Orsolya D.
Yelp
I am not an expert on steakhouses - this I will admit. They simply aren't on the top of my list when choosing a dining experience which is mostly due to thinking they will be out of my budget. That said, despite my absence of being an expert in this cuisine; I have now found my favorite steak & seafood spot: Holdren's. In fact, I'm pretty sure I am addicted, now!
Holdren's is a family affair rooted in Santa Barbara by Clay Holdren who has - in some form or another - been in the restaurant business since he was a kiddo of only 14 years old! Clay wanted to combine elegant steak and seafood menus into a comfortable and accessible ambiance that is reminiscent of the Santa Barbara vibe. The SB location became a mega hit which allowed for expansion into Newbury Park in a shopping center near the Newbury Rd/Kelly Rd and Ventu Park Rd intersections. And this, ladies and gents, is where I discovered Holdren's.
I was in Newbury Park from Los Angeles to attend an event and needed to grab dinner; so I consulted my trusty Yelp app not being familiar with the dining options in Newbury Park. Initially, I chose another spot in the plaza in which Holdren's resides but then my boyfriend decided we should live it up with a steak and seafood spot. Holdren's holds a corner real estate location with the interior being quite small in square footage with a bar and some booths, dim lighting and dark wood trim. The restaurant was already bustling (and we didn't have a reservation) but the hostess managed to get us into one last table in the outdoor patio area. Holdren's has a celebratory feel that is perfect for dates, special occasions (there was a large group celebrating a birthday) and even families with children combine romance and comfort.
As we decided on our dinners; we browsed the VERY extensive cocktail and wine list but beware that Holdren's mostly serves by the bottle so wine by the glass is limited to a small list but luckily I managed to find a very delicious Malbec. To start we ordered the Steamed Clams (in a white wine and garlic sauce - $16); while I went with Blackened Halibut with veggies (with a chilled cucumber avocado relish - $38) with a garden salad (oddly, Holdren's doesn't have fat free Italian). My lamb loving boyfriend delighted in the Rack of Lamb (mesquite grilled with a garlic red wine demi-glaze with smashed potatoes - $54) with a Caesar salad.
Our Steamed Clams started our evening but we were slightly led askew as all of the clams were already opened too much which meant there were barely any meat anywhere! Did we get the bottom of the pot?! It was so odd that we almost complained because it was definitely a waste of money. We thought they may be in the lovely sauce (which I admit was divine) but nope! I am going to assume this was a flub and not Holdren's purposely screwing us over but definitely a strike against the team.
This was however redeemed by our actual dishes which were immediately eye catching in artistic plating and fresh ingredients. My blackened Halibut was not mind-blowing in flavor and the relish wasn't exactly my favorite yet it was still delicious because the halibut was cooked perfectly in texture and very obviously high-quality. You would think the vegetables side would be underwhelming but it was actually the star being perfectly al dente and seasoned. My boyfriend's rack of lamb was also heavenly with the glaze being a chamring accent while the potatoes were the ideal side. Holdren's serves some wonderful entrees.
But the most exceptional item of the night was the Cheesecake (New York style with raspberry compote and berries- $11). Holy mother of Jesus, this is the BEST cheesecake in Southern California! This cheesecake was no dinky cream cheese but clearly thick, creamy mascarpone with delicious raspberry sauce that is simply orgasmic. The Goldren Girls would be rushing to Holdren's! We have genuinely been talking about this cheesecake, since!
Another area of excellence at Holdren's? Customer service and work environment. Our server (wish I could remember his name!) was an absolute enchantment knowing the ins and outs of Holdren's history, the menu/making suggestions, patient and friendly. He also disclosed that he has worked at Holdren's nearly 15 years! This is unheard of in hospitality nowadays and demonstrates that Holdren's is a great place to work which is great to hear.
Holdren's may be a bit pricey and the steamed clams were a loss; but even my inexperienced steakhouse self knows that this place is something quite special in regards to esthetic, service and food (that cheesecake!). Our goal is to visit the OG Santa Barbara location to compare! Definitely check out Holdren's when in Newbury Park or SB!