2.5 rounded down. Had to think long and hard about how to review this place - it was an interesting experience that was kind of disorienting and after reading other reviews I think I understand why. This place is expensive. 3-5 courses prefix menu from $75-100 per a person not including drinks which range from 15-20, with bottles obviously going way higher. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Walking around the venue it's really gorgeous, rustic California garden/woodsy vibes with twinkle lights and water features. Unique nooks and crannies to sit and dine.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]The little interior lobby had a piano but they had an iPad connected playing instrumental piano music.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]Coming to our table there was no table clothe or center piece, it was a wood table bare.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The waiters & waitresses had on relaxed clothes and Patagonia jackets. When asked about wine bottles they didn't have much clue how to answer our questions. The food itself was good, nothing amazing or life altering. Salads were good, apps fine, wine was fine, my steak was undercooked and was cold along with my mashed potatoes and asparagus. It was taking a long time in between each course, like 10-20 min breaks which was hard because we had young kids with us and we weren't trying to be that leisurely in our meal time. Strawberry cake was good, but once again not amazing. I will say our server was very kind and cared for our young kiddos well- offering to bring their food quicker and brought them cups of berries. We appreciated her thoughtfulness. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The restaurant was no where close to being full for a Friday night. And I was confused but then after my full experience I realized this place is struggling.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]The entire vibe was off, this is not a fine dining restaurant or vibe...causal Patagonia clothed waiters ... no table clothes with semi-dirty outdoor seating... an instrumental iPad playlist....[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] With a bill that quickly gets into the $250-300 range for a couple or the $800-1,000 range for party of 6. What are you paying for? [[HIGHLIGHT]]This should be a more causal California bougie hipster farm to table restaurant with a live blue grass singer on a guitar. Prices should be slashed by 25-50 percent and there should be no prefix menu of 3-5 courses.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]If done well the owner could still charge a pretty penny (if that's what they are after) but the vibe right now isn't making any one happy, it's in a no mans land and needs a make over to get revitalized.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

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 read more

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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! [[HIGHLIGHT]]It is a beautiful restaurant hidden in lush greenery and a garden.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I knew this was the perfect spot for a date with my 9 yo son who is an aspiring foodie. [[HIGHLIGHT]]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.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] 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. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The Ranch House is a hidden gem, full of timeless stories and energies.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] 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. read more

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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? [[HIGHLIGHT]]It was also my birthday (a special occasion) & it didn't feel special at all.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] 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. read more

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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. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The music was good, though.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

The Ranch House - "Charcuterie board" - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Ojai, California

This restaurant talks a fancy front. In reality, their food is underwhelming, misrepresented and overpriced. That they claim association with the original Ranch House couldn't be farther from the truth, intent and accomplishments of the Hookers and their reputation in the community of Ojai. read more

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. read more

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Amazing food, wonderful service, and take a moment to enjoy the garden. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Some tables are more private than others, but the space was very unique.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]They no longer have the koi fish (due to some raccoon issues), but they have some loud frogs that will serenade you into the night.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

Just got back from dinner at this place last night. AVOID IT AT ALL COSTS! It was the final night of a week long trip for our anniversary and I should have walked right out when we pulled up, but I had heard good things. [[HIGHLIGHT]]We started by getting sat down at a table with nothing on it.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We were explained the menu and when I asked if the Watermelon Caprese actually had mozzarella in it the waiter responded by saying it had Caprese cheese in it. I was dumbfounded, but order it. I also order the spicey margarita which came back and had 0 spice in it at all. We all opted for the 5 course meal because at 90 bucks it sounded like a deal, but once the food started arriving we all knew we made a huge mistake at this place. This was the worst meal I may have ever had in my life. Everything was over sauced and the filet was down right the worst piece of meat I have ever had. I took one bite and pushed it aside. The waiters must be used to this because not once did they even question why none of us ate any of our meals. It's a shame, I have nothing to compare it to history wise but if this was once a hidden gem it no longer is. read more

