Live entertainment 8 PM, festive atmosphere. The first time I was here was for our 40th El Toro high school reunion! Class of 1984 ! Which was remarkably done. (the staff was so nice, and gave exceptional hospitality!! Additionally, Lots of delicious foods was provided, great celebrational environment provided. For example, outside nice patio to dance, and the stage was upfront with all the lights and sound equipment needed for a concert! read more

RC's Watering Hole - Very nice live music! - Sports Bars Near Me - Foothill Ranch, California

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Had a great experience once. Last few times I was there. Service was poor at best. So many things not available. From alcohol to basic food items. Manager that talks more than he does. Just observing. At one point the owner got so drunk he started a fight with his customers. You can tell they are in some sort of financial difficulty by the way things are run. Manager has a fling with a waitress and it's obvious. Sadly it comes before the customers needs. read more

We came here a few months back on a Saturday afternoon/evening while in the area for a youth volleyball tournament. I remember I wanted to watch a big USC football game before getting on the road for the long drive home. So I figured it would be difficult finding a place that could take us to watch the game. As it turned out, when we arrived this place was almost empty and we were seated right away at a tabletop with many TVs with different college games showing. The fact that it was empty should've tipped me off right from the jump. It started off great. We sat down, placed our order with the waitress and waited for the food. So as we were waiting, more people started to show up. Then the longer we waited for the food and drinks, I noticed there was only one server/waitress for the entire bar area. On a Saturday evening. Look, man, I don't blame her. She was doing her best. This was management's fault. The service was bad. We waited forever, for everything. Again, I can't blame the one person working. It's not on her. You can't have ONE person working an entire bar area, on a Saturday evening, no less! I was shocked. But what makes it worse, was that the food was bad too. Nobody at our table finished their meal. It all looked and tasted like it was from a can. No thanks. Then, the cherry on top was that USC got demolished. Ugh. I won't be back. read more

Gave RC's another try. The band Soul Inspiration started on time at 7 pm. Yah! It's always nice to show up when the band is scheduled and they are on time. read more

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First time customer, but not last time! Most enjoyed the great dance music played by Soul Inspiration!!! We Danced all night! Celebrating a special birthday with WENDY! Delicious drinks with a hot fresh appetizer of chicken wings (your choice of sauce -sweet chili sauce was our choice) and a hearty chicken teriyaki bowl! Everything was way better than your average bar food! Friendly server and such a welcoming hostess! read more

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Stopped in on Valentine's Day and had a great time with Vanessa & Nayali. The place was busy and had a great vibe. You could tell they were hustling, but they still made sure everyone was taken care of. Drinks came out fast, the energy was great, and it just felt like one of those spots where you actually enjoy hanging out, not just watching the game and leaving. Definitely glad we chose this place that night and will for sure be back. read more

RC's Watering Hole - Sports Bars Near Me - Foothill Ranch, California

We found a gem in Lake Forest/Foothill Ranch. We went last week and enjoyed a great evening sitting outside listening to live music and great food. Inside we could see the Angels game and the Savannah Bananas game! This is a great place to go for great food and some music or sports. The staff was friendly and helpful all night and the vibe was relaxed and fun. Go check it out. BTW, my son was in love with the "Loaded" options. This was unique and we'll be back for some more. See you there. read more

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Quick points: HUGE step up from prior restaurants that have been in this space. Live music most nights. Dog-friendly and kid-friendly large outdoor patio available. Food, drink, service have been consistent and excellent. TVs everywhere for sports fans. Something for everyone. VERY easy parking in a huge lot right in front. Local family owned and operated. My $2 (I know I'm wordier than $0.02): I've been to this location when it was Peppino's, when it was purchased anew and turned into Center Bar & Grill (2020), and when it was purchased by another set of new owners as a rebooted Center Bar & Grill (2022ish?). I'd always wanted to like the reboots because this side of Foothill Ranch/Lake Forest really needs a local comfortable, accessible place to hang out and live music was always a plus, but each prior version just didn't quite do it. I was impressed by the vision of the first owner of Center Bar which brightened up a dark Italian restaurant interior, installed the clear garage door wall, and extended the bar, and each version strove to improve on the open concept. Enter RC, and THIS concept maintained everything good about the prior concepts, while adding a bunch of new twists of their own! The bright, open space is now accented with bold fresh paint on the bricks, new lighting and fixtures, new furniture. The food is solid (the new owners actually observed Center Bar as-is for months after taking over and kept all the old favorites, while adding their own to the new current RC's Watering Hole menu), the staff is always hustling, and the bar is run smoothly with friendly and efficient bartenders. Where Center Bar may have been a hit and miss with food and service before (I've had a few non-food items appear in my food at Center Bar, will spare the details since the prior restaurants no longer exist and RC's Watering Hole is an entirely new entity, new owners), I've had great tasting food and consistently reliable service with a smile. RC's Watering Hole wasn't done after improving food, service, drinks, and aesthetics... they've kept and added live music to more days of the week, added a digital jukebox, karaoke nights, and I hear that trivia might be coming soon, too. This place has been so creative with making sure there's something for everyone. For example, this is the only live music venue close-by I've found that rotates such a broad variety of live bands that include R&B and Soul, jazz, easy-listening, on top of the party rock and country that other live places have. I can't say enough good things about my experiences at RC's Watering Hole, and they keep me going back. Soon Monday Night Football will be coming to their many, many large TVs all around, both indoor and outdoor, so sports fans, this is for you, too! Personally, I go for the excellent bartending skills of Vanessa, Mirza, and the bartending team; I'm hopelessly addicted to their homemade beef chili for a protein and fiber kick; and they have gold- and platinum-awarded singer-songwriter Michael Hamilton performing there for the perfect mellow hump day evening vibe, whom they somehow magically snagged for every Wednesday evening going forward. RC's has become my favorite Wednesdays and I look forward to it all week long. read more

