The Ranch 1849 Restaurant
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We went to a differently named restaurant also located at 1849, called "The Last Kind Words". The food quality was great as was the service. We booked a reservation at this restaurant on Google for 6:30 pm. When we got there and told them about the reservation, they said that they have been working with Google to take that function off and that they do not honor reservations here because they try to get whoever is in the restaurant with their food. So don't bother booking one! And they do get busy around 5-6 pm when the sun sets, so try to get here earlier rather than later. However, it did get less hectic around 630/7 pm. We ordered the pappardelle pasta with the chicken and the ribs with mashed potatoes. We also had a cocktail (blueberry lemon) and my partner had a beer. Everything we had was scrumptious. The pasta was fresh and had lots of cheese on it, though the chicken was a bit on the drier side. My partner enjoyed his ribs and ate everything. However, there were only 4 pieces of asparagus, and that could be improved. The food was overall delicious and we are just lucky they were able to take us despite the reservation issue. My mocktail was fresh and not too sweet with pieces of blueberry in it. We would recommend this place as everything was pretty great and delicious.

A lot better than expected. This is a review for the Dinner service. PRICES breakfast adult $21 child $10.50 lunch adult $23 child $11.50 dinner adult $29 child $14.50 This ain't your typical fancy buffet. Don't expect a wide variety. Our goal was to hit our protein and vegetable needs. -As a family of 3 with 1 teenager, we all enjoyed our steamed salmon in garlic cream sauce and fresh meat at the carving station. -The salad station was a little disappointing, seems like they could have had more variety like opening a can of corn, or some fresh cherry tomatoes or sliced cucumbers (since they obviously had these items on other dishes) -the clam chowder wasn't good very bland and watery -corn dog was surprisingly good -a soft serve ice cream would have been nice. SERVICE stood out. I ain't ever seen a server walk around ask people if they need a refill on their soda that they can themselves at the soda station. They were also very active in clearing dirty plates. Overall, a dining option in Death Valley that is not too shabby. If you're already paying $20 for a meal at other restaurants in the park, another $10 could get you more options + non-alcoholic drinks.

Early in the morning or ..... We were staying in Furnace Creek for a few days, and if you are familiar with the area, you know that there are few eating options. You only have two or three options, and 1849 Buffet is one of them. We had breakfast at 1849 Buffet three times during our stay. They had an extensive breakfast buffet, but the quality of the hot food was more to be desired. You see, the buffet was set up early in the morning, and if you got there late, say after 9:00 am, the items like scrambled eggs or bacon would be dry due to sitting on the hot water beneath for too long. Of the three days we were there, only on one occasion did we get there early; that was the only morning when we had a good hot meal. The cold options, such as fruits, yogurts, and coffee, were fine. The dining area is big, comfortable, clean, and enjoyable. Many interesting items are hanging on the walls, and you could spend half an hour walking around looking at them! The staff is very friendly and helpful. But remember, this is a buffet, so there is no table service. So, if you go there, make sure you get up early. Hiking around Death Valley, you'll need a belly full of good breakfast to last you all day!

Oh Man. This place could not possibly be here! The beer was the only thing I could swallow. The service is slow and the quality of food is terrible. The ambiance is cold and unbearable. I hope management will see this review and make changes to improve before this place will shut down very soon. Avoid for now is my suggestion.

Tip#1: ask to look through the food first before deciding if you want to stay and eat here. Tip#2: if you decide to leave and go somewhere else, this is in the middle of nowhere. You really don't have too many choices. Another good option besides the buffet, you can buy food at the general store, such as pre-packaged sandwiches, ramen, and TV dinners. Tip#3: if you decided to stay and eat, the recipe has a section for tips when you pay. There is no table service. You even need to take your finished dishes to a destination location. Don't be shy not to tip; but if you feel generous that day, leave a couple dollars on the table. Location and convenience: 5/5 because it is within walking distance of our room. Price and food: 2/5. Dinner for adults on 1/1/2023 was $34; kids under 12 was $17. Food was edible but not very appealing. There is no table service.
