Carlitos is a hidden gem. great place to go and mingle with people when you want to get away from anything at home. and if you don't want me going then it's a great place to hide away. it's a small town so anywhere in Gonzales is walking distance to it. great food and great service. read more

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Excellent stop... great food, reasonable prices. I ordered a filet mignon and it was cooked to perfection. The iceberg salad was so fresh and crisp..it was delicious and refreshing! read more

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We decided to give this restaurant a try last night after having passed it by for other locations in Gonzales in the past. The entry was a little confusing. The bar door is wide open at 8pm, while the restaurant door is solid and uninviting. Nonetheless, we opened the door to see what we might find. Upon entering, there's a slight musty smell, but the restaurant appears clean. The decor is a combination between 80's revival and wild west cowboy, with odd-looking pendent lights that do not match the cowboy motif. The tables are clean with paper placemats and napkins. Be sure to check your salt and pepper shakers, they can be sticky (eew!). Our server was quick to notice us and told us to sit anywhere we like in the empty restaurant. Perhaps the emptiness should have clued us in? Ah, well, I'm getting ahead of my self... He took our order for drinks then left us to look over the very brief menu. The appetizers looked pretty good. We ordered the cream cheese poppers ($7) and artichoke hearts ($10) when the server came back with our drinks. I ordered the sea bass with garlic shrimp ($20) for my entree while my husband ordered the filet ($26) and he asked for it to be cooked medium rare. After a minute, the server returned with our salads, which came with our entrees. They had no soup. The salads turned out to be a plate of wet lettuce topped with a half slice of tomato and a single shred of carrot per plate, with ranch dressing on top. The dressing wasn't nearly as thick as we'd have liked, and the water on the lettuce combined with the dressing to make it super thin and not nearly as appetizing as we'd hoped. We were amused when we each found the single shred of carrot in each of our salads, though not amused enough to want to return to this restaurant. We finished our salads then waited for our appetizers. Then waited some more. Right when he decided to get up to explore the restaurant and bar, our appetizers came. My husband likes spicy stuff so the poppers were all his, he said they were just ok. I really enjoyed my artichoke hearts, though. The batter they used to coat them before deep frying was so flavorful and while these were marinated artichokes they used, the vinegar and oil used to marinate helped to add a nice tangy flavor to the artichokes that I found really yummy. The only downside to them was that they were burn your tongue hot, but that's not horrible. After letting them cool a little, they were just about perfect. I wish I could say the same about the rest of our visit and meal... Our entrees came out not long after my husband finished his poppers. The sea bass came first. It comes with garlic shrimp cooked on a skewer. The shrimp were very overdone, almost inedible but I ate them anyway. Rather than serve with rice or something more fitting for fish, this restaurant just sticks with a single set of sides for all their entrees: choice of baked potato, onion rings, or fries, and a side of lightly cooked veggies. My veggies were underdone for my liking and they were cold. The baked potato wouldn't have been my choice to go with fish, but it sounded better than more fried food after the appetizer. It was a small potato but tasty. The butter they gave was solid as a rock but melted pretty quickly on the hot potato. The sour cream tasted slightly odd but not bad so I still used it on my potato. The steak came out very strange. Parts of it were medium well. Parts were medium. The very center was very rare almost raw. My husband ate it anyway. I would have sent it back, though. It didn't look good at all. We weren't expecting Ruth's Chris, but we did expect they'd understand how to cook a medium-rare steak, it isn't difficult to do. Then came the bill. We expected the cost, what we didn't expect, and were not told about at any time during our meal (nor do I remember seeing anything about it on the menu) was a $3.00 addition to our bill for using a credit card to pay. Seriously? What is that about? If you're going to add a surcharge for using a card, let your customers know up front so they can decide whether your menu looks worth the surcharge, especially when it's going to end up being more than a $50 meal! Overall, our meal was ok, but not fully satisfying. The best part of the entire meal for me was the artichoke hearts, but they weren't good enough to make me want to return. The worst part of it all is roughly an hour after we left, my husband started feeling sick to his stomach and I believe it was the food last night. The only reason I'm giving this place two stars instead of one is because of those artichoke hearts. They were definitely good. read more

Best food in california, the people are really nice and Carlitos is the best!!

Good vibes, food and drinks! Owner was very attentive and on top of all orders despite a full bar. Would definitely go again, great for locals! read more

This is a great little hole in the wall. Was pleasantly surprised. Amedeo fried artichokes are delicious!!