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I came here with my husband a few weeks ago on a Saturday. I unfortunately don't remember my servers name but she was very nice and got our orders right. My husband and I split nachos and we had them with nacho cheese, black beans, and tomatoes. We both enjoyed them a lot and I look forward to having them again. We also got separate entrees and enjoyed those as well. We also got a slice of cheesecake which was good and we were both stuffed after our meals. We also got to enjoy hearing the live band perform a little bit. I don't understand where all the negative reviews are coming from and I look forward to coming back. read more

i would suggest you take note when people say they do not care for a unprofessional server i am sharing this information as you as owners should be aware of her rude communication style This is being shared as this is not the first time nor is it the second time or the third time but the third time is the charm we will not be coming to your establishment due to Lesley The first time my husband walked up to the bar after waiting 10 minutes for a drink. Lesley was behind the bar. My husband asked if he could order a drink. Her response was "Go back to your table as there is a server that covers your table. 1 if there was a server for our table, we did not see your server for oh well over 10 minutes so that's why we came to the bar Then the second time we've come, we've had her response to the same thing. Last weekend we were there for a band there was 25 people at our table. My husband went to the bar to get a drink and was told the same thing by him. so with that said, I would not inform anyone to visit this place Possibly management should educate employees on what to say read more

"It's a really good sports bar with great bar food. The employees and owners are fantastic." Oh yeah, try their beer tower read more

Has a large outside,beautiful patio. Nice sports bar area inside. Good customer service. Good variety on the food menu. Has an outside stage for Live bands/entertainment. Small space in front of the stage for dancing. Outside patio is Dog friendly. read more

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Horrible place! Dinned here a few weeks ago and service and bartender with blonde hair was horrible. Our drinks sat at the bar for over 15 minutes, by the time we got our drinks they were watered down, and food was cold. Also bathrooms were very dirty and smelled. Unfortunately we will not be back, nor would I recommend this place. read more

Went a few weeks ago on a Thursday night. We had such a blast! A great band was playing outside and it was a busy night. We enjoyed the drinks, appetizers and especially the music. Small local band of 3 young men. Awesome time! We will definitely come again! read more

RC's Watering Hole - Band playing - Sports Bars Near Me - Foothill Ranch, California

We've been coming here for a couple of years to watch 49er football. We haven't been since last s years seasonans WOW!what a change! The food menu has expanded 2 fold and taste good too. My Mai Tai was fantastic! Lots of 9er fans here, great energy and the food was great. Service was great, always there for anything you need. I hope it stays around bc we'd love to come back read more

Went for happy hour and Thursday night football. Sat at the bar and we were greeted quickly. Good drinks, $5.00 well from 3-6. Happy hour menu is very limited, mostly fried snacks. It would be nice to see actual food added like tacos and sliders. Sadly we ordered the zucchini. It was mostly breading. 2 out of the 10 served had a paper thin slice of zucchini. We showed the bartender but she didn't offer an alternative or to take it off the bill. Music was supposed to start at 6:30 but by 6:50 the bad was still setting up. We are Sammy's regulars, we love live music and since they are closing we thought we'd try RC. We will be back and sit outside next time, inside is very loud. read more

RC's Watering Hole - Fried zucchini - Sports Bars Near Me - Foothill Ranch, California

New owners, new name, new menu and a bit of a needed face-lift! Looking great! Live music, karaoke Tuesdays, Touch Tunes, pool table, lots of new TVs and a solid staff, the making of a proper watering hole! If you haven't been to RC's yet give it a try! read more

