The food is always good but in my opinion there are better BBQ places and not as expensive.
(3)
Bill m.
Went there for the first time was pleasantly surprised ! The Caesar salad was great for the main course I ordered the tri tip it was to die for melted right in your mouth. Had the onion strings there worth trying ? Wife got the grilled chicken breast she liked it alot. We will be definitely coming back to this fine restaurant . Everyone was very friendly there
(5)
Yvette P.
Went for happy hour/dinner with some friends. I had the small plate of the balsamic shrimp which came with a cabbage slaw type thing. The sauce was great - not overpowering for shrimp. The BBQ shrimp were well cooked so they were still soft and tender but fully done. Also tried a bowl of the tortilla soup - decent but nothing to wrote home, or other yelpers, about. Blended soup with some chicken and tortilla. Pretty thick and hearty with some cheese on top. Service was very attentive and great about special requests.
(4)
Liz Y.
After reading all the good reviews my husband and I decided to try the Wood Ranch BBQ in Rancho S.M. I was looking forward to the tri tip which is supposed to be one of their best dishes, but the waiter told us that it would only be available to order medium well or well and did not recommend it since it could be dry. So I ordered baby back and chicken combo. The baby backs had a good taste but were not super tender. The chicken was very good. They have a nice selection of side dishes. This is a nice comfortable restaurant somewhat like an Outback or Houston's. The service was pretty good but the table and seat were not as clean as I would hope.
(3)
Dave F.
Wood Ranch is my very favorite place to eat in Rancho Santa Margarita. Everything about the place gets a "10" in my book. Even the cocktails are exceptional. If you want a good fill-up of carnivore delight, may I suggest the WR BBQ Combo. The two item is $16.95 and it's really all anyone needs but they do have up to four item selections. My favorite combo is the Tri-tip with baby back ribs. I love to slide the bone out and slowly enjoy the perfection of this super high quality taste treat. The Tri-tip is 2DIE4!!! You can almost put the knife down and cut it with the edge of your fork! Oh wait, I've actually done that! And the flavor... Ahhhhhhh damn good! Why can't meat always taste like this? Well it can if you eat here all the time.
(5)
Gregg S.
I'm going to keep it short and sweet: for a corporate BBQ restaurant this place is amazing. The food is great, the service is awesome, prices are very reasonable for the ambiance you get. James is a good guy, we get him alot as a server and he told us he is becomming a bartender so my wife and I are looking forward to coming in to see him behind the bar.
(5)
Erica R.
Two words: Happy Hour. WR has a GREAT Happy Hour! It ends at 6 M-F, during which you can get $2 off any appetizer or drink. Went last night and got the pulled pork sliders, tri-tip sliders, spinach and artichoke dip, large eclipse, and small Blue Moon. The total was $33. What a deal! As for the food, the tri-tip sliders are a must. The meat is very tender and is coated with a sweet-ish sauce. The buns they use are very soft and slightly grilled. The pulled pork sliders came with coleslaw and a pickle on them. The pork was very smoky (in a good way), but it didn't have a sauce on it. It came with a kind of au jus, which is fine, but I prefer my meat to be sauced. Drinks were great! Nice and cold and filled to the brim. We ate at the bar, of course, and the bartenders were quick and friendly. Not a bad way to spend a Friday night!
(4)
Steve M.
Been there once it was ok, I would probably go else where for a steak. I cant really recall anything on the menu that left a lasting impression to make us want to go back but it wasnt bad it just didnt stand out.
(3)
Peter V.
I've always liked the hardwood smoke grilled food here at branches in Calbassas and The Grove. Upon my first visit here, our server Corey took good care of us and a party of 4 1/2 with a 5 month old child.Huge chunks of avocado in a smooth guacamole and warm oven baked chips were great. I had the trout and mac/cheese with a side cesar salad...a solid value at 15.00..Tri tip salad and the apppetizer ribs were all a hit too.We'll be back when visiting south OC every month...
(4)
Ahmed A.
Dishes: Potato Skins, Tri Tip Salad, Tri Tip, Beef Ribs, Buck Eye Burger, BBQ Beans, Mac and Cheese, Fries Lets get the less important out the way. Fries are fries. BBQ Beans are pretty standard too. The bread they serve is bomb, especially if you dip it in the BBQ sauce. Only when its soft though. Hard bread ain't never a winner. Potato skins are off the hook. Get some sour cream to dip it and you'll wanna order several of these instead of gettin an entree, no joke. I hate sharin this appetizer wit ppl. Tri Tip salad is tasty too. Not much to say though. I would spend my money on other dishes to get more fulfilled. Tri Tip is what this place is known for. If you dig Tri Tip, go for it. I like how it is but I like to put my money down for the beef ribs. Beef ribs are delicious. I don't care if you have already have a pretty face, bbq sauce will only boost your points. They got a nice smoked flavor and their sauce is legit. Don't like sharin these either. Buck Eye Burger is good. You can't go wrong on a Burger with cheddar cheese and BBQ sauce. I guess you can but they don't. Mac and cheese side. Not feelin it. How you gone fail on the easiest thing to make? Every time i've got this its mushy man. Service is straight here but I don't like the vibe in this place though. The vibe is just gloomy.
(4)
Paul N.
Great Garlic rolls, fall off the bone BBQ Beef Ribs, delicious peanut slaw, amazing mac and cheese, and a great wait staff. The only negative is their pork ribs. Kind of dry and not really fall off the bone. I'll stick to the beef ribs and braised short ribs.
(4)
Chip K.
Everything they have is the best thing in the world. I don't get it. The chips and salsa was the best I ever had, and don't even talk smack cuz I was born in Santa Ana, homey. Their bloody Mary is so thick and delicious that it was like an alcoholic milkshake for adults that requires McDonald's giant clown-straws. Their guacamole is insane. The tri-tip is crazy good and the beef ribs were so fresh it was like I was gnawing on the live flesh of a generous bovine friend who was saying, "Yes it hurts me Chip, but I'm so darn tasty that you just have to keep on eating me." One thing - it's a fact that their hand-crafted BBQ sauce is the best on this planet, pretty much any planet, including those planets that Mormons and Scientologists recognize, even if NASA does not. They know that you are going to try and steal a bottle of their sauce. Now let's just say that on your way out you may want to 'accidentally' fall, whilst creating a diversion of such David Blaine proportion, that no one will notice when you shove that bottle of sauce down the front of your trousers. Warning: This is not a good look for a woman, however for the gentleman, it does add to your masculinity and you will get interesting looks on the way to the parking lot.
(5)
Dan B.
Food was dry. Late Lunch Bad Idea. Food must have sat on the grill.
(2)
Peter P.
Time to write a review after going here for years. This is a typical family joint bustling with all types; family, couples, first time date, bar crowd. The food is always great. I've never had a bad experience with the food. I'm pretty picky trying to get healthy options and the servers always suggest alternatives. Not that I always eat that way, but I try to most of the time. Great part of the experience is the service. I've always had good luck in this department. I like the filet, blackened catfish, chicken breast, spicy green beans, house salad. I'll go back again and again.
(5)
Jen W.
Despite living right across the street, we never went here. What a shame. Now that we have, we will more often. It sort of reminds me of Claim Jumper, but smaller, hipper, and much less "y'all" themed. I had a chicken sandwich that was to die for. I generally don't eat meat (and red meat even more rarely), but I tried this sandwich and was really impressed. Chicken tends to be very bland, but not the case here. My husband ordered the steak, and thought he'd ask for A1 (he assumed this was standard sub par steakhouse, and he likes A1). But he took a bite and said he didn't need it. That's how good it was. Our server, Damian, was hilarious. We loved him. He has a swagger and a way of speaking that is infectious, and entertaining. We went on a Saturday night and the wait was twenty minutes, not bad. We will definitely be back, especially since it's like a five second walk.
(5)
Allison L.
Come to Wood Ranch for nice breasts. I ordered the BBQ Chicken Breast and they served me two large breasts that were plump and juicy...just as breasts should be :) My boyfriend got the Rib and Chicken Combo and said the ribs were excellente (he speaks a little Spanish). The drinks don't seem that strong here. The Strawberry Basil Martini ($9) was okay. I recommend going for the Raspberry Pomegranate Martini instead ($7). It's cheaper and tastier. NOTE: If you go during Happy Hour all cocktails are $2 off. We sat in the bar area where the game was on. Our friendly bartender provided great service. The ambiance is just okay...it's a chain BBQ joint, so I don't think you can really expect that much. It's along the lines of Outback. If you are craving some BBQ I say check it out...if there's nothing else around. Just kidding! It's good :P
(3)
Gini B.
Will be back! Pros: 1. Food is always great and their meats are delicious! Salads are tasty, tri tip/ribs/rib eye is awesome. Their killer wings as well as their pulled pork sandwiches are good. The sweet mashed potatoes are to die for. 2. Service is generally very good while dining in the restaurant. 3. Tri Tip soup is to die for! Cons: 1. Take out service is horrible. Seems to be a bunch of chickens with their heads cut off running around in the back, even though there are only a few people waiting for take out. 2. They are closed for lunch on the weekdays.
(3)
David B.
Not a bad place. Good Q, not great, but good. Very loud at times, total Housewife of OC place, at least that is what it reminds me of. The tri-tip is good, ribs are good, but the portions are small for what you pay.
(3)
Allen N.
Great place to go to! Food is always delicious and service is usually pretty good too. The only reason I gave it a 4 was because of a couple times that the service was a bit sluggish. I usually get the Pulled pork Sandwhich, which is awesome with their Carolina BBQ sauce, and the bread is great too! Its also loud enough so that if the kids get a little elevated with their talking that most people wont notice! HAHA
(4)
Lex C.
It's our first time here. The baby racks were pretty tasty. However, it's not the best baby back ribs I've ever had. For one thing, the meat did not fall off the bone like it's suppose to. The BBQ sauce while yummy was overly sticky. I ordered double broccoli and they steamed it just right. The decor is very nice (they have a beautiful bar in the center of the restaurant) and the service was pretty good. I appreciate the waiter telling us that because it was towards the end of the evening that we should avoid the tri-tip since they only have medium well cuts...the medium and medium rare were already served to earlier customers. It was very nice of him to warn us about that. It's difficult to match the Chipotle Ribs from El Torito Grill as that is still my current measure but I think we're going to give this place another try next time the tri-tip is acceptable for consumption.
(4)
Darlene J.
Always enjoy my meal! Tri Tip & Baby Back Ribs really good, the cold slaw is either really good or really bad depending on who makes it. We love Wood Ranch I only wish we had one here in San Diego!
(4)
Angelique J.
My son and I went for lunch. First time for the both of us. My son had the 15 oz Rib Eye- very tender and juicy. Melted in your mouth. My son is a steak lover and was very impressed. I had the Lunch Combo - I had the BBQ Tri Tip sliders - had a choice of soup or salad. I selected the Tortilla Soup, which was delish, very thick sauce with shredded chicken and bits of Tortillas and it came with a side order of your choice. Very simple menu. Menu prices reasonable. Portions were good. Our waitress was on top of things. Place was busy for a Sunday lunch. We did not have to wait... We were sat immediately. Would go again
(3)
Mike K.
This is a fantastic restaurant for the reason that everyone has listed. The interior looks beautiful and upper class but the prices aren't. The Tri-tip is hands down the best i've had, though I was born and raised here in Cali. I have also heard good things about several of their other cuts of beef. The garlic rolls are fantastic. Watch out because you will seriously spoil your appetite before you even knew what happened. Great local Steakhouse. Much better in my opinion than Black Anus, Claim Humper, or Outcrack.
(5)
Amy S.
BBQ tritip sandwich is soooo good. And the Mac and cheese?! I'd eat it all day! Make sure you ask for bread and some ranch to dip it in and just thank me later. I'm always down to grab diner here, it's me and my girlfriends' go-to dinner spot!
(5)
Lizanne J.
I have been living in RSM for over 10 yrs. and have never gotten tired of the food at Wood Ranch. It is so good.... every time! My husband & I eat there at least once a month. Every thing is awesome. :)
(5)
Tinkerbell E.
