I've been coming to Cattle Ranch for about 25 years, and somehow it's so good every time. From the outside, it's super unassuming, but locals know this place is a true Sanford staple. One of my favorite things about it is that it hasn't changed much over the years, but in the best way. It's family-run, the vibe is comfortable and familiar, and the staff has always been amazing. We've had countless dinners here with big groups (10+ people), and they deliver every single time. That kind of consistency is rare. What I order every single visit: Salad with house dressing, it's honestly one of my favorite dressings anywhere. Loaded Buckskins - You have to get these. Think a cross between a steak fry and a potato wedge, loaded with cheese and bacon, addictively good. Petite strip steak - Perfect portion, cooked and seasoned just right every time. Simple, consistent, and exactly what you want. They also bring out warm brown bread with your meal that just hits, and a side of applesauce that I've come to think of as the perfect little palate cleanser, such a simple touch, but it makes the experience feel even more classic. This is one of those places that feels like home. No frills, no trends, just really good food, great people, and decades of consistency. This will absolutely be a staple for me as long as I live in Sanford. read more

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After picking up family at the Sanford Airport everyone was hungry when they landed. We found the Cattle Ranch after Google said it was close by. The outside of the building isn't much to look at. Some might pass by, we didn't. I rated the Cattle Ranch 4 stars but if 3.5 was allowed, it would be my choice. We were greeted right away and was seated. The inside of the building needs a refresh even more than the outside. However, the restaurant was busy, families eating, people laughing, sometimes the locals know, it's one of the locally owned restaurants, not a chain. This is a good sign. I'm all in on the local, hole in the wall places. Our Server and our service was excellent. Good menu, plenty of choices and the eight of us had just about everything, Porterhouse, Ribeyes, fillets, burgers, salads. Food was very good, no complaints, ample amounts on sides. Rest rooms were also in need of a refresh but the were working. All in all and after our experience we would return. read more

Cattle Ranch - Inside of the Cattle Ranch restaurant - Steakhouses Near Me - Sanford, Florida

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Drove by on a Friday night while heading home and happened to take a route I normally don't take... our windows were open and we could not believe how good this place smelled from the quick drive by. At 9pm the parking lot was packed! So we decided to go back Saturday for dinner and we were not disappointed! The ambiance is old school 80's rustic. This is not a fancy overpriced steakhouse... they clearly understand "if it's not broke don't fix it!" It reminded me of that old school spot where you walk in and everyone knows you. We started with some drinks and apps... coconut shrimp and jalapeño poppers. Came out hot and tasty! For mains we had the grilled chicken breast, rib eye, filet and the strip steak. All the proteins came out perfectly cooked, sides were delicious! The homemade peach cobbler was great, I wish it had some more peaches but other than that it was perfect! The service was amazing, our server came back to check on us several times and kept the drinks topped off! I am so happy we stumbled in and I can say we will definitely be back! It was a great meal, good vibes and full bellies! read more

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Shame on us for not coming here earlier. We have no pictures because we tore it all up! Loaded steaks fries, coconut shrimp, homemade blue cheese dressing, T-bone steaks that were perfect... everything was excellent! read more

If you love steak this is a MUST VISIT! It's a family owned, uniquely preserved hidden gem in Sanford that has that hole in the wall feel. The service is incredible and you'll run into many locals who will tell you this place is worth the drive. This dinner for two was an absolute steal for steaks the size of my head that were perfectly cooked, and plenty of delicious side options. They also have a full service bar for a night cap after dinner. Make your man happy and bring him out to Cattle Ranch!! read more

Cattle Ranch - Cowgirl T-bone 16oz Steak - Steakhouses Near Me - Sanford, Florida

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Wow! Not what I expected! First time here, not sure where here is. I think we're in San Ford. We drove some dark back road and then stumbled upon Cattle Ranch. Unsure of what you're walking into, it turns out to be a rather large place. Lots of tables and booths. They do have a full bar as well. I ordered the salad with their famous dressing. Big plate small salad. Not sure why the dressing was famous. But it was so thick it took time to get out of the small container. It comes with hot bread. My entree was the ka-bob. I have to say they know how to cook steak! Just a side note, prices are high. read more

