In the mood for an old-fashioned cookout, some chuckwagon soup, or a delicious grass-fed steak? We've rounded up the ultimate list of the USA's best ranch restaurants. From eateries with fancy fine-dining menus to more casual spots that make the most of local produce, you'll be hard pressed to find fresher, tastier food – or more picturesque surroundings to eat it in.

Click or scroll through our gallery to discover America's best ranch restaurants, counting down to the most downright delicious of all.

Our selections are based on genuine user reviews, awards and accolades, and the first-hand experience of our team. They're also regularly checked and updated.

Not only does Sorrel River Ranch have an enviable location on the banks of the Colorado River, but it also has an extraordinary backdrop of arches and mesas – which you can soak up from its excellent restaurant, the River Grill. As you'd expect from any ranch eatery worth its salt, this place showcases only the finest locally sourced and seasonal produce. Steaks and pork chops are always popular here; however, if you're in the mood for something a little different, opt for a meaty pasta dish like bison short rib ragù with pappardelle.

You can get stuck into some tasty Arizona-style cuisine at any time of day at the brilliant restaurant at Tanque Verde Ranch. Those visiting for breakfast can treat themselves to dishes like corned beef hash and huevos rancheros, while dinner guests can dig into satisfying meals like filet mignon and almond-crusted salmon. Keep an eye out for the regular cowboy cookouts if you’re looking for an authentic ranch barbecue experience.

Trough is the place to go for breakfasts and lunches with cowboy flair. The restaurant has more of a casual vibe than its fine dining sister Pomp (number 25 in this list), but it still uses locally sourced ingredients in its delicious dishes. Here before noon? Try the signature huckleberry pancakes and a drink from the fresh smoothie menu. If you swing by for lunch, you can expect rice bowls, salads, and a range of tempting sandwiches.

Want to take in breathtaking views of the Sawtooth Mountains while tucking into some classic ranch food? Head to the restaurant at Idaho Rocky Mountain Ranch. The kitchen uses local organic ingredients to produce gorgeous, soul-nourishing dishes like grilled cauliflower steaks with carrot purée, roasted rack of lamb with mushrooms and sherry vinegar, and seared wild salmon with saffron broth and roasted potato hash. Entertainment is also on offer, with local musicians playing most evenings.

There are several restaurants at the Harris Ranch Inn, but Prime Steakhouse is the one with the most intimate setting. The menu focuses on traditional American cuisine and seasonal specials, and there are plenty of steak cuts to choose from – not to mention local favorites like herb-roasted chicken, pistachio-crusted salmon, cold water lobster tail, and duck leg confit.

If you’d like to see herds of elk and moose wander past while you tuck into your dinner, the Ranch House Restaurant and Saloon is the place for you. The multi-award-winning restaurant specializes in 'New American Mountain cuisine' – with a particular focus on wagyu beef, which is reared on the ranch. Aside from steaks, the menu features delights like bacon-wrapped elk sirloin, seared bigeye tuna, and pistachio and mint–crusted Colorado lamb, and there's a seriously extensive wine list.

If you like your ranch restaurants lively, A Bar A Ranch is the place for you. This happening spot hosts live music every week, with cowboy and folk bands among the regular performers. Meanwhile, the gourmet menu serves up a range of organic produce and natural meats, and the wine cellar is brimming with international and domestic wines – perfect for complementing your dinner.

Pomp at The Resort at Paws Up takes a luxury fine-dining approach to its cuisine. The restaurant makes excellent use of local ingredients, meaning the menu changes depending on the season. Tasty highlights have included bison rib-eye, cedar plank king salmon, and wild mushroom pithivier (a French-inspired puff pastry pie).

Meat lovers won't be disappointed at Wildcatter Steakhouse, a restaurant specializing in Texan cuisine and steaks (if the name wasn’t obvious enough). Here, you can get your teeth into all kinds of steaks, from hand-cut mesquite-grilled options to chicken-fried delights. Not feeling like beef? There are plenty more delicious dishes on the menu, too – think chipotle bacon-wrapped quail, and pulled pork queso.

