Ojai Deer Lodge

Bar & grill · Meiners Oaks

Ojai Deer Lodge

Bar & grill · Meiners Oaks

3

2261 Maricopa Hwy, Ojai, CA 93023

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Highlights

Ojai Deer Lodge serves farm-to-table comfort eats and smoky BBQ in a cozy, lodge-style spot with live music and a killer beer selection.  

Featured in The Infatuation
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2261 Maricopa Hwy, Ojai, CA 93023 Get directions

deerlodgeojai.com
@ojaideerlodge

$20–30 · Menu

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2261 Maricopa Hwy, Ojai, CA 93023 Get directions

+1 805 646 4256
deerlodgeojai.com
@ojaideerlodge

$20–30 · Menu

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Jul 31, 2025

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The 15 Best Restaurants & Bars In Ojai

"Most restaurants that look like hunting lodges have some giveaway that they’re not actually hunting lodges like a veggie burger, or the fact that they’re located in the middle of a large metropolitan area. But Ojai Deer Lodge is the real deal. It’s up the hill in Meiners Oaks, just outside of Ojai proper, and is the most fun place in Ojai to drink a bit too much after a hike. There’s a fantastic beer selection, solid cocktails, and live music most nights. The food is good enough to serve its purpose—get the tri-tip nachos—but the best time to come is on the weekends when there’s a smoker out front, and they’re serving pulled pork, ribs, and tri-tip sandwiches. " - nikko duren

https://www.theinfatuation.com/los-angeles/guides/ojai-restaurants
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@infatuation

Ojai Deer Lodge Review - Ojai - Los Angeles - The Infatuation

"Most restaurants that look like hunting lodges have some giveaway that they’re not actually hunting lodges like a veggie burger, or the fact that they’re located in the middle of a large metropolitan area. But Ojai Deer Lodge is the real deal. It’s up the hill in Meiners Oaks, just outside of Ojai proper, and is the most fun place in Ojai to drink a bit too much after a hike. There’s a fantastic beer selection, solid cocktails, and live music most nights. The food is good enough to serve its purpose—get the tri-tip nachos—but the best time to come is on the weekends when there’s a smoker out front, and they’re serving pulled pork, ribs, and tri-tip sandwiches." - Brett Keating

https://www.theinfatuation.com/los-angeles/reviews/ojai-deer-lodge
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@victoire_loup

An over-the-top cheesy American bar up the hill in Meiners Oaks, with live music most nights.

Ojai
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L Meyers

Google
Ojai Deer Lodge is a historical place filled with reminders of the past. We really enjoyed seeing all the antiques and the rustic decor. The staff were all very friendly and welcoming. The menu has a variety of items sure to please anyone's palette. We ordered the patty melt, served on sourdough bread, and a generous amount of grilled onions. It was a delight to the taste buds. The side of coleslaw was very flavorful, and the cabbage was very fresh. I highly recommend Ojai Deer Lodge.

Dan Rettinger

Google
This place is super fun. Feels like we are in an old ski town. The vibes are mountain/biker turned hippie rancher. Great selection of local drinks. They bring in some cool indie bands/artists for live music, they also have a pool table out front to enjoy. There usually is a cover to get in on weekends.

Joanne Carolan

Google
We decided to eat dinner before our friend’s band went on. The food was amazing. Ask for more Chimichuri sauce for the steak frites. Bbq platter was delish. Desserts were so good. Flourless chocolate cake, and tiramisu. Dancing area was fun. This place feels like a locals only, hole in the wall. But service was great and the crowd was friendly.

Rhiannon Chae

Google
Had the pleasure of watching the live performance of Matthew and The Atlas! Cozy vibes and good food!

VR SURFBOARDS

Google
Great place for food and drinks, friendly and helpful service. The sandwiches and chili were delicious as well as the bloody mary.

Pang川

Google
Steak, rib, mac and cheese, brisket, hot toddy, hot tea, those are the things we ordered and they were delicious. What god they got in the kitchen cooking? It's far away for me, but I'm definitely going back there. So good. And the waitress was so nice, fun and friendly. The lodge inside is well decorated with a homey feeling. And the bathroom is so clean.

Jon Maguire

Google
Very cool spot with tons of authentic character and history. Well worth hanging out here. Music and drinks are great. Come for that 💯! Better off eating elsewhere though, ojai has tons of great options. The food is decent but the service is highly dependent on the server. We had inattentive poor service and saw tables go unbussed for long periods, while other tables appeared to be well attended to.

