Horse in the Alley

First time here and went for an anniversary dinner. Samantha, our server, was very professional and friendly. She made the experience truly a good one. Staff were very attentive to the needs of all the patrons. The food was delicious and we even had the chef come out to greet and chat with each table. Would definitely come back again and recommend this place to my friends.

What a cool historic spot. Entrance literally is down an alley. Super dark inside with no windows. Thoughts it was strange how they required reservations, but eventually was explained it was to not overwhelm the kitchen. Very friendly service. Not usually a fan of a sauced steak, but The Block steak was delicious! Great cocktails, too.

What a great experience!!! Definitely in the alley and Google maps didn't drive us through it even though you can. You can also park in the alley for 1hr but our meal experience nearly lasted 2 hours due to drinks, appetizers, entree, dessert, and good conversation. The steak was like butter and the chicken was moist. We had the escargot and bruschetta appetizer. For dessert we had Malva!!! Ooh my goodness that was absolutely delicious and unexpected. Our waiter, Matthew, recommended it and I'm so glad we tried it. Something we've never had and will definitely order again. The chef was so kind to come out and speak with a few of the tables at the end of the night which made our evening.

I went to eat at Horse in the Valley last night, and the experience was flawless from start to finish. I was seated by the bar and my bartender was attentive and very knowledgeable about the wine list, Cocktail and food. he recommended the lamb. The lamb was exceptional, perfectly cooked with a juicy skin, and the dessert was the perfect ending to my meal. Not s big place, you have to make a reservation. The ambiance was romantic and cozy, with dim lighting and soft jazz music. i will definitely be returning!" I didn't take some pictures, my phone had died. Loll.

Not worth the price. The food and service were both good. But for the price, it should have been phenomenal. The garlic butter for the bread was too salty. The chicken noodle soup was good but also too salty. By the time the soup got there, we were out of bread. It did not get refilled until right before the main course. The same goes for drinks. The lamb was mediocre. Typically, the lamb fat has a ton of delicious flavor, but this one tasted off, almost rancid. I've never experienced that ever before. The steak was much better than the lamb. The mushroom sauce went well with the steak. The loaded potato and veggies were good but nothing special.

This was a reservation for six on a Friday afternoon at 17:30. It is very important that you make a reservation for dinner. Hours are limited, and the restaurant is well worth it. Samantha was our waitress for the entire dining experience. I absolutely enjoy when the person handling your table loves what they do. You could tell how much Samantha enjoyed her position. Samantha made our dining experience top-notch. We had a chance to speak with Chef Jason. He came to check on our table, making sure we were satisfied with our selections and to answer any questions we may have on the menu. Oh, Beth, you will hear more about her later on in this review. We ordered all four appetizers on the menu, which were stuffed mushrooms, shrimp cocktails, escargot, and the bruschetta. We were given two extra plates, stuffed mushrooms, mushrooms, and shrimp cocktails. This was given to us on the house by Chef Jason. We ordered the lemon drops, and every one that ordered ordered a second one. That is how tasteful they were. I ordered a bottle of the talosa Pinot Noir 1997, always a crowd pleaser. Moving on to the main course, we ordered the ribeye, chicken alfredo, and four dishes of the block fillet. The block fillet was topped with a gorgonzola cheese slice and then finished off with a balsamic drizzle. My guest stated that each filet was cooked perfectly to a medium consistency. Flavorful and melt in your mouth. The ribeye had a mushroom shallot cream sauce on top of it, with a hint of time. My ribeye was ordered medium, and it also was flavored extremely well, never once overpowered my palate. Cooked to a medium perfection. One of my guests ordered the chicken out Florence, which she stated was the best dish she has ever had. Chicken was nice and juicy full of flavor, and the pasta was perfectly al dente. She stated the sauce was rich in flavor but not heavy in her stomach. Moving on to dessert, we ordered two of each. The first was a South African pudding called malva, which does not contain chocolate. It contains apricots, and the way Beth has perfected this recipe leaves me speechless! I at first didn't want to taste it because I thought it was all fudge. After my guess were ranting and raving about how delicious it was, I had to try it. And I am so glad I did. A big round of applause to Beth for baking this dessert and making my life better for tasting it!! The cheesecake was good with the blackberries on top, and the turtle trifle was just as delicious. The dessert of the Malva is something I would literally stop by just to pick that up. It is a must try if you come here. If you come and have dinner here and do not order the malva pudding, you may end up with an empty little hole in your heart for never tasting it. I 100% did not have one bad bite of anything at this restaurant. I am so happy that I chose to have dinner here. The entire experience was top-notch. If you are in the area, make sure to make reservations and dine here. Don't forget that Malva pudding. This is a 10 out of 10, and I will return!

