The Ranch House is conveniently located just off Columbia Road, north of Highway 31. The building was once a Pizza Hut and still retains that distinctive 1970s design. The Ranch House has been around for many years, and the parking lot always seems to be full. I had heard it was excellent for breakfast, but I was curious about what other options they offered. The restaurant has changed ownership several times over the years, yet it has maintained a loyal following. My friends and I stopped in for lunch on Monday, and I was impressed by how large the menu is. The sweet spot here is the classic meat-and-vegetable combinations. The term "meat and three" is part of the Southern vocabulary -- especially in Alabama -- and The Ranch House does it well. The meat and vegetable selections rotate daily, and there's enough variety that you should easily find something you'll enjoy. The restaurant also includes "Markarios" in its name, and you'll notice Mediterranean influences sprinkled throughout the menu. For lunch, I ordered the chicken shawarma wrap along with a Markarios side salad. The chicken was nicely seasoned and full of flavor, and the salad was fresh and excellent. Overall, a solid local spot with something for everyone. read more

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We have been eating here for as long as I can remember but something has changed. We ate breakfast there today and they served the food cold. Had to send it back. They did remake it but then the grits were like water with lumps and instead of being in a bowl they are served on the plate - No taste to the food. The biscuit turned very hard after a few minutes like it had been cooked earlier and then microwaved prior to serving. Then we noticed the price on the check was not accurate when compared to menu. This is the second time this has happened to us there - the waitress pointed to a place on the menu that says an up charge for eggs. Well I guess they can charge whatever according to that. We'll also had to constantly flag people down to get service. A totally different atmosphere than years past read more

Ranch House - Runny grits. Hard biscuits - Mediterranean Near Me - Vestavia Hills, Alabama

The veggie omelet, paired with a side of creamy grits, a true Southern staple, is always delicious! The service is consistently friendly, which keeps me coming back. I'm a repeat customer and highly recommend checking them out! read more

Ranch House - Veggie Omelette - Mediterranean Near Me - Vestavia Hills, Alabama

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Has it really been 9 years since I've been back to Ranch House? No, but this is the only time I've had the opportunity to update my review. I visited with a friend on a very busy weekday during lunch. Nothing has changed much on the outside and inside. Ranch House has a very cozy feel and we had a nice conversation even with the noisy lunch crowd. We both almost got the exact same dish. I tried the fried Grouper with the side salad and mashed sweet potato. I had a choice between the catfish or grouper and wished I picked the catfish. The grouper was a little dry. The salad was fine, but the mashed sweet potato was outstanding. Thanks RH! read more

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The food is consistently good and they have a wide variety of options. The ambience is like wearing your favorite old, comfortable shoes. No pretense just good food and friendly servers. read more

This is one of those places that I wondered why we've never made it there before. We've lived in the area for a while, and we've known there's a restaurant there, just never went in until recently. It was just the Ranch House for years before they became a combo with Makarios greek restaurant. Let's just say that if you can't find something you want here, then you aren't even hungry! We went around lunchtime so you could order from the breakfast or lunch menu. I ordered Shish Tawook which is chicken. I was looking for something that wasn't super heavy, and grilled chicken dishes are one of my staples. And I don't get tabouli as much as I'd like, so I really enjoyed the addition of the tabouli on this. I wasn't expecting the wrap to be grilled, too, so it was a pleasant surprise, and the crisp makes it better than just a soft wrap. I also actually just wanted to split the fries with my spouse, but he ordered from the breakfast menu, so I had a lot of fries. Generous portion. They had some fabulous looking desserts so I want to go back when I can try them or get one to go. Just a side note: There's a bit of a joke that Pizza Hut buildings live forever, and it's true. No matter what you do to a PH building, it will always still look like one. Ranch House Makarios has done a good job camouflaging it , but those telltale trapezoid windows will always be a giveaway. Glad this is Ranch House Makarios now, though. read more

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Breakfast lunch dinner all is delicious!! Unfortunately since they stopped serving dinner on weekends we've not been able to make it but use to go almost weekly. Best lamb in town no matter which dish u get! Soups are amazing! And breakfast is delicious as well! Miss being able to eat dinner here more regularly. read more

