I was drawn to this restaurant because of the rich foodie history behind it. I've included a…read morepicture of Julia Childs dining at the Ranch House! It is a beautiful restaurant hidden in lush greenery and a garden. I knew this was the perfect spot for a date with my 9 yo son who is an aspiring foodie. There are short quaint paths to walkabout the herb garden, over a little wooden bridge you find secret dining areas with pretty lighting. The sound of trickling water is everywhere and it feels peaceful. The cocktail menu included wine, cocktails, and mocktails. I ordered a glass of The Fabelist Rose and it was delicious. I was tempted to order the French 75 but restrained myself. Next time. We were presented with some fresh bread and whipped herb butter that was fantastic. We kindly declined more, but probably would have eaten another basket. The menu is pre fixe - you can choose 3 or 5 items. I chose the crab cake, the scallops with risotto and let my son choose the dessert. He picked the chocolate cake. There is also a kids menu. Our server kindly shared it with us as it is not on the printed menu. My son chose the chicken tenders with fries. He said the ranch was amazing. He's a picky ranch guy. The crab cake was yummy, it was hearty with crab and came with a delicious apple fennel slaw, the sauce was good too. I could have happily eaten one more. The scallops and risotto was amazing. The scallops were cooked perfectly and the risotto tasted clean and not over seasoned. It had chunks of zucchini with some mushrooms. The chocolate cake was pure indulgence. It was a huge piece with layers of chocolate cake and chocolate mousse covered in a chocolate ganache. Served with fresh berries and whip. Would I go back? Yes. There are GF and vegetarian options. I was eyeing the Portobello with the coconut tarragon sauce, maybe next time. And that French 75. The service was attentive. We were greeted quickly by a group of employees by the bar. There was a server and an attendant who cleared the table in a timely manner while also providing water refills. The server's menu knowledge was solid, and he eagerly shared the soup of the day and specials. The Ranch House is a hidden gem, full of timeless stories and energies. Keep in mind this is a 70 year old restaurant-- basque in its history as the first farm to table restaurant, the first vegetarian concept in the 1950s, the place that hosted John Lennon, Marlon Brando, Cat Cora, Julia Childs and more! If you love food and history, this is where you should go. A humble experience in an Ojai paradise.

2.5 rounded down. Had to think long and hard about how to review this place - it was an interesting…read moreexperience that was kind of disorienting and after reading other reviews I think I understand why. This place is expensive. 3-5 courses prefix menu from $75-100 per a person not including drinks which range from 15-20, with bottles obviously going way higher. Walking around the venue it's really gorgeous, rustic California garden/woodsy vibes with twinkle lights and water features. Unique nooks and crannies to sit and dine. The little interior lobby had a piano but they had an iPad connected playing instrumental piano music. Coming to our table there was no table clothe or center piece, it was a wood table bare. The waiters & waitresses had on relaxed clothes and Patagonia jackets. When asked about wine bottles they didn't have much clue how to answer our questions. The food itself was good, nothing amazing or life altering. Salads were good, apps fine, wine was fine, my steak was undercooked and was cold along with my mashed potatoes and asparagus. It was taking a long time in between each course, like 10-20 min breaks which was hard because we had young kids with us and we weren't trying to be that leisurely in our meal time. Strawberry cake was good, but once again not amazing. I will say our server was very kind and cared for our young kiddos well- offering to bring their food quicker and brought them cups of berries. We appreciated her thoughtfulness. The restaurant was no where close to being full for a Friday night. And I was confused but then after my full experience I realized this place is struggling. The entire vibe was off, this is not a fine dining restaurant or vibe...causal Patagonia clothed waiters ... no table clothes with semi-dirty outdoor seating... an instrumental iPad playlist.... With a bill that quickly gets into the $250-300 range for a couple or the $800-1,000 range for party of 6. What are you paying for? This should be a more causal California bougie hipster farm to table restaurant with a live blue grass singer on a guitar. Prices should be slashed by 25-50 percent and there should be no prefix menu of 3-5 courses. If done well the owner could still charge a pretty penny (if that's what they are after) but the vibe right now isn't making any one happy, it's in a no mans land and needs a make over to get revitalized.

Rolling Thunder is a magical place and we feel exceptionally lucky that we were able to spend our…read more36th anniversary/New Year's week there with our family. We were also celebrating our first grandchild as well as our younger son's engagement, and we couldn't have found a better spot for quality time and making memories. The outdoor spaces are extraordinary, gorgeous nature, minutes from town and shopping with resort amenities - had an all-day bocce tournament, epic morning workouts in the giant yoga room, ping pong + frisbee games, long soaks in the hot tub, and hikes to the nearby picturesque river trail. Also outdoor lunches with vistas of the mountains and lush tropical foliage. The beds in the charming ranch home are super comfy and we had some excellent game nights and dinners at home, plus great meals out (Roblars, Rory's Place, The Hip Vegan, The Dutchess). Our granddaughter slept well with her parents in the guest house, and our granddog was happy to run around in a safe fenced area. Communication with Lisa was perfect. Can't wait to return...A+++

