Kelli S.

I've only been to this Wood Ranch BBQ (WR) once, for my brother's celebratory graduation lunch. We went on a Friday for a late lunch around 2 p.m., but it worked out well because this eatery wasn't super crowded at that time, and since we had a huge group with us, that was ideal. We also were probably at Wood Ranch from 2-4 p.m. (almost in time for their dinner crowd), so it was nice that the eatery wasn't too busy. I think the only thing that could have been improved from our experience was the choice of seating. We were seated in a booth and for 10-12 people, it wasn't really conducive to all-around conversation because you could really only talk to the people next to you ... and it was hard for anyone to get in/out of the booth to go to the restroom. If I ever visit this location with a large party, I'll be sure to request a non-booth type of long table. Despite that, our dining experience at this Wood Ranch was pleasant and the food tasted great. Here are some of the items we ordered: "Spinach-Artichoke Dip": We got a full order of this dip, since spinach artichoke dip (regardless of what restaurant I may be at) is one of my favorite appetizers. This version definitely didn't disappoint. The chips were crisp and the dip was sufficiently full of cheese and chopped artichokes. I think the versions from CPK or Chili's still have to be some of my favorites, but I did like this WR app as well. "Lunch Combo": I've never visited WR for lunch before, but on this occasion, I actually got to try the "Lunch Combo" that I had my eye on from my last dinner trip to a different restaurant location. With this combo, you get your choice of sliders (two of the same, unless you want to mix and match for a slight fee), as well as your choice of House/Caesar salad or soup and one side. Basically, you get three different meal components, so it's almost a sampler of sorts. I went with the "California Pulled Pork" sliders (though the "Free-Range Turkey Burgers" and "America's Best BBQ Tri-Tip" had me second-guessing my choice), and I chose the "Clam Chowder" (only featured on Fridays) for my soup, and "Lauren's Favorite Mac & Cheese" for my side. The pulled pork sandwich came with Carolina slaw and a toasted bun, but I opted for the slaw on the side. The bun was toasted perfectly and I savored every single bite of that pulled pork. It was juicy, savory and full of delicious flavors, and the sauce was seriously spilling out of the bun and onto my plate. I really enjoyed the "Clam Chowder," though it was a little too clammy for my liking. I had tried "Lauren's Favorite Mac & Cheese" before, so I knew it was good, and it was definitely consistent from my last visit -- cheesy and savory, and the macaroni noodles were fresh and soft. If I had to choose a different side for this meal, I would have opted for skin-on fries or the loaded mashed potatoes with bacon and cheddar. It was definitely worth it to order this "Lunch Combo" because it was filling and I got to enjoy several different components. "House-made Veggie Burger": My mom enjoys trying veggie burgers from different places, and she did enjoy the one from here, though she still thinks the one from Slater's 50/50 and STACKED have to be some of her favorites. This burger featured a vegan patty topped with avocado and served in a toasted wheat bun. She said the patty itself was flavorful and tender--not too dry and grainy--and she was glad for the chance to finally try it. "Famous Shredded Onions": Since the shredded onions were supposed to be a hit here as well, we ordered a full-sized app for our entire table to share. It was a good thing that we got the full order and not the half size, because this app was gone pretty quickly. The shredded onions were on the thinner side (reminded me of shoestring fries) and were extremely crispy/crunchy, but they were savory and featured the perfect amount of seasoning. I don't like soggy (caramelized) onions and actually only like them in fried form, so this was perfect. Though I still prefer thicker onion rings, I was glad I got to try these crispy fried morsels that WR is famous for. "Bar-B-Cubano Sandwich": If I had the chance to order a different sandwich from WR, this is probably the one I would go for. It includes pulled pork, honey-cured ham, Swiss, pickles and Dijon, pressed in a baguette. I absolutely love pulled pork and honey-cured ham because of the sweet-savory taste and perfect balance. I would just get my sando sans the pickles, but I can't wait to enjoy all the other components one day. "BBQ Chicken Potato Skins": If we ordered any other app from WR, this is the one I have my heart set on. I do love (and crave) crispy potato skins from time to time (a la the ones at TGI Fridays), but this version sounds especially good because it comes topped with BBQ chicken.