Back to Santa Maria
Swiss Restaurant - Steakhouse in Santa Maria, California

Swiss Restaurant

4.5 (1158 reviews)

516 N Broadway, Santa Maria, CA 93454

Steak house
Bar
Restaurant
Seafood restaurant
Swiss restaurant

About Swiss Restaurant - steak house in Santa Maria, California

Venerable restaurant & bar offering prime rib, steaks, poultry & seafood cooked in a red-oak pit.

Customer Review Summary

Swiss Restaurant has a loyal customer base, with many praising its delicious steaks, particularly the 14oz top sirloin and Rib Eye salad. While the ambiance may not match that of other local steakhouses, the food quality is highly regarded, offering good value. Some reviewers appreciate the friendly staff and the made-in-house menu, especially noting the excellent pork chops and BBQ. However, there are criticisms regarding inconsistency in service and food quality, with one diner having a disappointing experience with overcooked steak and bland sides. Overall, Swiss is recommended for its food and service, but experiences can vary.

Key Features

Service options

  • Delivery
  • Takeout
  • Dine-in

Highlights

  • Fast service
  • Great beer selection
  • Great cocktails
  • Great coffee
  • Great dessert
  • Great wine list

Popular for

  • Lunch
  • Dinner
  • Solo dining

Accessibility

  • Wheelchair accessible entrance
  • Wheelchair accessible parking lot
  • Wheelchair accessible restroom
  • Wheelchair accessible seating

Offerings

  • Alcohol
  • Beer
  • Cocktails
  • Coffee
  • Comfort food
  • Happy hour drinks
  • Happy hour food
  • Hard liquor
  • Healthy options
  • Late-night food
  • Small plates
  • Vegetarian options
  • Wine

Dining options

  • Lunch
  • Dinner
  • Catering
  • Dessert
  • Seating

Amenities

  • Bar onsite
  • Restroom

Atmosphere

  • Casual
  • Cozy
  • Historic
  • Quiet
  • Trendy

Crowd

  • Groups
  • Tourists

Planning

  • Dinner reservations recommended
  • Accepts reservations

Payments

  • Credit cards
  • Debit cards
  • NFC mobile payments

Children

  • Good for kids
  • High chairs
  • Kids' menu

Parking

  • Free parking lot
  • Free street parking

Customer Reviews

Rating Distribution

4.5 out of 5
5
776
4
242
3
70
2
36
1
34
Based on 1158 reviews

James Kitagawa

3 months ago

Have been coming to the Swiss for years. I grew up 3 blocks away! Another great meal at the Swiss It was our anniversary , I had the 14oz top sirloin with garlic mashed and my wife had the wonderful Rib Eye salad, done in the world famous Santa Maria Style BBQ! Soooooooo Gooooood! Service was great as usual and we had fantastic Old Fashioned drinks with our dinner. We will be back sooner than later!

Steve A

9 months ago

There are a number of local steakhouses in Santa Maria and they are all good-- including this one. The Swiss is north of Main St which makes it unique. The atmosphere at first feels a little bleh, compared to its competition, but the food is on an equal footing. So, I guess in summary, this is a slightly more affordable but less classy version of the typical Santa Maria steakhouse.

Michelle Morse

1 year ago

I grew up on the Central Coast and had never heard of this restaurant! Was very surprised at how much I liked it. Decent prices and my steak was cooked perfectly. My 14oz top sirloin came with beans, salsa, bread and a side for $35. Only complaint was the service and the order they bring stuff out in….they were friendly but not super on top of things and really had a hard time with our onion ring orders. Would definitely recommend!

Howard Karjala

4 months ago

What more can be said of this amazing place. When in Santa Maria you must stop at this historic landmark. You will not be disappointed

stig meyer

6 months ago

Very good pork shops and my wife's food was also excellent. We will be back GOD willing👍👍👍

Bryan Grant

1 year ago

Loved the menu! Awesome that everything is made in house. Great friendly staff! Brandi, the bartender/serer is a remarkable foodie and she wouldn't work where she was uncomfortable with the management. Good on you Brandi and good on you Swiss Steakhouse 👏 👍

Michael Cook

1 year ago

A great little BBQ spot. Passing through on the waybto Las Angeles, we stopped in Santa Maria for the night. The Swiss had excellent food and great staff. I am always a little skeptical of BBQ pork chops because most places.just can't get them right but these were spot on, huge juicy chops well seasoned and cook just right. The ribs and sides were great too !

Rhonda Falcone

1 year ago

This goes against popular belief, however I wasn't a fan. The service was excellent, that wasn't my problem, my problem was the actual food. Granted I could have gone on an off night, but I won't be trying it again. We made the 1 hour drive, because so many people were raving about "The Swiss"! Ok, so here goes my food experience at The Swiss. I ordered the Filet Mignon and Lobster tail $65. My steak came over cooked and the lobster tail was also over done and chewy. The flavor on my overcooked steak was good, but because of the over cook it had a grainy texture. Not what a filet should be, but My husband who ordered the 10oz Filet Mignon was bland, no seasoning, but cooked perfect. We ordered the Grilled Artichoke for an appetizer and that was completely water logged. The sauce was yummy. The Santa Maria style beans were bland and the garlic bread was smashed and flavorless and the fettuccine alfredo was like a brick. So all in all I wasn't happy. Like I said it could have been an off night, but taking the chance on another 1 hour drive to try it a second time will not be happening.

Location

Contact Information

Hours of Operation

Friday 11 AM–10 PM
Monday 11 AM–9 PM
Saturday 11 AM–10 PM
Sunday 11 AM–9 PM
Thursday 11 AM–9 PM
Tuesday 11 AM–9 PM
Wednesday 11 AM–9 PM

Price Range

$20–30