26 days ago
This is only for the breakfast buffet. Had vouchers as we were part of a company trip. I think we would have felt slightly different if we had to pay full price. My husband and I were nervous because the ratings were so low but it really wasn't that bad. Food was warm, the chicken fried steak with the gravy was pretty yummy. Parfait and fruit was pretty much gone by the time we got there but that's okay! Everything was pretty standard and I'm slightly annoyed by other people's reviews. Yes we bussed our own table but there was someone there cleaning up also. Never felt any pressure to tip. Very clean inside. We asked other people about the dinner buffet and they said it was okay. But again, it was on company dime so we couldn't be too picky. I wouldn't say it was 1.9 rating. There's also a Peet's coffee in the lobby that was pretty consistently busy. read more
2 months ago
The Ranch 1849 is a buffet in the Oasis at Death Valley complex in Furnace Springs, CA. They serve Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. Only one alternative restaurant here! Ratings are 2.5 stars on Google. 1.9! on Yelp. Pretty bad. Lunch was $23, $11.50 for Kids. Dinner costs $29, $14.50. Not as cheap as Bakersfield but not bad. The food was average at best. Pretty sad roll your own salad selection, Cream of potato soup. Make your burger (vegan patty too!), fried chicken, couple types of pizza. Tater tots, veggies, one cake for dessert. You can get coffee and soda from the machines. Service was good, they came around asking every once in a while. Hey, its a National Park, you get what you get and pay. Better to eat elsewhere. Overall - Good Food - Fair Decor - Fair Service - Fair Value - Very Good Would we return? - No read more
4 months ago
When I was looking up places to eat in Death Valley I was apprehensive about eating at the buffet due to the two-star rating on Yelp. No one wants to get sick 100 miles from the nearest hospital after all. But on my first evening, I was really hungry as I hadn't eaten anything all day after flying into Las Vegas airport then spending the day shooting photos until after dark. So I walked in and the host suggested I look at the buffet before deciding to pay so I did. The selection was a bit limited but looked good enough to eat so in I went. The baked fish (haddock?) was good, I had seconds of that. I'm a big potato lover and they had fresh mashed red potatoes which I ate a lot of. They were also serving roast behind the meat counter so I got a slice along with some gravy. Not bad at all. The food is itself was actually cooked well and tasted decent though a bit heavy on salt. Like I said earlier, I'd take stars off for limited selection and price but the food is not bad. Also if you have ever dined at other national parks, this is better than what you'll find at a place like Yellowstone. read more
We went to a differently named restaurant also located at 1849, called "The Last Kind Words". The food quality was great as was the service. We booked a reservation at this restaurant on Google for 6:30 pm. When we got there and told them about the reservation, they said that they have been working with Google to take that function off and that they do not honor reservations here because they try to get whoever is in the restaurant with their food. So don't bother booking one! And they do get busy around 5-6 pm when the sun sets, so try to get here earlier rather than later. However, it did get less hectic around 630/7 pm. We ordered the pappardelle pasta with the chicken and the ribs with mashed potatoes. We also had a cocktail (blueberry lemon) and my partner had a beer. Everything we had was scrumptious. The pasta was fresh and had lots of cheese on it, though the chicken was a bit on the drier side. My partner enjoyed his ribs and ate everything. However, there were only 4 pieces of asparagus, and that could be improved. The food was overall delicious and we are just lucky they were able to take us despite the reservation issue. My mocktail was fresh and not too sweet with pieces of blueberry in it. We would recommend this place as everything was pretty great and delicious. read more
