Great place ! They had an awesome band that night, Saloon 12 Great food!! Fun people read more

RC's Watering Hole - Good band - Sports Bars Near Me - Foothill Ranch, California

We went there when they first opened and they were pretty good. We went there about six weeks ago and it sucked. We decided to give it one more chance tonight and it was the worst freaking food I ever had. My drink is patron, silver neat, they brought me my shot and it burned like hell going down, I verified with the bartender that it was patron Silver so obviously somebody poured House tequila in the patron silver bottle!!! I ordered fish and chips, and it was beyond disgusting, the fish inside had brown areas, there was more batter than cod. It was clearly a very low budget, frozen fish that they just dropped in the deep fryer. Lastly, just a little thing to add, we were going to sit out on the patio, but it reeked of stale cigarettes, probably the smokers don't pick up on that kind of scent, but we sure did. Just another Lake Forest restaurant that will eventually go down the tubes. The only way to get decent food around here is to go up into Rancho Santa, Margarita, or down into Mission Viejo. Some very good restaurants in the Irvine spectrum, but parking can be challenging lol read more

Visited this place three times. When the bartenders and managers are drinking more than I am it makes me a little suspect on what type of place this is. The live music is a plus but it seems to be the same type of music catering to people wanting 70's rock. I may have visited when those happened to be the genre of the evening and they may have something else on other nights. Also there is a base of regulars which every bar has. Each of the three times I visited I saw the same regulars. It's not that I object to that but sitting at the bar I get the over whelming smell of Cannabis on one or two of the regulars that I had to move. I have not tried the food so I can't give a rating on that. read more

Interesting place that's always fun with live music and good food. These old dudes can really rock!! read more

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Live entertainment 8 PM, festive atmosphere. The first time I was here was for our 40th El Toro high school reunion! Class of 1984 ! Which was remarkably done. (the staff was so nice, and gave exceptional hospitality!! Additionally, Lots of delicious foods was provided, great celebrational environment provided. For example, outside nice patio to dance, and the stage was upfront with all the lights and sound equipment needed for a concert! read more

RC's Watering Hole - Very nice live music! - Sports Bars Near Me - Foothill Ranch, California

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We came here a few months back on a Saturday afternoon/evening while in the area for a youth volleyball tournament. I remember I wanted to watch a big USC football game before getting on the road for the long drive home. So I figured it would be difficult finding a place that could take us to watch the game. As it turned out, when we arrived this place was almost empty and we were seated right away at a tabletop with many TVs with different college games showing. The fact that it was empty should've tipped me off right from the jump. It started off great. We sat down, placed our order with the waitress and waited for the food. So as we were waiting, more people started to show up. Then the longer we waited for the food and drinks, I noticed there was only one server/waitress for the entire bar area. On a Saturday evening. Look, man, I don't blame her. She was doing her best. This was management's fault. The service was bad. We waited forever, for everything. Again, I can't blame the one person working. It's not on her. You can't have ONE person working an entire bar area, on a Saturday evening, no less! I was shocked. But what makes it worse, was that the food was bad too. Nobody at our table finished their meal. It all looked and tasted like it was from a can. No thanks. Then, the cherry on top was that USC got demolished. Ugh. I won't be back. read more

Had a great experience once. Last few times I was there. Service was poor at best. So many things not available. From alcohol to basic food items. Manager that talks more than he does. Just observing. At one point the owner got so drunk he started a fight with his customers. You can tell they are in some sort of financial difficulty by the way things are run. Manager has a fling with a waitress and it's obvious. Sadly it comes before the customers needs. read more

Gave RC's another try. The band Soul Inspiration started on time at 7 pm. Yah! It's always nice to show up when the band is scheduled and they are on time. read more

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First time customer, but not last time! Most enjoyed the great dance music played by Soul Inspiration!!! We Danced all night! Celebrating a special birthday with WENDY! Delicious drinks with a hot fresh appetizer of chicken wings (your choice of sauce -sweet chili sauce was our choice) and a hearty chicken teriyaki bowl! Everything was way better than your average bar food! Friendly server and such a welcoming hostess! read more

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We found a gem in Lake Forest/Foothill Ranch. We went last week and enjoyed a great evening sitting outside listening to live music and great food. Inside we could see the Angels game and the Savannah Bananas game! This is a great place to go for great food and some music or sports. The staff was friendly and helpful all night and the vibe was relaxed and fun. Go check it out. BTW, my son was in love with the "Loaded" options. This was unique and we'll be back for some more. See you there. read more

