This review is for the new Western Room dining under Chef Ron Siegel. Even though we are from Pt. Reyes, my mom and I have not typically considered Rancho Nicasio a place to stop in to eat. However, after hearing about Chef Siegel's new venture, we decided to give it a try. We started at the bar with a few cocktails which were good- I also enjoyed the homey atmosphere and the nice bartender. In the Western Room, we tried much of the menu, and really, really enjoyed most of the dishes. Some favorites were the local oysters with agro dolce mignotte, the pork belly, and the tortelloni of braised rabbit- which extremely flavorful and delicious. We shared the Schmitz Ranch ribeye which was out of this world- the pan sauce was amazing, and the quality of the meat was wonderful. For the dessert, my Mom declared the chocolate peanutbutter mousse to be the best thing she had ever eaten- it was actually so good I got one to go for my husband. I appreciated that they were willing to scoop it out of the goblet it was prepared in and package up for the ride home- and their willingness to accommodate my request was much appreciated by my husband! I myself had the creme fraiche cake with strawberries and a delicious crumble. Over all, we really enjoyed our dinner. I can imagine some people might find the pace of service a little slow- but maybe they were responding to us, because we like a slow, drawn out and relaxed dinner. Our waiter was also very nice, and was able to answer all my questions well without making his knowledge of the ingredients feel pretentious. I also enjoyed the room itself- it is a small space so it has an intimate feel. Chef Siegel bid us adieu when we walked out, and said he hoped we will be back. I'm quite sure we will! read more

What an awesome venue to have so close to us. Driving out to Rancho Nicasio is like going on vacation to the Sierra foothills. Saw the Zydeco Flames a couple weekends ago there and had a great time with friends-dancing the night away. I have been there for lunch before and have had solid results, but after looking at their dinner menu, need to come back soon. read more

We had our rehearsal dinner and wedding at Rancho Nicasio. It's such a beautiful location, and it was so easy working with Max Brown and Julii Ashby. My husband and I went to several venues all over the Bay Area when we were trying to decide where to have our wedding. When we met Max at Rancho, we knew that was where we wanted to have our special day. Max is so easy going and made the whole process stress free. The outdoor space at Rancho Nicasio is breathtaking, and we loved how we had access to both the outdoor and indoor areas. I would highly recommend this venue to other couples as it was almost all inclusive and accommodated our 146 guests! read more

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Yummy grilled portabello mushroom sandwich with fries and coleslaw + Breezy and tree covered back porch with plenty o' room + friendly and prompt service + No one blinked when my buddy and I walked in wearing head to toe cycling gear (read: spandex) = Happy and Fully Recharged Cycling Campers! read more

This review is for the outside BBQ area. Very good quality meat (pulled pork and brisket). Sides were tasty, with the exception of the beans which were undercooked. We were there for an afternoon concert which was great in a beautiful setting. read more

On Sun. May 22, 5:30 a friend and I stopped in to have dinner. There were two private events going on: music in the main dining room and a party table of about 30 people on the deck. We came into the bar entrance sat at a table, then decided to sit at the bar, no one else was seated at the bar and only one family at the table area. The lone bar tender was pouring drinks for the entire place. We sat for about 15 minutes and did not get a "hello" or eye contact from the bar tender. Finally I asked him if we could get service at the bar ? He went into a full minute tirade about our not saying "hello" and for not staying seated for waiter service at the table area ????? . I did not respond, as his behavior was perplexing and passive aggressive. Finally, a lady seated at the bar with her purse came over and said I can take your order I'm helping out. The fish and chips (fresh cod) was delicious as usual and the 1/2 dozen oysters with butter and lemon were just o.k. The lady poured us our wine when we were almost through eating , brought us a check, took her purse and left the bar. A very poor experience and ... I actually felt sorry for the bar tender. I think Covid has negatively impacted this industry tremendously in so many ways. read more

The Rancho is one of my favorite places in the bay area for an outdoor concert. On summer weekends they have afternoon concerts, complete with a BBQ. The music is generally folky, country and/or rock n' roll. There's something really special about driving to Nicasio - the ride is so beautiful, and knowing there's some great music on the other end waiting for you just sweetens the deal! The food is really no great shakes, with the exception of the BBQ oysters, so you might want to bring your own picnic (just keep it on the QT) and buy drinks from the full bar. Enjoy! read more

