We had our wedding at Rancho Nicasio back in August 2012. Everything went so smoothly! They really worked with us on our budget and there were no surprises when it came time to pay the bill. On top of all that, the location is beautiful! The wedding coordinator and caterer, Julii Ashby, did a fantastic job creating our menu and organizing all the little details of the day. Everything was so beautiful and the food was great! Everyone was so helpful on our big day! The bartenders and servers were great! They even brought the wedding party little appetizer samples while we were off taking photos. I would highly recommend Rancho Nicasio if you are planning a wedding. read more

I'm reviewing the music venue, not the restaurant. GREAT place for a concert. You can picnic, or eat the BBQ there, or drink Jack with the rest of the folks. I saw the Flatlanders here, and sat, oh, five feet away. And met them after. Extremely cool. And it's an unlikely amalgam of people, in a great way. read more

So this place is literally located in the boonies. About two hours from Foster City so why the hell would I go all the way over here to have lunch?? Because this place is on the way to Point Reyes where I can find the best oysters around!! Just take a cooler and make a day of it :) I have made this trek twice now and make it a point to stop here for lunch. They have the best, I mean the BEST clam chowder ever and I would know because I have tried it everywhere. Besides Tadich in SF, this place has pretty damn good chowder! Two thumbs up for sure!! I have also tried the fish & chips and both times, the fish were fresh, crispy & not greasy (like some places) and the chips where fresh and big, just how I like them! The meal does come with cold slaw and it's pretty good but that's just filler right??lol My cutie pie had the prime rib sandwich and he said it was really good, not over done and very tasty especially with the salsa. I do agree with some posts about the service but if you know the area and the whole 100 people that live around there, you would understand that it's a pretty casual place. If you are looking for a five star place, this isn't it~ fair warning! You seat yourself and may have to find a waiter to take your order so don't expect too much service wise. The food on the other hand, delish! Next time, I want to try the calamari and crab sandwich, maybe... read more

Very nice ambiance. Casual and fun. Food is excellent. Only deducted one star because prices are a little high, but then again they basically have a monopoly on the neighborhood. Service was friendly but a little slow. Basically, it's a very cool place, great food, decent service, OK prices. read more

Joined three friends on Thanksgiving for the worst turkey meal ever!!! The restaurant should be ashamed for having the nerve to charge $40 for "fake" turkey (a turkey roll which combined dark meat and white) - no bird parts in sight, instant mashed potatoes and a sliver of store-bought pie so thin that it was only an inch-and-a-half thick at it's widest point!!! I love the country feel and mellow-vibe of Rancho Nicasio but after a ruined Thanksgiving meal, I'll never eat there again. read more

Tried Easter Brunch for the first time! Had 2:45 reservations and got seated promptly. Food was very good but my only complaint was that they ran out of Ham!! The buffet was to go until 4, so they should had made sure there was enough for all the seatings!! I feel they should have adjusted our bill since they were running out of many dishes!! I feel sorry for people that were seated at 3:30!!! I would have given 4 or 5 stars if they had made sure there was enough food!! read more

really fun. can't compare it if you eat outside on the patio or if you go for happy hour, 4-6 pm m-f. great beer. good food. beautiful marin co. weather. read more

It's decent. We went on a crowded weekend night. Service not great; testy bartender. Anyway, the waiter was much better. The food was excellent. I ordered wrong and got the prime rib sandwich, which is just last nights prime rib dinner sliced in half and overcooked. Everyone else in my party had outstanding food: the meatloaf was great and the chicken fried steak was perfectly done. The chicken wings were spicy and very tasty, as was the calamari. The food prices were very reasonable. Drinks were not inexpensive, but the pours were hearty. Lagunitas on tap. I'd go again. Perfect for lunch during an afternoon scenic drive or ride. I would avoid the night time - not for the staff or the food, but for the clientele. Completely overrun by 70 year old wealthy retiree's and their aging 50 year old former trophy wives. Gray pony tails, facelifts and wrinkly fake breasts abound. read more

Rancho Nicassio is my favorite music venue in the Bay Area. Summertime BBQ on the lawn is incredible - so special so beautiful always packed with fabulous music, great sound, killer food, and such easy going and friendly staff. Winter months it's great for music as well, and the bar is rustic, old style casual. Great place. read more

I discovered Rancho Nicasio when I realized my favorite jazz band, Stompy Jones, played there often. At least 3 times a yr we would gather our large group of friends to eat, drink, dance and be merry. that all changed some months ago when myself and my friends were treated rudely and quite literally informed that we were not spending enough money by ordering horsd'oeuvres. Our dinner bill was around 350 dollars not counting our drinks. That night we had 23 friends dispersed throughout Rancho, I am certain we spent enough money!!!! Last night Stompy Jones was playing at Rancho Nicascio, at about 6pm my husband said, "do you wanna go just the two of us and sit at the bar, you love the bartender?" my response " my hearts just not into it!" My daughter overheard our conversation and informed us that the hostess with the horrible manners was in fact fired! I want to thank you RN it is sad in this economy but I am certain she will be easily replaced by someone that enjoys people, and values her job!!! Perhaps I will try Rancho again! read more