What a disappointment! I've been coming to this place two or three times a decade since the late 1970s. I live in the Bay Area, so it's always been a special treat to visit Ojai and dine at the Ranch House. Even during the pandemic, we had an amazing meal here. So, in early August, to celebrate a landmark birthday, my wife and I booked a trip to Ojai and made reservations for dinner on my birthday. [[HIGHLIGHT]]But sadly, the place now just looks and feels tired. No linens or centerpiece on the table. Our silverware was handed to us wrapped in a napkin like at some pub. The overall vibe showed a lack of care and maintenance[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]. My wine glass had lipstick on the rim so I asked the server to get me another one. She forgot to bring it and, ten minutes later, I had to remind her. Food. We opted for the three courses for $75. Our first course was gazpacho for me and the charcuterie plate for my wife. Both were very good. We ordered salads for the second course but the server brought our entrees next instead. We pointed that out to her and she said she would bring them and have the kitchen remake our entrees. The salads were fine, but nothing special. When she brought our entrees, it was obvious that they had just been held in a warmer. My wife's filet steak was good but my chicken breast was inedible! Everything on the plate was lukewarm and the chicken was dry and tough. The server offered to replace it so I ordered the duck which was somewhat tasty but really tough and chewy. The brussell sprouts on the side were basically raw. So sad that a once great fine dining restaurant could fall so far into mediocrity. That they still charge fine dining prices just adds insult to injury. read more

[[HIGHLIGHT]]Such a beautiful spot! It has a great ambiance and lovely service which is why I put 4 instead of 3 stars.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The food had good flavor but rather than receiving a lamb chop I was given thin slices off the bone of overcooked lamb. It looked like it had been reheated and not freshly made. Definitely disappointing. read more

I hate doing this I never do Yelp reviews but it has to be done. Have eaten here before a few times it's always been great....Tonight not so much. I came with a guest and everything she orders (mostly seafood was solid). BUT I ordered a charcuterie board app and it didn't come with cheese...umm 0/5 on that. And by far worse I ordered medium rare duck and it was beyond well done. I never send food back (ever) but I did and they didn't offer to refire or anything they just covered our $32 drink bill. I dont care at all about the money I just wanted properly cooked duck. VERY disappointed in the food. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Nice staff, great ambiance but botching 2/3 of my courses makes me sad.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

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) read more

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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. read more

The Ranch House - Lamb shank - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Ojai, California

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. read more

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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. read more

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This was an ideal spot for a delicious meal in a beautiful setting. Our food and the staff were all 5-stars, however all of their seating is outside (which is lovely and ideal) and there are no fans. It's quite hot in the summer, and during our last of 3 courses, the flies were absolutely swarming us and our food, and I was drenched in sweat. Installing fans would have made a huge difference. In terms of food, everything was delicious. The cocktails were fabulous, the salads were satisfying, and the entrees were cooked perfectly. The wait staff was kind and knowledgeable. We'd definitely want to come back in more comfortable weather. read more

The Ranch House - View from our table - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Ojai, California

Very nice people, food was pretty darn good. The restaurant is undergoing an owner transition, and as such it just felt odd? Nice setting, might give an other try ‍ read more

Hype! I felt like I ate in someone's backyard. Sometimes you spend a lot of of money on dinner and you say to yourself, "Well...that was absolutely worth it." This was not one of those times. Even the pricing policy is a bit off. $75.00 per person for 3 courses of bad to mediocre cuisine is not what we were expecting. A mini-burrata caprese salad drenched in olive oil, an unevenly cooked filet mignon with a bland peppercorn sauce, and a dessert drowning in a berry sauce. When good ingredients are cooked or prepared properly, they don't need bland sauces to mask their flavor. You've been warned. read more

Ambience, service , main entrees, house wine- all 5-star. Bread too dry, cheesecake below par. This is one of the most enchanting outdoor dining experiences. Overall - 4 1/2 stars. read more

The food is gourmet five stars! It is required that you order three course meal . I would give the staff a three star [[HIGHLIGHT]]The outdoor ambience in the gardens is beautiful[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

Went to the Ranch House for dinner without knowing it was a pre fixe restaurant, which was fine but the dinner was very very disappointing. Had the 3 course starting with crab cakes which I have had better. Second course was a bib lettuce salad which as fine. The main course was bad....really bad. Steak ordered char medium...arrive fully cooked and not a prime cut of meat at all. Tough and not a good taste. Restaurant was beautiful but if you are looking for good food, try another place. VERY disappointing read more

My wife and I had dinner at The Ranch House and it was such a great dinner experience! As soon as well walked through the main entrance, we were immediately greeted by the friendly staff. We were shown to our table and our server who helped us had a great personality and helped to explain the menu and several options. The restaurant is currently only serving outdoors, but you will be surrounded by trees and sounds from the nearby water feature. Our main course dishes were very delicious and their drinks are very well made as well. All of their staff were extremely friendly and always attentive to provide us a great experience! read more

The Ranch House - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Ojai, California

