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Shaw's Famous Steak House
714 S. Broadway, Santa Maria Hours ??? Submit your review of this restaurant! This restaurant is somewhat of an enigma. It is apparently embroiled in some sort of identity crisis because it cannot decide if it wants to be a bar or a restaurant. Half of the place is a tacky club complete with saucy female bartenders and gaudy neon piping, the other half consists of old oak tables, a wood fired steak grill, and the atmosphere of an 1800s steakhouse. I am rooting for the steakhouse to win the identity war. If you are looking for a great and inexpensive steak dinner
in the middle of Santa Maria then this is the place. The
meals go for less than $20 and are very generous. They
even have an
early bird menu where full sized entrees are usually around
$17 (yes, that is a good deal). Not to mention that you can
actually stand and stare as your meat is grilled, that’s
right, you can watch your steak as it sizzles on the wood-fired
grill and race it from there to your table. This is probably
the most underrated restaurant in the area, so if you are
up late at the Santa Maria Inn and feel like a great steak you
do not have to travel to Buellton, Nipomo, or uh… wherever
else there are great steak joints to find a good meal, just
walk across the street. Then, when you’re finished you
can walk through the door to the bar and get wasted with
the clocked-out employees. A media favorite – most likely because it's within stumbling
distance of the Santa Maria Inn, but also for its great steaks.
In addition to the steaks, the 3/4 pound burger served on garlic
bread is really tasty. The servers always go the distance in
placating us journalistas, particularly english-major guy. I know Santa Maria is famous for this dry rub, instead of regular
barbecue
sauce, but I found the baby back ribs I had too dry, overcooked,
and fatty;
they really needed some sauce. Great steak for the price. I would only eat steak there. Waiter
was an English major - couldn't do math. A Santa Maria landmark in the center of town. The focal point
of the dining room is the oak wood barbecue grill behind
the full-view glass window. Shaw's menu ranges from steaks
to ribs
to seafood. Reservations recommended for Friday and Saturday
night. They close kind of early during the week - I'm not
sure of the exact time but I don’t think you can get served
if you arrive after 9pm Monday-Thursday. The steaks are great
and the portions are huge. I would suggest
sticking to steaks - I had a bad fish dish and so did friend.
A third friend said she liked her fish. Anyway don't have
fish there unless you absolutely refuse to eat steak! Good
atmosphere. Early bird specials until 630pm can save you
some money – it’s
the same portions as the regulars – just a little bit
cheaper. You can treat yourself to an extra beer with the
money. |