The ribs were yummy and fell off the bone. The fish and chips were greasy. The clam chowder was like water, rare potato and too much dill with no depth. It's my first time here. I can not recommend it based on this mediocre meal. read more

I've driven out to this place at night for a birthday party, and the food was just all right. That being said, I thought it would be a good place to have lunch on our way to Point Reyes, and we stopped here. The decor is sort of funky-rustic, with animal heads and a big fireplace, so we thought we were in for some good comfort food. Wrong! I ordered the BBQ beef sandwich--oh my goodness! I have NEVER returned food in my life, but at the first bite of the beef, it tasted like MOLD. Ugh--so gross. Just in case my recent head cold was affecting my taste buds, I asked the other person to taste it too. Same result--weird gross "off" taste, like the beef had been sitting around and went bad. I sent the food back, and, since by then I had already lost my appetite, did not ask for it to be replaced. Some reviews say the food is a mixed bag or something to that effect, but seriously, if I'd have wanted to eat old food, I'd stay home and clean out my fridge! read more

The quality of the food continues to go downhill. I ordered a Cesar salad with chicken, and the chicken was severely overcooked, and the Romaine was separated in super large pieces that should not have to be cut again, especially with a plastic fork. I also recently ordered their brisket sandwich, and it was way overcooked and dry. I guess when the chef is the owners son, you can get away with preparing subpar food. read more

Food is good, mid range roadhouse feel. Think juicy hand made burgers, huge plates of nachos, and decent steaks. Full bar and good selection of beers on tap. a log cabin type feel with long table seating. The real draw is the surrounding area, which is rural, scenic, and wonderful just to be in....yet 40 minutes from the heart of San Francisco. So arrive before sundown to enjoy the nice setting. The Little League field across the was perfects the view, especially when the 10 year olds are out there on their Field of Dreams. Evenings can be lively and often with live music. All in all, a comfortable, friendly spot worth a visit if you are nearby. read more

Pretty pathetic that a restaurant would require their employees and patrons to have an experimental vaccine that is not FDA approved. Have they not looked at the studies of all the people having side effects and death from the vaccine? How about the people that have had the vaccine and are now getting the virus? I hope nobody ever frequents this business read more

Had the opportunity to dine at this establishment on a beautiful spring weekend and was pleasantly surprised. Sure, it's a bit pricey for being out in the middle of nowhere, but hey, supply and demand, right? It certainly is frequented by the weekend cyclist crowd... The decor is hilarious - very "hunter's lodge" complete with plenty of trophies. If you don't like being stared at by taxidermied moose, elk, reindeer, etc. this may not be the place for you... or, eat on their patio! I say the mark of a good divey establishment is their wings, and Rancho's were no slouch. We ordered the hot variety (they also have honey) and were served some of the most tender and juicy little wings I've ever had! Dare I say they were succulent? Okay, they were. If you have the means, I'd say take a leisurely drive through the countryside to this delightful little establishment. Sure, it's not "Marin fine dining", but can you really expect that from a place with buffalo mounted on the walls? Yay! I'm a fan. read more

Let's be honest - you go here for their fairy-tale setting and the outdoor space. The food is decent, the beer list and cocktails uninspiring, and apparently unchanging... however, it's all about the outdoors and there's nothing like having a cold beer in their garden. read more

We've been for dinner, for dancing, for listening to live music and for a wedding. The wedding venue is amazing. The food (artichoke especially) is good. It's such an awesome place. And it's in my neighborhood. YAY. read more

Just left here from an Easter brunch with my family and can say I have never been so impressed by a buffet! It was quite an expansive spread, with lamb, beef, French toast, salads, fresh fruit, grilled vegetables, and a variety of your standard breakfast food. The food was kept hot and refreshed often. We were seated in a booth where we had a very picturesque view of the hills beyond while being out of the general hustle and bustle of the others enjoying the brunch. We weren't rushed despite how busy it was and the waitress was fantastic at checking on us and making sure our drinks were filled. All in all, I am very satisfied, so much so that this meal will last me the entire day! I have eaten here before on special occasions and had equally great experiences. I love their prime rib and my husband swears by their crab cake sandwich. The drive to Nicasio is beautiful and this place is definitely one to stop at for lunch or dinner. read more

Has been here forever. Food is decent but sometimes the staff can be overwhelmed and will forget items.