From the outside it looks like a place where you don't want to eat, but the food is really good and they are so nice! We had a bacon cheeseburger, nachos and a rib eye steak and it was so good! The steak was tender and the beef in the burger was also really good! This is really a place to try! You won't be disappointed! read more

Carlitos Steakhouse and Bar - Bacon cheeseburger, steak and nachos! So good! - Steakhouses Near Me - Gonzales, California

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Being nice these days SO counts:), we will come back:). We were on a long drive and needed a stop. My kids were hungry and needed the restrooms. The ladies were very nice and it hit the spot! Thank you for treating us so well from SF with love. read more

Best food in south county after 10pm. Best dive bar in south county, hands down. Carlos is a killer host. Perfectly reasonable prices. Get there. Plus, pool. So, yeah. read more

Not many places for us truckers to eat late at night and I'm glad I found this place ! It closes at 2 not only that but the dude here is chill af and the food is amazing , I've been to a lot of steak houses and this is definitely amongst my top 10 I've been to so far ! The seasoning on the ribeye was on point ! Asked for it medium rare and it was exactly how I ordered it ! Served with veggies and fries and a salad on the side but overall this place is amazing you guys rock man read more

This is a surprisingly good place. You really would not expect that. I had a porterhouse steak, it was a little tender on the outside, but pretty good on the inside. Really for 21 bucks this is outstanding. Baked potato was brilliant. Broccoli was good. Beans were ok, I guess I am not that fond of beans, and it was really a lot of food, I head to prioritize. The salad upfront was solid, simple but fresh. The service gets an honorable mention, the waitress was really kind. We asked for local wine, and she said it is not on the menu. But then she came back and we could try a local Merlot, which was absolutely terrific. We also got the dressings for the salad on the side, to make sure that we like them. The reason it gets four stars, is that some of the things were just not perfect. The steak a little tender, the water tastes weird, and the furniture is pretty cheap. I would still recommend this place, it is sad that we were the only guests. read more

The place is fair, not good not bad. Price is pretty good for steaks. The cook was a little bad for them lol. I asked for medium rare I got well done. The portions were big. The service was great. It could use a little remodel and a new cook. My date's steak was cooked decently. Everything on the plate was home made like the French fries. The soup tasted like it came out of a can though. Overall for Gonzalez it's a pretty decent steakhouse. read more

Carlitos Steakhouse and Bar - My rib eye steak. - Steakhouses Near Me - Gonzales, California

We happened upon this place after reading Yelp reviews. Totally skeptical walking in--it's a dive from the outside. We were on our way home to SF from Santa Barbara and had just finished a nice hike so we wanted a meal with a little substance. Carlitos Restaurant was amazing! We had dinner at the bar; the bartender could not have been more friendly and Carlitos was there too. We ordered a steak sandwich and a grilled chicken sandwich. They were both delicious. The steak was cooked on a wooden fire and was tender and tasty. The wings were great too! Oh, and one more thing... get the fries! Try this place!! You won't be disappointed. read more

Amazing food! Stopped in here later in the evening, might want to call first, the chef is also the owner so he runs errands. Food was delicious salad was fresh and crisp, fresh dressing. Filet mignon was cooked exactly how I wanted with some shrimp and delicious baked potato. Homemade lemonade too! We live 45 minutes away and I wouldn't mind going back daily. Great prices too read more

Went last night with my mom and we ordered the cheese burgers. Boy, they were real good. I was not really that hungry but finished my cheeseburger cause it was so good. I found out by our server Nick ( cool kid ) that his dad grinds his own hamburger meat. I always watch the food network so I know that grinding your own hamburger meat for some reason makes the burgers taste better. stop by and get a burger, you have not be disappointed! read more

Carlitos Steakhouse and Bar - Steakhouses Near Me - Gonzales, California

One star for the bartender Carlitos ... Watch out for this guy he will rob you blind when it comes to paying for your drinks ..

Nice dive bar .. and Thursday nights a nice dinner is provided ... older regular crowd seems to be the mainstay .. but hey its Gonzales.. so if your riding through .. stop in .. read more

An awesome experience from beginning to end. Walked in here on a Sunday night and there was no one there. We were a little worried, but we're happily proven wrong. I had the porterhouse steak. The meat was a little tough but great flavor. The jalapeño poppers were absolutely incredible. We both started with salads and they were good. Would def go back for the appetizers! read more

1 star for the friendly staff. We stopped here on our way home to San Diego from Monterey. Big mistake. Food took forever(we ordered chicken strips & onion rings). Onion rings came out ice cold. They wouldn't have taken it off the check if I didn't notice that they left it on there. Although the server was a sweet young man, they made mistakes in service. 1 stall for a bathroom, again..took forever because there was a line. No closed stall in men's bathroom. I don't want to bag on this place too much because it seems like family ran business. Just find somewhere else to stop if you're passing through. read more

Tried to give this place a chance many of times but I really cant believe how everyone gave this place five star reviews. Ive recieved steaks cooked well done when I asked for medium rare. Ive also had a horrible experience with their chicken fettucini being far too nasty, no flavor. I never even see people eating there read more

Food is great and the price is reasonable the down side is that they are not constant with their schedule. Some times they open at 3 other at 4 when their Facebook page says they at 2pm. I recommend the rib eye streak. read more

Service not good bar rips you off wouldn't recommend unless you like giving your money away

It looks kind of shitty from the outside but the food and service is really good. If you Come across it i will recommend going there.

