It was a very nice moment we spent there with very kind guys. Philippe and the French team read more

Exquisite little gem of a stop, in the middle of nowhere. The perfect setting for a biker lunch. I can't wait to go back. read more

See all

I am a vegetarian and was so happy that they have an amazing BBQ Veggie Burger that is soo delicious! And the outdoor area was perfect for the kids. I have an almost 3 year old and my sister has an almost 7 year old - they absolutely loved running around and playing in the tree houses. Great environment and overall experience. It was totally worth the drive out there for us. We will be going again for sure! read more

See all

The restaurant is really neat. I loved the fireplace and the real Cowboy decor. My kids loved the play structures outside at the restaurant and across the the street at the resort. The food was pretty good. I had a burger and fries. My husband had the steak sandwich. They accommodated my daughter who wanted a side of steak only. My husband said her steak was better than his sandwich but everything was pretty good. read more

Parkfield Cafe is more than just a cafe it is a destination. A very popular destination indeed. And that's because of the great food great atmosphere and great surroundings and wonderful drive to get out to Parkfield. where else can you stand on the continental plate and be right next to the Pacific Plate and say wow this is earthquake City but they happen so rarely you'll be lucky if you get to indulge in one. But don't let this scare you the people are friendly the town is nice it's just a little Western destination that you can also stay at the hotel that's across the street and come out to trail rides or even spend the night in the hotel and see the wonderful stars that are out there but wait this is about a restaurant the Parkfield Cafe. some of the best burgers in the state are served right here and it comes from the cows that they raised on their Ranch so it's really a local Burger from a local Source at the local restaurant right here in Parkfield. I encourage everyone to take the drive to Parkfield and enjoy the drive I enjoy the scenery sometimes wild flowers sometimes not sometimes cows and ranches everything is visible and you want to have a little peace and quiet and privacy this is the drive. what do you come in from Paso Robles off Highway 46 or whether you come in from San Miguel via 13th Street it's up to you. don't wait too long to go oh, it's not that far oh, and be sure you want to come again and again I know I do and I love the drive. See you in Parkfield. home of really good burgers really good sandwiches and that apple dessert with the ice cream is just marvelous come on out and spend the afternoon enjoy. And be sure and look up their website for the events that are out there and you can schedule yourself to be there with an event and maybe even have even more fun. Add Bluegrass Festival is coming up soon. read more

I just love the Parkfield Cafe & Lodge. I live 40 minutes from this gem. We regularly spend a night in our favorite room. If you like good people, good food, beautiful setting and comfort this is the place to go. The Varian's are one of a kind. Monica & Gabe read more

I couldn't say better things about the Parkfield Cafe. The people here are incredibly friendly and giving, and the food is high quality and "totally" delicious. My dad and I have been riding our motorcycles here for years and we were able to drive out there recently. It was such a gorgeous and a relaxing getaway for the day. Split the BLT and chicken caesar salad and they were probably the best BLT and chicken caesar salad I've ever had. Who would think?! Out in the middle of gorgeous nowhere. Can't wait to stay at the Inn; it looks very relaxing! read more

Parkfield Cafe - Birthday cobbler! - Sandwiches Near Me - Parkfield, California

Get the Shakin Burger. You will not be disappointed. I ate at Parkfield Cafe three times this past weekend while staying at the lodge. I had a couple great steaks as well as the Shakin Burger. You will not be disappointed! Local grass fed beef and amazing flavor! read more

This place is amazing and yummy. Hot, fresh and great proportions. Enjoy the live music as well. I look forward to returning for the burger with locally grown meat! read more

Parkfield Cafe - Most fun to dine in a saddle ! - Sandwiches Near Me - Parkfield, California

Middle of nowhere Located on an earthquake fault line Best burger you'll ever eat? I stumbled upon this place after watching a special on tv about earthquakes. The special covered Parkfield, CA. Being a few hours away from I decided to check it out. To my surprise there was a restaurant there so I decided to try it and boy it was amazing! The beef couldn't be more fresh as the restaurant is located on a ranch. Free range beef is so good! I've eaten burgers from all over the US and this was the best ever. They also sell meat you can take home. Be warned though, this place is remote and there's no reception there! read more

Veggie burger and fries. So delish. Love the outdoors and everyone is so chill. Great place and will be back soon.