Very good baby back ribs and roasted chicken.wasn't very fond of their mashed potatoes though. The service was very good. Good wine.
(4)
Lisa M.
Very solid ala Americana steakhouse. Higher quality food and decor than Black Angus and Outback, but the price is the same or even better. The tri-tip and baby back ribs are always perfectly grilled and juicy, never dry. They always offer grilled fresh sweet corn on the cob. I often order their tri-tip BBQ chopped salad, the perfect blend of ranch and BBQ sauce on chopped lettuce, fresh corn, other goodies.
(5)
Kimberly W.
So we had dinner here the other night with my pops. Baby Back ribs are delicious and I have to say the Mac n Cheese is so yummy. Pops are I shared the BB Ribs & Mac & Cheese with a side of Sweet potatos fries for an extra $2.50 (not sure on the price). Which I don't feel we should be charge an extra $$$ for a side dish when it comes with two and thats one of our sections. I did have two glasses of Charannay, but when the bill came out they charged us for the more expensive wine than the wine we ordered. When confronting the manager on duties she acted as if we were trying to get something for free verse what we order. Which wasn't right. Then we waited awhile for the bill to come back. This has happened twice now. I do feel that the side portions can be bigger and the services can go a little bit more over the top in CS for their customers. I will probably go to this place again, but it will not be my first option.
(3)
Mike L.
After golf I yelped to find something near by and im a sucker for BBQ and found this place, when we showed up i realized its the same place in corona off the 15 and we where going to change are mind but i said, maybe it will be different since its a different location. nope! We get the rolls and they are soaked in oil to where you cant pick it up, had to use a fork and the outside was hard. I asked the waitress if they are suppose to be hard and she said sometimes. ok. So she said she would TRY to bring some softer ones, samething. Worst rolls ever. My dad and I both ordered the BBQ sandwich and i only ate half of it, it was that bad. My dad got the brocolli and he said it sucked. I got the mac and cheese as my side and it was the best thing of the night but not great enough to save the overall dinner.
(1)
Robert H.
I love wood ranch! And was ever so pleased to see my new neighborhood had one across the street. Nice.
(4)
Iris N.
I had a really nice dinner here last week. The dark setting of the restaurant allows for a nice private dinner. We ordered 2 glasses of Malbec wine and shared a Greek salad (which was delicious) and the Tri-tip main course with corn and mashed potatoes as side orders. It was a good amount for two people for a late dinner. I can never finish a whole entree by myself and I hate large portions, so the split was perfect. I am also not a huge meat eater, so I was skeptical of coming here at first, but decided to give it try anyway. It was probably the best tri-tip I've ever had. It was very tender and melts in your mouth. The extra BBQ sauce made it really flavorful too. I've had tri-tip at Lucille's and this is way better. It exceeded the little expectations I had, and it's hard to please me when it comes to dining out. The staff was friendly and it was a fun experience!
(5)
Erin C.
My parents love this place, but I've never understood their enthusiasm. It's as good a place as any to eat out: the food is good (not amazing), the prices are reasonable, the servers are attentive. But it doesn't stand out from the rest. Overall: if you're looking for a pleasant place to grab a bite to eat, this place will do just fine.
(3)
Michelle H.
When I drive to the burbs to have dinner with my parents, I expect the cookie cutter from any of the generic eateries in Santa Margarita meal and let's just say I wasn't disappointed. Apparently Tuesday nights is half price wine night which means that they only mark up the sub-par wine 200% instead of 400%. I will admit I hate barbeque sauce so that eliminates half the menu options which is fine by me there is plenty to chose from. Luckily I always get the same thing, the roasted half chicken. This is either a hit or a miss , they serve it with a chicken au jous which is basically a bowl of chicken broth. When it is a hit you don't even have to use it, when it is a miss it is so dry that dipping each bite is necessary. Last night it was a hit. I will say the turkey sliders my mom ordered looked like crap and she said they tasted like crap. They gladly took them off our bill which was nice, but like I said hit or miss with this place. My boyfriend has the tri tip when it came to the table it looked okay, he said it was great so i will go with what he said. The best part of the night was dessert, and I don't even like dessert. I got the oreo cookie ice cream ball. Magical! it was too frozen to use my spoon on so what other choice does a girl have than to pick it up and bite into it? Pure magic. I will definitely remember to save room for dessert from now on.
(3)
timothy h.
Wow, as my first official meal in "The O.C." i have to say that this place blows away every other chain BBQ place Ive ever been to, and all we had were appetizers! Chicken tenders, ribblets, hot spinach dip, fried green tomatoes, south western wraps, it was like id died and gone to heaven! Please open one in the Bay area, ill be a regular an dedicated patron!
(5)
Randy S.
Hit and miss here. Sometimes the food is fantastic...sometimes it is mediocre. A little pricey for what it is.
(3)
Robert L.
Very tasty BBQ and so-so drinks, but great tap beer. Service is hit or miss; refills are a tad slow and 2 out of 3 dinner visits at least 1 friend got the wrong order; but the quality of the food makes up for it. Interior is a cross between Claim Jumper and TGI Fridays... rustic-ish but "we're still fun". Large bar in middle of restaurant is a nice change (not just tucking away us drunks away in the back). Definitely a stick-to-your-ribs kind of place. Everything (as I remember) was basted or double-basted, and served with a huge potato or fries or coleslaw or all of the above. Hits the spot if you want some good BBQ.
(4)
J E.
will never go back! The place was buzzing and seemed fun and trendy, but the food was on the same scale as Carrows! UGH. Hoping that their cocktails were decent, I ordered one of their signature martinis only to find it extremely overpriced and served in the smallest glass I have ever seen. One more thing - a gentleman in a table next to us pointed out some mysterious item in his burger, only to send it back and leave hungry and disgusted.
(1)
Britt W.
A very solid three star experience. I had heard good things and read some not so good things about Wood Ranch BBQ & Grill so my expectations were minimal. I was thinking Outback Steakhouse without the Crocodile Dundee theme but was pleasantly surprised that Wood Ranch turned out to be straight forward and simple. I ordered the salmon fillet grilled with the sweet soy sauce glaze and it was perfect. Not too big, not too small, just right. I had smashed sweet potatoes on the side. They were creamy with a touch of brown sugar and cinnamon. The house salad was pretty ordinary but the addition of corn kernels was a pleasant twist. The girlfriend, J, ordered the filet mignon with mac & cheese as a side. This was some serious mac & cheese with a strong cheddar flavor. After taking my token complimentary bite I had to keep thinking of distractions to get J to turn her head away from her plate. Oh my God, is that Hillary Clinton?!?! Head turns, fork extends across the table, zoink! The perfect crime. The complimentary dinner rolls with a high gloss butter and garlic shine are warm, fresh and delicious. In a pinch they could really carry an inferior entree if they had to. Wood Ranch also gets a huge shout out for having Fresca on tap. It's so rare to find a diet soda that isn't of the cola variety let alone one that based on the highly underrated grapefruit. This will be a deal maker for Wood Ranch on those nights I am torn between two restaurants and need a tie breaker. I am happy to have found Wood Ranch because it can satisfy many of my restaurant needs. I can take non-foodies there for a nice meal that won't intimidate yet is still nicer than The Claim Jumper. I can bring an inexpensive red wine, pay the corkage fee and have an affordable steak with great sides instead of heading to one of the high end steakhouses. Wood Ranch is a winner and I will go back soon.
(3)
Rick H.
it is ok
(3)
April C.
Because there really isn't another BBQ place in the area, I have been going to Wood Ranch since it opened. The chicken wings are the best around. I can't say I have ever had a bad meal here. It's pretty loud but maybe that's the appeal??? NOTE: Go during Happy Hour all cocktails are $2 off and the bartenders provided great quick service. Great for those of us who don't want to sit around and be bothered by all the noise.
(5)
Drew H.
I returned to Orange County in August of 2012 and went for what i believe is a good meal for the price, understanding the price is commensurate upon the overall experience. Now, I know this is not Morton's or Ruth's, which we expect to have an a lac art menu. The original experience returning to wood ranch was good, as I ordered their barbeque ribs, which came with two (2) sides, that being (what I order) peanut slaw and sweet mashed potatoes. I returned on 2/9/2013 and decided upon their signature steaks menu, that being the Kansas City aka bone in New York. The meal was delivered with my and my wife's second adult beverage. The meal included, for me ( Kc steak, baked potato, and a broccoli head). For my wife, hers came with (trout, asparagus, and mashed sweet potatoes). Upon reception of the final bill, I was surprised to find that I was charged $4.95' and $395.00 for the second side item. I understand that we need to make a profit or we will go out of business, but charging for a second side when a balanced meal typically consists of a meat, starch and a vegetable, is in my opinion a deceptive practice. Considering the afore mentioned restaurants charge for side items, is in my opinion OK, because their menu states at the top in bold wording A LA CART. WHEN A RESTAURANT CHARGES FOR THE SECOND SIDE ITEM WITH STEAKS, BUT DOES NOT CHARGE FOR THE SAME SIDE WITH BARBEQUE IS, (should I say) taking advantage of those with high end steak and potatoes taste. After ten Years of attending this restaurant, I would not advise anyone to attend, due to these practices.
(1)
N C.
I freaking LOVE THIS PLACE! I have been coming to Wood Ranch for the last like 5 years and its the best bbq EVER! Almost everyone that works there knows me and I love it. Damian is a awesome guy and waiter! GOOD SERVICE, EXCELLENT FOOD, AWESOME ATMOSPHERE! NEED MORE LOCATIONS!!
(5)
Omar D.
Started off with the Tri Tip Sliders (tasted like the were fresh off the grill :) and Grilled Balsamic Shrimp (needed a little more lime, but good) Service is a limitless slow..need to stay on waiter for water :(.. Ok...main coarse is the Santa Fe Chicken( very good, a must try :), got it with the sweet potato fries..yum, loved the ranch) ..nice that I can see the Angels game from my table...
(4)
Cindy Y.
Awesome pulled pork sandwich here! Definitely hits the spot for all my pork fans out there! The atmosphere is totally relaxed and family oriented. Service was good and friendly. Definitely would come back if I am in the area again!
(4)
Liz H.
Revisited last night, and our waiter was very attentive. I highly recommend the tri-tip sandwich, it's absolutely excellent. Sat inside this time, the problems we experienced before (dirty tables and confusing service) were not an issue.
(4)
Erica G.
I always look forward to dinner at Wood Ranch BBQ. The staff is always polite and attentive and the food is always tasty! I don't eat red meat which you may find weird coming to a BBQ restaurant, but they do a nice job at accommodating my needs. I love the BBQ chicken Salad... my favorite, so much flavor!!! and the garlic rolls are soooo good. I love WR BBQ!!! You can't go wrong here!
(5)
Martin T.
Been here a number of times The service on the Takeout sucks I have eaten the Chicken two times and both times I had diareah I haven't been back in 9 months and don't intend on coming back Overpriced also
(1)
J C.
Went here a couple times.. Tried the ribs, and the filet. Both letdowns. The sauce on the ribs tasted cheap! Like it was from a jar. I've had alot better at Lucille's. I think the ribs even at the El Torrito grill may be better than here! Wood ranch isn't cheap either. I expected much better food. Tried the filet.. dry and tough.. Outback is much better. Overall this place is way overpriced. I can't believe so many people like it. I won't be back.
(2)
Anita I.
My hubby and I order to go from here about twice a month. We also dine in about twice a month. We usually order the roasted chicken with mac and cheese...both are the best I've ever had. I prefer this place over Lucille's. The crew is excellent...they always take good care of us. The martinis are yummy too.
(5)
Melinda Q.
Highly energetic, friendly and helpful service. Must try the spicy green beans and the mac n cheese, great additions to the chicken breast meal.Very affordable prices on their wine selection- the Malbec was impressive.
(5)
Lauren T.
I've been to Wood Ranch about 4 times, I think it was ok once. One time my turkey burger came back uncooked. Skip it.
