James Ranch Grill

We visited the James Ranch Grill when we were in Colorado on vacation. I’m so glad we made the trip to eat here. The burgers come from their cattle, which is pasture raised, grass fed and finished. You definitely can taste the difference! They have lots of great options for burger toppings. The beet salad was delicious! We sat outside on the patio with an amazing view. They have goats that you can pet and they show you where they also make their raw milk cheese. Next-door is a cute little market with lots of local things to pick up such as honey, lavender, produce, and lots of fresh meats. This is not in downtown Durango, but only an eight or so minute drive. And they are dog friendly if you sit outside.

James Ranch Grill When you have been to Texas and Oklahoma (Beef Capital of USA) for Beef burgers then your expectations become very high for any place where they serve beef burgers. So comparatively I would say that the burgers were okay. But when you are hungry and your options are limited then it's great. So it was a good experience and good country side views. On a side note: The pricing is very high, it was a Good experience.

We thoroughly enjoyed our food at James Ranch Grill The food was fresh and delicious! You can taste the difference. We got blue cheese bacon burger Spice Chile burger Normal burger with aoli Kid burgers Root beer We saw the baby goats that were so adorable ! Saw the beautiful flowers growing. The cows grazing with the red rock mountain view and river below was a highlight as well. Wish I lived here just so we could visit more often! I hope we can visit again.

Beautiful ranch with many menu items coming straight from the regenerative farm. The burger tasted fresh off the grill and the fries were salty, fried well and soft inside. Definitely recommend, everyone in our group enjoyed. Lots of parking in large dirt free parking lot. Indoor and covered outdoor (in summer) seating options available. They also have a small store to buy meat, cheese, etc.

I enjoyed a medium rare southwestern green chile cheeseburger with a side of fries. The outdoor wooden picnic tables complete with plastic gingham plaid tablecloths are ideal for creating a relaxed, family-friendly, summertime atmosphere. I love the James Ranch path that runs alongside the river irrigation system it provides an agricultural history of the ranch. In addition, the gorgeous flowers and other plants on the property benefit from the water usage, fertile soil, and valley temperature. The staff was polite, courteous, and quick to tend to the needs of the diners.

Not only was the food fresh, delicious, and satisfying after a long day of hiking, but the surroundings were also unmatched! Vegetarians, don’t be discouraged!!! The squash burger was excellent. Also, the signature burger was the best burger my dad ever had—you can really tell that the beef is high quality. If you aren’t a burger fan, the BLT was also great.

What a cool place that we happened on! Part gift shop, part restaurant, part cheese factory, part goat farm! Gorgeous views! The hanging baskets were amazing and gorgeous! The employees were so friendly and make sure you ask for a military discount, we didn’t even ask and the gal who took our order gave us one because my husband was wearing his Marine’s hat! How cool is that? Our lunch was delicious! I had the BLT, husband had the blue cheese burger, both were delicious! We bought a chocolate chip cookie from the gift shop, amazing! This is worth a stop if you are in the area.

James Ranch Grill, located just north of Durango, CO, offers a truly unique and delightful dining experience that goes beyond typical "farm-to-table" – it's "table on the farm"! The outdoor picnic table area is an absolute highlight. It's spacious, surrounded by the beautiful ranch, and perfectly dog-friendly, making it an ideal spot to enjoy a meal with your furry companion. The ambiance is relaxed and inviting, truly embracing the natural setting of the Animas Valley. As for the food, it's clear they pride themselves on fresh, locally sourced ingredients. I enjoyed the "Blue Cheese, Bacon, BBQ Burger." The patty was thick and juicy, topped with crispy bacon, generous crumbles of blue cheese, and what looked like their homemade chipotle BBQ sauce. It came served open-faced alongside fresh red onion and crisp lettuce, allowing you to customize your bite or enjoy it as a hearty knife-and-fork meal. My wife also tried a vibrant salad, which was their "Chopped Kale Salad." It was loaded with healthy greens, diced yellow fruit (likely apples or summer squash as mentioned on their menu), and dried cranberries for a sweet-tart burst. The star of the salad was undoubtedly the perfectly fried egg, with its rich, golden yolk, and the impressive, delicate cheese wafer, adding a wonderful savory crunch. Overall, James Ranch Grill is a must-visit for anyone in the Durango area seeking delicious, regenerative food in a beautiful and welcoming outdoor setting. The combination of incredible food and the dog-friendly picnic area makes it a perfect spot for a casual and memorable meal.

