I've been a fan of The branding iron for over 20 years I love it it never gets old it's always new and it's just it's amazing I love it everything about it the girls are so sweet and friendly they just make you feel like you're at home great food great fun great drinks how bad could that be read more

Went here on our way home from visiting family. I don't think we will be stopping by again if we are in the area. Not the worst Mexican food I've ever had, but definitely not the best. Ambiance - 3/5 I feel like it used to be a steak house in its past life but was bought out and it became a Mexican/Steak restaurant. There seems to be a lot of history about this place, which I love. I love the western feel and all the old pictures. However, I think because of the mesh of cultures, there's a bit of an identity crisis going on. There were some tropical birds in between the taxidermy buffalos Service - 2.5/5 Our server was there on her scheduled day. Anything extra you ask of her, like some lemons, don't count on it. She asked "is there else anything I can get for you?" But never came back We tip based on service and she's lucky we were feeling generous because her service wasn't worth the $20 tip. We would have flagged her down but it seemed she avoided our table like the plague just up until we were ready to pay. A coincidence? Maybe. But she never even asked us how our food was. Food - 2.75/5 Tortillas are handmade. That alone is worth one star. Rice was cooked well, but lacked depth and flavor. I appreciated that it was edible because a lot of Mexican restaurants fail on the rice. Beans, no complaints. Chips and salsa good. I ordered the chile verde and a red enchilada. I love chile verde but I also realize a lot of places don't do it well. This place didn't do it terribly, but it was bland. I put so much salt on it just to give some flavor. As for the red enchilada, I'm convinced the sauce came from a can. The chicken inside was good. My husband ordered the costillas de puerco in green sauce. Same complaint, no flavor. He also ordered a sope, which he enjoyed. Price - 4/5 Price is good for the portion size. I didn't use the bathrooms, so I can't comment on that. Overall, I think they have a good foundation. Menu is good, lots of selection. They seem to be a popular local spot. Also seems to be a good spot for large groups. read more

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We had a few bad experiences in the past , but we wanted to give it a second try. Menu has changed some. Appetizers: coconut prawns was just as I remembered. We did receive water and one piece of Texas Toast style bread. It was smaller then the past but good taste. I ordered the prime rib smallest cut. It was cooked just like I like it. No complaints this time. My husband ordered a loaded potato and wedge salad. Then presentation for the potato was very plain. The wedge salad was pretty basic too. We definitely did miss some of the nostalgia of the following The baked potato condiments server. The sorbet with the meal The little chocolate mint boots ( I so missed it and honestly disappointed) The restaurant was very clean, servers extremely friendly and attentive. Overall it was so much better then it has been in the past, but definitely overpriced for the quality. read more

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Nope. New owners. New menu. Not one of our meals did we love and there were 5 different meals ordered!!! And it is NOT CHEAP!!! We love Indian food, but had no clue the menu had COMPLETELY changed to an indian/cajun steak house!!?? Everything had a "different" taste per our kids. As in Indian spices were integrated "curry" specifically in almost every dish, which we were not expecting! I mentioned to the waitress we were shocked at our salad! It was absolutely not as described as the menu! "An alligator salad : chicken, balsamic and avocado." When I ordered I made sure to ask NO ALLIGATOR RIGHT? It says chicken, she said yea! Edible yes, but absolutely not as described! There were onions, curry and I have no idea what else, because it ingredients were NOT all listen on the menu! 2 orders and both who ordered were not impressed and did not expect what was served. The waitress did ask her manager for the salad to be taken off our bill, since it is not at all what the menu stated. We thought a bed of lettuce with grilled chicken, avocado and balsamic dressing .. but was served what is pictured! The manager said only 1/2 price of one salad. We ordered 2. That was so amazing of the waitress to even ask, but just 1/2 off one? And no manager came up and asked us how our meal was at all. No apology. Waitress was good. Pic of wagyu burger meat left behind. Not wagyu grade, unfortunately. What a bummer! We wanted a really great meal. The mashed potatoes I thought were boxed. I literally asked. I really did. Waitress said she sees them made! And reassured me they were not. Who knows, but did not taste like delicious homemade like American mashed potatoes I used to get here. :( We used to come here for special bdays, anniversaries or anything big. It was such a great steak house. We sure are gonna miss the previous BI. :( We had no clue new owners had taken over. My suggestions would be to change the name and serve delicious Indian gourmet food at a decent price! If you keep the name, then hire a chef that specializes in an American Steak House, because that is what the "Branding Iron" means to me and I am sure the majority of previous customers! read more