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Quick points: HUGE step up from prior restaurants that have been in this space. Live music most nights. Dog-friendly and kid-friendly large outdoor patio available. Food, drink, service have been consistent and excellent. TVs everywhere for sports fans. Something for everyone. VERY easy parking in a huge lot right in front. Local family owned and operated. My $2 (I know I'm wordier than $0.02): I've been to this location when it was Peppino's, when it was purchased anew and turned into Center Bar & Grill (2020), and when it was purchased by another set of new owners as a rebooted Center Bar & Grill (2022ish?). I'd always wanted to like the reboots because this side of Foothill Ranch/Lake Forest really needs a local comfortable, accessible place to hang out and live music was always a plus, but each prior version just didn't quite do it. I was impressed by the vision of the first owner of Center Bar which brightened up a dark Italian restaurant interior, installed the clear garage door wall, and extended the bar, and each version strove to improve on the open concept. Enter RC, and THIS concept maintained everything good about the prior concepts, while adding a bunch of new twists of their own! The bright, open space is now accented with bold fresh paint on the bricks, new lighting and fixtures, new furniture. The food is solid (the new owners actually observed Center Bar as-is for months after taking over and kept all the old favorites, while adding their own to the new current RC's Watering Hole menu), the staff is always hustling, and the bar is run smoothly with friendly and efficient bartenders. Where Center Bar may have been a hit and miss with food and service before (I've had a few non-food items appear in my food at Center Bar, will spare the details since the prior restaurants no longer exist and RC's Watering Hole is an entirely new entity, new owners), I've had great tasting food and consistently reliable service with a smile. RC's Watering Hole wasn't done after improving food, service, drinks, and aesthetics... they've kept and added live music to more days of the week, added a digital jukebox, karaoke nights, and I hear that trivia might be coming soon, too. This place has been so creative with making sure there's something for everyone. For example, this is the only live music venue close-by I've found that rotates such a broad variety of live bands that include R&B and Soul, jazz, easy-listening, on top of the party rock and country that other live places have. I can't say enough good things about my experiences at RC's Watering Hole, and they keep me going back. Soon Monday Night Football will be coming to their many, many large TVs all around, both indoor and outdoor, so sports fans, this is for you, too! Personally, I go for the excellent bartending skills of Vanessa, Mirza, and the bartending team; I'm hopelessly addicted to their homemade beef chili for a protein and fiber kick; and they have gold- and platinum-awarded singer-songwriter Michael Hamilton performing there for the perfect mellow hump day evening vibe, whom they somehow magically snagged for every Wednesday evening going forward. RC's has become my favorite Wednesdays and I look forward to it all week long. read more

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I like the place, I like the people and I like the music. But the food is just not great. I've had several items off the menu, and I hate to say it but none of it is good. It has to be the supplier. It's just not good quality. If the owner is reading this, please please please completely overhaul your food. I would happily spend money here, but I just can't eat the current food. read more

So we got there & there was almost no one there...strike one... the hostess? Server? was sitting at a table & told us to sit where ever we wanted...strike two... took about 5 minutes for who I'm assuming was a bartender to bring us menus...strike three...the food... ehhh... just ehhh... it came out pretty fast but it was expensive... we got 1 drink, an appetizer & a flatbread...$72!!! Our "server" never checked on us while we were eating either... the "runner" forgot the sauces that were supposed to come with the food & our "server" brought it about a minute after our food came out which was great...but she never came back until it was time for the check... will we ever go back?? I highly doubt it. The flatbread was good but everything on the appetizer was fried & $32...not worth $32... read more

Stopped in on Valentine's Day and had a great time with Vanessa & Nayali. The place was busy and had a great vibe. You could tell they were hustling, but they still made sure everyone was taken care of. Drinks came out fast, the energy was great, and it just felt like one of those spots where you actually enjoy hanging out, not just watching the game and leaving. Definitely glad we chose this place that night and will for sure be back. read more

RC's Watering Hole - Sports Bars Near Me - Foothill Ranch, California

"It's a really good sports bar with great bar food. The employees and owners are fantastic." Oh yeah, try their beer tower read more

Has a large outside,beautiful patio. Nice sports bar area inside. Good customer service. Good variety on the food menu. Has an outside stage for Live bands/entertainment. Small space in front of the stage for dancing. Outside patio is Dog friendly. read more

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Went a few weeks ago on a Thursday night. We had such a blast! A great band was playing outside and it was a busy night. We enjoyed the drinks, appetizers and especially the music. Small local band of 3 young men. Awesome time! We will definitely come again! read more

RC's Watering Hole - Band playing - Sports Bars Near Me - Foothill Ranch, California

