We've been coming every few months on a weekend afternoon and it was always a decent meal while sitting at the bar. The last 2 times there is an so called musician, who wailed like a banshee, played an out of tune ukulele and guitar and considered himself a blues singer. It was far too loud for a small room, he couldn't sing, or play, it was literally horrendous. My god. We couldn't eat and get out fast enough. read more

Food was good, love the old school vibe, people were kind, what else do you need? I do recommend stopping and getting a bite.

The rustic atmosphere at Deer Lodge is great, and we were really looking forward to trying it. Unfortunately, the food and overall experience didn't match the setting. When we arrived at 6 PM, we were told the restaurant was already out of most of the menu items and planned to close in about thirty minutes. The menu was also completely different from what was shown on their website. We ordered the tri‑tip with string‑cut fries, but the beef we received was extremely old, dry, and tough -- definitely not fresh, and certainly not "farm to table." On top of that, instead of the string‑cut fries we ordered, we were served a large pile of waffle fries. After the fact, we found a review mentioning that the restaurant changed ownership in November 2025, which explains the drastic shift in quality and menu. I'm writing this updated review so others won't be caught off guard the way we were. Our bill came to $84, and honestly, even a basic chain diner would have been a better meal. read more

Fun place! There was a live band playing so it was nice to listen to music with dinner and then over to next room to dance after dinner. The food was good and our server was super nice and helpful. I had the roadhouse cobb salad. It comes with a creamy vinaigrette and i asked for ranch too. It was such a good combo with both dressings! I've been craving this salad. My friend got the chix & spuds. I'm going to try that next time! We definately plan to come back. read more

See all

Really disappointing -5 stars I've been coming here as a regular visitor /customer for over 15 years, through many different iterations of the space , menu and staff, and within the last year or so it's really gone down hill It seems clear that the staff are just trying to survive daily on a barely functioning system, you can tell when people are overworked and poorly treated, I can only assume management/ownership has changed recently, what a shame to see a local institution ruined so quickly . If you've ever worked service, or think people deserve to be treated well at work , don't support this place Food is overpriced yet somehow more tasteless and nastier even than the days when this place was considered a dive Quality of the food and cleanliness of the place itself is to be questioned, it's easy to tell when health/safety is disregarded and corners are being cut, avoid if you value your digestive system Really unfortunate to see a staple of the community ruined by poor management , new owner should be ashamed read more

this place had the weirdest vibe. They brought us the wrong order, we didn't care so we didn't say anything, and then we were overcharged on what they had said we ordered. the ribs were gamey and hard. When we left my boyfriend said he's convinced they serve human meat as a joke and I didn't want to say it but when we were in there I thought the same. Something rancid about this place. can't quite put my finger on it. read more

If zero stars was an option I would put that, although I still love the setting of this place. It's always been a favorite Ojai spot of mine, but walking in on a Sunday, which is usually cram packed to an empty restaurant was the first bad sign. Our waitress was polite and attentive in the beginning, but that quickly went downhill. We ordered a bottle of one of the worst wines I've ever tasted, Brussel sprouts and two simple entrees. After waiting a good 45 minutes for the appetizer we both had to go in separately and ask where our food was. When they FINALLY came they were cold and tasted like they had been sitting in the kitchen. What felt like 7 hours later our entrees finally came and they were disgusting. At what is supposed to be a bbq joint, they should be embarrassed by what they serve. I had grossly overcooked, chewy, old tri trip that I barely wanted to give to my dog. I honestly felt like I was going to get food poisoning. Starving, I ate some but couldn't stomach more than a few bites. The rest of the experience was terrible and we had to go inside again to get any service. $100 later we were pissed and hungry. Don't know what happened to this great spot, but it's not going to last much longer with the new owner and management. read more

Ojai Deer Lodge - AWFUL tri trip with a pitiful side salad. - American Near Me - Ojai, California

I went to the Ojai Deer Lodge last Saturday night to watch James Intveld perform. We had dinner there before the band played and we loved the food! I had the Tri-Tip in Hand which is a sandwich and I choose cole slaw as my side. The sandwich was delicious because the tri-tip was prepared medium rare and tender. Typically tri-tip is well done and not so tender. My wife enjoyed the vegan Smokey Melt. Their beer was excellent. Although we live an hour from Ojai, we will come back to dine! Service was good and the patrons were friendly. read more

In the past it had its glory days where our friends and family knew all its owners and frequented this joint all the time...Now this place is a dump especially since the new "manager"Sean took over last year or so, he is definitely not fulfilling the role into running this place successfully as Sophia the previous owner did. Heads up if you like to drink, they have moldy beer lines, be prepared to get the "beer shits" from there the next day. As for the food read the reviews they speak the truth. Look around when you are there,the place is really dirty and needs to be cleaned Everything there is slapstick,I wouldn't call this " bad practice" but rather "no practice" Countless reports of raw pork served and fried chicken sandwiches fried to DESTROY!!! My relatives know the previous cooks and even they claimed the kitchen and its basement storage was not sanitary and one may risk getting food poisoning there. " owner" please just call a food truck to this location and save yourself !!! Someone needs to takeover and put real love &$& care into bringing this place back to what it was decades ago! read more