Went here for the first time over the weekend on the way to the beach. The gal behind the bar, LauraLee (apologies for any incorrect spelling) was great! She smiled and chatted and knew all the regulars-even though the boy and I were visiting from across the bay- she made us feel like locals :-)I'm going back this weekend to check out a cover band and really take in the experience. Enjoy a Lagunitas and good company! read more

Great bar, with great tenders, and great stages. If you're looking to catch a band in West Marin, great place to stop for a Lagunitas (all they carry on tap) and some apps, or dinner, or lunch or whatever. I jam up here many weekends with friends, and will stop in on the way up if i'm running early. We'll also catch a few BBQ shows during the summers. read more

Rancho Nicasio - Beautiful view from the parking lot - American Near Me - Nicasio, California

Just as a point of clarification, I've not eaten here before last night (ever) and the meal we had last night was one of the first "preliminary" to welcome the new Chef Ron Siegel. I do not know about the "normal" food served in the main dining hall. This review is for the special menu they had in the Western Room. We made reservations here once we heard Chef Siegel was taking over. We've been a huge fan of his and enjoyed eating his food in previous restaurants. We were curious how this food would translate to this location. The drive out was gorgeous and when we arrived we noticed the back room where they were having this welcome meal. We were seated quickly, but being the first night there were some kinks to get out. We waited a while for our server who brought the bottle of wine we ordered quickly, but then took another 25 mins to come back to take our order--it was not intentional, you could tell they were trying to figure things out. We ordered one of every of the small bites (5 in total) to try and share with the table, then a first then second course. It was a great meal--the hamachi crudo was absolutely stunning, as was my friend's rabbit tortellini. I enjoyed my halibut final dish very much and the food came out quickly. There was a little hiccup in between our 2nd and 3rd courses where a complimentary cheese platter was placed in front of us. We noticed this was happening at the end of the meal for all the other tables, so we assumed maybe this was the kitchen's way of telling us to be patient--so we dove in. Before we finished, the dishes came out. We just copped this to a misunderstanding and woops, you got your cheese plate before you should have. No big deal. It's going to take some time for this place to figure out the system and new menu(s). We enjoyed talking with Chef Siegel at the end of the meal and look forward to coming back in a few months when they have a few more dishes on the menu and the kinks worked out of the new service. read more

I have fond memories of Rancho from my childhood, and nothing much has changed. It's a nice place, with a nice patio, in a nice area, with incredibly good burgers. Sourdough bread and meat so juicy the bottom piece of bread will be soaked - flip it over! Other things probably good too; no personal experience though. read more

What a delightful surprise! Really good burger, actually cooked medium rare as ordered. Fabulous home made, still warm tortilla chips. Home made chunky guacamole with a nice bite. All on a charming outdoor deck with lots of shade trees. A happy camper! read more

Rancho Nicasio - Parked in front - American Near Me - Nicasio, California

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What an incredibly cool, hidden, off-the-beaten-path restaurant and nightclub! I drove up here to see Big Sandy and His Flyright Boys (a swing band from LA) and I was not disappointed. In fact, I ran into JON FAVREAU here, swing-dancing no less! The food was so-so, nothing to write home about (or yelp) but the venue, friendly service, and intimacy of the joint are well worth a pilgrimage. The drive alone is very scenic and fun. read more

We went there last night to take in something new from the Pt. Reyes/Inverness region. We got there a bit early for our reservation, but were seated soon after the sound check by the bank, Petty Theft. Great seat right in the front. Thank you. Waitress was excellent; very prompt and kind. Also, our water glasses were constantly filled. I ordered the pork chop dinner, complete with mashed potatoes and some delicious veges. My partner ordered the baby back ribs. So delicious she finished the entire plate. We also splurged on the dessert with creme brule (excellent) and just a scoop of vanilla ice cream for me. I would rate the food and service a solid 9 out of 10. We enjoyed the live music and dancing although the music was quite loud (but we had expected that). A great band with a solid singer and excellent musicians. Just too loud. We will definitely return to dance and enjoy the wonderful atmosphere. A great find. read more