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I wanted a steak while out of town. Once I got my food the first thing I did was text my wife and let her know that I wish there was a place like this close to us. The food was great and reasonable priced. The service was great as well. read more

This is the most Florida-est 80's steakhouse I've ever been to! Once you get past the initial smell of smoke, you'll realize why this hidden gem has been around for so long. This place is a no frills, divey, old school, and also very local steak house. The decor is a mix of wood panel and mounted deer! The steaks is where this place shines! I ordered the surf and turf, opted for the grilled shrimp. The strip was perfectly seasoned with a great charr to it. The accompanying shrimp looked a bit small, but it packed great smoky grill flavor. I opted for the salad and was pleasantly surprised that they make the Italian vinaigrette and another creamy peppercorn sauce in house. Both were delicious. I recommend getting the buckskins (crispy skin potato wedges) as your side and dip it in the cream sauce. Wife enjoyed her ribeye and kiddos had a great chicken tender meal. You also get a small applesauce, which idk if that is a Florida thing or like a 80s thing. But it was a nice little palate cleanser. The bread was forgettable. Our waitress was sweet and introduced us to the menu. Food came out promptly and refills were good. They have a full bar and a limited beer and wine menu. I would usually get a cab or a dirty martini with my steak dinner but was happily content with the pitcher of beer. Overall, if you are in the area and want to support a great local business and avoid another chain, opt to try Cattle Ranch. Just manage your expectations and you'll have a great experience. Honestly this would've been a 5 star if they could just get rid of smoke smell and tidied up the place a little bit. read more

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For stepping off the plane and being hungry for real food, this place takes the prize. Excellently cooked steaks, solid low carbohydrate sides, a full bar, and very pleasant and welcoming staff. If you're passing through and don't want to suffer a fast food drive thru or gas station munchies - I highly recommend filling your food tank here. Quaint old Florida decor and clean. Sorry no pic! read more

Cattle Ranch - make sure you take a photo of your bomb cooked steaks so you don't have to post a lame stock photo like this! - Steakhouses Near Me - Sanford, Florida

Visually it is like a trip back to the 80's in the decor and furniture but somewhere you may think has a poor health deparment grade, fully expecting to walk away with a fast case of food poisoning. That said we were pleasantly surprised with the food taste and the service. Great restaurant and one we would return to if we are in the area! read more

Food was really good. I had the filet and was delicious. Came with a salad and fresh bread. Ambiance was like an old 80's restaurant but enjoyed going with a large work group. Waitress was really nice and did a good job. Overall recommend as the food was really good!! read more

Cattle Ranch - Filet and baked potato - Steakhouses Near Me - Sanford, Florida

Do not pass this place by. Doesn't look like much from the outside but the food and the service are top notch. It is the best steak you will ever have. read more

I have been coming here since I was a kid! It's always a nostalgic experience whenever I go. My wife went with me for the first time and loved it as well. The food is always phenomenal from the sides all the way to the appetizers. Drinks are extremely cheap and get you ready to eat! The only remark I'll ever have is that if you get anything below a Medium well steak at cattle ranch, due to the process in how they cook their steaks there won't be a nice sear/ crust on the steak. That is the only thing I would ever change. Cindy was very welcoming and kind too! read more

If I could give less than one star, I absolutely would. This is hands down the worst restaurant I've ever stepped foot in. From the moment you walk through the door, it's clear that the place is completely run down and poorly maintained. The entire restaurant smells like stale cigarettes, which is incredibly unpleasant and makes you question how clean anything there actually is. The carpet throughout the restaurant is nasty, old, and looks like it hasn't been cleaned in years. It's stained, worn down, and honestly just gross to walk on. The whole place feels dirty and neglected. The service is even worse than the appearance, which is saying something. Every single staff member we encountered had a horrible attitude. Not just one person having a bad day -- the entire staff acted rude, dismissive, and outright hostile. It felt like we were inconveniencing them just by being there. Instead of trying to provide decent customer service, they were sarcastic, short with their responses, and clearly didn't care about the experience they were giving customers. What really crossed the line, though, was the behavior toward us. There were comments and threats made by staff and even some of their regular customers that made the whole situation extremely uncomfortable. A restaurant should be a place where people can relax and enjoy a meal, not somewhere they feel intimidated or unwelcome. The environment there felt toxic and aggressive, which is completely unacceptable for any business. Between the filthy appearance, the overwhelming cigarette smell, the disgusting carpet, and the unbelievably rude behavior from the entire staff, this place is completely unworthy of anyone's time or money. There are plenty of restaurants out there that actually care about their customers and maintain a clean, welcoming space. This is not one of them. Do yourself a favor and stay far, far away from this place. I would never go back and would never recommend it to anyone. One star is far more than this place deserves. No food is worth that kind of treatment, the sear on their steaks is probably cigarette ash. read more

