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

NOT Gourmet! The food was BAD; It had no flavor, herbs or even a speck of S&P. People were nice, but the service was super uncomfortably slow with only seven tables occupied. The vegetables were fresh, but the meat was disgusting, chewy, overcooked, of super poor quality and nothing had any flavor at all. NOTHING had any spice or seasoning of any kind in ANY way. The dressing for the beet salad had one ingredient, vinegar; It was inedible. I could have gone to the market and spent $5 on a few veggies, salt and pepper and saved $330. It seems the only thing besides meat and veg in the kitchen is oil, vinegar and butter. Has the person cooking ever heard of something like onion, garlic or God forbid a sprig of basil or thyme? They need to upgrade their meat quality and hire a real chef, not a parolee line cook. read more

For me, 5 stars is not enough for the Ranch House! First, I had to call to push back our reservation twice because we were running late and the women who responded were so kind, I felt so bad but they were very understanding. All the waiters and waitresses checked up on us often and were super helpful and nice. Our waiter was Mike and he was just overall great. Now to the food, everything we had from our 3 course meal (we chose appetizer, entree and dessert) was so yummy. Between the two of us, we had the crab cake, calamari, seafood of the day (mahi mahi), mushroom pasta with chicken and apple crumble cobbler with ice cream. The mushroom pasta was our favorite. And of course, the scenery is just beautiful. It was calm, relaxing and we appreciated the heater it wasn't our first time here but we are definitely coming back! read more

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I read several reviews stating that the setting is "magical" but I'm not sure I'd describe it that way. It is cute but needs to be cleaned. The menu is prix fixe - you choose either 3 or 5 courses. No option is listed for ala carte items. Brie and pear app was soggy. I think it was Pre made and just heated. Octopus was over cooked (rubbery) salty and fishy. 2 different Salads were just gross. On one,The romaine was bitter on the other the kale was soggy. Rabbit pappardelle was ok. But don't call it a carbonara...it was just a cream sauce. I couldn't find the pancetta to save my life. Truffle butter and Wild mushroom pasta? Those mushrooms were plain old button mushrooms not wild. No sign of truffle or butter it was Bland and Dry. Tons of flies. We were totally grossed out. When we got up to leave we noticed another group getting up and complaining about the flies. The server was helpful and friendly. So there is that. read more

This review is for a daytime wedding. We selected The Ranch House for it's beautiful setting, and reputation in the area for great food, service, and ambiance. We were not disappointed. It was the perfect venue for our destination wedding. From start to finish, the staff was attentive, quickly answered questions, and helped us plan a wonderful menu with several choices for our guests. Russ in particular was patient, open to our suggestions, and made sure the event went off without a hitch. He was even on site for the entire event, making sure every detail was taken care of. The staff was pleasant and efficient, yet nothing felt rushed. They cheerfully honored some last minute requests. We couldn't have asked for a better setting and experience. It truly was a perfect day. read more

I was excited to try a new place but was disappointed. It is a very beautiful venue, but the quality and service was not worth the price we paid. The hanger steak I ordered was charred on the outside and cool on the inside and our desert was burned. I had to flag our server down at least twice. With the prices they charge per guest, I expected a lot more. There's a lot of potential for greatness there, so I really hope it gets better. read more

This was a special dinner for my wife and me on our anniversary. I spent a fair bit of time searching reviews, and it paid off! Food: fixed price menu, 3 or 5 course. Also a vegan option available. We decided on the 5 course, so as not to miss anything. Make sure you show up hungry! Each course was prepared perfectly, and delicious! My wife said she could have just eaten more of her octopus and white bean appetizer and been very happy! Couldn't finish our entrees (NY strip steak special and Porchetta) but loved every bite. Atmosphere: mostly outdoor. Tables spread out around the beautiful garden with water and lighting features. We had a private table surrounded by bamboo. Beautiful and tasteful. Service: Everyone there was friendly and helpful. Our server, Andrew, was attentive, friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. Even went so far as getting a second opinion on our wine choice. Kudos! read more