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The Ranch House is an experience. They have superb service from the moment one arrives at the door. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The outdoor dining is in a wonderful garden.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] There are 3-course and 5 course options. My wife had the duck, which was excellent. The proschetta was very good. I had scallops and risotto. It was cooked perfectly. My daughter had the swordfish special, which lived up to that title. The steak is always a hit. We had one of each dessert at our table and recommend everyone do the same! It's expensive, but we go here often. read more

I do not usually leave Yelp reviews but because of my experience here, I really wanted to communicate my thanks and appreciation to this fine dining restaurant. My fiancé had made a reservation for us to celebrate our anniversary at The Ranch House on Saturday night and I truly could not have asked for a more intimate date in such a beautiful setting. You're truly dining within a garden. Where we sat, we felt like we had an intimate dining experience. The garden wrapped around our table making us feel private yet still apart of the restaurant as we could make out the happenings around us. The cocktails were delectable, the bartender truly put effort into each drink. I enjoyed a signature Gin cocktail (I believe it's called The Desert Rose) where as my future husband enjoyed a recommended wine from the server Ruby. We're coming back to buy that bottle of wine because he keeps talking about it, thank you Ruby! Our server, Ruby, was very attentive. We did not have many questions as she was thorough with her explanations of the chefs specials as well as her knowledge of the menu and wine list! She checked in on us a healthy amount and all of our needs were anticipated as well as timely. Our table was kept pristine throughout the experience as staff was astute in making sure we did not feel overwhelmed or cluttered with our finished plates and drinks. The manager Tara is a very kind and caring woman. She greeted us at the door as well as checked in on us between our meal courses. It is so nice to see the Manager care about clients as much as the serving staff. She even took a picture for us so that we could commemorate this experience/day! It was so special. Thank you, Tara! Our food! The portions were perfect for each course. I highly recommend the Seafood Crab Cake for an appetizer and either the Herbed Slow Roasted Porchetta or the Chefs Prime choice from The Butcher! The attention to detail as well as the flavors of the meal was impeccable. We shared the flourless chocolate cake after our meal was over and it was the perfect touch to finish our date with. Thank you to the staff in making this experience wonderful, to the bartender who is phenomenal alchemist, and to the chefs for impressing us with incredible flavor. We will be back and maybe even for our wedding! You sold us! read more

The Ranch House - Enjoying our drinks at our private garden table. - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Ojai, California

Off the beaten path. Magical garden with streams and old growth trees. We had the prefix menu and loved everything. I had the octopus salad, creme of avocado soup with coconut creme, duck breast and cheese cake. Along with the service - it was all excellent. Portions are beyond ample! read more

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This legendary fine dining restaurant is just sad and all wrong now. [[HIGHLIGHT]]we paid $500 for 4 people and we were sat at a bare wood table with no table cloth, center piece, candle, drink menu, wine list, plates or silver wear.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] They just dropped off plates and silver wear at the end of the table. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The ambiance and table setting is on par with an IHOP.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]This is NOT fine dining.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The entrees were pretty good, but all 4 of our desserts were terrible. The old Ranch House was a legendary fine dining restaurant at one time and worth the money. Unfortunately The Ranch house is pretty trashy now and certainly not worth the money. There are so many other well-run restaurants in Ojai like Nicciola, Monte Grappa, or the Ojai valley Inn. read more

We went here for our anniversary last night and like other commenters noted, it was very expensive, but a special occasion deserves a special meal. We enjoyed the cheese plate and the fingerling potatoes. The sommelier and waitstaff were wonderful and made us feel at home. The entrée menu did not have any vegetarian options so the chef gave us the option of ordering a vegetable pot pie. The crust was beautiful, but I had to snap a pic of the contents. Any child of the 80's will recognize a frozen mixed vegetable medley. Unless their intention was to faithfully replicate those super chewy carrots and flavorless green beans that squirt water when you bite them, then I suppose it's a realistic reproduction. The béchamel was nice though. Another sore spot of the evening was a woman who raised her voice so loudly that we could hear her clearly at the other side of the courtyard as she was discussing her anti-black lives matter position to her friend. Her conversation was not audible before this happened, and it appeared very intentional. The subject brings myself and many others much stress and naturally I disagree with her position, but as this was a one-sided conversation, all diners were forced to listen without comment. It would have been lovely if she was asked to lower her voice to a normal level, but instead the chef joined her conversation, possibly to try to change the subject, but ended up prolonging it until nearly closing. read more

The Ranch House - Formerly frozen mixed vegetable medley in a nice béchamel. - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Ojai, California

