{"id":486,"date":"2015-10-12T10:20:24","date_gmt":"2015-10-12T17:20:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/shakennotstirred.us\/?p=486"},"modified":"2015-10-12T10:20:19","modified_gmt":"2015-10-12T17:20:19","slug":"bar-review-the-ranch-restaurant-anaheim-ca","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/shakennotstirred.us\/?p=486","title":{"rendered":"Bar Review: The Ranch Restaurant, Anaheim, CA"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"The<\/a><\/p>\n

The Ranch in Anaheim is a relatively new and excellent restaurant.\u00a0\u00a0 Definitely worth a visit, if you can find it!\u00a0 Not that the address is hard to find, you just don’t believe you’re there as you approach.\u00a0 The restaurant is cleverly hidden in the first floor of a multistory working office building.\u00a0 As you approach all you see is the plain, function, nondescript 6 story office.\u00a0 But that’s the place!\u00a0 Drive around off the entry road and you’ll see the doors to the facility.<\/p>\n

Yes, ‘doors’, plural.\u00a0 There are two sides to The Ranch experience; the Restaurant on the left and the Saloon on the right.\u00a0\u00a0 While I’m sure that the martinis are the same on both sides, I’m reviewing the restaurant’s bar and Martini.<\/p>\n

But a quick comment on the Saloon side, for those interested.\u00a0 It is built to resemble the inside of a barn and its just about as big as one.\u00a0 There is a very long bar along one side of the Saloon and a secondary bar along a side wall.\u00a0 Across from the main bar there is the stage where live bands play.\u00a0 In between the bar and the stage, down two tiers of tables, is the dance floor.\u00a0 It is large and almost always filled with dancers, either during the free dance lessons or during the shows.\u00a0 Check their website below for current acts and times.<\/p>\n

As for the restaurant, it is beautiful.\u00a0 While not totally decorated with the Barn motif of the Saloon side it is still very much decorated as High End Country.\u00a0 Very high end!\u00a0\u00a0 First let me get the food comments out of the way.\u00a0 This place is fantastic; their steaks are incredible with a large set of choices.\u00a0 The sides are outstanding and the service is impeccable.\u00a0 Absolutely worth a special visit.<\/p>\n

The Martinis were really very good.\u00a0\u00a0 The stems are kept in the refrigerator, which is always a selling point for me! \u00a0 They were professionally and promptly prepared which also maintained the nice chill to the drink.\u00a0 They were a just a tad on the small side and bit pricey.\u00a0\u00a0 But the latter was in keeping with overall ambiance of the restaurant.\u00a0 The barkeep was professional,\u00a0 helpful, and enthusiastic.
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

I say ‘were’ prepared because I had a second Martini and chose something different, the St. George Dry Rye.\u00a0 Really different.\u00a0 I’m still trying to decide if I liked it or not.\u00a0 This Gin is powerful, really heavy flavored, with a bit of pepper accent to compliment the rye and, of course, juniper.\u00a0 I had it as a Martini which I think is about the only way you could drink this, I have no idea what mixer, liquor, or garnish would go well with it.\u00a0 Not everyone will like it, of course, but if you’re at all on the curious or adventurous side definitely try it.<\/p>\n

The Ranch is absolutely worth a visit for the food, service, and the Martini.\u00a0\u00a0 The Martinis were really very very good, but not quite up to the ‘worth a trip just for the Martini’ level. \u00a0\u00a0 The Ranch gets a one stem:\u00a0 \"Martini<\/a><\/p>\n

The Ranch gets a “A-” for gin selection.\u00a0 They have basics and a couple of more “unusual” gins.\u00a0\u00a0 Their choices are:\u00a0 Bombay, Bombay Sapphire, Tanqueray, Tanqueray Ten, Hendrick’s, Beefeater, Nolets, Damrak Amsterdam, Right, and St. George Dry Rye.<\/p>\n

I would also note that their selection of wines, whiskeys, whiskys, and cognacs are excellent!<\/p>\n

Here’s their website if you’re interested in further information: www.theranch.com<\/a><\/p>\n