So many things . . . First, it's so disappointing how far it's fallen. The landscaping is a shadow of its old self, or even just objectively today, dead plants around. It's a ghost town. Pls, ownership, treat it like you care. Secondly, it's the sad menu model, "choose 3 or 5 items." No idea why you can't choose what you want. What I want is on the menu, but it's not my prerogative. What I mean is if you're stuck with the number, ok i get three items, you can't choose two of any one category. What if I'd like two appetizers and an entree? "Sorry, no substitutions." Period. To be fair, the service is fine, accommodating within what they can do or offer. Very friendly. For the food? Two entrees came with mashed potatoes. Completely cold, inedible. Almost bizarre. How can the kitchen miss that badly? Must not care either. Everyone has given up. Most of the food ok, but no better than any other restaurant for way less than half the price. This used to be a destination, even after the current ownership had it for a while. Russ the host was welcoming. Worked the floor, made you welcome. But he's gone, miss him but can't blame him. But now, several busts in a row (we have kept trying over the last year and a half, but always, it just gets worse), but finally We'll never come back until there's new management in charge, a new model, and will tell everyone to go anywhere else. And to be clear, I never write a review. We get it, it's hard to run a restaurant. But sadly, I've never been this inspired to say just stop! read more

Hands down my favorite restaurant anywhere! The service is super friendly (Trevor was amazing) and they constantly had the bussers checking on us as well. Go here if you want a romantic, non-rushed, beautiful atmosphere dinner. Oh also, the food is impeccable! read more

The Ranch House - Valentine's menu - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Ojai, California

Had a lovely dinner her for a friend's birthday. Not enough could be said about the ambiance and the care offered by the team at The Ranch House. Made our night a memorable one. *They are great at taking pictures as well* read more

VERY overpriced Dirty restaurant Bathroom had so may cobwebs and spiders it felt like a scary Halloween movie Food was very average read more

I've been wanting to come here for ages and never found the time or occasion or the right person to go with. Earlier this month, I found a great deal on TravelZoo and copped that real quick. The deal was a 5 course dinner for 2 people with a bottle of wine for $100. The regular cost would typically be $165 - $200 so it's definitely a great deal. As it so happens, my friend and I were celebrating our Friendsary so I made reservations for dinner the night before said anniversary. We came in for dinner a couple of nights ago. We were greeted by a really nice guy, the manager or owner upon arrival. He thanked us for coming in and showed us to our table. He advised us that we were welcome to walk the grounds. Food- Appetizer: I got the Diver Sea Scallop and my friend got the Sage and Rosemary Brown Butter Gnocchi. Mine was so good. Even the presentation was on point. My friend and I ate half then switched plates. Hers was good too, but I definitely preferred mine. We both had the Butternut Squash and Turmeric Bisque and Autumn Arugula Salad. Both were equally delicious. I coulda had more of that salad. It was that good. Entree: I got the Grilled Maple Brined Pork Chops and my friend got the Pistachio Crusted Rack of Lamb. My plate was bomb.I was all about that fig gravy and apple walnut stuffing. My friend didn't dig the lamb. I took a bite and liked the meat, but I was not a fan of the pomegranate molasses on top of it. We ended up taking the rest to go. Dessert: we were given 3 different kinds. My favorite was the creme brulee. The cream based one was also good, but I wasn't a fan of the chocolate situation. It's not my jam. All in all, despite the little hiccups, I had a great experience. The service was great, the location is divine and I had an enjoyable time. This place is perfect for date night. We walked around the property before we left and couldn't stop ooohhing and aaaaahing the whole time. It's definitely worth coming a little early before it gets dark so you can see the deco. Definitely worth a second visit. read more

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The outdoor ambience is really nice. But the food and service are mediocre to outright low quality. Every dish was drenched in overly sweet sauce, pasta was overdone and watery, some dishes were different from what has been ordered (because they ran out and the server forgot to let us know, and simply chose a substitute for us), and another dish was forgotten to be served altogether. I hate posting negative reviews, the aim is not to harm the restaurant, but to help future patrons save a few bucks and direct their business to many of the local Ojai businesses who still respect their craft and occupants. read more

