I’ve been coming here for years, since it used to be in my neighborhood. Went in last night for birthday dinner with my wife, sister, and her two kids. We got a booth where the table was a little too large — or maybe our bellies were a little too large — but it was good for the group of five.
Our waitress was really nice. She had star tattoos under her arm. I don’t know her name but I remember her.
The requisite peanuts were swell. I always remind myself not to eat too many because I fill up before dinner arrives, and then dinner arrives and I’m annoyed at myself. I had the four beef ribs. In the past I’ve done the all-you-can-eat, which is a good deal, but then I eat way too much. Tonight I paced myself. The ribs were fine — not a lot of meat on them, but what there was, was good, and the sauce was sweet and messy.
The onion strings were great. The Caesar salad was fine. The wife had salmon, the sister had a hamburger she said was very good. The kids had kid stuff.
We talked about the bison head on the wall over the bar — the one that snorts sometimes. And the bison mural. There’s something about this place that makes you want to sit back and look at things and talk about them, which is what you should want from a birthday dinner.
I’ve also come here by myself to sit at the bar, write in my journal, drink beer, and eat meat. The prime rib is good. The Santa Maria steak is a bit smaller but well-spiced. A man and his journal and his steak — that’s a fine evening.
★★★★☆ (4.0) — San Marcos, CA