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    The Ranch House

    3.8 (711 reviews)
    Closed 5:30 pm - 8:30 PM
    Updated a few days ago

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    THE RANCH HOUSE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Romantic
    Classy
    Quiet
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - The Ranch House

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    Reta B.

    Pictures of this place looks amazing and reviews didnt seem bad so decided to come and give it a try. for a date night, its nice but other than the look, dont come here! I would say never again! I may come and see the place but dine in, NO! Their food has to improve! food was disgusting I would say. Literally the worst dining experience I have ever had. My fiance and I were not sure what we were served and what is the hype about it and why is it SO expensive for no reason!! The menu is set, you can only pick 3 or 4 course and you get that. The soup was cold, and it was odd taste. They have paired wine flight which we decided to go with. Also terrible. I'm not sure if they have changed chefs or something but how can it possibly be so bad from every angle.... The salads were not great, the one star goes up the fish fish but other than that pricy for no reason! I don't bother coming. There are so many places that are worth it more than this

    Chocolate cake
    A L.

    I was drawn to this restaurant because of the rich foodie history behind it. I've included a picture of Julia Childs dining at the Ranch House! It is a beautiful restaurant hidden in lush greenery and a garden. I knew this was the perfect spot for a date with my 9 yo son who is an aspiring foodie. There are short quaint paths to walkabout the herb garden, over a little wooden bridge you find secret dining areas with pretty lighting. The sound of trickling water is everywhere and it feels peaceful. The cocktail menu included wine, cocktails, and mocktails. I ordered a glass of The Fabelist Rose and it was delicious. I was tempted to order the French 75 but restrained myself. Next time. We were presented with some fresh bread and whipped herb butter that was fantastic. We kindly declined more, but probably would have eaten another basket. The menu is pre fixe - you can choose 3 or 5 items. I chose the crab cake, the scallops with risotto and let my son choose the dessert. He picked the chocolate cake. There is also a kids menu. Our server kindly shared it with us as it is not on the printed menu. My son chose the chicken tenders with fries. He said the ranch was amazing. He's a picky ranch guy. The crab cake was yummy, it was hearty with crab and came with a delicious apple fennel slaw, the sauce was good too. I could have happily eaten one more. The scallops and risotto was amazing. The scallops were cooked perfectly and the risotto tasted clean and not over seasoned. It had chunks of zucchini with some mushrooms. The chocolate cake was pure indulgence. It was a huge piece with layers of chocolate cake and chocolate mousse covered in a chocolate ganache. Served with fresh berries and whip. Would I go back? Yes. There are GF and vegetarian options. I was eyeing the Portobello with the coconut tarragon sauce, maybe next time. And that French 75. The service was attentive. We were greeted quickly by a group of employees by the bar. There was a server and an attendant who cleared the table in a timely manner while also providing water refills. The server's menu knowledge was solid, and he eagerly shared the soup of the day and specials. The Ranch House is a hidden gem, full of timeless stories and energies. Keep in mind this is a 70 year old restaurant-- basque in its history as the first farm to table restaurant, the first vegetarian concept in the 1950s, the place that hosted John Lennon, Marlon Brando, Cat Cora, Julia Childs and more! If you love food and history, this is where you should go. A humble experience in an Ojai paradise.

    Cognac Chicken Liver Pate
    Ashley S.

    The last time I visited, I was honestly super disappointed. Definitely not the experience we had when we first tried it. I ordered the filet which was on special. I ordered it medium well & it came out medium rare. Not kidding, borderline rare. I swear the very middle was not cooked. I didn't want to complain considering everyone gives me a hard time for ordering a filet cooked almost well done anyways. Just let me live okay. The service wasn't as great either. Just felt like another ordinary restaurant, where's the magic? It was also my birthday (a special occasion) & it didn't feel special at all. I mean I know we're not at Disneyland, but if you're going to have the ambience scream fairytale, carry that vibe all the way through. From food to service. The first time I visited, maybe it was just an ideal table with an ideal server and ideal seasonal cuisine. For the price though, I'm looking for a home run every time.

    "Charcuterie board"
    Joie S.