Amazing amazing amazing!! I wrote another review previously but if I could go beyond 5 stars I would!! This is one of our favorite restaurants to eat, we ran late on Valentine's day but they still accommodated our reservation! They were EXTREMELY PACKED but they still took care of us and the customer service was terrific, I overheard how early they started working and how many people came, it was super busy and they handled it with so much poise and so friendly!! Food as always was delicious, environment is gorgeous as usual and customer service better than ever!! read more

Beautiful atmosphere! We had a wonderful 3 course meal and the ambiance was nice, staff was very friendly, prices were reasonable- I wish they had more of a cocktail variety and the food wasn't as warm as I had hoped but still delicious and a great place to come celebrate :) loved the mushroom soup! read more

This was a wonderful little discovery made while visiting Ojai, CA. Actually located a few miles away, in Meiners Oaks, this is formerly a private home, turned restaurant and bakery. The setting is lovely with ceiling to floor windows that allow for full garden views and seating also in the surrounding patio areas, many in secluded nooks and crannies. The menu is prix fixe, with 5 categories (appetizers, soup, salad, entree and dessert) for $60. A selection of 3 categories is $50. Children are half price. Menu items are creative and expertly crafted. Everything was quite delicious!! Staff were very friendly and welcoming. Service was excellent. We highly enjoyed our evening and heartily recommend The Ranch House! read more

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You can't beat the food here. The vegetables are locally sourced the meat and fish is fresh. And people who are meat free have options too, as well as the gluten free types (me). We enjoyed the garden and the seating arrangements. Great for special occasions. Great server, too! read more

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

This was one of the worst, most disappointing meals I've ever had. I came here for a friend's celebration and we had high hopes. I don't even know where to begin with how bad this food was -- everything was room temperature, gray and mushy, and way too salty, except the butternut squash soup which was so sweet it was inedible. It was like airplane food and prison food had a baby, and they froze that baby and let it defrost in the sun. Bleh. Truly revolting. The environment is nice enough but it is ruined by the horrible food and shockingly bad, inept service. I would give it zero stars if I could! read more

What an incredible dining experience! Conveniently located at the bottom of Besant road, so it's totally walkable (just 8-10 minutes) if you're staying at the Ojai Retreat Inn. A few parking spots in front but it's a residential neighborhood so parking really isn't a problem. The outdoor patio is so beautiful - it's like you're entering this magical forest! You're surrounded by bamboo and all kinds of trees. Lots of mini gardens to see and even a small Asian inspired bridge to cross over. There's even an herb and rose garden! All outdoor seating is spaced apart due to COVID which really gives you a lot of privacy. You have 2 options for dinner - prix fixe 3-course or 5-course meal. The menu changes seasonally, but I selected the 5-course dinner. Started with a crab cake appetizer topped with corn (it was OK, a little too much breading versus the actual crab chunks), corn & crab chowder (pretty tasty), a wedge salad with blue cheese dressing (it was good but nothing too special), filet mignon over green and mashed potatoes (the steak was perfectly cooked and tender), and finally a whiskey bread pudding that I asked to-go because I was just so full. With a cocktail & tip, the total came up to around $113. You also get an additional 10% off discount if you are a guest at the Ojai Retreat Inn. Overall, a delicious and filling dinner for a very reasonable price. But the major draw to this restaurant is really the incredible garden ambience and the excellent customer service. Russ, The restaurant manager, is so friendly and spoke to every table. Had a lovely chat with him about the history of this restaurant. Everyone followed COVID protocol so I always felt safe. This was such a great find in Ojai and I will definitely return! read more

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

This place was so special. I went for my birthday and everyone had a great time. The food was excellent. The restaurant is beautiful. The drinks are so unique and so tasty. I will definitely be back! read more

The Ranch House - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Ojai, California

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I worked here in it's heyday. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Now run down, everything broken.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]No sign of fine dining.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The food was horrible. Will never go back unless it is sold, gutted and brought back to its glory. Extremely sad. read more

I'd give a 3.5 if I could. Food is a 3 and service is at least a 4. The ranch house was n iconic fine dining experience but the current rendition of a once famous and sought after venue is kind of unimpressive. The food quality just does not match the prices. I had a steak that was just too thin of a piece of meat to even be called a steak, which then couldn't be properly seared without overcooking the meat. The ambiance is truly romantic but the culinary experience doesn't match, the food just isn't that good. Im an Ojai local, been to the ranch house many times when it was actually the ranch house, I could tell some wild stories about this place. Seems like the current management needs to look back to how it used to be done. Source the best of the best meat, seafood, etc and serve a proper portion size if they want to improve to be what the ranch house used to be. read more

Been there forever. Great food. Great ambiance. Wonderful garden in the back where they grow their own herbs.