The Branding Iron - Lounges Near Me - Merced, California

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We went in for the first time last evening since the new owners opened back up. This place has been a staple fixture in Merced for nearly a century. We have always had great steak and other food here. I ordered my favorite cut of steak, a 10 oz prime rib which usually comes out juicy and tender and mouth melting. This time, the prime rib didn't even dampen the plate with its juices. It was tough, chewy, and dry full of fat. I ordered a premium baked potato on top of what my sides would have been but I only got a small itty bitty baked potato with no flavor a tough skin. I ordered an Aperol Spritz and they had no sparkling wine at all. The Tom Collin's was only gin. The Bloody Mary was good. The lighting made the bar dark and welcoming for a bar. They turned the lights up and it was easier to see. The bartender and owner were very attentive. However, overall, being an institution in Merced, currently this place does not rate on my wanting to return. The new owners need to look at what they have changed and it is a good idea to have an Indian/American fusion cuisine but it needs to be solid and make people want to come out and right now, that isn't happening. read more

Was there yesterday for lunch it was fabulous.. Ate in the bar area Kathy was fabulous as usual! The restaurant was clean and l love the new bar look!! Would really like to see more advertising to let people know they are open for lunch.. Way more people would be joining there friends and family for lunch!!!! ADVERTISEMENT PLEASE!!!! read more

My husband and I wanted to try the New Mexican restaurant. I decided on the ribeye which was $36. it came with mixed veggies which were good, however the steak was very tuff. Hard to cut and hard to chew. since I don't eat potato I got a salad with Italian dressing instead. The salad was pretty but dressing was all oil, no flavor. they only offer two dressings, Ranch and Italian dressing. our drinks were never refilled! Husbands NY steak was okay. The waitress had told the owner how my meal was. He never offered us a discount or an apology of any sort. not sure if I'll be back to try the Mexican food!! I should have known as I have been to his other restaurant and wasn't impressed. Sincerely Goldie read more

The food is good. I ordered 14 oz rib eye medium rare. Very good with onion and mushroom as toppings. The service is good. They're very prompt to items asked and they will check what you need frequently. The thing I don't like the most is there are flying flies throughout the course. That's really bothersome. read more

The Branding Iron - 14oz ribeye steak - Lounges Near Me - Merced, California

Food was good. Best scalloped potato's I have ever had. Lobster tail and the steak plates were also good, but VERY expensive. And not the best we have ever had... Service was not great. While our waitress was friendly, she didn't come by too often. Tables are crammed together and hard to walk by when people are sitting in their chairs. My daughter did not like her pasta (too plain) and we ended up having to get a side of Alfredo sauce for her. Then she liked it Then they had an issue at the register with taking half on a gift card and the rest cash. Overall, I don't think I would go back for a while unless I had a gift card again. Gave it a 3 because the food was good, but none of us are dying to go back. read more

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OMG just don't. The name is the same, but it's nothing at all like the prior restaurant. The gazpacho is completely different and completely mediocre. The few chips that came with it were stale and soaked in grease. The bread is meagre, dry, and tastes store bought. The steaks are WAY more expensive and arrived--after a VERY long wait, and after some prodding-- stone cold, both the prime rib and the filet. The chef pushed back on the temperature so we walked out. A sad end to what was once a decent, if old fashioned, steakhouse. read more

Simply delicious! The food doesn't disappoint! Soooo many flavors in this dish and very impressed. Dined in the lounge and the service and ambiance were wonderful. If the change of ownership has you on the fence, it's time to give our hometown restaurant another go! You won't be disappointed. Cheers! read more