Definitely a "must stop" if you are in the neighborhood of Durango CO .. my visit occurred in the second week of December .. I'm already penciling in another trip in August '25 .. I'm certain the experience in the summer months will be outstanding .. food .. service .. ambiance was flawless .. but the warmer months will certainly inch the experience another notch ...

Tried this place while visiting Durango. It's an order at the window kind of place then find a seat. Lots of space and the staff friendly & efficient. There were 6 of us and we all said they were the best burgers we have tasted! Perfectly grilled and juicy! The fries were so good as well. We will be back!

The food is phenomenal!! Fresh burgers Homemade cheese on my anything but basic burger. The fries are fingerling potatoes. Yum Service is always a breeze. The food came out fast Farm to table!! You can sit inside or outside on a picnic table style overlooking the cows in the pasture

Really awesome place and great food! Perfect place to come with kiddos and let them run around. The farm was very interesting and we loved walking around and learning about their practices. We got a signature burger that was really high quality and great. My son enjoyed his dawg on a stick and the fingerlings!

Thank you Yelp for bringing us here. We arrived about 1pm and waited in line (with all the others) to place our order. From the time I ordered till the time the food was ready was about a 15 minute wait. The wait to place the order took longer! Hubs & I shared the burger and the fries. It was just enough for us. If we were big eaters, we probably would have each gotten something. The burger was delicious, the lemonade had a nice tart taste, and was quite refreshing. An absolutely beautiful day with gorgeous views.

Sunday, July 7, 2024. Lunch. We decided to try this place again after a horrible experience in August, 2022. Please see attached original review, the gracious owner refunded our money after that experience. Please note: their prices have increased roughly $1.50 - $2 due to inflation since 2022. We were visiting Durango with another couple for my birthday. This time I ordered the mushroom Belford burger ($16.75). This came with sauteed cremini mushrooms, caramelized onions, Belford cheese, lightly buttered Brioche bun, a 1/3-pound medium grass fed beef patty, rosemary garlic aioli and a bed of greens. All our food arrived piping hot and my burger was super juicy and the crispy cheese tasted divine. The wife from the other couple said it was the "best burger" she'd ever eaten! I couldn't go that far, but it was a huge improvement in service and delivery from our first visit. We did visit the nearby meat market and purchased Wagyu ground beef, lamb chops and some pork chops. The quality of the meat from this ranch continues to impress us.

Really great food in a relaxed, beautiful environment with indoor and outdoor seating areas. Quick friendly counter service, pick your food up at the window.

Visited from California and we loved this place! The food was delicious and the ambiance was perfect for families. I ordered the Belford mushroom burger and it was super juicy with rosemary garlic aioli.. makes my mouth water.. yum! They have a huge outdoor space with plenty of seating, and a beautiful scenery to look out to. They also have an area with goats that the kids can go into and pet. This is definitely a place to stop by if you're in the area! 10/10!

We visited with a family group and were hoping to see the goats and cheeses but on the day we went, they weren't there. However, the food on the menu had many tempting items. I ordered the pastrami on gf bun, my husband had the steak sandwich, others had salad and chili & all were great! Go and check it out!

