Good times at the Deer Lodge. Good food matched with good friendly people on both sides of the bar. Special thanks to Houston behind the bar for the great hospitality and Faery for amazing local love and kindness. I hope to see y'all again! xoxo E! read more

Widely known to be a local pub and a biker stop at the bottom of a wonderful canyon road, Highway 33. I finally decided to make a stop with my mates to enjoy some lunch on a fabulous Saturday. With the BBQ smoker blazing away we were greeted quickly and received a couple of tables to accommodate our party. The atmosphere is rustic and inviting. The food is average to above average. Weekend BBQ included a pull pork sandwich and BBQ spare ribs. The fat ratio in the pull pork sandwich could have been better and the ribs were quite dry. They served six ribs and a side for $16. The BBQ sauced was simply squirted on top of the pile of ribs. Soft drinks were an astounding $4! Quite a tourist trap price I have to admit. Our server was happy to offer separate checks, which I commend them for, and I am certainly happy to not be charged the "kitchen fee" as I have read on other reviews. Other than the location and the quaintness of decor, Deer Lodge, may not be of great value other than a casual watering hole for drinks and an app. read more

So many things were perfect! A beautiful setting in Ojai, plenty of street parking, lots to see and do. Tempting list of cocktails and many interesting draft beers , the server suggested a delicious Chief Peak IPA. The food was off the charts and reasonably priced for the area. The capresee salad was huge a full of treats. The Tri-tip sandwich was flawless. Everything we saw looked beautifully presented. Never boring, outside there was lots of bikes and inside, National Cat, a hometown favorite band, played some country favorites and sweet love songs. I have seen this lively trio before but the act just gets more entertaining. All in all, a lovely Sunday afternoon. No doubt we will be back. read more

The Deer Lodge is one of those timeless places and the new owner truly has increased the good vibrations there! Yesterday I was very fortunate to meet the lovely owner, and personally got to know her...she is a wonderful caring person, kind and excited about life. The atmosphere she has created since she recently took over ownership exudes her good vibrations. The menu is improved with colorful healthy choices for all appetites. The drinking menu is very creative and has an array of refreshing thirst quenching drinks. And, if you want a little something different they'll try to accommodate you. I cant wait to go and spend another good time because she keeps a Covid friendly masked environment, which means all of life is precious to her, the strong, and the vulnerable. It's a great safe getaway treat. Go see for yourself. read more

Ojai is amazing and this rustic biker restaurant is the icing on the cake. Ordered the Tri Tip Sandwich with a side of their famous chili. Delicious. Service was on point. While I was here, an old school car meet up group arrived, and loads of bikes. Solid food n great company. The chili is not too spicy, and the side gives you the hint, but you'll get filled on the tri tip. read more

Ojai Deer Lodge - American Near Me - Ojai, California

Their pathetic version of the lodge burger! What a sorry looking burger compared to the size of the bun! Mediocre drinks and a lack of friendly customer service staff. Not coming back here!! read more

Ojai Deer Lodge - Their pathetic version of the lodge burger! What a sorry looking burger compared to the size of the bun! Not coming back here!! - American Near Me - Ojai, California

The food was delicious! My wife and I split the truffle fries and the BBQ combo (2 ribs, tri tip, pulled pork, and sweet potato fries and chili for the sides). Everything was cooked quickly and came out nice and hot. Our server was very helpful and on top of it. I was hoping for more than 2 ribs, but I'll just order the ribs instead of the BBQ combo next time. The BBQ sauce was just about perfect- smoky and not overly sweet. Our bill came out to $35 before the tip- great deal! The atmosphere and décor here was cozy and comfortable- the perfect log cabin/lodge experience. This will be our new spot every time we're in Ojai (unless we're feeling fancy, then we'll head to Ranch House)! read more