A lot better than expected. This is a review for the Dinner service. PRICES breakfast adult $21 child $10.50 lunch adult $23 child $11.50 dinner adult $29 child $14.50 This ain't your typical fancy buffet. Don't expect a wide variety. Our goal was to hit our protein and vegetable needs. -As a family of 3 with 1 teenager, we all enjoyed our steamed salmon in garlic cream sauce and fresh meat at the carving station. -The salad station was a little disappointing, seems like they could have had more variety like opening a can of corn, or some fresh cherry tomatoes or sliced cucumbers (since they obviously had these items on other dishes) -the clam chowder wasn't good very bland and watery -corn dog was surprisingly good -a soft serve ice cream would have been nice. SERVICE stood out. I ain't ever seen a server walk around ask people if they need a refill on their soda that they can themselves at the soda station. They were also very active in clearing dirty plates. Overall, a dining option in Death Valley that is not too shabby. If you're already paying $20 for a meal at other restaurants in the park, another $10 could get you more options + non-alcoholic drinks. read more
3 months ago
Dinner options were pretty lackluster (don't eat the Cajun flounder) but breakfast was definitely worth it, the earlier you go the better it is, drinks were not too bad either. It's not too loud in the dining area as it's very large, this may change during the summertime. read more
Very friendly, especially our waiter Ron. Really good wedge salad which was so much better than the sad one at The Inn. And the onion rings are the best I've had in ages. The bison burger is lean and cooked properly. read more
1 month ago
Ordered buffet. You pay first before going through the buffet. I should have reviewed it prior to paying. No food on the buffet. Wiped clean. Didn't see anyone in the kitchen I was able to get someone's attention only because he stepped out to restock the plastic cups. Don't waste your time or money here. Go to The Inn at Death Valley. We stayed there the prior night and had a delicious breakfast. Should've gone there for lunch. read more
For Death Valley, this place was okay. We ended up eating more of the snacks/small meals we had with us and needed to have an actual MEAL meal. It was pretty late and we still wanted to stargaze (we were staying outside DV), and this was kind of a last resort. Gourmet it is not. However, aside from the CRAZY price tag, it was decent enough. Pros: -Location/convenience -All of the staff we interacted with (except one person who was adding food to the buffet) were really nice and friendly, including the cashiers and the people who were taking our plates after we finished. -Hot food after a long day. Nothing was dried out or gross, except the gravy. -Included a very large assortment of unlimited drinks including sodas, juices, and coffee/tea. -Fairly cute dining area Cons: --Extremely expensive for what they served. $34+tax/tip for a buffet is fine, if you're getting quality items. It was just pre-made chicken tenders, sausages, a small soup/salad bar, potato wedges, a very likely pre-made small dessert bar, chicken fried steak (which was actually decent) and mashed potato (which was pretty good). This should have been a $20 buffet, max. It was Hometown Buffet quality, really. -Pretty limited food selection. Due to the high cost for what you're getting, we're going to try to eat somewhere else next time, even though I actually mostly enjoyed the food I ate, despite it being basically cafeteria food. It just was not worth the cost, at all. read more
Early in the morning or ..... We were staying in Furnace Creek for a few days, and if you are familiar with the area, you know that there are few eating options. You only have two or three options, and 1849 Buffet is one of them. We had breakfast at 1849 Buffet three times during our stay. They had an extensive breakfast buffet, but the quality of the hot food was more to be desired. You see, the buffet was set up early in the morning, and if you got there late, say after 9:00 am, the items like scrambled eggs or bacon would be dry due to sitting on the hot water beneath for too long. Of the three days we were there, only on one occasion did we get there early; that was the only morning when we had a good hot meal. The cold options, such as fruits, yogurts, and coffee, were fine. The dining area is big, comfortable, clean, and enjoyable. Many interesting items are hanging on the walls, and you could spend half an hour walking around looking at them! The staff is very friendly and helpful. But remember, this is a buffet, so there is no table service. So, if you go there, make sure you get up early. Hiking around Death Valley, you'll need a belly full of good breakfast to last you all day! read more
2 years ago
Oh Man. This place could not possibly be here! The beer was the only thing I could swallow. The service is slow and the quality of food is terrible. The ambiance is cold and unbearable. I hope management will see this review and make changes to improve before this place will shut down very soon. Avoid for now is my suggestion. read more
3 years ago