(1)
Leonardo Z.
Recommend their Natalie's salad. Very yummy. A consistent standby. Nothing fancy...but a dependable go to place. Good service, decent food and reasonable pricing..plus the yummy, yummy Natalie's salad!!
(4)
Roxanna A.
the old stand by. DELICIOUS RIBS!!!! the mashed sweet potatoes are good too. I wish they had sweet potatoe fries. always excellent servce, always. they also have a $10 corkage, not bad.
(4)
No B.
I finally was talked into going here. The food was fine, a full rack of Baby Back Ribs for $18.95 with two sides. My Wife got the Beef Ribs with two sides for $11.95. Fairly priced, the food is good but the place looks like a Reality TV Show with all the local 'Wanna-be OC Housewives' vying for the position of which one is the 'Queen Bitch'! If you want better BBQ served in a place that feels like a BBQ joint should, go to Bad to the Bone in San Juan Capistrano. If you want to eat in a 'TV Production Studio' atmosphere, that serves food that is OK and feels like a casting office for a bad 'Reality Show'....here is your place!
(3)
S. E.
Food is tasty, but a bit overpriced. Servers seem overworked, even during non-peak hours, meaning service is lacking. But the location is convenient and usually the wait time isn't too bad. Also, they have excellent desserts. If they would do something about their service, this would be a 5-star joint.
(4)
Mandy K.
My husband and I decided to have a date night and wanted to try a new restaurant, so we went to Wood Ranch BBQ and Grill. WOW! It was amazing... everything from the food (amazing bread rolls!) to the atmosphere and especially our server! Damien was friendly from the second he walked up to our table, greeting us with a big smile and great enthusiasm! We started out our evening with two iced teas (mine was tropical and my husband ordered the regular.) We order iced tea everywhere we go, and this is by far the best iced tea we've had! Damien then brought out the most amazing bread rolls (smothered in butter and yummy goodness!) The night only got better when our food came out. I ordered the vegetable salad and added grilled chicken. It was fantastic!! However, not as good as my husband's western tri-tip sandwich with mashed potatoes! Wow was it delicious! We didn't order dessert, but the oreo ball was screaming my name! Maybe next time because we will definitely be back to see Damien!
(5)
Matt G.
Good but pricey food. I always get the food to go. We share a two course meal at home. Feeds two fairly well. Food is consistent and fresh.
(3)
Steve G.
Delicious BBQ that you can actually smell as you drive into the parking lot. I got the 3 item combo, consisting of baby back ribs, chicken breast, and tri-tip. Sides were peanut slaw and mac and cheese. The tri-tip and peanut slaw were especially delicious.
(3)
Kira F.
Nice and comfortable atmosphere. Superior staff! Ordered filet mignon. It was okay but recommend that you probably stick to their house favorites. Would like return and try other menu items.
(4)
Cathy M.
Good martinis and tri-tip. But I usually eat so many of the yummy garlic breadsticks that I can finish my dinner.
(3)
John F.
I loved this place and couldn't believe I never went until last week. The wait was manageable, table we excellent, kids enjoyed their dinner and want to go back. My pick 13 year old still talks about the chop salad (it was awesome I ate half of it). My tri-tip was perfect! The checken was great, and they have a huge selection of wines. Go tonight!
(5)
Peeka L.
Tried this place for the first time last week. Skip the free garlic bread. They were dense, like it had been sitting in a bag under something and then heated up. Not fluffy or fresh at all. Ordered the BBW chicken potato skins for app. Good flavor but potato skins were a bit overcooked and were dry and too crispy. The 4 pieces were not uniform at all so it made it difficult to share with my friends. I felt bad taking a big piece. Not a good start! For main, I ordered the tri tip with mashed sweet potatoes and coleslaw. Very delicious. Beef was cooked and flavored well. The sweet potatoes were so creamy and the coleslaw was light. Also got the warm chocolate cake for dessert. The cake was good but ruined with cheap vanilla ice cream and canned whipped cream. I know this restaurant isn't known for their desserts but for $7, they could try a little harder. They could at least use freshly whipped cream. Or maybe scrap the whole idea and just dust the cake with some powdered sugar. I would come back but will skip the apps and dessert and settle with just an entree. Nice service and casual atmosphere.
(3)
Shareen S.
Wood Ranch's food quality actually deserves 4 stars, I'll admit. I only knock off one because they have an obvious lack of vegetarian options, I had to settle with the balsamic chicken option. They do have a portebello option though for those of you who do not mind mushrooms. However, their potatoes and other sides are delicious (sweet potato recommended).
(3)
Michelle L.
All I have to say is that the Mac & Cheese is BOMB here!!!! It is SOOOOOOOOOOO good! Everytime my boyfriend and I go here we ALWAYS get it. We also love the BBQ chicken breasts with mashed potatoes. Their bread is amazing and their Chicken Tortilla soup is as well. This is definitely in my top 3 restaurants of all time! I LOVE IT! The servers are nice to look at as well ;)
(5)
James C.
We visit about once every two weeks. Great food for fair prices. Any couple looking to go out on a date without breaking the bank. I recommend the Tri tip, BBQ chicken salad or tri tip sandwiches.
(5)
Dave M.
Great experience, we ordered the Natalie salad to start and me, my wife and daughter shared it and it was very good. For dinner I had the the appetizer baby back ribs and coleslaw (awesome) and my wife and daughter shared the 1/2 chicken and coleslaw, they ordered the grilled but got the BBQ instead, minor mistake on the servers part, She offered to change it but they chose to eat it and loved it. Overall great service by Jessica and food was great.
(5)
Stacey B.
Wood Ranch is one of my go to places for BBQ. I love their Tri-Tip, which is one of their specialties. I've only had their wings and sliders for appetizers. Both were good, but sliders are too filling if you actually plan on eating a meal. As far as sides go, the mac and cheese is good. Mashed sweet potatoes are great, peanut cole slaw also very yummy. Pricing is pretty reasonable, but if you are one of those people that like salad with your meal you are going to pay extra. Don't try to go here for lunch. The RSM location isn't open for lunch during the week. Which means we ended up at El Torito. NASTY!
(4)
Jim B.
We've been here before and it's OK. I really haven't found a BBQ place in South Orange County that's all that great.
(3)
Sean N.
I'm allergic to corn syrup/high fructose corn syrup, it was in everything. The rolls, the mashed potatoes, the worcestershire sauce, the A1 sauce, the wood ranch special BBQ sauce, and even the creamed horse radish (it was in the straight horse radish as well). I got the clam chowder (it didn't have HFCS) and the rib eye steak. I ate the steak plain, no sauce, this upset me. I usually want sauce with my steak. The potato was good. The steak was good, it seemed a bit overseasoned. Not worth the $26 imo, there was a lot of fat. If you're not health conscious and you don't mind consuming a ton of high fructose corn syrup, eat up, it's a good place. If you are avoiding the inevitable obesity that comes with being an American, avoid this place. It's not just "fattening", I don't care about the fat or butter, it's the fact high fructose corn syrup (a very cheap, bad sweetener) is in practically everything in this restaurant. Other than that, decent.
(3)
Danielle T.
My favorite place to eat in RSM. I especially like the spinach dip, garlic rolls and mashed potatoes. The place is also family friendly so it is a great place to go with the kids and have an enjoyable meal. Glad there is a place like this in RSM.
(5)
Keith K.
The food is the best and the service is always so helpfully when I need anything. If a slight error is mad they always are Johnny on the spot to correct it what ever is needed. I love this place.
(5)
Diane S.
One of the best restaurants in Rancho. I've found even when there's a wait, it's never as long as they say. I've always had good service. My favorite is their signature dish, the Tri-Tip; always perfectly cooked. They have the most delicious BBQ sauce. I've never had anything I didn't like. Yummy garlic bread rolls!
(5)
Tammy N.
Went here last night with my mom and brother. We came around 6:30 and the wait time was 10-20 minutes, the buzzer went off in 5 we weren't complaining. Now getting into the restaurant the decor has a bar right when you come in and then you have rows of tables, its dimly lit and has a slight western theme. On to the main event, the food. Garlic rolls 3/5 They were really soft, I'd prefer they'd be a little crispier. Plus our server didn't give us any butter or sauces to dip it in Clam Chowder 4.5/5 Really creamy and rich and it was nice because it wasn't too thick or thin and there were vegetables and tons of clams in there as well. Crispy Chicken tenders 3.5/5 they weren't really that crispy but they gave you 5. I think it was white breast meat and they weren't dry at all, although the slices were pretty thin I didn't mind. Tri- Tip 3/5 I really don't know what all the rave is about, i thought it was okay. it was a pretty thick slice but it wasn't tender and flavorful Pulled pork 3/5 I thought it was okay, the flavor was nice but it came out lukewarm, and there were huge chunks of pieces of fat. At least my dog likes it Baby back ribs 4/5 I don"t like ribs but they were easy to pull of the bone and they had a smoky flavor to it which was nice Sides 4/5 Drink 4/5 Mashed potatoes were good, had a lot of butter and cream. Sweet smashed potatoes tasted really weird the consistency was like baby food. Cole slaw was amazing and I don't even like Cole slaw, watch out there are peanuts in this. Strawberry lemonade was good, and I tried the iced teas they weren't sweetened so they were okay Service 3/5 Our sever was okay she came by once to see if everything was okay but didn't ask us if we wanted refills or anything.
(3)
DJ C.
Delicious dinner, didn't think we could get such good BBQ this far west. I'm of the persuasion that BBQ is best in the Southeast, from North Carolina, down to Georgia, across thru Tennessee, Kansas City, and over to Texas, with the epicenter of BBQ in Memphis. That's my favorite anyways. So when we sat down at Wood Range, I didn't raise my expectations too high. Boy, was I pleasantly surprised! Wood Ranch use one bbq sauce for everything, and their most popular dishes -- #1 Tri tips and #2 babyback ribs (pork) were fantastic! The tri tips were tender and thinly sliced. The appetizer version was served on mini burger buns with a small dish of warm bbq sauce, great starter. Then the kids version of tri tips were two sizeable slices. I had to try something different than steaks or tri tips, so I ventured with the babyback ribs - a full rack. The meat did not fall off the bone, and I wouldn't want it to, easy enough to bite off the bones, and comes with just enough BBQ sauce brushed on over the grill marks. There's a large bottle of BBQ sauce at the table if you wanted to drench it. I had 2 sides: the baked beans, good, and the smashed sweet potatoes. I was hoping for more sweet potato flavor in the sweet potatoes, but it was too whipped with other extra stuff. Was it butter? cream? filler? I don't know, not ideal for my taste. And, the very warm garlic rolls smelled wonderful and the 1st few bites were incredible, but when they cooled, it wasn't so chewable. That struck me odd. So for the unideal sweet potatoes and rolls, I had to withhold the 5th star.
(4)
Sue B.
This is one of our favorite restaurants in the area. The rib eye steak is fabulous. The tri-tip is always delicious. The tri-tip bbq salad is excellent. Everything is good.
(5)
Chris P.
I must say I'm a bit disappointed in wood ranch. Although i do like their tri-tip, chopped bbq chicken salad and their pesto dinner rolls..... Its is overpriced. $12.00 for a salad? Also, my daughter ordered an Arnold Palmer....we were charged $4.00. Really? ! Another time, my son wanted to order off of the kids menu, which is up to 12 years old, and they said no because he is 13. In have no problem paying for quality food, but the food is decent at best and the service blows. I'm out on this place!
(2)
Lance M.
Wonderful food. Staff friendly, price is about right for the area. Tri-tip is about the best you'll find in South Orange County. Have only been when the place was packed, and waited a good 40 minutes to be seated. In all, a good place.
(3)
Jane s.
We were severely food poisoned here in April 2011 (most likely from the tri tip). We reported our illness to the county health dept and they wrote Wood Ranch up for several violations of the health code. fortunately our young son and elderly grandfather did not eat any of the food. We will never go back.
(1)
Jodie W.
Don't get the ribs or the brisket. The wood ranch salad with beef is my fave. The garlic rolls are to die for.
