More than a hundred years, my husband's family, old and young, have been gathering at this…read moretraditional restaurant. Sharing tells of old to the amazement of the young, the wool Growers is a staple in this town. We have celebrated many a birthdays or raised a glass in memory of days of old, people who have passed. The tradition of good food and great gatherings, this is the place. Although ala carte is available, in today's world, of high prices, the basque family tradition brings together the old and new. Order a main, steak, chicken, lamb... and let the feast begin. Red wine - no labels. Made in house. Salad, soup, fresh bread, butter, potato salad, lamb stew, beans "ranchera" style served unlimited. Now, your dinner choice and of course ice cream with chocolate sauce! Take your time. Share the tales. Open your ears and minds of the stories of old. The Wool Growers cannot be explained. It can only be enjoyed.

Probably one of my favorite places to stop by when driving between Northern and Southern…read moreCalifornia. Being able to enjoy a full meal without completely extortionary prices is a rarity in today's world - and quite frankly if you want to get it in California, you probably need to get it driving up and down I-5. Not sure where else you can do it. The set menu is pretty simple. You pick your entree, say what side dishes you want, and they're off to the races with a full-course meal for you by providing family-style sides - namely salad, a lamb soup (fantastic!), baked beans, even a quick easy dessert at the end. Also, a house wine, which I honestly can't judge in terms of quality, but it certainly isn't /bad/ (ie, it's drinkable). As for my review, the main entrees I've had have generally been decent. I've had the tri-tip and the lamb chop and they both have come out decently seasoned, decently cooked. My thoughts on the side dishes: 1. The lamb soup is definitely the best. It's super flavorful, super tender, the meat really falls apart in your mouth. Honestly, the lamb soup might even be better than the actual lamb entrees. 2. The vegetable soup is basically just fine. It's nice and hearty, but honestly not super memorable (in either direction). 3. The salad is probably my least favorite entree simply because it always has too much dressing and is a bit too "rich" for my liking. I've actually found that it tastes pretty good though if you eat it on top of the bread. 4. Baked beans - basically hearty and good with the generous parmesan cheese they put over it. I'm a fan. My actual certified Gamer Pro-Tip is to toss tabasco sauce into it - it definitely balances out the parmesan better. 5. Potato salad - I don't actually think too memorable besides being adequate. Definitely filling. Anyways, the amount of food and diversity of dishes you get is crazy - and it's remarkably rare to see this kind of cuisine at this price point. Finally, there's honestly just not a lot of competition in the "places to eat driving up and down between Los Angeles and the Bay Area." If I had to think of any changes, I really just think they need slightly less dressing on the salad! No complaints otherwise!

Well I don't mean no harm to this business but last week I took my family to eat here and we didn't…read morehad a good experience with the service and food . The place wasn't that busy and the waitress forgot about us and took a long time to take our order, also she started to make weird comments like " oh my god sorry you should yell at me or hit me to get my attention " you can imagine my kids face after hearing this . Plus the food was cold and she kept on making excuses for it . At the end when we asked for the check she came with her mouth full of food and said " I'm human too you know and I need to eat I haven't eaten anything since this morning I only had a coffee " the ambience felt so heavy and uncomfortable. First and last time we come here. I know we all have good and bad days but we'll not return.

come prepared with a big appetite because the servings are HUGE! So much food, so good too. They…read morealso have a nice range of mimosa flavors; the one tried was raspberry & it was super good. Everyone was super friendly & attentive! Good place to come and do a celebratory brunch.

We stopped by Hot City BBQ our way to Yosemite and are so thrilled that we did. Arriving shortly…read moreafter they opened, we quickly saw the dining room fill up - and after our first bites, it's not hard to see why their food is outstanding. My Roadhouse Salad was enormous and topped with generous, perfectly cooked slices of tri-tip, which balanced beautifully with the tart apples, blue cheese, and apple vinaigrette. My husband thoroughly enjoyed his pulled pork sandwich as well. The restaurant itself is also so clean & well decorated. We will definitely be return customers!

