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Diners' Choice: Steak restaurants in California Central Coast

OpenTable

Updated December 05, 2024

Looking for restaurants with the best overall Steak cuisine in California Central Coast? You’re in the right place. Each month OpenTable analyzes more than 400,000 new diner reviews. We sort the results by category to help you discover new favorites. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

A photo of Far Western Tavern restaurant

Far Western Tavern

4.8

4.8 (1189)

$30 and under

Steakhouse

Orcutt / Santa Maria

About the restaurant

Welcome to the Far Western Tavern—California ranch cuisine inspired by local traditions.

Our restaurant is recognized as a landmark of Santa Maria Style Barbecue, a renowned regional fare rooted in native ingredients and methods that were first popularized by 19th century rancheros.

Our menu blends this local barbecue style with other dishes that reflect our family’s heritage in the Santa Maria Valley’s Swiss-Italian ranching community, all prepared with fresh flavors from nearby farms, ranches and vineyards.

Top review

K

karen

Dined today

Our service was great and so was the food! Very friendly and helpful staff!!

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A photo of Fwt Bay Shrimp Cocktail of a restaurant

Fwt Bay Shrimp Cocktail

A photo of Lucky's restaurant

4.8

4.8 (2881)

$50 and over

Steakhouse

Montecito

About the restaurant

LUCKY'S is widely known for its exclusive selection of USDA Prime steaks, fresh seafood, farmer's market vegetables, no-nonsense cocktails and world class wine cellar.
For take-out, please call the restaurant.
We do not accept bar table reservations online, please call the restaurant.
For larger parties, please call or email the restaurant directly.

Top review

L

LorenVIP

Dined 4 days ago

The most phenomenal meal and filet we’ve ever had. 10/10 for special occasion dinner.

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A photo of Monday - Chicken Pot Pie with Morels of a restaurant

Monday - Chicken Pot Pie with Morels

A photo of Kona Steak and Seafood restaurant

Kona Steak and Seafood

4.8

4.8 (102)

$31 to $50

Steakhouse

Monterey

About the restaurant

KONA Steak & Seafood was voted the "Best New Restaurant" winner on the beautiful Monterey Peninsula for 2023. Located in the popular Del Monte Shopping Center in Monterey, just minutes from Carmel, Pacific Grove, & all Peninsula cities.
A fabulous menu! Enjoy fresh seafood, lobster, Hawaiian loco moco, fresh ahi tuna, a great bacon cheeseburger, bone-in rib eye, miso-glazed seabass, filet mignon, macadamia nut crusted halibut, entree salads, cioppino, seafood pasta, Maui onion soup, coconut curry soup, and a large host of enticing appetizers. Enjoy KONA's generous portions, good value, & free abundant parking! The house baked desserts are worth a trip on their own..... incredible!! The gorgeous "ZenDen Bar" features full bar & "Tiki Bar" style concoctions curated with house made ingredients, and nightly Happy Hour from 3:00-9:00pm. Local wine list, craft draft beers, kid's menu, dog-friendly lanai/patio dining, continuous lunch & dinner service 7 days a week from 11:00am.

Top review

J

John

Dined today

Best Loco Moco ever. Started with the tempura artichoke hearts which were cooked to perfection with a very light tempura coating and served with an excellent sauce. Enjoyed a couple of Elvis Presley cocktails that were incredible. Definitely would recommend this place. The service is always a balance of friendly and professional and the kitchen is always “on point”. Thank you Billy Quon, another awesome evening at one of your restaurants.

A photo of Hitching Post II restaurant

Hitching Post II

4.7

4.7 (5118)

$31 to $50

Steakhouse

Buellton

About the restaurant

Here, on the Central Coast of California, BBQ has always meant grilling over an open fire of red oak, a style of cooking that is native to our area and goes back to the days of the Spanish Rancheros. By combining the old and the new, we have created an exciting cuisine with outstanding steaks, ribs and chicken, along with fresh fish and seafood and vegetarian options. We also create our own (world class) wines for sale in the restaurant and to the public. Hartley Ostini Hitching Post Wines have garnered an excellent reputation. Try them here or purchase on our website for your enjoyment at home.