Absolutely an amazing fun place to eat. The line was long to order when we arrived, and for good reason, but it moved quickly. Staff taking our order were pleasant and friendly. We ordered the steak sandwich, as recommended by the counter staff. It was beyond good. Wow!!!! Cooked perfectly, hot, juicy, and flavorful. The outside seating provides an opportunity for an amazing view of the mountains. The atmosphere, food, and service were the absolute best. Table staff were very friendly and presented a clean professional look. Something that is not common these days. The staff asked us several times if they could get us anything and always did so with a sincere smile. I was impressed. This is a must visit restaurant. Don't miss an opportunity to enjoy a wonderful meal in a perfect setting.

I also forgot to mention the wonderful little shop on the property with fantastic local goods that we bought quite a few of...baked goods, honey, soaps, ceramics, alcoholic beverages, name it. And service was friendly and helpful.

Loved the ambiance in January. I can only imagine how beautiful it would be in the other seasons too. The burgers and soup were delicious. We highly recommend this restaurant.

It was time to break for lunch after hanging at the Nordic center. Since Purgatory doesn't have many food options, we drove to James Ranch. It is so worth it. It's a beautiful spot with a great selection of food items. We enjoyed their steak sandwich, a burger and a lovely beet salad. Their ginger molasses cookie was perfect. I appreciate their use of vessels that are more biodegradable than plastic. Their market is also amazing. I'd shop here all the time if I lived here. I like supporting any business that cares about their animals and environment.

Excellent food and venue! The store is a nice after-stop to grab some farm fresh flowers, produce,etc. Will definitely come back with friends!

The food is great. Colorado wines are so good! Decorated festive for winter holidays. In summer there's live music and outdoor seating. Only about ten minutes south of Bear Stables: they offer trail rides and sleigh rides in winter. Short drive to Purgatory Ski Resort. Plus you don't have to bother with the crowds in downtown Durango. Did I mention the food is great????

This is one of my favorite burgers I've ever had. Everything about James Ranch Grill is great, the outdoor space, seeing the cows grazing and the wonderful service. I had the mushroom Belford burger and everything came together so well. The cheese and mushroom crisp added a salty and umami flavor. The rosemary garlic aioli added so much flavor and made it less dry. The caramelized onions really bring the whole burger together adding some sweetness to the mix. The only thing about it that was underwhelming was the actual patty itself, it was fairly mediocre and well done. For a ranch that sources its own beef I would have expected better but the burger as a whole was fantastic. The fries were some thick cut fries with the skins on and they were pretty good given the cut style. The fries were fried for a long time as you can tell by how crispy they are but it still isn't enough on some of the fries given how large they are they still end up floppy. If you like thicker cuts of fries I'd definitely go for these as they are some of the best thick cut fries I've had, I'm just not a big fan of the cut. If you are in Durango I'd recommend the trip up to James Ranch Grill, it's absolutely worth it.

I chose the Basic burger cooked to medium well with fries. The guy who took our order was extremely helpful and patient. The service was amazing. I really suggest stopping by this spot if you're in Durango, CO. The views are incredible and there's lots of room to sit.

My husband and I stopped here after hiking in the San Juan National Forest and we absolutely love this little farm to table restaurant!! We had the BLT and their speciality burger, which were both AMAZING. Their BLT was made with homemade bread, fresh grown tomatoes and lettuce, and a special bacon they cure themselves. It was by far the most amazing BLT I've ever had. It was a very interactive little farm with plenty of space to sit. The views were stunning as well.

Great burgers. Order at the counter and then table service. Everything was very good, but the burgers were the star. Hubs got a steak sandwich but said the burgers was superior. The only things that was not our fave was the fries, which are more like steak fries. This will be your personal preference. Next time, I'd ask for mine crispy or opt for a soup or chili. Homemade sodas are so good. $200 for a family of 8 to eat (only 4 hot drinks).