The ambiance and decor of this place is cool. However, the quality and quantity of the food served is below par in my opinion. The service was good, but definitely not great. We stood at the door for about 5-6 minutes before someone addressed us. They also weren't busy inside. Our server forgot to bring us water once, but other than that we was friendly and attentive. We ordered the Mac and cheese, truffle fries, and tri tip nachos. All of which were pretty bland, unfortunately. Portion sizes were small for what you pay for as well. Might come back for drinks, but not the food. read more

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Came here on a Sunday night and was not super impressed. I was visiting from out of state on vacation and expected a bit more? The bar was pretty empty but in turn we had fast service. Don't get me wrong, the food is fine, but not memorable. In terms of decor, everything was slightly worn out and sticky. The place serves it's purpose, but I probably would not come back. read more

Ojai Deer Lodge - American Near Me - Ojai, California

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I went to the ODJ for a work Christmas social. It's a rather secluded place but to call it rustic is an understatement. It definitely has the wooden cabin appeal that some find pleasing. The first thing that struck me as odd is you have to exit the dining area to get to the restrooms. You have to go outside to get to the guest restrooms. The restrooms are part of the main structure but you access them from outsides. Go figure. As you enter the main dining room, Oh Deer! There's deer everywhere: deer horn chandeliers, deer painting, deer statues, deer printed chairs. Wow! Everything is made of wood and the entire place smells of a camp fire. My clothes still smell like smoke. My eyes nor my nose were pleased at this point. Let's see how my taste buds feel about this place. We (my coworkers, guests and I) have a set menu to choose from. We have three appetizers, three entrees and two desserts to chose from. My "gourmet" mac and cheese was average even with the seasoning I added. Their signature cheese burger with bacon jam was very small and flavorless. The tiramisu was ok. My wife had the steak which was also small and hard. So hard that she could not finish it. The chocolate cake many had was way too rich for anyone at the table to enjoy. Now the worse part; if you can believe that wasn't the worse part. Get this: 2 appetizers, 2 desserts, burger and fries, small steak and fries, 1 beer, 1 Long Island, grand total.... $160. ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME!!! They had the nerve to charge every couple a 20% gratuity and a service charge on top of that. Really, a service charge. One of the worse places ever. I will definitely not be returning. read more

Ojai Deer Lodge - House burger. Looks more like a flat meat ball. Terrible - American Near Me - Ojai, California

Came here for lunch with bf and the family on our day trip to Ojai. The name does not disappoint. Such a cute and cozy cabin with a homey, woodsy ambiance and intricately detailed interior decor. Service is a bit slow, but I think it's supposed to be a more relaxed environment. They had a live band playing which was super cool. Staff were all very sweet and friendly. The food was delicious. For starters we got the mac and cheese and brussel sprouts. The mac and cheese was to die for, such a delicious mix of crumbly and gooey. The brussel sprouts were also amazing, packed with flavor with an interesting crunchy texture. For my entree I got the bbq combo meal which came with two meats (I got pulled pork and ribs) and two sides (I got chili and truffle fries). The chili was a bit bland but everything else tasted great. I think my favorite is still the mac and cheese and brussel sprouts! Bf got the lodge burger which he enjoyed. I had a bite and the bread is amazing. Their menu changes often so they won't have all the same dishes every time. Definitely a place worth stopping at if you're visiting Ojai. :) read more

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Excellent food. Our 5 yr son loved it. Great atmosphere. Server were so friendly. Beer selection is great. Will definitely take our out of town guest here next time. read more

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The food is always pretty tasty here, although the prices don't match the serving sizes at all, and I really dislike that it's served on single use plates. They like to claim that it's environmentally friendly, but any further thought or research will tell ya that it's not. The materials have to be collected, treated, formed, packaged, shipped.. and then due to the treatments and lack of proper composting practices, these plates sit in landfills for ages before decomposing. It's far more appealing for your costumers to eat on real plates, creates another job for someone who needs it, and is actually far more environmentally friendly at the end of the day. Great decor and vibes though read more