Melissa NB

Google
Delicious food, great service and love the old lodge feel. The pulled pork sandwich was packed with flavor and the tri tip was cooked to perfection. The beer selection was on point! I will definitely go back to try the rest of the menu!
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Love G.

Yelp
Really difficult to write a negative review but in this case, I must. Food was meh.....Husband ordered ribs w/sweet potato fries ( extra charge) & a ginger lemonade (it was filled 99% with ICE @$6 and was charged for the refill). Husband thought the ribs tasted different but were just ok. He's a foodie & tends to find something good to say about most places. Our son had steak frittes. The meal looked average and was accompanied with like frozen fries. The steak looked gray and was ordered medium. The flavor was so so. My tri tip nachos were the worst. When it was served, I immediately smelled an unpleasant odor. I wanted to love it bc the chips were toasted nice & cheesy but I couldn't get past the smell . As for the meat, there wasn't much mixed in. On the first bite, I had a piece of gristle & had to spit it out. Service was fair not great for an almost empty restaurant. The staff was friendly though. The restaurant was dingy and looked to need a thorough cleaning. The glass door & all the windows could use a thorough cleaning.....smears of greasy handprints were everywhere. The photos on the website are very misleading. My husband usually picks excellent places to eat and he felt bad because we were disappointed. Hope others have a better experience .
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Mark T.

Yelp
This is one of those unique and authentic places where you can forget where you are while under the spell of the ambiance. Like maybe a roadside stop in Vermont, New Mexico, or even Europe, who knows, but it feels like a stress-free vacation while you're visiting. All that said, it gets busy on the weekends, so we prefer the weekdays. The BBQ, other food, service, and antique pool table all hold up, too. This is not meant to be a Michelin-rated experience though. If you are sensitive to authenticity, or a local vibe, maybe head to the Ojai Valley Inn for a different experience.
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ryan y.

Yelp
Best tasting baby back ribs. Tender, juicy and the bbq sauce is just right tanginess. Im coming back for more next time we ride our motorcycles there.
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Sarah S.

Yelp
What a find! This roadside lodge is a gem. We came here on a Thursday night around 5:30 and got a parking spot right in front of the rustic restaurant front, beside the outdoor grills and smoker. YUM! Immediately there was a cozy and welcoming atmosphere with the outdoor heaters burning and a cabin door waiting for us to entree through. We got to choose where to sit. The chairs were super comfy as were the surroundings: wood paneling side walls, old fashion appliances and western decor. The hostess and our waitress were super friendly and helpful. They have a fantastic menu with something for everyone. After a few beers on tap for happy hour at $7 a glass I ordered the bbq plate (when I found out they were all out of red snapper) which came with Tri-tip, baby back ribs and pulled pork. I chose to pay some extra to get upgraded sides: sweet potato fries and Brussels sprouts. Totally worth it! The pulled pork was a little different than I'd ever tasted, I think it was more lemon flavored than I'm used to. The texture and juiciness was on point. The ribs didn't have a whole lot of meat on them but they were delicious. The Brussels sprouts were SOOOOOO goood! And the sweet potato fries were perfectly crisped and tasted very fresh. My company was eyeing my plate and stealing off my plate in no time. My dad got the fried chicken since it was "famous" on the menu. He can confirm it was delicious and came with his favorite sides: mashed taters and green beans. It'll bring joy to any country boys heart. My husband got the Buffalo burger. The pretzel bun was very fresh tasting: the perfect amount of toasting and sweetness. The burger was medium rare and delicious. The bacon jam was delicious and in perfect portion. Even though it didn't have all the typical fixings it was perfectly complete. And his curly fries were great. We had a fantastic experience here and will look forward to coming back :)

Jamie D.

Yelp
My family and I have been coming here for 25 years. Today we had the most unpleasant experience. Our server was great! Food quality not so great! Atmosphere terrible. My wife and I stopped to get a bite to eat and drinks. When we were leaving there was an exchange of words between 2 bikers. Not knowing what was going on a black haired female employee came out screaming at everyone to leave or she will call the police. Not a professional way to handle the situation. Deer Lodge knows who this person is who is causing havoc and does nothing. Will not be returning here anymore. Unsafe!
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James L.