Best restaurant in Bakersfield! Everything is delicious! The turtle dessert thing is just dreamy!! I have even eaten escargot there and it was fabulous! If you want an elevated dinning experience in Bakersfield, this is the place! Great place for date nights, parties, events or just a delicious dinner for no reason at all.

I had my 15 year / wedding rehearsal here and it was just an amazing experience . We were able to use the banquet room in the back . The Chef was personable and came out to check on us . The waitress was amazing as well . She explained everything really well & we found out they are married . They both worked well with each other and us . We brought a lot of kids which I don’t think is normal for the restaurant but they accommodated us just the same . The food was literally to die for . Not a single dish that didn’t taste fresh and just down right delicious. I’ll definitely be back . Thank you for making my rehearsal dinner unforgettable.

This restaurant is absolutely amazing! what a great experience. The food is to die for. the service is always great. and the ambiance and history can't be beat!! Thank you Beth and Justin for all you do. The Huffs

I can see the hype behind this hidden Gem! It was definitely an experience! Walking up to the restaurant feels hella shady as it's literally located in an alley, but once inside it's like stepping back in time! This was an all senses experience! The Red of the walls make the ambiance super intimate. The division of the bar from the dining area draws your eyes back and forth, wall to wall, taking everything in! We were shown to the back of the restaurant which gave us a full view of everything. They have a great selection of drinks. I ordered an Appletini which was perfectly concocted. For appetizer, we got the escargot. I wish I could describe the texture. It didn't taste like anything other than garlic and cheese, but the texture, I really enjoyed it! I highly recommend you try go yourself. The smell of steak is so fragrant in the best way, y'all! The taste is sooo much better! The most tender, juicy, gorgeous New York strip steak i have ever eaten. Lastly, staff is tentative and routinely check in to ensure all is well. Best restaurant in town. I genuinely enjoyed our date night and will make it a point to be back.

This hidden gem is known for their steaks. Be sure to check out the website for the interesting history on this established. We enjoyed a Saturday dinner before his mother heads back to SC. This visit Pete ordered the coniac steak and I ordered the NY strip for myself. While the New York steak was mouth watering and tender I will order the Coniac myself next visit. The baked potato is always very moist, not anywhere near dry. Vegetables were crisp and perfect prepared. Of course I ordered the margarita with hornitos tequila and the bar tender did not disappoint. Pete had the long Island which was the best I've had in a while. Pete's mom ordered the pasta and I can tell by her first bite she was pleased! We are already planning our next visit during her next visit.

The service was amazing and the food was even better. Great for a date night, there is a choice of dining room or a smaller more exclusive experience which i think is pretty neat. The bar is very nice, overall great experience i definitely will be back.

We made reservations two months in advance to celebrate valentine days. We arrived and were promptly sat down and offered water. Then the server greeted us and was very friendly.! The menu had amazing options. To start off with we got the escargot which was amazing! Then we decided on a rare ribeye and a lemon drop salmon. I am not kidding when I say this was one of the best ribeyes we have ever had, it was so tender and full of flavor. And the restaurant atmosphere just took you back to the 90s dim light and very romantic and discreet. We loved it and will definitely be back! Perfect way to celebrate our Valentine's Day.!

Very elegant place. Service was amazing, We had prompt and very courteous service. The food tasted great and the portion was perfect.

Tonight I tried this amazing restaurant... best steak ever! You should reserve.. husband and wife team. Service was amazing! Food was 10/10! Owner/chef came out to greet us and asked how the food and service was, he even sent out a dessert, their signature dessert on the house! Loved it! Every part of it!