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What a great neighborhood place this has turned out to be! The new owner and his wife have really worked hard to make this a gem! The food is really good and at a reasonable price. Same for the drinks and, their happy hour is worth a try! Live entertainment most week nights and sutiable for family's. As a football fan I know when I walk in there will be wall to wall football games on the numerous large TV's. What ever your experience with this restaurant has been in the past ..... it's not the same ownership. I would recommend you give RC's a try. You won't be disappointed! See ya at the game! read more

I don't usually go to sports bars, but a friend suggested this as a central meeting spot. Not sure how or why he picked it--but, fine. When we arrived, it wasn't busy. Happy Hour was in full swing. We sat on the patio, the only customers besides a table of six. That table got plenty of attention. We, on the other hand, were ignored. After about 15 minutes, our "server" (waiter #54) finally appeared--no greeting, no apology for the wait. It felt like someone in the kitchen had nudged him out to see what we wanted. His opening line: "Ya want something to drink?" This kid was clearly in the wrong job. A professional server brings energy, motivation, and a natural sense of hospitality. Waiter #54 had none of these. My guess? He's a family member. Drinks and food arrived in a reasonable time. The Happy Hour menu was a good value and the food tasted as expected. Then came the check--overcharged on both items. They corrected one item, brought it back, and I had to send it back again to fix the other. Either an attempt to pad the bill or just poor training. read more

Everything about this place is great. Complete refresh, food is outstanding, service is way better. Phenomenal place to come and get your buzz on. read more

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Amazing staff, great atmosphere , great food and always a good time every time I go! Plus I love that it's very kid friendly and pet friendly read more

I've visited this place a few times before leaving a review to make sure my experience was consistent. The service has always been good, and the food is what you'd expect from this type of restaurant. They feature a nice variety of bands, and the restaurant is spacious enough that there's usually plenty of seating without a long wait. We plan to visit again--the vibe is great, and the area feels safe and enjoyable. Steve S was our server and was very nice, attentive and accommodating. read more

Great local hangout. Good food, good service and good friends come together to hear live music. Vanessa was amazing. Took all of our orders and kept up with who belongs to whom when it came to bills. Thank you RCs for giving us a place to enjoy each other with good food and great music that comes with friendly service with a smile. read more

A great sports bar in the area. Nice staff and good happy hour but the food has really gone downhill. When they first opened it was pretty good for bar food and then something changed sadly. Will keep going back for sure but maybe eat at home! read more

RC's Watering Hole - This is what they called "chicken fingers" - Sports Bars Near Me - Foothill Ranch, California

The ambience and service are great, however the managers need to engage with customers,Their lack of interaction is very bad.

We have come twice now and we were pleased with the service and food both times. There is a lot of TVs so you can always catch the action and plenty of tables. There is an outdoor area as well. read more

Good drinks, food, and vibe. I've been twice since the new owner took over and had a good experience both times.

Checked out RC watering hole after it was Center Bar and grill. Ordered sliders that were individually like smashburgers (sooo delish) fries hot and fresh, gigantic house salad, pitcher of beer and karaoke Tuesday! Daniel took very good care of us! Price is right. Live music wed Thursday fri sat. Will be returning again! read more

Our group of 3 took a 20 minute Uber to try a new place Saturday evening. Like other patrons, we were surprised of the $20 pp cover charge for the Depeche Mode cover band. I think they should have offered a package (ie: band ticket, entree & a drink for $40). We spent over $200 in drinks and food plus the $60 for the concert. Customer service was great! We only saw two women on the outdoor patio and THEY HUSTLED! We got our food quickly and it was all delicious. We ordered wings and the flat bread pizza. The band was great. Everyone was dancing and having a great time. Definitely recommend and will return if they have another 80's cover band. read more

RC's Watering Hole - Delicious wings! - Sports Bars Near Me - Foothill Ranch, California

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Love the new vibe. Great music flowing through the sound system. All relevant sporting events are on the TV's and a great happy hour! We've been here the last two Friday's and seen two awesome bands play in the patio area. This watering hole is just what our area needed! Keep it up!! Love it! read more

We had a server who was very attentive and gave us great service. He would always check on us if we needed anything. We give him a APLUS

Love the fun family friendly vibe. Got the smash sliders with sweet potato waffle fries and they were excellent! We also tried the 3 meat BBQ platter with a ginormous baked potato! We also got drinks, Long Island Iced Tea and Mai Tai. Love the vibe of this new local restaurant. And it will be a blast to frequent for football and sports games. Welcome to the neighborhood, RC and crew! read more

I came here with my BFF to hear Vintage Vinyl (one of our favorite bands. We also enjoyed margaritas, Caesar salad, shrimp tacos and carnitas tacos. Everything was delicious but the shrimp tacos were especially good! Our server was terrific. All thinks combined to make for a fun evening'. read more