Yelp! Been so long since Bae and I have eaten lunch here, we're excited. Christmas joy is everywhere from the festive music to the cute Christmas tree. Yelp, You still got your lunch crowd too. I love Trevor, our waiter, he has done an Amazing job serving us. But, y'all already know, we are here for this FOOD. Bae ordered fried grouper with a side salad, turnips and squash croquettes. (I'm gonna sum up what he said in one word, mediocre. I got the fried catfish with salad, fries and turnips. This Food here is mediocre, not what it used to be. We both got the cornbread and it was good. Overall the service was the best part of this meal. It's been a long time since our return, I'm sure we will eventually drop in again. read more

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Disregard all expectations of ambiance. Bless it. BUT the food was good. I had French toast that was 2 full pieces of firm bread that was cooked like you would expect ( not soggy) and no too sweet. Bacon side was only $1 for 2 nice thick pieces of really good bacon. Coffee was decent. Didnt have to ask for creamer and sugar. Our host was a polite young man even though he set our order down backwards, we didn't have to ask for anything. My friend had scrambled eggs, hash browns and bacon with pancakes. All delicious and like you would make at home. No frills. Needed some butter, syrup, salt and pepper but like the atmosphere...basic. I would go here again. Prices on par with Waffle House. read more

Ranch House - 1/2 French Toast with bacon. - Mediterranean Near Me - Vestavia Hills, Alabama

Service was great! Food was delicious as always. The environment inside is clean and comfortable with a reasonable spot to wait. Friendly service and great place to eat ! read more

Food is still good, but customer service is slow. The inside is dated and needs a refresh.

Everything is really good here. I am more familiar with the downtown location, but this one is good too. If you are looking for a quick bite, get the gyro. This time around, I had the lamb shawarma with rice. The lamb was juicy and flavorful, and I liked the flavors of the rice too. Make sure to grab a baklava too if you haven't tried one here. I really like Mediterranean food because the flavors are very aromatic, and you get good portions, quality ingredients, and the food typically isn't deep fried or grease-quenched and, thus, extremely unhealthy. read more

Ranch House - Lamb shawarma and rice - Mediterranean Near Me - Vestavia Hills, Alabama

Service and ambience are good. Food , depending on the bite, was meh. The first biscuit was undercooked and the second was overcooked. Four of us had omelettes and couldn't eat all of it due to the liquid cheese glob concentrated in different parts of the food. With Ranchero in the name, one might expect decent salsa and not salsa in packets. Hash browns and grits were good. We could've eaten at a much better restaurant for the same price. read more

Wifey wanted a pecan waffle. Reviewed YELP and found ourselves here. Arrived about 9.30 and found a sparse crowd. Settled in and recieved prompt service. I had an omelette and wifey went with the pecan waffle. Food was good and we would come back for the waffles. read more

Ranch House - Excellent pecan waffle! - Mediterranean Near Me - Vestavia Hills, Alabama

Solid breakfast spot in vestavia hands down! Servers are always kind and helpful and food is constantly great!!!

Shrimp over cooked and sides from Buffett were blah. Service was fine good but I don't think I'd go back.. read more

Ranch House - Shrimp fried with 3 sides - Mediterranean Near Me - Vestavia Hills, Alabama

Service has VASTLY improved! Food top notch, halal and vegetarian options as well. Great family place with a huge menu and plenty of seating. However, note that there isn't a handicap ramp or stroller ramp for moms. You will need help. I was disappointed more so thinking of those in wheel chairs. Even with help the platform is kind of high and doors kind of narrow. Don't know about the bathrooms but they should definitely fix the outside and build a ramp. read more

Service slow and server "awkward". Breakfast was mediocre. Standard eggs and bacon biscuit and gravy. Very dated and feels old and run down.

Great breakfast! Food quality is consistently good. Recommended it to friends who also found it delicious.