    WORST EXPERIENCE EVER!! Went with 5 girlfriends for happy hour, looking forward to a good time with good food and music. First, the so-called happy hour menu was sad, very limited. The server said the charcuterie board was substantial so 2 of us decided to share. There were 2-1/2 half inch "slices" of bread, a 2 inch piece of prosciutto, a small piece of salami and something that might have been ham; a caper berry, a tiny cornichon and a sprinkling of dried cranberries. Awful. The menu said crab cakes, but there was only one, no flavor. My friend sent it back. They took 40 minutes to tell one of us that what she ordered wasn't available. The Chardonnay was warm. The cosmopolitans had little to no liquor. This place used to be wonderful; now, I'll never go back. The music was good, though.

    Michelle H.

    We live about an hour outside of Ojai and a friend gave us a Groupon for this restaurant (which in the end we couldn't use and Groupon didn't give a full refund). Nevertheless, we were very excited to try something new! We had reservations on a Thursday night at 5, it wasn't busy yet. First off, the staff is very attentive and friendly (greeted warmly!), the atmosphere wasn't something I was expecting (which is a good thing!), we were seated next to the pond with all the wonderful Koi fish! My husband and I both got the three course meal, the perfect amount of food; since we also had bread (around $60 per person). I started off with: Burrata Toast: Burrata with toasted country bread, heirloom tomatoes, fresh farm arugula and balsamic reduction... this was a great starter! (however, I think the burrata could have been a little more fresh). Baby Gem Salad: Blue cheese crumble, bacon, cherry tomatoes, Ranch House dressing... simple salad, but it hit the spot. I think what I appreciate most is the portions; just enough where I don't get too full. Rack of Lamb: Sauté Couscous, spinach, Parmesan, mint yogurt... not sure how I felt about this. I love couscous and lamb; however I wasn't asked how I wanted my lamb cooked (which was a bit interesting), but it was still good. I will say they should get rid of the potato strips on top; I don't really think it goes well with the dish. As far as drinks go, I ended up getting the Barrel Aged Black Manhattan ($16) A subtle, spiced version of a beloved vintage... I really enjoyed this drink, it was nice and rich and perfect for the cold night out! My husband just ordered a Glenlivet neat and I will say the pour was generous! Overall, I enjoyed the atmosphere (though slightly outdated), however relaxing. The service was perfect, however the food could do with a bit of an adjustment.

    Filet Mignon
    Mojan D.

    This place is really a sight to see. The outdoor is pretty incredible, which is great during COVID. They have heat lamps for the colder evenings as well. The menu changes for the season and each dish is finely curated - this is definitely fine dining! Came with a few friends and we each tried different items. Here was our verdict: - APPETIZER: The Crab Cakes were the best tasting, but the Duck Flatbread was HUGE (see picture). If you have a bigger appetite, go for the flatbread! - MAIN: We got the Filet mignon, Duck breast, and Halibut. We were all split on this one. I personally liked the Halibut the best but my friends enjoyed the duck breast a lot. -DESSERT: We got the cinnamon creme brûlée, lemon cheesecake, and flourless cake. We were split here as well but overall we enjoyed the creme brûlée A LOT! It is very sweet, so if thats not your thing, you've been cautioned! That being said, the reason I took off a star is due to the price. There are not too many "fancy" restaurants in Ojai compared to more populous cities, so maybe thats why the price is justified. But it was roughly ~$70 per 3 course meal for smaller sized portions and good food but not AMAZING food. I think Ranch House is perfect for a date night or special occasion because of its ambience, its finely curated meals, and soul! All of the staff was wearing masks, attentive to service, and worked with us well to ensure we had a great time. Just be prepared to spend a pretty penny! (Apologies for the pictures, they are screenshots from a video)

    Lamb shank
    Sean R.

    Current price is $75 for 3 dishes and $90 for 5 Took my girl for her birthday and it was very disappointing... personally the ambience was okay it just felt like someone's backyard dressed up really well. We got the lamb shank and steak for entrees both were really bland. The highlight of these dishes were the vegetables as they had the most flavor mostly just coming from butter and salt. For appetizers we had the beef skewers and artichokes. The skewers had a marinade based with hoisin and some herbs that didn't feel like they paired together. The artichokes felt like they're the ones you'd get in a jar. Desert was very sad. The cheese cake were just two tiny squares that tasted worse than store bought frozen ones and the lemon cake was average. To be fair we're LA locals so we had a higher expectation for a fine dining experience when it came to the food. However, the service was really great! Some of the nicest and sweetest people we've ever met.