Food and ambience were great! Wanted to give a special shout out to our server, Heather, who was amazing and made our larger group of 7 ladies feel like we had a private room with a private server in the middle of a hopping restaurant. It was a busy Friday night with live music and she was incredibly attentive and never made us feel rushed. We had a birthday cake that she stored for us and brought out in between musical acts, making sure we had a cutting knife, lighter for the candles, the whole shebang. We had the best night!! read more

Food was amazing and a good selection of beer on tap! Menu is new (new owners as of November) and is both fun and fantastic! They could use another person to help out at lunch rush though! read more

Sadly, the food here has seriously gone down hill. The ambiance, drinks and live music still stand.

I really wanted to like this place but they pretty much did everything they could to make me hate it. First I will say the ambience is great, love the look and the atmosphere. Beyond this it quickly goes downhill. Service was extremely poor, despite an empty room it took over 45 minutes to get my food. Getting a servers attention was impossible. I again repeat it was 2pm on a Sunday, empty room. Burger was great but so over priced for the size. I got the s'mores dessert and it was just a gooey mess. $12 for a children's art project on my plate. Cocktails were well done but $18 for one? Come on now, that's ridiculous. I really, really wanted to like this place and they really, really wanted me to despise it. read more

Wonderful place! Great food, ambience and service! Love it! I ride out from LA just to come here. The best! read more

Great little spot with live music! Always wanted to come here and finally was able. Sat at the bar and got the BLT... super good. Did a manhattan, which was well made with a relatively robust cocktail selection. They also had a good selection of beers on tap (15-20 beers) that are mostly micro brews. Of note, the hours list 9 pm as close. However, this is the kitchen, unknown if it's just unique to Friday / Saturday, but the bar remained open till around 11/midnight and appeared to close with the bands set coming to an end. read more

I really hate having to post this review, but....The Deer Lodge has been one of our favorites for a very long time. We go there often, even just a couple of weeks ago. I recommend it to everyone who asks. But today's experience was so disappointing that I had to say something. We ordered a few things, including the Carnivore Combo. Since it's almost $40, one would think it would be mostly meat. But half of our plate was filled with a side of fries, not much room left for meat. It didn't come with the BBQ sauce that we're used to or anything like it. It was served with a ketchup smear on top and a little in a side cup. The ribs weren't tender and were very hard to cut apart. The pulled pork was in a bowl full of water that also sat on the plate. We had a side of what was supposed to be coleslaw, but it was just a bowl of shredded cabbage, nothing else, just cabbage. And I don't have enough room to go on about how bad the service was, but we are pretty sure we saw our waiter getting stoned on his way in, which would explain a few things. As I'm writing this, I'm noticing quite a few bad reviews. I'm so sad that we won't be going back. read more

This is a great motorcycle riding spit. Food here is very good but can be a little pricy for what it is. The service has always been great every time I have been here without any complaints. The atmosphere reminds me of a old cabin that is well decorated and shaded for the outdoor seating. read more

Ojai Deer Lodge - Deer Lodge Mac and Cheese, 8 oz. Angus Ground Chuck Beef Burger - American Near Me - Ojai, California

I'm sorry but this place has absolutely gone down hill in the 1 week that it's been open with the new owner. I'll admit I should have updated my review a few years ago since we used to come at least once a week if not more and the food was great, drinks amazing and the service was impeccable. BUT AS OF LAST NIGHT (9/6) this place is not it anymore. They've changed it so it's completely cashless (poor servers, who DEPEND on cash tips) their new system doesn't put out to food in correct order. We got a salad with fried chicken, got the salad without the chicken, chicken was 5 mins later. And we ordered wings to start: the wings came 20 mins after we received our dinner. It took over 20 mins just to get our drinks. Which whatever the reason they changed mixers and those taste like premixed garbage. What a shame it's not longer made in house. Please go back to how you used to be. Don't ruin a good thing read more

Stopped for a light dinner on Sunday and we're very disappointed; A) water carafe appeared dirty; they told us it was hard water in Ojai. Well, we live in Ojai and don't have this kind of a problem. See picture. Also, if so, invest in a water softener. Also, they delivered the water carafe, but no glasses. B) they asked if we wanted a water dish for our dog; we said yes. They brought the dish from another table without changing the water! C) the family at the adjacent table finished and left. We were there probably 15-20 minutes more. Nobody came to remove the dirty dishes or leftover food. If they were busy, I might understand; but the place was less than 1/3 full. D) finally, our waiter seemed very disinterested in us and his job. There was no positive attitude or energy. It was almost 20 minutes before he returned to take our order. It just further made us want to leave. We ended up canceling our food order, finished our cocktail and left. We've been here multiple times before. Overall, the experience ruined whatever might have followed had we stayed. It will likely be quite a while before we return. read more

