Ranch House

I've been here a few times in the past half year--once with the family on weekends and sometimes by myself on a quiet weekday.  All I expect from little local diners is good, home-cooked style food--nothing fancy, nothing innovative.  But consistently, the food here falls short of that by miles; I'd say it borderlines bad.  On my last visit, the omelet was dry and ugly brown (not sure how eggs can come out brown without being burnt but they figured it out); the linguisa (like crumbled cardboard) had no flavor and a strange texture.  The fruit side was five pieces of sliced orange--granted, the oranges were sliced very well and while technically correct, this hardly is my expectation of "fruit".

The service is marginal.  I'm always greeted quickly and when there are empty tables, seated just as quickly but they treat people like a grumpy aunt might treat unwelcome nephews and nieces--a bit snarky at the world (not the customers), and often yelling weird social commentaries at the numerous TV... nothing socially offensive though--just miscellaneous ramblings... just like a grumpy aunt might.

Prices are reasonable for good food which means this place is waaaay overpriced.

If I was a chicken and I laid an egg... I'd be pretty sad to have these people ruin it.  There are many wonderful breakfast choices in the neighboring Orinda & Lafayette area so I'm not coming back to the Ranch House.

Yummy breakfast food!
I have had good omelets & the kids have devoured buttery pancakes. Run into friends here or strike up a conversation with strangers. It's relaxed.

From the menu, I was hoping for some decent Tex-Mexish breakfast.  Nah.  The Chorizo in the chorizo scramble special was tasteless, missing that vibrant vinegar/chile taste of a good chorizo con huevos.  They also put cheese on it and didn't offer salsa - CRIMINAL!    They also had biscuits and gravy and chicken-fried steak on the menu that reminded me of home. (Texas).    The egg sandwich was kinda blah, as was the omelette.  I have to say that they make some mighty fine hash browns though.  Pretty much the best I've tasted.   I will try them again, but fear they have been lost in Gringolandia.  : )

Loved the murals.  Don't TOUCH the atmosphere, folks.