    Yummy bread
    Terri K.

    Definitely a must while visiting Ojai for an elevated menu & amazing outdoor ambiance. Beautiful gardens, perfect outdoor dining & heaters for every table when it gets cool. 3 course or 5 course options. We had one of each. Overall the portions are definitely on the smaller size but the food is delicious. Bread & butter- really good with coarse salt on top. Mushroom Rockefeller-tasty but served on only 3 artichokes leaves. Seasonal soup Potato Leek-good. Nagoya Kale Salad & Baby Gem Salad- delicious but very small. Filet Mignon-excellent, cut through it like butter & a hearty portion. $75 for 5 course meal. Duck-the meat itself was just good, the glaze was tasty but I know I'm hard to please because I'm always comparing it to duck in France. $60 for 3 course meal. Apple Tart- very good Flourless Chocolate Cake- really delicious for a gluten free option. Friendly helpful staff & servers. I'd be happy to go back again.

    From Entrance
    Jacqueline A.

    The Ranch house was quite an exquisite experience! The restaurant is nestled among some trails and residential area. It's a hidden gem with lovely garden surrounding the outdoor dining area. The Ranch House has been around for 75 years and offers a variety of fine dining. They offer three-course meal or five course meal per person. The service seemed a bit scattered as they were navigating the seating arrangements as well as providing adequate heaters for all guest. They do offer blankets for guest but had ran out due to a large party going on. The server was gracious enough to provide an additional heater near by table to stay warm during my meal.

    View from our table

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    2 years ago

    Celebrated our 15th anniversary here a few weeks ago! The food was amazing and service was excellent.

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    4 years ago

    Went here for my birthday recently. Everything from the service to food to the ambiance was amazing.

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    Page 1 of 18

    Ask the Community - The Ranch House

    Someone told us that you have a family night special on Wednesdays, but I don't see anything about it online...is that true?

    Wednesday night happy hour. Food and drink specials and music 5-8 pm

    Do they allow pets?

    Yes dog friendly

    Do you charge a corkage fee, if so, what is it?

    Yes, $25.00 per bottle

    Is there indoor seating available for winter months?

    Yes, they do have inside dining.

    Do they offer gift certificates?

    Yes

    Is the food great still?

    No, my last visit the food was bland and tasteless

    View All 8 Questions

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    The Dutchess is massive, with two rooms of seating and a quaint back patio. They're open from…read morebreakfast to dinner and as their website says: "This kitchen comes to life at 4am and doesn't shut down until 11:30pm." They do a soft close from 2-5 where they don't serve the food menu but offer drinks, coffee and pastries. We stopped in on the 4th of July and were seated right away. They also have a coffee and pastry counter if you want to grab something to-go. You do not want to miss out on the pastries, and the display sure catches your eye. Along with our main we split a morning bun which was flaky and just the right amount of sweet. As we were walking out I noticed some sandwiches that looked extra tasty as well. We kept it simple and split the Dutchess Breakfast Plate since we had quite a bit of eating planned for the day, but it was more than enough to satiate us alongside the pastry. It comes with these massive, crispy and spiced potatoes, big slabs of Niman Ranch bacon, tomato chutney, thick-cut sourdough toast and two eggs. At $22 this isn't cheap, but the quality is there and I would order this again just for those potatoes. The Burmese Fried Chicken Sando seemed to be the most popular dish and I was jealous as I saw it hitting other tables. I'll just have to come back!

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    The Dutchess - Naan good texture but the herb butter was just okay.

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    Farmer And The Cook - I would like to give a review of Garrett's "Not a Chicken Sandwich"! It was the absolute best! I love the fresh garlicky aioli, crunchy pick

    I would like to give a review of Garrett's "Not a Chicken Sandwich"! It was the absolute best! I love the fresh garlicky aioli, crunchy pick

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    The Ranch House - venues - Updated August 2026

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