Tip#1: ask to look through the food first before deciding if you want to stay and eat here. Tip#2: if you decide to leave and go somewhere else, this is in the middle of nowhere. You really don't have too many choices. Another good option besides the buffet, you can buy food at the general store, such as pre-packaged sandwiches, ramen, and TV dinners. Tip#3: if you decided to stay and eat, the recipe has a section for tips when you pay. There is no table service. You even need to take your finished dishes to a destination location. Don't be shy not to tip; but if you feel generous that day, leave a couple dollars on the table. Location and convenience: 5/5 because it is within walking distance of our room. Price and food: 2/5. Dinner for adults on 1/1/2023 was $34; kids under 12 was $17. Food was edible but not very appealing. There is no table service. read more
Not much of a selection for a breakfast buffet. All the food was cold, had been sitting for awhile and wasn't tasty. The coffee was even just luke warm. The cashier was friendly. read more
1 year ago
Better food. Walked through at lunch and thought the food would be different. Nope just the same and less of it. I think they just used the leftover from lunch for dinner. Except for the disgusting looking hamburgers and corn dogs everything was done in bbq sauce. So I ended up paying $30 for a salad. read more
I was so disappointed in myself for not doing my due diligence of: 1) Looking before I leap. I should have asked to walk the buffet and look at the food selection BEFORE we committed to sitting down and dining here. Trust me, it's a mandate I recommend, it costs you all but 30 seconds to either realize you dodged a bullet, or if it's stuff you like and are willing to pay for, you lose certain rights to complain 2) I should have read the Yelp reviews ahead of time. The problem was/is that the WiFi/Cell Signals are so weak in Death Valley, I couldn't connect reliably to the internet. So, the service was mediocre at best, not offensive, but offered nothing but an "it is what it is" sort of reply about the food. I honestly think the employees are tired of complaints and embarrassed to work here to continually listen to comments of disappointment. The food, and we came at 9:55am for the Breakfast (which they basically said, we have 5 mins before they start packing away the food at 10am, so we opted to come back for Lunch or Dinner later. They should have actually let us dine in the empty restaurant since it's such high profit margins. So, we did the dinner buffet. It was approx. $30 per person. If it were a good buffet, I don't mind spending the $30. The true value of this should max out at $10-15 (and the higher end estimate is based on the all you can drink / free refills on soda, since you would pay $1.50 per can at the pool or around $4 a bottle at the general store for a single serving). What makes this such a pathetic offering is the fact that this area is nice. However, there's not many food / dining options, so it's almost like a prison compound, and they serve food as if guests are prisoners, charging a criminal rate for mediocre food with minimal selection and options. The night we dined, the menu was 1) Lentil Soup; 2) Basic Salad Bar; 3) Dinner Rolls; 4) BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich; 5) Chicken Breast Filet; 6) Fried Chicken Tenders; 7) Baked Beans; 8) Corn Medley; 9) Vegetable Medley; 10) French Fries; and 11) Desert Bar of 3 Choices... plus a self service soda fountain. You can probably see my photos to show exactly what you get and how it's presented to diners. TIPS: Go to the General Store that's adjacent and you can get a better pre-made/packaged sandwich for under $10, faster, cheaper, better than the Buffet. Best Alternative Dining Recommendation: Get in your car and drive to The Death Valley Lodging Company off of CA Highway 190 at Stovepipe Wells Village. You can get a hot meal that's complete for under $15 that's not even comparable to the buffet because it's a la carte awesome fresh quality food, well worth the 20 min or so drive from The Oasis at Death Valley. They have fresh burgers, steak, wings, salads and other items, albeit a limited menu, still worthy of destination dining, and Dustin who works there provides friendly service too. SUGGESTIONS TO THE OASIS AT DEATH VALLEY / 1849 BUFFET: Although some may give 'em a free pass excuse of it being a national park and distant from metropolitan areas, it doesn't take that much effort to truck in food, it's only a 2 hr max drive from mainstream civilization. If you're going to offer this food, it should be FREE to Inn Guests, as a complimentary meal for paying the $500+ room rates or even the $30+ campground fees. You know