Yelp
The atmosphere was cozy however dated. One couple walked in, looked around and walked out. If you like the ski lodge feeling you'll like this place. I was going to order the Sherpard pie but the waitress said the meat was elk not lamb and expressed the elk meat could be tough. I passed and ordered a burger. My wife ordered the lamb shank and wished I did too. It was tender and very tasty. It was huge enough to take half home and have lunch the next day!! I ate it!

Paul W.

Yelp
A quiet weekday, casual with great service. Weekends are busy, good for them. I'm a local so can pick and choose my visit times.
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Grace L.

Yelp
This place had such a cool, laid back atmosphere. Very dog friendly! The food was great, we got the fried chicken sandwich and the tri tip nachos. However, sitting outside, the fly situation almost didn't make it worth it. It would greatly improve the experience by having fly fans on the table! We would come back and sit inside.
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FoodiesRwe ..

Yelp
Unfortunately first time I went to the Deer Lodge was a hit, but this time I sat at the bar and made the mistake of ordering the calamari which was terrible super chewy and not very edible, I'll make sure to never order that dish if I ever come back.

Savannah K.

Yelp
Service at bar was good but we came in with a group of 8 before a concert at the libby bowl and the only seating was either the stage or in front of the fire place.. which was occupied but lounging staff eating and chatting. Very rude of them as myself, my husband, my father (67), and uncle (68) were either sitting on the stage or the ground.
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Michael V.

Yelp
Deer lodge is a must visit. The best part is the ambiance. Off the beaten path, it is a cozy lodge feel that allows for some relaxation and fun. Both indoor and outdoor seating is great. The bbq and tri tip nachos are the best items on the menu with everything else being pretty good. The service has been good the few times I have been there. Stick to the bbq on the menu and go for some relaxation, music, and beers. Very charming
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Kate F.

Yelp
This place looked like it should be a ski lodge. It's a little off the beaten path in Ojai and you will need to drive but it's worth a visit! We got the burger with truffle fries and the fried chicken platter . All of the food was amazing! The bartenders were friendly and gave a healthy pour. They had some local wine and beers on the menu which I always love to try the local drinks

Sherrie R.

Yelp
Great spot to go early pre-dinner. I can't say enough good things about that homemade peach pie. Oohlala!!
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TY Y.

Yelp
Visiting Ojai CA on a beautiful Sunday, got to this casual and quaint spot (Deer Lodge) for a sunny patio lunch. Indoor dining also available but has a dim tavern ambience; and during busy meal hours, you may have a short wait to dine here. Lunch menu had plenty of comfort foods, Apps, Burgers, BBQ, gourmet salads, Mac-n-Cheese, etc. plus craft brews and full bar. Weekend brunch specials also offered. Overall 4.0 experience, and expect meal cost $10-18pp. Having just visited the Saturday Farmers Market, we stopped here for lighter lunch/snacks and a cold one! BBQ Brisket Nachos were tasty, good munchie to share. The Cobb salad was freshly prepared and also plentiful to share, or a filling lunch meal on its own. Fried Calamari rings were OK, but not being known for seafood I personally would try a different app next time. Finally, the house-made Mac-N-Cheese was hearty with flavor and crisp bacon topping - a few spoonfuls is all I needed. And several craft beer offerings complimented the foods ordered! Tucked away in the hills, this is a fun and popular spot to visit. I'd definitely come back again to try more of their comfort fare. Enjoy!
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Rose J.

Yelp
Ojai Deer Lodge is located in Meiners Oaks, adjacent to Ojai. It gives you that lodgie/cabin like feel as you walk up from the parking area. When you enter, you get a very casual like atmosphere-I wouldn't say friendly, but you can tell it's where locals hangout. We got sat quickly even though they were holding a private event in one part of the restaurant. Our waitress, hmmm, our waitress was a bit spacey. She could not remember our order, although we witnessed her jotting it down. So she kept coming back and asking us if we'd like to put an order for food. It was funny the first couple of times then it got annoying as the night moved on. We ordered the BBQ Combo Plate,Tri Tip Sandwich, and Ribs. The meats were dry and overcooked, the Tri-tip sandwich was served on a hotdog bun~that was a first. I would equate the the food as bar food at best, and I've had some pretty excellent bar food in the past and this was not one of them. I do have to give it to the bartender, he/she concocted some great drinks. Hence the 3 stars. The couple we were with have been there a couple of times and had raved about the food so I'm hoping they were having an off night.

