My wife and I found this terrific Mexican restaurant while looking for a new place to try. We were drawn to the open fire cooking at first but found the staff to be welcoming and happy to work there, a rarity anymore! I had carnitas and my wife had fish tacos, both dishes were excellent! The beans and rice were perfectly seasoned. When you go there, try the spicy hot sauce. It is special! Try this place, you won't be disappointed! read more

We ordered margarita, beer, steak and fish tacos. Only thing that was half decent was the steak and draft beer. Rice was flavorless and felt like it had been sitting out, and beans tasted like out of a can. Salsa that came with chips was blah. Steak was cooked okay, but nothing exceptional. Draft beer was good, but took good 30 mins to get a draft beer and margarita first time around, and 40 mins before our second draft beer came. To the point where we were ready to ask for our bill w/o the beer. Had to track down our waiter multiple times to get things and our bill. They were definitely busy, but saw quite a few things being sent back to the kitchen. Also, the guy filling takeout order was eating nacho chips in between filling orders. Without washing his hands... Overall: will not be visiting again and total waste of money. read more

Bone Marrow was delicious...we had several entrees ordered along with great tasty margaritas and several desserts. Everything Was delicious and the service was above and beyond! Always making sure we wanted for nothing and that we were satisfied. This was my first time there and it won't be my last ‼ read more

Westley was very patient and very helpful. An amazing part of the team . He was polite and genuinely concerned about my wants.

Beautiful settings, but food and drinks are super expensive. $18 margaritas, $3 extra charge for asking for hot salsa. I ordered salad and was happy with it but $26 for a simple chicken salad? I don't think I will go back as much as I love the settings. read more

Delicious food, very fresh with lots of flavor!! We had Westley as our server and he was absolutely wonderful and very knowledgeable when we had questions about allergies. Great gluten and dairy options and easy modification options that didn't impact seasoning/flavor. :) read more

Delicious! We had nachos, fajitas and guacamole. Everything was flavorful and very enjoyable. We sat outside which was very pleasant and our server, Westley was terrific. Glad this place has turned around from what it used to be, under new ownership. read more

I really wanted to try this spot because the menu makes my mouth water but when I saw the prices that's just ridiculous, so over priced in a time where so many people are struggling with the economy, I guess I m the type of person that support businesses that take care of their community, think about and care read more

Service and food are always great. Avery is a gem! We especially like everything that is cooked live on the grill.

Got to experience this little gem w/ my family. Such a great vibe..... Avery the server is the main reason why you need to come visit this spot. His energy & soul shine sooo bright. His singing voice gave me goosebumps. Absolutely adored his star customer service. Food was yummy. Drinks need a little assistance (owners should hire a mixologist) Can't wait to go back read more

Rancho Cantina - My adorable uncle an fajitas - Mexican Near Me - Lafayette, California

Everything. Went there for my husbands birthday and the food, service and ambiance was all you want to celebrate a special occasion. We had the carne asada, ceviche, chorizo dip and other delicious dishes including the churros for dessert. We even got a personalized Happy Birthday song from one of the team members who has a magical voice. They are amazing and very friendly. Love this place! read more

If we could give zero stars we would do so. We ordered items to go on their website, drove 15 minutes down to get the items, but then told by the manager that the order had been cancelled because they were too busy. Not even an apology. But if we could wait 20-30 minutes perhaps they could fill our order. If they can't fill orders to go they should not take the orders. read more

Avery, our waiter, is the utmost delightful man who goes out of his way to make us feel welcomed. He even belts out a great happy birthday serenade as if you're at a Broadway show! Food was delicious. Fish tacos, fried Brussel sprouts- must try! read more

Let's start with the Greeter, who always makes you feel at home. The bar service is really great and the food is unbelievable, always served HOT and oh so tasty. Servers are fast and attentive. The only draw back is the Noise level, inside. We love the outside dining in the garden. Great prices as well. Our go to for Mexican cuisine read more

Had lunch here today. Seriously one of my best meals ever. Justin, the manager, was so amazing and attentive. The food was 5 star. We will be back!! read more

Love the atmosphere and margaritas! The host there made the experience delightful but I'm not sure if he's still there.

The number one thing I like about Rancho is the smell when you walk into the restaurant. The second is the atmosphere. For me, though, the food didn't bring me to the level of the smell. For my anticipation of this place, it was just fine. We got to go food. It was pricy. Kind of like a no complaints, almost there place. read more

Justin and Avery were the most amazing hosts/waiters!! We had the BEST time at rancho and they made our birthday celebration the BEST!!!!