I have been going to Rancho Nicasio for years. I kept my horse out in Woodacre and would go after a day of riding. We now live in Nicasio (have for a few years) and Rancho is our go to place for a number of reasons: Don't feel like cooking? Run down to Rancho. I can get a crispy wedge salad with Pt. Reyes Blue Cheese, chicken fried steak, or an excellent burger... we've had almost everything on the menu (though I am most likely never going to order the Chinese chicken salad). Oysters on the half shell? Yes, Please. We often split the fish and chips or towering plate of nachos - sometimes you just have to go there. All alone? Go to Rancho for a quick bite and good conversation with whomever you might run into at the bar - it could be an organic gardener, a visiting equine chiropractor from Hawaii, an LA industry person working at Skywalker, a local rancher or even a famous musician enjoying a low key evening. It is comfortable and safe and if you want conversation it is there, or you can relax and enjoy some peace. I love that I have gone in filthy, in my riding breeches, or after getting home from a business trip in a Chanel skirt and it really doesn't matter. Music. Don't need to say much here - great music in the bar, or in the dining room (Lavay Smith to Asleep at the Wheel, Tommy Castro, Maria Muldaur...and some good upcoming musicians) BBQs on the lawn during the summer are tremendous fun! The staff. It has to be remembered that you are in Nicasio, the epicenter of Marin County. This is not Gary Danko, or Cafe de la Presse. It is a bit of a commute, and sometimes I imagine it is tough to know how many people might be coming in during the week, so they are sometimes short staffed. BUT, I have never received poor service. On the weekends it can get crazy busy, and I have still had great service. Sure, I have had to wait a few minutes for my drink, but that happens during shows at the Fillmore, or clubs. We're in the country - kind of like being in Italy or Paris, where it is not always about rapid service. read more

Thank you Rancho Nicasio for an utterly delightful meal and afternoon yesterday. Thanks for being so safety conscious and for providing a delightful experience under your redwood canopy. We stuffed ourselves on delicious oysters, Mac n cheese, pulled pork, and more. We were so surprised and excited to find you open. We will be back and we are telling all our friends! Thank you!! read more

I practically grew up in Nicasio, so perhaps I'm biased ... but I do love the Rancho. Sometimes we'll make a special trip just for their famous Rancho Burger.... a generous patty served with grilled onions on toasted sourdough, sliced on the diagonal. YUM! Sure, there's other good stuff on the menu, but this burger is the best. The staff here is friendly and attentive. That being said, there are plenty other reasons to visit -- the weekends draw a lively crowd, especially with live concerts and fabulous BBQ. There's a long history and tradition here, and the (newish) owner is doing a fine job of keeping this a popular destination. Definitely worth taking a leisurely drive through the backroads of Marin for this hidden gem! read more

Gives you the true West Marin feeling and has some great music...

Nice place, it's like being in the old west. I had the Nicassio Omelet with goat cheese. I really liked it. The potatoes were a little bit overcooked. We also had the soup of the day (tomato with vegetables) it was very tasty. The Buffalo burger was also delicious. Very friendly staff. We will definitely come back. read more

Just came by after a day at the beach. Heard rave reviews about kid friendliness - and expansive yard and great outdoor atmosphere. Well, we showed up. 7-8 people at bar - rest of front room empty. When server appeared we were asked we were told 15 minute wait. There were open tables in back where they were seating people. We asked about grabbing a drink and letting g kids run on the grass while we waited. Big NO. We were told to go across the street to the ballpark. Basically made to feel As if our mere presence and children was a huge inconvenience. Really disappointed. If they are short on staff and pleasant about explaining things - I would understand but that's not what went down. Clearly it was a slow night but they didn't want our business. So be it. You'll never get it and I'll be sure to spread the word. read more

Good food for a remote location. It is evident that they put effort into making their basic dishes tasty. For the basic dishes of buffalo wings, Garlic baked Drake Oysters, prime rib sandwich, it all tasty flavorful. They make their own chips and use ingredients in their side salads that weren't just for fillers. Pleasantly surprised. Service was friendly as well. read more

