A 40th Birthday Dinner to Remember at The Ranch!…read more
From the moment I walked in, I already knew this was going to be an EXPERIENCE! I've only ever been to the saloon portion of The Ranch, so for my 40th birthday, I decided to try the restaurant. And let me tell you... NO DISAPPOINTMENTS WHATSOEVER!
We had a reservation, which I HIGHLY recommend. We were seated promptly, and the service was already setting the bar high.
First up, they bring out this WAGON WHEEL-SHAPED BREAD! I didn't get a picture because, well, I was too hungry. But this beauty was made up of SEVEN different types of rolls, which I will now name because, yes, I tried them all! Haha!
Dark squaw, cranberry, brioche, walnut multigrain, jalapeño, sweet Portuguese, and sourdough. All served with butter, of course. The jalapeño roll was hands down THEEEEE BEST!
AND THAT WAS JUST THE DAMN BREAD!!!
Next came the drinks (pictured)! I ordered the Lock, Stock and Barrel, made with Russell's Reserve 10 Year Bourbon, Disaronno Amaretto, Amaro Averna, orange bitters, and chocolate bitters. My date ordered the Black Betty, made with Ketel One Vodka, triple sec, fresh lemon juice, and house-made blackberry-basil simple syrup.
Both drinks were ON POINT! Delicious, beautifully made, and VERY, VERY STRONG. One was plenty to get you feeling good! Go for two if you REALLY want to party. LOL!
For our appetizer, we ordered the CASTROVILLE GLOBE ARTICHOKE, steamed and grilled.
Now, I've had artichokes before, but LET ME TELL YOU... NOTHING LIKE THIS! They bring out a whole, hefty artichoke with a beautiful char on it. There was plenty of flesh and leaves to savor, and it came with two sauces: Green Olive & Pine Nut Chimichurri and Preserved Meyer Lemon Remoulade.
The chimichurri was good, but that Meyer lemon remoulade?!? I COULD EAT THAT ON EVERYTHING! And I pretty much did! On the bread? CHECK! On my main dish? CHECK AND CHECK! Absolutely sensational!
For our entrées, I ordered the PAN-SEARED HALIBUT (pictured), served with zucchini and squash risotto, patty pan squash, tempura squash blossom, and pink pepper and citrus emulsion.
My date ordered the MUSTARD-GLAZED BONE-IN PORK CHOP (pictured), served with molasses-mustard glaze, apple butter, apples, chive mashed potatoes, bacon, cipollini onions, and whiskey-pork bone sauce.
Both dishes came out at the perfect time, right after we finished our appetizer. From the first bite to the last, it was pure FLAVOR! The halibut was cooked to perfection, and the risotto complemented it beautifully. And yes, this is another dish I used that Meyer lemon remoulade on. HAHA!
Now, that pork chop? FORGET ABOUT IT! One of the BEST I've ever had. Seriously!
We also ordered two sides to accompany our meals: the SEASONAL MUSHROOMS (pictured), simply sautéed with sherry, and the CREAMED SPINACH (pictured).
I absolutely DEMOLISHED IT ALL!
When our server returned and offered dessert, I was already full... BUT OF COURSE I WAS STILL GOING FOR IT! Hey, it's my 40th birthday! Why the heck not?!
I was torn between the TAHITIAN VANILLA BEAN CRÈME BRÛLÉE, served with seasonal madeleines, and the STICKY TOFFEE PUDDING, served with sassafras caramel and Honey Jack Daniel's ice cream.
I ended up ordering the crème brûlée, but when our server came back, he brought out BOTH desserts! He told me he had mentioned to the chef that I couldn't decide between the two, so the chef made me both! And to top it all off, the crème brûlée came with a chocolate "Happy Birthday" message.
THAT RIGHT THERE SEALED THE DEAL!
Five stars across the board, from start to finish! If I could give more, I absolutely would. The food, the drinks, the service, the timing, and that extra birthday surprise made this an unforgettable first-time dining experience.
I WILL DEFINITELY BE BACK! For sure, for sure!
If you're ever in the Anaheim area and want an incredible dinner with five-star treatment, The Ranch is WHERE IT'S AT! Every single time!
And if you're so inclined to listen to some country music and do a little line dancing to work off all that amazing food, head over to the saloon afterward for an equally great time!
YEE-HAW, Y'ALL!