I am actually writing a review about the Rancho Nicasio as a music event venue, not the restaurant. I recently purchased on line tickets for an event that I can no longer attend. The tickets were at 'will call'. A group of friends all purchased tickets separately and one of those friends reserved a table for the group. I called and spoke to Mike about changing my will call tickets to another persons name. Because the tickets were under my name but the table was reserved under a different name created an issue Mike was not happy to deal with. I do not know how they organize their will call tickets but all I can gather from previous events we have gone to and from talking to my friend who reserved the table, apparently only the person who reserves the table can deal with changes to the guest list!! I gave Mike the two names to check under and the name of the person I was changing my tickets to. He kept saying this was a very "left handed issue'! Well it's YOUR system Mike!!! I really did not feel comfortable in knowing that he had taken care of these changes. When we finally ended the call I said "thank you" and "good bye" and he said "thanks for not coming!" Seriously!!?? Not really wanting to deal with Rancho again! read more

The four of us had a wonderful evening of music and food. We attended the Paul Thorn concert, we were promptly seated and the service kept coming from water to cleaning the table. The quality of the food was very good considering the venue and number of people attending. I do not know how the food and service is without a concert, we would definitely go back and give it a try. read more

I love the band Wonder Bread 5 and thought it would be great to see them in what appeared to be a cool environment this past Memorial Day. Rancho Nicosio has a reputation as a great spot for live music. Wonder Bread 5 is the quintessential dance party band. What could be better? So I bought my tix for $25 each, and after calling the venue to ensure dancing would be permitted and finding out where we could dance - lawn vs. wooden dance floor - was told there would be lawn dancing. Ok, no problem. But when we get there after driving 1.5 hrs., the manager prohibits lawn dancing, and any dancing whatsoever in front of the band. Dancing was only permitted off to the side of the band on a deck, where you can't even see the band! Never ever went to see a party band and couldn't dance in front of it! That's ridiculous. Even the lead singer asked sarcastically if it was ok for the singers to be on the lawn. So we tried to make the best of it, but then had to contend with 5 and 6 year olds running nonstop circles through the dancers like it was a Nascar race. Parents couldn't care less. Many times I almost stepping on a kid and fell over. Overall, it was such a let down. Very poorly organized, and management was rude and inconsiderate. Even the food was also expensive and tasteless. Had the BBQ chicken and Tri-Tip. We weren't expecting perfection, but this event was noteworthy for how far it missed the mark. It could have been a spectacular experience. read more

The best Prime Rib with Yorkshire pudding in Marin. The service as always is with a smile its the best little rustic gem in Marin. The drive is cool thru the redwoods either direction from North to South, East to West you can.t beat Rancho Nicasio for its food and atomsphere. read more

We went for brunch on a Sunday which is average food compared to their dinner meal. We had the BBQ pork sandwich and BBQ chicken sandwich with fries. The fries were HOT and crispy but food average overall. read more

Rancho Nicasio - BBQ chicken burger - American Near Me - Nicasio, California

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So to start with, I don't understand the complaints at all. Our service was great! The food was great, I had the ribs n would get them again. My wife had the lamb shank n it was great! Lagunitas little sumptin on tap, can't go wrong there!! Live music on a Friday night. This place rocks!!! The crowd feels loyal n they r not yelpers. I will be back! read more

Rancho Nicasio is one of those places that it's hard to judge, because what you get out of it depends on what you're in the market for. The food is okay -- it's great early in the morning when you want to set out on a road trip, but what isn't? -- and the drinks are competently made but not anything to write a glowing Yelp entry over. It's also not cheap. But it's not the food and drink that's the pull here -- it's the atmosphere, which just feels classic; the location, which is crazy gorgeous, and the draw of live music on nights and weekends. It's not a place for foodies and trend-chasers, but it's not entirely a tourist trap either; it earns its reputation by virtue of what the old baseball scouts call "intangibles". read more

Went there for brunch this a.m. Had eggs over easy, ham and substituted english muffins for toast. I was not disappointed. The ham was salty/sweet (maple?), a nice foil for the eggs. The potatoes that come with were seasoned and herbed. Excellent value for around $10. My friend has Eggs Benedict which she pronounced as wonderful. I deliberately steered away from salads and complicated food, cuz it doesn't look like that kinda place and was rewarded with a full yummy tummy. I didn't have coffee, but it did smell pretty good. If you get there @ 11 a.m., sit near the fireplace; it's a bit nippy. read more