Rancho Nicasio - Homemade chips. The basket is large! - American Near Me - Nicasio, California

Food was excellent, drinks are great, atmosphere is neat. I would have given this 5 stars except for one issue I had, for my table of 4 of us(yes just four), they automatically charged a 20% gratuity...no where was it listed that they were going to be charging this....I think this might be illegal to do. I'm glad I looked at the bill, otherwise I would have double tipped. Service was great....but not worth $70 tip!! Check your bill when you get it. read more

Sad to say it was not a pleasant visit to Rancho Nicasio last evening. Popped in with friends for a drink last night and was ok with the fact that the bartender informed me he could not make me a Coffee drink because it was 10pm. It was actually 9:30pm and we had been there for 15 minutes already waiting to order. I was not ok with him coming back a minute later to tell me that they pour out the coffee after dinner service, it is not like they have an espresso machine, that it is made at 5pm and would be bad if they tried to serve it after a few hours. I asked him why he was scolding me. He said it was because I was giving him a look. Number 1. I was not giving him any look. Number 2. What a moron to think the restaurant only makes one pot of coffee at 5pm. Number 3. Bars usually have a pot of coffee brewing until closing not only for alcohol drinks but also to help customers sober up a little before driving. Number 4. Why be rude to a customer. I have been coming to Rancho Nicasio since the early '80's. I remember seeing Elvin Bishop there 35 years ago. I live in Novato and love making the drive out to Nicasio. But to be honest the food is at best average on a good night and the employees unwelcoming for as long as I can remember. So, needless to say I am not going back there again and not sure why anyone would. read more

My husband and I have been coming here since 1964. We bring family and friends for lunch. This Aug.16, we brought friends and treated them to dinner because you have prime rib. Arrived a bit early so our table was not ready till our reservation of 6pm. Fine, understood. So we hoped to sit at the tables across from the bar to enjoy a drink and wait. We were told we could not sit at the empty tables (All the tables in that area were empty) because there was no bar service at them. So w were directed to the side by the toilets to wait and have a drink there. Again, no bar service. So I asked the women in charge could we not sit at the tables because my husband and I are handicapped and since the men had to get the drinks on their own anyway, it would be nicer and better for us to sit a table. No, no, no. Ok, my friend and I could not taste liquor in our drinks, but when brought to bartender's attention, he said it would be another cost of two drinks. Really, $34.00 for two short gin and Tonics and two beers‼‼‼ OK, two appetizers, two soups, a salad, three prime ribs (all way over done and tough) and the only good entree of lamb shanks, full bottle of wine, 1 more beer and a dessert let us thinking we have been had. A $350. 00 experience should have been better than this ‼‼ Side note; friend who we treated asked what we thought about the prime rib - not to be recommended. Go to House of Prime Rib - always consistent and great service. read more

First thing Want to say Happy Birthday Bob was there to see Pablo Cruise, great show, great venue, your staff are incredible, you should be very proud to have employees that work so well and above and beyond, the BBQ was great, perfect size portions, The food was incredible. I take my hat of to you and your staff, looking for to September to come out and see the Son's of Champlin. Thank you very much for such a great day. Highly recommend to all my friends and people that I run into read more

We stopped here just passing by with two other couples, but felt strong enough about the quality of service and food to want to warn off anyone considering this as a destination. The main objective of the establishment seems to be to fleece tourists of as much money for as little effort on their part as possible. The restaurant was almost completely empty save for a family of three and a couple of people at the bar. We were seated immediately at a table for six. Our drink orders were taken, and the waiter informed us that it was their policy not to split tabs at a single table. We didn't argue, although this seemed a bit inflexible considering we were the only customers in the place ordering anything. My girlfriend and I ordered the steak nachos, which turned out to be a cold, soggy mess covering some burnt chips. There were maybe two or three small pieces of steak, which unbeknownst to us when we ordered almost doubled the menu price of the item. The waiter came by shortly after the check was brought and we were still breaking up the charges. He seemed impatient, although the place was still relatively empty, and one of our party commented that it would be easier if checks could be split. The waiter then made some snide comment that it would only be easier for us, not him. Despite having saved him this inconvenience, we noticed that he had taken the initiative to award himself a 20% tip. We did not argue being overcharged for the poor quality food, or even the undeserved gratuity, but simply took comfort in knowing that karma eventually catches up with businesses like this. read more

