McPhee's Grill
downtown Templeton, Templeton
Restaurant in Templeton, United States
Book with PearlThe Read
Dress
Casual
Why go
McPhee's Grill is a practical Templeton dinner pick when the priority is an easy Main Street meal rather than a tasting-menu splurge. Book it for a relaxed wine-country evening; cross-shop Six Test Kitchen for a more ambitious contemporary experience or Kitchenette for another casual Templeton option.
About McPhee's Grill
Is McPhee's Grill worth considering in Templeton? Yes, if the goal is a casual dinner plan in town. The verified details are limited, but they do support a clear use case: McPhee's Grill serves dinner Wednesday through Sunday, is closed Monday and Tuesday, has a casual dress code.
The right expectation matters here. This is not the pick for diners who need a documented menu format, named awards, a published cuisine category, or a clearly verified price tier before deciding. It is a better fit for guests who want an easygoing dinner plan in Templeton. For a different kind of dining comparison, Six Test Kitchen is another option to consider. For broader planning, compare McPhee's Grill with other dining choices based on the evening you want.
A Templeton dinner choice
The strongest verified reason to choose this restaurant is its dinner schedule in Templeton. Current listed hours are Wednesday and Thursday from 5–8:30 PM, Friday and Saturday from 5–9 PM, Sunday from 5–8:30 PM; it is closed Monday and Tuesday. That makes it most relevant for travelers or locals planning an evening meal rather than a daytime stop.
Because the cuisine, chef, menu format, price range are not verified here, the safest recommendation is to use it for flexible, low-friction dining rather than a plan built around a particular dish or culinary point of view. That does not make it a weak choice; it just defines the job it should do. Pick it when the group wants dinner in Templeton and values ease.
Who should consider it, who should cross-shop
Consider this for a relaxed dinner in town, especially if the group wants a casual dress code and verified evening hours. If the night calls for a more specifically documented dining format, Six Test Kitchen is a useful comparison. If the group is comparing other options, Street Side Ale House, Kitchenette, Goshi, Thai Elephant Restaurant may also be worth reviewing.
The bottom line: McPhee's Grill is worth keeping on the Templeton list for a casual dinner. It is not the strongest choice for diners who need a documented accolade, menu format, or clearly defined chef-driven identity before committing. For broader planning, compare it with other dining options based on the kind of evening you want.
Planning details
- Location
- 416 S Main St, Templeton, CA 93465
- Reservations
- Book on OpenTable
- Website
- mcpheesgrill.com
- Phone
- +18054343204
The take
The Take
The Vibe
McPhee's Grill sits quietly on Templeton’s compact Main Street and reads as an intimate, carefully calibrated local favorite. The restaurant leans into the Central Coast’s grill tradition—wood- and oak-fired cooking anchored in nearby ranches and farms—so the room feels grounded rather than theatrical. It’s the kind of address that surfaces on a food-focused itinerary because it represents the town’s culinary identity: measured, earnest and centered on ingredient-driven cooking. The overall impression is low-key and inviting, the sort of place where the food and provenance take center stage while the dining room quietly supports the meal.
Best For
McPhee’s is best experienced in the evening when grill-forward cooking and heartier protein dishes naturally fit a dinner occasion. Its position on Templeton’s Main Street and ties to the Paso Robles appellation make it a strong pick for couples or small groups planning a wine-country evening or a special-occasion dinner. The restaurant’s role as a reason to include Templeton on a culinary itinerary also makes it a practical stop for visitors exploring local wineries and producers. Expect a focused, ingredient-led meal rather than a bustling, late-night scene.
Ordering Tips
Focus your order on the grill offerings highlighted in the profile: the oak-grilled and wood-grilled beef and steaks anchor the menu, and the macadamia nut and panko–crusted halibut provides a lighter, seafood-forward option. Because the kitchen is described as sourcing from nearby ranches and farms, ask servers about current local producers and any seasonal specialties. Given the restaurant’s placement in the Paso Robles/Paso-adjacent wine corridor, consider pairing grilled mains with a nearby appellation’s reds or robust whites—staff can point to local bottle choices that complement the char and smoke of the grill.
Venue details
Ambiance
Charming and cozy atmosphere with creaking wooden floorboards, unique artwork of early animal agriculture, and warm lighting evoking an old movie setting.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
Sourcing
Accessibility
At the Table
- Dress Code
- Casual
- Noise Level
- Conversational
- Service Style
- Upscale Casual
- Meal Pacing
- Leisurely
- Capacity
- Medium
Signature Dishes
- oak grilled beef
- wood-grilled steaks
- macadamia nut and panko-crusted halibut
Planning details
Location
Also consider
Where to go if this does not fit
Choose Six Test Kitchen if the night needs a more ambitious contemporary meal and a higher price tier is acceptable.
Choose Kitchenette if the goal is another easy Templeton option with less ceremony.
Restaurant context
How McPhee's Grill compares in Templeton
McPhee's Grill is the easier, lower-commitment dinner choice against Six Test Kitchen, which sits in a $$$$ contemporary lane and makes more sense when the meal is the point of the night. Choose McPhee's Grill when the group wants a Templeton dinner without committing to a premium-format experience.
Kitchenette is the closer casual cross-shop in Templeton, especially for diners comparing local, low-friction options. Street Side Ale House is the better alternative when the mood is more pub-style, while Thai Elephant Restaurant is the clearer call for a specific Thai meal.
Goshi belongs in the comparison only if the group is willing to leave the immediate Templeton frame for Japanese food. For travelers staying local after a wine-country day, McPhee's Grill wins on simplicity; for a more defined culinary target, the peers are stronger filters.
Explore Templeton
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full McPhee's Grill guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare McPhee's Grill
| Venue | Location | Cuisine | Price | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| McPhee's Grill | Templeton | ; | ; | No published awards |
| Kitchenette | Templeton | ; | ; | No published awards |
| Six Test Kitchen | Paso Robles | Contemporary | $$$$ | 2026 Michelin 1 StarMichelin Green Star 20262025 Michelin 1 Star2024 Michelin 1 Star |
| Street Side Ale House | Atascadero | ; | ; | No published awards |
| Goshi | Paso Robles | ; | ; | No published awards |
| Thai Elephant Restaurant | Atascadero | ; | ; | No published awards |
How McPhee's Grill Templeton compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What should a first-timer know about McPhee's Grill?
Plan around dinner service. McPhee's Grill is in Templeton, with evening hours Wednesday through Sunday, so it works best for a casual dinner plan rather than a daytime meal.
What are McPhee's Grill's hours?
McPhee's Grill is closed Monday and Tuesday. It is open Wednesday and Thursday from 5–8:30 PM, Friday and Saturday from 5–9 PM, Sunday from 5–8:30 PM.
What should I wear to McPhee's Grill?
Keep it casual. The verified dress code is casual, so there is no need to dress formally.
Is McPhee's Grill good for a special occasion?
It can work for a casual special-occasion dinner in Templeton. If the occasion requires a documented menu format, named accolades, or another specifically verified dining structure, compare it with an option that publishes those details clearly.
Is lunch or dinner better at McPhee's Grill?
Dinner is the clear option based on the listed hours, which run Wednesday through Sunday in the evening. If your plan is a daytime meal, this is not the right stop; if you want an evening meal in Templeton, the dinner service is the relevant one.
What are alternatives to McPhee's Grill?
For a different dinner feel, compare it with Kitchenette, Street Side Ale House, Goshi, Thai Elephant Restaurant, Six Test Kitchen. Choose based on the details each venue verifies for your preferred evening.
