Been wanting to try the Deer lodge for a very long time, it's a rustic bar and restaurant and the vibe is very relaxed. My wife and I took a seat outside, and we were served promptly beer menu is a good variety, my wife ordered a BLT and I ordered the fried chicken dinner in addition to the truffle fries. Her BLT was good and the truffle fries were very good and a huge portion, my fried chicken was very overcooked left in the fryer too long (I've had better chicken from KFC) the chicken was presented on a bed of garlic mashed potatoes and a mixed vegetables (very tasty). Overall prices are too high and food needs to improve, I had higher expectations and may be back to sample their BBQ Cheers read more

Ojai Deer Lodge is located in Meiners Oaks, adjacent to Ojai. It gives you that lodgie/cabin like feel as you walk up from the parking area. When you enter, you get a very casual like atmosphere-I wouldn't say friendly, but you can tell it's where locals hangout. We got sat quickly even though they were holding a private event in one part of the restaurant. Our waitress, hmmm, our waitress was a bit spacey. She could not remember our order, although we witnessed her jotting it down. So she kept coming back and asking us if we'd like to put an order for food. It was funny the first couple of times then it got annoying as the night moved on. We ordered the BBQ Combo Plate,Tri Tip Sandwich, and Ribs. The meats were dry and overcooked, the Tri-tip sandwich was served on a hotdog bun~that was a first. I would equate the the food as bar food at best, and I've had some pretty excellent bar food in the past and this was not one of them. I do have to give it to the bartender, he/she concocted some great drinks. Hence the 3 stars. The couple we were with have been there a couple of times and had raved about the food so I'm hoping they were having an off night. read more

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Best tasting baby back ribs. Tender, juicy and the bbq sauce is just right tanginess. Im coming back for more next time we ride our motorcycles there. read more

Ojai Deer Lodge - Bbq Baby back ribs - American Near Me - Ojai, California

I came here on a Saturday evening seeing photos and how cute it looked. Brought my wife and daughter from an hour away. Hugely disappointed. Fat wife ordered steak frites, daughter ordered Mac n cheese, I ordered fried chicken sandwich. After about ten minutes of ordering server came back and said no regular fries for my sandwich steak side. She starts walking back in which I get her attention to ask what about my wife's steak frites? She comes back and completely out of fries. No worries we switched to sweet potatoe fries. After waiting thirty minutes without ever being asked if we wanted more drinks, the waitress came back to tell us their out of Mac n cheese and she just found out, even though we heard her tell another table when they ordered it. So my daughter switched to chicken strips. After waiting about an hour we were greeted with overcooked (burnt) fried chicken with zero taste or flavor. My daughter and I could not even get through a few bites. We finally told the server and she said right away sternly "let me go tell my manager". No customer service skill, no I'm sorry, let me check in and see what I can do, no remorse. She came back to say she can take those two items off the bill. Either way I shouldn't have paid anything. Sat one hour to get food, never asked for more drinks, rude when I was upset about their overtired tasteless "famous" chicken. I really wanted to love this place I did. Would have been great to be back. However I will never return S read more

A cozy little spot to see music and enjoy diner. We came to see the band Luna, they were great to see in such an intimate space. The service was lovely. For dinner we had the tasty pulled pork sandwich, and the beet salad. The salad was a tad boring, oh well. The Deer Lodge is a lovely spot, we will return! read more

Ojai Deer Lodge - Luna - American Near Me - Ojai, California

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Woah, this place is a disaster... still. Came here about 6 years ago, and although I chose not to leave a bad review for the underwhelming meal, it left me feeling dissatisfied and put off with unfriendly service & a feeling that I was eating meat past its prime. Decided to give it another try, considering 6 years had gone by and maybe they had gotten their act together. Unfortunately, nothing had changed. The chips on the staff's shoulders seem to be a running theme stillI. I really don't get why. We weren't pushy, nor had unrealistic expectations. The food came to us like it had been sitting for a long while, which made sense because it took way too long to get to us & the meat was tough with gristle. And perhaps this is a wacky thought but doesn't it make sense to bring the ketchup & other basic condiments before you have to be asked? I would say there's a 90% chance people are going to want ketchup with their fries. Oh and just wait till you ask for a refill on your drink .. I assure you, you'll be done eating by then. I don't want to work that hard just to get the basics, along with an attitude to top it off. I guess it explains why there were so many open tables on a Saturday evening. Welp, so much for that second chance. I wish someone else would purchase this spot, who cares & understands the importance of taking pride in their restaurant, makes their customers feel welcome & delivers a good quality meal. I'd happily pay above average for That kind of experience. read more