It seems as though Rancho has a deceptive trick they play when you buy tickets for a music show: the website has prices listed for each show. Under the performer is the price $30/$35. STANDARD PRACTICE AT EVERY OTHER MUSIC VENUE IS: ADVANCE TICKETS are discounted vs TICKETS AT THE DOOR. I bought 4 tickets to see Marcia Ball, over the phone, 3 weeks in advance. When asked if I was having Dinner, I said, "no". They took my credit card number did not tell me that there would be a $5 per person charge if not having Dinner. When the bill came, I saw it was $140 instead of $120. When I brought this up, the hostess told me that we didn't have dinner, therefore the extra charge. She even got out her calculator to show me the multiplication (duh...I know that 4 X 30 is 120) We argued and I got nowhere. NONE OF THE POSTERS EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENCE IN PRICE; NEITHER DOES THE WEBSITE. I find this dishonest, and perhaps false advertising. When you go to a "BBQ on the Lawn" show, you are not allowed to bring in food of any kind, or your own water bottle. They search backpacks as if this were a huge music venue with thousands of people. AGAIN, THIS IS NOT STATED ON ANY OF THE ADVERTISEMENTS. You have to buy THEIR expensive bottled water. The reason I give even two stars is that otherwise, this is a fun venue, with big acts. The crowd is great, the stage is intimate, and dance floor rocks! Last night I remembered why I don't frequent this venue; there's always a weird "rule" that is not stated. read more

A nice idea for a warm summer night, especially during their summer music series... great place to see live music outside with the whole family! read more

Our waiter lied to us and we felt that he tried to con us. First, we ordered one serve of oysters. The waiter brought two and when we asked why there were two he said, you ordered a dozen. There wasn't even a dozen on the menu! I said, we did not. There were only 3 of us eating them and we had a load of other dishes. Why would we order 2 serves? Also, I never said a dozen. If I had have said "dozen", I would have remembered that. Meanwhile, we were trying to order wine. We ordered a bottle of prosecco. That one wasn't available, fine. But the waiter then tried to push us towards a $67 bottle of wine. We ordered a sav, which was $34. The waiter said that was a half bottle and we were really best to order the Chardonnay, which was $36. At this point we gave up trying to order what we wanted and ordered the Chardonnay, but seriously?! Why would a half be $2 cheaper than a full bottle? And why would the menu not mention that the sav was a half if actually was?!? read more

We've been going to Rancho Nicasio for a long time and have yet to have a poor experience. I've had interactions with Lila, Lauralee, Mike, Nasso, Julia, and most recently Max. IMHO, the staff is like a family and make you feel that way as well. Food / Bar: Their food is great, and their menu has plenty of variety. They will make substitutions for dietary restrictions, etc. wherever they can. The bartenders will make whatever you ask for and are very accommodating. Concerts: At the outdoor concerts, the stage area is ground level, the paved area in front of the stage is not that big, and people are seated on the lawn directly in front of that, I suspect they have dancing on the large deck on the side to accommodate more people and to not obstruct the view of the concert-goers who are seated. At the indoor concerts, the stage is raised and you can dance in front of the band. Seated patrons still have a view of the band (though limited) when people are dancing. Weddings / Events: I inquired about an event I was planning and Max couldn't have been more responsive, detailed or professional. Not sure what the one reviewer was talking about with the email he wrote from, but it was from a ranchonicasio.com email. Maybe he wasn't at his computer and wanted to get back to her so he responded from his personal email? Anyway, it turned out that the date I needed wasn't available but I was so taken by the interaction that I made a trip out there for a tour, even though I'd been there a bunch of times - I had never seen it form the perspective of an event client. Max and his staff were fantastic and the place is ideal for a wedding or special event / celebration. I'm disappointed to see the less than satisfactory comments below. Yes, sometimes it is busy or hectic. And yes, sometimes there is a miscommunication with a staff member... That can happen *anywhere*! Even at a Michelin rated restaurant. So why not focus on the positive? Rancho Nicasio is a gem, and unique in so many ways. read more