Jocko's Steak House

Still the best. I've known of (Jocko's) since I went to Cal Poly (SLO) as an undergrad which was back in 1995. It was really from a college roommate, actually. He swore on his mother's grave that it was the best steak in the area. Well, after a 20 minute drive and a 2 hour wait, I was ready to write-off Jocko's. Until I had their steaks.

I've been a convert ever since.

We moved to Texas in 2005 and while I was there, there were some decent steak places, but every time I was in the (CA) Central Coast area on business, I'd still make the trip. Yes the drive was there; yes the 2 hour wait still exists whether one makes a reservation or not, but it's worth it.

We recently moved back to California and every now and then, we'd make the pilgrimmage from Visalia back to Jocko's.

As some have suggested, order a steak to eat there and then order another one, thick cut to take home.…

Best Steak House on Central Coast - maybe everywhere. I have been eating at Jocko's since the 1950's. Had my wedding reception at the current location in 1966. Eat there as often as I can and love the food. The large spencer is always great. Best pop for your money. My wife likes the steak sandwich from the pit [also a spencer] and is always satisfied.…

Do yourself a favor: Eat here.. Upon first walking into this place, it is a bit...off-putting. The brands on the walls and the general cowboy atmosphere tends to be a bit over the top, however the wonderful smells overpower these minor drawbacks.

The seating is on wooden benches and is quite rustic, and the menus seem to be the type you'd expect to find at "Big Earl's Truck Stop" or some such establishment, but again, the wonderful smell from the open cooking area demands that you overlook these trivialities.

The item on the menu which so drew my attention was the Spencer steak, as this is a cut I had been previously unaware of (it is essentially a ribeye). I ordered the smaller portion size, which, as it turned out, was quite filling. Allow me to guide you on this however; Get the larger portion. Take it home.

This steak is possibly the best I've had at a restaurant, although the cooking method does make it difficult to compare to say, Ruth's Chris. The steak appears to be like a roast, almost, about as thick as it is wide, and swimming in its own juices. From the first bite to the last, this is a must for steak lovers.

Having been there several times in the last few years, I have yet to be disappointed. The setting could be better, the sides are forgettable, but the amazing steak more than makes up for it. Do yourself a favor and check it out.…

Not what a good restaurant should be.... I live in San Luis Obispo and many of my friends recommended Jocko's for an awesome steak. I work during the evening so the only time I had to try Jocko's was during lunch. That was a big mistake. I ordered the steak sandwich, the first thing you would see on the menu. Well, its awful. It seemed to be pan-fried with no taste whatsoever. Absolutely bland. Even though the service was friendly, that's all I could think about on the drive back to slo. All the hype for nothing. And for 16 bucks, I don't expect much, but I could have just went to Firestone's in slo and had a much tastier tri-tip sandwich for half the price. Even more unfortunate, I work at a local hotel in Pismo and I can't even fake recommending Jocko's to guests anymore. Regardless of how tasty their dinner might be, a good restaurant should serve good food from the time they open til the time they close.…