Hung out way too much here! Definitely a local watering hole. Everyone super friendly prices were cheap! Would come again! Not so many beers next time ! The deep fried artichoke hearts are da bomb! You get a whole basket full! read more

I used to get wedge salad three times a week, along with food for my daughter. I spent approx 200$+ a month for 7 mos. I got take out dinners also, for my daughter and I, always left 20% or more for tip, even though take out. Somehow, after my iPhone was stolen / I was told not to return , unacceptable. Since then I have spoken to Jenny the Bartender who reported , she had not heard of this. I told her I missed my salad. She said she had never seen the person that had taken the phone before. She was very polite and told me to call Fri or Sat , and speak to her. I guess , I will wait and see what happens. read more

We wanted a few beers and a western theme and we got it, we went on s Friday night and had a hoot. The staff were amazing and sadly I forgot the waitress name who served us but also works at the wagon wheel , she was great We met George another customer and loved his cowboy hat and singing read more

The absolute worst dining experience of my life. The server took half an hour to ask for our order and didn't check up on us even once afterward. Not once. We had to flag down a busser to even ask for a refill, but she forgot, too. The artichokes they claimed were "50% off" were still 12 dollars, and the 20 dollar chicken I waited an hour for was chewy and less flavorful than KFC. I have never been so dissatisfied in my life. After we received the chicken we just wanted to get out of there, so we asked for it to go; the server still added a 3 dollar charge for splitting the meal, and wouldn't remove it. It wasn't even supposed to be a split meal. With negligent servers and Denny's caliber chefs, I would definitely recommend against going here. read more

We have come here several times for breakfast n everyone is nice n food delish, will continue coming here for Sunday brunch from now on

We ate at the Running Iron Friday 01.12.17 and the service was excellent. However, the food was really average. So disappointing were the fish tacos which did not taste fresh. And, $12.00 for one medium sized artichoke. Be aware if you split any item there is a three dollar charge. So, the artichoke was 15 bucks. We have been going there since the 70's, but it is cheaper and better at the Rio Grill. read more

We used to eat here after hiking on Sunday's a few years ago. Boy has it gone downhill! My over medium eggs Sunday, had very under cooked whites. Yuk! Same with a friend. The fried potatoes were either previously cooked or frozen. There were 6 of us and only one person (pear salad) had no complaints on the food. The service was very slow and inattentive. Not going back. read more

Terrible. Run as far away as you can. I had a ham and cheese omelette and biscuits & gravy. The omelette was so over done that it was dark brown and crispy. You needed to cut it with a knife. The biscuits and gravy were the worst I've ever eaten. The gravy was greasy and flavorless. The biscuit was so dense it was chewy. My husband had a patty melt and it was mediocre and bland. The server was very nice and friendly. She didn't charge me for the omelette I sent back. I left feeling nauseated. read more

Nothing special, regular food like sandwiches and burgers. Nothing particularly distinguishing about it, but it was okay. Looks like its been there for quite a while and probably has some tales to tell! read more

I live nearby but had not been here for some years due to bad service, poor attitudes and not so good food. I came back today as my wife requested to find the service greatly improved, better service but not greatly better food. Since it was a Sunday, I planned to order off the weekend breakfast and brunch menu but there was a chicken fried steak special to be had so I ordered that. My wife ordered huevoes rancheros with scrambled eggs. She didn't like her scrambled eggs and left half of her meal. Mine was huge and the 'steak' was too tough. I left about one fourth of my meal uneaten. I think both of us made bad menu choices. I'm going back in the near future but won't be ordering such a huge meal. Overall, the place was cleaner and the people nicer than in the past. I'll give it another try again on a weekend. read more

As many years as I've been coming here, I can't believe I have never tried their fried chicken. It might be the best fried chicken I've ever had. It's also enough food for about three people. So, why only three stars you ask? We stuck around to watch game three of the World Series and after the bar filled up, the service was pretty bad. I usually just walk to the bar and order my drinks from Jenny. I always will from now on, she can handle a crowded bar and never keep you waiting. I also think they could have spared 1 TV for the Oklahoma/Notre Dame game. Any actual sports bar would have realized the importance of this match up. read more

I have been going to The Running Iron since I was a kid (grew up in the Valley), so I've had over 20 years of experience with the restaurant. I'm sad to say The Running Iron is a shadow of what it used to be. I believe they have different owners than in the past, as it seems like they have shifted more focus to the bar half of the building, and the food has suffered as a consequence. A significant amount of the food (depending on what you order of course) is clearly bought pre-made. Running Iron used to have killer calamari, it's now soggy and disappointing. Don't get me wrong, this is still a great little spot. The quirky atmosphere created by the boots and wall decor is definitely not to be missed, and the staff is always very friendly and attentive. The one item that hasn't suffered is the marionberry pie, and the portion is perfect for splitting. I would definitely recommend stopping here for booze and pie, but as for the rest of the menu, tread carefully. read more

Our group of 8 came here for lunch while we were wine tasting. A genuine tavern feel and family owned and operated, Running Iron was a great place to eat. My BLT with avocado was perfect, and the Gobbler got great reviews from others. We will be back! read more

Great place, good burgers after a hike near by. Highly recommend. We send friends her all the time.