*****\u00a0\u00a0 Rating Definitions<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0 ****<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Ranch in Anaheim is a relatively new and excellent restaurant.\u00a0\u00a0 Definitely worth a visit, if you can find it!\u00a0 Not that the address is hard to find, you just don’t believe you’re there as you approach.\u00a0 The restaurant is … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0},"categories":[37,12],"tags":[3,9,13,43,79],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_likes_enabled":false,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1735,"url":"http:\/\/shakennotstirred.us\/?p=1735","url_meta":{"origin":486,"position":0},"title":"The Gambling Cowboy, Temecula, CA","author":"wlmoon58","date":"November 18, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"So you've trekked down to Temecula in Riverside County and had a wonderful day in the sun sampling a myriad of local wines at the multitude of wineries that line the valley and now you want to kick back someplace and cap the day with a Martini and a steak.\u00a0\u00a0\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Martini"","block_context":{"text":"Martini","link":"http:\/\/shakennotstirred.us\/?cat=10"},"img":{"alt_text":"gambling-cowboy","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/shakennotstirred.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Gambling-Cowboy-576x1024.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1664,"url":"http:\/\/shakennotstirred.us\/?p=1664","url_meta":{"origin":486,"position":1},"title":"Bar Review: Larsen’s Steakhouse, Valencia, CA","author":"wlmoon58","date":"September 11, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Larsen's Steakhouse in Valencia is a hidden jewel, well worth the effort to find it. 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As you approach the restaurant\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Restaurant"","block_context":{"text":"Restaurant","link":"http:\/\/shakennotstirred.us\/?cat=37"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":1414,"url":"http:\/\/shakennotstirred.us\/?p=1414","url_meta":{"origin":486,"position":2},"title":"Bar Review: Watermark on Main, Ventura, CA","author":"wlmoon58","date":"April 3, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The Watermark on Main is located in the historic 1907 Groene building on the corner of East Main and North Chestnut in downtown Ventura.\u00a0 It has been at various stages of its life an Edison office, a Bank, a Jewellery store , a clothes store, an Art Studio, and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Restaurant"","block_context":{"text":"Restaurant","link":"http:\/\/shakennotstirred.us\/?cat=37"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/shakennotstirred.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/Watermark-Ceiling-CU-300x300.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":436,"url":"http:\/\/shakennotstirred.us\/?p=436","url_meta":{"origin":486,"position":3},"title":"Bar Review: Bonefish Grill, Langhorne, PA","author":"wlmoon58","date":"June 10, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"I normally wouldn't review a chain restaurant but Bonefish Grill doesn't 'feel' like a chain.\u00a0\u00a0 Indeed, when I first walked in I thought it was a local establishment and didn't realize it wasn't until I looked online for the correct spelling of \"Langhorne\".\u00a0\u00a0 Turns out there are quite a few\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Restaurant"","block_context":{"text":"Restaurant","link":"http:\/\/shakennotstirred.us\/?cat=37"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":2282,"url":"http:\/\/shakennotstirred.us\/?p=2282","url_meta":{"origin":486,"position":4},"title":"Bar Review: Orange Hill Restaurant, Orange, CA","author":"wlmoon58","date":"February 17, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Opening in 1958, Orange Hill Restaurant is a bit off the beaten track in the residential city of Orange, in the county of Orange, California.\u00a0 There is nothing exceptionally noteworthy about the restaurant, certainly not a Michelin starred restaurant; it is not world renown, or even nationally renown, for it's\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Restaurant"","block_context":{"text":"Restaurant","link":"http:\/\/shakennotstirred.us\/?cat=37"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/shakennotstirred.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Orange-Hill-4-300x276.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":418,"url":"http:\/\/shakennotstirred.us\/?p=418","url_meta":{"origin":486,"position":5},"title":"Bar Review: Cafe Fiore, Ventura, CA","author":"wlmoon58","date":"June 8, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Cafe Fiore is a small but busy trattoria located just off the 'main drag' in downtown Ventura, CA.\u00a0\u00a0 The decor is rustic modern; very clean and comfortable with a lot of exposed woodwork.\u00a0\u00a0 The bar is front and central in the restaurant, the very first thing you notice upon entering.\u00a0\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Restaurant"","block_context":{"text":"Restaurant","link":"http:\/\/shakennotstirred.us\/?cat=37"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/shakennotstirred.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/486"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/shakennotstirred.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/shakennotstirred.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/shakennotstirred.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/shakennotstirred.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=486"}],"version-history":[{"count":21,"href":"http:\/\/shakennotstirred.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/486\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1043,"href":"http:\/\/shakennotstirred.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/486\/revisions\/1043"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/shakennotstirred.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=486"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/shakennotstirred.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=486"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/shakennotstirred.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=486"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}