Wow. Just wow. We were in Durango for vacation on spring break. My cousin recommended the place after we went to the hot springs Let me just tell you, we will always come back here. My wife had the burger. It was one of the best in her life she said. We shared a salad with their house beet vinaigrette. It was to die for. I had their special monte cristo. Absolutely amazing. Some of the cleanest best tasting food I have had out in a very long time. Don't get me started on the setting and how beautiful it is. I highly recommend it The service is good. It's more of a walk in and be seated and then order at the register. Though that did not matter to us. We had the kiddos with us, and their food was amazing too. Will be back!

This place didn't disappoint one bit. The little farm shop to the goat petting zoo added that extra little charm you don't find at many places. The food was top notch and the views/atmosphere were incredible. The staff was very friendly and willing to help.

The sun is shining on another beautiful day in New Mexico. Join Tom Neiman and Jim Tritten as they report on a trip to southwestern Colorado and what you can expect at two great eating establishments within a short drive of Durango: the Absolute Bakery & Cafe in Mancos and the James Ranch Grill north of Durango. Just click on the following YouTube link and watch our report (hint: humor included at no extra charge): https://youtu.be/cMSvvbL5TFQ

Service is super kind and quick. Odd remark, but the beverages were all really good. Definitely made fresh on-site.The feel of this place is outstanding. It feels friendly, welcoming, and cheery. You could bring your family here and just walk around and hang out in the grass. Just absolutely beautiful.

A grass fed burger outside of Durango. A little bit overpriced but I guess you are paying for the ambience.

Bottom Line: A fairly limited, but delicious, menu. Beautiful scenery and excellent service. My husband and I learned about James Ranch from our favorite traveling YouTubers so we were sure to check it out while we were in Durango. We went for dinner and we both got burgers and shared the fried fingerling potatoes. I had the Mushroom Belford Burger and my husband had the Signature burger. The flavor was excellent and so was the texture. I often find myself reminiscing about James Ranch's delicious salty, savory Belford cheese. Yum! Service was very friendly and the views were amazing. I'm glad we made the drive to the edge of Durango.

My group was made to move to accommodate another group . The food is always good, but be prepared for a long wait

I make a point of stopping here anytime I'm near Durango. It's so relaxing to sit outside. Everything on the menu is great.

Excellent food and views, a must do when visiting Durango! Staff was quick to help clear trays when done eating but not in an invasive way. Friendly, family vibe.

STOP here if you're hungry and on the Million Dollar Highway. Best burgers Fresh. Kind staff. Gorgeous surroundings picnicking. Relaxed.

Highly recommend this stop. The food was delicious. We shared a burger as we usually do and both of us wished we had our own it was so good. The grounds are beautiful and well taken care of and they have nice staff walking around making sure you're taken care of. On our way out we stopped at the market and were just as happy with it as the grill. We left some organic grass fed steaks that we cant wait to try.

Beautiful ambiance, great for families with kids who want to stretch their legs and run around (mine chased a chicken for a good 15 minutes). Didn't anticipate it to be SUCH a popular place, especially as we arrived at around around 2:30 when we expected the lunch crowd to have died down. There was a line, but the cashier did a great job of taking orders and apologizing for the wait. The food was good and satisfying. Portions were adequate. Prices did seem a little on the steep side. My recommendation would be to try something that you can't get anywhere else.

Super nice place. Came here Tuesday night and it was a super long line to order so I checked out the market while the other members of my party waited. Ended up getting honey (with the comb) and some local peaches. Everything there was right up my alley with local meat, cheese, fruit and everything in between. Highly recommend going in before or after you eat. The food was absolutely delicious as I got the signature burger and my party and I shared chips and fries. Burger was absolutely delicious and you can taste the difference of the local and fresh ingredients! Couldn't recommend this place enough while in the Durango area. Also had a root beer float (local organic soda and ice cream) to cap it off. A delicious, and probably 4000 calorie meal in total.