Unfortunately first time I went to the Deer Lodge was a hit, but this time I sat at the bar and made the mistake of ordering the calamari which was terrible super chewy and not very edible, I'll make sure to never order that dish if I ever come back. read more

Food was ok, not amazing. Ambiance was ok, would be better at night. Server was polite, as a former server I think servers should wear their hair back, especially if it's long? Apparently they compost their plates which is cool read more

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This is one of those unique and authentic places where you can forget where you are while under the spell of the ambiance. Like maybe a roadside stop in Vermont, New Mexico, or even Europe, who knows, but it feels like a stress-free vacation while you're visiting. All that said, it gets busy on the weekends, so we prefer the weekdays. The BBQ, other food, service, and antique pool table all hold up, too. This is not meant to be a Michelin-rated experience though. If you are sensitive to authenticity, or a local vibe, maybe head to the Ojai Valley Inn for a different experience. read more

A quaint little lodge with a good amount of outdoor seating provided during covid. Inside is roomie as well, but they have everything blocked off. You can order from the bartender or grab a waitress to help serve you if you plan to stay outside. I came out here with one of my friends on the bike, a well known little biker bar/restaurant. It wasn't too crowded on a Saturday evening which was nice, we were able to enjoy some food and drinks. I ordered the vegan burger on gf bread with sweet potato fries. It came right out, hot and ready to eat. It had flavor and I'm glad I was able to have options available for my certain dietary needs. Vegan and Gluten Free friendly is a plus here. This is the perfect little spot, to get cozy on cold nights with heaters, good music, drinks/food and good people. Staff was super friendly and helpful as well. And yes they follow covid protocol, with social distancing and mask enforced. read more

Ojai Deer Lodge - GF veggie burger with Sweet Potato Fries - American Near Me - Ojai, California

Beautiful motorcycle ride up here from home. We were seated up the back where there were a LOT of flys. To the point where it ruined our meal. I ordered the grilled cheese with truffle fries. It was ok but no real substance to the meal. Fries were super thin and the grilled cheese was a little greasy (even for a grilled cheese). A friend got the chicken fingers. Said it was great. Another friend got the Tri tip sandwich. He was happy. One more got a plate with pork ribs and Tri tip. He wasn't happy at all and ended up sending it back / not asking for a replacement. The server comped half the meal. Overall the experience was 'ok'. Perhaps a better table (we didn't see anyone else swatting flys away). And another food choice. read more

Ojai Deer Lodge - American Near Me - Ojai, California

I LOVE the Ojai Deer Lodge for its aesthetic and the crowd that it attracts. Great fries and drinks. But new ownership had made it worse. Every time I go there, the service is absolutely rude. They recently got a new POS and I heard whoever was working it read my order to someone else before I paid, and I brought it to their attention. They brushed it off and ignored my comment & charged me for that person's meal (which was around my same price give or take $3). They later came to tell me that they messed up the charge, & refunded my order, and that it would take a few business days for me to receive that- however they need to charge me now for my correct order. This was frustrating as I lowkey came on a budget and expressed I couldn't really double pay for two meals tonight, as I fairly paid a similar amount up front. I felt it should've been comped since it was their mistake. I expressed this to the girl working, & she said "let me talk to someone and be right back". She never came back for an hour (it was slow), and then I ended up getting charged anyways. I often get sass from them too and the workers often totally have a stoned holier than thou vibe. Either they need to get paid better, treated better, or absolutely checked because their service and hospitality has not improved. I want my refund deer lodge. I have worked in the service industry for multiple businesses and feel that this is dogshit. Thank you, I hope you improve your food quality and service experience. read more

Deer lodge is a must visit. The best part is the ambiance. Off the beaten path, it is a cozy lodge feel that allows for some relaxation and fun. Both indoor and outdoor seating is great. The bbq and tri tip nachos are the best items on the menu with everything else being pretty good. The service has been good the few times I have been there. Stick to the bbq on the menu and go for some relaxation, music, and beers. Very charming read more

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If I had it picked a word for The Food at the Ojai deer Lodge it would be bad bad bad bad did I say how bad it was? Me and my wife visited there eight years ago and we swore we'd never go back. I'm being in a Easter not a lot of places open and we wanted some ribs that we went picked up an order of beef ribs. And mac & cheese and a terrible wilted salad the mac & cheese with nothing to write home about and the ribs were worse than they were eight years ago. Absolutely disgusting save your $60 and go somewhere else cause it's definitely not worth it we will never go back again. I promise.!! oh but wait there's more could I say how bad the ribs were bad bad bad bad bad! read more