My family and I have eaten here many times. The service (Ian) is always outstanding. The vibe/décor is just what you would expect to find in a small town like this - very cool style, old brands hanging from the ceiling, etc. The food is really, really, REALLY good; the burgers are particularly outstanding. The location is a bit off the beaten path, but the environment is exceptional, with an outside seating area, cool play area for the kids (treehouse), etc. I would highly recommend this place. read more

Parkfield Shakin' Burger: Fantastic burger! Have traveled the world and this burger makes my Top 3 easily! Jalapeño salsa was perfectly balanced-- not too hot but a nice kick at the end. Bun is top notch. Chipotle sauce is incredibly flavorful but not so overwhelming that it detracts from the quality taste of the meat. Can't say enough praise. Well done, Parkfield Cafe. read more

I would like to extend huge kudos to Parkfield cafe and lodge. Yesterday our beautiful sunny drive to the mountains turned a little gray and ugly. After stopping to help a stranded motorist, we found ourselves in the same situation. All towing services that we contacted said the road was too dangerous and they would not come help. Barb Varian and her husband John Varian responded above and beyond. They came to us in their four wheeler and rescued me, Mark, our daughter son-in-law and 11 month old granddaughter (and the original vehicle occupants). We had to be driven out through the slippery sliding mud. Barb even road standing on the back bumper in the cold rain so that we could ride inside where it was warm and dry. If this was not enough, they took us to the cafe where they found someone who was willing to haul out both vehicles. They provided warm dry and extremely hospitable service at the cafe (to the ladies while the guys returned to the truck) as we waited to get pulled out. Your kindness and hospitality are an example of behavior very rare to find these days. The silver lining here is the discovery of the cafe and Lodge. I look forward to the opportunity to return there under much sunnier circumstances. Thank you soooooo very much! read more

See all

My husband really enjoyed his chili burger with fries. I had a burger which was pretty good, but not spectacular. I requested avocado after I had already placed the order. They not only put it on the burger, but put more in a cup on the side. The server was very nice and sitting outside where we could have our dogs was nice. The farm dogs will join you if you eat outside, but they were very well mannered. read more

Wow, what a find. Drive out while it's still light out as it's a particularly nice drive - lots of old time California rustica to be observed. Service is good, food is excellent. Some of the best steaks you'll ever have - ditto veggies - all grilled perfectly. The steaks come from cows raised by the owners of the cafe. Its grass fed beef, so it's a little different from the normal fatty grain fed beef in most places. Lean and tender - outstanding meat and, as I said, the guy on the grill is an artist. On another note - I ordered the 12 oz fillet & what they brought me looked like about 16 oz. I mentioned this to the waitress and she said, "Yeah, they are usually pretty generous on the cuts." I guess so... I've eaten at most of the steak places in the area (McKlintocks, Spurs, etc.) and I would rate this as the top of the heap all around. Its kind of like driving out to a friend's ranch for a roundup and dinner - it's a little out of the way but worth the trip. read more

The Cafe makes a great destination for a drive or especially, a motorcycle trip. It's definitely out of the way but the trip is made worthwhile by the scenery. The food is excellent and reasonably priced and very good. For lunch, I'd suggest a burger. Excellent. I recently spent three days at the Inn and found that to be comfortable and very relaxing. Guests can take a horse back ride, see a rodeo. I'd definitely consider spending time there again as well as making the journey to the cafe for lunch. BTW, there are several ways to get to the Inn & Cafe. If you have a high clearance vehicle, I'd suggest coming across the Parkfield Grade. There are some beautiful views of the mountains to the east. These also happen to be a part of the San Andreas Fault zone. read more

My wife and I took the very picturesque drive out to Parkfield from our home in Atascadero. What a beautiful drive through ranch country. As a bonus the Parkfield Cafe was a gastro treat as we rolled into the parking lot for lunch. The lunch menu had several great choices and we went with : a hamburger with blue cheese and a chicken sandwich. Huge servings and very tasty. They came with a mound of freshly cut french fries. The restaurant runs a beef ranch which makes any beef choice a good one. The seating is family style and comfortable. Service was excellent but be prepared to relax and enjoy the atmosphere (think everything Western and ranch oriented). Lunch for two was around $30 with tip. read more

See all

The Gorilla says: "The food is super! But the atmosphere makes it. Have the Shakin' Fries." read more

I love this place! The Parkfield Cafe has come back from dead, again. I've been a frequent visitor for about 30 years and there have been periods when it was less than spectacular. Nice, quiet restaurant out in the country surrounded by pastures and oaks. The menu is limited but the items taste great. Their bacon cheeseburger is the best I've ever had! The service is also good. They've added on-tap beer and finally got WiFi too! read more

Parkfield Cafe - Sandwiches Near Me - Parkfield, California

The Inn is a great place to stay in the area if you are lookimg for rest and relaxation. The rooms have a cowboy cabin motif and are very comfortable. The gathering room is great for family get toethers or meeting with friends. A real treat for guests at the inn are the breakfast cakes in the common area in the morning...they are really good especially if nuked for maybe 15 seconds before eating. Overall, this is a great if not the only place to stay in Parkfield. This is my third or fourth stay and there will be more in my future. read more