Best Restaurant in Ventura, Loved everything! The best part is the vibe. so chill and relaxed. Its like a nature walk in lush paradise. Saw a Dragonfly on a rose on the way in. What a union of food and atmosphere. Paul Newmans Favorite restaurant... Sure he had the same Martini recipe. read more

The Ranch House - My family Loves The Ranch House!!! - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Ojai, California

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Soup was bad, salad was bad, lamb shank itself was ok but the rest of that plate was bad. You are serving grilled veggies straight out of refrigerator? If we were eating $20 meal that could have been acceptable but 2 persons we left $200 for very low quality food. I hate leaving bad reviews but you need a wakeup call. read more

Such a lovely garden setting for a romantic date or celebratory occasion. We were seated by the stream and enjoyed watching the koi fish gather right next to our table. SET ASIDE ABOUT TWO HOURS FOR YOUR MEAL. This is a place you come to enjoy and savor the scenery, the company of the folks you're with, and the various courses which have a good amount of time passed between each. Though the portions may appear small, they are filling and satisfying. You will be full by the end of your meal. We even ended up packing our desserts to-go. Everything was delicious! The prix fixe menu had a variety of options sure to satisfy anyone's palate. Here's what we tried: Appetizer = CRAB CAKES + BEEF POUTINE OVER POLENTA FRIES Soup = SWEET POTATOES & YAMS + CREAM OF BROCCOLI & POTATO Salad = SPINACH & GOAT CHEESE + FREGOLA (couscous w/ butternut squash) Entree = SHORT RIBS W/ KOREAN GLAZE + FILET MIGNON Dessert = BREAD PUDDING + CHOCOLATE MOLTEN CAKE We used a LivingSocial voucher valid for two of the 5-course options on the prix fixe menu. Priced at $60 per person, total value was $120. The voucher cost $100, so it wasn't a huge savings, but a discount nonetheless. Voucher or not, this is a worthwhile destination. It is truly a hidden gem in Ojai. read more

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My husband and I spent a weekend in Ojai and The Ranch House was our first outing for dinner. We loved everything about it! We had a delicious 5 course meal, the food was incredible! We especially loved the whiskey beef skewers and the butternut squash ravioli! The ambience was lovely, surrounded by a garden and twinkle lights and The service was excellent! If you're in Ojai, we definitely recommend this restaurant! read more

My fiancé and I had a lovely dinner at The Ranch House, as we usually do. This is a perfect spot for a romantic summertime dinner, as the temps start to cool off in the evening and the sun dips, the ranch house starts to shine with its rustic charm, aptly lit dining area, and fantastic seasonal menu. The cocktail menu has grown to include options for nearly every spirits drinker. We both started with a refreshing Aperol spritz, then with dinner I had the raspberry Whiskey Mule, my fiancé had the Desert Rose, a mezcal twist on a traditional army navy and they were fantastic! I worked in the service industry for years, so I find myself at times to be critical about service and food at restaurants, but the ranch house never fails to deliver. If you find yourself in the area, definitely stop in for the garden dining experience you need to see in Ojai. read more

Service was good. Food did not taste good. Presentation was poor and sloppy. No tablecloths. Crab cake was mostly breadcrumbs. Salad was loaded with pickled onions. Soup was thin and salty. Scallop risotto was very disappointing. It was served on a black matte plate and you could see a layer of oil on the plate. Risotto itself was dry. Scallops were not very fresh and extremely salty (maybe to hide the less-than-freshness?). Panda cotta was flavorless and not rich, topped with dried coconut shavings. Commercial yogurt would have been better. Beignets were doughy. This and two soft drinks later came out to $200. Only tasty thing was the basket of bread and herb butter. Sadly, we won't be back. This used to be a great dining experience, I hear. Not anymore. read more

Just had appetizers and drinks and was very disappointed. Over priced and underwhelming on both counts. Service was good but the overall appearance of the restaurant is unkept. Happy hour seemed nonexistent with no drink or food menu available. read more

Cool ambiance but the food / drinks were not that great. Dessert tasted like it was store bought. Would not go back

Just not the same old Ranch House as before completely different vibe. Service was suspect, food was nice and fresh.