First time there. I used to go there for drinks when it was TL Maxwell's. It has turned into a very exclusive fine dinning place. The Ambience is dark, romantic, with a lot of touches of details. The wait staff was laid back, know their food and wine, very attentive. The appetizers were outstanding. My wife absolutely love the stuffed mushroom, stuffed with stem, bread crumbs, and sherry. I, on the other hand, loved the escargot, tender, pungent, accentuated by the shredded cheese. I ordered the 20 oz lobster, which was a deshelled lobster with aggressive seasoning, with 2 generous helping of melted butter. The chef dropped by to explain that he is not shy from seasoning his food, so there is no salt shaker on the table. My wife had the ribeye, with a creamy sauce she really enjoyed. Then comes the desert. I had a warm chocolate cake bathing in a delicious creamy soup, I devoured it in minutes. My wife had the amazing cheese cake. Overall a great experience. But be prepared to pay.

Went to dinner with family. I started with the malva pudding and escargot. The pudding was decadent and just perfect. I don't say that lightly. The sponge cake was moist. The cream sauce was not too sweet or heavy. Like I said, it was perfect. The escargot was tender but it was covered in grated white cheddar cheese. The flavors didn't work. The chef coincidentally came to our table and asked how the food was. I told him that the cheese was not a good addition. He said that the restaurant was not trying to copy France. I found this statement a bit ridiculous since they're serving a French appetizer in a steakhouse. I ordered a medium rare ribeye. If I go to a steakhouse, I expect that they would know how to cook steak. My order came out medium. Someone else in my party ordered medium sirloin and hers came out medium rare. That was a problem. I sent back my dish to be remade. The server came and watched me cut the steak and it was rare. I had high hopes for this restaurant. I do not recommend this place (especially for the prices). They can't deliver. Go somewhere else.

This was our third visit to Horse in the Alley, and they not only lived up to our expectations, they surpassed them, again. Great atmosphere. Great service. (Thanks Samantha and team!!) Glorious food!

For my wife's birthday I wanted to take her somewhere nicer than our normal go-to's. A co-worker recommended this spot. Making the reservation was easy, they called and confirmed the day of. I picked her up after work and when we turned into the alley she looked me dead in the eyes and asked where the heck I was taking her. Hilarious! Ambiance was nice. Darker, candlelight, roses on the tables. Oh la la. We checked in and were seated quickly. Our server, Megan was amazing! She answered all of our questions and was able to steer us in the right direction. She brought out the fresh sourdough with garlic butter melted by a small candle while we mare our choices. We let her know that my wife has a shellfish allergy and she said she would make the chef aware. For our appetizer, we went with the stuffed mushrooms. Very tasty in a slightly creamy sauce with a hint of sweet. My dish was the chicken, with rice pilaf, fresh veggies. It was good, but after having a bite of my wife's dish, I realized I had made a huge mistake. Her's was bomb!! It was pasta with steak. Yum! We finished off the night with a very tasty cheesecake. The food was 4 stars, The service was 10 stars. I can't wait to come back and try a nice juicy steak. The only downside is that , it is downtown, and in an alley. When we left, it was dark and there was homeless stumbling around. Something to be aware of.

I have to say the food was great, when you get it! The service was horrible! my husband and son took me for my birthday the service was horrendous. I have worked in the service industry my whole career and am very forgiving, but this was ridiculous. As far ambiance, this is a small room , so if one large part comes in you forget having a conversation. we were seated next to a party of eight and couldn't hear a word at our table. I wish this was a happy occasion, off to the grocery store to buy a birthday cake.

This resteraunt probably has the BEST ambiance to dine to in Bakersfield. Tucked away in a alley, you'll find the Horse in the alley and when you walk in, the vibe is just awesome and so cool. We found this place on Yelp and literally made reservations for the next day for 5:30pm to check it out. We were so happy that we did! The menu is awesome, it had a little bit of everything. The salmon with port wine reduction is what caught our eye since we are huge fans of port wine which is also served on their alcohol menu. The salmon was fantastic. We also ordered a filet mignon, cooked to medium temp and that steak was really good. To make our experience even better our waitress was just so nice/kind/ adorable lady! She was really on it too, made great reccomendations and was just great at her job. Overall, we can't wait to come back! Next time my wife wants to sit at the bar for some port wine / cocktails. The bar area is cool and worth checking out even if your not hungry and could go for a drink. Thanks Horse in the Alley for the hospitality. Till next time!