It was a beautiful Suday when we got there on our Harley's and notice there were no other bikes. Thought they were closed but went inside and found they had just opened. Ordered drinks that were okay but very high priced. our group of 8 went outside and sat down to order and have lunch. We were also surprised of how much they had raised their food prices. Received our food after waiting 2 drinks long. Pulled pork sandwich came with wet buns. Not a good experience and doubt if my wife and I will go back in the near future. read more

Ordered Starters: Truffle parmesan fries - lukewarm, like they had been sitting a while, not crispy, hardly seemed flavored with truffle and lacking in parmesan, not even mediocre. Chile corn chowder - Not excellent, but the only decent part of the meal. Main: Veggie polenta - Little to no flavor in the whole dish. Polenta bland, brussels sprouts undercooked and bland, broccoli barely grilled and practically raw. Put a good deal of the corn chowder on the dish and that made it better. Plate and bowls were some type of single-serve bamboo, I think. But in quite poor shape, as if they had been used before or abused prior to use. A bowl had a gash in the edge and the plate started to come apart on the bottom of the polenta as I was eating it. A bamboo strip was starting to come up with my fork. A bit disturbing is an understatement. Two large dogs were nearby with patrons who were at the nearby bar. Really, in a restaurant?! Despite the fact that during their play they fairly often loudly yipped at each other, and that one of them knocked over a bar stool, creating disturbances for all, not one employee said a thing. Server was about as mediocre as they come. Not welcoming, positive, upbeat, etc....just there. I believe Starters are named just for that, because they should START the meal. As they were taking a while to come out, she was asked about it, and said she would check on it. After a bit, she said it looked like they would all come out together. Ok, but not really. Then she brought out the main course only, and said she would get the starters, which came out a short time later. Yes, maybe it was only the kitchen's fault, not hers, but no apology, no proactive approach. Just bringing the food with hardly a word. So overall, very disappointing, and will certainly NOT be going back there. It really bugs me paying good money for crap product and service. Good luck to you if you decide to go after reading this. Maybe it was a fluke for me...but I doubt it. read more

I had looked over the website, photos and menu before our visit. So knew what to expect. The service was good, sat at the bar with my husband and the bartender was friendly and attentive. The variety of beer on tap was excellent. Now the food...from what I had read on-line, it sounded as if the offerings would be a foodies' paradise. However, our meals left a bit to be desired. I had the BLT, which wasn't bad, but the so-called aioli mayo tasted like plain mayo. The sour dough could have been a tad more toasted and the cole slaw might have come from a container, pre-made and bland. Hubby's buffalo burger which was supposed to have Munster cheese had a slice of orange, cheddar-like cheese. So while we liked the ambiance and staff, the food, which purported to be somewhat upscale, was sadly lacking. Am thinking that Covid may have played havoc with supplies or perhaps the cooks were new. I'd try again, but would hope for better, it wasn't anything to write home about as the saying goes. read more

Chicken was phenomenal, the trip tip was very good ,the French fries cold.but waitress sucked! Never refilled my ice tea... very slim on the ice, which melted in the warm tea. She never checked on us....she was busy drinking margaritas with her friends at the next table.And before I finished my last bite - She Shouted out " You owe us $96.!" How rude!!!!! And didn't hand me receipt to look over bill before we paid. Just because you're cute doesn't give you the right to not be polite! read more

Amazing ambiance. Cool place to go. Split the BBQ plate and there was plenty of food. Sat on the patio on a cool evening but the outdoor heaters kept us warm. All servers were attentive and polite. read more

The staff is awesome. The food is great. I walk my dog by there daily and on the days they are open it's full. Best Chicken Sandwich in Ojai. Cool patio to just sit and enjoy a drink of soda. On Sunday they have your motorcycle clubs and maybe a lone rider. I have been in the valley for 65 years in August l. And I remember years ago when Charlie was the owner he always needed someone to sweep the area for .25 cents and an old-style bottle of Coke. THANKS CHARLIE (RIP) read more