Kurt B.

Yelp
Great food. Lots of options for gluten free. Great place to eat and enjoy life. We like coming here for the live music also.
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Steven L.

Yelp
A cozy little spot to see music and enjoy diner. We came to see the band Luna, they were great to see in such an intimate space. The service was lovely. For dinner we had the tasty pulled pork sandwich, and the beet salad. The salad was a tad boring, oh well. The Deer Lodge is a lovely spot, we will return!
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Jan D.

Yelp
Cute little place off in a smaller side road. I enjoyed the drinks here and the outside patio. The bbq was ok, I had better. The fries are definitely great with a cold beer on a hot day. The service could be better..but I definitely will give it another try when I am in the area again.
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Todd W.

Yelp
This used to be a bikerBar and they do have great burgers and beer selection but now they also have a nice evening menu, and they do have entertainment on a regular basis. Mostly I think on Saturday and Friday. Very cozy, log cabin feel.
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Shey S.

Yelp
Food was ok, not amazing. Ambiance was ok, would be better at night. Server was polite, as a former server I think servers should wear their hair back, especially if it's long? Apparently they compost their plates which is cool
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Karen D.

Yelp
My grandchildren wanted to come here for the Mac and cheese. Ok. It's very busy for lunch and one server. My grandchildren each order the Mac and cheese with bacon, my son the bbq combo plate, Frank had the pulled pork sandwich and I ordered plain Mac and cheese and French fries. Everything was brought out except FF. She forgot to order. Mind you, she never wrote our order down. My Mac and cheese had a decent sauce but it was lukewarm .Bummer. The macaroni was way overcooked. Frank said his was warm also and the pulled pork had so much spicy bbq sauce that it was soggy and sauce was way too hot. Even my son said he wished he would have asked for bbq sauce on the side. We're all about done eating and here come the FF's. Nice and hot but there was a few long fries and then I got the bottom of the bag. Tiny pieces. I'm not going to complain about the service. She did the best she could other than forgetting to order FF. Management needs to give her help. This place has a full bar and has been there a long time. Will we go back. Nope. $123 plus 20% tip---not for cold food.
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Jenn C.

Yelp
Beautiful motorcycle ride up here from home. We were seated up the back where there were a LOT of flys. To the point where it ruined our meal. I ordered the grilled cheese with truffle fries. It was ok but no real substance to the meal. Fries were super thin and the grilled cheese was a little greasy (even for a grilled cheese). A friend got the chicken fingers. Said it was great. Another friend got the Tri tip sandwich. He was happy. One more got a plate with pork ribs and Tri tip. He wasn't happy at all and ended up sending it back / not asking for a replacement. The server comped half the meal. Overall the experience was 'ok'. Perhaps a better table (we didn't see anyone else swatting flys away). And another food choice.

Stephen J.

Yelp
It was a beautiful Suday when we got there on our Harley's and notice there were no other bikes. Thought they were closed but went inside and found they had just opened. Ordered drinks that were okay but very high priced. our group of 8 went outside and sat down to order and have lunch. We were also surprised of how much they had raised their food prices. Received our food after waiting 2 drinks long. Pulled pork sandwich came with wet buns. Not a good experience and doubt if my wife and I will go back in the near future.

Robert R.

Yelp
The staff is awesome. The food is great. I walk my dog by there daily and on the days they are open it's full. Best Chicken Sandwich in Ojai. Cool patio to just sit and enjoy a drink of soda. On Sunday they have your motorcycle clubs and maybe a lone rider. I have been in the valley for 65 years in August l. And I remember years ago when Charlie was the owner he always needed someone to sweep the area for .25 cents and an old-style bottle of Coke. THANKS CHARLIE (RIP)
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Yvette F.

Yelp
We really enjoyed eating at this restaurant. It was a nice day so we chose to sit outside in their rustic and charming patio. The food was very good and service was top notch. I recommend the white truffle parmesan fried Brussels sprouts, and the lodge burger. Soooo delicious!

Ron B.

Yelp
Food was exceptional as well as our Server Susan. We had a pretty big group and she handled it perfectly. I had the buffalo burger, and the taste was very very good. The ice tea had a certain flavor as well. Excellent. There was no shortage of flies sitting outside it would be nice if something could be done about them

Noa S.