Ojai Deer Lodge - Water carafe - American Near Me - Ojai, California

Service and food are now both bad. I received the worst Cod I have had in years. No chilled glasses for drinks. No steak knife for a steak. I have lived in Ojai for a decade now and Deer lodge has hit an all time low. read more

I've heard about Deer Lodge my whole life--my grandpa grew up in Ojai, my mom did too, and my other grandpa even taught at Villanova High School. There's a deep sense of history and home here for me, and I was really looking forward to finally visiting. Unfortunately, the experience didn't match the charm I was hoping for. I sat at the bar for about 7-10 minutes with no greeting or acknowledgment. The two women behind the bar saw me but didn't make eye contact and gave off a noticeably cold, dismissive attitude. Meanwhile, a man who walked in after me was helped right away. As a single mom who rarely gets time to herself, I was hoping for a warm and welcoming vibe. I also don't drink often, so I was surprised that it took three old-fashioneds just to feel a buzz--especially since they're typically on the stronger side. The first two were really weak, and only the third one tasted how it should. Despite the rocky service, I still spent $74 there as a paying, happy customer. It was just interesting that I wasn't seen as someone worth welcoming from the start. I truly wanted to love this place because of how much it's meant to my family over the years, but the energy and service left a lot to be undesired. read more

Food was underwhelming - fried chicken was dry. Ambiance is amazing and fun with pool table on the patio. Ambiance definitely wins out over food. Great view from the patio. Service was quite good. read more

well, while the food was fine... they do not take cash anymore... I showed up with cash in my pocket and I was caught off guard. So I paid cash for the gratuity and I probably won't be able to go back because I like to pay cash for my dinner... read more

Great food and cute atmosphere. The service is so nice. The Cobb salad was exquisite and the live music was good.

Food and customer service was great both cook and our first server was nice. Left a tip for the server but we're not sure if they're the one who received it since another server in the end took it. The cook did an amazing job with the burgers and sandwiches would highly recommended to come here. read more

A nice casual hiddenplace off the beaten path. Has a old rustic feel to the place. Great place to bring your dog and have a burger outside. The menu has a variety of options but I suggest getting the burger or pulled pork sandwich. Yum! The service was also really friendly. Thank u read more

New ownership, raised their prices 20% on everything and the food was mediocre. We loved eating here before. The waitress was very nice.

What a find! This roadside lodge is a gem. We came here on a Thursday night around 5:30 and got a parking spot right in front of the rustic restaurant front, beside the outdoor grills and smoker. YUM! Immediately there was a cozy and welcoming atmosphere with the outdoor heaters burning and a cabin door waiting for us to entree through. We got to choose where to sit. The chairs were super comfy as were the surroundings: wood paneling side walls, old fashion appliances and western decor. The hostess and our waitress were super friendly and helpful. They have a fantastic menu with something for everyone. After a few beers on tap for happy hour at $7 a glass I ordered the bbq plate (when I found out they were all out of red snapper) which came with Tri-tip, baby back ribs and pulled pork. I chose to pay some extra to get upgraded sides: sweet potato fries and Brussels sprouts. Totally worth it! The pulled pork was a little different than I'd ever tasted, I think it was more lemon flavored than I'm used to. The texture and juiciness was on point. The ribs didn't have a whole lot of meat on them but they were delicious. The Brussels sprouts were SOOOOOO goood! And the sweet potato fries were perfectly crisped and tasted very fresh. My company was eyeing my plate and stealing off my plate in no time. My dad got the fried chicken since it was "famous" on the menu. He can confirm it was delicious and came with his favorite sides: mashed taters and green beans. It'll bring joy to any country boys heart. My husband got the Buffalo burger. The pretzel bun was very fresh tasting: the perfect amount of toasting and sweetness. The burger was medium rare and delicious. The bacon jam was delicious and in perfect portion. Even though it didn't have all the typical fixings it was perfectly complete. And his curly fries were great. We had a fantastic experience here and will look forward to coming back :) read more

See all

Casual dining experience, food was great! Service was relatively quick. Ambiance: lodge vibes! Will be back! read more

Ojai Deer Lodge - Chicken sando with side caesar salad (special request that the kind server was able to accommodate), and bison burger with fries! - American Near Me - Ojai, California