Old style steak house. But the food was very good. Actually alot better than Linda's Lacantina. Food was hot, prepared correctly and the value for what you got amazing. Service was good, first time there took the time to exolaine the menu and answered question. Ambiance was very different. But would definitely go back. read more

Service-Food-Atmosphere was all superb. We had an early morning flight out of SFB so we wanted to find something close to our hotel and were craving some comfort food after being on beach food for the week. It hit the spot. read more

Went with the porterhouse and wow, it was huge. Definitely enough for two people or one hungry person like me. It had a nice crust and tons of flavor. Loved dipping each bite in the jus they served on the side. Sides were okay, but honestly I barely touched them because I was focused on the steak. The lighting was a bit dim for my liking but it was cozy. Friendly staff and quick service too. read more

Cattle Ranch - Steakhouses Near Me - Sanford, Florida

Tried the filet mignon and it basically melted in my mouth. It was tender, juicy, and had a buttery finish that I loved. The mashed potatoes were creamy and made a great pairing. Restaurant was dimly lit and cozy, perfect for dinner. Staff was polite and kept our water filled, which I appreciate. A little pricey but honestly worth it for the quality. Would recommend for date night or when you're craving something special. read more

Cattle Ranch - Steakhouses Near Me - Sanford, Florida

The Cattle Ranch takes you back, in a good way, to simpler times. Family run, which shows. I'll admit the outside, street-side, doesn't exude welcoming, but once inside it transports you to a bygone time of a steakhouse in Texas. Wooden tables and booths prepare you for an experience. I've been here several times with people who all take their steaks a different doneness...and they've all been spot on. Not sure who mans the grill, but well done. I will agree with others that the carpeting needs to be replaced and a sprucing up wouldn't hurt along with a deep cleaning...but Hell it's Sanford, not Winter Park or Heathrow so I'll keep coming back and having a really good steak. read more

We've been here 25 yrs and they've been here 40 yrs and tonight was the first time we met! What a cool place! Very rustic but very clean & comfortable! 7pm, Friday night & there was a line going out the back door!! And we know why!! We started off with couple of drinks from the bar. They are NOT stingy with the spirits! For appetizers we had the Fried Mushrooms. Blazing hot, coating was thick but not too bad. The Horse Radish dipping sauce was amazing! Our waitress, Cindy was great at keeping us quenched & fed!! I had the Ranch-Co-Bob. I made the mistake of getting mine medium. Too dry for me. Next time I will definitely get mine medium rare. I had a salad & fries, as sides. My husband had the Cowgirl cut steak (16oz) a salad & Buckskins, for sides. The Buckskins are HUGE wedges of potatoe and the skin is crispy and sweet! And then ... as if we hadn't had enough to eat, we shared a bowl of Cherry Cobbler (home made!!!) with a big scoop of Vanilla ice cream. Our total bill was a dollar shy of $85 and we even took a box of left-overs home!! Thank you Cindy for your hospitality and wonderful service! You & Cattle Ranch get an A+++++ !! read more

This place changed hands. None of the great staff that used to be there are there anymore. It has gone downhill from what it used to be. Food wasn't as good or else it was just my steak. I rather doubt I'll go back. read more

Old school steakhouse with a very unique "old school, back in time" decor. They have a full bar and their food is fantastic! It was my first time here and I'll certainly be back!! They've been in business and in the same location for over 40 years!! read more