RC's Watering Hole - Loved the band! - Sports Bars Near Me - Foothill Ranch, California

RC's Watering Hole is the newest restaurant owner to take over what used to be back in the day Peppino's in Foothill Ranch. Locals and beyond really need to come out here to enjoy the outdoor ambiance of the beautiful Saddleback mountains. Food, service and happy hour worth the trip. They have all the sports on their multiple TV's. Check out their website. They have live music, karaoke Tuesday and future trivia nights. It truly is one of the most relaxing beautiful outdoor dog friendly patios we've ever enjoyed! read more

This bar is under new ownership!!! We went 4 days in a row... We had great food and amazing service. Abby is my favorite. The flatbread meat lovers was amazing! The energy and live music every night has been off the charts. I love that the owners are there asking how everything is and really have changed everything. We will be back as much as possible!!!! Highly recommend this place and they have great beers! So excited for RCs Watering hole and Foothill Ranch! They are back!!!! read more

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Fun atmosphere on Friday night. A good band and a good family crowd early in the evening. Gives FHR a pulse.

Been coming here a few weeks prior to grand opening. I've eaten multiple items from the menu and all superb. Great prices and awesome people help top off an excellent experience. read more

We were excited for the rebrand of RC Watering Hole. While we really liked the previous owner of Center Bar & Grille, the space definitely needed an overhaul. After the new ownership took over, my fiancé stopped in once and had a great conversation with the owner's daughter about her rescue dogs. Since we're also passionate about rescue, that connection made us want to support the restaurant even more. Today, we went with our two rescue huskies. The service was decent and the food was good. Unfortunately, what happened next will probably keep us from coming back. About 30 minutes after we left, we realized my fiancé thought I had signed the check, but I hadn't. Not only had we left without signing or tipping (an honest mistake), but his credit card was also missing. When we returned, the server still had the unsigned receipt--but no card. She didn't recognize my fiancé. The owner brought out all the cards they had, but ours was nowhere to be found. Now, we have to freeze the card and deal with the inconvenience, and there's no guarantee the tip adjustment will go through. It just leaves a bad taste in our mouths. Even if it was an honest mistake, it's unsettling that a card could disappear so quickly after being left behind. Good food and decent service, but the lack of care in handling something as important as a customer's credit card is a dealbreaker. read more

This place is so fun! Living in Irvine the live music vibe is VERY hard to find, if even allowed anywhere. Drive 5 minutes out of town and welcome to Center Bar and Grill, and it does not disappoint. It's located in a shopping center, at the tail end of a outdoor covered food court. Tucked away to bring you privacy with the feel of outdoors, what a dream location. They have a stage with live music every Saturday (starting at 6:30pm) and it is lit! Food menu is what you would expect, burgers are huge and flatbread pizza's are amazing. We had a party of 20+ people once and were accommadated perfectly. The service was quick and we felt very taken care of. Yes they get busy at night but are there when you need them. Yes, it still new(ish) but they are on their game with the best hospitality in the area. If you want a fun Saturday night with good vibes, yummy food and great music look no further than Center Bar and Grill. It won't take long before you become regulars like us, a guaranteed great time awaits. Create memories that you will talk about for a long time, this place is that special. Big thanks to the Center Bar and Grill team for being outstanding! read more

RC's Watering Hole - Sports Bars Near Me - Foothill Ranch, California

I came here for an early dinner shortly after they opened on a weekday. They're located at the Foothill Ranch Food Festival and have a classy sports bar vibe. Plenty of big screens with an extra huge one on their patio. I sat inside and had Luis as my server. His upbeat and warm personality along with his attentiveness made this meal a five-star experience. I'm certain the other servers are great but I felt lucky to have this fellow taking care of me. He immediately informed me I was there for happy hour and steered me toward the happy hour drinks and menu items which I appreciated. Indeed, I ended up ordering from the happy hour offerings. First I had a glass of Robert Mondovi Cabernet which honestly isn't the most top-of-the-line wine but irresistable at their happy hour price. The pour was a generous one. I then ordered the sliders (two to an order) which come with fries. The sliders were excellent; juicy, flavorful beef topped with bacon, lettuce, and tomato. I asked to hold the onion but added cheddar cheese. These sliders are larger than average and every bite was enjoyed. The fries were hot with a crisp exterior and soft inside. A clean non-oily taste. They were ordinary fries but when something is done to perfection as these fries were, I have nothing but respect. Things were going so well I decided to try dessert; a chocolate mousse cake. The cake was moist, the mousse soft and chocolatey, and the frosting on top sweet but not overbearing. A big win on ambience, service, and food = the full five stars. read more

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