The Branding Iron - Chicken Piccata! - Lounges Near Me - Merced, California

Came with two buddies to the branding iron on a Friday evening as they opened. I came a bit later but we were seated next to the Bar Area. The interior is an old school saloon themed bar with the swinging double doors which is dope. Our server (lady with the great tattoos) gave us the run down of the menu, informed us of the half off appetizers, and even game me some recommendations on wine to drink with the rib eye that we ordered. She also gave me samples of the wine before I ended up choosing the robert mondavi (Branding Iron doesn't skimp on the wine!). I ordered the 10 oz prime rib steak with the fully loaded baked potato. The food came out super quick, maybe 15-20 minutes and my prime rib was cooked perfectly! I don't like my steak super bloody and I know most people eat prime rib rare, but the prime rib wasn't super bloody and was still tender. I also enjoyed the baked potato although I wish it was stuffed a little more with the sour cream and the bacon bits. Our server regularly check in on us to see if we were doing okay or if we wanted any additional drinks. Overall, I would definitely come back here when I am in Merced again as it was a great meal adorned with great service. read more

The Branding Iron - 10 oz Signature Prime Rib with the works baked potato! - Lounges Near Me - Merced, California

If I could give this restaurant negative stars I would totally be pleased. The entire food experience was probably the worst experience I had to date. I felt like I was on an episode of Kitchen Nightmare, waiting for Chef Ramsey to tell me that the place was getting shut down. Appetizers: Ordered a charcuterie board for the table. When it came out it was laid with the standard meats and cheeses. We were given a basket with crackers that appeared and tasted like Toll house crackers and a quartered hamburger bun. Speaking of hamburger bun, that what the bread basket was. It consisted of 2 tops and the bottom of what seemed to be a hamburger bun. I asked the waiter if the bread was fresh baked and made in house. He said that it was, when I asked another waiter, he stated no, they get the bread from the local burger spot across the street. That was a sign of things to come. I ordered a bowl of the "cold tomatoe soup". This consists of what appears to be a jar of refrigerator salsa and given chips to accompany it. It was beyond awful. The waiter replaced it with the soup of the day. Soup of the originally was clam chowder. The waiter stated it was claim chowder, but I told him that they erased it and it was French onion. He then goes on to say that the girls at the front are wrong and it's claim. About 3 minutes later, our waiter came back and told me that it is actually French onion. I was given a bowl of what appeared and tasted to be Lipton Onion powder mix with salad croutons in it. Smh While waiting for the entrees the wait staff tried to refill our drinks. I suspect that they may have partake in a little recreational activity before work due to the pausing while attempting to pour our drinks. He combined a sprite and tea in one glass, poured a drink in a candle, and proceeded to to spill drinks all over the table and place settings. Entrée: Ordered the tomahawk steak for 2 and the flat iron steak. The Tomahawk was at market price of $148 so you are expecting it to be well prepared and perfect for the price/wait time. We requested that the steak cook be medium and ordered the sides. The steak came out well done and gray in color as shown in the picture. The sides which included ice cold baked potato, unseasoned veggies, and mushed onion bloop that looked like vomit. We told them to take the food back, and they were going to re-fire another one but it would take another 45 minutes. We then asked to switch to two different steaks. One being a coffee rub ribeye (mkt) and prime rib. Prime rib was requested at medium rare and it came out medium well plus. You could tell that it was cooked really high heat and fast as the fat was not rendered at all. It came with a side of "instant mash potato" and asparagus. Extremely disappointed. The ribeye was requested at medium. It was probably the most disappointing steak I never got to eat. When it was brought out to the table it appeared to be charcoal. I took a cut off the end and it was well done. I cut into the center and the best way to describe it was shoe leather. It was soo over cooked that it didn't even have moisture. I didn't take a bite of it and the waiter took it. He asked if it can be re-fired but at this point I was over the whole experience. The manager Monica came out and apologized for the food and offered to not charge us for the tomahawk. I asked to be not charged for the ribeye as well because I didn't eat it, and she took the steak off the bill. She also gave a discount on the bill after hearing about the experience we had. I ended up with a 100 bill for the dinner not including tip to the server. The main waiter was great, and not his fault for the horrible experience. Would I recommend this restaurant never. I will be sure to not have any of our company business dinners and employee meals there as it is beyond subpar. If your only job is to cook steak, you should take pride in it. You can have the same quality at Applebee's for way less a price read more

