Enjoy surf n’ turf at the new Nautical Cowboy
From the San Luis Obispo County Visitor’s Guide
Feed yourself well with a wide variety of seafood and steak at the newest restaurant in the welcoming and historic Carlton Hotel in Atascadero
–Hungry visitors to Atascadero can enjoy an excellent dinner at the perfectly named restaurant, Nautical Cowboy. Located inside The Carlton Hotel, excellent juicy steaks and sustainable seafood are provided. Nautical Cowboy’s dishes are cooked with care and precision, with a team lead by Chef Jason Main. The restaurant has quickly become well known in the area for the wonderful customer service, delicious food and attention to detail.
The Carlton Hotel is located in the quaint downtown district of Atascadero, within miles of over 300 world class wineries. Any visit to Atascadero is incomplete without seeing the beautiful downtown area along El Camino Real, which passes City Hall, built in 1918. See the many shops, pubs, and boutiques, which are reminiscent of days long ago.
The Carlton was originally built in the early 1920s, with a history of hosting many different businesses over the years. The Carlton has improved significantly, fully upgraded in the 90s and 2000s, becoming the hotel we know and love today. After years of renovations and restoration, the Carlton Hotel reopened in 2005.
In 2018, Nautical Cowboy began operation inside of the Carlton Hotel, headed by Chef Jason Main. Chef Main is dedicated to serving his menu of exciting, delicious dishes that satisfy the senses, and his care of customers is very apparent. He can be seen frequently checking in with guests, chatting and getting customer feedback.
Nautical Cowboy is the creation of owner David Weyrich, who decided the hotel-run restaurant would serve as a go-to dinner spot featuring a lounge and high-class Surf n’ Turf. The Steak and seafood offerings can be found nowhere else on the Central Coast, with special mussel, clam, and Dungeness crab dishes. All of this top quality seafood cuisine can be found alongside their sizeable 32 oz. Tomahawk steak or 50 oz. Porterhouse. Share a family-style dinner, or an intimate evening with loved ones in the elegant setting. “Guests say it feels like home when they are here,” shared assistant manager Annie Guerrero.
The restaurant has been gathering glowing reviews on yelp.com and boasts 4 stars with many happy customers. Stay a night at the hotel, wake up and try their on-site bakery, and enjoy dinner at Nautical Cowboy. The Carlton is the perfect place to get away from it all or have a family gathering.
The Carlton Hotel in Atascadero, Calif.
The Carlton Hotel is family owned and operated, and has a history of excellent customer service, cozy rooms and a great selection of dishes. Local rave reviewer Amanda T. from yelp.com shared, “The Carlton Hotel definitely gives me some old school Chicago vibes! I’m transported to the movie the “Untouchables!” My mom and I started with some amazing rośe from Justin Winery and then moved to our main courses. I ordered the 10oz. black end prime cut sirloin with blue cheese, garlic mashed potatoes, and asparagus. Where do I start?! Everything melted in my mouth! Amazing! Medium rare steak cooked perfectly, and asparagus was crisp and flavorful! The blue cheese on the steak took it to another level! My mom ordered the Mahi Mahi. I obviously stole a bite! The fish was light and bursting with a variety of flavors. We were so tempted to order dessert, but our dinner was so rich in portions we were full. Our dinner was also reasonably priced, and our waitress was lovely! I’m so happy to see the Carlton has an amazing restaurant, and can’t wait to go back!”
Nautical Cowboy is located inside The Carlton Hotel at 6005 El Camino Real, Atascadero. The restaurant is open daily for dinner from 4-9 p.m., and the lounge is open until 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. For more information call (805) 461-5100 or visit www.nauticalcowboy.com.
–Cassandra Frey