Yelp
LOVE this place! Lots of rustic charm and a great music venue! Whenever we're up in Ojai, we drop in for a bite! Service is also friendly and great.
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Shawna R.

Yelp
A quaint little lodge with a good amount of outdoor seating provided during covid. Inside is roomie as well, but they have everything blocked off. You can order from the bartender or grab a waitress to help serve you if you plan to stay outside. I came out here with one of my friends on the bike, a well known little biker bar/restaurant. It wasn't too crowded on a Saturday evening which was nice, we were able to enjoy some food and drinks. I ordered the vegan burger on gf bread with sweet potato fries. It came right out, hot and ready to eat. It had flavor and I'm glad I was able to have options available for my certain dietary needs. Vegan and Gluten Free friendly is a plus here. This is the perfect little spot, to get cozy on cold nights with heaters, good music, drinks/food and good people. Staff was super friendly and helpful as well. And yes they follow covid protocol, with social distancing and mask enforced.
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Kristin jensen S.

Yelp
We LOVE the Deer Lodge! Fantastic food, great beverages, and the BEST service. We had to come tonight to see the new menu. We had the chili corn chowder, veggie polenta and pesce primavera. ALL so delicious. The chef really knows what she's doing. Such fresh vegetables, perfectly cooked fish, delicious seasonings. Dessert is on its way...house-made crumble with a scoop of ice cream! We'll enjoy that with the last of our bottle of Josh Reserve Cabernet.

Alison Y.

Yelp
I'm a local and have been through the various Deer Lodge transformations. The biker version was better than whatever this is. First of all, it's filthy. There must be 15 people working (actually eating, drinking, ignoring). Do they train them to be rude and classless at every restaurant they own? We sat for 20 minutes at our table. No service, but "we close in 10 minutes." I wish I could be a bar and restaurant owner that could lose this kind of $$!
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Daisey J.

Yelp
This place is Awsome, great food, great drinks, the staff is super friendly and the entertainment has been the best. Parking is a little tough, but manageable
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Celine M.

Yelp
Great service, great ambiance, great booze and delicious food... but the tri tip and ribs are sadly disappointing.

Tony D.

Yelp
I felt they put some love into it...all except for the Calamari was like...well no comment and the ginger lemonade needed some ginger...
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Michelle W.

Yelp
Found this spot after a day of climbing at Wheeler Gorge. My climbing partner and I were pretty hungry. We drove past it, but had to turn around because of the smell from the smoker outside the restaurant. They really do draw you in with the smell of the smoker. It looks like they have some outdoor seating, including a pool table in the front, but it was a sweltering day, so we appreciated being able to eat inside and enjoy the air condition. The decoration is decidedly country quaint. But I like the vibe! The server was friendly and immediately offered us beers. They have a pretty good draft beer selection and our server offered to let us taste some of the beers. My friend and I each ordered the BBQ sampler, and fries and a salad for the sides. Among the BBQ items, I think that my favorite may have been the pulled pork. The pulled pork could have been a bit more tender, but the flavor of it was on point! I loved that it had a nice kick to it. My friend's discerning taste buds also picked up some hints of apple cider vinegar with the pulled pork. It adds a nice tang to the pork. The ribs were incredibly tender. The beef tri-tip was probably my least favorite. It's a good spot to re-fuel after spending the day of climbing.
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Nikki F.

Yelp
First of all the food we did have was delicious and our sever was very friendly. We were excited for our visit and decided to check this place out. I walked in to be seated and there was literally no one in the entire restaurant. I waited for what felt like a really long time until I was finally greeted. They were out of pulled pork which was so disappointing and since several of the items include it, it made the options much more limited. Like I started with, the food we did have was great. The drinks on the other hand were terrible. My husband tasted mine and insisted I ask them to remake it. It was far too bitter and flavorless for it to purposefully taste like that. I didn't bother so I just didn't drink it. When we wanted to close out, the receipt with our card on it was on the table for a while. Our server kept coming out and we kept thinking this time he would stop by our table to pick it up. He never did. I had to awkwardly walk inside to hunt him down and ask to pay so we could leave. He felt terrible and apologized and said he thought he had closed us out. That does explain why he never took it from the table. Overall it has a lot of potential but balances out to just being ok.
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Charles E.

