Located at 1421 17th Pl in Bakersfield, Horse in the Alley has quickly established itself as a must-visit dining spot, especially for those seeking an upscale yet intimate atmosphere. Patrons rave about the food quality, particularly the filet with peppercorn whiskey sauce, which has been deemed among the best in town. The attention to detail in their cocktail selection adds to the experience, with highlights including highly praised old-fashioneds and delicious lemon drop cocktails.
Reviewers often emphasize the warm, attentive service which contributes to a home-like feel throughout the dining experience. Chef Jason personally engages with guests, reflecting a genuine passion for both food and hospitality. The ambiance evokes a speakeasy vibe, making it ideal for romantic evenings or gatherings of up to 45 people.
Start your meal with the irresistible stuffed mushrooms, lauded for their rich sauce. For mains, the ribeye steak and chicken alfredo stand out, often described as perfectly cooked and bursting with flavor. Don’t skip dessert; the Malva pudding has become a crowd favorite, leaving diners raving about its sumptuous taste. Overall, Horse in the Alley is earning its reputation, promising a dining experience that is both memorable and satisfying.
Amenities and More
Accessibility
Has wheelchair-accessible car park
Has wheelchair-accessible entrance
Has wheelchair-accessible seating
Has wheelchair-accessible toilet
Service options
Serves dine-in
No delivery
Highlights
Has great beer selection
Serves great cocktails
Serves great dessert
Has great wine list
Popular for
Popular for dinner
Good for solo dining
Offerings
Serves alcohol
Serves beer
Serves cocktails
Serves coffee
Serves comfort food
Serves spirits
Serves wine
Dining options
Serves dinner
Serves dessert
Amenities
Has bar on site
Has toilet
Atmosphere
Cosy
Historic
Romantic
Trendy
Upmarket
Crowd
Good for groups
Planning
Dinner reservations recommended
Accepts reservations
Payments
Accepts credit cards
Accepts debit cards
Accepts NFC mobile payments
Parking
Free of charge street parking
Free parking lot
Paid parking lot
Somewhat difficult to find a space
Photos
Reviews For Horse in the Alley
Joe Martin
Jun 30,2025
Food was on point, and the cocktails and wine were superb! 5 stars across the board. The entire staff was awesome. Perfect for date nights , groups, and small events up to 45 people!! The filet with peppercorn whiskey sauce was 100%, I would have to say the best old-fashions in town for sure!!
Damon Fleming
May 19,2025
Well the 5 star reviews are well deserved. I called for a reservation and it took a day for them to call me back and confirm so plan accordingly. It's actually easy to find, it's in the alley just north of 17th St. There's parking in the alley on the left side. The door just has a red horse above it. It used to be a speakeasy and you can definitely feel that vibe that when you first walk in. Walk through the bar to the restaurant and there's a room with maybe 20 tables. Dimly lit and the booths are intimate. We started with the stuffed mushrooms. And let me tell you, don't pass on these. The sauce that they put on it could come in a glass and I'd drink it. Fantastic. They also bring out bread with a butter garlic dip and that's really good. The bread is crusty but has good flavor and is very fresh. I had the Poularde which was chicken and lobster meat with a sauce. It was pretty good. I'd give it a 7 out 10. She had the Alfredo Ala Florence with steak. The steak was cooked perfectly and makes me want to go back just to order one. But that alfredo sauce on the pasta was amazing. It tasted homemade and the cheese tasted like they flew to Italy to get it . This dish was full of flavor and I highly recommend it. 10 out of 10. The servers were all very attentive and friendly. They really made you feel like you were at home and any requests would be honored. This is a great spot for date night and we will definitely be back.
Belle Rod
May 16,2025
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!
Glenn Larson
May 6,2025
Rib eye steak was fantastic. My friend had the veal and said he had never had such a big cut of veal. Great appetizer of stuffed mushrooms. And great service from our waitress. Well worth the drive in but a bit difficult to find the first time going. Worth the effort.
Sparky
Apr 22,2025
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.
carmen orozco
Apr 20,2025
First time having dinner at this place.. the atmosphere was inviting and relaxing, drinks were strong, the service was amazing, the food was a 10/10. Best steak ever! The owner came out to great the customers. Husband and wife team cook all the delicious food! 100% recommend!
Casie Cortez
Apr 1,2025
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.
Brandon Cohrs
Mar 12,2025
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.
Reviews For Horse in the Alley