trabuco oaks steakhouse

we visited trabuco oaks steakhouse for the very first time last night for a birthday dinner. we have been wanting to try the steakhouse for a very long time, and last night's celebration was the perfect night for our first visit. the drive from orange to trabuco canyon via santiago canyon road is awesome in the daytime, and as we now know, very fun and relaxing at night as well. our reservations were at 7:30pm and we arrived about 15 minutes ahead of schedule. as you pull up into the parking lot you know you will be in for a treat. two all-gravel parking lots with oak trees sprouting up here and there throughout the lots wait for you. the building itself looks like like a little country roadhouse, dark red stain, not much more. when you walk in the front door, the excitement begins. a big long bench of seating along the left side says that there are some heavy crowds here on occasion(often i would think). the sceond thing you notice are all the goodies, trinkets, and ties everywhere. ties? yes ties, see you can't wear a tie at trabuco oaks, if you do it will promptly be snipped off by a pair of scissors. a cool old juke box and a display of classic booze decanters are over on the right side of the waiting area, lots to look at and enjoy. the restaurant looks to have two dining rooms, one in the front, an open standard celing type of roadhouse looking room. the second and main room is all the way to the back, this is what makes the whole experince worth it. this room is dimly lit only by the lamps hanging above the tables, the room also has a very low ceiling and is painted with a dark base. the room is wallpapered by thousands of snipped ties, business cards and other trinkets. the tables are tucked in little spots here and there between the oak trees that come up out of the floor in several spots.

the food is awesome. the prices are that of any steakhouse, $15-25 for the usual steak plates, seafood, chicken, etc. the mesquite grilled food is so good, and the ambiance just makes it all that muh better! they have a full bar as well and plenty for the kids to eat.

our (really good, yummy, fantastic) choices for the night were:

oak-a-bob
8 oz. of choice bits of filet mignon and top sirloin on two skewers with bell peppers, onions, mushrooms and our special BBQ sauce. served with our house salad, garlic toast, baked potato, and western beans.
$15.95

mesquite grilled chicken
half a chicken, marinated with fresh herbs and slow roasted over mesquite. served with our house salad, garlic toast, baked potato, and western beans.
$15.95

deep fried cod and fries
two big cod filets and tons of fries, for our son.
$6.95

trabuco oaks steakhouse
20782 Trabuco Oaks Road
Trabuco Canyon, CA
949-586-0722

http://www.trabucooakssteakhouse.com