First time here and very impressed. It's a great family style steakhouse without the frills - just great steak. Service was excellent and food came out fast and cooked perfectly. I will be back! read more

Cattle Ranch - 12 oz ribeye - Steakhouses Near Me - Sanford, Florida

Their filet mignon was soft and buttery, paired perfectly with garlic mashed potatoes. The waiter was attentive, but it took a while to get my drink refill. Cleanliness was great, with neatly arranged tables. read more

Cattle Ranch - Steakhouses Near Me - Sanford, Florida

What a great find on our road trip. The steaks were delicious better than those fancy steakhouse steaks with the fancy steakhouse prices. The service was superb. We arrived at 4:50p and there was already a line outside of people waiting to get in (restaurant opens at 5). We got sat right away. Don't let the outside or inside decor deter you. It has nothing to do with how great the food, service, and value of this place is. The inside is very outdated but very clean and that's all that matters. read more

Cattle Ranch - Cowboy 32oz porterhouse - Steakhouses Near Me - Sanford, Florida

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Met a friend here for supper. My first time here but my friend is a regular. We started off with fried zucchini & the dip that came with it made it doubly good. I ordered a Cowgirl 16 oz T-bone while my friend got a filet mignon. Both steaks were great. For my 2 sides I ordered broccoli & a salad with house dressing. I highly recommend the homemade house creamy peppercorn dressing with blue cheese & garlic as it is fantastic. My friend got a baked potato & sautéed mushrooms. I sampled her mushrooms & regretted that I didn't order them. We ended our feast with a peach cobbler & topped it with ice cream which we split. I can see why my friend is a regular here. The service is friendly & the ambiance is old school steakhouse. I will return when I'm in the Sanford area. read more

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Okay so, I have a suggestion. From now on, when you look up "hidden gem" in the dictionary, there should always be a picture of the Cattle Ranch. I had a hankerin for a non-chain steakhouse and decided to give this place a shot. It is OLD SCHOOL in the very best way possible. The exterior of the place looks a bit like a biker bar -- not a bad thing-- but when you get inside it's clear this is a classic family steakhouse. For just over $30 I was able to get a 10 oz filet mignon with bread and two mouthwatering sides. I went with the house salad and sautéed mushrooms. The dressing on this salad was some kind of ranch/blue cheese/peppercorn hybrid. It was unbelievable!! The filet was a thick, center-cut piece. Absolutely flawless. And to top it all off, they have Amberbock on draft -- one of the most underrated and hard-to-find beers. Lest I forget to mention, the service was fast and friendly. I couldn't have asked for a better experience. If I had to compare it to somewhere, it felt a lot like Linda's La Cantina minus the Italian aspect. If you know you know!! Run, don't walk to this diamond in the rough. read more

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I had a surprise birthday party for my husband there last Saturday with 23 people. I want to thank Cindy for arranging it and Shannon was our server and handled all 23 people with fun and great service. Shannon I heard so many good things about you. You were the best, sorry Cindy, we still love you. The steaks were all perfect and people raved about everything. Thanks cattle ranch Cindy and Shannon you guys rock. If you're looking for a great family, ran business with excellent food and service. Go here cattle Ranch Sanford, Florida. read more

I was disappointed they did not have prime rib Friday anymore but that quickly went away when I bit into my T-bone steak. It was nicely grilled and seasoned, so delicious! The salad was cold, fresh and crisp! Baked potato was perfect! Service was excellent. Funny how I forgot all about wanting prime rib! read more

This place can be so much better, but it needs a lot of work. Stop using the strongly scented cleaner to clean tables between servings. It's so strong smelling and no one wants to smell chemicals while eating. A non-scented cleaner would be best. Speaking of cleaner, the place is filthy. There's no nice way to put it. We heavily debated getting up and leaving several times, but decided to stick it out. It's one of those places where it's best not to look around. Like a horse with blinders, just stare straight ahead! Please replace or clean the carpet, the blinds, the windows, everything! The whole place should be closed for 2-3 days and cleaned from top to bottom. Then you can maintain it much easier. You shouldn't have splattered walls and blinds or carpet so dirty it's black! It's gross! The food was OK. My chop was a little over cooked but had nice flavor. We just kept wondering how dirty the kitchen must be since the front of house is a hot mess. Imagine what you can't see!! We left most of our meal. The waitress could have cared less and hardly made eye contact. She was really nice to the regulars. I get it, we didn't fit in I guess. She wasn't mean just not warm. The place has so much potential to be great. They need Gordon Ramsey or some other makeover show to come clean it up, or new owners w money and ambition! read more

Cozy local place, good food and great prices. The entrance is a little confusing, but it's easy enough to find.