Getting a 5/5 is really difficult. You have to be PERFECT. This restaurant was oh-so-close. Had to make reservations as they are very limited. Our spot in the bar was perfect. We were seated very quickly because of bumped up reservations which was confusing as my original reservations noted limited space but no one sat in the opposing bar location until 6:30pm. Pyrenees roll w/ garlic butter was great to start. Decided on the escargot which was delish. Our waitress was exceptional. A couple things that stuck out were to pay extra for a small 1/2 tsp of bacon and cheese on our baked potato and the wait for our food. Everyone was wonderful but small details like that made it a 4/5 experience. I loved my steak w/balsamic glaze but hubbies was smothered in mushrooms which was a bit overpowering. Overall great spot and would come back.

This is one of those iconic restaurants that consistently serves beautiful food with amazing staff. My recommendation is the Dilker and Thyse chicken dish that is beyond the imagination. Don't forget desserts the Malva pudding is superb. I cannot recommend this restaurant enough.

This was a reservation for six on a Friday afternoon at 17:30. It is very important that you do make a reservation for dinner. Hours are limited and the restaurant is well worth it. The entire Place reminds me of a speakeasy . It's not extremely bright and the vibe is very common inviting . The entire place is extremely clean. was our waitress for the entire dining experience. I absolutely enjoy when the person handling your table loves what they do. You could tell how much Samantha enjoyed her position. Samantha made our dining experience top notch. We had a chance to speak with Chef Jason. He came to check on our table, making sure we were satisfied with our selections and to answer any questions we may have on the menu. Oh Beth, you will hear more about her later on in this review. We ordered all four appetizers on the menu which were stuffed mushrooms, shrimp cocktail, escargot, and the bruschetta. We were given two extra plates, stuffed mushrooms mushrooms and shrimp cocktail. This was given to us on the house by Chef Jason. We ordered the lemon drops and every one that ordered ordered a second one, that is how tasteful they were. I ordered a bottle of the talosa Pinot Noir 1997, always a crowd pleaser. Moving on to the main course, we ordered the ribeye, chicken alfredo, and four dishes of the block fillet. The block fillet was topped with a gorgonzola cheese slice and then finished off with a balsamic drizzle. My guest stated that each filet was cooked perfectly to a medium consistency. Flavorful and melt in your mouth. The ribeye had a mushroom shallot cream sauce on top of it, with a hint of time. My ribeye was ordered medium and it also was flavored extremely well, never once overpowered my palate. Cooked to a medium perfection. One of my guests ordered the chicken out Florence which she stated was the best dish she has ever had. Chicken was nice and juicy full of flavor and the pasta was perfectly al dente. She stated the sauce was rich in flavor but not heavy in her stomach. Moving on to dessert, we ordered two of each. The first was a South African pudding called malva, which does not contain chocolate. It contains apricots and the way Beth has perfected this recipe leaves me speechless! I at first didn't want to taste it because I thought it was all fudge. After my guess were ranting and raving about how delicious it was, I had to try it. And I am so glad I did. A big round of applause to Beth for baking this dessert and making my life better for tasting it!! The cheesecake was good with the blackberries on top and the Turtle trifle was just as delicious. The dessert of the Malva is something I would literally stop by just to pick that up. It is a must try if you come here. If you come and have dinner here and do not order the malva pudding you may end up with an empty little hole in your heart for never tasting it. I 100% did not have one bad bite of anything at this restaurant. I am so happy that I chose to have dinner here. The entire experience was top-notch. If you are in the area, make sure to make reservations, and dine here. Don't forget that Malva pudding. This is a 10 out of 10, will return.

One of the best overall dining experiences we have had in our lives. Perfect from start to finish. Great old fashionds at the bar. Seated in a booth on time. Salad was cold and fresh. Steaks were perfect and our waitress was absolutely perfectly attentive without being cloying. Highly recommended.

