Moved to Ramona a couple of years ago and pass Pete's about six times weekly. I bbq myself, so…read moredidn't really have a need to go there. Wife is out of town and I'm craving a burger. I can do the Weevil, Molly's, Rachels or any other good burger joints around town, but I wanted something new. Ordered take out from Pete's. Holy beef this was a good burger at a fair price. Portion was huge (saved half), the "small fries" that come with the burger are a huge portion and seasoned, not just salted, the BBQ sauce on the side was really money and had a smoke component to it. I've got to say, I was impressed. I ordered online and then had to change my pick up time due to a delivery happening at the house. Not a problem. Walked in and they acted like I was a long time customer and everything went smooth. Really up there in Ramona burger eats. I will be back and possibly try some Q to boot. Good job, Pete's.

Was starving! Woman on her luteal phase needing red meat! Got their brisket burrito with fries…read moreinside, the menu said there's white onions and cilantro in it but I'm eating it right now and there is no cilantro at all! I do not like being lied to! It's honestly not worth coming back for, food is mediocre.

A great experience. Our server, and there's only one, was very friendly and engaging. SHE made the…read moreexperience. We escaped today from the flatlander norms of North County and ventured up a path (State Hwy 78) that we hadn't trekked for a number of years. I think this is the only town with a Bol Weevil hamburger joint. We initially sought after and found it. We just couldn't bring ourselves to having lunch there. Too many good spots up here in Ramona. Searching Yelp, we found this place and decided to try it based on the large menu. We had a couple of delicious sandwiches, but I could see as the plates came outta the kitchen, I should've ordered a burger. They really looked awesome, ; and quite the variety, vbut we were already elbows into our plates along with house-made offerings. We also had the excellent ranch dressing that was offered along with the good onion rings. There are plenty of things to look at inside and out, as there are very much a hodgepodge of collections over the years. This place will be our visiting spot next time. CritDicks

Took a drive up the hill from Esco to redeem my free birthday club appetizer. We got the fried…read morepickles and they were excellent once they cooled down a little bit. My wife got the Vegasaurus Rex and loved it. I got the Smokey's Popper Burger that is a take on jalapeno poppers. It was also delicious. Both came with thin cut krinkle cut fries. They were also very tasty. Our server was super friendly and we enjoyed our lunch very much. It's a small place so it could probably get crowded on weekends and holidays. We will definitely make the trip back up the hill again before my next birthday to try something different.

We had our Company Xmas party catered for 70 people by Smokin J's BBQ…read moreand let me tell you they did a SMOKIN job the food was fantastic the delivery and set up was flawless next time less chicken and more Brisket hot link!. i can't say enough good stuff about the food quality here and how outgoing and helpful the staff was from the first phone call. I will try and update with photos. A must try Brisket and Brisket Hot Link

***take out review***…read more The TV dinners are small. Any grown adult will need to add more meat. The BBQ sauce is super tasty and needed for the dry chicken. Corn bread was very dense and a bit bland. My wife loved the potato salad and brisket. My favorite part was the sausage. So yummy. I'll go back to dine in and hope for a better experience. I have faith. Worth the try!

This wasn't just a fried chicken sandwich--it was a statement…read more You can taste the difference immediately. The chicken is insanely crisp on the outside, juicy and clean on the inside--not greasy, not heavy, just done right. The kind of crunch that actually means something. The slaw brings freshness and balance, the bun is soft but holds up, and every bite feels intentional. But what really sets this place apart is the sourcing. Everything is local. You're not eating some mass-produced, freezer-to-fryer shortcut--you're eating ingredients that came from nearby farms, raised and prepared with care. That shows up in the flavor, the texture, and honestly how you feel after. It hits that rare sweet spot: indulgent, but still clean. Even the fries--simple, crispy, not drowning in oil--feel like they belong next to it, not just an afterthought. This is what food should be. Real ingredients, done well, no corners cut. Comfort food that doesn't leave you wrecked. Local. Thoughtful. Straight up dialed.

Best food in Ramona hands down! My family loves coming here, the fried chicken is some of the best…read moreI've ever had. Recently went for brunch for the first time, outdoor patio space was lovely. Pancakes were delicious and the bacon/potatoes were great as well. My only suggestion would be having ketchup/hot sauce/sugar packets at the table already since it gets so busy at times it can take awhile for someone to grab them for us. Overall, everyone who works there is lovely and the food is always excellent!

I live this place. First time here. Friendly service and people all talk to each other. Like Cheers…read morethe TV show :) My burger was great and my onion rings were amazing. Might have to make it my Sunday ritual.

First time here , came to hang out with family and play music bingo . It's definitely a divey bar…read moreand grill with personality. They also have pool tables . When pulling into the parking lot , take it slow if you value your car . It's a bit rough , more made for trucks . Inside has bar charm . Friendly staff ( they were short handed when we went ) a bit of slow service , but to be expected. We ordered burgers and sweet potato fries . Burger was good , but then again we were starving , still fresh and decent size . Sweet potato fries were really good ! We had to get up to get drink refills . Music is LOUD ... I would sit away from the speaker . We we're definitely too close .. lesson learned . Overall a fun place to go hang out , play bingo and hang with family . They have a large bar for those that like a drink or two . I will definitely be back .

