The Rochers at the Ranch House

Got all of our orders wrong every single time the food came out. The insisted we ordered things that we didn’t order. They specifically told us they could accommodate a gluten allergy, and then they refused to serve us the accommodating dishes. Will never set foot back in this hilarious excuse for a fine dining establishment.

I had a wonderful experience at the newly reopened Ranch House. The prix fixe menu was new to me, but it turned out to be a delightful surprise. Chef Rocher delivered a performance that engaged all the senses, combining beautiful presentation, complex flavors, and high-quality ingredients—many of them locally sourced. The servers were very informative! Each dish was a pleasure, and I found myself eagerly anticipating the next. You can feel confident that whatever is on the menu for the day will be excellent. I’m already looking forward to discovering more surprises on my next visit.

We had a awesome experience here celebrating our recent marriage. The team went above and beyond to make our experience special. The food was excellent, very creative yet a lot of familiar flavors we love. The drinks were great and Thomas our waiter was extremely attentive and fun. In the way our Chef Perfecte made sure to chat with us and it was great to hear a bit more of his story. 10/10 would recommend if you are looking for a special and/or romantic dinner in Ojai.

Amazing food in a charming setting. Highly recommended.

Delicious food in a beautiful outdoor space!

The staff was very polite.

An incredible experience! The outdoor setting is magical, the food is beautiful presented - colorful, delicious and so thoughtful to leverage and complement the garden. The staff is top notch. This is a must try!

As a longtime Ojai local and hopeless food lover, I've eaten at The Ranch House plenty of times over the years and was saddened by its culinary decline. (It's always been a spectacular location). But now the legacy that Alan and Helen Hooker started - that mix of artistry, creativity, and reverence to food - has been resurrected: yesterday we went to eat at The Rochers at The Ranch House and it was spectacular. The food was outstanding and surprisingly inventive. The uni-flavored chawanmushi for example was a revelation - delicate, briny, and impossibly smooth. I could have bathed in it it was so good. There was a wonderful shrimp tartar with a melon infused sauce that was accompanied by a maitake mushroom intensely flavored with a deep blackberry sauce. We had a lot of fun discussing this course - I thought the blackberry sauce had a slight edge over the excellent shrimp dish while my dining companion gave the shrimps the win by a hair's width. But we both agreed that everything was delicious. If I had to offer one small critique, it's that the portions, while by no means huge, are nonetheless quite generous - they could easily be smaller and it would still feel like a feast. But that's a lovely "problem" to have. Overall the quality and creativity of the food was amazing and we can't wait to go back and see what else the young chef will come up with. Ojai is lucky to have the Rochers breathe new culinary life into The Ranch House. The Hookers would be proud.

Beautiful Setting, but the Experience Misses the Mark We were excited to dine here and enjoy dinner in the garden. From the moment we arrived, though, the atmosphere felt off. You walk into a peaceful, charming space only to be hit with loud punk rock music. It was jarring. We thought it must be a mistake. We love music, but this didn't fit the setting--it drowned out conversation and clashed with what should have been a serene dining experience. When we politely asked if the volume could be turned down, our server explained that it was the chef's personal playlist and he'd need permission to adjust it. For a restaurant charging $200 for dinner, that's disappointing. The server later returned to tell us it had already been turned down earlier because another guest had complained. In other words, it would stay as is. It sent the message that the chef values his own preferences over his guests' comfort. To be clear, the servers were wonderful. They spoke passionately about the history of the property and described each dish in impressive detail. It was obvious they were trying to bring the chef's vision to life. They were warm and professional, even when it was clear their hands were tied. The drink menu was another miss. Plenty of bottle options, but few local wines by the glass--a surprise in the heart of wine country. My partner ordered a Manhattan, only to be told the chef doesn't allow it. That's a first for us. It added to the feeling that this place is about control, not hospitality. As for the food: some dishes were inventive and delicious, others fell flat. There's creativity, but at this price point, the experience still feels uneven. We both agreed that if we hadn't prepaid, we would have left soon after sitting down. The music made it nearly impossible to relax, and we honestly couldn't wait to get out of there. We were told the chef is aiming for a Michelin-star experience, but after dining at Caruso's the night before, this restaurant has a long way to go. Caruso's delivered exceptional service and food, but more importantly, made every guest feel valued. Here, we felt more like intruders in someone else's artistic experiment. The setting and history are beautiful, and I genuinely wish them success. But the chef's attitude--toward both guests and staff--suggests he's not ready to take real feedback. When he asked how our meal was as we were leaving (after paying), it felt more like a formality than genuine curiosity. In short: stunning venue, talented servers, flashes of culinary creativity--but an overall experience built for the chef, not the diner.

An interesting attempt at being creative. I would call it a strange experience. Picture walking into a beautiful Japanese inspired garden that's been there for many many years, bamboo and lush gardens, and sitting down for an elegant meal. Then the music is turned on and I'd call it 1960 English rock mixed in with other genres from all over, a little too loud and not really be fitting of the environment. We mentioned it to the waiter and he said it's the chef's jam so to speak. The food was certainly adventuresome. It just missed the mark too often. Either a bit too acidic or a bit off on a funny flavor profile, or in the case of the tuna really inedible as it was very tough. When all 4 ppl leave most of it, you'd think the server(s) would inquire but they just cleared the plates as if it were normal. I really hope the restaurant makes it and of course being a prefix menu we might just have been in on an off night. The plating was beautiful. The dishes were beautiful and unique. There was certainly thought put into it and the service was very nice and attentive. Wine pairing was nice and generous. If you do go here, it's worth adding it on as an option. Overall It just missed on too many flavor profiles that didn't quite go together. They do say the chef likes to combine all types of different cuisines and he certainly did that. I'm just don't know if they blended well. I probably would give it a 3 1/2 if that were possible.

Wow! What a spectacular evening we had last night! For our 40th wedding anniversary, we were treated to dinner here. It was a chefs tasting menu, so we were surprised with each plate. From the crafted cocktails, to the dessert course, everything was unique, creative, and delicious!!! Don't expect it to be like a regular restaurant though. They serve what's on the menu for that evening and the portions are "tasters" but we did not leave hungry. This place is beautiful and a hidden gem. I highly recommend it for a special occasion or even having an event or wedding here. ALL of the wait staff were genuinely nice and helpful and attentive.

The new owners refused to honor a $200 gift certificate purchased before they took over. My wife and I frequented the restaurant every year for an anniversary or birthday. We bought my parents the gift certificate so they could enjoy it. My mom passed away before they could use it and my father and I attempted to go and use the gift certificate but were turned away. I am disappointed and will not return.

My husband and I came for our anniversary dinner. We had the best time. The food was delicious, the energy there is so great and the service was amazing!! We will absolutely be back again!

The place and ambience are great, friendly service. Food was overpriced, I wouldn't recommend to friends and wouldn't go again. Dodged one star for overpriced food Dodged another one for the taste of the food Dodged another one (not to be rude) our waiter had strong BO and made it hard to ask any questions. It was a beautiful setting though

We have very rarely enjoyed food this perfectly prepared and presented. It was amazing and delicious! The service was fantastic! The gardens look beautiful. The Hookers would be so proud that the legacy of the Ranch House has continued. We can't wait to experience this delicious place again. I can't even believe that there is food like this in Ojai. The beloved Ranch House is back and better than ever!!