THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Buckboard BBQ & Grill

THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Buckboard BBQ & Grill Restaurant Review:

Buckboard is one of the few places in the Southland specializing in the authentic barbecue style common north of Santa Barbara in Santa Maria. Sirloin tri-tip is seasoned simply with salt, pepper and garlic before cooking over a fire of red oak, which imparts a hearty, smoky flavor. The simplicity---nothing here is drenched in cloyingly sweet or fiery hot sauces---makes for a refreshing change of pace from the usual Texas- or Southern-style barbecue joints. The thinly sliced meat is served with salsa, baked Pinquito beans from the Santa Maria Valley and buttered rolls for mopping up the delicious juices. Chicken, chili and beef ribs are also offered, as well as pork ribs that, though not common to Santa Maria, are quite good in their own right. The simple dining room is dressed up with vintage ranch implements, Santa Maria memorabilia and longhorns, giving a pleasant rusticity to the suburban mini-mall storefront. Tenderness is sometimes an issue, but the great value, super-friendly owners and adherence to traditional recipes make Buckboard worth a visit.