this food doesn't cost you much of anything as a business and it is a long term branding move to retain loyal visitors and garner positive experiences expressed in reviews. If you're unwilling to give this food away, that's truly not worthy of selling, then revamp your business model. It's a horrible buffet, low quality food, lackluster quantity of diversity. You're charging $30 per adult and 1/2 that much for kids. You know there's a whole lot of profit margin built into what you're selling now. It should be shameful if not embarrassing for you to charge what you do and offer what you present in this restaurant. Bring in better food. If you raised the price to $40-50 even, but had a carved beef station, pasta bar, and stuff you see even at the low end casino buffets, or even what you see at Asian Buffets (that only charge $15-20) you'll at least get satisfied customers who will pay a premium for the convenience of being in Death Valley with less options and being in the middle of nowhere. The national park who granted the license to operate this business should remind them not to take advantage of guests of the national park by charging so much and giving so little. They should put this restaurant on notice and if it's a contract, when that term is up, get new bids for a different food vendor. I can't express my major disappointment and dissatisfaction about 1849 Buffet. I do share part of the blame 'tho, as mentioned in the opening of this review... I really should have not committed to this place blindly and should have asked to walk the buffet to see the selection first. read more
We needed some supplies and the nearest convenience store that was open at the time was the Oasis at Death Valley. We decided to grab some breakfast as well while we were here. They only had a buffet option which was $22.99, it was a terrible mistake. It's a buffet so i'm not really expecting service but how can literally everything be cold and disgusting. Your average Holiday Inn continental breakfast was light years better than what they had here. I mean I don't understand the disconnect between how nice of a resort the Oasis is and how bad this restaurant is. ITs wild. The fresh fruit was oddly enough really good but everythign else was god awful read more
1 year ago
This was great. The whole campus was amazing being out in the middle of the desert. Everyone was so friendly. The servers were very personable. We stayed in the cottages very clean. It was a great time. I can't wait to go back. read more
2 years ago
We stayed for one night in March 2024 at The Ranch at Death Valley. When I checked in, I was told only one restaurant was going to be open that night and it was The Ranch 1849 restaurant. Our dining options were to eat at the buffet at The Ranch 1849 restaurant or get a cold sandwich from their General Store. Even though my husband is not big on buffets I wanted something hot to eat. The all-you-can-eat buffet was HORRIBLE for the $35 per person price. The taste and quality of the food was subpar. The food serving area wasn't clean nor was the area where they want you to scrape off your plates and drop off your utensils and cups. I would definitely avoid going to this restaurant. If I could, I wouldn't give it any stars. read more
2 years ago
A not worth the price buffet of mediocre and bland food. Apparently, they want customers to be grateful to be eating these barely serve-able offerings because you are IN DEATH VALLEY and one alternative to eating this poor, overpriced stuff is to DIE. This is an ALL YOU CAN EAT place that IS NOT A GOOD VALUE. A nickel's worth of free advice to management: HIRE A GOOD HEAD CHEF and pay them properly to raise the bar at your property. Revamp this menu and you'd have an asset. This spread is turning people off and losing you business, fast. Side note to the big bosses: You should hire front desk staff at your hotel who actually care that your guests are having terrible service and BAD food at your property - especially when they come to you and take the time to carefully explain why it is bad. read more
2 years ago
Run from this buffet, no options and boy/girls scout style food. All heat and serve. No selection available. Most hot food was cold. Our options that night: Salad bar - average Soups - been sitting there all day Breads - stale Hot food - bbq chicken quarters Mashed potatoes with skin over it, Pollock nuggets, rice, weird vegetables (soggy) tray lasagne. Cold salads macaroni/potato/tuna. Desserts were previous frozen cake squares like you would find at a Chinese buffet Five people $183 to eat, you know it's bad when the cashier asked us if we wanted to look at the food first before we pay. All other restaurants did not have reservations available so we had no choice. Both kids (12/15) said they would have fathered ate cold cut sandwiches instead of this meal. read more