I'm usually not one to write reviews on places let alone a negative one but I was so disappointed with our experience. It is a little long... My Husband and I decided to celebrate our 10 year Anniversary at this restaurant last night. We've both wanted to try this place for a while, so I made reservations a couple days in advance for 7:30pm. We get there about an hour early, checked in with the hostess and she confirms our reservation for 7:30pm. We sit at the bar have a cocktail and wait for our table. We weren't seated until about 8:20pm. They admitted to a miscommunication which resulted in the delay but I and my husband were very understanding as we could tell they were short staffed. We got to our table and pretty quickly ordered our food. We waited an hour for our food. This aside, our waitress was very sweet and we continued to be patient and understanding. Our food was finally served and it was thankfully very good. My husband had steak and I the chicken, I couldn't complain about the food. The Chef came out while we were eating and asked how the food was but he didn't address the situation. He should have been aware and tried to rectify the situation in some way. By the time we were done eating it was nearly 10pm. So 7pm-10, that's a long visit. With all of that I was still willing to give this restaurant another shot sometime. They even gave us a free dessert to take home. I was definitely ready to give them another shot, BUT...I was eating the dessert today and I found mold. I can't get around that...they are an expensive restaurant, they should not be serving old food. I really hope I'm not coming across as a Karen, I just want them to be aware of this. The wait staff was absolutely great and I completely understand getting swamped but mold on food is never okay.

Went there to have a "special" celebration of our anniversary. A real bummer. Good very heavy and rich. Ordered a ribeye Knowing it would be awesome. Not so much. One end smothered in a heavy mushroom reduction. Started on that end, kept getting a mouthful of gristle, until about halfway through the steak. No excuse for this. Asked buss person to show the chef the pile of uneatable pile in the plate. He couldn't have been more uninterested. No response from management or kitchen. Very dark, low lighting in attempt to be "romantic" I guess. Went to bathroom and now know why. Place is in need of serious capital improvements. Mistake going into back room. On a good note, our server was the best. Her name is Juliet and wonderful. Five stars for her. Wish I could have had a better experience but won't give them a second chance

Best steak I have had. The whole ambience, the staff makes this a must stop in Bakersfield!

The BEST meal we've had in Bakersfield since moving here in November 2024! The filet was moist, tender, flavorful, was like cutting through butter. Service was top notch! Everything was just exceptional. A truly great dining experience that should not be missed. Cannot say enough about this place. If you've never been there, be prepared for your expectations to be greatly exceeded! We were there for my fiancés birthday and it was perfect in making an important occasion, very special. Kudos to the chef, Jason, and the entire staff!

Food was amazing - the dipping bowls for bread, fantastic!! Service was superb. Next time in Bakersfield, we'll surely stop again!

As always our dining experience was on point. My friend and I celebrated my birthday here because this is my favorite restaurant in Bakersfield. Mathew gave such attention to detail during our meal. Everything was a delight. We started with the escargot in its garlicky butter topped with crunchy Parmesan threads served with Pyrenees rolls. My salmon had a lovely sear on it but was moist, tender & flavorful. The sauce was to die for. I had my fish accompanied with their yummy pilaf and their house sautéed vegetable. My friend had the ribeye steak with the Hunter sauce which is rich & decadent. Her baked potato was as fluffy as a cloud. My companion ordered a chocolate dessert and I ordered the Malva (not sure that spelling is correct) Beth creates a wonderful combination of flavors of gooey heavenly delight. I have never had anything like it anywhere. Both of our meals were scrumptious!

Don't walk, RUN to horse in the Alley if you want the best steak in town. My wife and I went for the first time for our anniversary and it exceeded our expectations. The New York steak was Exquisite and delicious. The ambiance was beautiful and very formal. Gives you a feeling to dress nice when you come to such a restaurant. Staff was very happy, helpful and friendly.