Had dinner at Rancho Cantina last night. What a great experience that was. Margaritas were great. Fajitas and burrito bowl were awesome. The food was very fresh and flavorful. Hands down...the best part of our night was our server Avery. Avery has such a fun personality and he took great care of us. He is great at his job! We will be back. read more

This place was good. The mole on the wet burrito was one of the best I've tasted. The taco plate also had some of the best asada I've tasted. It was cooked perfectly and held the flavor in each bite. I was asked if I'd like chips & salsa and I said yes. I figured I wanted to taste them even if there was a charge. It would have been courteous if the server had mentioned that when asking but hey. A lot of Mexican restaurants offer complimentary chips and salsa and I bet people assume they are free. All and all things were good. I'd probably sit at the bar if I decide to go back. The server seemed tightly wound and was kind a vibe killer. read more

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We love Rancho Cantina's enchiladas. During Covid they started offering (or I only noticed during Covid) a family enchilada dinner. It hits the spot for us. When we dine in, I do prefer outside. Inside is very noisy. The staff is always moving fast, but they do take good care. Our fave server is Avery (sp?). He's always a kick and makes sure we have a good time. read more

The star is for the kitchen staff and only because you have to leave at least one star. Food was good but rather overpriced, especially with their BS they pull offering chips, salsa, guacamole, whilst failing to mention it is $12 until you receive the bill. Owner is an absolute weirdo and would not stop harassing me at the bar. Not to mention made some outlandish statements towards me to which I really had no clue how to respond. He sat at the bar sipping alcohol, and repeatedly approached me with incredibly odd statements and behavior. Ridiculous look from the owner. Do a better job and at least attempt to have some professionalism read more

What a charming little restaurant. We visited on a Saturday night at 6:30 and it was already packed. The service was quick and great, and although we had to sit outside they promptly turned the big heating lamps on and it was very comfortable. All the food we ordered was delicious. We started with the ceviche which was perfectly seasoned with plump moist fish and very fresh crunchy tortilla chips. The presentation was just as good as the taste. The margaritas tasted sweet but were really strong as one got a pretty legit buzz going on. Again, a perfectly presented and put together drink that complimented the flavor of the fish beautifully. The fried fish tacos were fantastic with a great toasted pineapple salsa acidity offset by a creamy slightly spicy chipotle sauce. The rice and beans felt clean and authentic, if not a tad under salted, but I'll take that over a salt bomb anyday. Although I'm not in Lafayette often I would definitely return to Rancho Cantina and will recommend to those in the area. read more

Upscale Mexican inspired cuisine, I'm so glad we decided to come here. The hubs and I were trying to figure out where to go for date night and I'd been craving Mexican. There's a few other restaurants in Lafayette but they just don't really do it for me. While good, I always roll out feeling way too heavy. My taste may not be truly authentic but I'm more accustomed to Southern California Mexican style which has a lighter, fresher spin. I'm not sure why we haven't tried Rancho Cantina before but I'm so glad we did! When we arrived, we were warmly greeted and quickly seated. It was happy hour so we decided to try a few things off the menu- Nachos ($6) and Chicken Wings. What a deal! The HH menu is basically 1/2 off the regular priced menu if the items are on the regular offering. Appetizers came out quickly and I was impressed with both presentation and portions. The nachos came out with a large scoop of fresh avocado guacamole, none of that watered down crema guacamole. The wings were served with a nice spicy side sauce and leafy green salad which was a welcomed change from the standard carrot and celery sticks often received with an order of wings. For our mains, I ordered the fish tacos and the hubs ordered the carnitas. I really appreciated that I had the option to get grilled vs battered! The tacos were served with a delicious mango salsa. Maybe I put too much lime, but the only down side is that my second taco did not hold up by the time I got to it. However, it was still delicious. The hubs tucked into his carnitas so quickly I never got to try it, but by the empty plate I'd say he very much enjoyed it! He also ordered a few different cocktails which also disappeared quickly. Since I currently can't drink alcohol, I. looking forward to coming back next time when I can also enjoy some cocktails! There are a lot of complaints about the price, to which I'd say clearly this is not a taco/burrito truck type of eatery. While the prices are a bit more than some of the other Mexican restaurants in Lafayette, the quality is better. This is the kind of place where I might even look for or try a molé if it was on the menu. read more

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I have been here several times... every time it's been mediocre. However, my bf insisted on Mexican food. We ordered the chicken/steak fajitas. They were "average" at best. The potion was for a small child; no sour cream/no guacamole for $30. The best part of the meal was the margarita & Avery's bubbly personality. read more

Very lucky to have found a great restaurant owned by a great family. The food is outstanding and they have a good happy hour too. If you call in advance, they will accommodate your group. They have a kids menu that will satisfy even the pickiest of kids pallets. Every time I go here, I find something else that I love! Make sure to say Hi to Avery, who makes sure everyone that comes in the door feels like they are part of the Rancho Family! Keep making great food and making us feel like family when we visit! read more

Had a very special evening at Rancho Cantina with friends. I would highly recommend the Brick Oven chicken and the flan for dessert.

The front patio is a great place to spend a warm summer evening. We enjoyed the food, very fresh and delicious.