Stopped by after visiting Julian ( so many people there lunch lines were hours)…read more Wife ordered Chicken Pot Pie and I ordered the Hot Chicken Sandwich. This was the best meal we've had in a long time. Pot pie was so cute as crust was a not the traditional crust on top, but rather chicken shaped crust standing in the pot pie, and the pearl onions were the eggs. Wife said it was the best pot pie she has ever eaten. My Hot Chicken sandwich had a taste profile that was the right heat and nice flavor balance. Best I've ever eaten. Service was excellent, and the restaurant was modern and updated. Could have asked for better food and service. This will definitely be on come again list.

We had high hopes this place would improve... but nope. This was my second visit--and definitely my…read morelast. I even brought friends who had never been here before, thinking it could become one of our regular stops when we're out hitting the trails. Instead, it left a bad taste in everyone's mouth... and not just from the food. Waitress: Where do I even start. She claimed she was hard of hearing--but her attitude spoke loud and clear. Tossing menus on the table, aggressively slamming salsa down, and getting snarky over being off because our party count was off by one person. Seriously? It took two seconds to adjust the table, but apparently that was just too much. Yes, she technically did her job... but with such a cold, unwelcoming, and rigid attitude that it made the whole experience uncomfortable. What really stood out? We were there first and ready to order, yet she chose to take care of every smaller table that came in after us. No communication, no "I'll be right with you," nothing. Just ignored. Basic courtesy clearly isn't part of the service here. And trust me--I used to be a waitress. I handled large parties all the time and actually communicated with my tables. It's not that hard. Honestly, if gratuity hadn't already been forced onto the bill, she would've gotten $0. The only pleasant person we encountered was the busser--quick, friendly, and actually seemed like he wanted to be there. Maybe swap their roles, because he outperformed her by a mile. Food: Let's talk about the food... if that's what we're calling it. Everything came out cold. Not "warm-ish," not "could be hotter"... just straight up cold. It felt like our plates were sitting under a heat lamp for way too long before making it to the table. One "white" friend asked to have her meal fixed--fine, no problem. But when another "Hispanic" friend asked the same thing? Suddenly there was attitude, menu slamming, and mumbling under her breath. So... what exactly was the difference? Why the inconsistency and hostility? If the kitchen is that backed up, maybe management should step in and help instead of letting food die in the window. Just a thought. Final Thoughts: This place had potential... but that waitress single-handedly ruined it. We'll be taking our group (and our money) elsewhere--Dudley's Bakery is looking like a much better option moving forward. I usually bring large groups out here, so this isn't a small loss. Unfortunately, if this is the level of service they're okay with, this place isn't going to improve anytime soon. At this point, it's less "Farmhouse charm" and more "junky barn energy."

RC3 catered our Christmas party this weekend and they were AWESOME!!!! Could not have asked for a…read morebetter experience and food was INCREDIBLE!!! All of our 50 guests were commenting on how great the food was all night and the next day. They were commutative during planning, easy deposit, showed up on time and set up was professional and well done. Absolutely recommend them for events and will use them again. Thank you RC3 catering!!! You ROCK!!!

The tri tip was amazing! I didn't need to put any sauce on it. It was flavorful and so tender!…read moreSince I was walking around at Cruisin' Grand in Escondido last Friday, I just carried it with me and ate it with my fingers. I hope they are here tonight.

Visited 2/18/2025…read more I've tried other stores in the past and was pleased. This was my first time trying the Ramona Store. This one was just ok. First the staff was pleasant and helpful. The seating was more along the line of any fast food restaurant. As for the food. I started with The Potstickers 5 pcs. They actually were Quite Tasty for frozen potstickers and would get them again. Next I ordered The Mini BBQ Short Rib Plate. It was flavorful although the beef was a bit chewy for my liking. Still I would try them again. Last I ordered The Mini Fried Fish Plate. Sadly it was not good at all. Super Paper Thin Pieces of Fish (at least I think it was Fish) where the breading was thicker on both sides than the thickness of the fish. Over Fried so it was like eating a Hard cracker. Also Zero Flavor. I don't recommend the fish. On the good side the Rice and the Pasta Salad are Winners. I love a Tasty Pasta Salad. I'm being Generous giving this review 3 Stars and will give them another chance trying more of the menu. Just not the fish.

I have been to a number of L&L locations and Ramona is definitely my favorite! The owner and staff…read moreare all so nice, welcoming and genuine. The food comes out hot and fresh tasting. The portions are huge. I never leave hungry, and often with leftovers. I recommend the Kalua Pork with Cabbage, Seafood Platter and Garlic Shrimp. They are now serving beer!

