food is definitely worth the scenic drive.

Twilight movie lovers, you will not find vampires here. THP has garlic — extraordinary magical garlic!
The «garlic [is] slow roasted to a soft and smooth texture so you can spread it on toast with herbs, roasted peppers,» and a drizzle of balsamic vinaigrette, AND, attract the opposite sex. Yes, garlic is an aphrodisiac.

An update,
Another visit, another memorable meal. The best piece of fresh halibut, I have ever had. I need to copy this place and bring it to the midwest.

This place just refuses to disappoint! I’ve been there probably 20 times in the last 5 – 6 years and each and every time is the best steak. I’m a TERRIBLE filet snob, and these do not disappoint. Seasoning perfect, char perfect, cooked as I asked.
As always, the shrimp cocktail is fun and the ice cream afterwards is equally fun!
I shall continue to come for the rest of my foreseeable life.

My favorite central coast steakhouse and much quainter than their second, overly busy location in buellton made famous by the movie sideways.
Quaint laid back western themed atmosphere. Not cheap but excellent quality.
Beautiful drive from civilization as this restaurant is in the middle of nowhere literally in a one horse town.
Full dinners served as opposed to most steakhouses in big cities are a la carte.

The hype for the hitching post had been real. I decided to make the extra drive to Casmalia because of it being half a star higher in rating than buellton. Did it live up to it? Well stick around and find out or just look at my rating above :(
Had reservations for 8 o’clock and didn’t get seated until 822pm, that’s bogus in my opinion, but at least I didn’t get the bestia treatment where they gave me a time limit to eat on.
Ordered the ribs for an appetizer and they brought me a shrimp cocktail and she specifically said since the ribs gonna take long have this. for a second I thought she was hooking it up but I came on here to see that the shrimp cocktail is part of the meal basically.
Shrimp cocktail was fairly average, nothing special, obviously they don’t specialize on seafood so can’t hate, they have a vast amount of cracker selection too, shrimp cocktail gets a 2.5÷5
The ribs came, eh was sad to find out it had so much as we call it in spanish «pejejo» they were alright though, asked for a side of bbq sauce and it made them a bit better, not bad not amazing but not a specialty here apparently. 2.5÷5
Then the salads came. top lettuce and stuff was pretty fresh but then I got to the bottom and it had plenty of dead lettuce, ehhhhh step it up a little. just very mediocre salad. like they know you’ll forget about how crap it is once you get your meat
Then…the meat came. and oh god was it delightful
rack of lamb…4/5 the meat was honestly 3,5/5 but that mint jelly is a secret weapon. the best I have ever had and makes this dish worth ordering!
The fries I have to deduct points for false advertisement on their site «best according to LA times» THAT WAS A LIE. Very very average, tasted like fries from a place that doesn’t care about their fries ²⁄₅
The quail was good. won’t be a complainer here. tender meat.cooked nicely. taste like high quality chicken.4/5
Didn’t taste my dates mignon but she said it was good. and she claims to not be a liar so I’ll give her the benefit of the doubt ⁴⁄₅
Garlic bread, damn. I miss that thing already 4.5÷5
Sherbet and ice cream is a cute addition but it didn’t affect the overall stance on the meal as it is average, regular stuff. ³⁄₅
Meat makes it worth it I guess, but this place ain’t mind blowing. check in here is so hard too. good luck with that, I probably barely made the radius cut.
Try it though, I’ll be back for the lamb but not here, in buellton. Meat is worth it, everything else is eh basic average stuff.

This place is in the middle of NOWHERE. I was sure my GPS had lead me astray as I wound through very dark, completely empty roads to get here. Not until I was about to make the final turn did I seen any evidence of life. PHEW!
So don’t panic, you probably aren’t lost.
Despite the fact that there isn’t much else around here, the hitching post was packed on a Wednesday night. The parking lot was overflowing! They were able to accommodate our large group, and even give us all separate checks which was nice. I personally don’t know that I would make the drive out into the boonies again. The food was ok, but nothing special in my opinion. Plus I thought it was a little pricey for what you get. Though, you do get a lot of it, more than anyone should probably eat in one sitting!