Classic California diner with Classic California style and friendly servers. The Santa Maria-style trip-tip was delicious. The vegetable medley while pretty standard, was hot but not well seasoned. The pinquito beans and garlic bread on the side was pretty tasty. Overall this restaurant has stood the test of time since 1959 and some of the decor and furniture hasn't changed since then, but why change a good thing? read more

Kept seeing signs for Pappy's Diner on the highway on my way to Nipomo and finally had time to head down to Santa Maria to see what it was all about. It is huge, with a Western theme. It was a bit stinky where they sat me becasue someone in one of the booths had been smoking. They sat me at a "single" table, which was too tight on my waist. There were lots of historic pictures. Overall it was quite expensive for a "diner", there was lots of good food and country music playing. A Mix of customers of all types. I ordered breakfast and a tri-tip sandwich to go (who doesn't order tri-tip when in Santa Maria??) Breakfast was good, but I was disappointed at the tri-tip sandwich. Not wild about the potato salad either. Probably won't come here again. read more

Pappy's Restaurant - Eggs, bacon, hash browns, english muffin - Mexican Near Me - Santa Maria, California

See all

We loved our breakfast here last Sunday! We sat at the counter and watched the kitchen turn out the great big plates of yummy diner food. Beer and mimosas available (darn, they were out of the sparkly for mimosas that morning). We had the chicken fried steak with gravy, potatoes, and biscuit, and the Cobb salad for health. Both were huge. That gravy is the stuff southern dreams are made of. A fine quality steak for the chicken-fried treatment! Salad: fresh. Really nice, ripe avocado. Great blue cheese crumbles. Super friendly service, despite the busy Sunday afternoon. Lots of fun photos to see on the walls. Solid diner coffee. Will return! read more

See all

Unbelievably huge portions. I was in the mood for a "Greasy Spoon" diner for breakfast. But the grease on the hash browns was dripping whatever oil they use. The orange juice was in a tall plastic cup and was literally orange flavored water. It was like eating McDonalds after a 2 year hiatus, but McD's serves actual orange juice. Good Lord...my gut is still mad after 2 weeks. It is definitely what you would expect in a Tennessee or West Virginia truck stop. Service was super long, and it was a weekday at 10:30 am. And it still cost me $50 for 2 people. read more

A traditional restaurant with s vast menu for any desired taste. The inside is welcoming and decorated with the history of Santa Maria Valley. The Club sandwich I ordered was an ideal example of what a Club sandwich should be. Toasted bread created the perfect layers of turkey, bacon, lettuce, tomato, and mayo. Along with the sandwich were freshly fried fries, that really hit the spot. I also had a cup of their Friday only Clam Chowder that hit on all notes. The menu is extensive, the service is diner-worthy, and you will not be disappointed stopping in and experiencing Pappy's wares. read more

Pappy's Restaurant - Club Sandwich with fries - Mexican Near Me - Santa Maria, California

Right off the 101 It's a staple And the food is consistently good I tried their tri tip with cheese enchilada, with rice and beans. Ok. So good! Great service. Easy peasy lemon squeezy. No issues. Clean bathroom too This experience makes me want to go back more often read more

Pappy's Restaurant - Tri Tip and cheese enchilada - Mexican Near Me - Santa Maria, California

The best tri-tip I've ever had! Super recommended, my sister had an omelette she loved it! Customer service was great! read more

Looking for a breakfast stop on our way home from SoCal, we had noticed the sign for Pappy's Diner! With easy access from 101, we were promptly greeted and seated with much-needed coffee and water. An old time diner, many photos and brands adorn the walls reflecting its long history in the area. My Huevos Rancheros were delish and the side scoop of guacamole and sour cream and salsa were the perfect toppers. Hubby was very happy with his linguisa and eggs; hash browns were cooked well and English muffin made for a very tasty and satisfying start to our day. Glad we found you, Pappy's! read more

The staff here are so friendly and kind with the customers. The managers are helpful and create such a positive environment. The food is good and the portions are well sized. Kid meals are cheap and it makes me smile seeing as other places charge $20 for kids plates keep it up pappys Yall are kicking a$$ !!! read more

Pappy's is our weekly stop for breakfast...excellent food, serious portions, reasonable prices and outstanding service..with a special call out to our favorite server Yasha , who makes every visit a pleasure read more

We were leaving the beach to head back home and decided to stop and eat at this gem. Party of 6, seated right away. It was semi busy, a little loud but not bad. I ordered the nachos and added chicken, they were delicious. The ranchera sauce they put on them really boosted the flavor. They had a huge variety on their menu. I would definitely go back, but would want to try something else to see what else is good. Our waitress was very friendly. read more

Pappy's Restaurant - Nachos with chicken. - Mexican Near Me - Santa Maria, California

