Excellent food wine and service . Quail awesome, Burger delicious. good wine by the glass selection.
March 2024
Really enjoyed this place. We will return again. Everything was so nice the people tthe food we could not be happier.
March 2024
Food was so delicious and staff was phenomenal! Would definitely recommend to anyone who is looking for a nice place to enjoy delicious food. Also, the creme brulee is amazing!
The Hitching Post was founded by Frank and Natalie Ostini in Casmalia, California in 1952, specializing in “Santa Maria Style Barbeque,” a California ritual stemming from the culture of the Native American Chumash and the Spanish Rancheros who cooked over the heat of a fragrant red oak wood fire. Son Frank Ostini Jr. is the owner of The Hitching Post 2, opened in Buellton, California in 1986. As a nationally respected chef and winemaker, he showcases the tradition of the highest-quality Santa Maria Barbecue paired with some of the region’s best Pinot Noir wines. The Hitching Post 2 became internationally recognized with the 2004 Academy Award-winning film Sideways and has been earning praise for its food and wines for over three decades.
Other Information
Prime beef is king at this Santa Ynez Valley barbecue joint, which means filet mignon, New York and top sirloin cooked over an open oak-wood fire. To-go-withs include shrimp cocktail, green salad, garlic bread, french fries, a relish tray (remember those?) and, this being California, a bowl of salsa. Chef/owner/vintner Frank Ostini also features seasonal favorites like fresh salmon and tilapia, smoked duck, ostrich and game, as well as savory grilled artichokes for dipping in roasted ancho-pepper mayo. Desserts change nightly, but may include fresh Key lime pie or a whimsical Almond Joy tart. Ask for one of the chef's own handcrafted bottles of Pinot Noir to accompany dinner. This is wine country, after all. And if you're the designated driver, you get a reward: a complimentary artichoke or mushroom appetizer and non-alcoholic beverages.