Wow what a night!!! I have to be honest, we haven't been here since the days of TL Maxwells!!!! With that said I will definitely be back with my wife!!! So this evening was a special dinner for the Cardiac Surgery Team st Adventist Bakersfield. We had about 14 of us show up for the dinner. One of our surgeons said the place reminded him of the Goodfellas which is pretty spot on. The bar and bar tender did an awesome job mixing some libations prior to us going to the back room. She was absolutely awesome and mixed some great drinks. We were escorted back to the back room which has gone through some remodeling since the Maxwell days and they did a fabulous job. We had a set menu of appetizers, first course, main dishes and dessert. There about 4 to 5 choices and they were gracious enough to allow us to have individual checks, which one of the surgeons ended up picking up the tab. I started off with some escargot and some stuffed mushrooms. The escargot was a nice size in the typical garlic butter sauce with melted Parmesan cheese. They were cooked to perfection. The only thing I would've added is some garlic toast points. The mushrooms were some of the best I've tasted!!!! For the main dish I ordered the Filet with a Creamy Cognac Sauce cooked to Medium Rare. OMG the was absolutely one of the best filets I've had in a long time. It was a perfect size and cooked absolutely perfect. The creamy cognac sauce delicious. It was so good I needed more bread to sop up the sauce. For dessert I ordered small piece of melba pudding which is a South African dessert. This is a very special one since my best friend Bill brought Terry the cook book that had the recipe. Terry added this to his menu years ago and the new owners kept it on the menu. If you go this is a must try!!!! Huge shout out to to the new owners and staff for an amazing evening!!!! Everyone had a blast and I am sure you see some of them again. PS: Can't wait to hear about wine paring dinners in the future!!!!

Simply outstanding. Food was off the hook, service, ambiance were amazing! Will be back and regularly!

Worth it! My first time here and I was celebrating my 16th wedding anniversary. Make reservations if you don't want to wait and guarantee you get a table which is what my husband did earlier in the week. We went on a Friday night and it wasn't packed but there were still several people at the bar. It had a nice vibe in the bar area and we were welcomed shortly after walking in. After only waiting for a couple minutes we were seated and the ambiance was perfect for a date night. I started with a lemon drop martini while the hubby stuck to soda for the night. The bread was local Pyrnees rolls with a melted butter garlic dip. We skipped getting an appetizer knowing we wanted to have room for dessert. For dinner I ordered the Block Filet and the hubby ordered Cognac Filet. We both got loaded baked potatoes and the seasoned vegetables. My filet was out of the world delicious and cooked to perfection. The chef outdid themselves with the combination of Gorgonzola cheese and the balsamic butter reduction sauce. The flavors paired so well together with the tender cut of meat. I'd love to say the potato and veggies were basic but they weren't. The potato was loaded with crispy bacon, butter, sour cream, and fresh chives plus the veggies were cooked perfect for my taste with a little bite but not still raw plus seasoned well. Of course we got dessert to celebrate the occasion and my husband tried the turtle dessert and loved it while I tried the traditional South African pudding type cake with a warm vanilla sauce. It was decadent and very indulgent. The chef did come out and talk with us as he did with each table which was a nice touch. The service started a little slow but was great overall. I look forward to celebrating more at the fine restaurant.

Ordered the Riley with straight horse radish. The steak looked like a skirt steak and came out in 4 pieces. Terrible and not worth the $65 they tried to charge. Sent that thing back.

I just had this for dinner with my family to celebrate my sister and I birthday and it was delicious. Our first time here, great service and food. Met the owners and the boss good people.

This restaurant has a very elegant atmosphere. We treat ourselves at least twice a year, and it never disappoints. The food is absolutely amazing. The staff is always available, refilling drinks and ready to help with anything you may need. The last time we went it was our anniversary and the staff came to say happy anniversary throughout the evening even those not directly serving our table. Reservations are required and you should book ahead of time.