(3)
Vanessa S.
Okay...the filet mignon gave the phrase "melt in your mouth" new meaning for me tonight. If you like red meat, you'll love the filet here! The mesquite grilled meat was so delicious I didn't need to add any salt or pepper. Just thinking about that slab of meat is making me salivate. You've got to try it! Also try the Sweet Mashed Potatoes. I'm not a big fan of sweet potatoes or yams for that matter, but Wood Ranch has a tasty twist on this dish. Our server was very friendly, helpful, and attentive, and that can be tough to do when a restaurant gets as packed as Wood Ranch does on a Friday night.
(5)
Maria K.
Just terrible. Overcooked chicken and lousy service. The LA and valley one can definitely do better. Was looking forward for this place to open but bummed about the quality of the food they serve. Not coming back anytime soon..
(2)
Jeff Q.
Always a great place to get dinner. Have been here many times over the years and always leave happy and full. Their recent addition of pulled pork to the menu is amazing. Make sure to not skip their signature Tri-Tip - it is delicious!
(4)
Kip D.
Been here only once. Got the tri-tip with mashed potatoes. Overall it was pretty good. I enjoyed their BBQ sauce. Ultimately, it's not the best I've ever had but also not a bad experience. Would go back if my friend wants to again.
(3)
shawn g.
When this place first opened I really liked it, but as time has gone on, the prices have gotten higher, the quality has gone down and the menu has gotten smaller. Finally the last time we went, we spent 10 minutes looking at the menu and just finally left.
(2)
Robert D.
Good food and good bread
(4)
Lisa Z.
Was not excited about this restaurant as I don't consider myself a BBQ/meat girl. I ordered their BBQ salad with tri tip on top because my friend insisted I try it. It was unbelievable! I'm now obsessed! I took my family back and my children ordered chicken from the kids menu, ... best chicken ever! Super moist and wonderful flavor. I am sold, I love this place!!!
(5)
Sam M.
Whew, this is a chain restaurant that I can dig... This place can get pretty crowded, but if you come on a weekday, you won't wait long, for the most part. I have to mention the wait staff---I adore them, and they're cordial, and even friendly. Now for the food...don't miss out on any of the BBQ...you'll be sorry. Really, I don't order anything other than the tri-tip, because it's THAT GOOD. Really, it's just that good. I get it with the peanut cole slaw and the mashed potatoes. The cole slaw is hands down, the best cole slaw I've eaten. I'm not a fan of mayonnaisse-y slaw, and this vinegary stuff really is the antithesis of that. The textural contrast of the slightly crumbly, but still firm peanuts and the crisp cabbage...OK, this may be one of the finer dishes I've ever eaten. Sublime. The mashed potatoes are nice, a bit dry if I'm to be nitpicky, but have a wonderfully umami, savory edge to them that I love.
(5)
Lily P.
food is great. service is excellent - there's a male server there that is...um...very light on his feet. everything is "it's all good" - you'll know him when you get him - he makes our day and has us leaving in giggles at his personality! love the sweet potato fries with spicy sauce, love the whipped sweet potatoes, love the tri tip. very consistent and never a disappointment and we've never have to wait for a table and it's right next to cinnamon productions, go there for your dessert.
(5)
lulubelle l.
We dined here 2 years ago...and when we came back, this is the first place I thought of, when it came to restaurant choices. Great steaks, ribs, fries. I thought my tri-tip sandwich had a bit too much BBQ sauce and it overwhelmed the taste of the meat. (So note to self: don't order anything with BBQ sauce). Otherwise a pleasant dining experience. Restaurant was really dark...felt like I needed a flashlight to see the menu. Part of the atmosphere I guess!
(3)
B K.
Always great good and service at Wood Ranch. I usually get the tri-tip and it's always excellent. I wouldn't call this a typical BBQ place, though some dishes come with their own BBQ sauce. Good place fir a sit down dinner, or to meet friends for a drink after work at the bar. Obviously a popular place and remains busy even during the weak economy.
(5)
Tom C.
Great ambiance and service, however very mediocre cuisine. BBQ chicken potato skins, a weird mix Guac. was somewhat bland, chips hot and delicious Caesar salad was limp and somewhat tasteless Pork ribs were far from fall off the bone Baked beans were extremely sugary My fliet was cooked perfectly, however was not savoury, especially for $25
(3)
Brad S.
Always dependable, always good. Ate myself sick on onion strings. Food is always great and kids always welcome.
(4)
Kimberley H.
Hubby took me here for dinner on 05/15/2009, he got the ribs and tritip, I got the salmon. I'm not a fan of BBQ, but I tried a bite of his tritip and just about died at how yummy it was. My salmon was amazing in flavor, presentation and quantity. I got the mashed regular potatoes which were pretty good and added a crab cake. The crab cake was a little on the small side and I probably wouldn't get it again, but I will go back for the salmon in a heartbeat. Our waitress was GREAT - always there to check on us and bring more drinks. The place was a little on the loud side, but our table wasnt crammed next to another like so many restaurants have which was nice. Would recommend to everyone.
(4)
Brandon O.
Great food and a nice place to enjoy the company of friends. Everything on the menu is great.
(5)
Dana S.
One of my favorite restaurants in the area by far. The food is great, as is the atmosphere. Definitely well worth the price. Love the pesto rolls!
(5)
Ashley L.
Ho-ly cow (hehe). Tri tip was one of the least expensive yet one of the tastiest steaks I've had. Our waiter was crazy but hilarious.
(4)
Aimee E.
Delicious food, pricey though. Well worth the money. Can order out!
(5)
Douglas S.
The food here is OK, but the potions are tiny, tiny, tiny. We're used to Lucille's where you order a combo platter and split it 3 ways. Wood Ranch gives you a small piece of meat and then they add a giant chunk of kale as a garnish to take up the empty spot on the plate. OTOH, they have a wonderful happy hour in the bar. Apps and drinks are cheap. Believe it or not, their guacamole is really good.
(2)
Tam Rae L.
yummy - tri tip sandwiches !!!!
(4)
Jake A.
I put this restaurant at the same level as a Cheesecaske factory. There's usually a wait, but it's not always worth the wait. Food is decent, but not terrific. Same goes for the service. Prices are probably a big high for what you get, but not outrageous. It's a place that I would eat at again, but won't go out of my way to go there (maybe as a last choice).
(3)
Jules D.
I LOVE this restaurant! My family loves this restaurant! Everybody will love this restaurant (if you love meat of course)! This is the restaurant that everyone in my family always picks to go to for birthdays and such. Let me tell you why I love it so much: I always, always order the Wood Ranch Tri-Tip. Its the classic item on the dish and what they are known for. Its always so tasty and full of flavor. Its the all day slow cook they do. It is also, always, the biggest piece of meat ever! I can never ever eat the entire thing, which is great because the next day I can have leftovers. I absolutely love their smashed sweet potatoes, that is the best side dish they have there (in my opinion). Its a creamy flavorful treat in your mouth! Now, I love a good house salad and Wood Ranch delivers to me the BEST house salad, I have had thus far. I think its the corn they put in there mixed with the tomatoes, cucumber chunks, lettuce and croutons. It is soooo delicious! I also really really enjoy their garlic rolls they give you to start with. You really can't eat just one. I have also ordered the tri-tip sandwich and that is good, my only complaint is the bread, sometimes its very hard, but it is a great meal for the next day as well. The reason I give it 4 stars is because I have had some bad experiences there, such as waiting forever! Also, I have gone a couple nights where the staff wasn't as friendly and attentive as they usually are, but overall its a great restaurant with seriously great barbeque.
(4)
Christa G.
Great food and portions for the price! I usually go here for every event that my boyfriend's family has. Great for family gatherings, quick service and very accommodating.
(4)
Kelly I.
This is the family's fall back restaurant (finally, it's broken them of TGI Friday's!) and we will usually make a visit during longer stays in town. The caesar salad and bread are delicious! I've actually never had a disappointing meal here. The brother's girlfriend is a server here, but even she still likes to eat here when not working...that's saying something. The wait can be a little long on a busy night, but the bar is lively.
(4)
J. B.
The kids love it here, but maybe because the other choices in town are limited and it is next to the bookstore and they always want a new book. I agree that since the menu changes have taken place it has changed, the food was better, but has gone down a bit. We love the tri tip and the BBQ chicken. The kids love the ribs. It is not a cheap date for the family (almost $100 with tip for 5 and no alcohol). The wait is long on the weekend and sometimes we do just end up ordering takeout. Beware, take out takes as long as the wait some days so we just send the guys back for pick up.
(3)
Lisa S.
Every time I visit my sis in Ladera Ranch, I make it a point to come out to Wood Ranch BBQ & Grill for their delicious tri-tip. Extra serving of sweet smashed potatoes please! I also like the fact you can wait with the pager at the bookstore next door. Makes for the 45 minute wait really pleasant.
(5)
Conspicuous C.
Legendary BBQ trip-tip and ribs. They smoke the tri-tips starting in the morning for the whole day day in preparation for the evening patrons. The original location in Agoura Hills is a local institution. The Rancho Santa Margarita version is just as good and is a very nice place as well. First-timers should get the ribs/tri-tip combination plate. Portions are large. Nobody leaves the Wood Ranch hungry. Until proven otherwise Wood Ranch BBQ is the best BBQ in Orange County, just like it is in the Valley/Ventura County. EDIT: The rating above applies only if you are not the kind of person who orders a vegetarian sandwich at a BBQ joint. UPDATE: I've taken it down a notch as the service has gone down a bit and the rest of the menu outside of the meat aren't as good as they used to be. Still, Turner's? Houston's? C'mon.
(4)
Karen K.
My hubby and I went last Saturday night-1st timers. The wait time was long, but worth it. The place was crowded, but the wait staff busted their butts to move things along as best as they could. The noise level was actually not bad considering the volume of people. The lighting in there is nice too. I ordered the rib and tri-tip combo with beans and mashed pot. The tri-tip was fab. and cooked to my taste, the ribs, good but were a little black on the outside, beans-very sweet, pot.-best have had in a while (they use both sour cream and cream cheese-yummy!). My hubby got the rib eye-he was satisfied. The rolls they give you are just ok-a bit soft for me-I like crisp on the outside, and chewy on the inside bread. All in all, the tri-tip and pot. did it for me-I'd go back for sure.
(4)
Miki M.
Until recently, the Wood Ranch chain was capable to preserve their menu intact without the influence of greedy marketing people. Unfortunately since recently, they had to "expand" their menu which has diluted ("diversified") in a totally unnecessary way their focus. So now it is not anymore just about doing REALLY YUMMY BBQ RIBS with the proprietary sauce, and fresh amazing cut PRIME RIB (available on weekends only). We had to get all those other sides. Oh well. fortunately they haven't yet thrown out the flagship old items on the menu- so it is still a pretty good restaurant. A real oasis surrounded by a whole lot of nothing. (RSM can seem like a culinary desert sometimes)... Having said all that, I highly recommend the Wood Ranch but beware of some items on the menu as it is starting to get closer and closer to a TGI Friday's... :) PS. By the way, to previous reviewer: "best BBQ in Orange County" is a big word. What about Turner's, or Houston's? UPDATE 08/03/2006 I hereby decrease my previous rating with 2 stars.. We went for an improvised dinner, a bit later than usual (after 9:00 PM). The Chicken salad was mediocre, with lots of mayonaise, and the letuce was cut too tiny- the whole thing looked more like cat food... Not appetizing at all. My Portobello Mushroom Sandwich (which is actually a burger, with the beef patty replaced by a portobello mushroom) had a very dry spongy bun that looked like it was made 2-3 days ago. Also, there was too much cheese, and overall the combination had nothing special, no taste... We got also the garlic bread, complementary as usual- but it was equally as bad, dry and old. For 2 people came up to 32 dollars, considering that we didn't even drink anything except just water... It seems the Wood Ranch is not a good place to go during week days anymore. On weekends it still keeps some of the previous passion for good food- or does it really?
(2)
Jason K.
