F. McLintocks Saloon and Dining House — the landmark restaurant in Pismo Beach known for its giant steaks, ocean views and waiters who poured water into glasses from pitchers high above diners’ heads — has closed after 51 years.
The steakhouse, which once ranked as the nation’s 30th most-profitable restaurant in its heyday in 1993, closed permanently Sunday after five decades in Shell Beach, according to a sign posted in the restaurant’s window.
“It is with great sadness that after 51 great years we announce F. Mclintocks has closed its doors,” the sign read. “Thank you for your many years of support.”
On Tuesday, employees came and went from the restaurant, picking up final checks. But none wanted to comment on the closure.
The restaurant’s reservation phone number was disconnected.
The Tribune reached out to the owners of McLintocks for comment but did not receive a reply as of Tuesday afternoon.
Famed Pismo Beach steakhouse opened in 1973
Widely known for its cowboy statue and red neon signage near Pismo Beach City Hall on the east side of Highway 101, McLintocks opened in 1973 and quickly became a local favorite that drew in high-profile guests.
McLintocks was launched by co-founders Bruce Breault and Tunny Ortali, who purchased Matties, a 100-year-old farmhouse restaurant on Highway 101 in Shell Beach, and renovated it, turning it into a saloon-themed dining hall that featured a giant stuffed buffalo in its waiting area and a large gift shop.
A second San Luis Obispo location would follow in 1975, along with a line of retail food products.
A 22-foot-tall cowboy guards McLintocks restaurant in Pismo Beach. How did he get there?
McLintocks then expanded into Paso Robles and Arroyo Grande, reaching a total of four locations across San Luis Obispo County.
However, recent years have seen the local brand’s footprint shrink, with the Paso Robles location closing in 2020 after a 23-year run — a victim of the COVID-19 pandemic — and the Arroyo Grande location closing earlier this year after 40 years.
F. McLintocks Saloon closes in Paso Robles after 23 years. What about the other 3 locations?
Fans of the Arroyo Grande location lamented its closure on social media after learning the news.
“So sad!! That was the place to go back in the 90’s!” one commenter said on Instagram at the time. “Lines out the door.”
“That was our go-to place for so many years,” another said. “Stood in line to get in.”
The restaurant also endured the loss of its two founders in recent years, Breault on Nov. 28, 2020, and Ortali on Sept. 22, 2021.
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What about the downtown SLO location?
The downtown San Luis Obispo location appeared closed Tuesday, though no sign was posted on the window explaining why.
That spot is perhaps best known for its boisterous barbecue during the Downtown Farmers Market on Thursday nights.
It has been a staple of the market since its beginning in the 1980s, filling the air with the scent of barbecued ribs as servers yelled out orders to each other.
During what should have been regular business hours on Tuesday, however, the front door to the Higuera Street business was locked. Lights were on inside the space, but there did not appear to be any workers present, and the business’ phone line was disconnected as of Tuesday afternoon.
SLO Chamber of Commerce CEO Jim Dantona told The Tribune he had not heard anything about a potential closure of the downtown McLintocks location
”I hope that it’s not,” he said.
In January 2023, the SLO restaurant had its alcohol license suspended for a month after the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control found its employees had assaulted a customer.
Bryce Avalos, an ABC communications analyst, told The Tribune at the time that the McLintocks license was suspended for “multiple violations, including operating a disorderly house.”
“The suspension was the outcome of a joint investigation involving ABC’s San Luis Obispo district office and the San Luis Obispo Police Department,” Avalos said on Friday. “In October 2021, employees assaulted a patron resulting in serious bodily injury. After the assault, multiple employees committed additional violations including purposefully obstructing officers with their investigation and preventing the apprehension of suspects.”