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Not what is used to be. This was the premier restaurant in Merced, our upscale steak house. Greg and Kara Parle made The Branding Iron special, now it doesn't know what it is. Big city prices with a very poor delivery. There is a merch stand behind the hostess when you walk in, selling B.I. Sweatshirts, caps and frisbees . Who wants or needs this? The dining room is too bright for a sophisticated steakhouse. You get seated and handed a disheveled paper menu. All of this screams a lower class, yet much higher price version of Cracker Barrel. I take my wife out for an anniversary dinner at a supposed upscale restaurant and this is the debut of our dining experience. The wait staff is far too casual. The waiters are on their phones and hanging out in the merch stand talking loudly. Chili's is more upscale than here. The food was fine but it's overcast by the lacking experience. $50 for a steak is fine when surrounded by elegance. That is not here. Not any more. I do not recommend The Branding Iron under the new management. Overpriced, over-casual, over. Go to Chili's, Table 59 or drive a short ways up the 99 to The Elegant Bull. Terrible what they did to this place. Not even a wine menu. A steakhouse without a wine menu...Pass. This is a kind review. Extremely disappointing. read more

Well, where do I begin... my party of six is presently being seated at Bella Luna (a HUGE thank you for accommodating us LAST MINUTE!!) On a brisk 108° waiting to get into this restaurant, we were told, it says it outside and on Yelp that this restaurant opens at 4:30 pm, so I made reservations, FOR SIX, at 5 pm, no problem.... THE PROBLEM: We pulled in at 4:35 , ready for a good meal and we were greeted to LOCKED DOORS!!! The parking lot was a ghost town but we figured we were early so we waited until 5pm, IN HOT AIR CONDITIONED CARS...5:05...NOTHING!!! Called at least 5-7 times, all but one were HANG UPS, theone we got through, it was voicemail...wow, great service!!! We have now finished our WONDERFUL dinner w/drinks, had an ABSOLUTE GREAT TIME AT BELLA LUNA!!!! I don't know who is running the ship but am I to assume that the rats are jumping off of it???? This was a destination trip between those in Fresno and others from Manteca, a birthday celebration...thanks guys, the first 5 minutes of this day SUCKED, courtesy of the Branding Iron...NEVER AGAIN!!!!!! read more

Philly steak sandwich has no flavor :(. Mayo peppers and meat and super expensive and its small size of regular roll bread nothing fancy.. I hear so many great things about this place from friends but in my experience I am a Philly steak fan everywhere I go and this is by far the place I wouldn't return to eat . Definitely not your money worth . But customer service is friendly and it's very pretty inside read more

My husband and I returned after the restaurant changed hands and while there are still some positive aspects to this place that might keep us coming back once in a while, it is not what it used to be. First, the positives: seating and service in the bar is excellent, even though there is only the bartender. She's super attentive, professional and makes a killer martini. I enjoy the cozy, casual ambiance in the bar and the night we went (early on a Friday evening) the dining room was empty but the bar was full. The appetizers we've had were good enough to bring us back for drinks and apps in the future. Now for the less-than-positives: the food and overall vibe is not what I remember. Despite wanting to have dinner, we chose to sit in the bar because the lighting was way too bright in the dining room. One of my favorite things about the "old" Branding Iron was the soft and dim ambiance of the dining room that made it feel like a cozy lodge that was perfect for date night. For the food: The chicken caesar salad felt like something I could have gotten at McDonald's (back when they had salads). The croutons came straight out of a bag and I think the lettuce was iceberg (but don't quote me on that because my martini was pretty strong). It also had cherry tomatoes, which I've never seen on a caesar salad. Looking at the menu, the steak prices have risen at least 20% since I was last here and the average steak is in the upper $40s range but based on the food we had and the newest photos on Yelp, I don't think the same level of quality is there. I know we're experiencing crazy inflation right now but that just seems like a ridiculous price hike. I also miss the original owners; they were so nice and it seemed like being restaurateurs was their passion. They used to go table to table saying hi to diners and telling stories about the recipes. Maybe it doesn't pay to be a steakhouse owner in this economy. Lastly, one little interesting thing we noticed on the corner of the menu is a note that says proceeds benefit youth training programs or something like that. There was no further information and there seems to be no website where I can learn more. It just seems like a weird thing for a restaurant to put on their menu without adding more details about the name of the program, how much of the proceeds are going to it, and why they're doing it. They should include a leaflet about it or make a bigger note on the menu if they want their charitable giving to influence people's support of the restaurant. read more