Yelp
Grabbed dinner with some friends on a Saturday night. Overall, pretty happy with the meal. I do have some notes... The Mac n Cheese is tasty, add bacon. The steak frites was just OK. Not a value though. Tasty cocktails, and the Avocado honey ale is refreshing. Skip the berry cheesecake. Worth a visit, have a good time.
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Lianne K.

Yelp
Bad outing today! We have been here a number of times, and looked forward to coming back. We arrived about 4:15, ready to relax on the patio. We entered the main room to seek a table. Neither the bartender or server greeted us, instead they looked at us like, "What?" Finally, we were acknowledged and indicated that we wanted to sit outside. They had us follow the server outside. Surprisingly, there were only a few tables on the patio. Much less than the space can handle. That seemed odd. We then had to wait for EVERYTHING! Wait to order. Wait a long time for our orders to come out. Never got checked on after the food came out. Waited over a half hour to receive the bill. Literally. That pretty much ruined whatever credit the food may have generated. Changes in the menu since the last time didn't work out that well for us, either.
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Devin B.

Yelp
So this rating is a little skewed because we were attending a private event that had the entire place closed to public. The building is small and mighty with a dining area, recessed dance floor with stage and a large out door space with lots of heaters for those chilly evenings. We had an open bar and the the house old fashion was absolutely addicting, that alone will have me coming back. The menu was set with the perfect amount of options to satisfy all! We had the mac and cheese which was creamy and rich with a blend of cheddar and smoked gouda. The burger was delicious and cooked perfectly with an amazing bacon jam on top of the patty. We got French fry samplers with regular, curly, sweet potato and truffle to snack on as an appetizer and the truffle fries were packed with garlic and by far my favorite. I do want to shout out the staff! They were amazing and we heard they were understaffed but they handled everything amazingly and did a great job getting belly's full and drinks kept full and stiff!

Lee G.

Yelp
Ordered Starters: Truffle parmesan fries - lukewarm, like they had been sitting a while, not crispy, hardly seemed flavored with truffle and lacking in parmesan, not even mediocre. Chile corn chowder - Not excellent, but the only decent part of the meal. Main: Veggie polenta - Little to no flavor in the whole dish. Polenta bland, brussels sprouts undercooked and bland, broccoli barely grilled and practically raw. Put a good deal of the corn chowder on the dish and that made it better. Plate and bowls were some type of single-serve bamboo, I think. But in quite poor shape, as if they had been used before or abused prior to use. A bowl had a gash in the edge and the plate started to come apart on the bottom of the polenta as I was eating it. A bamboo strip was starting to come up with my fork. A bit disturbing is an understatement. Two large dogs were nearby with patrons who were at the nearby bar. Really, in a restaurant?! Despite the fact that during their play they fairly often loudly yipped at each other, and that one of them knocked over a bar stool, creating disturbances for all, not one employee said a thing. Server was about as mediocre as they come. Not welcoming, positive, upbeat, etc....just there. I believe Starters are named just for that, because they should START the meal. As they were taking a while to come out, she was asked about it, and said she would check on it. After a bit, she said it looked like they would all come out together. Ok, but not really. Then she brought out the main course only, and said she would get the starters, which came out a short time later. Yes, maybe it was only the kitchen's fault, not hers, but no apology, no proactive approach. Just bringing the food with hardly a word. So overall, very disappointing, and will certainly NOT be going back there. It really bugs me paying good money for crap product and service. Good luck to you if you decide to go after reading this. Maybe it was a fluke for me...but I doubt it.
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Emily H.

Yelp
The food is always pretty tasty here, although the prices don't match the serving sizes at all, and I really dislike that it's served on single use plates. They like to claim that it's environmentally friendly, but any further thought or research will tell ya that it's not. The materials have to be collected, treated, formed, packaged, shipped.. and then due to the treatments and lack of proper composting practices, these plates sit in landfills for ages before decomposing. It's far more appealing for your costumers to eat on real plates, creates another job for someone who needs it, and is actually far more environmentally friendly at the end of the day. Great decor and vibes though

Mike M.

Yelp
Not sure why there are so many three star reviews. We went here with low expectations to use a Brew Food card my wife bought me for a birthday present. You pay $ 80 I think and it is good for two beers and an appetizer at several different establishments. First off they have Pliney the Elder on tap. Not many places you are going to find that popular Russian River beer. The wait staff was attentive and friendly. We ordered the brussel sprout appetizer at the request of our server which were delicious. Also split a tri tip sandwich with french fries. The meat was tender and flavorful and the french fries were like the old school shoe string very crisp and tasty. We will definitely return for a full meal and another pint of Pliney.
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Jon H.