Hey, for a local family-oriented restaurant, it's a lot of fun. Menu is varied and all items are good.
(4)
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Address :22352 El Paseo
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA, 92688
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Jamie G.
The food is always good but in my opinion there are better BBQ places and not as expensive.
(3)Bill m.
Went there for the first time was pleasantly surprised ! The Caesar salad was great for the main course I ordered the tri tip it was to die for melted right in your mouth. Had the onion strings there worth trying ? Wife got the grilled chicken breast she liked it alot. We will be definitely coming back to this fine restaurant . Everyone was very friendly there
(5)Yvette P.
Went for happy hour/dinner with some friends. I had the small plate of the balsamic shrimp which came with a cabbage slaw type thing. The sauce was great - not overpowering for shrimp. The BBQ shrimp were well cooked so they were still soft and tender but fully done. Also tried a bowl of the tortilla soup - decent but nothing to wrote home, or other yelpers, about. Blended soup with some chicken and tortilla. Pretty thick and hearty with some cheese on top. Service was very attentive and great about special requests.
(4)Liz Y.
After reading all the good reviews my husband and I decided to try the Wood Ranch BBQ in Rancho S.M. I was looking forward to the tri tip which is supposed to be one of their best dishes, but the waiter told us that it would only be available to order medium well or well and did not recommend it since it could be dry. So I ordered baby back and chicken combo. The baby backs had a good taste but were not super tender. The chicken was very good. They have a nice selection of side dishes. This is a nice comfortable restaurant somewhat like an Outback or Houston's. The service was pretty good but the table and seat were not as clean as I would hope.
(3)Dave F.
Wood Ranch is my very favorite place to eat in Rancho Santa Margarita. Everything about the place gets a "10" in my book. Even the cocktails are exceptional. If you want a good fill-up of carnivore delight, may I suggest the WR BBQ Combo. The two item is $16.95 and it's really all anyone needs but they do have up to four item selections. My favorite combo is the Tri-tip with baby back ribs. I love to slide the bone out and slowly enjoy the perfection of this super high quality taste treat. The Tri-tip is 2DIE4!!! You can almost put the knife down and cut it with the edge of your fork! Oh wait, I've actually done that! And the flavor... Ahhhhhhh damn good! Why can't meat always taste like this? Well it can if you eat here all the time.
(5)Gregg S.
I'm going to keep it short and sweet: for a corporate BBQ restaurant this place is amazing. The food is great, the service is awesome, prices are very reasonable for the ambiance you get. James is a good guy, we get him alot as a server and he told us he is becomming a bartender so my wife and I are looking forward to coming in to see him behind the bar.
(5)Erica R.
Two words: Happy Hour. WR has a GREAT Happy Hour! It ends at 6 M-F, during which you can get $2 off any appetizer or drink. Went last night and got the pulled pork sliders, tri-tip sliders, spinach and artichoke dip, large eclipse, and small Blue Moon. The total was $33. What a deal! As for the food, the tri-tip sliders are a must. The meat is very tender and is coated with a sweet-ish sauce. The buns they use are very soft and slightly grilled. The pulled pork sliders came with coleslaw and a pickle on them. The pork was very smoky (in a good way), but it didn't have a sauce on it. It came with a kind of au jus, which is fine, but I prefer my meat to be sauced. Drinks were great! Nice and cold and filled to the brim. We ate at the bar, of course, and the bartenders were quick and friendly. Not a bad way to spend a Friday night!
(4)Steve M.
Been there once it was ok, I would probably go else where for a steak. I cant really recall anything on the menu that left a lasting impression to make us want to go back but it wasnt bad it just didnt stand out.
(3)Peter V.
I've always liked the hardwood smoke grilled food here at branches in Calbassas and The Grove. Upon my first visit here, our server Corey took good care of us and a party of 4 1/2 with a 5 month old child.Huge chunks of avocado in a smooth guacamole and warm oven baked chips were great. I had the trout and mac/cheese with a side cesar salad...a solid value at 15.00..Tri tip salad and the apppetizer ribs were all a hit too.We'll be back when visiting south OC every month...
(4)Ahmed A.
Dishes: Potato Skins, Tri Tip Salad, Tri Tip, Beef Ribs, Buck Eye Burger, BBQ Beans, Mac and Cheese, Fries Lets get the less important out the way. Fries are fries. BBQ Beans are pretty standard too. The bread they serve is bomb, especially if you dip it in the BBQ sauce. Only when its soft though. Hard bread ain't never a winner. Potato skins are off the hook. Get some sour cream to dip it and you'll wanna order several of these instead of gettin an entree, no joke. I hate sharin this appetizer wit ppl. Tri Tip salad is tasty too. Not much to say though. I would spend my money on other dishes to get more fulfilled. Tri Tip is what this place is known for. If you dig Tri Tip, go for it. I like how it is but I like to put my money down for the beef ribs. Beef ribs are delicious. I don't care if you have already have a pretty face, bbq sauce will only boost your points. They got a nice smoked flavor and their sauce is legit. Don't like sharin these either. Buck Eye Burger is good. You can't go wrong on a Burger with cheddar cheese and BBQ sauce. I guess you can but they don't. Mac and cheese side. Not feelin it. How you gone fail on the easiest thing to make? Every time i've got this its mushy man. Service is straight here but I don't like the vibe in this place though. The vibe is just gloomy.
(4)Paul N.
Great Garlic rolls, fall off the bone BBQ Beef Ribs, delicious peanut slaw, amazing mac and cheese, and a great wait staff. The only negative is their pork ribs. Kind of dry and not really fall off the bone. I'll stick to the beef ribs and braised short ribs.
(4)Chip K.
Everything they have is the best thing in the world. I don't get it. The chips and salsa was the best I ever had, and don't even talk smack cuz I was born in Santa Ana, homey. Their bloody Mary is so thick and delicious that it was like an alcoholic milkshake for adults that requires McDonald's giant clown-straws. Their guacamole is insane. The tri-tip is crazy good and the beef ribs were so fresh it was like I was gnawing on the live flesh of a generous bovine friend who was saying, "Yes it hurts me Chip, but I'm so darn tasty that you just have to keep on eating me." One thing - it's a fact that their hand-crafted BBQ sauce is the best on this planet, pretty much any planet, including those planets that Mormons and Scientologists recognize, even if NASA does not. They know that you are going to try and steal a bottle of their sauce. Now let's just say that on your way out you may want to 'accidentally' fall, whilst creating a diversion of such David Blaine proportion, that no one will notice when you shove that bottle of sauce down the front of your trousers. Warning: This is not a good look for a woman, however for the gentleman, it does add to your masculinity and you will get interesting looks on the way to the parking lot.
(5)Dan B.
Food was dry. Late Lunch Bad Idea. Food must have sat on the grill.
(2)Peter P.
Time to write a review after going here for years. This is a typical family joint bustling with all types; family, couples, first time date, bar crowd. The food is always great. I've never had a bad experience with the food. I'm pretty picky trying to get healthy options and the servers always suggest alternatives. Not that I always eat that way, but I try to most of the time. Great part of the experience is the service. I've always had good luck in this department. I like the filet, blackened catfish, chicken breast, spicy green beans, house salad. I'll go back again and again.
(5)Jen W.
Despite living right across the street, we never went here. What a shame. Now that we have, we will more often. It sort of reminds me of Claim Jumper, but smaller, hipper, and much less "y'all" themed. I had a chicken sandwich that was to die for. I generally don't eat meat (and red meat even more rarely), but I tried this sandwich and was really impressed. Chicken tends to be very bland, but not the case here. My husband ordered the steak, and thought he'd ask for A1 (he assumed this was standard sub par steakhouse, and he likes A1). But he took a bite and said he didn't need it. That's how good it was. Our server, Damian, was hilarious. We loved him. He has a swagger and a way of speaking that is infectious, and entertaining. We went on a Saturday night and the wait was twenty minutes, not bad. We will definitely be back, especially since it's like a five second walk.
(5)Allison L.
Come to Wood Ranch for nice breasts. I ordered the BBQ Chicken Breast and they served me two large breasts that were plump and juicy...just as breasts should be :) My boyfriend got the Rib and Chicken Combo and said the ribs were excellente (he speaks a little Spanish). The drinks don't seem that strong here. The Strawberry Basil Martini ($9) was okay. I recommend going for the Raspberry Pomegranate Martini instead ($7). It's cheaper and tastier. NOTE: If you go during Happy Hour all cocktails are $2 off. We sat in the bar area where the game was on. Our friendly bartender provided great service. The ambiance is just okay...it's a chain BBQ joint, so I don't think you can really expect that much. It's along the lines of Outback. If you are craving some BBQ I say check it out...if there's nothing else around. Just kidding! It's good :P
(3)Gini B.
Will be back! Pros: 1. Food is always great and their meats are delicious! Salads are tasty, tri tip/ribs/rib eye is awesome. Their killer wings as well as their pulled pork sandwiches are good. The sweet mashed potatoes are to die for. 2. Service is generally very good while dining in the restaurant. 3. Tri Tip soup is to die for! Cons: 1. Take out service is horrible. Seems to be a bunch of chickens with their heads cut off running around in the back, even though there are only a few people waiting for take out. 2. They are closed for lunch on the weekdays.
(3)David B.
Not a bad place. Good Q, not great, but good. Very loud at times, total Housewife of OC place, at least that is what it reminds me of. The tri-tip is good, ribs are good, but the portions are small for what you pay.
(3)Allen N.
Great place to go to! Food is always delicious and service is usually pretty good too. The only reason I gave it a 4 was because of a couple times that the service was a bit sluggish. I usually get the Pulled pork Sandwhich, which is awesome with their Carolina BBQ sauce, and the bread is great too! Its also loud enough so that if the kids get a little elevated with their talking that most people wont notice! HAHA
(4)Lex C.
It's our first time here. The baby racks were pretty tasty. However, it's not the best baby back ribs I've ever had. For one thing, the meat did not fall off the bone like it's suppose to. The BBQ sauce while yummy was overly sticky. I ordered double broccoli and they steamed it just right. The decor is very nice (they have a beautiful bar in the center of the restaurant) and the service was pretty good. I appreciate the waiter telling us that because it was towards the end of the evening that we should avoid the tri-tip since they only have medium well cuts...the medium and medium rare were already served to earlier customers. It was very nice of him to warn us about that. It's difficult to match the Chipotle Ribs from El Torito Grill as that is still my current measure but I think we're going to give this place another try next time the tri-tip is acceptable for consumption.
(4)Darlene J.
Always enjoy my meal! Tri Tip & Baby Back Ribs really good, the cold slaw is either really good or really bad depending on who makes it. We love Wood Ranch I only wish we had one here in San Diego!
(4)Angelique J.
My son and I went for lunch. First time for the both of us. My son had the 15 oz Rib Eye- very tender and juicy. Melted in your mouth. My son is a steak lover and was very impressed. I had the Lunch Combo - I had the BBQ Tri Tip sliders - had a choice of soup or salad. I selected the Tortilla Soup, which was delish, very thick sauce with shredded chicken and bits of Tortillas and it came with a side order of your choice. Very simple menu. Menu prices reasonable. Portions were good. Our waitress was on top of things. Place was busy for a Sunday lunch. We did not have to wait... We were sat immediately. Would go again
(3)Mike K.
This is a fantastic restaurant for the reason that everyone has listed. The interior looks beautiful and upper class but the prices aren't. The Tri-tip is hands down the best i've had, though I was born and raised here in Cali. I have also heard good things about several of their other cuts of beef. The garlic rolls are fantastic. Watch out because you will seriously spoil your appetite before you even knew what happened. Great local Steakhouse. Much better in my opinion than Black Anus, Claim Humper, or Outcrack.
(5)Amy S.
BBQ tritip sandwich is soooo good. And the Mac and cheese?! I'd eat it all day! Make sure you ask for bread and some ranch to dip it in and just thank me later. I'm always down to grab diner here, it's me and my girlfriends' go-to dinner spot!
(5)Lizanne J.