Update on branding Iron I believe they are shut down since the beginning of July no cars been there and it's totally empty. Phone has been disconnected. I think they could be out of business! sad because it was a great restaurant and one of Merced's only good steakhouses . What Happened Branding Iron not even a notice to customers of this news? My friend had a scheduled dinner and when they all showed up, it was totally shut down and nobody even called to cancel reservations so sad read more

This is the third time since trying after new ownership. Menu has changed abit. But since the first time. Quality of food has it changed. The wait staff was great for our meal Appetizer didn't come out until after The first meal were served at the table. Cajun pasta was very bland and flavorless the steak was cooked to med as requested but was cold upon arrival to table. Salad was served in a hot bowl like it was underneath heat lamp drowned in dressing. Gave it three times. Still not any improvement. This place was great. And now I don't think it's going to make it long. read more

Actually be open they are not been open on Saturday even though yelp says open very frustrating when your want a good meal for dinner

Went there for Mother's Day brunch, it was absolutely horrible. It took an hour to get our food, my daughters didn't get their food until everyone was done. They messed up multiple orders, for a steakhouse they need to learn how to cook a steak. We never got asked once to get a refill on our drinks, we also got meals brought out that were cold. We were hoping the new owners would be better, I've lived in Merced my whole life and will never go back. read more

I was looking forward to this restaurant for my boyfriend's and my anniversary as I hadn't been here in a while (probably at least a couple of years). However, it seems that management has changed and the quality has gone down since I had last been here. I arrived at around 8:30 and was seated in a comfy booth right away. I remembered from previous times a nice bowl of bread for the table. This time however, the waiters walked around with a bowl of bread and placed a single piece on everyone's plate which seemed like a stingy change. My boyfriend and I both ordered the 10 oz prime rib medium rare. After waiting about an hour for our food to come out, we were quite disappointed. Both of our steaks were cold as if it had been sitting out for half an hour. In addition, although we ordered the same exact thing, our steaks were two different colors, mine being far more rare than his. I didn't want to wait another hour for them to remake it, so I just ate what I got. Despite the bumps with the main course, they gave us a complementary cheesecake for celebrating our anniversary with them. This seemed to lift our mood a bit after our main course. Overall, the quality of this place has gone way downhill since I last visited. Waitstaff was friendly, but waiting an hour for cold food was disappointing. The steep price for the entree was not worth what we got. I won't be coming here again unless something changes. read more

The Branding Iron - Complementary cheesecake for anniversary - Lounges Near Me - Merced, California

We had reservations for 6 today for a birthday celebration at 5 o'clock. It's was after 5:00 no one open the doors or answers the phone. No cars in parking lot like workers. The temperature was 108 . Still unaware of why they didn't open . Never again. read more

My daughter dined this evening with her dad and his family for his birthday. She said her Prime Rib was amazing and the service was fantastic as always. Thank you BI for providing us with a consistently fantastic local option to dine with family and friends! SHOP LOCAL! read more

The Branding Iron - Prime Rib with sweet potato fries and steamed broccoli - Lounges Near Me - Merced, California

So sad how far this place has fallen. It used to be one of our gay places to eat- quirky atmosphere, good food. Now the staff seems overworked and to hate their jobs, the food was awful. Cold steak- soup was watery and cold. Makes me sad that what was once a Merced staple has fallen so far. read more

Most amazing full service historic restaurant anywhere!! Almost perfect !! Steaks were great. Had a full 4 course meal. Love the rustic yet very classy feel. read more

We have been coming here for about a year now. Outstanding service. We are usually seated right away. The ambience is lovely. It has that 70's steakhouse vibe. The food is delicious. My husband especially loves the steaks. They are cooked to perfection. We keep coming back! read more

