If you are a regular, you know that there is parking in the back and you enter through the back door, go down the hall and enter into the main dining room.



             The decor is retro 1960 with the red vinyl booths and red vinyl chairs with the brass nail heads. The lighting is formed in wagon wheels with brass lanterns. The look is further continued with the infinity mirror. The copper fireplace hood is the capstone that commands the center of the room.



The waitress started out our meal by naming the endless list of the specials for the day. It was hard to believe the variety of choices available. I choose the Tuna Stuffed Tomato Salad. The salad was more than I expected. The plate was huge and full of crispy green lettuce. The base of the salad was anchored by black olives, followed by mushrooms and topped off by 1/4 slices of hard boiled eggs. In the center was a gigantic tomato stuffed with tuna salad. The tuna salad was mixed with very little mayonnaise and dotted with scallions. The presentation was beautiful. I was awarded the best presentation ribbon from the girls!

 

KC Steakhouse is appreciated and patronized by the locals and it’s where the locals go for drinks, just to hangout, enjoy comfortable business lunches and lively dinners.  Charlotte, the current owner of this fine establishment, is a favorite amongst her regulars. Since its inception in 1939, KC Steakhouse has seen several owners but the concept of a true steak, chop and seafood house has not changed.  



To one side of the bar is the stage for live music and a cozy dance floor.  The other side is the main dining room. From the mirrored walls to the ambience sting lighting and red leather booths, KC Steakhouse has a true authentic feel that is quaint, discreet and inviting.



My Bacon Lettuce Tomato Avocado sandwich with steak fries was a lunch special.  It was pilled high and frosted with mayonnaise.  Flavorful and delicious you can never go wrong with classics and the steak fries were seasoned just right.



If you enjoy blues and jazz music in a casual comfortable atmosphere, KC Steakhouse is for you.  Pretentious this place is not.  It is just about great food, great friends and a great time.

I really wasn’t sure what to expect from KC Steakhouse. In my 13 years in Bakersfield I had never been to the place. Although I did notice that in addition to bread and butter, KC Steakhouse places small bowls of salsa and Gorgonzola (presumably to sprinkle on steaks) at the center of each table. I thought that was a nice touch.



When it came time to order, we admittedly had a hard time. We all felt like we should order steak. Unfortunately, it was 104° that day and none of us was in the mood for a heavy meal. So, we decided to explore the lighter side of KC Steakhouse. Tracy ordered the BLTA with fries ($8.95), Katie the French Dip with Cowboy Potatoes ($8.95) and Penny the Tuna Stuffed Tomato ($9.95). I decided to go with the Chicken Piccata with sides of rice and vegetables ($10.95).



My Chicken Piccata consisted of a large chicken breast sautéed with mushrooms and covered in a light lemon-caper cream sauce. The cream sauce had a nice tangy flavor that wasn’t too heavy for a hot summer day. The mixed vegetable accompaniment was a combination of steamed carrots, zucchini, broccoli and summer squash. The vegetables tasted very fresh and were cooked with just enough of a crispy bite left in them.



Penny and Katie chose the peach cobbler and chocolate cheesecake. Then, as the waitress started to leave, they promptly called her back and added an impulse order of Butterfinger Pie. These two take their dessert tasting position extremely seriously and are determined to fulfill their duties to the fullest extent of their abilities. The big surprise for me was the chocolate cheesecake. It looked as if it was going to be too heavy and rich for my tastes but, while definitely rich, it was considerably lighter and airier than I was expecting. It tasted almost more like a mousse than a cheesecake – a good thing in my world.



Overall, while our dishes probably wouldn’t win any inventiveness awards, every one was a solid rendition of classic American steakhouse food. It seems to me, no matter what you order at KC Steakhouse, you won’t go wrong. For me though, the biggest draw has to be the nostalgic atmosphere. KC Steakhouse has a swanky blast-from-the-past charm that helps you slow down a bit and remember a time when you weren’t tethered to the cell phone or the Blackberry. They make it easy to sit back, relax and enjoy a solid meal in good company.