2 years ago
$85 prison food. Meat.. scary, sauce scary salty goo. Teriyaki chicken in swamp sauce. Salt flavored salt. I ate some chickpeas and beets. Seemed safe cause they come from a can. My husband that's a human garbage disposal couldn't even get through a few bites of the rice. Everyone should get refunds. You get a refund and you get a refund. It's like they know you don't have a choice so they just let it be shite. If I spew, I'll know why. UPDATE the staff is nice, we tipped them well. I bet they just deal with complaints all day and it's not their fault. Please be good to your servers. The Hawaiian king rolls were great! read more
2 years ago
I'm only giving this restaurant 5 stars because I feel like there really won't be any others. My girlfriend and I went after a long day of hiking, being that this is one of the only restaurants in the area. Man oh man... I hesitate to call this a restaurant. The food was so grotesque that my gf and I giggled to each other - remarking that this will probably be the worst meal we ever share. I imagine there's not much economic incentive to make the food better as the same company owns all the restaurants in Death Valley. To mgmt/owners: I can't imagine any of you actually eat here... where is the self dignity, pride, dedication...? The missing ingredient here: care. Care for yourself, your customers, and the pursuit of life! Do better. I'm starting you on that path with what is most likely the first 5 star review read more
2 years ago
When the Last Kind Words Saloon closed suddenly due to staffing issues, we were basically forced to eat at this buffet for dinner. But I was pleasantly surprised that it was nowhere near as terrible I was led to believe by other Yelpers. I personally tried the salmon in cream sauce (pretty decent actually), roasted brussels sprouts (a little mushy but still tasty), mashed potatoes (real potatoes, so pretty good), greens from the salad bar (crisp and fresh), broccoli salad with nuts and cranberries (a little heavy on the dressing but still decent). Husband had the bratwurst/hot dog (fine), teriyaki chicken (sauce was a little thin but okay) and rice (totally edible), an odd-looking salisbury steak (TV dinner quality.) Dessert kept changing as they ran out of things. Chocolate cake was deemed by those who got it to be just OK. There were some red velvet and mocha cupcakes that were OK and later one of our table got a coffee cake slice. There is no table service but there was someone bussing dishes although we bussed some of our own as there looked to be literally one person working the whole dining room. There were serve-yourself fountain drinks and iced tea. All in all for a place out in the middle of nowhere, it was decent. And while I think the price was high at $34/pp, again, we're in the middle of nowhere and the cost to get food in must be astronomical. I also stopped by to check out the breakfast buffet which was nowhere near as gross as some people have described it. I didn't eat it because it's just too much food for breakfast, but if I were that kind of consumer I would have been fine with the bacon, eggs, potatoes and other offerings. read more
***COVID REVIEW*** The buffet restaurant is closed during COVID and they have take out available with a limited menu. You can grab food and sit on the patio tables outside. The area is actually really nice with string lights. Their limited menu include: - $24 14 inch cheese pizza, $26 for pepperoni, $2 for additional toppings - $19 burger and fries - Other items like wings, wraps, salad, coffee, pastries, and ice cream scoops. This is the WORST pizza I've had in my life. One star hands-down. It is expensive (we are in the middle of a desert), but the quality of the ingredients were just horrible. Think cafeteria pizza or Chuck E Cheese pizza, but worse. There was 1 slice of pepperoni per slice, and the sausage was a weird sliced up sausage link. The worst part was the cheese - chewy/plastic-like and tasteless. The wings were definitely frozen but the taste wasn't too bad. The meal was a disappointment, even for national park standards. Save your money and eat somewhere else. The next night we got dinner from the Toll Road Restaurant and it was cheaper and WAY better. read more
4 years ago
Unappetizing buffet. Chicken quarters, stuffing, wild rice, lettuce with dressing, and a giant bowl of steamed shrimp. None of it went really well together. The shrimp looked over-cooked. We decided to check out the ice cream parlor nearby and it smelled horrible; overwhelming sulfur. A few other guests walked in when we did. We couldn't stay long enough to finish reading the menu - we were gagging on the stench. read more
