Savor A Taste of “Stoney”

The next time you visit the Far Western Tavern, save room for a taste of “Stoney,” our new honey-infused grappa

This distinctive grappa honors Clarence “Stoney” Minetti—rancher, rodeo leader and co-founder of the Far Western Tavern. The nickname came courtesy of his friend Butch Simas, who—with a twinkle in his eye—once likened Clarence to television rodeo cowboy Stoney Burke. The name stuck, and Clarence was locally known as Stoney for decades thereafter.

This uniquely flavorful grappa was crafted by St. George Distillery using sage honey produced by bees on our family ranch. Like Stoney himself, it is one of a kind!

Tasty Spotlight on Old Town Orcutt

If a mouthwatering meal at the Far Western Tavern isn’t alone enough to entice you to visit Old Town Orcutt, then check out this magnificent feature story titled “Tasting Old Town Orcutt” in the Santa Barbara Independent.

In the story, senior editor Matt Kettmann writes, “From wine tasting rooms and gourmet kitchens to pizza, pasta, pies, and pubs — not to mention rumors of a sushi joint and tapas bar on the horizon — Old Town Orcutt is steadily evolving into a genuine foodie mecca, a trend cultivated by the ongoing efforts of the Revitalization Association and the Merchants Association.”

Thanks to Mr. Kettmann and the Santa Barbara Independent for turning the tasty spotlight on Old Town Orcutt!

From The North Pole to The Far Western

Give the gift of local flavor this holiday season and treat your family and friends to a meal at the Far Western Tavern.

Indeed, a Far Western Tavern gift card is the perfect stocking stuffer. Our gift cards are newly redesigned with our updated logo, and they come in a western pouch for added style and surprise.

We are now offering numerous new branded merchandise items as well, including:

Classic Steak Knives – Set of Four
A perfectly prepared steak deserves a perfect cut. These 9.25-inch serrated stainless steel knives feature a Provençal poly red handle and come in a Far Western Tavern presentation box.

Vintage Engraved Tumblers
It’s not always what you’re drinking, but how you’re drinking it. Enhance your next cocktail with our vintage engraved tumbler, featuring your choice of our steer head or horseman logo.

Luxardo Cherries
Put the cherry on top of your Far Western “Let ‘er Buck” Manhattan or other favorite cocktail with these gourmet Marasca cherries by Luxardo.

Bullseye Ball Cap
Our original FlexFit ball caps offer the perfect blend of fit and comfort. Available in black and natural, in sizes S/M and L/XL.

Ranch Hand Sweatshirt
Mornings start cold on the ranch, so bundle up with this cozy hooded sweatshirt. Available in black and natural, in sizes M-XXL.

The FWTee
When the day warms up, this100% cotton tee will keep you cool. Available in black and natural, in sizes M-XXL.

Feel free to come by and shop during our regular business hours. You may also place a gift card or merchandise order by calling us at (805) 937-2211.

FWT Unveils Upside Down Christmas Tree

Yes, this photo is right side up—it’s the Christmas tree that’s upside down!

Indeed, this is our new holiday addition to our upstairs Graciosa Hall banquet area. With the help of our friend and builder extraordinaire Berto van Veen, we hung the tree from a brace that crosses through our chandelier. Co-owner Susan Righetti and Suzette Bennett from the Flower Carriage in Santa Maria then climbed atop scaffolding to add the decor. The tree is made to be displayed upside down, and was provided by Kitty Ziegler from Rendezvous Home & Garden in Santa Maria.

“It was a last-minute idea,” Susan says. “I realized that our Rosalie Room had been booked for a party, so the floor space wasn’t an option. So we did what everyone does at some point over the holidays—we got creative!”

Own A Piece of The FWT…

Own a piece of the Far Western Tavern while supporting a good cause with bar stools and dining chairs from our original Guadalupe restaurant, now available for purchase at Sisters Gifts & Home Décor at 115 West Clark Avenue in Old Town Orcutt.

One hundred percent of the revenue from the sale of the stools and chairs will go to the Friends of Guadalupe Library, a volunteer organization that provides vital support to the Guadalupe Library.

The bar stools could tell some stories! They stood strong for around 40 years at the restaurant. There are 15 stools available for $100 each.

The dining room chairs were originally from the officer’s club at Vandenberg Air Force Base, and had been at the restaurant for around 18 years. There are 60 chairs available for $85 each.

The Far Western Tavern will be decked out for tomorrow’s Orcutt Christmas Parade starting at noon. Please come by to celebrate with us, and while you’re at it, peek into Sisters Gifts & Home Décor to see if these pieces of Santa Maria Valley history might be a good fit for your home!

The New Far Western Tavern Now Open

We are fired up about the new FWT!

As of Monday, October 29, the new Far Western Tavern in Old Town Orcutt is now open. Our thanks go out to our community partners and customers for their support and enthusiasm as we launch a new era for the Far Western Tavern in the Santa Maria Valley. We hope to see you here soon!

Santa Maria Times Spotlights New Restaurant

Renee Righetti-Fowler and the original antique bar

In a magnificent story published by the Santa Maria Times, reporter Brian Bullock delves into the many details that went into creating our new restaurant in Old Town Orcutt.

Writes Bullock, “For old timers and steak lovers, recreating the Far Western Tavern is probably akin to trying to duplicate the Mona Lisa. But that’s just what the latest generation of restaurant founders Clarence and Rosalie Minetti has done, along with a talented group of architects, builders, designers and workers.”

Click here for the full story.

New Far Western Tavern Opens Oct. 29

A new era begins for the Far Western Tavern in the Santa Maria Valley on California’s Central Coast.

Join us for a fresh taste of familiar flavors and legendary ambiance as the doors open at our new location at 300 Clark Avenue in Old Town Orcutt starting with lunch on October 29, 2012.

After 52 years in Guadalupe, the original restaurant will close on October 7. We are grateful to everyone in the Guadalupe community for their remarkable support over the decades.

Cooking Channel Showcases Far Western Tavern

Roger Mooking with Susan and Paul Righetti

We are excited to share that the Far Western Tavern and the local culinary tradition of Santa Maria Style Barbecue will be featured in the new show Man Fire Food on the Cooking Channel, in the episode titled “Cowboy Cooking” airing on October 2.

Host and chef extraordinaire Roger Mooking and his crew spent two days this summer filming at the original restaurant and at our family’s Righetti Ranch, where they delved into the ingredients and methods of Santa Maria Style Barbecue. The experience concluded with a celebratory family barbecue dinner at the ranch.

Our thanks go out to Roger and the entire team at Man Fire Food for turning the spotlight on Santa Maria Style Barbecue.

Santa Maria Sun Previews New Restaurant

The Santa Maria Sun published a magnificent feature story on the upcoming opening of the new Far Western Tavern in Old Town Orcutt, noting all of the design touches that have been incorporated from the original restaurant.

Writer Amy Asman begins her story with the signature antique bar that has been moved from the original location in Guadalupe: I pass through the entrance of the new Far Western Tavern in Old Town Orcutt and step through a doorway with a stained glass window that simply says, “Bar.” What greets me on the other side is nothing short of breathtaking: the grand, old-fashioned bar with its dark wood paneling, large mirrors, and stained glass detailing looks both formidable and welcoming.  Read more →