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!

Great Quality Sourdough, but a Bit Pricey…read more Rating: 4/5 Stars (I'd give it 4.5 if I could!) We had a really solid lunch here. The food quality is definitely high and everything felt very fresh, though it is a bit of a "premium" experience for a sandwich shop. What We Ordered: 8-inch French Dip: My husband really enjoyed this--the bread held up great to the au jus. 6-inch Turkey and Salami: This was my choice, and the meats were high-quality and the sourdough had that perfect crunch. Kids' Ham and Cheese: Both kids finished their sandwiches with no complaints! Service was fairly fast, which is a huge plus when you're out with the family. My only real "critique" (besides the price) is the kids' meal side; it comes with applesauce, and there was no option to swap it out for chips. We spent about $67 for the four of us. It's a little pricey for a sandwich spot, but you can definitely taste the difference in the freshness of the ingredients. A really good spot if you're looking for a high-quality sub. Great bread and solid service!

We were recently driving through the area and I wanted a sandwich. I came across this place and…read moredecided to give it a try as I love sourdough bread. I got their kids meal and tried their turkey sandwich, and ordered for pick up. My order was not ready by the time they had estimated, but it was okay I did not mind at all. It was pretty busy inside, I waited maybe 10 minutes for my order. The sandwich was good, I unfortunately, I was not a big fan of the turkey itself. The restaurant is located in a shopping center with plenty of parking, and it definitely looks like a favorite as there were so many people constantly walking in and out.

I was craving some BBQ, so I decided to give this place a try, and I'm glad I did!…read more The service was great. Everyone was friendly, and they got me taken care of without any hassle. When you've had a busy day, that kind of service goes a long way. The food was really good. The brisket was juicy and tender, and the tri-tip was cooked just right. Dip that tri-tip in their BBQ sauce and you're good to go. The mac and cheese was creamy and hit the spot, and the baked beans were probably my favorite. They had a little sweetness to them and some bits of meat mixed in that made them even better. The Texas toast was soft and buttery, and the fried pickles were a great starter. Honestly, those barely made it home. The family was happy when I showed up with dinner, so I'd say that's a win. If you're in the Los Banos area and want some good, filling BBQ without making a big production out of it, give this place a try. I'll definitely be back.

Looking for a Grub, I found this place. It's located in what I believe is the downtown of Los…read moreBanos. It was easy to find. Location clean & staff friendly. The food was great. I got a combo Tri Tip & ribs with potato salad. Yummy!

I'm giving this place 3 stars primarily because of the beautiful atmosphere and the excellent…read moreservice. One thing I loved was the "Feed Me Tacos & Tequila" sign on the wall--it makes for a fun photo opportunity and fits the vibe of the restaurant perfectly. However, the tree branches partially block the sign, making it difficult to get a good picture. It would be great if they either lowered the sign or trimmed the branches so guests could fully enjoy it as a photo spot. Unfortunately, the cocktail was a major disappointment. It looked gorgeous, but it tasted like there was little to no alcohol in it. I'm a lightweight and typically feel the effects of a single drink, but I finished the entire cocktail and didn't feel anything. It was supposed to be made with mezcal tequila but I requested a substitution, so I'm not sure if that change was overlooked. The birria tacos were just okay. They were a bit dry and could have used more cheese for better flavor and texture. The salsa was also very thin and watery, which was underwhelming and didn't add much to the meal. Overall, the ambiance and service were the highlights of the experience, but the food and drinks fell short of expectations

Says they close at 12 and nothing specific about when they stop serving food. Walked in about 10:30…read moretonight and sat at the bar and asked for a menu. Bar tender tells me to wait and makes a couple drinks and then gives me a menu. I asked for a water and the bar tender puts his finger up and tells me to wait again haha. After I looked at the menu for a couple minutes the guy comes out from the kitchen with someone's food and then looks and tells me that the kitchen is closed already. This is the 2nd time I've been here and they've had some lame ass service.

I think I last visited a Chili's almost 9 years ago. Back during our university days we were…read moreregulars at Chili's and always made sure to order their chocolate lava cake (such a guilty pleasure!!). Anyway, we were passing by this town after our visit to Yosemite and our group of friends wanted a safe option for lunch and I am glad we chose this place because the staff was extremely accommodating! ***Service: Outstanding! We were a party of 21, when I requested for tables I thought we would be seated at 4-5 separate tables but they instead proceeded to combine several tables to form an extra large table to accommodate our entire group! Also, though their max card limit is 3 per party, they allowed upto 4 cards in our case. ***Ambiance: very large restaurant. Most locals seem to show up here to celebrate special occasions. We saw almost 3-4 tables getting the birthday song sung at their tableside. Restrooms were decent which was a relief as we were on a long road trip. ***Food: standard Chili's fare with a kids menu in addition to regular menu. Food was pretty standard with a mix of Americanized Mexican food, some Italian items etc. We were thankful to be able to find dishes to satisfy all the picky eaters in our group. We got chips and salsa as one of the appetizers in our combo of 3 deal and the quantity was insane! The chips were light and airy, the salsa was too Americanized and bland though.

We come here often! Mostly because the food and drinks are good and we usually get the best…read moreserver (Norma) ever! My Son and I like to sit in the bar section. Always a good atmosphere in there with plenty of TVs !

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.

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.

Gas up and eat. Clean place BT it is attached to gas station....Take this into account…read more Bathroom is clean though which is good. Grab a cone to cool down...Ice cream always good.

One star because the food was OK the manager on shift on this date and time September 21 12:24 PM…read morewas rude. She was rude to her worker in front of customers that was so embarrassing. He did not deserve that the place is a mess drink station is filthy. The garbage is overflowing, but worst of all the manager is rude. Should not be in that position.