The Branding Iron - Gazpacho - Lounges Near Me - Merced, California

There was no marbling on the ribeye steak it tasted like a sirloin or New York. Staff were overwhelmed, but overall the service was great. Salad, cheese bread, and cheesecake were great. Great restaurant, but I would not reorder the ribeye. read more

It was Cinco de Mayo. My husband and I were just having a relaxing evening and decided to check out the Branding Iron because it is under new management and we were excited to see if it was back to it's old days. We were pleasantly surprised. Had great service & all of the staff we were in contact with were friendly. We had their special taco plate for that night. The tacos were awesome. Both of the owners were there overseeing things and filling in where necessary. We look forward to our next visit. read more

Went to the restaurant at 6:00 on Tuesday. Ordered 2 prime rib dinners. The meat was cooked to order. The baked potatoes needed fixings but had to ask twice to get them and a third time for more sour cream. The table was crowded. Large lantern in middle didn't help. Salad size plates were left on the table although we didn't use them. Water glasses plus cocktail glasses further compromised the space. The food and beverages were ok but overpriced in my opinion. Won't be back. read more

Friendly staff, nothing much else good to say about this place. Especially with how pricey the menu is, you'd think you'd get what you payed for. The prime rib was under seasoned. Ordered 5 prawns on the side and they gave me four, yet charged me for 5. The wings were ok. Truffle fries ok. First time coming here and won't be back. They also charged my card to the wrong bill. read more

Although this place has the same name, it is under new ownership and is definitely not the same. The only thing I enjoyed was the mushroom medley. I was not a fan of the prime rib and lamb I ordered. The severs are really nice, the food is just not the same :/ read more

I'll start off by saying I was super hyped to try the Branding Iron for the first time! I had my eyes and stomach set on the smashburger, so that's what I had. The fries were good and the burger was ok but could have benefitted by being seasoned with a bit more salt and a touch of acid (pickles?). The real let down was the drinks and service. I started with a Michelada, which isn't on the menu but the bartender tried (points for trying). My second drink after talking to bartender (don't know his name) was a Pina Colada. It was the worst drink ever! I took it back up because it tasted like a water slushy garnished with an orange. The bartender said they ran out of the Pina colada mix.. very disappointing. It was still terrible after he fixed it. Even worse, we sat for at least 20 minutes waiting for our check before I asked if we would be receiving a check. Rather than following up and cashing us out, the bartender proceeded to go sit down with other guests. Or maybe they were friends of his, nevertheless, completely unprofessional. We finally decided not to wait any longer and went up to pay the hostess station. read more

WELCOME BACK! If you haven't been to The Branding Iron recently, you need to come back! With the new, new owners, the food has been fantastic and beautifully presented! Waller is back bartending, so the service and drinks are great!!! It is starting to feel like the "old" BI again. Familiar faces, warm atmosphere, and delicious food and drinks are back! read more

Best steak I've had this year! Thank you Chef Shannon, bartender Jordan, and manager Monica for your super awesome service! I hope to come back to Merced just for your restaurant. You guys are awesome. read more

First time here went in around 5:30 with no reservations for 4 of us. We all had something different from salmon to prime rib and all was delicious server was great we definitely will come back! read more

Phenomenal food and service was great! Highly recommend the filet mignon!!! Will definitely be coming again when I'm in town!!!!!

The food and service was phenomenal! Will definitely come back. The ambience and staff really make you feel like you're eating at a staple Merced establishment. read more

Arrived at restaurant after reviewing menu online. Once seated and reading menu noticed menu didn't match what we read online. Speaking with our friendly waitress, we were told it was under new ownership. After discussing menu options with a manager, we ordered the butter chicken and the farm chicken. Butter chicken was in a sweet and spicy curry type sauce served with flat bread. Farm chicken was a grilled breast on top of creamy mash potatoes and a side of veggies. Both very tasty though a little pricy. Staff very nice and observant to customers needs. read more

Good food, good steak nice wine and a touch of country dining. The waiter is polite and helpful in helping us decide our menu. A good place to spend an evening with friends, friendly atmosphere. read more