Don't waste your time here!!! Food and service from waitress, manager and owner is bizzare and combative. The owner gets drunk and starts fights with customers. Waitress overcharges. Ambiance has a criminal element. Better to get a drink at Islands..more relaxing. read more

i would suggest you take note when people say they do not care for a unprofessional server i am sharing this information as you as owners should be aware of her rude communication style This is being shared as this is not the first time nor is it the second time or the third time but the third time is the charm we will not be coming to your establishment due to Lesley The first time my husband walked up to the bar after waiting 10 minutes for a drink. Lesley was behind the bar. My husband asked if he could order a drink. Her response was "Go back to your table as there is a server that covers your table. 1 if there was a server for our table, we did not see your server for oh well over 10 minutes so that's why we came to the bar Then the second time we've come, we've had her response to the same thing. Last weekend we were there for a band there was 25 people at our table. My husband went to the bar to get a drink and was told the same thing by him. so with that said, I would not inform anyone to visit this place Possibly management should educate employees on what to say read more

Went for happy hour and Thursday night football. Sat at the bar and we were greeted quickly. Good drinks, $5.00 well from 3-6. Happy hour menu is very limited, mostly fried snacks. It would be nice to see actual food added like tacos and sliders. Sadly we ordered the zucchini. It was mostly breading. 2 out of the 10 served had a paper thin slice of zucchini. We showed the bartender but she didn't offer an alternative or to take it off the bill. Music was supposed to start at 6:30 but by 6:50 the bad was still setting up. We are Sammy's regulars, we love live music and since they are closing we thought we'd try RC. We will be back and sit outside next time, inside is very loud. read more

RC's Watering Hole - Fried zucchini - Sports Bars Near Me - Foothill Ranch, California

New owners, new name, new menu and a bit of a needed face-lift! Looking great! Live music, karaoke Tuesdays, Touch Tunes, pool table, lots of new TVs and a solid staff, the making of a proper watering hole! If you haven't been to RC's yet give it a try! read more

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What a great neighborhood place this has turned out to be! The new owner and his wife have really worked hard to make this a gem! The food is really good and at a reasonable price. Same for the drinks and, their happy hour is worth a try! Live entertainment most week nights and sutiable for family's. As a football fan I know when I walk in there will be wall to wall football games on the numerous large TV's. What ever your experience with this restaurant has been in the past ..... it's not the same ownership. I would recommend you give RC's a try. You won't be disappointed! See ya at the game! read more

Had a great experience watching the USA match with a large group! Even though the restaurant was packed, everything ran smoothly. Our waiter, Chase, was outstanding; friendly, attentive, and kept everything flowing seamlessly despite how busy it was. Excellent service and a fun atmosphere. We'll definitely be back! read more

I don't usually go to sports bars, but a friend suggested this as a central meeting spot. Not sure how or why he picked it--but, fine. When we arrived, it wasn't busy. Happy Hour was in full swing. We sat on the patio, the only customers besides a table of six. That table got plenty of attention. We, on the other hand, were ignored. After about 15 minutes, our "server" (waiter #54) finally appeared--no greeting, no apology for the wait. It felt like someone in the kitchen had nudged him out to see what we wanted. His opening line: "Ya want something to drink?" This kid was clearly in the wrong job. A professional server brings energy, motivation, and a natural sense of hospitality. Waiter #54 had none of these. My guess? He's a family member. Drinks and food arrived in a reasonable time. The Happy Hour menu was a good value and the food tasted as expected. Then came the check--overcharged on both items. They corrected one item, brought it back, and I had to send it back again to fix the other. Either an attempt to pad the bill or just poor training. read more

We've been coming here for a couple of years to watch 49er football. We haven't been since last s years seasonans WOW!what a change! The food menu has expanded 2 fold and taste good too. My Mai Tai was fantastic! Lots of 9er fans here, great energy and the food was great. Service was great, always there for anything you need. I hope it stays around bc we'd love to come back read more

Amazing staff, great atmosphere , great food and always a good time every time I go! Plus I love that it's very kid friendly and pet friendly read more

I've visited this place a few times before leaving a review to make sure my experience was consistent. The service has always been good, and the food is what you'd expect from this type of restaurant. They feature a nice variety of bands, and the restaurant is spacious enough that there's usually plenty of seating without a long wait. We plan to visit again--the vibe is great, and the area feels safe and enjoyable. Steve S was our server and was very nice, attentive and accommodating. read more

I came here with my husband a few weeks ago on a Saturday. I unfortunately don't remember my servers name but she was very nice and got our orders right. My husband and I split nachos and we had them with nacho cheese, black beans, and tomatoes. We both enjoyed them a lot and I look forward to having them again. We also got separate entrees and enjoyed those as well. We also got a slice of cheesecake which was good and we were both stuffed after our meals. We also got to enjoy hearing the live band perform a little bit. I don't understand where all the negative reviews are coming from and I look forward to coming back. read more