Love the shredded beef nachos! Grew up coming here with my dad and now I come here frequently with my hubby and kids.

Came here for the after party after our wedding at Holman Ranch. It was super convenient because it was right around the corner from the venue and everyone could just walk to the Blue Sky Lodge and Contenta Inn afterward. read more

Good food and a relaxing casual place to go for dinner.

This was one of the more disappointing dining experiences. After the overpowering scent of dirty bathroom and used urinal cake that greeted us upon entering, several of our party ordered the fish taco special. Some time after the surly waitress took most of our orders (missing two people), we received our meals. The fish in the tacos was far from fresh, the rice was less than satisfying, and the beans tasted strongly of sour milk. For $16 per plate, this was pretty outrageous. I do not recommend this establishment unless you're just looking to grab a beer and go. read more

Five stars for food and view. Zero stars for service. The good: Food is fabulous, I had the steak sandwich and it was outstanding! View is awesome, on a hot day with some cold iced tea, there's no place like it. Prices are reasonable, although they used to include a small loaf of bread as an appetizer but now charge $2.25 per loaf. The bad: Service is so bad it's laughable. We went today at 1:00, there were exactly 4 tables occupied outside and 2 inside. Three waitresses. Where do they disappear to? We finally got up and got our own iced tea refills. The waitress didn't come to the table even once to ask if we needed anything. Finally, we went inside and stood by the cash register to pay and to request a to go box. No splenda available for iced tea. Final: We will go back, the food and the view are worth it. If you go knowing you won't get any service except bad, you won't be disappointed. They will take your order promptly and they will bring your food. After that, you're on your own. Note: AMEX not accepted, Visa & MC only. read more

OK, really 5 stars? well the food we had was 4 stars. Very good sandwiches, great fries & perfectly mixed drinks. The service was down home friendly and very accommodating. The reason this place gets 5 stars is because after one night at a very LOCAL bar/restaurant I felt at home. It's a quirky place with lots to look at and local patrons that are from all walks of life and will tell you about it if you are interested. I went back and will be back. Thanks for the good times. read more

I made reservations for a party of 5 at 7pm on March 2, 2012 for March 3, 2012. When we arrived we were informed the place was closed for a private party. When I tried explaining to one of the men who worked there he was very rude and said there was nothing he could do for us. He never once said he was sorry even though I told him we had driven over an hour to get there. When he didn't even offer an appology I asked for the manager and he said that was him. We walked away with no desire to ever return. I called and asked for the owner to contact me so I could go over what had happen and he has yet to call. Does not even deserve a one star. read more

There condoms are to expensive and the bathroom stall has a hole in it for unwanted peekers

The waitress made us feel like locals while offering Fast friendly service at lunch. Large portions of good food, come with a serious appetite. read more

Great food and great customer service! Sweet potato fries and curly fries were soooooo good! Plus they were very friendly to our two dogs and brought them a water bowl. read more

GO HERE. It is the best kind of dive. This is THE local bar in little, remote-ish, rural Carmel Valley (12 miles SE of Carmel-by-the-Sea). It is a DIVE -- but in the best sense. It also has GOOD food -- and a ton of it -- at great prices and really, really, REALLY nice waitresses/bar staff. Good jukebox and no really big-screen TVs but a few (3, I think). You can eat out on the patio or inside. ORDER THE FRIED CHICKEN. It is as good as Kentucky Fried -- but home-made, without the chemicals and half the grease. Not only that, but for $18, you get so much that my fiancee and I BOTH eat it -- and take 1 or 2 huge pieces home for lunch or dinner the next day. (fried chicken PLUS salad or soup, baked or mashed potatoes, and side veg (like broccoli), AND a little loaf of fresh-cooked warm bread and butter. I just moved to the Carmel VAlley 6 months ago and make sure to go for the fried chicken at least once a week...fish tacos are also good, as are their daily specials. read more

This is the only place that I enjoy going to where the bartender and waitresses don't seem to like me. I guess I am the wrong demographic. This is a comfortable, dusty place, with good draft beer and basic American food. Prices are moderate. Ambiance is funky. In years past, the crowd changed late at night as the parolees and probation violators drifted in. I have not noticed that situation lately. I always try to stop by when I am in Carmel Valley, if only for a beer. If you haven't already guessed, the dress code is very casual. read more

Walked in and sat and the bartender Ashlee asked what we wanted to drink ...... told her give me a minute and she replied " apparently that's a difficult question for you " like seriously we literally just sat down ! I know it's a locals establishment but no need to be rude I'm from Monterey county also ..... peace out girl read more

I love the Bloody Mary's and breakfast , every Sunday morning. Great service , nice peeps and nice outdoor patio seating as well.