Came in last night to watch a friend's band play. I went for a bike ride before going so of course I was starving. Didn't plan to eat, but ended with a very hefty tab. I used to come here when it was under different management. The new one seems to be doing a great job. We lucked out and got a table just in front of the stage. We were able to watch the setup while we got drinks before deciding what to get for dinner. I perused the menu and was glad to see that they kept the smoked gouda mac n cheese because it's my favorite thing ever. I started with the Matilija Mule. Basically a moscow mule, but with gin instead of vodka. I decided to order the following things - divers scallops, panzanella salad garlic parmesan fries, and the gouda mac n cheese. I ordered all that for myself. Don't judge. I was hungry. The waitress turned to my friend and was like "i'll just share hers." I was like uhm no bitch. Get your own food. I don't know if it was because I was exhausted or what, but man I inhaled all the food as soon as it was set down. The scallop were whoa. The sauce was amazing and the brussels sprouts that accompanied it were cooked to perfection. The matilija mule was so good I ended up having 5. Bottom line - the food is great, the drinks will quench your thirst and the service was on point. read more

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Love. Love. Love this hidden gem in Ojai. We actually found this place on yelp (funny enough once we arrived I relaxed I've been to a live show here before) The ambiance is perfect for a cold evening in Ojai. It just has that warm cabin feeling tucked into this tiny city. They have two dining rooms, one in the bar and the main room where live music is often played. Although it was too cold to sit outside, the outdoor patio cozy as well. Plenty of beers on tap, and quite an extensive good menu. They drive classic American dishes with a fun twist and barbecue from their smoker. We order the smoked tri tip nachos (pretty good) and the 6 cheese Mac n cheese with bacon (to die for good- super rich). This place is a must while in town! read more

Super friendly staff. Food was very tasty and came quite timely. Our family needs have all different food "requests" so it's perfect for us. Vegan options, gluten free options so we can all get what we want. Very comfortable, relaxed environment and the cocktails were great too. A+ read more

Ojai Deer Lodge - American Near Me - Ojai, California

Zero stars would be more appropriate. FOR REAL. Old, dry ribs served lukewarm with lukewarm soggy sweet potato fries and coleslaw with no flavor. Question: how can you screw up coleslaw??? My companion had the summer pnzanella salad: old greens (including yellow leaves), all swimming in some dressing with terrible flavor. Dogs are allowed inside the establishment and there's a doggy menu, but I wouldn't feed a dog the human menu served here. My stomach is not happy for sure. This place should be shut down. And a basic moral question: how can the owners serve fellow human beings such garbage?... No wonder this place has 95 "not recommended" (=hidden) one-star reviews... read more

I keep coming back here, maybe twice a year, because I like the concept and I want to like the restaurant a lot more than I ultimately do. My most recent visit was with my husband and it was better than most past visits. Service was faster, pacing of meal was faster (bringing it up to a very casual/relaxed pacing rather than horrifically slow like in the past). Atmosphere is cool and the main reason I want to keep coming back. Food was good this time and I was really happy with my entrée choice. I had their bison burger and while I've had better, more flavorful burgers, I can say this one was pleasurable to eat from start to finish. The patty had a very subtle flavor so if you like something that tastes bold and/or beefy this would not be one I'd recommend, but I liked it. It satisfied my very subdued tasted buds. French fries were the bomb. Portion was generous and I had no room in the end for dessert. Restrooms have been converted to being gender-free instead of men's/women's though the old signs are still there too. So I got to see what used to be the men's room. Lots of carved graffiti on the walls and kind of gross overall. Really should have had more attention. Interior lighting is somewhat low and cozy. Furniture is rustic but comfortable. Our server was very nice and friendly. read more

I'm a local and have been through the various Deer Lodge transformations. The biker version was better than whatever this is. First of all, it's filthy. There must be 15 people working (actually eating, drinking, ignoring). Do they train them to be rude and classless at every restaurant they own? We sat for 20 minutes at our table. No service, but "we close in 10 minutes." I wish I could be a bar and restaurant owner that could lose this kind of $$! read more