We were regulars at Hot City when Steve and Joy owned the place back in the day; and there was…read moresomething about their food that went far beyond simply being good BBQ. You could taste the time, care, and meaning that went into it. Steve had a way of treating that smoker like it was sacred. You'd see him hovering over those meats, his signature glass of wine in hand, watching over them like a father watching over his kids. He wasn't just cooking meat. He was tending to it, making sure it was right. And you could taste that care when it hit your plate. When Steve and Joy sold the business, we were crushed. We definitely throttled back and eventually found ourselves traveling out to the Bay Area when we really wanted BBQ. We've given Hot City a few chances under the new ownership, hoping we'd find some of that old magic. Unfortunately, we haven't. The food just doesn't have the soul it once had. The meats have been inconsistent in both flavor and texture, and the sides have left us equally unimpressed. Our most recent visit really confirmed it. The food looked good, but the flavor was flat. The tri-tip lacked the seasoning and depth we remembered, and the sides were dry and bland. We ended up reaching for the salt and pepper just to bring life to the plate. And that's the real problem. BBQ isn't just meat thrown on a smoker. Good BBQ has personality. It has patience, pride, seasoning, smoke, and somebody behind it who genuinely cares about what they're putting in front of people. That's what Steve and Joy brought to Hot City. There was a heart behind the food. You felt it before you even took a bite. When they left, unfortunately, it feels like the soul of Hot City left with them. What remains is a shell of what Hot City used to be. I'm not writing this to be nostalgic for the sake of nostalgia. I'm saying it because we were regulars, we remember what this place was, and we've given the new version more than one chance. It's just not good BBQ. I really hope someone finds a way to bring that soul back. Because Hot City used to mean something to us. It wasn't just a place to grab some good BBQ. With Joy and Steve, you were family!

It is about time that I give recognition where it is deserved. After my third visit here tonight, I…read morethought I would take the time to say thank you for a wonderful dining experience. I love this restaurant, This is Southwest cuisine done to perfection. Think Chevy's , but with an extensive menu and food that is actually really good. There was nothing I would change about my visit tonight- it was memorable and fulfilling. For starters , we ordered the Margherita pizza. Not quite Southwest , but it works - trust me! The pizza is wood-fired! The cheese , tomatoes and basil are fresh. Oh , and the tomato sauce they use is just right. Seriously, the pizza here rivals some pizza that I have tried at Italian restaurants. I can't wait to try more pizza creations. For my entree, I opted for the chile verde enchiladas covered in a smooth tomatillo sauce. This enchilada sauce was so tangy and the pico de gallo and guacamole topped them off perfectly. The entree comes with Spanish rice and charro beans. My wife opted for the ribeye steak fajitas , and they were fantastic. The steak was marinated well and it was tender. The only thing that could have made this dish better would be homemade tortillas . Espana's serves up high quality food. Everything that I have tried so far has been phenomenal. The service that we receive is always prompt and friendly , and the food comes out fast -but not too fast. Tonight's meal was a five star experience. Please look at the colorful menu items below and make it a point to stop in and try for yourself.

As avid Central Valley Giants fans we have passed through Los Banos annually on our trek to the…read moreballpark. I have a fond core memory as a child stopping on the way home at Espanas for dinner. I remember a big spacious restaurant that had that special ambiance of character that I didn't know existed in the small town. I remember the staff being friendly and the food being quick and consistent of expectations with what I ordered. Fast forward to yesterday, our annual trip to the game, this time with my own boys (3&5). It was getting late on the drive home so we needed to stop for dinner. I told my pops about my memory of Espana's and I wanted to stop to see if it was what I remembered. My expectations were met with exactly the nostalgic memories I had of the place. The ambiance, the staff, and food were all exactly as I remember as a child. It's really nice to have this kind of experience at this day and age where everything is corporately owned, cookie cutter, and rushed! See you again next year!

Truly an excellent restaurant…read more My wife and I were on a road trip and were drawn in by the beautiful flower arrangements and the storefront sign, so we decided to have breakfast here. Atmosphere: This is a black bear-themed restaurant. The interior decorations are delightful, including the log accents and bear-themed items--there's even a great selection of bear-themed merchandise. The seats are spacious and comfortable, the table settings are clean, and there's not a speck of dust on the windowsills. Truly beyond expectations. Service: The staff member at the front--was she up too early? I didn't feel she greeted us with the energy this place should offer. Once we sat down, however, the other servers were very warm and enthusiastic--they introduced the menu, offered recommendations, and provided service with a smile. When I used to run my own restaurant, I always told my team: "Taste is subjective--you can't please everyone. But if guests feel they've received impeccable service, they won't leave a bad review. On the other hand, if the food is amazing but the service is lacking, they'll never come back." Taste: The service and atmosphere are ultimately just ways to enhance the meal. Eggs Benedict: The eggs were cooked to perfection, the roasted potatoes were just the right size, and the side salad was huge yet well-balanced--not too heavy in flavor. Using baby spinach instead of romaine lettuce was a very nice touch. Steak and eggs: I asked for medium-rare, but I think it was a bit overcooked--closer to medium-well. Coffee: Excellent. After we ordered, the staff very kindly told us that the food might take a little while and asked us to be patient. Meanwhile, the menu and table settings introduced the restaurant's history, which helps guests avoid feeling frustrated by a long wait. I thought that was a very nice touch. I used this same method in running my own restaurant--by consistently leaving a strong impression on customers, you encourage them to return. If the owner is interested, I'd be happy to share a few more tips from my own experience running a restaurant. If I'm ever on another road trip, I will definitely come back. All the best!

