Update 3/16/08: The new location, in the Governor Hotel, although lacking some of atmosphere of the original, is still worth a visit. Went there this afternoon, enjoying the fantastic pulled pork, baked beans, potato salad and prompt, friendly service. Left with a happy heart and a full belly.
Update 12/10/07: Out of sadness, joy. The Governor Hotel is stepping up, offering the pair a rent-free kitchen until they can get back on their feet. Ranch House BBQ lives!
We dined tonight thanks to a generous gift from my speech and debate squad. (They hate to see me go hungry.) It's not technically "in" Olympia, perched alongside Highway 8 near milepost 14, ten minutes outside of town. But ten minutes is a short wait for good food--and there's plenty at Ranch House BBQ.
Plenty of awards, too, which are displayed a bit obsessively. Commendations fill the menu, plaques line the walls, trophies cover the counters. If a pork sandwich (and its chicken equivalent), potato salad and baked beans were any indication, the obsession is warranted. It's been a while--six years, the last time I was in Texas--since I've had pork that melted in my mouth. The beans were sweet and tangy. The potato salad featured celery and, surprisingly, olives (a first in my experience).
Service was pleasant and prompt. We were ushered over to a booth with a view of a "babbling brook," or, in the other direction, the informal parking lot. (More spaces, please!) We didn't stop chowing down until our bellies burst with shortcake drenched in butter and fresh strawberries, big enough to split.
Did I mention the pork?
THE WORST BBQ I HAVE EVER HAD!!!
ReplyDeleteI don't know what in the world people are talking about. This BBQ was lousy, the place was dirty and the prices were outrageous for the terrible slop they call food! I would not even feed it to my dog!
All the food was barely luke warm, not hot or fresh: everything each of us had was like stale trash taken out of a skanky storage bin. The ribs and brisket were dry, the meat was tough and the bones on the ribs were like dust/chalk disintagrating in my mouth. The waitress and the staff made is feel terrible for mentioning one of the problems with their horrible food and had then charged us for their mistake, 2 dinners! The only thinkg that was decent was the cole slaw and the avergae baked beans like those you can get in a can. for $18.99/meal it was a total rip off!! i was beyond dissapointed and the staff and mgrs. made tried to make us feel something was wrong with us for saying something, trying to get us to pay extra for ribs we sent back with meat that was tough as leather and bones that were like dust! I will never go there again and if you're smart, you won't either! I wish we had gone to Tony Romas or Outback or anyplace but ranch house BBQ. I've had ribs at the other p[laces and they were great. the food at RHBBQ were the worst and they should be ashamed to serve them to paying customers!
THE WORST BBQ I HAVE EVER HAD!!!
ReplyDeleteI don't know what in the world people are talking about. This BBQ was lousy, the place was dirty and the prices were outrageous for the terrible slop they call food! I would not even feed it to my dog!
All the food was barely luke warm, not hot or fresh: everything each of us had was like stale trash taken out of a skanky storage bin. The ribs and brisket were dry, the meat was tough and the bones on the ribs were like dust/chalk disintagrating in my mouth. The waitress and the staff made us feel terrible for mentioning one of the problems with the horrible food and then charged us for their mistake, and for an xtra dinner we didn't get! The only thing that was decent was the cole slaw and avergae baked beans like those you can get in a can. for $18.99/meal it was a total rip off!! i was beyond dissapointed and the staff and mgrs. made tried to make us feel something was wrong with us for saying something, trying to get us to pay extra for ribs we sent back. the meat that was as tough as leather and the bones were like old saw dust! I will never go there again and if you're smart, you won't either! I wish we had gone to Tony Romas or Outback or anyplace but ranch house BBQ. I've had ribs at the other places and they were great. the food at RHBBQ was the worst I'd had for dining and they should be ashamed to serve them to paying customers!
The BEST BBQ, BEST SERVICE and terrific atmosphere! A true new local landmark. Great food, good portions and fair pricing...it doesn't get any better than Ranch House BBQ!
ReplyDeleteObviously whoever wrote the entries below me has a brain tumor. Ranch House BBQ rocks!
ReplyDeleteExcuse me...whoever wrote the first 2 entries has a brain tumor!
ReplyDeleteI guarantee you that whoever said they hate Ranch House BBQ probably owns or works at one of the fake BBQ joints around town...somewhere where they don't know the difference between Barbecue and grilling. The Ranch House BBQ has EXTREMELY high standards for their food. All of the meats are fresh and never frozen. Everything is from scratch down to the Sauce and rubs. Everything is trimmed, prepped, smoked, cut to order in house. Whoever wrote this message is also a LIAR about the service and management, because they take very good care of their customers. The food is the best BBQ I have ever had. Whoever wrote that comment... GET A LIFE!!!
ReplyDeleteOur family has been long-time customers of Ranch House BBQ and the food has been consistent and generally excellent. The only suggestions that we would make is to find a better cornbread recipe (one that holds its moisture) and when someone buys poundage of smoked meat to take home; the the order should automatically come with adequate sauce to wet the meat before serving. The sauce should not be solicited to the customer as an optional item). We were sent home one time with a a large side of coleslaw that had NO dressing (we live so far away, it was out of the question to drive back to the restaurant). When we told them about the problem with the coleslaw w/o dressing (the next time we dined) we got an apology, but no discount on the current meal. The buns the restaurant should use are chewy Kaiser rolls. The buns the restaurant now uses get soggy right away and fall apart. You really cannot lift a sandwich in your hand and bite into it without breakage and a slight mess. Customer service and marketing skills are lacking in these folks, but all in all; we enjoy their food. We just wish they would improve on some of these things.
ReplyDelete