It's been about five months since was last at "The Horse" and I decided that this trip I would give it another try (I took pictures this time too!" I am updating my review to four stars and I will explain why and what changed, and not changed. The place was a bit busier than the last visit. Still interesting that they don't have a host/hostess at the front door. This time around I was greeted upon sitting down at the bar and politely advised there were a few drinks ahead of me, then they would be right with me. Same bartender as last time. I watched as they poured, still pouring the same way (placing the jigger in the glass). But there was a little more haste and enthusiasm this round. The food. I wasn't terribly hungry going in, so I opted for a salad option. But I was curious about what the soup of the day was. It's called "Crack Chicken Soup," because "it's so addicting." As I'm writing this I already want more again. The soup was a broth chicken soup with cream, and whatever seasoning it's made with is amazing. I was also told that the recipe is the brain child of the same mind (Beth) as the Malva Pudding I loved so much the first go. The salad I chose was the Bleu Cheese Filet. While the salad was quite basic, it was really the perfect amount. In addition, the filet was made to near perfect and seasoning, the amount of Bleu cheese crumbles and dressing was not overbearing, and there was a nice mix of lettuce leafs. So, bravo to the menu this go. I paired the night with a bottle of Tolosa Pinot Noir. The staff was very friendly, including the manager/owner (Jason). He walked the floor introducing himself and chatting with parishioners. It was a very happy yet buzzing environment. The Horse gets four stars this round because of the quality of the food and engagement of staff. There are still things to work out, but it was definitely and worth while experience this time. Thank you Jason and Beth.

Beautiful place, perfect ambiance, amazing lighting and of course the food is legendary. Make your reservation ASAP and get in there.

We've been to HITA several times this year. We cannot say enough about the hospitality of Jason and Beth. The food is consistently prepared and always delicious. The poullard and filets are hard to beat. Seating in the lounge is more hushed and intimate - perfect for a romantic meal with Sinatra singing in the background. Desserts are made in house daily and we highly recommend all of them. The servers are fantastic. If you are looking for a special dinner experience this is the place.

I wish I didn't love this restaurant like I do; it's pricey! However, I will say the prices are worth it. There's isn't a steak I enjoy more in town, and the service is unbeatable. The ambiance and speakeasy vibes are a little sexy and fun. Rotating desserts have never disappointed me. Butter melting by the a tealight never fails to charm me. 10/10.

Bakersfield's premier dining experience. Beautiful interior with mahogany throughout. Excellent service and top notch fare. Owner/Chef comes to your table to make sure everything was perfect.

We've been wanting to try this spot for a while and finally went there to celebrate our anniversary. We had a great experience and will definitely go back again. We were seated in a corner booth overlooking the dining room, which seems like the best vantage point in the whole place. The dining room isn't large so we were afraid it would be overly quiet. But several larger parties arrived shortly after we did and there was a nice buzz of laughter and conversation throughout. The dining room is dimly lit but bright enough to read the menus and see around the room. Our meals were wonderful. We started with well-made cocktails and fresh bread. We chose salads to start off our meals. The fresh greens included mushroom and tomatoes and several dressings to choose from. My husband chose a ribeye with peppercorn sauce and baked potato while I selected the salmon with lemon dill sauce and vegetables. Everything was prepared perfectly and we finished every bite. We topped off our meal by sharing a layered turtle sundae dessert which was made by the co-owner. It was delicious! We really appreciated being able to take our time and enjoy each course. We never felt rushed and were able to dine at a leisurely pace. The restaurant was very busy and the staff members tended to multiple tables but we never felt ignored. Our server was also a co-owner and her pride and attention to details were evident. Plan ahead if you want to try this place as they have limited hours and reservations are a must. We will, as we will definitely go back again soon!

Awesome food great dessert and atmosphere. Reservations only but it's worth it. Highly recommended

What an amazing surprise to find this gem! My friend and I are here for a conference and wanted to find the best possible place to go out to dinner on our night off of work and family duty. Found this place on Yelp and love a good historical setting and steaks. It was even better than expected! The entire staff is stellar, friendly and entirely welcoming of two ladies that don't look like they're from around here. ;) We started with the stuffed mushrooms and bread and garlic butter and already had our eyes rolling back into our heads. The steaks were even better. Melt in your mouth, seasoned to perfection and my friend said it was the best side of broccoli she had ever tasted. Baked potatoes were perfect. We are stuffed and looking forward to their homemade dessert later in our room. If you love a good steakhouse don't miss this place!