Those employees are working hard!…read more Busy Sunday! Benches are full of people waiting. We are told it's a 20 minute wait. We rest in the car and five minutes later, the table is ready. I love that they encourage doggie bags. Always plenty of food to take home.

The food!!! The service!!…read moreThe ambiance!!! Our server was amazing What a gem in small town Los Banos, CA Old small town football diner vibes. Chicken fried steak is a MUST!!! Chicken Bacon sandwich is a MUST!!! Kid friendly menu with 2010 prices. Love this place

This is a legit OG diner in Los Banos. Very much a local joint where people know each other by…read morename. If you are looking for the real thing, this is about as real as it gets. The food is made to order and exactly what it says it is. Nothing fancy, no frills, just plain good food that will fill you up if you're hungry. I had the steak sandwich with fries, and it was a real steak that was cooked exactly how I ordered it. So tasty and I was hungry so it was extra good. And, the service is super friendly and will make you feel like part of that small town vibe. This is not a fancy place but a diner is not where you should go if you're looking for a gourmet meal. Five stars of small town diner awesomeness.

I don't usually have to give five stars, but this is one of those times…read more We found this place through Yelp. Our server was great and attentive and quick with our drinks. The drinks let's say hit well! This is a sports bar with TV's everywhere, and the restaurant was clean. My wife had carnitas tacos that were tasty and fresh. Unfortunately I had the French dip. The meat was dry and over grilled or microwaved. The au jus' was watery and tasteless I had our server bring me a side of bbq sauce so I had something to get the sandwich down. Let's say we won't be back.

We showed up 5 mins before kitchen closed and AZALIA was our waitress and wow what a great service…read more She menioned to us the kitchen was about 5 min left to closed but even then she was super nice and profesional. Her customer service was 100 out of 10. She was super nice and very polit to us. I went there with my 2 kids and wife. AZALIA was very respecfull and profesional. I will be taking my family back anytime and ask for her. Never got that kind of treatment before. We were so impress with her service and her customer service. She is very cute and professional. Ig you got to this olace you better ask for Azalia. She is the best.

The atmosphere in the restaurant felt very Italian to me. I'm not sure because I'm not Italian, but…read moreit did give me that vibe though, except for the fact that, if I remember correctly, the music in the restaurant was not Italian. Some random American music was playing, I think. I like that the room felt a little old and a bit dark in tone, but that there was also a decent sized window that provided some brightness to contrast it well. The service was fine, I have no complaints here. The main thing that I'm not particularly fond of based on a single visit to this restaurant is the food. To start, there are a lot of things to choose from on the menu, and you can choose what meat that you want with your pasta. I don't particularly like that kind of set up to begin with, because there's a chance that I could choose a combination where the flavors don't really complement each other. I don't want to have to be a professional chef or even need to be knowledgeable in food in order to know what tastes good on the menu. In regards to the actual food itself, I thought it was weird that my raviolis already were kind of cold when they came out. In addition to that, none of the food I received striked me as particularly bursting with flavor. The flavors felt muted and a little bit dull. It wasn't bad, I just wouldn't call it a superb fine dining experience. If I'm back in Los Banos, I would want to try this place again, but I think that I should ask the server what I should order instead of trying to craft it myself.

This Italian-American originally from NY would like to say this is the best Italian food (outside…read moreof North Beach in SF maybe) I've eaten since moving to CA over 25 years ago. I wish they had realized that there was a big volleyball tournament coming to town and mostly staying at the La Quinta next door (also a fabulous experience FWIW) and increased their staffing because the well intended servers were busting their butts but totally unable to keep up. Honestly though, the food was so good I'd deal with it again and still won't deduct a star for it.