We visited Parkflield for the first time and loved it! We had lunch of a chicken Caesar salad and a bacon cheese hamburger...both were delicious! The hamburger is from the ranch's grass fed beef. The service was excellent. A beautiful fall afternoon so we took a walk around "town." What a gorgeous ranch. Worth the trip to be a little off the beaten path. read more

Once again, the Varian's gave my family exactly what we wanted: good food, neighborly hospitality, and good times. The wait staff was awesome as well as the cooks. My family always drives out here because we go home full and happy. Parkfield is a different world hidden in the middle of California. read more

We came to this town to check out the fault line and the cafe is basically the town hub. The Parkfield Shaking burger is the best I have had in my life. Long drive to get there but I love the environment and atmosphere. read more

My wife and I had lunch for the first time here with some friends in late October 2019. We heard about this place by word of mouth and thought we would drive to the middle of nowhere and try it. I suggest you do the same! About ten minutes away from the restaurant we saw several deer relaxing in the tall brush. What a diamond in the rough! The atmosphere, character, and historical interests was amazing. Our service was very good by a male waiter about 25-30 years old. He was very prompt and friendly with everyone. He was very helpful and welcoming. Then came out the food. Wow, what a pleasant surprise. Amazing burgers, chili, and tortilla soup. The cup of chili is the size of most restaurants bowl. The side salads were very nice size too. If you are looking to take a little adventure for lunch, you definitely should come here. The place is very clean and the prices were good for the portions! read more

All I can say is this was well worth the drive, and I plan to visit as much as possible. My steak sandwich was so delicious. My husbands parkfield burger was so juicy. I need to go back for the Apple dumpling. The waitress were so sweet. I'm in paso so I can feel another weekend visit. Lots of great picture opportunities yummmmmmy read more

See all

I happened upon this place while driving up Cholame Valley looking for birds. I stopped for lunch and found the place charming. The barkeeps were fun to talk with and knew lots of local history. I can't say much about the beer or spirits selection since I didn't partake. I really liked the interior decor of the blond-wood bar and the brands and drills hanging from the ceiling. Very enjoyable lunch stop. I'll will try to return. read more

This was the exact kind of place we were looking for without knowing exactly what we wanted. Found this place Jon the way down the 101 and didn't want some Best Western or something. Staying on a ranch with nice rooms and comfy beds...yes please. The mood at the diner is equally as good and the burgers and tri tip were delicious. If we are ever coming back through that area we will stay again for sure. read more

Lunch yesterday, I've been going there for years. Two people working the entire floor which was about 2/3 full- more customers seated outside. As is typical- virtually everyone, like us, arrived on motorcycles on a gorgeous spring day of around 85 degrees. While Service isn't while one goes there, we still found it rather lacking and unorganized. We self sat (per custom) and after 15 minutes still had not been greeted. The two servers seemed to be camped out at the single cash register behind the bartop, neither keeping a watchful eye on the room. We saw no Manager. I walked over and asked for menus and a couple waters, which were brought out a few minutes later (not promptly, with the realization they had missed us). No suggestion about food or drink was made once the server arrived, the orders were taken quickly and questions were answered. The table wasn't prepared- no salt/pepper- place settings were brought out before the food, but only for one person. The food arrived promptly and prepared exactly as ordered- the french fries were under-portioned and under cooked. A side dish request was forgotten and had to be repeated, waters were not refilled, check back on the food wasn't until 75% of the meal had been consumed. We had been there before, were not in a hurry and had a lively conversation going so it wasn't a big negative. It simply could have been a much better experience if basic food-service sequence of service had been followed. My suggestion is for training and proper staffing levels. Its no surprise this place gets busiest on nice days, so keep an eye on weather reports and bring some folks in accordingly. read more

OMG...This may be a bit of a drive for a burger but I guarantee you it is well worth the beautifully scenic drive. We went on motorcycles from Morro Bay up the 41 and then down the 46 and it's a fantastic ride, some very rural roads that are maintained somewhat but believe me, my husband wouldn't put his bike at risk so it was fine. The little "town" of Parkfield is so cool, so many photo ops! The restaurant, again, photo ops, old branding irons on the ceiling, old stove, saddles for bar stools, beautiful logs at the bar, gymnasium floor tables, I could go on and on. Did I mention that it's on the San Andreas fault? The USGS is based there for measuring all earthquakes. The waitress has lived there for 38 years and was a wealth of knowledge and fun to talk to, she use to teach at the school. I had read about the burgers on Yelp so we went with the bacon cheeseburger and it had sharp cheddar and grass fed beef, probably very fresh if you know what I mean and an amazing bun, all reasons why it is probably the BEST burger we have ever eaten! We will be making this a new annual trip out of Morro Bay. read more

took a day trip out here, as we had always wanted to see parkfield, to see earthquake stuff and eat at the cafe...very cute, kitschy western place, with locals enjoying their lunch...husband and I ordered the smoked bacon cheeseburger and fries...in came a HUGE cheeseburger, on the best bun I have ever eaten...was delish, although heavy on the smoke flavor...next time I will get the American burger...beautiful drive, beautiful area, so unlike the typical California scenery...make the trip up there and see for yourself, just make sure it's one of the 4 days the cafe is open.. read more