2 years ago
Wow, my family and I just literally went to the absolute worst restaurant on Yelp and the United States! $35 per person for a buffet where the best option available was Diet Coke. Holy crap, I mean, it might as well have been a selection of crap. Oh, while prepaying, the cashier tried to guilt me into adding tip - thankfully I asked him why and he says I can choose to leave cash at the table and whispered under his breath that its discretionary. I didn't leave a penny because we had to bring the trays up and dump the leftover poop on our plates out ourselves. AVOID at ALL COSTS! read more
1 year ago
Forget about eating here. The only thing I could stomach was the corn dog. The honey-mustard chicken looked inviting, but the thigh piece I chose was completely raw in the middle. The rest of the buffet food was mediocre at best and the price was outrageous for what was offered. If you are staying here you are far better off getting a sandwich or an item that you can microwave from the general store next door. What a rip-off. read more
2 years ago
Expensive, but very well cooked. Especially if comparing to buffet next door (haha). Overall we were in Death Valley and it is probably very hard to run restaurant in the middle of nowhere. So we are grateful for being in the Death Valley and having a great meal after long hot day. read more
2 years ago
The food is fine. That's it. Just fine. There was baked chicken leg quarters with cream sauce which was okay. Pot roast which was okay. Mashed potatoes which were good, but a little dry. I added butter and that helped. Wild rice pilaf was fine. They also had a bin of burger patties which I didn't try because they didn't look hot. And a bin of hot dogs. Salad was fine. The lettuce was crisp. Toppings were anemic, but we did come late. The next night we chose not to eat here again because it's a lot of money for fine. read more
2 years ago
Awful food. The turkey and brisket were super dry, the green beans were mushy. Most of the food looked frozen or canned. The soup was over salted. The restaurant was also very behind on cleaning tables. Food and dirty plates were piling up everywhere. I would have preferred eating hot pockets and instant ramen from the general store over this buffet. read more
2 years ago
This has to be the worst buffet/restaurant I have ever been to!!! Guess they really do not care since it is the only place in the area. Most trays are empty and worse when there are food in them - the food is gross!! There is no cell signal so we can only complain about it on yelp AFTER and not able to check ratings BEFORE! read more
2 years ago
The food was mediocre at best! The cashier (Ashley?) was horrible, no smile no greeting, no how are you no thank you - give us the money and move on. Reminded me of the service you get at McDonalds except the bill was $73.27 for two without alcohol!! Hey didn't I just contribute to your pay check, Ashley? Avoid this place at all cost!! It will only leave a bad taste in your mouth of an otherwise beautiful National Park. A much better choice is the Wildrose Tavern. read more
2 years ago
I regret thinking "how bad can it possibly be" before breakfast and "how worse can it be" before dinner. Part 1. Breakfast review Whopping $22 per person (!!!) for the tried and true formula of all-american complimentary breakfast buffet at 2-star hotels. This joint could have been a desert gem only if it were complimentary. Instead, the entry fee raises the expectation through the roof, only to be let down by the powder eggs and super-crunchy bacon (you know how it is). Not to ding on any family-owned businesses, but sure tasted fresh from a local sam's club warehouse. The only redemption was the breakfast sausage patties, surprisingly fresh watermelons and brand-named cream cheese. Nice place to carbo-load before a long day of strenuous hikes. Don't pay for the food, pay for the calories and you may be mildly satisfied. Part 2. Dinner review $36 per person for a unique experience. Heed the warnings folks. Maybe it's the desert, but food is sooooo dry and bad. I'm so freaking mad that I let it happen to myself. It's like school cafeteria food where the district budget is bone dry and kids gotta slurp hotdog water for protein. Pros: no bullies, cons: you get to pay $36 for it. On the up side, it was a fun trying out all the different items one after another, being amazed how my lifetime's worth of learnings of visual-cue-to-taste can be so brutally betrayed. Broccolis disintegrating, pat-dried burger patties, rice still having a lot of life in them, unevenly cooked hotdogs, crispy-dried burger buns. These folks are sooooo bad at cooking. read more