5/5 ambiance Gorgeous outdoor seating in a fairytale like setting. 5/5 service We had such a nice server! 2/5 food Not a huge fan of pre fixe menus, food was just ok. Definitely not worth the price. It kind of reminded me of cruise ship food actually. We did like the dessert (chocolate cake was good). read more

I want to give Ranch House 5 stars but, I have noticed a decline on quality of food over past several years....the last 2 times I would say the food has definitely been okay at best. I was even at Costco one day and I kid you not the guy who is always at Ranch House was in front of me buying Steak!!! Like a huge amount and then I saw him pay with a check from Ranch House. Come on, I should be getting local Ojai Raised beef for the crazy prices here not Costco select. I won't be back until they stand behind their commitment of local good quality food. I can grill a Costco steak anyday at home for a fraction of the cost. read more

I know the legendary story and past of this restaurant all too well as my father-in-law was one of the original chefs. I went last night with an open mind and an open heart, knowing that the place had changed As we were seated, the first thing I noticed was that the tables were completely bare, no settings no linen...no flowers. The next thing I noticed was that the menus three of the four were missing the history page insert. Next we asked for a drink menu and were told it had not returned from the printers... This is a restaurant that used to have a legendary book of wines and Sommelier... They didn't even have a half page slip with some cocktails and glasses of wine by the glass. That's just plain lost revenue! I will say the waiter was very good and the app and entrees was good portions and great flavor. You are required to either order a three or a five course meal for a set price. Three of our four desserts were not pleasant... The cheesecake felt commercial. The flourless chocolate cake was hard and the pixie Panna cotta was mushy and not Panna cotta. The beignets were fantastic! Overall, I had a good experience. I just can't understand why if you are selling a 3 to 5 course meal for at least $500 for four people you wouldn't have table cloths and place settings. What used to give a mystique of magic of garden dining seems have gone flat with bare tables and informal service. Being handed my flatware in a napkin roll just isn't going to cut it when you are charging these prices in this special location. read more

The BEST food I've had almost anywhere and I've traveled the world! Despite the high prices you certainly get what you pay for here with not only the amazing food but the magical vibes which bring you back to a more special ojai before it became gentrified. Artistic & funky, not whitewashed, colorless, & boring mono-crop culture we see taking over Highly recommend it! read more

Excellent food in a beautiful setting. Not cheap but not outrageously priced either. Definitely one of our favorite places to dine in Ojai.

My husband and I enjoyed a delicious dinner with our friends a few nights ago! Great to be back! Had not been there since July due to COVID! New servers and support staff were excellent and very attentive! General Manager Russ Brunelli welcomed us back and kept busy making sure all the guests were happy! For appetizers the four of us enjoyed Crab Cakes, Mushroom Rockefeller, and Mignon & Porcini. For entrees we chose Salmon, Leg of Lamb, and Vegan Lasagna. Desserts were cheesecake with fruit, and flourless chocolate cake! Thoroughly enjoyed our evening! read more

The Ranch House - Left appetizer is Mushroom Rockefeller, and Crab Cakes in front - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Ojai, California

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We have eaten here many times over the years and always had a great experience but this time the food was terrible. We had the seafood cake which was fairly good. The artichoke appetizer were two very salty thin artichoke hearts not great at all. We had a steak and the lamb shank which were both covered in the exact same brown sauce (why?) with seemingly frozen tasteless mashed potatoes and over mushy green beans and carrots both plates identical. The "molten chocolate cake" had a hard ball of chocolate in the center where it should have been melted! The service was nice everyone was friendly but the place is very shabby and the food has gone straight down hill. Very sad not sure what happened read more