I have been living in RSM for over 10 yrs. and have never gotten tired of the food at Wood Ranch. It is so good.... every time! My husband & I eat there at least once a month. Every thing is awesome. :)
(5)Tinkerbell E.
Very good baby back ribs and roasted chicken.wasn't very fond of their mashed potatoes though. The service was very good. Good wine.
(4)Lisa M.
Very solid ala Americana steakhouse. Higher quality food and decor than Black Angus and Outback, but the price is the same or even better. The tri-tip and baby back ribs are always perfectly grilled and juicy, never dry. They always offer grilled fresh sweet corn on the cob. I often order their tri-tip BBQ chopped salad, the perfect blend of ranch and BBQ sauce on chopped lettuce, fresh corn, other goodies.
(5)Kimberly W.
So we had dinner here the other night with my pops. Baby Back ribs are delicious and I have to say the Mac n Cheese is so yummy. Pops are I shared the BB Ribs & Mac & Cheese with a side of Sweet potatos fries for an extra $2.50 (not sure on the price). Which I don't feel we should be charge an extra $$$ for a side dish when it comes with two and thats one of our sections. I did have two glasses of Charannay, but when the bill came out they charged us for the more expensive wine than the wine we ordered. When confronting the manager on duties she acted as if we were trying to get something for free verse what we order. Which wasn't right. Then we waited awhile for the bill to come back. This has happened twice now. I do feel that the side portions can be bigger and the services can go a little bit more over the top in CS for their customers. I will probably go to this place again, but it will not be my first option.
(3)Mike L.
After golf I yelped to find something near by and im a sucker for BBQ and found this place, when we showed up i realized its the same place in corona off the 15 and we where going to change are mind but i said, maybe it will be different since its a different location. nope! We get the rolls and they are soaked in oil to where you cant pick it up, had to use a fork and the outside was hard. I asked the waitress if they are suppose to be hard and she said sometimes. ok. So she said she would TRY to bring some softer ones, samething. Worst rolls ever. My dad and I both ordered the BBQ sandwich and i only ate half of it, it was that bad. My dad got the brocolli and he said it sucked. I got the mac and cheese as my side and it was the best thing of the night but not great enough to save the overall dinner.
(1)Robert H.
I love wood ranch! And was ever so pleased to see my new neighborhood had one across the street. Nice.
(4)Iris N.
I had a really nice dinner here last week. The dark setting of the restaurant allows for a nice private dinner. We ordered 2 glasses of Malbec wine and shared a Greek salad (which was delicious) and the Tri-tip main course with corn and mashed potatoes as side orders. It was a good amount for two people for a late dinner. I can never finish a whole entree by myself and I hate large portions, so the split was perfect. I am also not a huge meat eater, so I was skeptical of coming here at first, but decided to give it try anyway. It was probably the best tri-tip I've ever had. It was very tender and melts in your mouth. The extra BBQ sauce made it really flavorful too. I've had tri-tip at Lucille's and this is way better. It exceeded the little expectations I had, and it's hard to please me when it comes to dining out. The staff was friendly and it was a fun experience!
(5)Erin C.
My parents love this place, but I've never understood their enthusiasm. It's as good a place as any to eat out: the food is good (not amazing), the prices are reasonable, the servers are attentive. But it doesn't stand out from the rest. Overall: if you're looking for a pleasant place to grab a bite to eat, this place will do just fine.
(3)Michelle H.
When I drive to the burbs to have dinner with my parents, I expect the cookie cutter from any of the generic eateries in Santa Margarita meal and let's just say I wasn't disappointed. Apparently Tuesday nights is half price wine night which means that they only mark up the sub-par wine 200% instead of 400%. I will admit I hate barbeque sauce so that eliminates half the menu options which is fine by me there is plenty to chose from. Luckily I always get the same thing, the roasted half chicken. This is either a hit or a miss , they serve it with a chicken au jous which is basically a bowl of chicken broth. When it is a hit you don't even have to use it, when it is a miss it is so dry that dipping each bite is necessary. Last night it was a hit. I will say the turkey sliders my mom ordered looked like crap and she said they tasted like crap. They gladly took them off our bill which was nice, but like I said hit or miss with this place. My boyfriend has the tri tip when it came to the table it looked okay, he said it was great so i will go with what he said. The best part of the night was dessert, and I don't even like dessert. I got the oreo cookie ice cream ball. Magical! it was too frozen to use my spoon on so what other choice does a girl have than to pick it up and bite into it? Pure magic. I will definitely remember to save room for dessert from now on.
(3)timothy h.
Wow, as my first official meal in "The O.C." i have to say that this place blows away every other chain BBQ place Ive ever been to, and all we had were appetizers! Chicken tenders, ribblets, hot spinach dip, fried green tomatoes, south western wraps, it was like id died and gone to heaven! Please open one in the Bay area, ill be a regular an dedicated patron!
(5)Randy S.
Hit and miss here. Sometimes the food is fantastic...sometimes it is mediocre. A little pricey for what it is.
(3)Robert L.
Very tasty BBQ and so-so drinks, but great tap beer. Service is hit or miss; refills are a tad slow and 2 out of 3 dinner visits at least 1 friend got the wrong order; but the quality of the food makes up for it. Interior is a cross between Claim Jumper and TGI Fridays... rustic-ish but "we're still fun". Large bar in middle of restaurant is a nice change (not just tucking away us drunks away in the back). Definitely a stick-to-your-ribs kind of place. Everything (as I remember) was basted or double-basted, and served with a huge potato or fries or coleslaw or all of the above. Hits the spot if you want some good BBQ.
(4)J E.
will never go back! The place was buzzing and seemed fun and trendy, but the food was on the same scale as Carrows! UGH. Hoping that their cocktails were decent, I ordered one of their signature martinis only to find it extremely overpriced and served in the smallest glass I have ever seen. One more thing - a gentleman in a table next to us pointed out some mysterious item in his burger, only to send it back and leave hungry and disgusted.
(1)Britt W.
A very solid three star experience. I had heard good things and read some not so good things about Wood Ranch BBQ & Grill so my expectations were minimal. I was thinking Outback Steakhouse without the Crocodile Dundee theme but was pleasantly surprised that Wood Ranch turned out to be straight forward and simple. I ordered the salmon fillet grilled with the sweet soy sauce glaze and it was perfect. Not too big, not too small, just right. I had smashed sweet potatoes on the side. They were creamy with a touch of brown sugar and cinnamon. The house salad was pretty ordinary but the addition of corn kernels was a pleasant twist. The girlfriend, J, ordered the filet mignon with mac & cheese as a side. This was some serious mac & cheese with a strong cheddar flavor. After taking my token complimentary bite I had to keep thinking of distractions to get J to turn her head away from her plate. Oh my God, is that Hillary Clinton?!?! Head turns, fork extends across the table, zoink! The perfect crime. The complimentary dinner rolls with a high gloss butter and garlic shine are warm, fresh and delicious. In a pinch they could really carry an inferior entree if they had to. Wood Ranch also gets a huge shout out for having Fresca on tap. It's so rare to find a diet soda that isn't of the cola variety let alone one that based on the highly underrated grapefruit. This will be a deal maker for Wood Ranch on those nights I am torn between two restaurants and need a tie breaker. I am happy to have found Wood Ranch because it can satisfy many of my restaurant needs. I can take non-foodies there for a nice meal that won't intimidate yet is still nicer than The Claim Jumper. I can bring an inexpensive red wine, pay the corkage fee and have an affordable steak with great sides instead of heading to one of the high end steakhouses. Wood Ranch is a winner and I will go back soon.
(3)Rick H.
it is ok
(3)April C.
Because there really isn't another BBQ place in the area, I have been going to Wood Ranch since it opened. The chicken wings are the best around. I can't say I have ever had a bad meal here. It's pretty loud but maybe that's the appeal??? NOTE: Go during Happy Hour all cocktails are $2 off and the bartenders provided great quick service. Great for those of us who don't want to sit around and be bothered by all the noise.
(5)Drew H.
I returned to Orange County in August of 2012 and went for what i believe is a good meal for the price, understanding the price is commensurate upon the overall experience. Now, I know this is not Morton's or Ruth's, which we expect to have an a lac art menu. The original experience returning to wood ranch was good, as I ordered their barbeque ribs, which came with two (2) sides, that being (what I order) peanut slaw and sweet mashed potatoes. I returned on 2/9/2013 and decided upon their signature steaks menu, that being the Kansas City aka bone in New York. The meal was delivered with my and my wife's second adult beverage. The meal included, for me ( Kc steak, baked potato, and a broccoli head). For my wife, hers came with (trout, asparagus, and mashed sweet potatoes). Upon reception of the final bill, I was surprised to find that I was charged $4.95' and $395.00 for the second side item. I understand that we need to make a profit or we will go out of business, but charging for a second side when a balanced meal typically consists of a meat, starch and a vegetable, is in my opinion a deceptive practice. Considering the afore mentioned restaurants charge for side items, is in my opinion OK, because their menu states at the top in bold wording A LA CART. WHEN A RESTAURANT CHARGES FOR THE SECOND SIDE ITEM WITH STEAKS, BUT DOES NOT CHARGE FOR THE SAME SIDE WITH BARBEQUE IS, (should I say) taking advantage of those with high end steak and potatoes taste. After ten Years of attending this restaurant, I would not advise anyone to attend, due to these practices.
(1)N C.
I freaking LOVE THIS PLACE! I have been coming to Wood Ranch for the last like 5 years and its the best bbq EVER! Almost everyone that works there knows me and I love it. Damian is a awesome guy and waiter! GOOD SERVICE, EXCELLENT FOOD, AWESOME ATMOSPHERE! NEED MORE LOCATIONS!!
(5)Omar D.
Started off with the Tri Tip Sliders (tasted like the were fresh off the grill :) and Grilled Balsamic Shrimp (needed a little more lime, but good) Service is a limitless slow..need to stay on waiter for water :(.. Ok...main coarse is the Santa Fe Chicken( very good, a must try :), got it with the sweet potato fries..yum, loved the ranch) ..nice that I can see the Angels game from my table...
(4)Cindy Y.
Awesome pulled pork sandwich here! Definitely hits the spot for all my pork fans out there! The atmosphere is totally relaxed and family oriented. Service was good and friendly. Definitely would come back if I am in the area again!
(4)Liz H.
Revisited last night, and our waiter was very attentive. I highly recommend the tri-tip sandwich, it's absolutely excellent. Sat inside this time, the problems we experienced before (dirty tables and confusing service) were not an issue.
(4)Erica G.
I always look forward to dinner at Wood Ranch BBQ. The staff is always polite and attentive and the food is always tasty! I don't eat red meat which you may find weird coming to a BBQ restaurant, but they do a nice job at accommodating my needs. I love the BBQ chicken Salad... my favorite, so much flavor!!! and the garlic rolls are soooo good. I love WR BBQ!!! You can't go wrong here!
(5)Martin T.
Been here a number of times The service on the Takeout sucks I have eaten the Chicken two times and both times I had diareah I haven't been back in 9 months and don't intend on coming back Overpriced also
(1)J C.
Went here a couple times.. Tried the ribs, and the filet. Both letdowns. The sauce on the ribs tasted cheap! Like it was from a jar. I've had alot better at Lucille's. I think the ribs even at the El Torrito grill may be better than here! Wood ranch isn't cheap either. I expected much better food. Tried the filet.. dry and tough.. Outback is much better. Overall this place is way overpriced. I can't believe so many people like it. I won't be back.
(2)Anita I.
My hubby and I order to go from here about twice a month. We also dine in about twice a month. We usually order the roasted chicken with mac and cheese...both are the best I've ever had. I prefer this place over Lucille's. The crew is excellent...they always take good care of us. The martinis are yummy too.
(5)Melinda Q.
Highly energetic, friendly and helpful service. Must try the spicy green beans and the mac n cheese, great additions to the chicken breast meal.Very affordable prices on their wine selection- the Malbec was impressive.
(5)Lauren T.
I've been to Wood Ranch about 4 times, I think it was ok once. One time my turkey burger came back uncooked. Skip it.