OH MY GOODNESS!! Driving for HOURS in LA traffic heading to Morro Bay. We stopped to eat here and OH MY GOSH, the pot roast was FANTASTIC! Tender fall of my fork with a delicious pile of mash and gravy for the WIN!! So SO great!! Our server was warm, helpful and fast. Thanks for encouraging us to have the pot roast! I'll be dreaming about it for a really long time read more

My favorite restaurant in the greater Santa Maria area. A 'traditional' truck stop, wide ranging menu, excellent food, large portions. Ambiance: neat, recently re-decorated, traditional country music. Staff professional, attentive, friendly. Capacious parking areas. North east corner Hwy.101/Betteravia. read more

I enjoy going to Pappy's for the cool old school ambiance. Their traditional America breakfast, lunch and dinner are really good. However, when it comes to Mexican food, there are too many other options that are a lot better than Pappy's. Especially what Pappy's charges . I'd go to Salsa Bravo for example or other Mexican restaurants around town. Just not Pappy's. read more

The Santa Maria-style tri-tip plate is a pretty good value at $22.99. You get four slices of tri-tip, salsa, two sides (potatoes, vegetables, or pinquito beans), garlic bread, and a starter (soup or salad). I opted for the vegetable tortilla soup. The tortilla chips were nice and crispy and it came with chunks of tomato, celery, and carrot, though the soup was a little too salty. Then came the main course. The tri-tip was juicy and covered with grill marks. The salsa was mildly spicy, and you could add Tabasco or Cholula on your meat as well. I opted for the vegetables and pinquito beans, and they complimented the meat well. The garlic bread was thickly sliced and crispy but a bit lacking in garlic flavor. 3.5 stars read more

The Pappy Sized breakfast! Scrumptious food and generous portion sizes and they don't skimp. I asked for "extra crispy" hash browns and they accommodated. I especially recommend the Pappy Sized Breakfast. The Santa Maria cowboy style ambiance is quite unique, fun and sets this diner apart from the rest! read more

Pappy's Restaurant - Pappy Sized Breakfast with my requested "extra crispy" hashbrowns. - Mexican Near Me - Santa Maria, California

Food: 4. Came by on a Thursday around noon. Place was moderately busy. Had to wait a bit before I was seated. Beverage order was quick but food order was a bit slow. I ordered Pappy's Meatloaf Dinner. I asked if I could swap the "steamed fresh vegetable" with the pinquito beans. Food came out timely and at the right temperature. I chose a salad instead of soup. Salad and salad bowl were nicely chilled. I like my salad cold. Simple salad of iceberg, green leaf, and croutons but I enjoyed it. Meatloaf was good and it was a nice size portion. Mashed potatoes had potato skins and it was good. Beans were flavorful. Garlic bread was nicely toasted and buttered. The next time I visit, I will try a different dish than meatloaf as it was just good (3.5). Service was mostly good. Ambiance is diner-ish and comfortable. Service: 3.75 Ambiance: 3.75 Value: 3.5 read more

See all

Not great!! Worst home fries in Santa Maria. Peppers and onions completely burnt and the potatoes were damn near raw! I've been here a couple of times and every time I come, I say never again but this time will be the last! read more

Excellent and friendly service. I had the Santa Maria Tri Tip Sandwich with fries. Served with salsa and ranch, you can ask for bbq sauce too. The bun was toasted to perfection, such a nice crunch! Asked for medium cooked but it came well done, still was tender and tasty. read more

Pappy's Restaurant - Santa Maria Tri Tip Sanwich and fries - $18 - Mexican Near Me - Santa Maria, California

See all

One of the best breakfasts I've had in a long time. I love "greasy spoon" style diners and this truck stop type place is exactly what I was looking for. I got an omelette with fried potatoes. Service and food was fast and the "ambiance" was very casual. Loved it. read more

Pappy's Restaurant - Mexican Near Me - Santa Maria, California

My family went here for mother's day, the host was unfortunately very rude- she wouldn't tell me her name, but was older with a blonde bob. Got my party's name wrong multiple times and made a big fuss when I would try to make sure it was the right one, when she seated us, and when we were trying to pay. I understand being stressed when it's busy, but you're the first and last face a customer sees coming in and out, and all of us did not at all feel welcome. Food was okay- one person in our party had to get their food warmed as it came out cold. I got the Breakfast Chilaquiles and those were pretty good- good amount of spice and flavor, however I did ask for Chorizo on them and there wasn't any. I chose not to send it back, though because the experience wasn't great and we were all ready to get out of there. read more

Tried this place before heading home from Santa Maria, meatloaf was really good, I enjoyed the mashed potatoes and veggies, I didn't want the garlic bread to end. The waitress was really nice, and inside was nice and clean, typical local spot. Portions were nice for the price. Will definitely be back. read more

Pappy's Restaurant - Meatloaf, mashed potatoes n gravy, veggies, garlic toast. - Mexican Near Me - Santa Maria, California