2 years ago
Thank you Chef T for an awesome dinner tonight. The Bell peppers were outstanding. Chef T and her crew always deliver outstanding dinner meals that are worth the cost of $36.64. Thank you for always making my dinner meals special and memorable Chef T read more
2 years ago
The spring rolls were good and the salad bar was fresh. Everything else was just ok. Real bummer that the chocolate cake was stale tasting, probably defrosted and had a layer of frosting. read more
3 years ago
The price per adult is $34. We were expecting to walk into a $15 buffet, but we were tired and vulnerable so we sucked it up. At 6pm, we had friend chicken that looked like a petrified rock from the Badlands (see photo). This place is worse than the hospital cafeteria. By 7pm, the salad bar and soup pot were very low and not replenished. The dining room was clean and spacious and the staff was reasonably kind. This area is not only a desert, but a food desert, so your best bet is to buy food in Baker and bring it to your hotel. Seriously! read more
2 years ago
Go to the general store and microwave a meal instead. You've been warned. I can confirm this is probably the worst buffet I've eaten at (though not actually the worst meal as nothing was rotten or made me sick). The staff was pleasant enough and the decor was actually quite fun. But the food... my lord it was just all so overcooked. I thought there was tofu in the soup, but that was just how the chicken tasted/felt. I was able to get by, so for $10 I'd have given 2 stars, but for $35 a head, this was digraceful. read more
2 years ago
The food is really the worst I have ever had in my life, literally. Very limited options - pasta hotdog salad thats it. Probably some fried cod or chicken. lots of people waiting in front of empty tray. But you dont have a choice if you stay inside the park. This is what we call Monopoly read more
2 years ago
If you can't get a Reservation to the steakhouse then go to the store and get a pre-made sandwich. This place is not worth the price all the food is heat and serve nothing is made from scratch and if anything is they should fire the chef, the best thing at the dinner buffet is the bread and soda. Paid 91.00 dollars and it was not worth 20. This place should lock the doors and never reopen.... read more
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More info about The Ranch 1849 Restaurant
National Park Hwy 190
Death Valley, CA 92328
Directions
(760) 786-2345
Call Now
Visit Website
https://www.oasisatdeathvalley.com/dine/1849-buffet/
Hours
What time does The Ranch 1849 Restaurant open?
The Ranch 1849 Restaurant opens at 7:00 AM on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.The Ranch 1849 Restaurant opens at 11:30 AM on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.The Ranch 1849 Restaurant opens at 5:00 PM on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
What time does The Ranch 1849 Restaurant close?
The Ranch 1849 Restaurant closes at 10:00 AM on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.The Ranch 1849 Restaurant closes at 2:00 PM on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.The Ranch 1849 Restaurant closes at 9:00 PM on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Mon-Sun 7:00 AM - 10:00 AM, 11:30 AM - 2:00 PM, 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Food & Alcohol
Does The Ranch 1849 Restaurant serve alcohol?
Yes, The Ranch 1849 Restaurant serves alcohol.
Indoor Amenities
Does The Ranch 1849 Restaurant allow dogs?
Yes, The Ranch 1849 Restaurant allows dogs.
Does The Ranch 1849 Restaurant have TVs?
Yes, The Ranch 1849 Restaurant has TVs.
Outdoor Amenities
Does The Ranch 1849 Restaurant have outdoor seating?
Yes, The Ranch 1849 Restaurant has outdoor seating options.
Does The Ranch 1849 Restaurant have parking?
Yes, The Ranch 1849 Restaurant has parking options. Validated Parking
Other Amenities
Does The Ranch 1849 Restaurant have free WiFi?
Yes, The Ranch 1849 Restaurant has free WiFi.
Ask the Community - The Ranch 1849 Restaurant
Review Highlights - The Ranch 1849 Restaurant
“My girlfriend and I went after a long day of hiking, being that this is one of the only restaurants in the area.”
Mentioned in 3 reviews
Why does Yelp recommend reviews?
1 review that is not currently recommended
The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.
4 years ago
Would have been laughingly bad if it weren't $20/head. At that price it was just bad.
The Ranch 1849 Restaurant - buffets - Updated May 2026
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