This is one of the best, well organized, amazingly managed vacation experiences my family and I…read morehave ever experienced!  We stayed at The Rolling Thunder Ranch!  The pool was heated with hammocks all around it.  The fireplace in the living room had fish ponds on each side.  The property was well maintained.. beds felt like clouds!  The rock finishing in the bathrooms made me feel like I was at a fancy room at the Madonna Inn.  On top of all that the host Lisa told us we could have a private chef come over. We could simply enjoy our stay without the need to cook or find a place to eat.  Who would leave here anyway Right? it's heaven! The chef was amazing! She brought so many fresh local produce AMAZING! I believe they have other properties we will definitely check them out too. Highly recommended and get the chef it's worth it! One last thing Lisa even set up massages for us right at the house it was super luxurious.

We came here on a Friday morning for the juicy and sweet pixie tangerines. They're delicious. They…read moresell also by the bushel, so we got a box of medium sized pixie tangerines to share with loved ones. They also sell these cute lunch box tins, juices and honey.

I love Friend's, the absolute freshest citrus I've found in California. The people are so nice, the…read morelemonade is outstanding as well. They've been around since I was a kid, I'm happy to see they are still plugging away. Support local produce when you can! They have Oranges, Tangerines, Grapefruits, Honey, Orange Juice & Lemonade.

Went to this farm with honestly no expectations, and it ended up being one of the most memorable…read moreexperiences ever. I surprised my boyfriend with a date here, and we both left completely obsessed. We learned more about ostriches than we ever imagined possible, got unbelievably close to them, and even had them nibble on us -- which was equal parts hilarious and unforgettable. Every second of the tour was incredible. Now, to keep it real: this is a small farm. It's mostly ostriches, some desert, some fencing, and at first glance you might think, "okay... giant birds in the dirt." But that's kind of the magic of it. The beauty of this place sneaks up on you the same way a really good book does -- at first it's just paper and words, and then suddenly you're emotionally attached and questioning your entire existence over an ostrich egg. Lou absolutely made the experience. He has such an amazing life story, so much wisdom, and a genuine passion that shines through in everything he talks about. But honestly, the real tour isn't just about the birds -- it's about the way Lou sees the world. One minute he's explaining the mechanics of ostriches like some kind of desert bird engineer, the next he's pointing out California quails you never would've noticed on your own, talking about nature with the kind of excitement that makes you start paying attention too. He'll happily talk with you for as long as you're willing to engage, and you leave realizing there's so much life and beauty packed into what initially looked like "just some land." Also, this man talks about his wife with such genuine love and admiration that it honestly restored my faith in humanity a little bit. It was so sweet hearing someone speak so splendidly about their partner after clearly building a whole life together out there. The entire place feels full of heart because of it. And the honey!! Don't skip the honey. Absolutely delicious. We also bought an ostrich egg for $60 and honestly... worth every penny. We painted the shell afterward and made the world's biggest deviled egg, which is still one of the funniest things we've ever done. Such a unique souvenir and experience. There's also so much more here than just the tour -- Lou's son teaches archery lessons, there's a small campsite, and despite losing their cherry trees from the fire and flood, the farm still has this incredible spirit and resilience that makes you admire them even more. If you go, just keep an open mind. It might not look like much from the get-go, but if you really listen -- really let Lou show you what this place means to him -- you realize you're somewhere genuinely special. It's funny, heartfelt, fascinating, and weirdly grounding all at once. Must see. So glad we went. Stop by -- you won't regret it.

This place was so amazing great place to get close to ostrich. The own himself gave my family a…read moreprivate tour it was so informative and all the details he gave us have me so amazed. The location it self it's beautiful near mountains. They also have restrooms and playground for kids. They also have little shop they sell ostrich eggs which are huge and they even have home made honey. Amazing place would definitely be going back!!

Best boarding in town!! people are super friendly, helpful, management is amazing, and most…read moreimportant, my horse loves it! couldn't recommend more :)

Great place to board:) Been there for a few years now, I love it. Close to trails. Super nice…read morepeople.

I love this place just for spending time with the animals, even though I haven't gone horseback…read moreriding yet. The kids love seeing the horses, goats, llamas, and much more up close. I know it's America and other places might see it as a liability, but I hope they continue to let people come and roam free!