Love the Ranch House. Been a weekend breakfast favorite for my daughter and me for years. Friendly staff who will remember you when you come back. read more

KIDS NOT WELCOME. Would not go back unless I receive a formal apology for being made to feel so unwelcome because my child was crying. Terrible service and manners. Im not sure who had a problem with my kids but it definitely was not any of the customers. The waitress was rude asking us if we could give the 9 month baby some food because she was disturbing the other customers. How lucky that y'all grew up with babies that don't cry. Everyone was in there with their kids to celebrate Father's Day. I'm sure they have all been through this stage. read more

Nice little breakfast and lunch spot in Vestavia. We come here all the time at night when it's makarios, but had never had it for Ranch House. We enjoyed our meal and the portions are definitely bigger than they look. The staff were friendly and quick to check on us. It was a quick in and out meal as well. Will be back again soon! read more

Ranch House - #bhamfoodguy - Mediterranean Near Me - Vestavia Hills, Alabama

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I work close to this location and cannot count the times that I have called in for a lunch pick up. I consistently order the Lamb Ghallaba sandwich and continue to have consistency and an extremely reasonable price for the meal. Thank you Makarios! read more

One of my all time favorite restaurants Actually 3 restaurants in one One of the best truly Southern style breakfasts in Birmingham. The biscuits are amazing. Has anything you could want for breakfast. At lunch it switches to a great meat and 3 style restaurant. At night it is one of the best Mediterranean restaurants around. The wait staff are always friendly and the service is good even when packed. Atmosphere is laid back and friendly. I recently had a take out dinner and it was AMAZING !!! The deboned chicken was great and the salad, hummus, were very authentic. The baklava for dessert topped it off. I highly recommend breakfast, lunch or dinner. You won't be disappointed. read more

Best southern breakfast in town. You have to get there before 9 to even get parking. Everything is delicious then you can come back later for excellent Mediterranean food. Odd but great. My favorite Saturday morning go to read more

This place has a very large menu. I guess , a ranch house is kinda like a tex-mex diner. They offer what looked like an appetizing meat and and three. As well as , breakfast options. read more

I looove this place I always get a Turkey sausage egg and cheese biscuit for breakfast or a ck shawarma sandwich with tahini sauce instead of garlic. The biscuit tastes like your grandma made it! I love the fresh squeezed orange juice also. I love seeing the same employees over and over when I go in which makes me think it must be a good work environment. Most places that have too many different types of food on their menu are sub par but this place nails it every time for me. It's a locals only spot kind of vibe. read more

I am thinking maybe this place recently changed hands, but I am not sure. We stopped in for breakfast based on a recommendation. It was honestly just okay. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't special either. There was plenty of food so you won't leave hungry. The service was okay. It is an interesting mix of options, so maybe you will find something you like. read more

If you are in the area don't pass this restaurant up. The food was amazing. The servers just the right of attentive and ole that food. I was choosing between the 4 veggie plate as they have so many options it's hard to choose and the country fried chicken. I chose the white nest chicken and was a bit nervous it would be dry. Boy was a wrong. It was so moist and tasty. The Lima beans, stewd okra and squash casserole was heavenly. Hubs got a baked sweet pott, side salad and country fried steak. It was good also. I saw people with breakfast and salad. If I lived in the area I'd have to try it all. Only regret was Monday is fried eggplant and we stopped on Tuesday. read more

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Makarios actually shares the location with the Ranch House. Ranch House has the Breakfast and Meat & 3. Makarios has the Middle Eastern menu. I typically go for the Lamb Shawarma combo with rice instead of fries. The latest visit the rice was missing the slivered almonds I had grown accustomed to and the Shawarma was not quite as juicy as previously. The last few visits the service has been a little bit slower and not as on top of who ordered what. Not quite to the point where I won't go back but if it continues to trend that way, it will be longer between visits. read more

First time eating at the Ranch House, I got the Turkey n Dressing (Friday Special) with creamed potatoes/gravy, pinto beans and apple cobbler n cornbread. The turkey was moist and flavorful(as turkey goes), the dressing isn't the typical cornbread dressing, were known for in the south, more of a stuffing texture, but good, the creamed potatoes had little chunks in them(so I figured they were real potatoes) the brown gravy was a little weak but still good. The pinto beans had the right amount of seasoning n a thick little gravy with them. Just right for crumbling half my corn muffin in. I originally ordered peach cobbler, but like so many places, it was gone by the time I got there. But the apple cobbler was no disappointment, it had the right amount of crust/apple ratio. My dining companion had the Reuben samich and fries with blackberry cobbler for dessert. She was pleased with the samich n only ate half and half of the fries(guess who brought the other half home, ima eat that for lunch tomorrow). She said the Reuben had good taste but the meat was a little chewy. The fries were cooked fresh n to perfection. The blackberry, well it disappeared pretty quick, no left overs for ol' Stevie boy. For my first experience I'd recommend the Ranch House to otgers, good selection of daily specials and stock menu items, clean tables and floors, friendly and efficient staff and very reason prices, 1meat and 3 vegetables or 2 vegetables and cobbler for $12.99. I'll be back and hope to see you there. Of course, I was so hungry I forgot to take a picture of my meal, but did get a cobbler picture. read more

