Ojai Deer Lodge

That was a fun afternoon! I loved the tri-​tip sandwich and hot link plate! The sauce is a contender in the BBQ world! It’s only available Friday, Saturday and Sunday’s until 4pm… So plan ahead. We sat outside it was nice! I am certainly coming back!

I felt discriminated as a Cambodian woman with my friend who is from Hawaii trying to relax in Ojai. I had ordered rib eye steak and fish and chips, food was ok. People there not so. I Would never ever come back here after being disrespected. All i wanted to do was eat my food in peace and obviously it didn’t turned out as planned.

The Deer Lodge is awesome, whether you are going to have a delicious dinner, or meet up with friends and listen to live music. The food is so good and since there is a full bar, the cocktails are amazing as well. I recommend checking it out! It’s a beautiful environment with great service!

The Ojai Deer Lodge might be the love of my life. The perfect atmosphere and wonderful service have made me never want to leave this town. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys quality, good food, perhaps some romance, music and basically all things delightful.

I ordered the farmers market salad yesterday which was: butter leaf lettuce, toasted almonds, plums, and strawberries with an amazing fruity dressing with hints of ginger. Ingredients went so well together and were perfect for a summer lunch! My boyfriend ordered the pulled pork sandwich from the outside BBQ and it was equally delicious. Tangerine cheesecake is always a must have before I leave!!!

A group of friends and I (four total) came here for dinner and drinks. Two of us ordered the filet mignon ($ 38), one rib-​eye ($ 38), and one of us ordered the scallops ($ 17). First of all, the food was WAY overpriced for the quality. As for the prime rib, although the «quality» of the food might be arguable to «Ojai-​ans,» the end result was not great. As for the scallops, it was quite a small plate, and only two scallops came with the «meal.» In addition, not much accommodated the scallops… so it only took a few bites to finish.
As for the service: The waitress was slow, and her personality did not make her a good waitress.
Overall, our party ordered between $ 300 and $ 400 in food and drinks, and dined for about an hour. When the waitress came back to our table with a bill after the hour, we told her we would like to stay a little while longer for drinks. She told us that she would need to re-​seat us, because there was another party who had been waiting for a table.
Now… it is understandable that a waitress would want to accommodate an oncoming party. However, we had spent much, much money at this restaurant, and wanted to keep our table, and communicated this to the waitress. She refused to allow us to stay at our table, and made us move to a bench.
All four of us were on the same page about the quality of the food, the price, and the service. We all decided we would not return in the future.

I wad a fan of the Deer Lodge for quite a few years, until my last visit (end of 2015/​Jan 2016). Apparently, it is under new ownership/​management. Although I don’t eat meat or poultry, but I’ve always been able to have a nice meal there. I have vegetarian friends who also ate there before the change. On my last visit, I was surprised to find out that it was under new management, but I was so excited that I wasn’t discouraged. The young woman at the front ignore me for a while. When she finally looked up at me she still didn’t say anything. I told her I was there for dinner and she want me to a table in a very dark corner. I was alone and it was a table for one which I didn’t mind but it was so dark I couldn’t read the menu. I pulled out my cell phone to read the menu and knows that it had changed quite a bit. Gone was the salmon with quinoa and kale and other items I had eaten. There was one fish choice which didn’t sound very appealing. I asked if there was anything vegetarian on the menu and was told «No». There was no suggestion or offer to accommodate in any way. So I politely told server that I had changed my mind and left. Will not be returning. Obviously, they don’t need my business.

We heard this place was amazing for dinner and live music, so we went to check it out on Memorial long weekend (Saturday night) only to be turned away from the hostess without care. We drove all the way from our accommodation on the other side of town. It was just 2 of us at 6.30pm and they said they would be full by 7pm with reservations. We asked if we could quickly eat at the bar or outside and they said no. I was a hostess in my time and I know how guests should be treated, she didn’t even «pretend» to try to accommodate us or show any care. Boo — we went for tapas in town instead at Azu and they were super lovely and accommodating even though they were really busy too! The food there way exceptional!

