The Lone Star Ranch House — Restaurant in Yakima

We are new to the Yakima area and are looking for places to shop and eat that are not the obvious choices in town. So, while waiting for my wife to go through checkout at a local big box, I went to Google Maps and asked for places to eat that were close. After looking at several, I found the Lone Star Ranch House. It is a bit out of the way and when we entered the parking lot there was only one vehicle there. Not a good sign, as it was about 1:30 PM. My wife took one look at it and said, "Looks like a bar that is not even open." Google said it was and so did the lighted "Open" sign. When we entered there was not one but a single host who seated us. He then reverted to waiter and eventually to chef. The menu was pretty typical for a barbecue place, with some Northwest offerings as well. She selected the French Dip and I, the Deep Fried Salmon and Chips. We were not disappointed. The French Dip was meaty and the dip was not overly salty. The salmon was cooked to perfection, which is hard to do when it is deep fried. The breading was just a bit heavy, but it was delicious. And the fries, they were a crisp, golden brown, on the outside and warm, yet, perfectly cooked on the inside. The host/waiter/chef/server/counter guy, turned out to be the owner, who we visited with throughout our meal. (BTW: I had a great cup of black coffee and my wife had a very good glass of iced tea, as well. We have found that the local city water has a less than pleasant effect on water based drinks here) He said that he had been in that location for about, "seven, going on eight years," and that his evening business was better than the lunch crowd. Our lunch cost was $30.00 plus tip and it was worth the cost. As we left I said that, "We will be back." And, I am sure...

Absolutely one of the best meals I’ve had here in Yakima. I rarely support or even branch out to local restaurants as I am one to eat at places I’m used to. Thankfully my girlfriend and I decided to drive around to find a local restaurant that we had never visited. I’ve had drove past this place countless times and decided to give it a try. Let me start off by saying that the place was very welcoming despite being dead empty. I assumed this was the case as we had showed 50 minutes till closing. I am not one to complain about service nor food as I had expected things to not be at the best towards closing. Despite this, we were serviced in a timely manner and had a very nice meal. Don’t get me wrong, the dishes weren’t a complete 10/10 but still packed flavor. Compared to bigger chains like Dickeys and Texas Roadhouse, the meat has its own unique flavor. I’ve been getting into bbq recently and despite not craving the “bbq sampler” I got it anyways. I’m glad I did not pass as I got a bang for my buck. The dish was so good that I dropped bbq sauce on myself! Fries were warm inside with a light crisp finish. And the coleslaw caught me by surprise as it had its own twist. The meat was definitely cooked in patient process as I had no meat that was chewy. Turns out the owner does his own cuts and has 3 different types of smokers! My girlfriend had gotten the steak and shrimp special with an appetizing baked potato. Amazing food, service, cozy atmosphere, and a great conversation with the owner for the price of $60 (with tip). You really can’t beat it. You can tell the owner wants to grow and better his business. To all the negative comments, please give this place a 2nd chance as the owner seems to take feedback and apply it to the business. Definitely...

The most incredible prime rib you will ever eat! Even though the largest cut they offer on the menu is 16oz, if the chef (incredible guy--you have to meet him) has enough to go around, you can order 32-ouncers like we did (all 4 of us). I suppose we could have asked for an even bigger cut, but the 32-ouncer experience is a once-in-a-lifetime hedonistic experience every serious carnivore should do at least once. And you should DEFINITELY DO IT HERE!

I've had prime rib all across the U.S. (I live on the east coast), from the most expensive, exclusive restaurants, to little-known, off-the-beaten path jewels like The Lone Star Ranch House. And all I can say is . . . WOW! By the way, what we paid for the 32-ouncer was about what I've paid for 12-ouncers at more mainstream restaurants, but the quality was out of this world (look at the rub the chef used in the pictures - a salivating experience to say the least).

In addition to the prime rib, we had the best chicken gizzards (yes, that's right - GIZZARDS) you will ever eat. Our waitress (incredible young woman, very patient - and tolerant) recommended them, but every other time I've eaten them they've been tough and chewy. But - and I'm not exaggerating - these nearly melted in your mouth. An unbelievable experience.

The Lone Star is a little hard to find, and you might miss it if you're not paying attention as you drive past. But it is a carnivore's paradise. Every food item we tried was second to none, and the staff are friendly, and attentive to your every request. And if you play your cards right, you can get the chef accommodate your...