Ranch House - Apple and Blackberry cobblers - Mediterranean Near Me - Vestavia Hills, Alabama

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I have been eating here for many years now and I have never been disappointed. I usually go for breakfast once or twice during a week. For me, the service has always been very good as I find the staff to be attentive and do all they can to see that my needs are met. A great place to go if one is seeking a Southern meat & three. Yes, it has changed hands over the years, but I have found the staff to be guest-oriented and willing to make sure I, and when I have guests with me, am satisfied and well fed! :) read more

Looking for an always reliable breakfast spot south of town? This place has been around for quite sometime (longer than I've lived here) and made an immediate impression on me when I first came for breakfast. They have changed ownership and is now part of Makario's from downtown but they smartly decided to keep the traditional menu. I have been here for a meat and three lunch and enjoyed it, but I have been here for breakfast exclusively otherwise. The meal I've been ordering is "most requested," which pretty much covers all the bases for breakfast. The taste and quality is what you'd want in the eggs, meat, hash browns and pancakes. Service is usually quick as well, so you can get in and out in a reasonable amount of time. I don't always eat out for breakfast, but when I do, I prefer Ranch House. You won't be disappointed if you choose to eat here! Maybe one day I can give a review for lunch, but until then, I'll bring everyone here for breakfast. read more

Ranch House - Most requested breakfast - Mediterranean Near Me - Vestavia Hills, Alabama

Definitely give this place a chance! Loved the fruit French toast and the hotcakes! All of it was delicious and the fresh juices were amazing. We had a polite server and the place just feels very comfortable! read more

Ranch House - Orange and carrot upon request! You can mix two! - Mediterranean Near Me - Vestavia Hills, Alabama

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How is it that I've lived in Birmingham for 27 years and I've never been to Makarios Ranch House for Sunday breakfast? Oh my oh my. First, let it be known that I love a good pancake. Moist and sweet with melted real butter - no margarine, no syrup - that's heaven on a plate. It has to be an exceptional pancake - and Ranch House delivered. Scrambled eggs, bacon, and the lightest hash browns ever rounded out the best breakfast I've had in a long time. My partner had the everything omelet - he noted the perfectly proportioned fillings and was especially happy to not be overwhelmed with too much cheese. It was just right. With tip, we spent $40 and it was well worth it. 100/100. read more

The food was ok. The service was terrible. I came in before some people and they were served first also I ordered tomatoes and it came at the end of my breakfast and I was charged for it. I asked them to take it off they did but it's just the thought of changing me. read more

Delicious as always! Cheeseburger, falafel, fattoush tawook all delicious and the takeaway is super easy. We are lucky to have this option in Vestavia. read more

Today my family and I ate at Makarios for lunch. We all bought something different- I had the NY strip and baked potato with Lentil Soup. My man had Lamb Chops with the Greek salad and basmati rice. My sister had the fried tilapia with a baked potato and chicken soup. Her boyfriend had something that resembled a chicken fajita that started with a G. I can't remember exactly the name but it also came with a salad and basmati rice. The menu has many options that taste carefully prepared and flavorful. My NY strip was cooked very well. It was a little thicker than I thought it would be and needed salt. But once I added that, it was very tasty. The cheese cake was also very tasty and smooth and a fairly larger piece. We will definitely return. Our waiter was very sweet and gave us a great experience. read more

It's been a fixture and Birmingham staple on old Columbiana since I was a kid at its old location by the creek to its new location at the old Pizza Hut. It's a great place for breakfast it's busy earlier. Lunch can be good as well. It's a nice family atmosphere kinda of place, not many frills on the menu just great, meals as one would cook at home! Service can be kind of up and down at times and parking can be a challenge. Overall, when heading to hoover my daughter and I drop by from time to time! read more

Ranch House - Vegetable omelette - Mediterranean Near Me - Vestavia Hills, Alabama

Great place for breakfast or lunch. Fresh food and good service. Loved the fruity toast! read more

Ranch House - Fruity toasts! - Mediterranean Near Me - Vestavia Hills, Alabama