Sooo disappointed! Service and the food was slow with no personality. Fish & chips were bland & boring: pixie tartar sauce was sweet mayonnaise, truffle fries were less than crispy or tasty, a little bit oily. Everything needed salt. The only redeeming thing was that my meal was comped because I was served fried chicken first. For the prices they charge, they should throw in some flavor!
I’ll be taking this stop off my Ojai must-​do list.

Good food, small portions, bad service. Waited for 30min. Ordered scallops for $ 17 and only got two. Mac and cheese was good but got water 15min after sitting there. Then after I finished my mean I got rolls. Not to mention I had to wait 15min for our waiter to have a conversations with friends. Then when I asked for the check he went back and started taking someone else’s order.

Food is delicious fresh from «local growers ambulances great casual don’t be afraid to walk in great happy hour menu

I have to say I was a little disappointed in the overall experience. Service staff were very nice and the ambience was comfortable (other than a problem with flies on the patio). I ate the burger with a fried egg on pretzel bread. At $ 18 it just did not seem to meet the value of what I paid. Not particularly flavorful or different than many other burgers I’ve had at half the price. The french fries with truffle oil were served to me cold as if they had been prepared an hour before and plated before sending to the table. I complained to the busboy and asked for fresh fries. I got another plate of the same quality fries hot, but only because they took the same batch and refried them (my assumption based on experience). My friend had the frittata and it was ok, but just ok. The highlight of the meal was the Lori’s Lavender Lemonade, but we were surprised it was served to us from the bottle that appeared to come from a store. Nice to know I can buy it elsewhere.
Overall just not the quality for the price. The farm to table thing seemed to be a bit of an overstatement. Nothing sang to us and I’d not go back to spend $ 20 on a burger. The BBQ smelled sooooo good, so maybe that is the way to go?

Came in last night to watch a friend’s band play. I went for a bike ride before going so of course I was starving. Didn’t plan to eat, but ended with a very hefty tab.
I used to come here when it was under different management. The new one seems to be doing a great job.
We lucked out and got a table just in front of the stage. We were able to watch the setup while we got drinks before deciding what to get for dinner. I perused the menu and was glad to see that they kept the smoked gouda mac n cheese because it’s my favorite thing ever.
I started with the Matilija Mule. Basically a moscow mule, but with gin instead of vodka. I decided to order the following things — divers scallops, panzanella salad garlic parmesan fries, and the gouda mac n cheese. I ordered all that for myself. Don’t judge. I was hungry. The waitress turned to my friend and was like «i’ll just share hers.» I was like uhm no bitch. Get your own food.
I don’t know if it was because I was exhausted or what, but man I inhaled all the food as soon as it was set down. The scallop were whoa. The sauce was amazing and the brussels sprouts that accompanied it were cooked to perfection.
The matilija mule was so good I ended up having 5.
Bottom line — the food is great, the drinks will quench your thirst and the service was on point.

4.5 STARS
Awesome location. Great fresh food. We were staying at the Ojai Valley Inn and Spa and wanted to venture out.
This place was highly recommended.
We had the burger, man n cheese, and kale salad. Everything was delicious. The burger was so fresh and juicy. It tasted exactly what a farm to table meal to taste like.
Everything else was superb as well.

Unexpectedly delicious. The exterior is misleading. The outside courtyard is really nice to sit at for a meal. Try the panzanella salad. You won’t regret it!

A very Strange but Fun and Tasty Experience
Why it was strange:
First, it was Oscar night so it was pretty empty. Second, we were moments away from seeing a real live biker bar fight! I’m sooo glad we missed it! Third, get this:
I’m sitting at the bar, playing cards, and watched 1, 2, 3, 4, all glass fall off a shelf and shatter! Weird lady behind me yells, «well, it’s haunted here…» Umm, go on ???
Fast forward– couple hours later, I was having conversation with a bartender, who was off for the night, having a cigarette outside. I mentioned what happened with the glasses. He said, yes, well there are rumors of Deer Lodge being haunted. There was a murder in the cellar in the 80’s. The manager was murdered… WHOA! So creepy. Exciting… I wanted to hear more! …
But my fried chicken had arrived and I didn’t want it to get cold. Oh, and it was FANTASTIC. There’s a reason why it’s first on the menu. The mashed were fabulous as well.
Rewind: At the beginning of the evening I sat on side patio and watched the sun set. Someone told me to get the kale salad because «it’s that good.» And oh, it was. Very rich dressing. Delish.
After that, ordered the scollops. Two giant Divers. Fresh, cooked perfectly rare. Great flavors. Delicate, clean, not filling. Perfect second course.
After sunset I moved in to sit at the bar to play cards and eat more… Like I said, it was a very slow night for them due to the Emmys. The bartender was apologizing to a lady about what had happened (the fight). Ordered the white truffle fries, then the chicken I spoke of. Fries were pretty great, by the way. …And oh *that* chicken.
I want to visit again when it’s a more «normal» night. You know, sans having the place to ourselves, smashing glasses by angry Spirits, …and biker brawls. Ha!
PS– A friend, who rides his bike here from LA, says the bbq is amazing. (Lunchtime til 4:00pm)