Parkfield Cafe - Sandwiches Near Me - Parkfield, California

Wow! This is the real deal... Food is fantastic. I suggest anything in the meat category. This is a cattle ranch cafe at its finest. Their grass-fed beef is world class and anything in the cafe is well worth the drive to the town of parkfield (population 18). Stay for some team roping or other rodeo fun for a trip you soon won't forget. read more

This place is not in San Miguel, it's about 20 miles east in the tiny town of Parkfield. It's a beautiful drive, and you will cross the San Andreas fault before you enter town. The cafe is rustic and I like it best for breakfast and lunch. Dinner is also good, but a little pricy for a steak in this land of beef. If it's a hot day, sit on the porch with a burger and a beer. If you have a motorcycle, ride it; this is a popular destination. read more

This little cafe is such a treasure! My family and I go every once and awhile to reminisce and eat good food in such a unique location. I love ALL their burgers. The owners raise grass-fed cows & the beef is absolutely delicious! I also love the fries that are left with the skin on :) And if you're looking for an amazing homemade dessert try the apple dumplings a la mode! It is sooooo delicious! After dinner my family and I always walk towards the San Andreas fault, to take pictures and try to spot where the fault actually is. It's pretty cheesy... but very memorable! read more

The setting is beautiful California cattle country grassland. The Cafe and Hotel exist because of the Varian Ranch owners. The cafe is only open Thursday through Sunday and close relatively early, so call to check on times. The staff was very friendly and responsive. The burgers and fries were excellent. The steaks a bit on the pricey side, but the cattle that supply the meat are grown very locally. Parkfield is one of those memorable out of the way places to visit. It is right on a portion of the San Andreas Fault that has been fairly consistently erupting wiht 6.0 earthquakes on a regular 22 year cycle. The USGS has a station here for ongoing research work they do relative to earthquake prediction studies. While the Cafe is certainly not a destination restaurant, the town is a great stop in you wanderings. A good place for food and drink if you are coming out this way on a motorcycle, county high point trip, dude ranch weekend, hunting weekend, rodeo, visiting the San Andreas Fault or other event. A very good value. If you arrive from the west from the Hwy101 corridor (San Miguel, Bradley, Paso Robles area), the road out to the north towards Coalinga is well traveled and in good shape, with about 4 miles of well graded dirt road. A very scenic route in/out. read more

My new gold standard for a hamburger. The best ever. My buddy and I rode down to Parkfield from San Jose on a weekend motorcycle ride. I just had to take him to the Parkfield Café as I have been there on several occasions but for excellent breakfasts. The building is way cool; wrought-iron decorative work-of-art fencing, real log building, beamed ceilings, tables and chairs made out of logs. The counter stools are real horse saddles. We were both wowed. The waiter was friendly, courteous, and attentive. He gave us several tips, including riding out to Cholame to see where James Dean bought the farm in his Porsche, "The Little Bastard". A memorial is set up next to a coffee shop containing James Dean memorabilia. The ride to Parkfield on a motorcycle is one of my top destinations, as the roads leading there are outstanding and barely have traffic. read more

A much appreciated throw back to days gone by. Leave the keys in the truck, kind of place. Everyone greets you with a smile. The Inn is unique and you must see it to believe it! We stayed in the "shell station" and I enjoyed my morning coffee on the second story veranda with stunning vistas. We slept like a rock and were blown away by the wonderful amenities offered. Everyone should be lucky enough to visit Parkfield and enjoy this place. read more

I spent the weekend in Parkfield found in the café was fabulous the food was great the portions were awesome the wait staff were great! Friendly family-style dining the photos on the walls told lots of stories I would highly recommend a trip to the Parkfield cafe. Thanks to all! read more

Believe all the other reviews about how good the big burger is. Bloody awesome as are the hand cut fries. Best burger I've had in years. Came here during the week so it was great chatted with staff really friendly. I'll be coming back for sure read more

We stayed at the Parkfield Inn. The rooms were awesome. We stayed in the old water tower or "Shell Station". Towels and linens were something you would see at a swanky hotel in a big city. Beds were comfortable, wish I had them at my own house. The people that run the place are like family. The food at the cafe is delicious. Atmosphere was great. Good place to get away for the weekend for some peace and quite! I would recommend this place to everyone from nature lovers to a corporate retreat. Two thumbs up from this guy! read more