LOVE this place! Lots of rustic charm and a great music venue! Whenever we're up in Ojai, we drop in for a bite! Service is also friendly and great. read more

This place is very disappointing. Sometimes the Tri Tip is old and dried out. The manager whom I called was unapologetic acted as though not liking it was my fault. After ordering a $20 dinner, I went home hungry. At least they comped me my dinner, read more

We went for dinner the other night. I ordered the 'Roadhouse Cobb Salad.' I often order Cobb salads when I go out. This one was highly forgettable. For $17 I was presented with a little paper square plate with a sad little salad. The menu says tri-tip instead of chicken. I thought--oh! That sounds good! Little pieces of cold meat that were awful. At least the bacon was warm. No bread or anything. Look, the whole experience was tragic except for our waitperson, who had such a beautiful personality. If you want a good Cobb Salad for the same price, I recommend Aloha steakhouse in Ventura. They make the best Cobb I've ever had. Beautifully presented and enough for two! Oh, and the margarita I ordered? No tequila, just a sour drink. And it was $11! Now, don't get me started again! read more

It was a perfect Ojai evening for the patio, comfortably warm. We began by toasting with a Rose Valley Rita and Cucumber Rita as the murmurs of families laughing and the remnants of the charcoal grill filled the air. Narrowing down our choices on the menu was difficult. We have fretted less over the fates of boyfriends, lol. We strategically decided on sharing several small plates so that we could maximize our tasting experience. The menu began with the Panzanella Salad, a lovely ode to summer. Followed up by the classics White Truffle Parmesan Fried Brussel Sprouts and the Buttermilk Chicken Breast Strips. Do yourself a favor and add bacon to the Legendary Deer lodge Mac n Cheese. The Tiramisu would have been perfect but someone became a little too artistic with the caramel sauce which unfortunately made it too sweet. This may be the first time in my life I've ever thought anything was too sweet. The Flourless Chocolate Cake was one dimensional. Again, usually enjoy anything sweet so this is new. read more

Ojai Deer Lodge - What do I choose!? - American Near Me - Ojai, California

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I felt they put some love into it...all except for the Calamari was like...well no comment and the ginger lemonade needed some ginger...

I don't even know where to begin. Deer Lodge is just the best. My daughter and new son-in-law wanted to get married in Ojai, that being the place where they got engaged, and they just happened to stumbled on this place. They loved the vibe at Deer Lodge, so we booked it for their October wedding. From the moment we stepped foot on the property to prepare for the wedding, Sophia and her staff made everything so easy. Every time I turned around, there was someone there to help set up, offer advice, and even offer the emotional support needed on such an important day. They took such care in setting up the tables for dinner that followed the ceremony. They even put out the table decorations for us because they wanted us to enjoy our cocktail hour with our guests. The ambiance inside and out was magical! And the food served was incredible! Salmon and Tri-tip were cooked to perfection, and all the sides were just as delicious as the meat entrees. All the guests was raving about how scrumptious the food tasted. Everyone at Deer lodge had a hand in making my daughter's special day so very perfect! I could not believe that ours was the first wedding this place has hosted. If you're looking for a beautiful venue with loving people and delicious food for your intimate wedding I HIGHLY recommend Deer Lodge. read more

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Dissatisfied with our visit. Came for the steak nachos for dinner which were super disappointing considering Trip Advisor has them high on the list. Just little pieces of steak on below avg chips. We also asked for seating inside away from the door (one of us didn't have a coat) and we asked to be put on a waitlist with no problem giving up 2 open tables by the door. The hostess came to us 10 min later offering the same tables by the door stating that was all they would have open. After we took the tables thinking that was our only option, another couple came in and got seated away from the door. Hoping that wasn't do to with our sexual orientation or age :/ sadly not the first time being two younger women. On the plus side, our waiter was very nice. This was our first time here and we went out of our way to try it out but would not come back or recommend the restaurant after our experience. Would have taken pictures of the food, but we've never left a review before so didn't cross our minds. read more