Best. Burgers.
Try the kale salad as well. So flavorful. Great cocktails and service. I mean where else are you gonna find a biker bar with farm to table food?

Typical biker bar with grub and brew. It’s always fun to look at the bikes and the bikers. Was a nice ride up from Huntington Beach with about 16 other riders. The company was terrific.
The hostess quickly accommodated our drop in large group, and was quite friendly. So were the waitress and guy outside on the bbq. The kid getting us water and flatware was less than friendly and more than rude. Not where he wanted to be on a Sunday afternoon.
The beer on tap was cold and there was a nice variety. I enjoyed the coconut porter. The angus burger was big on size and small on flavor for a 12 dollar burger. Dry and mediocre at best. Selected corn –yum and coleslaw –flavorless for my sides.
I guess what stood out to me was the «all bikers are stopping here, so why try» mentality.
Had a great time, but a boring, over priced lunch.

Maybe fifth time is a charm here? The first time I came here was right after it changed ownership, when they didn’t have enough menus for every table and an elderly couple near us waited so long for their food I thought they might expire before it arrived. Second time was similarly bad though with menus. Third time was with a friend for brunch and service was still impossibly slow (almost 10 min just for them to come take my drink order???)
Fourth time was for dinner earlier this week. The hostess took a while to come back to the podium and greet us, but we were seated right away and our dinner started out at a good pace. Our waitress was friendly and cheerful and took our orders promptly. It was not until about half way through our meal that things slowed to a crawl and we stopped getting check ins for our drinks. We waited far too long for the bill and too long for it to be picked up off our table.
I enjoyed my salad and my husband enjoyed his buffalo steak. I tried a bite and agreed it was *very* tender and nicely flavored. I tried one of his truffle fries too and I couldn’t stand it. Not sure why but it was sure not for me. My mac n cheese should have been called cheese n mac. It was so overwhelmingly cheese I didn’t enjoy it. I took most of it home, intending to make a batch of pasta and cut that into it to get a better ratio of cheese, but the cheese they use is very thick and blocky and wouldn’t lend well to mixing after it’s initial creation.
Expensive meal and overall just not that impressive. At least not for me. After four visits I’m not expecting to return. Food has been good on each of my visits but service isn’t always, and I can get better all around at other restaurants.

I love it here. If you are a biker (the motor kind), it’s a destination. If you’re a poser, up for the weekend at the wine tasting, it’s for you, too. It’s not posh, or swanky, or really doesn’t fit into the Ojai «artsy» town — that’s what makes it so good. A literal lodge, woody and all, a few blocks out from the main blvd. Here, you’ll see it all. It’s great for hanging out, people watching (sit on the patio), and meeting good people.
The menu has all the expected things: burgers, fricken awesome white truffle fries, nachos, fried thingies, mac n cheese, chicken wings, and their famous chili. A few salads, and the beet salad and kale salads are worth mentioning, as well as gumbo. Then, if that’s not all, they’ve got few things from the BBQ: pulled pork sliders, tri-​tip sandwiches, and BBQ chicken. They offer a special Sunday brunch menu, too. You won’t be hungry when you leave here. BIG FOOD.
Live music every night, and sometimes during the weekend days.
In all, it’s a special place and I’ve got special memories of here. I used to ride (until an accident several years ago promised my Mom I wouldn’t ride again)…now, I’m just a poser. Experience: 4.5 stars.