Everything is prepared fresh! So delicious and great value. Ordered a filet mignon, medium, and it was cooked to perfection. And their jalapeño poppers were the best I've ever had. Also, their cowboy beans were so flavorful! Highly recommended it. Will definitely be returning. read more

Wow...great, fresh food...small town atmosphere...killer ranch style beans. Despite it's name it is NOT a mexican food restaurant

Better alternative to stopping at McDonalds on your trips between SoCal and NorCal. Don't let the exterior turn you away, it looks a little scary from the outside ... but the food is surprisingly good and well priced. The staff were genuinely friendly! Awesome family establishment, totally worth a stop!!! read more

Having driven past this place for years to go to a real good Italian place just down the street, we decided to try Carlito's tonight. From the street it looks like a locals only kind of bar, which it is on one side, but there is a separate entrance for the modest looking restaurant. Definitely worth our time. Pretty darn good steaks, I had 16 oz Ribeye my wife had the smaller top sirloin. Meat was good, cooked properly and it was well seasoned just like all Central Coast beef cooks know how to do it. Very fresh iceberg lettuce in an otherwise pedestrian salad and the steamed broccoli and cauliflower were done perfectly, and were also first class produce suitable for the Salinas Valley- Salad Bowl of the World. Big baked potatoes done just right. Took us a little while to get our food after ordering but server was prompt and efficient on her end, and being of a certain age she thankfully never ever said "perfect" or "no worries." You know even if the food wasn't good I might come back just so as not to have to suffer hearing those two phrases totally misused. Well okay so the wine wasn't "perfect" the house "Chardonnay" my wife ordered was pretty sweet, more like a Franzia "Chenin Blanc" or something. And kind of pricey by the glass. The dinners however were a bargain. We will be back, probably bring our own red wine so as have "no worries" about that. . read more

Best Steak I have ever had.... Came with a Baked potato and steamed Veggies.. Great service by the owner,, Carlos. I will be Back... Frankie read more

I think the key word here is "fresh". For under $25 I had a very satisfying meal: basic dinner salad (not to write home about but seemed somehow crisper than most I've had), glass of beer, medium Filet Mignon (I never order steak but did and it was full of flavor and just what I wanted), onion rings (somehow almost caramelized, done beautifully, crisp and not oily), odd broccoli-cauliflower floret kinda hybrid thing (cooked exactly right and a healthy, pleasing accompaniment), cup of beans (sort of a soup - just perfect with everything else). I came in about 5PM on a Monday and met an empty place. I was a little disconcerted but, as another reviewer noted under similar circumstances, need not have been. The service, after I got my beer and salad, was strangely slow seeing as how I was the only customer. But the food was worth the wait. I got the feeling it was all made special for me, thus the wait ... a nice feeling, besides filling my stomach with good and very tasty food. I've seldom been so pleasantly satisfied with a restaurant dinner. It was fairly simple but thoughtfully and well prepared. Where are the patrons? I guess I was missing something, out of sync with the eating public. The place deserves lots of trade. Probably I just came at a strange time/day. read more

Much like the other reviews, it doesn't look like much from the outside, but once in the doors you are treated like family. It was one of the highlights for our trip. The food was excellent and the staff amazing. If you have to stop somewhere, this is a great choice! read more

Hands-down the best steakhouse I've ever been to! This place makes Outback look like Denny's... The steaks were perfectly seasoned and grilled over wood-fire to perfection! Our family's meal was perfection... The kids' burgers were awesome, the fries are the thick hand cut steak fries (sooo yummy) and the homemade onion rings were delicious... The ranch beans are fantastic and the veggies are steamed to perfection. If you haven't tried this place, do yourself a favor and go there today! This is Monterey County's best kept secret! read more

We stopped here during a road trip and after a day of hiking. We were seated and served promptly. The 8-oz petite filet mignon was melt-in-your-mouth good, and served with really tasty potato wedges, steamed broccoli and asparagus tips, hearty baked beans, and a salad. read more

On our way to Santa Cruz we wanted to stop for dinner. It was getting late and we saw Carlitos was open so we took a chance. We're glad we did. My husband loves steak but likes it beat cooked with a wood flame, which they do. He said it was great. I was apprehensive but I ordered the Sea Bass. It was a large fillet deliciously prepared. Even my daughter, who isn't a fish eater liked it. And the cost was half of what you would expect for these cuts and quality. We will definitely be back. read more