It took everything in me to not act like I was in Red Dead Redemption. I wanted to lean down while…read moresoftly petting the horse and say "Wooaah eaassyy there Nelly. Don't be scared. If we must die, we'll die. But sometimes death is the only way to remain free..." This was actually my first time riding a horse. Horses are so beast. Like that thing could have killed me anytime he wanted to. When we were checking in for our ride, a cowgirl in a long sleeve camo shirt, navy blue jeans, and some cowboy boots with spurs came out and said "Hey y'all!" in a thick Western accent. I look over and the rest of the staff are also full cowgirls. I had to double check I wasn't in the Even Cowgirls Get the Blues novel. Great read. Her name was Sissy and she was our trail guide for the day. She passionately explained how old each horse was and a bit of their backgrounds. My horse's name was Graham and he was a straight thug. He used to carry solar panels up the mountains. Straight workhorse. She had to put him near the back because he wanted to LAP all the other horses. After a 30 minute ride, we were able to walk around the grounds, and see all the other animals on the ranch. Mules, Donkeys, Cows, Horses, Alpacas, Sheep, etc. It was pretty rad. I got a good boot rec from Sissy (Double H Boots), as I'm in the market for some quality boots. Not cowboy boots though I'd be a phony. It was inspirational to see how people still live so differently. Sissy has been riding since she was in diapers and teaches lessons at the ranch full time. I often wonder if this simple of a life leads to greater happiness than climbing the corporate ladder. Comparison is a thief of joy though. If I were a screenwriter, the Ojai Valley Trail Riding Company would provide me with plenty of inspiration for a hit film. IG @jnov_ Tiktok @jnov_reviews

Absolutely stunning winery. Hubby and I reserved a two seat trellis. The wine flights were great,…read morewe brought some charcuterie. The whole property is so romantic, relaxing and very dog friendly! It felt like we were on vacation. Highly recommend visiting!

Been here many times and it's definitely one of our favorites. However, this was our first visit in…read moreover a year and this experience just wasn't quite the same. Customer service was still great, but I noticed a few changes that took away from the experience for us personally. I do like that the tastings are no longer in the plastic tubes, although the tubes did feel like they held a little more wine. What we didn't enjoy was that when multiple people ordered the same tastings, they were placed into the same shared glass/container. In our party of four, three of us had the same six tastings and had to share. I appreciated the bow on the glass showing the pours, but I preferred the previous setup where everyone had their own individual tastings. It may seem small, and thankfully our group was fine sharing, but it made the experience feel less personal and honestly made us less interested in doing tastings again on future visits. Some people also may not feel comfortable sharing containers or touching the same glass. Nothing terrible at all, just some feedback from longtime visitors who loved how it used to be. On this visit we actually ended up ordering a bottle afterward instead, and moving forward we'll probably just continue doing that rather than the tastings.

Go there and meet Bruce and Bern and learn the art of The Mustang horse . Donate sack pellets feed…read moredirectly to Bern or Kelly his wife to show your love. Feed is always welcome by these three people. . Great looking horses. All different colors and personalities .

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I had the most wonderful three-day stay at the Retreat on a rainy weekend. The small Oak Room is in…read morethe third cottage down from the main house and was comfortable and cozy, perfect for one person or two who are traveling very light. Parking is nearly right outside the door. I had been afraid that, as a 73-year-old woman not in the best of shape, I would be too far away from the living/dining room and that the steps would be difficult, but it was really only about 60 steps (the length of a hotel hallway) from the room to the main house and there are only about 30 wide short steps. Handrails also provide security in the dark and rain. It was so quiet and peaceful. I felt completely safe and secure. No traffic or airplane noise. No TV! My background was the rain in the oak trees. The breakfasts were perfect and the living room is actually open 24/7 so you can get water and coffee or tea any time. Staff is very friendly, kind, and helpful.

Absolutely incredible. We're in town for the Ojai art show, my mom is a vendor there and by some…read moremiracle this spot was the best deal in the area. It is literally a nature oasis, a respite from the busy and loud Bay Area. The views are stunning, so much outside space to enjoy, and tables for eating in the patio. We are in the cozy room, which has a shared restroom. Literally no issues with this whatsoever. It's in between two rooms so it's not like you have access to anyone else's room. There are microwaves and mini fridges for each room. They even have a dining room and library. Breakfast is served daily, and it has robust options. The scrambled eggs really take this to another level. Another highlight is the nature. Bunnies, owls, lizards, toads, and tons of gorgeous birds. This place is a treasure.

Christy is the kindest woman with an awesome team. There is no one more thoughtful with her animals…read morethan this beautiful soul. It is not about the business for her, it is about the animals and the joy of sharing her safe space. The trail ride was awesome and the perfect length for my friend and me. It was my friend's birthday, and she is more well versed in horseback riding than I am, and she also had high praise for the whole experience. I learned a lot! Christy really deserves the world, and I will be back because it was one of the best days we have had in a while.

Christy and Rob were friendly and welcoming hosts. My wife and I took a one hour lesson and a…read morethree hour ride. The instruction was helpful and encouraging , the horses were wonderful, and the scenery was beautiful. What more could one ask for? Oh, yeah, we also had perfect weather. I look forward to visiting again for the sunset ride. My only recommendation is that you take a couple of 15 minute breaks from the horse if you are a newbie and are planning a four hour ride. Otherwise the muscle soreness is no joke.