Cute little place off in a smaller side road. I enjoyed the drinks here and the outside patio. The bbq was ok, I had better. The fries are definitely great with a cold beer on a hot day. The service could be better..but I definitely will give it another try when I am in the area again. read more

It started out well. The man who seated us was very polite and brought our water and wine quickly. After we ordered we saw very little of our server. We were in the patio and I had to go to the door to the inside to ask for help. We were never asked how was our meal. I would have said that the patty melt was very salty. My companion was happy with his Cobb Salad except the steak was over cooked and dry. I ordered dessert and coffee. When she brought the coffee she plopped it in front of my friend and did the same with the dessert. I reminded her that it was for me and she had a "so move it" attitude. When she brought the bill on her computer she had preselected 20% tip! I gave her 15%. I should have made it 10. read more

Great spot to go early pre-dinner. I can't say enough good things about that homemade peach pie. Oohlala!!

I popped out of Highway 33 today hungry. The Smell of the bbq pit lured me in. I grabbed a seat at the bar. The guy next to me suggested the weekend bbq menu. Good call. The tri tip was super tender. Good smoke flavor. The roll it was presented on was perfectly toasted and buttered. Maybe a little more bbq sauce. Truffle fried brussel sprouts. Woot! Those were the bomb. Bartender was super friendly. It's expensive. $25 for a sandwich, the sprouts, and a coke. $30 after tip. Ouch! read more

Ojai Deer Lodge - BBQ Tri Tip Sandwich and truffle fried brussel sprouts. - American Near Me - Ojai, California

The atmosphere was cozy however dated. One couple walked in, looked around and walked out. If you like the ski lodge feeling you'll like this place. I was going to order the Sherpard pie but the waitress said the meat was elk not lamb and expressed the elk meat could be tough. I passed and ordered a burger. My wife ordered the lamb shank and wished I did too. It was tender and very tasty. It was huge enough to take half home and have lunch the next day!! I ate it! read more

My family and I have been coming here for 25 years. Today we had the most unpleasant experience. Our server was great! Food quality not so great! Atmosphere terrible. My wife and I stopped to get a bite to eat and drinks. When we were leaving there was an exchange of words between 2 bikers. Not knowing what was going on a black haired female employee came out screaming at everyone to leave or she will call the police. Not a professional way to handle the situation. Deer Lodge knows who this person is who is causing havoc and does nothing. Will not be returning here anymore. Unsafe! read more

Loved my trip-tip cob salad. Yummy cocktails too! We dined inside, but the patio looks great too!

Bad outing today! We have been here a number of times, and looked forward to coming back. We arrived about 4:15, ready to relax on the patio. We entered the main room to seek a table. Neither the bartender or server greeted us, instead they looked at us like, "What?" Finally, we were acknowledged and indicated that we wanted to sit outside. They had us follow the server outside. Surprisingly, there were only a few tables on the patio. Much less than the space can handle. That seemed odd. We then had to wait for EVERYTHING! Wait to order. Wait a long time for our orders to come out. Never got checked on after the food came out. Waited over a half hour to receive the bill. Literally. That pretty much ruined whatever credit the food may have generated. Changes in the menu since the last time didn't work out that well for us, either. read more

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A quiet weekday, casual with great service. Weekends are busy, good for them. I'm a local so can pick and choose my visit times. read more

Ojai Deer Lodge - Real chicken strips. Cooked to order, breast meat, and a thin crispy coating. Enjoy with a cold beer from a great selection. - American Near Me - Ojai, California

This place had such a cool, laid back atmosphere. Very dog friendly! The food was great, we got the fried chicken sandwich and the tri tip nachos. However, sitting outside, the fly situation almost didn't make it worth it. It would greatly improve the experience by having fly fans on the table! We would come back and sit inside. read more

First of all the food we did have was delicious and our sever was very friendly. We were excited for our visit and decided to check this place out. I walked in to be seated and there was literally no one in the entire restaurant. I waited for what felt like a really long time until I was finally greeted. They were out of pulled pork which was so disappointing and since several of the items include it, it made the options much more limited. Like I started with, the food we did have was great. The drinks on the other hand were terrible. My husband tasted mine and insisted I ask them to remake it. It was far too bitter and flavorless for it to purposefully taste like that. I didn't bother so I just didn't drink it. When we wanted to close out, the receipt with our card on it was on the table for a while. Our server kept coming out and we kept thinking this time he would stop by our table to pick it up. He never did. I had to awkwardly walk inside to hunt him down and ask to pay so we could leave. He felt terrible and apologized and said he thought he had closed us out. That does explain why he never took it from the table. Overall it has a lot of potential but balances out to just being ok. read more