Worst experience never ever ever in my life have I put a bad post came to Santa Maria for our vacation wanted some good Pappys foods. We have one in our town. Got seated young lady asked what we wanted to drink. Waited for 20 minutes for our drinks never came by to say I'll be roghtwith you. One of the cups we had was dirty waited another 15 minutes or so we left no one ever came by almost an hour wait. read more

Pappy's Restaurant - Dirty cup - Mexican Near Me - Santa Maria, California

Made a run for the linguica breakfast omelette. The omelette was light and savory. While the homemade biscuits were fluffy with buttery goodness. The seating is a traditional booth setup. If you're an early riser, plenty of seating options and the service to table was pretty quick. You can take your time and relax or scarf down your meal in under an hour. With numerous choices for breakfast, lunch and dinner. You can find something delicious throughout the day. All in all, a tasty alternative to the big box places & coffee spots. read more

Pappy's Restaurant - Seafood platter selections. - Mexican Near Me - Santa Maria, California

Good ole Pappys. Normal cafe/diner fare. Clientele varies as it's at a truck stop, but never had a problem. Foods good, staffs friendly. What else are you really looking for? read more

Very polite and caring staff, good food when no one else is open! Will go back again! read more

We eat here weekly! I like the variety they offer. Love the shrimp dinner, tortilla soup, lasagna, turkey dinner, and my favorite pancakes anywhere. Don't skip the cherry pie! read more

Stopped here for a snack and restroom break off the highway. No toilet paper or seat covers in the bathroom at 11am. I ordered tea and a side of what they advertise on the menu as their famous cinnamon raison nut bread. I was trying to decide between that and the cinnamon roll. My hubby ordered the cinnamon roll and the waitress told him "you're lucky you got the last one" this is at 11:15am! The bread was grilled on both sides. It tasted burnt and when I turned it over the bottom side was burnt! There were no nuts, only burnt raisons---yuck! Luckily the cinnamon roll was big and delicious and we shared it. No idea what the rest of the menu is like but I don't recommend stopping here read more

I've been here a couple times the food is good but very pricey the huevo's rancheros needs to be reinvented and checked for flavor It's very bland. The fish and chips are excellent, the chili cup needs help it's lacking flavor , the chefs need to taste their food before sending it out. read more

Great food choices for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Service is on par for a busy area. Location is just off the freeway, good for trucks and travelers. Cafe style layout not too loud considering near the truck stop. A must for locals and vacationers. read more

Pappy's Restaurant - Plain cheeseburger, fries, and ice tea. - Mexican Near Me - Santa Maria, California

Wanted a local breakfast while working Santa Maria and my hotel suggested Pappy's. I need to find out what I did to rock them off. Pappy's was no treat. I was promptly seated and served pretty tasty coffee. Then...I waited...did I say I waited... When the server finally came to take my order, she didn't apologize for waiting or even said good morning; just what do you want? I don't know if the server was trying to be curt and unintentionally funny like the T-Bone waitress in Hell or Water; or just rude.., The biscuits and gravy were huge!! It tasted funny; kind of dirty dishwater. The egg was good and the sausage tasted good as well. Did I mention the coffee was tasty??? If it wasn't for the coffee, sausage, and eggs I wouldn't have given them one star. This might be a place the locals go; if you're not a local you may want to go somewhere else,... I don't think they want outsiders here... read more

What a great find! Pappy's 101 is a fun old fashioned diner. The food is great. Andy had the BBQ Bacon Burger--two thumbs up on the 1/3 lb burger with bacon, cheese, onion rings, pickles and onions and a mound of French fries. Yummo. I had the Chili cheese open side burger. It was nummy. Ranks in the top 5 chili burgers I've ever had. Next time we'll save room for dessert. read more

See all

I love the cheese enchilada and tri-tip combination dinner with rice and refried beans and tortillas. It is a large portion &I always take some home for later. The wait staff is diner-friendly and efficient. Comfy truck stop ambience. read more

Sometimes you just crave a great biscuits and gravy! When in Santa Maria, this place hits the spot.

Food is great service is great ambiance is very good it's a very family friendly service

This place just feels like a small town diner in the best way. The food is just what you'd hope for from a diner with just the right amount of greasiness! The staff very friendly, and service is always great despite how busy they usually are. When we went most recently, we ran into an acquaintance which of course added to the small town feel that we keep coming back for. Definitely stop by if you're looking for a change from the IHOPs of the world! read more

Great food great service ! Would stop again! Food portions were big for the price. Coffee was fresh and they offered sweet and unsweet tea.

Nice local restaurant with good food and service Large portions good atmosphere Would eat here again read more

Appears to be very worn down and needs to be cleaned. Breakfast was solid but nothing spectacular or memorable

I have to say pappys has exceeded my expectations, food is good and my family really likes it which surprises me because they can be picky. They have big portions some plates you can probably share there are a good variety of meals to choose from. I recommend the fish and chips or for breakfast their chicken fried steak and gravy. The waitress we had was great she provided excellent customer service. read more