The Deer Lodge is an Ojai staple, and with excellent reason! The ambiance is cozy and rustic, and the drink selection phenomenal. Perhaps the best part of the experience is the staff, who are consistently friendly and accommodating, and make a tremendous effort to remember your name and order. There is also an adorable outdoor patio with lights for the evening, and heat lamps for cool nights. I've had countless joyful experiences here and will return again and again! read more

Stopped by with 2 of my girlfriends on a slow Tuesday morning. Our horseback riding guide recommended this place for lunch, and we're glad we came in. The our server/bartender let us sit anywhere, so we opted for the cute covered patio. The menu is small, but the options are all great and unique. We ended up with the buffalo burger, fried chicken sandwich, and Mac and cheese. The buffalo burger was awesome. The patty was a little small, but the flavor made up for it. The bacon jam and chipotle aioli were irresistible, we all wish it had more. We upgraded to the white truffle Parmesan fries for both sandwiches, and they were so perfectly seasoned. Huge portions too!! The fried chicken sandwich was also awesome. The jalapeño Cole slaw was good, but again, we felt it needed more. The spicy aioli paired well with the chicken too. The chicken itself was juicy and plump and perfectly fried to a crisp. It was hard sharing this one! The Mac and cheese appetizer was like a bottomless crock. At first it didn't seem like much, but they really packed a lot in there. Smoked Gouda and white cheddar made it extra ooey gooey; we loved it. Everything about this place was wonderful, including our server. Sad I can't remember her name but she was the only foh employee on a Tuesday morning. She was sweet and personable. If we're ever in the area again, we will definitely come back! read more

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We rode from Santa Ana to this place not welcoming at all . not that I expected a red carpet but smiles and hellos are absolutely free .

Great place! I hadn't ridden there in years until recently. The Sunday that I chose to go, was the same Sunday that a Motorcycle Club decided to make it their lunch destination. To say it was packed is an understatement. We were able to find a table and sat down. The server promptly came over to take out drink order. Only two minutes later, our drinks arrive and he asks if we are ready to order? Order placed and food was out quickly and served hot. How the hell can that happen when they were so packed yet, the average place in Ojai takes forever to get anything when they aren't busy at all? Food was good. Service was beyond what I expected. I'll definitely be back. read more

Cool roadside stop! Good drink and food. Very rustic. Bbq smells GOOD. Great bar and lounge area. Fire place. I like it here and hate to leave. But I will be back! read more

I love this place for obvious reasons - cool road house vibe, beer, live music, etc., but the food and the service can be awful. Not sure if something changed after covid, but for $17 I would prefer to have a sandwich on something a little better than a hot dog bun and a disposable plate. And lordy the service at the bar is wild. I don't want to be too judgmental here but the bartender must have mixed up their medication or something. They were soooo slow, unresponsive, and difficult to get anything from. I still recommend the place, just hope they can pick it up a little bit. read more

Best staff, best menu, and the ambiance is on point. Female owned business that brings the community together. They have Wild salmon and the Brussels spouts are to die for!! read more

The food was pretty good overall. Tasty apps and the BBQ pork was good, although the ribs weren't as tender as they could have been with a lot of meat still stuck to the bone, but a good flavor. One star however and I will never return after a member of our group received the wrong order, and when she told our waitress the response was immediately "no, you didn't, you ordered that" end of discussion. It was so immediate and finite with zero consideration for the fact that it was the wrong item, and not even a second though to check the ticket. It happens that this guest is extremely easy going and passive, and could eat what she was brought without raising a fuss, but multiple people at our table heard the original order and knew it was wrong. I can generally be pretty forgiving about service issues, but this was so abrasive that I won't even consider returning. read more