Service at bar was good but we came in with a group of 8 before a concert at the libby bowl and the only seating was either the stage or in front of the fire place.. which was occupied but lounging staff eating and chatting. Very rude of them as myself, my husband, my father (67), and uncle (68) were either sitting on the stage or the ground. read more

Really difficult to write a negative review but in this case, I must. Food was meh.....Husband ordered ribs w/sweet potato fries ( extra charge) & a ginger lemonade (it was filled 99% with ICE @$6 and was charged for the refill). Husband thought the ribs tasted different but were just ok. He's a foodie & tends to find something good to say about most places. Our son had steak frittes. The meal looked average and was accompanied with like frozen fries. The steak looked gray and was ordered medium. The flavor was so so. My tri tip nachos were the worst. When it was served, I immediately smelled an unpleasant odor. I wanted to love it bc the chips were toasted nice & cheesy but I couldn't get past the smell . As for the meat, there wasn't much mixed in. On the first bite, I had a piece of gristle & had to spit it out. Service was fair not great for an almost empty restaurant. The staff was friendly though. The restaurant was dingy and looked to need a thorough cleaning. The glass door & all the windows could use a thorough cleaning.....smears of greasy handprints were everywhere. The photos on the website are very misleading. My husband usually picks excellent places to eat and he felt bad because we were disappointed. Hope others have a better experience . read more

We really enjoyed eating at this restaurant. It was a nice day so we chose to sit outside in their rustic and charming patio. The food was very good and service was top notch. I recommend the white truffle parmesan fried Brussels sprouts, and the lodge burger. Soooo delicious! read more

Ojai Deer Lodge - American Near Me - Ojai, California

We LOVE the Deer Lodge! Fantastic food, great beverages, and the BEST service. We had to come tonight to see the new menu. We had the chili corn chowder, veggie polenta and pesce primavera. ALL so delicious. The chef really knows what she's doing. Such fresh vegetables, perfectly cooked fish, delicious seasonings. Dessert is on its way...house-made crumble with a scoop of ice cream! We'll enjoy that with the last of our bottle of Josh Reserve Cabernet. read more

Ojai Deer Lodge - And the Deer Lodge is puppy-friendly! - American Near Me - Ojai, California

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This is a great place to come for atmosphere or drinks. Do not come for the food or you will be severely disappointed. The owner is outgoing and friendly, but there are a few things she could do to ramp up revenue. *The portions are anemic (do not believe the professional photos listed on the menu section of Yelp.) *We were told the food would be out in 15 minutes it came out over an hour later. *The tri-tip came out raw and extremely bloody. *The prices VS portion size are astronomical. Three years ago it had normal portions and no raw meat. Not sure what has happened, but something has definitely gone down hill. My family has been in the hospitality and restaurant industry ranging from back of the house to management for over 30 years. I love the Deer Lodge and want to see it thrive so here are some things I would recommend. *Bring down prices *Amp up the portion size *Ask how people want their meet cooked, even in a hurry don't serve raw meat. *Drink specials *I would also simplify the menu, turkey or regular burger- ask what kind of cheese etc etc, Caesar or mixed green salad, tri-tip or ribs (also serve BBQ sauce) All of that aside it is filled with great atmosphere and a terrific place if you are apart of the motorcycle community! read more

This used to be a bikerBar and they do have great burgers and beer selection but now they also have a nice evening menu, and they do have entertainment on a regular basis. Mostly I think on Saturday and Friday. Very cozy, log cabin feel. read more

My grandchildren wanted to come here for the Mac and cheese. Ok. It's very busy for lunch and one server. My grandchildren each order the Mac and cheese with bacon, my son the bbq combo plate, Frank had the pulled pork sandwich and I ordered plain Mac and cheese and French fries. Everything was brought out except FF. She forgot to order. Mind you, she never wrote our order down. My Mac and cheese had a decent sauce but it was lukewarm .Bummer. The macaroni was way overcooked. Frank said his was warm also and the pulled pork had so much spicy bbq sauce that it was soggy and sauce was way too hot. Even my son said he wished he would have asked for bbq sauce on the side. We're all about done eating and here come the FF's. Nice and hot but there was a few long fries and then I got the bottom of the bag. Tiny pieces. I'm not going to complain about the service. She did the best she could other than forgetting to order FF. Management needs to give her help. This place has a full bar and has been there a long time. Will we go back. Nope. $123 plus 20% tip---not for cold food. read more