A great sports bar in the area. Nice staff and good happy hour but the food has really gone downhill. When they first opened it was pretty good for bar food and then something changed sadly. Will keep going back for sure but maybe eat at home! read more

RC's Watering Hole - This is what they called "chicken fingers" - Sports Bars Near Me - Foothill Ranch, California

Horrible place! Dinned here a few weeks ago and service and bartender with blonde hair was horrible. Our drinks sat at the bar for over 15 minutes, by the time we got our drinks they were watered down, and food was cold. Also bathrooms were very dirty and smelled. Unfortunately we will not be back, nor would I recommend this place. read more

We have come twice now and we were pleased with the service and food both times. There is a lot of TVs so you can always catch the action and plenty of tables. There is an outdoor area as well. read more

Good drinks, food, and vibe. I've been twice since the new owner took over and had a good experience both times.

I came here with my BFF to hear Vintage Vinyl (one of our favorite bands. We also enjoyed margaritas, Caesar salad, shrimp tacos and carnitas tacos. Everything was delicious but the shrimp tacos were especially good! Our server was terrific. All thinks combined to make for a fun evening'. read more

RC's Watering Hole - Loved the band! - Sports Bars Near Me - Foothill Ranch, California

Checked out RC watering hole after it was Center Bar and grill. Ordered sliders that were individually like smashburgers (sooo delish) fries hot and fresh, gigantic house salad, pitcher of beer and karaoke Tuesday! Daniel took very good care of us! Price is right. Live music wed Thursday fri sat. Will be returning again! read more

Our group of 3 took a 20 minute Uber to try a new place Saturday evening. Like other patrons, we were surprised of the $20 pp cover charge for the Depeche Mode cover band. I think they should have offered a package (ie: band ticket, entree & a drink for $40). We spent over $200 in drinks and food plus the $60 for the concert. Customer service was great! We only saw two women on the outdoor patio and THEY HUSTLED! We got our food quickly and it was all delicious. We ordered wings and the flat bread pizza. The band was great. Everyone was dancing and having a great time. Definitely recommend and will return if they have another 80's cover band. read more

RC's Watering Hole - Delicious wings! - Sports Bars Near Me - Foothill Ranch, California

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Love the new vibe. Great music flowing through the sound system. All relevant sporting events are on the TV's and a great happy hour! We've been here the last two Friday's and seen two awesome bands play in the patio area. This watering hole is just what our area needed! Keep it up!! Love it! read more

Great local hangout. Good food, good service and good friends come together to hear live music. Vanessa was amazing. Took all of our orders and kept up with who belongs to whom when it came to bills. Thank you RCs for giving us a place to enjoy each other with good food and great music that comes with friendly service with a smile. read more

We had a server who was very attentive and gave us great service. He would always check on us if we needed anything. We give him a APLUS

Love the fun family friendly vibe. Got the smash sliders with sweet potato waffle fries and they were excellent! We also tried the 3 meat BBQ platter with a ginormous baked potato! We also got drinks, Long Island Iced Tea and Mai Tai. Love the vibe of this new local restaurant. And it will be a blast to frequent for football and sports games. Welcome to the neighborhood, RC and crew! read more

I came here for an early dinner shortly after they opened on a weekday. They're located at the Foothill Ranch Food Festival and have a classy sports bar vibe. Plenty of big screens with an extra huge one on their patio. I sat inside and had Luis as my server. His upbeat and warm personality along with his attentiveness made this meal a five-star experience. I'm certain the other servers are great but I felt lucky to have this fellow taking care of me. He immediately informed me I was there for happy hour and steered me toward the happy hour drinks and menu items which I appreciated. Indeed, I ended up ordering from the happy hour offerings. First I had a glass of Robert Mondovi Cabernet which honestly isn't the most top-of-the-line wine but irresistable at their happy hour price. The pour was a generous one. I then ordered the sliders (two to an order) which come with fries. The sliders were excellent; juicy, flavorful beef topped with bacon, lettuce, and tomato. I asked to hold the onion but added cheddar cheese. These sliders are larger than average and every bite was enjoyed. The fries were hot with a crisp exterior and soft inside. A clean non-oily taste. They were ordinary fries but when something is done to perfection as these fries were, I have nothing but respect. Things were going so well I decided to try dessert; a chocolate mousse cake. The cake was moist, the mousse soft and chocolatey, and the frosting on top sweet but not overbearing. A big win on ambience, service, and food = the full five stars. read more

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