My wife was so excited to try this place with the specialized burgers and natural dining space. Table on the deck had a great view of the pastures and ponds, along with the many cows and chickens. The burger had a great fresh all beef flavor, it was very tasty, the fries were bland, we couldn't eat them all, not sure if we got a crappy potato or thats just the way they taste but, I would never order them again. My biggest concern is the price of the burgers and fries, for $17 I expected to see a huge burger, and $6.50 for fries that were bland, nope not again, I can get a bigger burger and better fries at In-n-Out, and they use fresh meat. I guess if money was no object I'd order just burgers but its really the principle, that meal was just not worth the expense.

Holy smokes, this place is GOOD. We stopped here for dinner after a recommendation from a shop in town. We were blown away by everything from the service to the food. Of course, you can't beat the setting: the expansive ranch is nestled in the valley and boasts some amazing views of the mountains. We arrived on a beautiful weather day, so we enjoyed our meals on the back deck. There were also plenty of picnic tables below and space for children to run around and explore. We also noticed goats near the entrance when we arrived, which you could pet inside their pen. It was definitely a very fun, family-friendly atmosphere. The food is all locally sourced and made to order, and it definitely tastes that way. Our meals were simply delicious and very fresh. I had the Green Chile Pico Burger, which was perfect in every way. The meat was delicious and the green chiles had the perfect amount of heat. There were a variety of sides, so I chose the kale, carrot, and apple slaw. It was delicious and light: an incredibly refreshing bite! There were a number of other enticing items on their menu I'd love to try on our next visit. This is a definite must-do if you're in Durango! Though off the highway, there's plenty of parking on-site. It does get busy, so be aware of that if trying to dine during peak hours. I can't wait for our next visit!

This place is awesome great atmosphere and the music fantastic now the food. 1. Pico burger great flavor great buns, nice hand cut fries must try the lemonade. 2. Signature burger also great flavor add a fried egg on it to kick up a notch same with the fries. 3. Inside out cheese melt nice flavor cheese but really nothing especial. Overall the food was great service was good. Only issue was wish the burger was a little bigger maybe 1/4 pound

Great food and amazing service. The best burgers and fries I've had in a while. Major plus that it's family and locally owned. Would definitely go back when in Durango.

Brown ale, Roasted Beet Salad, the jalapeño popper burger and Fingerling Fries. Me & my hubby have happy belly's! Love this place!

Was here for a little get away, the location is just spectacular the view was breathtaking and the outside seating was just perfect, Found the best snacks and gluten free loaf of bread in the little shop located in the restaurant. Will definitely be back! Service was excellent!

Heaven on earth! Beautiful grounds, darling store, and good food. I will make this a regular place to stop and enjoy when we are on road trips through Colorado. A must see!

Delicious steak sandwich and burgers. Beautiful scenery in the back area. Outdoor seating = all good!

Absolutely beautiful and delicious! I would drive again just to stop here. Great outdoor space and cute little goats to visit with.

Great place. They are so popular they need to reconfigure the ordering process, but it is worth the wait

Delicious food and awesome atmosphere we shared the fries we had a mushroom burger and a green chili burger and a bit all delicious and quick bought some cowboy cookies to go they're my favorite

Absolutely beautiful area and setting, Keegan and Miley are future managers in training! They are a shining example of the schooling. Food was tasty. When you put it all together it is a wonderful memory we take with us!

Incredible burgers and ambiance. They have a doggie patty for your furry friends to eat. Market is cool too.

Absolutely delicious, all fresh and homegrown and the staff are kind people! It's all family owned and you can tell. Highly recommend...

Absolutely the best hamburgers in the Durango area. Stunning views from the terrace , so refreshing and relaxing! You can also enjoy some great products from the onsite store to enjoy at home . Completely worth a drive from town .

This farm related business gets better every time we go! Every item on menu is great! I prefer the double cheeseburger with Cole slaw! The shop is quality also and be aware that calling in orders saves the 30 minute wait at times!

Excellent burgers! If you have not tried James Ranch you need to. Burgers are good served with a nice fresh bun. The lemonade is awesome too! Each time we go to Durango this is a must stop!