Family tragedy lands legendary Calif. steakhouse on the auction block

Tough times leading up to tragedy have led to a well-respected California coastal property hitting the auction block.

The legendary F. McLintocks Bar and Restaurant in Shell Beach, perhaps the most recognizable landmark on the Madonna Inn side of Highway 101 on the Central Coast, suddenly closed in late 2024. Over the next few months, the company could not find a buyer for the property, which included a 14,000-square-foot commercial building on 2 acres adjacent to the highway.

Ty Green, an attorney representing one of the lenders, told SFGATE on Wednesday that the original asking price for the site was $5 million, but with no takers the property will go to auction next week to satisfy the lenders.

Green confirmed that the auction for the original F. McLintocks property is scheduled for 11 a.m. March 24 at the County Central Services Building in downtown San Luis Obispo.

“They’ll do it in the hallway. It’s really low-key,” Green said. “It’s amazing they sold millions of dollars worth of properties there.”

Green said his client and several other lenders who hold notes on the property hope to start bidding at around $2.6 million.

The lawyer said he could not speculate on what demand would be at the auction, but noted that there had been significant interest in preparations for the sale. “There will be people there,” he said. “This is a unique property. There aren’t many ocean view commercial properties along the coast.”

In addition to the great location and views of the hotel itself, there is a rich history here.

For 50 years, F. McLintocks has been known as one of the leading purveyors of Santa Maria-style barbecue, the region’s signature way of cooking and presenting meat.

The original F. McLintocks location is a go-to spot for birthdays, weddings and anniversaries for locals and a must-stop for travelers looking for unforgettable meals between San Francisco and Los Angeles.

In addition to its award-winning food and cozy ranch-style interior, the restaurant has some signature touches, including the “high pour,” in which expert servers pour water onto the table from a pitcher at least 3 feet above the glass.

The combination of pageantry and food creates a once-in-a-lifetime dining experience for many. “We tried the highly recommended MF McClintock Steakhouse, just a short drive on the other side of Highway 101,” Michael Parrish wrote of the Pismo Beach location for the Los Angeles Times in 1996. “Solid rib eye steaks and pork chops paired with endless bowls of spicy fried potatoes and beans.”

The steakhouse’s original owners, Bruce Breault and Tunny Ortali, opened the restaurant in the fall of 1973 when they took over the century-old Mattie’s, a farmhouse restaurant on the highway. F. McLintocks was an immediate sensation. Over time, the restaurant expanded to San Luis Obispo, Arroyo Grande and Paso Robles.

But the party didn’t last forever. Breault died in 2020 and Ortali died in 2021. Financial headwinds have plagued the restaurant giant during the COVID-19 pandemic. Stores in Paso and Arroyo Grande are closed.

In October 2024, a closing sign suddenly appeared on the dimly lit flagship restaurant in Shell Beach. The sign read: “After 51 glorious years, it is with great sadness that we announce that F. McLintocks has closed its doors. Thank you for your support over the years.”

San Luis Obispo McLintocks, known for its lively outdoor barbecues and the carnivores that line its strip during the Thursday Farmers Market, remains open to the market on weekends with limited bar service. But the San Luis Obispo Police Department discovered four minors during a sting operation in January who allegedly were served alcohol at the restaurant.

Days later, Toney Breault, 54, the second-generation owner of F. McLintocks, was found dead in his hotel room. At the time of his death, Tony owned McLintocks Bar in San Luis Obispo, as well as Caltech favorite Frank’s Famous Hot Dogs and Buffalo Pub, a popular bar located across the street from McLintocks Bar.

After Tony’s death, all three businesses closed and remain closed.

“My wife told me that,” longtime San Luis Obispo resident Dennis Norris told SFGATE the morning after news of Tony’s death broke. Norris rode his bicycle to Frank’s house to pay his respects. “She came in last night and I was on the phone and she told me, ‘The guy who owned McClintock is dead.'”

He regretted not only the departure of his favorite Frank, but also the departure of the McClintock family. “You’d think if the building was paid for, there would be a way to keep the damn place open even if they only had a few customers,” he said of the sudden demise of the original McClintocks outpost.

Attorney Green said the restaurant, which has become a mini-empire, can get a fresh start next week. He added that he’s been to many of these auctions and almost every time, someone surprisingly decides to “show up with a cashier’s check” ready to put their dream into action.

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This article was originally published on Family tragedy leads to legendary California steakhouse being put up for auction.