Great service and amazing food. A hidden gem downtown. Stuffed mushrooms were amazing.

My wife and I joined two other couples (really good friends of ours) on a date night here a few weeks back. The staff was incredibly attentive and visited our table regularly. The head chef (who also happens to be the owner) came out twice and spent time at our table asking us what we liked and didn't like about the food. Our server., Gracie., was amazing! We will be asking for her every time from here on out! The food was perfect, the atmosphere was romantic, and the service was a 10 out of 10! If you haven't tried this place yet, you have to! Thank you everyone for a memorable evening!

Great food and the staff is amazing! We go here every year for our anniversary and it's always perfect.

Food was fantastic , service was great, also I liked the speakeasy affect (dark) We use to go to another steak house for special occasions. Horse in the alley is our new go to for any occasion.

Probably our favorite restaurant in Bakersfield. If you do not know what to order, I got you!!! Start with the escargot. Use the bread to soak up all the garlic butter. The block filet with Gorgonzola and balsamic reduction is the best I've ever had. The lollipop lamb is the best next to my own that I make at home. Beth and Jason and staff take good care of you. You have to end with the Malva Pudding. Of course bring your own wine or order what they have. We bring Justin Cab, or Suisun Creek Zen or cab or petite Sirah

Ambiance was so romantic, we loved it. Service was just so sweet, the courtesy bread accompanied with olive oil and garlic was amazing. Food was very good! I would say it is an experience more than anything else. Would definitely recommend!

My dad and I walked in for his birthday dinner. First off the ambience was spectacular. Warm and cozy, but slightly sexy. It would definitely be great for couples to go. Our server was Juliet and she was super sweet knowledgeable and amazing. The food... Let's just start out with the bread. Warm Pyrenees bread with hot garlic butter for dipping. Delicious. I ordered the chicken piccata. Best I've ever had. My dad ordered a medium rare ribeye with mushrooms. Cooked to perfection by the one and only amazing chef, Jason. I ordered a bottle of Caymus and of course it was scrumptious. Perfect setting for good wine. But then to top it all off Jason came over to make sure we were enjoying our food. Of course we wanted a picture with him because we were so pleased with the entire night. We can't wait to go back. Absolutely delicious. Oh yeah, one more thing... They brought a delicious piece of caramel cheesecake for my dad for his birthday celebration. Fabulous in every way.

I feel bad leaving a 3 star review because the staff was so nice, but if I'm being objective about the food it hits 3 stars for me. 4 stars if I include the staff in the review. The steak was mediocre. There was a heavy sauce on the steak, which I feel like disguises the flavor a bit. The vegetables are average, the same you'd find at Applebees. We all selected the baked potato as our starch. The baked potato was good, but toppings are butter, sour cream, and green onion. They do have a unique butter setup with your bread. It is melted garlic butter that you dip bits of your bread into. First time seeing this setup. The bread was good. I think they said it's Pyrenees bread so super fresh. We had to wait an extremely long time to get our food, but I get it, everyone is struggling with staffing issues. And they definitely acknowledged that and made up for it through comps, which I appreciate, but honestly wasn't necessary. I'll probably give this place another short once this labor shortage gets sorted out (so fingers crossed!)

Great atmosphere Awesome old school dark bar and restaurant Hospitality and service was the best!!! Love great customer service! Menu was good Pricing is good Food was good Drinks were great! Turtle cake was amazing Definitely recommend this restaurant

Great food and service was A+ A piece of Bakersfield history in that place. The steak was so good and salmon was delicious

Celebrated our 12th wedding anniversary yesterday evening and we had the best experience. Staff was welcoming. Owner & chef came to ask how our food was. For drinks I ordered the filthy dirty-tini with gun and was perfection. We ordered the stuffed mushrooms, block filet, and brandy blu filet. The stuffed mushroom were divine and perfectly seasoned and reminded me of Thanksgiving. My brandy blu filet was blue cheese lover heaven! Steak was cooked to perfection! We also ordered a dessert which I unfortunately can't recall the name yet had turtle chocolate in it. Waitress was incredibly wonderful and even gave us more insight to the history of the location. Definitely recommend for special occasion or any occasion!