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

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

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

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

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!!!!

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

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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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.

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

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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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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Food and margaritas are fantastic and maybe you will get lucky to be served by the fabulous Avery. Even luckier if he belts out happy birthday for you. Taking off 1 star because it is a small restaurant but is still very loud so don't go if you want to have much conversation with your table mate. read more

One of my family's restaurants in Lamorinda. The food is unique considering it is Mexican. They go out of their way to make something that is different than most. Very fresh ingredients, great outdoor vibe...and let's be real...Avery is the best waiter on the planet. I hope they never lose him as he is a gem of a human. 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

Been here many times, always have had a great experience. Nice patio with garden, delicious food and guacamole. I love the taco salad with carnitas, my wife loves chicken tinga tostada. Excellent customer service. Update: Still wonderful, great delivery on door dash. We miss seeing Avery and the others every couple of weeks. read more

TO THE OWNER OF THIS PLACE. IN REGARDS TO YOUR EXPLANATION TO MY PREVIOUS POST THAT YOU Commented. The beer was around $7 that I did order. CHIPS AND SALSA WAS $12 THAT I DIDN'T ASK FOR. IT WAS OFFERED. Your restaurant tactics of operation are terrible. Gouging your customers and Not trying to fix the problem you tell your customers to go to an other restaurant for free food? This is not about getting free food it's about you offering food and and then charging the customers for it read more

We've been frequenting this restaurant for 10 years. The food continues to be really excellent but, with the exception of Avery (who is amazing!), the service staff is 1 star. The wait staff as well as the owner/bartender always seem to be in a bad mood and make regular customers like us feel unwelcome. read more

delicious food! shrimp cooked to a perfect texture and flavor. churros are light and crunchy. loved all the dishes.

I'm Mexican, born and raised. This isn't Mexican food, folks. I rarely write reviews but I have to for this place because it is the most overpriced, mediocre restaurant claiming to serve Mexican cuisine. The server brought us guacamole, chips and salsa without us ordering it, so obviously we thought it was on the house. When we got the bill, he included the guacamole ($10.) The worst part though, was his attitude when my boyfriend told him that we didn't order it and we shouldn't pay for it. Much love to the sweet busser and runner. Brown folks always be working the hardest and being the most humble. To the owner standing around drinking wine, invest in quality food and maybe educate yourself on the art of Mexican food. You're running a disgrace. read more

Had a great dinner. The Vaquero entree was the highlight. Our waiter Avery was super thoughtful and FUN. Definitely recommend! read more

Who: A server named Avery What: unknowingly invited us to the "Avery Show" When: Friday 10/11/2019 Why: Because I was a guest Where: Rancho Cantina Lafayette, California, USA Breakdown Food: 2.5stars Service: 1.5 star Drinks: 2.5 stars But I'm rating a one star because my experience was not worth the overall value Part 1 of 3 I was really thinking I would have an experience that was memorable as I often do when I eat in Lafayette. This time around there was an exception, an obvious one. To start off I would like to state that I usually only come to dine on this town if I expect to spend a pretty penny. This time around that did happen, how ever my experience was unlike any other that I've ever experienced in all the years of my 29 years of life. I was greeted by the host, a mature a gentleman in a traditional cowboy hat. I was so overjoyed you know Matchbox 20 style. I was in awe actually because I have a strange obsession with Texas lol so I figured I would be in a for a treat. Upon entry things appeared to be very classy, you know when the lighting is dim, and the knife and fork is wrapped in a serviette on the table. I thought to myself I couldn't have picked a more perfect place to come to do what I intended to do. There weren't many people in the establishment, I would say a third of the restaurant was filled. I thought wow, I'm going to be able to hear and I'm going to be able to communicate effectively because the noise level wasn't too high. I needed to have a serious talk with my partner about our relationship, this was to be an intense convo. We were then greeted by a gentleman who came off as very casual and because of the initial interaction I didn't realize he was my server. He introduced himself as Avery and proceed to kindly ask if we would like YES, he offered us chips, salsa and guac I said sure. I've been to many establishments where this kind of dish would be on the house as a thank you for your patronage. Maybe a smaller portion of guac but still I had no idea we would be charged for it. Way to up-sale, unfortunately I was unaware of this and feel like I was suckered into buying something I had no interest in purchasing. I literally had organic guacamole earlier, for free where I work.... long story short I knew this would be an instant subtracting of a star on this yelp review. It's very unprofessional to go around offering things and not indicate that there's a FEE!!! Yes, it does say it on the menu as I read the owners response to another yelper. I'm guessing I'm not the first person to be swindled into this gimmick. I honestly had no time to look at the menu before I was offered it though. Maybe they're all in cahoots. Who knows? Shoulder shrug emoji. I had no time because Avery greeted us immediately which I'm not mad about because being punctual is good in the service industry. He asked if we wanted drinks and I looked at the drink side before I could zero in on the food side which is the side that indicates the $10 guacamole. Sneaky, slick, conniving and calculated is how I come to make sense of this. Posting the rest of the review shortly read more

Ok for what it is, where it is. I live in San Francisco and have my local Mexican spot in the Mission. Nothing will compare to authentic Mexican in the Mission. Came here on a Sat evening for dinner with a large group, 4 adults and 3 kids. We were seated quickly (staff combined two tables) and waiter was very lively. Chips and salsas are not free. Both of the salsa were meh, spice level of zip. If you want spicy by any means, it won't be here. The wet burrito I had was underwhelming. No choice of beans - I love my black beans, but nope. Pricey food because of the pricey area, so that's expected. Indoor area was super loud, I could barely hear the people at my table talk. Happy to have tried this restaurant but won't be back for any Mexican cravings. read more