This is a real saloon with surprising good TV screens and a relaxed staff that will actually change the channel for you. Pretty decent selections of local beers on tap, and the bartender is very generous about giving you a sample of the beer before you buy. I've never eaten here because Carmel Valley has some very good, moderate restaurants, but this is a friendly down home place with fantastic people watching - the clientele cuts across every slice of humanity. read more

Poor service on last visit will ensure we never return. Waitress disregarded us for 15 mins at a time. We had to go get our own change after we waited forever after paying . Food was fair for dinner. Breakfast on a Saturday about 10 months ago was quite good but recent visit with rude and neglectful service will be our last. read more

The running iron clearly hasn't heard of seasoning once in their lifetimes. The food is sloppy and the waitresses are stuck up. The steaks are horrible and the food there is overpriced. Looking at that prices I thought I was going to get a gourmet meal but instead I got a steak that was over cooked and dry. Me and my family had an unpleasant time at the running iron and I don't plan on going again. read more

Quaint outdoor patio dining, great food! Large portions and great service.

Great rustic roadside place to eat at. My wife and I both had teriyaki Ribeye and it was delicious. Friendly service too. Modest prices considering the area. read more

I drive over to Carmel pretty often and always make my way down to Carmel Valley to grab lunch here. Very cool place to grab a bite to eat and you'll have tons of things to look at. They've got cowboy/country stuff all over the walls and ceiling. They've got an impressive menu. I'd expect a simple 10 item menu from a place like this but the menu is varied and HUGE. I generally go for their burgers and barn burnin' chili but every time I've ventured from my standard I've never been disappointed. When you walk in you can just seat yourself. You'll get a waitress soon enough and every one I've had has been friendly and courteous. My one knock on this place is they seem to go through waitresses pretty quickly and sometimes that leads to spotty service from the newbies. If you get one of the long time waitresses this is never a problem...they usually even recognize me when I walk in. Awesome bar, cool people, fenced in outdoor seating, cool country feel, killer food, relaxed atmosphere, & very good chili. It's a little bit of a drive if you're spending the day in Carmel but totally worth it. Couple of hints for people who go here... - Don't be afraid to flag someone down for menu's after you've sat down. - Most people, myself included, walk up to the register when you're ready to pay and leave. Some of the long time waitresses will pick the bill up but not always. - They are totally non-pushy, give you space, and your privacy. If you need something just ask. Never had a bad experience here and will continue to stop here for grub when I'm in the area. read more

Not good experience. Disorganized service. The kids meal arrived twenty minutes before our meal. Our house salads promised before the main course arrived late and one at a time. We had to ask for the bread that arrived at the end of our meal. Vegan Pasta ordered with tomato sauce came with meat balls. Over cooked pasta. Fish was over cooked too. Had to go to counter to get bill and we waited to pay. I definitely do not recommend this place. read more

As of 12/22, the Running Iron has temporarily closed. It's kinda strange not seeing any activity during the Christmas season, with all the other lights throughout the Village. The sign on the door reads: "The Running Iron is closed temporarily. It will be reopened in the near future by its previous owners Nelson and Jenn Foreman." read more

Went here last weekend for a late lunch for the first time and loved it. Good food, service and relaxed atmosphere. We started with the grilled artichoke and then the hubs had the eggs benedict and I opted for the blta. Will definitely be back next time we're in town! read more

The first time I walked into the Running Iron, I knew that Carmel Valley continues to keep its cowboy roots. Not only is the place a throwback to the wild west days, but their food keeps up with the changing times. Their burgers are out of this world, especially their ranch burger with onion rings...my personal favorite. The servers are always super helpful and the food comes in large portions. A refreshing, down to earth place. Thank you for being here! read more

Fun place to go with friends at the bar. The food, I had the southern fried chicken which was not great but juicy enough, my mates had the barbeque roast beef sandwich she said it was just alright, other mate had the valley burger he said was pretty good. Prob won't go back unless it's just for a drink. read more

Love this place. Niner and Giant friendly. Our excellent server Sharon treated us like locals, from nearby Monterey. Sat outside inn the beautiful patio area very laid back. My wife had a great local bee, Big Sur Ale, recommended by Sharon, I had the Bloody Mary. Both were great, We shared the appetizer fish and chips, which was ample. The fish was crisp and fried nicely,, fries were good, prices reasonable for Carmel Valley. read more