Good food, great steaks. Will keep coming back. Service is excellent. Plenty of seating room. read more

Great place to eat! Sam was such a nice server! Reasonable prices, fun 70s atmosphere -- I wouldn't change a thing! We will be back read more

Cattle Ranch - Strip Steak w/mushrooms - Steakhouses Near Me - Sanford, Florida

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Always enjoy this family establishment each time steak tender full of floor, good service and an atmosphere of older times! Like the UK memorabilia! I will be going back read more

Let me start by saying that this place legit looks like a hole in the wall that I probably wouldn't frequent or even think twice about bringing my family here. There's no sign outside to know that the name of the establishment is called Cattle Ranch. If you aren't from around there or have ate there before you wouldn't know. Parking wasn't too bad. Not that many people so plenty of parking. Looks to be like a private lot so that's nice. Could use maybe a little more light here and there because it was kind of dark when we went that night. We ordered a variety of things, steaks, chicken tenders w/fries, cheese sticks (2 orders), fried mushrooms, shrimp entrees. All the food was surprisingly good. The steak was good. Cooked to order the way we like it and it was juicy. It was thin, but it was good. Overall we were happy with all the food that we ordered. Service in the other was really underwhelming. 3 - stars specifically for service. She was actually quite rude. Didn't appreciate the sort of attitude and no smile. She was getting impatient when my SIL couldn't decide on what entree she wanted. Which she didn't make deciding any easier huffing and puffing standing there. We were barely checked up on. Had to ask for plenty of things. She saw that we were done with plates and didn't remove them. A table of 5 and multiple dishes and she couldn't help clear the table. Had to ask for refills. Had to ask for silverware. This place needs to step it up for customer service. Service here is really not that good. I can't get over it. But hopefully there's more to this restaurant than just the steaks. The inside looks so old. This place could use a little revamp so it's looking more modern. My husband use to frequent this place a lot in his younger years and he said the steak stayed consistent so he really was surprised at that. I'm not easily impressed but I do have to say that the steak was cooked to my liking. Everything else came out warm not hot like it's made fresh. I'm less than impressed with that. read more

First time going here. The outside isn't much but walk thru the door and Bam. Nice Texas feel to the place. The bar area makes you feel right at home. All the locals go there. read more

Cattle Ranch - Neon signage, bar - Steakhouses Near Me - Sanford, Florida

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First time here and our family really enjoyed it! The service was great & our server Tish was amazing! Our appetizers came out quickly and were delicious. We ordered The Cowgirl with side of mushrooms & salad, the double chops with green beans & salad and hamburger with fries and of course each came with a side of applesauce which was different but good, my son loved it, everything came out great! Our son didn't complain not one time about his food he ate everything! My husband loved his chops and my cowgirl steak was amazing cooked perfectly & full of flavor, no complaints!! Great prices, Great food, can't wait to go back! We left happy and full of good food!! Love the welcoming atmosphere here, definitely a must try!! read more

Cattle Ranch - Steakhouses Near Me - Sanford, Florida

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The place looks like it's been there since the 1960s with no windows and no updates... not at all inviting- the opposite, looks more like a place where folks go to hide‍ I wasn't brave enough to go in for dinner. Left and went to area known steakhouse. read more

The steak was great for this simple and unassuming local steak house. It seems it's been in the area for some time, we should have come here sooner! read more

What a nice little restaurant in the middle of nowhere lol. Had some time before a flight came in, so I stopped for a quick dinner. Service was great, food was AWESOME, and I shall be back for another steak. These cooks are A+ for steak lovers. read more

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