Top review

M

Matthew

Dined 4 days ago

Just the absolute best! Food drinks service The espresso martini is very good

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A photo of Filet Mignon (5oz) of a restaurant

Filet Mignon (5oz)

A photo of Grilled Artichoke of a restaurant

Grilled Artichoke

A photo of Jocko's Steakhouse restaurant

Jocko's Steakhouse

4.6

4.6 (1903)

$31 to $50

Steakhouse

Nipomo

About the restaurant

Jocko’s Steakhouse is family owned and a longtime Central Coast favorite. Our family’s
hospitality roots date back to 1925, or so the story goes. Jocko’s is legendary for hand cut aged
steaks grilled over an open fire of red oak coals. A style of cooking native to the area that dates
to the Spanish Rancheros. We offer an extensive dinner menu serving a variety of steak cuts,
ribs, pork chops, chicken, seafood, steak burgers, specialty sandwiches and more. Jocko’s offers an extensive wine list, a broad assortment of cocktails and both draft and bottled beers. The specific brands and serving costs are available at the restaurant.
To learn more about Jocko’s menus and history visit www.jockossteakhouse.com
or call (805) 929-3686 for reservations.

ONLINE ORDERING: https://order.toasttab.com/online/jocko-s-steak-house-125-n-thompson-ave

Top review

J

JacquieVIP

Dined 3 days ago

Noisy and hopping even on a Tuesday, but gosh darn if they don’t have the best steak for the best value. Drive 100 miles for dinner!

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A photo of Filet Mignon of a restaurant

A photo of Beef Ribs of a restaurant

A photo of New York of a restaurant

A photo of The Whaling Station Steakhouse restaurant

The Whaling Station Steakhouse

4.6

4.6 (2423)

$31 to $50

Steakhouse

Monterey

About the restaurant

The internationally acclaimed Whaling Station Steakhouse, perched just above Steinbeck’s Cannery Row has been Monterey County’s #1 Steak House for over 50 years, The Whaling Station takes the term “Steakhouse” seriously...Select your USDA Prime cut of the USA’s finest beef from a silver tray or enjoy our slow-roasted USDA Prime, Prime Rib. An award-winning wine list and full spirits bar compliment your dining experience. Serving Dinner and cocktails from 4:30pm daily. The Bar at The Whaling Station Steakhouse has its own menu and its own local following, with drink specials and lively conversation served nightly. Parking in our private lot.
A private, 50-seat banquet room is also available.

Top review

M

Mary

Dined 4 days ago

We love the Whaling Station. Even though most of the patrons were in jeans, the wait staff treat everyone with class and respect, servicing properly and being attentive but not overbearing. The steaks were a little over salted but would melt in your mouth. One waiter placed a basket of bread on the table, then another one came with a basket all because the first one was not warm. We didn't even have to ask. That's service.

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A photo of Filet Mignon of a restaurant

A photo of Beef Wellington of a restaurant

Beef Wellington

A photo of Prime Rib Egg Rolls of a restaurant

Prime Rib Egg Rolls

A photo of Alex Madonna’s Gold Rush Steak House, at Madonna Inn restaurant

Alex Madonna’s Gold Rush Steak House, at Madonna Inn

4.7

4.7 (4517)

$31 to $50

Steakhouse

San Luis Obispo

About the restaurant

Enjoy an award winning dining experience in our world-famous pink and gold Steak House - offering a comfortable and opulent dining atmosphere. Indulge in a delicious oak-pit-barbecued steak, fresh seafood, chicken, or vegetarian entrees. Featuring a superb wine list, decadent world-famous desserts and a whimsical, European atmosphere. Boutique shopping makes for a fun experience before or after you dine with us.

Top review

S

Steven

Dined 1 day ago

Madonna Inn delivered another terrific dining experience. We've been coming for a birthday dinner every year for 28 years now. The place is always decorated cleverly for the season and the atmosphere is very festive. The wait staff was excellent and very attentive especially since it was a very busy night. We'll be back!