This review is for the Western Room - my wife and I went the other night and it was one of the best meals I've ever had. We already loved the low-key vibe and atmosphere of Rancho Nicasio, but the Western Room takes things to a whole new level. Every plate was exceptional, service was attentive and I appreciated that the wine list was not filled with $100+ bottles of wine. The whole experience was great and we can't wait to go back. read more

We had a small reception for my son's wedding here on Monday. Julii was a wonderful event planner. She helped us pick wonderful menu options, set up the decorations that I dropped off and made sure all ran smoothly. The waitresses were wonderful as we had 10 boys there. 2 of the bride's brothers are special needs children and when the staff saw the boys loved the little cheeseburger appetizers, they quickly made another tray and also put on some cute cut up grilled cheese sandwiches. They were wonderful and accommodating given that these boys needed just a bit more patience and a bit of looking the other way with young boy's table manners. The dinner was wonderful. A fantastic salad, salmon or steak with wonderful grilled veggies. I would highly recommend this restaurant for not only food, but atmosphere. The outdoor setting is beautiful, redwood trees, a gazebo, a deck for dancing, beautiful plants for photo ops. There is a volunteer fire station next door with wonderful exterior for wedding pictures. This is the place to go for events in the West Marin area. read more

I hadn't been to Nicasio in nearly 40 years when the wife suggested a spur-of-the-moment 4th of July visit to Rancho Nicasio. I'm glad she did -- it was a great afternoon with the Zydeco Flames and a nice BBQ in a shady back yard setting. Nice people, good 'Q, and great music to dance to -- what more could you ask for? read more

We have been to Rancho Nicasio quite a few times. We have never been disappointed in the food or entertainment. Everyone is friendly and it is just an all around good time! read more

Stopped before going to horseback riding for a quick bite- including oysters. Ordered calamari and then oysters (6). Then oysters. Then clam chowder. Although my daughter and I were full after the calamari, the food was so delicious we couldn't stop! Best oysters and clam chowder I've had in probably 5-10 years. What a lovely find this Thanksgiving week! read more

Chef Ron Siegel is now at the Western Room. Food was excellent. It was a real treat. Service was great. We're coming back again soon. It is worth the long trip. read more

Have you been to Rancho Nicasio? I've been there a few times, but the service was so crap, it was almost funny. It was like being in an episode of Fawlty Towers. I really wanted to like the Rancho because I love music & dancing, and I want to support local businesses. But sadly, every time I've been there, the "head" server and (maybe his mother?...) the old lady "hostess/ waitress/ whatever" were rude and insulting to my party--me, my date; my church group, even to my 70 year old mother! (We only noticed the attitude from those two, the rest of the staff seemed nice, apologetic of them, even, and the latino kitchen staff were charming and efficient). One eve, after dining & dancing, my date & I left the building, and were walking down the pitch black road to where the car was parked (quite far away...) when we were startled by a vision in black & white flapping & squawking at us from the direction of the Rancho. It was the "head' waiter after us--we thought we'd left the credit card there or something & were poised to say, 'oh gosh, thanks', when the guy let out this torrent of abuse, accusing us of running off without paying, etc etc! You can imagine how this went down with my date; he'd just paid through the nose for some pretty average food & drink (...but okay, we liked the band)! He waved the receipt at the guy, and told him to bug off; my date was outraged! Did that "head" waiter guy apologize? He absolutely did not. His attitude seemed to say 'okay, you got off on a technicality this time, but don't try it again'... So we laughed that experience off, and then, exactly one week later, the Hostess from the Rancho phones me & asks where I am. 'I'm at home, thanks; who are you, and why are you asking me where I am?' So she tells me I have to be at the Rancho in 15 minutes or they'll give away my table and charge my credit card $50.00 (or something), cancellation fee. We talked at cross-purposes for a bit until I realized they'd messed up the booking, and instead of booking me in for last week's band (playing on my birthday...) they'd mistakenly booked me in for the following week. Fair enough, anyone can make a mistake. Except, she would NOT back down, she absolutely insisted that I'd booked for the week after my birthday (why would anyone do that, I ask you?) ... & I felt she was a genuine threat to my credit card! I gave up and stopped arguing with this woman when I realized she wasn't going to be reasonable and said, fine, you charge that to my credit card, and I'll call the cops AND report you for fraud. (Later, I got legal advice about whether she could charge my credit card without my permission... Just so if she tries that on me again, I'll be ready!) My date heard the whole conversation, and could not believe his ears; he was as shocked as I was. Funny, they never did apply that charge, but then, they never apologized either... Wait, I know what's going on; they must have a hidden camera, and they're compiling one of those Candid Camera type movies! Because I'm sure the looks on our faces must have been PRICELESS. read more

the first time I experienced food poisoning was after eating here. I got the chicken wings. I am from east coast and am use to my wings being deep fried and crispy. These were served soggy and I figured they were cooked in an oven. I ate them anyways thinking Im sure they will be fine. They weren't and I had to take 2 days off of work before I could function somewhat normal. Other than that, I did like the bar and atmosphere and would go back for drinks...jut wouldn't order any food. read more

