Yes – I took a quick, overnight, trip to Santa Maria (California) this last week for work and about the only activity of note was, in fact, dinner at AJ Spurs! It’s a Western-kitschy motif place – lots of western themed photos and items (including a stuffed buffalo). There were about eight of us at dinner, and the restaurant had no trouble finding seats for us – in the jailhouse section of the place. Very apropos given the company I was keeping that evening!
AJ Spurs offers a variety of steaks, along with its “Santa Fe Suppers” and the “House Specialties.” One specialty is a 35-ounce top sirloin and you get an AJ’s T-shirt if you eat it all. The other specialty is a pair of 6-ounce filets, one with lobster and Hollandaise and the other with shrimp and Béarnaise. (“Don’t get saucy with me, Béarnaise!”) I almost got that one – yum!
Along with the meal is a pot of “vaquero soup” with salsa and beans to mix in. The soup (actually more of a stew and served family style) is excellent … you can actually make a meal just of that! Other sides included with the meals were salad, AJ’s spuds (sliced, baked potatoes, also served family style) and an old fashioned root-beer float or after dinner liqueur for dessert.
We asked for separate checks, which was no problem for the AJ Spurs staff, and all ordered our dinners. I opted for the 10-ounce filet, with sautéed mushrooms, and ordered a bottle of Firestone cabernet to share. The pace of the meal was excellent – the servers knew what they were doing. And, when the salad came – it was fresh and crispy with a generous side of dressing.
My steak was excellent – a good cut of meat and done just right. The AJ’s spuds were tasty and seasoned nicely, but after the soup/stew, salad and some steak, I just ate a couple of bites of “spuds.” Others at the table commented that their meals were excellent – of special note was one of the evening’s specials – the salmon (with tortellini) – which got rave reviews, as did the pork chops.
The only negative to note was the sautéed mushrooms – they were obviously canned mushrooms, heated with scant butter. Not really sautéed. A bit of a disappointment given how everything else was very, very good!
After we stuffed ourselves with soup/stew, dinner, spuds, bread, etc, there was still dessert, which came with the meal. Seven of us opted for the after dinner liqueur … surprise, surprise! It was a concoction of cream, something chocolate and vodka, I think. (Does that give you a clue to how much wine I had?) Anyway – it was a nice touch. Even for a Western- kitschy place like this!
So … AJ Spurs? Yes, I’d Do Again … ‘specially if’n I were in Santa Maria ‘n’ hankerin’ for a beefsteak … I’d sure as hell mosey on over ‘n’ get me some of that thar good eats.
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