This place is Awsome, great food, great drinks, the staff is super friendly and the entertainment has been the best. Parking is a little tough, but manageable read more

Ojai Deer Lodge - American Near Me - Ojai, California

Found this spot after a day of climbing at Wheeler Gorge. My climbing partner and I were pretty hungry. We drove past it, but had to turn around because of the smell from the smoker outside the restaurant. They really do draw you in with the smell of the smoker. It looks like they have some outdoor seating, including a pool table in the front, but it was a sweltering day, so we appreciated being able to eat inside and enjoy the air condition. The decoration is decidedly country quaint. But I like the vibe! The server was friendly and immediately offered us beers. They have a pretty good draft beer selection and our server offered to let us taste some of the beers. My friend and I each ordered the BBQ sampler, and fries and a salad for the sides. Among the BBQ items, I think that my favorite may have been the pulled pork. The pulled pork could have been a bit more tender, but the flavor of it was on point! I loved that it had a nice kick to it. My friend's discerning taste buds also picked up some hints of apple cider vinegar with the pulled pork. It adds a nice tang to the pork. The ribs were incredibly tender. The beef tri-tip was probably my least favorite. It's a good spot to re-fuel after spending the day of climbing. read more

Grabbed dinner with some friends on a Saturday night. Overall, pretty happy with the meal. I do have some notes... The Mac n Cheese is tasty, add bacon. The steak frites was just OK. Not a value though. Tasty cocktails, and the Avocado honey ale is refreshing. Skip the berry cheesecake. Worth a visit, have a good time. read more

So this rating is a little skewed because we were attending a private event that had the entire place closed to public. The building is small and mighty with a dining area, recessed dance floor with stage and a large out door space with lots of heaters for those chilly evenings. We had an open bar and the the house old fashion was absolutely addicting, that alone will have me coming back. The menu was set with the perfect amount of options to satisfy all! We had the mac and cheese which was creamy and rich with a blend of cheddar and smoked gouda. The burger was delicious and cooked perfectly with an amazing bacon jam on top of the patty. We got French fry samplers with regular, curly, sweet potato and truffle to snack on as an appetizer and the truffle fries were packed with garlic and by far my favorite. I do want to shout out the staff! They were amazing and we heard they were understaffed but they handled everything amazingly and did a great job getting belly's full and drinks kept full and stiff! read more

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I was headed back to LA from Ojai and I just wanted to sit and have a nice chill snack. I love roadhouses, saloons, and historic roadside eats, so Deer Lodge seemed perfect. I got there a bit late (around 2 p.m.) on a Sunday afternoon, so they were already out of a lot of their weekend BBQ offerings. I was happy to get the tri-tip tacos and an Arnold Palmer, both of which were very good. It was pretty quiet when I got there, but over the course of my meal the band started playing (who were really good btw) and the bar and dining area filled up. I would've stayed longer and gotten dessert (the flourless chocolate cake looked amazing) but it was getting just a little too loud and rowdy for what I was in the mood for. That being said, if I lived nearby, I'd probably be at this bar every night. I thought my server Shaylah B. was stellar. She was just really on point and nice to be around. I look forward to returning next time I'm in that neck of the woods. read more

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Great food. Lots of options for gluten free. Great place to eat and enjoy life. We like coming here for the live music also.

I live close by and would love to come here much more often--the location and atmosphere are great! But they could make their food and cocktails 30% better and they could put 30% more of it in our plates and glasses. PROS: Pool table, nice bar/atmosphere, nice servers, great location, occasional live music (hopefully when pandemic is behind us). CONS: Overpriced, nothing-special food and small portions. They also try too hard to put their own little spin on classic cocktails, but it doesn't make them better. We'd prefer the drinks that we know and love. read more

Try the fried chicken sandwich, the cucumber margarita or the Rose Valley Rita, my personal fave. Cannot go wrong with the BBQ of course! Great beer on tap selection. For all these reviews citing changes with the new ownership, I grew up down the street and up the hill from the Lodge. My parents still live there. My entire family greatly appreciates the safer, less obnoxious and all-inclusive environment as of the last few years. I have much more I could say, but we are in the midst of a global pandemic, so I think everyone needs to just be kind! The new owner has seriously cleaned up the place and us locals appreciate it! Please ride back to wherever you came from and stay there if you have such an issue :) read more