Best items are the Fish and Chips, burgers and oysters but do not order the Calamari: has to be the worst in Marin. It's mostly dry old fashion overly done breading and tough miniscule meat. Not even as good as a cheap drive in and certainly not worth the price. Bad Calamari ! Really. read more

I am frankly confused, by the folks who say the service was no good. My family and I had a great dinner, listened to some terrific music (the 85's) and our wait staff was great. The water was always full, my wine glass was always full and my stomach was REALLY FULL when we left. If I didn't live so far away, I would be a regular. My folks are in Sleepy Hollow but, my husband and I are in San Mateo now. I know they have been a few times. We are sure to visit again! Keep up the great work. Dinner was delicious: Pork Chops, salad, steaks...seafood....our table tried it all:) YUMMY. read more

Stopped in for a drink, paid $10 for a Kettle One Bloody Mary; strong weird flavor, not just too much pepper but something strange about it... maybe it was the frowning barkeep. Ordered an omelet; menu said goat cheese, spinach, asparagus, avocado... instead received an over-cooked egg, jack cheese, a few yellow asparagus, no avocado, had mushrooms instead.. yuk! Ate it because I was having a drink and was hungry. Next time I will keep driving to Pt. Reyes where food is always good. Nice waiter. read more

Rancho Nicasio is great! I've been here many times for a long time and found that their french dip and their bbq pork ribs is what you come here to eat. On a nice Marin summer day, come here and order a rack of pork ribs and you wont be disappointed. I won't review on the true atmosphere of this place, since I never come here for the countless concerts and dinners they host every year. But that aside, Rancho Nicasio is one of my favorites and surprisingly one of my favorites for ribs as well! You will enjoy taking the time to drive out in the Marin back country and stopping by. read more

During the summer Rancho Nicasio has an outdoor concert series. I saw Ruthie Foster in a very nice venue with good sound. She tore it up too! The food was pretty good. read more

Went today for a friend's birthday and we had fabulous food, and service. They even let us bring in our own gluten free birthday cake. There were seven of us and each ordered something different and each person was very happy with their selections. The food was well presented, delicious, plentiful and reasonably priced. I would highly recommend this to anyone wanting a nice casual dinning experience with delicious food. read more

Great food and fun venue. I was surprised both at the low prices and the quality of the food!

The Rancho's summer BBQ is a wonderful Marin tradition. I should have reviewed them before as our experience has always been better than good. Yesterday, they outdid themselves. On a very hot day, the staff, food, drinks were cool. Unannounced opening act of Mike Duke, Angela Strehli, and Annie Sampson was a wonderful bonus. And best of all Leon Russell and his band gave us a wonderful evening of classics. Looking forward to our next trip. read more

Rancho Nicasio - The great Leon Russell at Rancho Nicasio! - American Near Me - Nicasio, California

Enjoy Rancho Nicasio very much. The Portobello Mushroom sandwich is the best in the county. -love the country atmosphere! read more

If you want to experience west marin, there's no place better than an outdoor bbq and concert at Rancho Nicasio. What a great vibe and location. The menu is a bit dated (where else can you even find a baked potato in Marin), but the food is very well executed. This is a place to go for the experience and the vibe, and the food is a nice complement to the overall experience. read more

This is one of my favorite places to go when I'm on my motorcycle on a nice day. Leave from the East Bay, go into Marin, through Fairfax and on some great riding roads. It's a big cyclist and motorcyclist stop on weekends, and there is live outdoor music in the Summer. I love the burgers, and my girlfriend just has to get this certain dessert (Vacheron?) that's some ice cream/custardy creation that is her all-time favorite dessert. It's out in the boonies but that's why it's a great stop for bikers(and if you are heading to Pt Reyes or Hwy 1). read more

I can't believe this doesnt have a five star rating. Seriously, barbeques on the green, top local artists and then some. Awesome food. New year's is wonderful and the food is excellent. I am pretty pickey when it comes to restaurants. The music is totally awesome and even the barbeque food is wonderful. But do book New Years.. you wont be disappointed!! read more

Love the atmosphere! Great music, the summer BBQs on the lawn are great, and the food is always good. Family friendly and BEAUTIFUL setting, even the drive there is amazing. read more

The barbeque food was good but the tight set performance by Leon Russell and his three piece group was well beyond excellent. Everyone was either dancing or grooving to each and every song played! This is a great outdoor venue with alot of interesting neighborhood characters in attendance to say the least! read more

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