Solid experience. Avery made it over the top enjoyable! Great tacos, fantastic nachos. Definitely coming back soon! Outdoor patio was a stellar bonus! read more

Ok well... Door dashed from this place tonight. My oh my where do I start.. first off the $30 burrito was about the size of my Thumb. I ordered a Rancho burrito "Wet" which looked amazing in the picture. It had sauce all over it with a beautiful looking drizzle of sour cream all across the burrito. When it arrived I had a teeny little dry burrito with some orange flavorless sauce and a plastic cup of sour cream. NOTHING like the picture and this wasn't a delicious Mole or amazing sauce it was like watery flavorless sauce that left my wife and I just completely unsatisfied. This type of disappointment doesn't happen to often to us luckily but now we're left wondering if we should order something else or just take the loss that put us in an unpleasant mood. I also ordered the tortilla soup which had no cheese or tortilla strips and tasted like a watery Mushroom? Zero flavor zero love. I see they have a 3.8 rating on yelp. There lucky to have even that. Will not be getting this place again. The 2 stars instead of one is because they advertise "Mary's" chicken etc which is a step above for sure and seems like there trying to have quality but the taste and presentation was FOR SURE not there. My wife just grabbed some pretzels and hummus out of the fridge wow... read more

Awful - avoid if you can. Very unprofessional experience - we had to remind the hostess twice after checking in for a seat. That should have been indication enough. After finally being sat outside, we waited for over ten minutes with no indication from any staff that they could provide a menu, or water. After flagging down the hostess, we informed her that no one had taken our order. A few minutes later, who I presume to be the owner greeted us coldy - as if she couldn't believe that we were forgotten. Food was subpar and salty - not good for high blood pressure folks. We declined a takeout box. The owner was confrontational and took it as an insult. I will never return to Rancho Cantina - if you want to be forgotten, be confronted, and pay for over salted generic food this is your go-to-spot. read more

Wow! Must have spent over $2000 with this local restaurant. Tonight they delivered the wrong dish so I called them. i wasn't upset but thought they'd want to know and provide a resolution. The owner gets on the phone, "what do you want me to do about it?". I said, well, refund me or give me a gift voucher? He says, "Call Doordash". I say, I'm a really good customer of yours, is that the best you can do? He says again, I make mistakes, what do you want me to do about it? Wow. These guys really don't value or appreciate loyal customers. Hate to say it but the guy I spoke with sounded drunk, slurring his words and aggressive. read more

Disorganized service. Nice servers, albeit somewhat strange. Also, it's unclear if it's a restaurant or a bar. The bar was busy, and when you're trying to enjoy your meal, it's not appealing to be sitting by a somewhat loud bar crowd. You want to be a bar or a restaurant? Either pick one or adjust things so diners and bar patrons can both enjoy their time in your space. Very very mediocre food. Edible but not very tasty, with the exception of the chips and salsa. That was pretty good. Problem is: They don't tell you they charge for the chips and salsa, so it comes as a surprise on the bill. The soft drinks are also super overpriced. Glad I tried it so I could see how it was for myself. But I won't be back here. This is California. Mexican food should taste good here considering we are literally right above Mexico. this place just misses the mark. read more

Rancho Cantina - Mexican Near Me - Lafayette, California

Love this Mom & Pop establishment! Best service, fresh flavorful melt in your mouth carnitas. Beautiful setting. Hidden gem. We go twice a month and if we don't we crave it read more

This is a hidden gem in Lafayette ! It's been here awhile but just discovered it. Great ambiance, great service and great food ! Will definitely make this a "go to" read more

my wife and i wanted a nice outdoor setting so we tried this place. it was great i had the shrimp appetizer and my wife had a taco salad. food came nicely presented and nice proportions wait there is more! the whole experience was made even better by Avery our server. he takes his job seriously and was there for us whenever we needed him. but it was not overwhelming or intrusive. Avery. thank you and we will be back read more

Situation - Friends birthday party (July 2015) - I ordered the Spicy Bandelero to drink - Ordered Chips, Two Salsa, and Guacamole - Ordered the Guisado de Carnitas y Nopal Pros - The Chips and Guacamole are tasty - Spicy Bandelero is good (and spicy) - The carnitas are cooked really well - The service was good Cons - The beans and rice are a bit bland read more

Rancho Cantina - A few Spicy Bandelero's - Mexican Near Me - Lafayette, California

Enjoyed dining here. Simple restaurant and tasty food. Staff was courteous. Nice choices of drinks as well. I wasn't too fond of their salsa however, to me it was really sweet and I'm not into that I would prefer some spice. Enjoyed the salad it was fresh and the meat was cooked well. I love that it was a cozy environment. Cool place to go with friends or family for tasty food and simple dining. I would definitely come back again. read more

Rancho Cantina - Carne Asada Salad - Mexican Near Me - Lafayette, California

My wife and I love this place! The food is great, the ambiance is fun, the wait staff is also great, in particular Avery who is simply a joyful and fun human being. read more

Great place for Mexican food in downtown Lafayette. I tried their Chicken Enchiladas it was awesome. Salsa and Guacamole are awesome. Wish their nachos were little fresh Would highly recommend this place read more