Food: 5/5 Service: 4/5…read moreAmbiance: 4/5 Visited Phil's for a work lunch with colleagues after having ordered their catering trays for meetings many times before. This was my first dine-in experience at this location. Had the beef ribs tickler with sausage, coleslaw, and fries. The ribs were straight-up bomb! they were super meaty, tender, flavorful, and nicely charred. The sauce has a nice sweet, tangy, and spicy balance. The link was a good portion with a good smoky flavor, and the coleslaw and fries rounded out the meal nicely. Service was efficient despite a busy lunch rush and the staff were really nice and welcoming. The catering trays we've ordered have always been solid, and that same consistency carries over to the dine-in experience. It's a little pricier than your average lunch spot, but the food actually tastes good and consistent every time, which is why Phil's gets 5 stars.

What can I say about Phil's that hasn't already been said? Big prices, big portions, good service,…read moreand a party atmosphere. Pricewise, your best bet is to pick a platter of mixed meats that your party can share out. Trust me, you won't run short. A single sausage here is about triple the size of a hot dog, and this is the kind of place that will chop a head of lettuce in half and call it a side salad. While Phil's is its own cuisine, I'd call it closest to a St. Louis style of BBQ, with everything slathered in a sweet, tomato-based kind of sauce. I happen to like it, but if you're used to a drier, smoke and salt type of BBQ like in Texas, you'd better adjust your expectations. My personal favorites are on the plate below: the Beef Ribs, their sausage, all served on a bed of fries. Great flavors, good service, and decent parking (so long as you arrive before or after the rush hour). This place scores a 5 out of 5 on the 'CTJ Scale', as noted below. 5 out of 5 stars: Come-to-Jesus good. Would be OK passing away after finishing a plate here. 4 out of 5 stars: Come-to-Mary good. Would be OK having a nosh here with Mother Mary. 3 out of 5 stars: Come-to-Joseph good. Would be OK having a beer here with Jesus' Dad. 2 out of 5 stars: Come-to-the-Apostles good. Meh. Wouldn't have my last supper here. 1 out of 5 stars: Come-to-Nobody good. I wouldn't have my penultimate supper here, either.

We stopped in for an extremely late - so late it was almost dinner - lunch. There were two other…read moreparties when we walked in, one already seated and chowing down, the other finishing their order at the counter. The menu is fairly large, with lots of meat and side options. We were able to review the menu while the ladies in front of us finished placing their orders (and once the owner adjusted the TVs to be able to show the menus again.) We hadn't eaten anything that day, so we went in knowing we were going to be hungry. The sweet young lady working the counter that day welcomed us in and answered all my questions (what's the soup of the day? navy bean; what comes in the combo? ribs, ham, brisket, bread and two sides) before taking our order and our money. We ended up sharing the combo (with potato salad and onion rings for the sides) and my husband got an extra brisket sandwich because he thought the one plate wouldn't be enough to fill us up. The food came quickly, which was both good and bad. Good because we were, as mentioned, starving. Bad because - well, not "bad" per se, but not ideal - we got the feeling the food had been sitting for a while. And that's really the only knock I have on the meal: that the meat felt a bit tougher than I'm sure it was meant to be, just because we were eating so late in the afternoon. I'm sure it would have been much more tender had we arrived earlier. Still, we had no problems polishing off both the combo plate and my husband's sandwich (which I didn't get a chance to try...I was worried I'd lose a finger if I tried to go in for a nibble). I did enjoy the ribs and the brisket; the ham was my least favorite thing in the combo. It felt a little too bland compared to the other meat offerings, which were smoky and meaty. The onion rings were served with ranch dressing and the potato salad had a nice bite to it - from both the ingredients and the flavors. I think we'd go back, the next time we're in the area, but I don't think we'll go in at such an "off" hour.

I've been coming here since the 80s--it was a family favorite throughout my childhood and a place I…read moreeventually brought my own kids. I was nervous about the new ownership, and unfortunately, my concerns were justified. This was my first time back, and it is definitely not the same food. When I asked if the recipes were the same, the staff gave a non-committal "I think so," but the meal told a different story: The Price: $20 for a single plate is a significant jump. The Meat: I ordered my regular ham and tri-tip combo. Both were disappointing--a mix of fat and overcooked, dried-out, bland meat. The Sauce: The original homemade sauce was delicious and consistent for decades. This new version tastes like generic, bottled sauce straight off a grocery store shelf. The sides: the potato salad used to be perfect and clearly made in-house. Now, it tastes like mass-produced deli salad from a supermarket. It's such a bummer. I don't understand why new owners take over a successful institution that has been a staple since the 70s only to change the recipes for the worse. I've seen this happen recently at other local spots like **Peterson's Donut Corner**, where the quality has dipped and they've stopped taking cash. If you want a taste of "old Escondido" that actually stays true to its roots, go to **Bamboo House**. I went there recently after years away, and it was like a flashback to being a kid--same friendly service, same great prices, and the same delicious food they've been serving for over 30 years. Sadly, The Wrangler aka El Flako's Wrangler Barbecue, has lost a lifelong customer. It's just not the same place anymore.