(1)Leonardo Z.
Recommend their Natalie's salad. Very yummy. A consistent standby. Nothing fancy...but a dependable go to place. Good service, decent food and reasonable pricing..plus the yummy, yummy Natalie's salad!!
(4)Roxanna A.
the old stand by. DELICIOUS RIBS!!!! the mashed sweet potatoes are good too. I wish they had sweet potatoe fries. always excellent servce, always. they also have a $10 corkage, not bad.
(4)No B.
I finally was talked into going here. The food was fine, a full rack of Baby Back Ribs for $18.95 with two sides. My Wife got the Beef Ribs with two sides for $11.95. Fairly priced, the food is good but the place looks like a Reality TV Show with all the local 'Wanna-be OC Housewives' vying for the position of which one is the 'Queen Bitch'! If you want better BBQ served in a place that feels like a BBQ joint should, go to Bad to the Bone in San Juan Capistrano. If you want to eat in a 'TV Production Studio' atmosphere, that serves food that is OK and feels like a casting office for a bad 'Reality Show'....here is your place!
(3)S. E.
Food is tasty, but a bit overpriced. Servers seem overworked, even during non-peak hours, meaning service is lacking. But the location is convenient and usually the wait time isn't too bad. Also, they have excellent desserts. If they would do something about their service, this would be a 5-star joint.
(4)Mandy K.
My husband and I decided to have a date night and wanted to try a new restaurant, so we went to Wood Ranch BBQ and Grill. WOW! It was amazing... everything from the food (amazing bread rolls!) to the atmosphere and especially our server! Damien was friendly from the second he walked up to our table, greeting us with a big smile and great enthusiasm! We started out our evening with two iced teas (mine was tropical and my husband ordered the regular.) We order iced tea everywhere we go, and this is by far the best iced tea we've had! Damien then brought out the most amazing bread rolls (smothered in butter and yummy goodness!) The night only got better when our food came out. I ordered the vegetable salad and added grilled chicken. It was fantastic!! However, not as good as my husband's western tri-tip sandwich with mashed potatoes! Wow was it delicious! We didn't order dessert, but the oreo ball was screaming my name! Maybe next time because we will definitely be back to see Damien!
(5)Matt G.
Good but pricey food. I always get the food to go. We share a two course meal at home. Feeds two fairly well. Food is consistent and fresh.
(3)Steve G.
Delicious BBQ that you can actually smell as you drive into the parking lot. I got the 3 item combo, consisting of baby back ribs, chicken breast, and tri-tip. Sides were peanut slaw and mac and cheese. The tri-tip and peanut slaw were especially delicious.
(3)Kira F.
Nice and comfortable atmosphere. Superior staff! Ordered filet mignon. It was okay but recommend that you probably stick to their house favorites. Would like return and try other menu items.
(4)Cathy M.
Good martinis and tri-tip. But I usually eat so many of the yummy garlic breadsticks that I can finish my dinner.
(3)John F.
I loved this place and couldn't believe I never went until last week. The wait was manageable, table we excellent, kids enjoyed their dinner and want to go back. My pick 13 year old still talks about the chop salad (it was awesome I ate half of it). My tri-tip was perfect! The checken was great, and they have a huge selection of wines. Go tonight!
(5)Peeka L.
Tried this place for the first time last week. Skip the free garlic bread. They were dense, like it had been sitting in a bag under something and then heated up. Not fluffy or fresh at all. Ordered the BBW chicken potato skins for app. Good flavor but potato skins were a bit overcooked and were dry and too crispy. The 4 pieces were not uniform at all so it made it difficult to share with my friends. I felt bad taking a big piece. Not a good start! For main, I ordered the tri tip with mashed sweet potatoes and coleslaw. Very delicious. Beef was cooked and flavored well. The sweet potatoes were so creamy and the coleslaw was light. Also got the warm chocolate cake for dessert. The cake was good but ruined with cheap vanilla ice cream and canned whipped cream. I know this restaurant isn't known for their desserts but for $7, they could try a little harder. They could at least use freshly whipped cream. Or maybe scrap the whole idea and just dust the cake with some powdered sugar. I would come back but will skip the apps and dessert and settle with just an entree. Nice service and casual atmosphere.
(3)Shareen S.
Wood Ranch's food quality actually deserves 4 stars, I'll admit. I only knock off one because they have an obvious lack of vegetarian options, I had to settle with the balsamic chicken option. They do have a portebello option though for those of you who do not mind mushrooms. However, their potatoes and other sides are delicious (sweet potato recommended).
(3)Michelle L.
All I have to say is that the Mac & Cheese is BOMB here!!!! It is SOOOOOOOOOOO good! Everytime my boyfriend and I go here we ALWAYS get it. We also love the BBQ chicken breasts with mashed potatoes. Their bread is amazing and their Chicken Tortilla soup is as well. This is definitely in my top 3 restaurants of all time! I LOVE IT! The servers are nice to look at as well ;)
(5)James C.
We visit about once every two weeks. Great food for fair prices. Any couple looking to go out on a date without breaking the bank. I recommend the Tri tip, BBQ chicken salad or tri tip sandwiches.
(5)Dave M.
Great experience, we ordered the Natalie salad to start and me, my wife and daughter shared it and it was very good. For dinner I had the the appetizer baby back ribs and coleslaw (awesome) and my wife and daughter shared the 1/2 chicken and coleslaw, they ordered the grilled but got the BBQ instead, minor mistake on the servers part, She offered to change it but they chose to eat it and loved it. Overall great service by Jessica and food was great.
(5)Stacey B.
Wood Ranch is one of my go to places for BBQ. I love their Tri-Tip, which is one of their specialties. I've only had their wings and sliders for appetizers. Both were good, but sliders are too filling if you actually plan on eating a meal. As far as sides go, the mac and cheese is good. Mashed sweet potatoes are great, peanut cole slaw also very yummy. Pricing is pretty reasonable, but if you are one of those people that like salad with your meal you are going to pay extra. Don't try to go here for lunch. The RSM location isn't open for lunch during the week. Which means we ended up at El Torito. NASTY!
(4)Jim B.
We've been here before and it's OK. I really haven't found a BBQ place in South Orange County that's all that great.
(3)Sean N.
I'm allergic to corn syrup/high fructose corn syrup, it was in everything. The rolls, the mashed potatoes, the worcestershire sauce, the A1 sauce, the wood ranch special BBQ sauce, and even the creamed horse radish (it was in the straight horse radish as well). I got the clam chowder (it didn't have HFCS) and the rib eye steak. I ate the steak plain, no sauce, this upset me. I usually want sauce with my steak. The potato was good. The steak was good, it seemed a bit overseasoned. Not worth the $26 imo, there was a lot of fat. If you're not health conscious and you don't mind consuming a ton of high fructose corn syrup, eat up, it's a good place. If you are avoiding the inevitable obesity that comes with being an American, avoid this place. It's not just "fattening", I don't care about the fat or butter, it's the fact high fructose corn syrup (a very cheap, bad sweetener) is in practically everything in this restaurant. Other than that, decent.
(3)Danielle T.
My favorite place to eat in RSM. I especially like the spinach dip, garlic rolls and mashed potatoes. The place is also family friendly so it is a great place to go with the kids and have an enjoyable meal. Glad there is a place like this in RSM.
(5)Keith K.
The food is the best and the service is always so helpfully when I need anything. If a slight error is mad they always are Johnny on the spot to correct it what ever is needed. I love this place.
(5)Diane S.
One of the best restaurants in Rancho. I've found even when there's a wait, it's never as long as they say. I've always had good service. My favorite is their signature dish, the Tri-Tip; always perfectly cooked. They have the most delicious BBQ sauce. I've never had anything I didn't like. Yummy garlic bread rolls!
(5)Tammy N.
Went here last night with my mom and brother. We came around 6:30 and the wait time was 10-20 minutes, the buzzer went off in 5 we weren't complaining. Now getting into the restaurant the decor has a bar right when you come in and then you have rows of tables, its dimly lit and has a slight western theme. On to the main event, the food. Garlic rolls 3/5 They were really soft, I'd prefer they'd be a little crispier. Plus our server didn't give us any butter or sauces to dip it in Clam Chowder 4.5/5 Really creamy and rich and it was nice because it wasn't too thick or thin and there were vegetables and tons of clams in there as well. Crispy Chicken tenders 3.5/5 they weren't really that crispy but they gave you 5. I think it was white breast meat and they weren't dry at all, although the slices were pretty thin I didn't mind. Tri- Tip 3/5 I really don't know what all the rave is about, i thought it was okay. it was a pretty thick slice but it wasn't tender and flavorful Pulled pork 3/5 I thought it was okay, the flavor was nice but it came out lukewarm, and there were huge chunks of pieces of fat. At least my dog likes it Baby back ribs 4/5 I don"t like ribs but they were easy to pull of the bone and they had a smoky flavor to it which was nice Sides 4/5 Drink 4/5 Mashed potatoes were good, had a lot of butter and cream. Sweet smashed potatoes tasted really weird the consistency was like baby food. Cole slaw was amazing and I don't even like Cole slaw, watch out there are peanuts in this. Strawberry lemonade was good, and I tried the iced teas they weren't sweetened so they were okay Service 3/5 Our sever was okay she came by once to see if everything was okay but didn't ask us if we wanted refills or anything.
(3)DJ C.
Delicious dinner, didn't think we could get such good BBQ this far west. I'm of the persuasion that BBQ is best in the Southeast, from North Carolina, down to Georgia, across thru Tennessee, Kansas City, and over to Texas, with the epicenter of BBQ in Memphis. That's my favorite anyways. So when we sat down at Wood Range, I didn't raise my expectations too high. Boy, was I pleasantly surprised! Wood Ranch use one bbq sauce for everything, and their most popular dishes -- #1 Tri tips and #2 babyback ribs (pork) were fantastic! The tri tips were tender and thinly sliced. The appetizer version was served on mini burger buns with a small dish of warm bbq sauce, great starter. Then the kids version of tri tips were two sizeable slices. I had to try something different than steaks or tri tips, so I ventured with the babyback ribs - a full rack. The meat did not fall off the bone, and I wouldn't want it to, easy enough to bite off the bones, and comes with just enough BBQ sauce brushed on over the grill marks. There's a large bottle of BBQ sauce at the table if you wanted to drench it. I had 2 sides: the baked beans, good, and the smashed sweet potatoes. I was hoping for more sweet potato flavor in the sweet potatoes, but it was too whipped with other extra stuff. Was it butter? cream? filler? I don't know, not ideal for my taste. And, the very warm garlic rolls smelled wonderful and the 1st few bites were incredible, but when they cooled, it wasn't so chewable. That struck me odd. So for the unideal sweet potatoes and rolls, I had to withhold the 5th star.
(4)Sue B.
This is one of our favorite restaurants in the area. The rib eye steak is fabulous. The tri-tip is always delicious. The tri-tip bbq salad is excellent. Everything is good.
(5)Chris P.
I must say I'm a bit disappointed in wood ranch. Although i do like their tri-tip, chopped bbq chicken salad and their pesto dinner rolls..... Its is overpriced. $12.00 for a salad? Also, my daughter ordered an Arnold Palmer....we were charged $4.00. Really? ! Another time, my son wanted to order off of the kids menu, which is up to 12 years old, and they said no because he is 13. In have no problem paying for quality food, but the food is decent at best and the service blows. I'm out on this place!
(2)Lance M.
Wonderful food. Staff friendly, price is about right for the area. Tri-tip is about the best you'll find in South Orange County. Have only been when the place was packed, and waited a good 40 minutes to be seated. In all, a good place.
(3)Jane s.
We were severely food poisoned here in April 2011 (most likely from the tri tip). We reported our illness to the county health dept and they wrote Wood Ranch up for several violations of the health code. fortunately our young son and elderly grandfather did not eat any of the food. We will never go back.
(1)Jodie W.
Don't get the ribs or the brisket. The wood ranch salad with beef is my fave. The garlic rolls are to die for.