Yelp
This place is very disappointing. Sometimes the Tri Tip is old and dried out. The manager whom I called was unapologetic acted as though not liking it was my fault. After ordering a $20 dinner, I went home hungry. At least they comped me my dinner,
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Marco G.

Yelp
Amazing ambiance. Cool place to go. Split the BBQ plate and there was plenty of food. Sat on the patio on a cool evening but the outdoor heaters kept us warm. All servers were attentive and polite.
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Kayla D.

Yelp
This is a great place to come for atmosphere or drinks. Do not come for the food or you will be severely disappointed. The owner is outgoing and friendly, but there are a few things she could do to ramp up revenue. *The portions are anemic (do not believe the professional photos listed on the menu section of Yelp.) *We were told the food would be out in 15 minutes it came out over an hour later. *The tri-tip came out raw and extremely bloody. *The prices VS portion size are astronomical. Three years ago it had normal portions and no raw meat. Not sure what has happened, but something has definitely gone down hill. My family has been in the hospitality and restaurant industry ranging from back of the house to management for over 30 years. I love the Deer Lodge and want to see it thrive so here are some things I would recommend. *Bring down prices *Amp up the portion size *Ask how people want their meet cooked, even in a hurry don't serve raw meat. *Drink specials *I would also simplify the menu, turkey or regular burger- ask what kind of cheese etc etc, Caesar or mixed green salad, tri-tip or ribs (also serve BBQ sauce) All of that aside it is filled with great atmosphere and a terrific place if you are apart of the motorcycle community!
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Julian L.

Yelp
I live close by and would love to come here much more often--the location and atmosphere are great! But they could make their food and cocktails 30% better and they could put 30% more of it in our plates and glasses. PROS: Pool table, nice bar/atmosphere, nice servers, great location, occasional live music (hopefully when pandemic is behind us). CONS: Overpriced, nothing-special food and small portions. They also try too hard to put their own little spin on classic cocktails, but it doesn't make them better. We'd prefer the drinks that we know and love.
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Dakota M.

Yelp
The food was delicious! My wife and I split the truffle fries and the BBQ combo (2 ribs, tri tip, pulled pork, and sweet potato fries and chili for the sides). Everything was cooked quickly and came out nice and hot. Our server was very helpful and on top of it. I was hoping for more than 2 ribs, but I'll just order the ribs instead of the BBQ combo next time. The BBQ sauce was just about perfect- smoky and not overly sweet. Our bill came out to $35 before the tip- great deal! The atmosphere and décor here was cozy and comfortable- the perfect log cabin/lodge experience. This will be our new spot every time we're in Ojai (unless we're feeling fancy, then we'll head to Ranch House)!
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Katie O.

Yelp
Try the fried chicken sandwich, the cucumber margarita or the Rose Valley Rita, my personal fave. Cannot go wrong with the BBQ of course! Great beer on tap selection. For all these reviews citing changes with the new ownership, I grew up down the street and up the hill from the Lodge. My parents still live there. My entire family greatly appreciates the safer, less obnoxious and all-inclusive environment as of the last few years. I have much more I could say, but we are in the midst of a global pandemic, so I think everyone needs to just be kind! The new owner has seriously cleaned up the place and us locals appreciate it! Please ride back to wherever you came from and stay there if you have such an issue :)
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Carrie C.

Yelp
Zero stars would be more appropriate. FOR REAL. Old, dry ribs served lukewarm with lukewarm soggy sweet potato fries and coleslaw with no flavor. Question: how can you screw up coleslaw??? My companion had the summer pnzanella salad: old greens (including yellow leaves), all swimming in some dressing with terrible flavor. Dogs are allowed inside the establishment and there's a doggy menu, but I wouldn't feed a dog the human menu served here. My stomach is not happy for sure. This place should be shut down. And a basic moral question: how can the owners serve fellow human beings such garbage?... No wonder this place has 95 "not recommended" (=hidden) one-star reviews...
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Gina P.

Yelp
Excellent food. Our 5 yr son loved it. Great atmosphere. Server were so friendly. Beer selection is great. Will definitely take our out of town guest here next time.