Haven't written a yelp review in a while but our experience last night lead me to take the time to do so. It's the LEAST I can do... SERVICE: 11/10 Our server MATT was one of the best waiters we've had in a WHILE and we've been to some pretty fancy smancy restaurants like stone house in San Ysidro ranch /Montecito & The Majestic Hotel in Yosemite. Seriously he did an amazing job. The owner/manager also did an amazing job at greeting us and at escorting us out. He had such an amazing personality he could have his own show ! Haha Also the young man assisting the waiter did an excellent job at making sure our water was never low , took our plates right away so we weren't left with mess in front of us for more than maybe a minute ! That spot on ! FOOD : 11/10 Our 5 course meal was delicious. From the appetizers to that seasonal ojai sorbet pixie dessert. Also the BEST dessert we've had in a while. We both got the specials of the day my salmon was amazing and my husband got the lamb meatloaf he EVEN TOOK A FOOD PIC which he NEVER does and hates when I do ! Haha. LOCATION: 5/5 Perfectly tucked away , own parking lot with no hassle of valet. And the ground OMG we probably took about 50 pictures of the beautiful/ romantic gardens, pond, and bridge. Just wow. We will definitely be back to bring friends , relatives and for more dates ! Kudos to this place what an amazing gem in Ventura County. read more

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When we went (July), we were swarmed by flies. Dozens of them all around our food and face. Two people and $250 later, we were not impressed. read more

This is one of my favorite restaurants to go to for date night with my husband. We love having the different courses and enjoy that the chef makes a new menu pretty often. We need to go back soon! read more

They have upped their game since my last review and hit 5 stars this visit. We got a romantic table hidden in the Bamboo behind the fish pond. They have added several good choices of local wines, and were so welcoming we felt like old friends. Service was great throughout the meal. They had my favorite mushroom appetizer on the menu, and let me substitute their rich mashed potatoes for the polenta on my jumbo shrimp-four huge, meaty, tasty shrimp over mashed potatoes served with broccolini. The only thing missing was the fab dessert we had on the last visit, but I was too full anyway. We called our delicious syrah dessert and were quite happy about our dinner in their lovely gardens. They encourage you to walk the trails. read more

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This restaurant is fantastic! My husband and I went here for my birthday dinner and it was a truly memorable experience. The ambiance is beautiful. Between the koi pond, the bamboo, and the waterfalls, you feel like you're in a rainforest. The food was delicious as well. Highly recommend the Wild Mushroom Tagliatelle as well as the Leg of Lamb. Also, great service! Jamie was wonderful and made sure we were taken care of, and the manager Russ stopped by to make sure we were having a good time. Highly recommended!! read more

This restaurant is a hidden secret in Ojai. You sit at tables that are surrounded by trees and bamboo. The restaurant is not over crowded which makes it an intimate experience. All of the seating is outside but they offer blankets and heating lamps that worked perfectly to make me warm. The menu is prefixed and i picked the 3 courses for $50. This was plenty of food and at the end of the meal I was full! I started with a potato and crab soup that was a large portion and delicious. Next I got the spinach and goat cheese salad which was a smaller portion. For my final course I got the special which was salmon with a chili glaze, mashed potatoes, and green beans. It was perfectly cooked and seasoned. I loved all three course so much! Our waitress (I didn't catch her name) was lovely. She was very attentive to our table, very knowledgeable of the menu, and very friendly. I loved my experience at this restaurant and absolutely plan on coming back! read more

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The best place for a steak and veggies in Town. The outdoor dining is unique and memorable. The staff is happy to answer details about the choices, and follow up to make sure everything is ideal. read more

I am an on-site coordinator for corporate groups and we sent some of our top executives to the Ranch House while on a week long conference in Ojai. The restaurant felt like an enchanted garden and the entire group raved about the food. read more

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This is probably my favorite restaurant in all of Ojai! The food is soo good and although not cheap, I do feel it is a great value and well worth it, and the ambiance makes for an overall great dining experience that you cannot get anywhere else. read more

We stumbled upon this during our stay in Ojai. My husband and I both got the three course meal which was amazing. We also loved the ambiance. Will def come back again. read more

We wanted to try this place because it got pretty good review. The ambiance was amazing! A really unique outdoor seating area with private, tucked away tables. However, the food was only alright. We got three prix fixe menus (totaling 9 different plates so we got to dig our forks into a good chunk of the menu). I would label it as "wedding reception" food, wasn't bad... wasn't outstanding. Definitely not worth driving 30 min out of the way for (we were staying around the Ventura area). read more

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