(3)Vanessa S.
Okay...the filet mignon gave the phrase "melt in your mouth" new meaning for me tonight. If you like red meat, you'll love the filet here! The mesquite grilled meat was so delicious I didn't need to add any salt or pepper. Just thinking about that slab of meat is making me salivate. You've got to try it! Also try the Sweet Mashed Potatoes. I'm not a big fan of sweet potatoes or yams for that matter, but Wood Ranch has a tasty twist on this dish. Our server was very friendly, helpful, and attentive, and that can be tough to do when a restaurant gets as packed as Wood Ranch does on a Friday night.
(5)Maria K.
Just terrible. Overcooked chicken and lousy service. The LA and valley one can definitely do better. Was looking forward for this place to open but bummed about the quality of the food they serve. Not coming back anytime soon..
(2)Jeff Q.
Always a great place to get dinner. Have been here many times over the years and always leave happy and full. Their recent addition of pulled pork to the menu is amazing. Make sure to not skip their signature Tri-Tip - it is delicious!
(4)Kip D.
Been here only once. Got the tri-tip with mashed potatoes. Overall it was pretty good. I enjoyed their BBQ sauce. Ultimately, it's not the best I've ever had but also not a bad experience. Would go back if my friend wants to again.
(3)shawn g.
When this place first opened I really liked it, but as time has gone on, the prices have gotten higher, the quality has gone down and the menu has gotten smaller. Finally the last time we went, we spent 10 minutes looking at the menu and just finally left.
(2)Robert D.
Good food and good bread
(4)Lisa Z.
Was not excited about this restaurant as I don't consider myself a BBQ/meat girl. I ordered their BBQ salad with tri tip on top because my friend insisted I try it. It was unbelievable! I'm now obsessed! I took my family back and my children ordered chicken from the kids menu, ... best chicken ever! Super moist and wonderful flavor. I am sold, I love this place!!!
(5)Sam M.
Whew, this is a chain restaurant that I can dig... This place can get pretty crowded, but if you come on a weekday, you won't wait long, for the most part. I have to mention the wait staff---I adore them, and they're cordial, and even friendly. Now for the food...don't miss out on any of the BBQ...you'll be sorry. Really, I don't order anything other than the tri-tip, because it's THAT GOOD. Really, it's just that good. I get it with the peanut cole slaw and the mashed potatoes. The cole slaw is hands down, the best cole slaw I've eaten. I'm not a fan of mayonnaisse-y slaw, and this vinegary stuff really is the antithesis of that. The textural contrast of the slightly crumbly, but still firm peanuts and the crisp cabbage...OK, this may be one of the finer dishes I've ever eaten. Sublime. The mashed potatoes are nice, a bit dry if I'm to be nitpicky, but have a wonderfully umami, savory edge to them that I love.
(5)Lily P.
food is great. service is excellent - there's a male server there that is...um...very light on his feet. everything is "it's all good" - you'll know him when you get him - he makes our day and has us leaving in giggles at his personality! love the sweet potato fries with spicy sauce, love the whipped sweet potatoes, love the tri tip. very consistent and never a disappointment and we've never have to wait for a table and it's right next to cinnamon productions, go there for your dessert.
(5)lulubelle l.
We dined here 2 years ago...and when we came back, this is the first place I thought of, when it came to restaurant choices. Great steaks, ribs, fries. I thought my tri-tip sandwich had a bit too much BBQ sauce and it overwhelmed the taste of the meat. (So note to self: don't order anything with BBQ sauce). Otherwise a pleasant dining experience. Restaurant was really dark...felt like I needed a flashlight to see the menu. Part of the atmosphere I guess!
(3)B K.
Always great good and service at Wood Ranch. I usually get the tri-tip and it's always excellent. I wouldn't call this a typical BBQ place, though some dishes come with their own BBQ sauce. Good place fir a sit down dinner, or to meet friends for a drink after work at the bar. Obviously a popular place and remains busy even during the weak economy.
(5)Tom C.
Great ambiance and service, however very mediocre cuisine. BBQ chicken potato skins, a weird mix Guac. was somewhat bland, chips hot and delicious Caesar salad was limp and somewhat tasteless Pork ribs were far from fall off the bone Baked beans were extremely sugary My fliet was cooked perfectly, however was not savoury, especially for $25
(3)Brad S.
Always dependable, always good. Ate myself sick on onion strings. Food is always great and kids always welcome.
(4)Kimberley H.
Hubby took me here for dinner on 05/15/2009, he got the ribs and tritip, I got the salmon. I'm not a fan of BBQ, but I tried a bite of his tritip and just about died at how yummy it was. My salmon was amazing in flavor, presentation and quantity. I got the mashed regular potatoes which were pretty good and added a crab cake. The crab cake was a little on the small side and I probably wouldn't get it again, but I will go back for the salmon in a heartbeat. Our waitress was GREAT - always there to check on us and bring more drinks. The place was a little on the loud side, but our table wasnt crammed next to another like so many restaurants have which was nice. Would recommend to everyone.
(4)Brandon O.
Great food and a nice place to enjoy the company of friends. Everything on the menu is great.
(5)Dana S.
One of my favorite restaurants in the area by far. The food is great, as is the atmosphere. Definitely well worth the price. Love the pesto rolls!
(5)Ashley L.
Ho-ly cow (hehe). Tri tip was one of the least expensive yet one of the tastiest steaks I've had. Our waiter was crazy but hilarious.
(4)Aimee E.
Delicious food, pricey though. Well worth the money. Can order out!
(5)Douglas S.
The food here is OK, but the potions are tiny, tiny, tiny. We're used to Lucille's where you order a combo platter and split it 3 ways. Wood Ranch gives you a small piece of meat and then they add a giant chunk of kale as a garnish to take up the empty spot on the plate. OTOH, they have a wonderful happy hour in the bar. Apps and drinks are cheap. Believe it or not, their guacamole is really good.
(2)Tam Rae L.
yummy - tri tip sandwiches !!!!
(4)Jake A.
I put this restaurant at the same level as a Cheesecaske factory. There's usually a wait, but it's not always worth the wait. Food is decent, but not terrific. Same goes for the service. Prices are probably a big high for what you get, but not outrageous. It's a place that I would eat at again, but won't go out of my way to go there (maybe as a last choice).
(3)Jules D.
I LOVE this restaurant! My family loves this restaurant! Everybody will love this restaurant (if you love meat of course)! This is the restaurant that everyone in my family always picks to go to for birthdays and such. Let me tell you why I love it so much: I always, always order the Wood Ranch Tri-Tip. Its the classic item on the dish and what they are known for. Its always so tasty and full of flavor. Its the all day slow cook they do. It is also, always, the biggest piece of meat ever! I can never ever eat the entire thing, which is great because the next day I can have leftovers. I absolutely love their smashed sweet potatoes, that is the best side dish they have there (in my opinion). Its a creamy flavorful treat in your mouth! Now, I love a good house salad and Wood Ranch delivers to me the BEST house salad, I have had thus far. I think its the corn they put in there mixed with the tomatoes, cucumber chunks, lettuce and croutons. It is soooo delicious! I also really really enjoy their garlic rolls they give you to start with. You really can't eat just one. I have also ordered the tri-tip sandwich and that is good, my only complaint is the bread, sometimes its very hard, but it is a great meal for the next day as well. The reason I give it 4 stars is because I have had some bad experiences there, such as waiting forever! Also, I have gone a couple nights where the staff wasn't as friendly and attentive as they usually are, but overall its a great restaurant with seriously great barbeque.
(4)Christa G.
Great food and portions for the price! I usually go here for every event that my boyfriend's family has. Great for family gatherings, quick service and very accommodating.
(4)Kelly I.
This is the family's fall back restaurant (finally, it's broken them of TGI Friday's!) and we will usually make a visit during longer stays in town. The caesar salad and bread are delicious! I've actually never had a disappointing meal here. The brother's girlfriend is a server here, but even she still likes to eat here when not working...that's saying something. The wait can be a little long on a busy night, but the bar is lively.
(4)J. B.
The kids love it here, but maybe because the other choices in town are limited and it is next to the bookstore and they always want a new book. I agree that since the menu changes have taken place it has changed, the food was better, but has gone down a bit. We love the tri tip and the BBQ chicken. The kids love the ribs. It is not a cheap date for the family (almost $100 with tip for 5 and no alcohol). The wait is long on the weekend and sometimes we do just end up ordering takeout. Beware, take out takes as long as the wait some days so we just send the guys back for pick up.
(3)Lisa S.
Every time I visit my sis in Ladera Ranch, I make it a point to come out to Wood Ranch BBQ & Grill for their delicious tri-tip. Extra serving of sweet smashed potatoes please! I also like the fact you can wait with the pager at the bookstore next door. Makes for the 45 minute wait really pleasant.
(5)Conspicuous C.
Legendary BBQ trip-tip and ribs. They smoke the tri-tips starting in the morning for the whole day day in preparation for the evening patrons. The original location in Agoura Hills is a local institution. The Rancho Santa Margarita version is just as good and is a very nice place as well. First-timers should get the ribs/tri-tip combination plate. Portions are large. Nobody leaves the Wood Ranch hungry. Until proven otherwise Wood Ranch BBQ is the best BBQ in Orange County, just like it is in the Valley/Ventura County. EDIT: The rating above applies only if you are not the kind of person who orders a vegetarian sandwich at a BBQ joint. UPDATE: I've taken it down a notch as the service has gone down a bit and the rest of the menu outside of the meat aren't as good as they used to be. Still, Turner's? Houston's? C'mon.
(4)Karen K.
My hubby and I went last Saturday night-1st timers. The wait time was long, but worth it. The place was crowded, but the wait staff busted their butts to move things along as best as they could. The noise level was actually not bad considering the volume of people. The lighting in there is nice too. I ordered the rib and tri-tip combo with beans and mashed pot. The tri-tip was fab. and cooked to my taste, the ribs, good but were a little black on the outside, beans-very sweet, pot.-best have had in a while (they use both sour cream and cream cheese-yummy!). My hubby got the rib eye-he was satisfied. The rolls they give you are just ok-a bit soft for me-I like crisp on the outside, and chewy on the inside bread. All in all, the tri-tip and pot. did it for me-I'd go back for sure.
(4)Miki M.
Until recently, the Wood Ranch chain was capable to preserve their menu intact without the influence of greedy marketing people. Unfortunately since recently, they had to "expand" their menu which has diluted ("diversified") in a totally unnecessary way their focus. So now it is not anymore just about doing REALLY YUMMY BBQ RIBS with the proprietary sauce, and fresh amazing cut PRIME RIB (available on weekends only). We had to get all those other sides. Oh well. fortunately they haven't yet thrown out the flagship old items on the menu- so it is still a pretty good restaurant. A real oasis surrounded by a whole lot of nothing. (RSM can seem like a culinary desert sometimes)... Having said all that, I highly recommend the Wood Ranch but beware of some items on the menu as it is starting to get closer and closer to a TGI Friday's... :) PS. By the way, to previous reviewer: "best BBQ in Orange County" is a big word. What about Turner's, or Houston's? UPDATE 08/03/2006 I hereby decrease my previous rating with 2 stars.. We went for an improvised dinner, a bit later than usual (after 9:00 PM). The Chicken salad was mediocre, with lots of mayonaise, and the letuce was cut too tiny- the whole thing looked more like cat food... Not appetizing at all. My Portobello Mushroom Sandwich (which is actually a burger, with the beef patty replaced by a portobello mushroom) had a very dry spongy bun that looked like it was made 2-3 days ago. Also, there was too much cheese, and overall the combination had nothing special, no taste... We got also the garlic bread, complementary as usual- but it was equally as bad, dry and old. For 2 people came up to 32 dollars, considering that we didn't even drink anything except just water... It seems the Wood Ranch is not a good place to go during week days anymore. On weekends it still keeps some of the previous passion for good food- or does it really?
(2)Jason K.
Hey, for a local family-oriented restaurant, it's a lot of fun. Menu is varied and all items are good.
(4)