The Ranchers Steak and Seafood

Just returned from a great dinner at Rancher's.  I had the filet and it was one of the best I've had. It was cooked perfectly and the butter sauce on it was superb. My husband had the pork chop. It was huge and very tender. Sides of asparagus and potatoes were generous and tasty. Service was very attentive and quick. We will definitely go back.

This place is inconsistent. We have gone to The Ranchers several times. The first time, the food and the service were excellent. We left feeling that Ruidoso had a new gem of a restaurant. The second time, the service was good, but the food was just OK.

The last time we went, not only was the food just OK, but the service was absolutely lousy. Our waitress only had four tables, but she was gone for long periods of time. We (and the other tables) took to stopping bussers and the other waitress to get service. We had salads first, and one of them was wrong. The entrees took a very long time and had cooled by the time we got them. I had ordered a glass of wine when she first came by, but it didn't come until after the entrees, and that only because we got the attention of the busser.

I asked the busser what was going on with the waitress, and he hemmed and hawed, then said she was trying to put things together 'back there'. Again, she only had four tables, and the other side had only three. It wasn't busy at all, so what was she trying to put together? We were very disappointed. Turns out Ruidoso doesn't have a new gem of a restaurant with The Ranchers.

I'm giving them two stars, instead of one, because the servers are all very nice and know the menu well. Also, I still remember that perfect first visit, and hope that they will become consistently excellent.

The Creamed Spinach and Blue Cheese dressing were fantastic, and the atmosphere was good but that's about it. The steak was tough and the baked potato was undercooked. Waaaay overpriced for the food quality!