McDonald's McRib has more flavor and tastes better and I'm talking about McDonald's haha. Do yourself a favor and go somewhere else. Not even joking. Service was bad and the vibe is strange. Beer tastes rotten and the food is one of the worst meals I've had in a long time and under cooked. read more

they just updated their menu and tbey no longer sell the elk burger sigh, that's the only reason why I loved this place. got wings to hold me down, nothing special. I will say they weren't dry! but def not worth the price tag read more

Ojai Deer Lodge - Menu August 2025 - American Near Me - Ojai, California

See all

The Deer Lodge used to be our favorite restaurant in the area. I guess they got new owners sometime recently and the quality has gone down quite a bit. We ordered nachos tonight and they arrived cold. The fried chicken sandwich, which for years has been my favorite meal dinner in socal, isn't what it used to be. The chicken wasn't crispy, the lettuce and spread weren't fresh, and the roll seemed a bit soggy. The truffle brussel sprouts (one of their signature dishes) didn't seem to have truffles any more, and they weren't even crispy. Everything seems a few levels down. My kids weren't too impressed either. We probably won't be going back any time soon - it's not a cheap place, and $150 is way too much for a mediocre to poor dinner for four. Such a shame. ***UPDATE*** I just ran into someone who is a former waitstaff at the deer lodge. They had recently quit because the standards had fallen so far. I told them about the quality of my dinner, and they said that the kitchen no longer makes things fresh, but instead cooks things in advance, freezes it, and microwaves it. So our dinner was, in effect, a microwave dinner. By all means go if you want a smoky dive bar to have a few beers in. But if you want a nice dinner (or even just a freshly cooked, hot dinner), you should really look somewhere else. (Apparently the whole staff has quit bc the standards have slipped so much. I'm so upset; it used to be such a gem of a restaurant and now it's so shoddy. Such a shame. We probably will never go back unless we hear about drastic changes. ) read more

Found this place while out on a joy ride. The slider special was fairly good: the tri-tip, the burger melt and pulled pork. The tri-tip was definitely the best. Unfortunately, the pulled pork was undercooked. And fortunately, the fries were very delicious. The service was very polite but they seemed understaffed so things took a bit long. The day ambiance was nice with its country decor and outdoor seating area. Might stop by again if the area. read more

Visiting Ojai CA on a beautiful Sunday, got to this casual and quaint spot (Deer Lodge) for a sunny patio lunch. Indoor dining also available but has a dim tavern ambience; and during busy meal hours, you may have a short wait to dine here. Lunch menu had plenty of comfort foods, Apps, Burgers, BBQ, gourmet salads, Mac-n-Cheese, etc. plus craft brews and full bar. Weekend brunch specials also offered. Overall 4.0 experience, and expect meal cost $10-18pp. Having just visited the Saturday Farmers Market, we stopped here for lighter lunch/snacks and a cold one! BBQ Brisket Nachos were tasty, good munchie to share. The Cobb salad was freshly prepared and also plentiful to share, or a filling lunch meal on its own. Fried Calamari rings were OK, but not being known for seafood I personally would try a different app next time. Finally, the house-made Mac-N-Cheese was hearty with flavor and crisp bacon topping - a few spoonfuls is all I needed. And several craft beer offerings complimented the foods ordered! Tucked away in the hills, this is a fun and popular spot to visit. I'd definitely come back again to try more of their comfort fare. Enjoy! read more

See all

I really love this place. The fried chicken is amazing and the cocktails are just delicious! Ambiance outside is perfection. You can bring your dog! Inside has a weirder vibe but that's because it's haunted. :) read more

Simple menu options. Friendly staff. More of a local bar hangout. Location was easy to find

Tap beers were flat and not cold. Was mis-charged $32 for two $10 drinks. The server seemed like she was five hours and a six pack into her shift. Disinterested service, sat at a table with a dirty rag, left half way through our drinks. read more

This place has been around for decades. It is a hang-out, bar, biker haven on weekends..filled with ambience, authenticity, good music, locals, dust, pool table, beautiful patio, great drinks and a lot of inconsistencies. The staff is typically prime ( aka Jen), and the food typically wonderful...and sharable. If you're not satisfied, just tell them and they will usually make it right. The restaurant business is tough...sometimes cruel. This place is a treasure if you treat it that way. read more

We had a nice drive into Ojai and had high hopes for the restaurant. We waited over 20 minutes for our order to arrive. My steak was slightly warm and tasteless. Not even the chimichurri could help the tasteless steak. The waitress never checked to see if we needed anything else after she brought us our food. I had to flag her down so that we could get the check. Also, the premises are in bad shape. The exterior has tons of dead and rotten succulents, which doesn't make for an appealing environment. The food was bland, the service was poor, and the restaurant was not adequately maintained so we will not be going back. read more

Food was not good. The bbq food the served was obviously cooked the night before. Service wasn't great. Price was way too high.