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A photo of French Filet Mignon of a restaurant

French Filet Mignon

A photo of Pink Champagne of a restaurant

A photo of Atlantic Salmon of a restaurant

Atlantic Salmon

A photo of Holdren's Santa Barbara restaurant

Holdren's Santa Barbara

4.5

4.5 (983)

$31 to $50

Steakhouse

Santa Barbara

About the restaurant

Holdren’s Steaks & Seafood, located on State Street, serves up a delicious and diverse menu of seafood and steaks, where the portions are always generous and the prices always reasonable. Our surf and turf menu, including our favorite bacon wrapped stuffed shrimp or our USDA prime steaks that are charbroiled over a mesquite grill, is complimented by an extensive wine list, a healthy assortment of premium spirits, and a selection of signature drinks. Daily meals can be enjoyed in our cozy, and dark saloon-inspired dining room, or on our outdoor patio. The indoor dining room is adorned with brown leather booths, dark wood paneling, and funky artwork lining the exposed brick walls. Holdren’s has been voted as the best steakhouse multiple times by the Santa Barbara Independent’s Reader’s Poll and by the Santa Barbara News Press’ Reader’s Choice Awards.

Top review

A

Alejandro

Dined 1 day ago

Had an AMAZING Xmas dinner! We will definitely be back! :) Thank you so much to everyone :)

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A photo of Filet Mignon of a restaurant

A photo of Grilled Shrimp Cocktail of a restaurant

Grilled Shrimp Cocktail

A photo of Bacon Wrapped Filet Mignon of a restaurant

Bacon Wrapped Filet Mignon

A photo of Angel Oak restaurant

4.4

4.4 (1276)

$50 and over

Steak

Santa Barbara

About the restaurant

The signature fine dining restaurant located at The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara, Angel Oak brings elevated California coastal cuisine to the perfect venue. The oceanfront restaurant offers a California Coastal steakhouse menu curated by Chef Diego Seitour.

Complementing the Angel Oak dining experience is a premier cocktail program and exclusive wine cellar that houses the restaurant's 5,000-bottle collection.

Marriott Bonvoy Members can earn points when staying with us. Please enroll here: https://www.joinmarriottbonvoy.com/uscanqr/s/EN/ch/sbarz

For parties with 8 guests or more a 26% service charge fee will be added to your final bill. For all guests there will be an 8.75% California State tax added to the final bill.

Top review

C

CATHYVIP

Dined 7 days ago

Angel Oak is an intimately lit restaurant with a private, romantic feel. Their menu is varied and has plenty of choices for everyone’s taste. We started with a bottle of champagne and prawn cocktails. Fresh and sweet. We requested the aged New York and the coffee rubbed filet, medium. Both were spectacular!! What made this dinner even more pleasurable was our server, Joe. He is fantastic. We never had to ask for anything, he was so attentive. We also had the pleasure of being introduced to Chef Seitour. He was so gracious taking the time for us to Thank him. We are dining with them again this evening.

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A photo of Sea Scallops of a restaurant

A photo of Caesar Salad of a restaurant

A photo of Grilled Mushrooms of a restaurant

Grilled Mushrooms

A photo of The Steakhouse at Paso Robles Inn restaurant

The Steakhouse at Paso Robles Inn

3.9

3.9 (964)

$31 to $50

Steakhouse

Paso Robles

About the restaurant

Known for our expansive menu of hearty steakhouse fare and as one of the most sought-after Paso Robles restaurants, The Steakhouse at Paso Robles Inn is proud to serve a variety of carefully-crafted plates that bring together the fresh ingredients of California’s Central Coast. Set amongst a beautiful backdrop and offering both indoor fireside dining and patio dining, The Steakhouse at Paso Robles Inn invites you to discover dishes that are abundantly flavorful and naturally tender. Brought to the table by generations of farmers, our Certified Angus Beef has passed through a rigorous process to evaluate for marbling, maturity, sizing, appearance and tenderness.

Top review

J

Jacqueline

Dined on Dec 11, 2024

Everything thing was fine, nothing stood out one way or the other.

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A photo of Steak Bites of a restaurant

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