Venture to Alisal Guest Ranch & Resort – or, more specifically, its restaurant, The Ranch Room – to sample the delights of Californian cuisine and Southwestern ranch cooking in a fine-dining format. The menu changes daily, showcasing seasonal crops sourced from local farms. However, guests can expect to tuck into dishes such as pappardelle with duck ragù, mussels in white wine garlic sauce, and cider-braised short rib with parsnip purée.

At the Ranch House at Brasada Ranch, you can experience farm-to-table dining with a jaw-dropping side dish: an incredible view of the Cascade Mountains. You can chow down on a loaded burrito or buttermilk pancakes for breakfast, and buttermilk fried chicken, steak, or a tasty Ranch Burger (with bacon-onion jam, pickles, and smoked provolone) for dinner. Be sure to try the signature s’mores – if you like, there's the option to toast them over a fire pit.

Sierra Mar looks out onto the Pacific Ocean, and it certainly makes the most of its soul-stirring surroundings. The seasonal four-course prix fixe menu focuses on sustainable ingredients, both from the chef’s garden and the local coast. Diners can expect to eat the likes of rack of lamb with a red wine jus, California halibut with trout roe beurre blanc, and angel food cake (made with strawberries and garden lemon balm) – and there's also a special vegan menu and an award-winning wine list to peruse.

At the Lodge at 4UR Ranch, chef Liz Wolfgang serves up exciting, flavor packed dishes like sesame-glazed quail, chili-garlic shrimp and watermelon poke. Made with homegrown and locally sourced produce wherever possible, the menu here changes with the seasons – but not all eating is done in the dining room. Visitors are encouraged to dine alfresco at weekly chuckwagon breakfasts (which take place along Pierce Creek) as well as at poolside Mexican luncheons and outdoor steak cookouts.

At Los Caballeros Club Grill at Rancho de los Caballeros, diners can tuck into some classic American food (think Reuben sandwiches, cheeseburgers, and Chicago-style hot dogs) while taking in spectacular views of the Bradshaw Mountain range. Whatever you choose to eat, we recommend you wash it down with the restaurant's specialty: the prickly pear Margarita, which is made on site. Also, keep an eye out for the ranch’s regular cookouts.

For a taste of the magnificent food Montana has to offer, take a trip to Lone Mountain Ranch and head straight for its restaurant, Horn & Cantle. In keeping with the restaurant's regional focus, the farm-to-table menu is filled with local ingredients; guests can fill up on favorites like elk meatballs, bison strip steak, and wild game Bolognese. After your meal, why not visit the saloon for a tipple?

Named after its previous owner (and Montana's first-ever female doctor), Caroline McGill, McGill’s at 320 Guest Ranch serves modern takes on dishes inspired by the past. The delicious offerings here are made using the best local ingredients – and the likes of elk wontons, Berkshire pork loin, and bison short rib are always popular with diners. Note that the spot is only open during the summer season.

The Stonehouse was recently named the number one restaurant in Santa Barbara by OpenTable, so you know eating here is going to be an experience to remember. For a cozy tête-à-tête, grab a table by one of the wood-burning fireplaces – or, for breathtaking views, head to the string light–strewn terrace, which looks out over the Pacific Ocean. The menu is filled with contemporary takes on American classics; think award-winning baby back ribs served with barbecue sauce, fries, and apple fennel coleslaw, and a four-cheese mac 'n' cheese loaded with prosciutto di Parma (a San Ysidro Ranch staple).

Located in Unaweep Canyon, right in the heart of red rock country, Gateway Canyons is surrounded by towering palisades, mountains, and pine forests – not to mention ancient fossils and dinosaur footprints. After a day spent exploring, there's no better place to refuel than the Paradox Grille, an on-site restaurant specializing in laid-back Southwestern cuisine. The joint does an excellent line in juicy burgers, mouth-watering tacos, and decadent desserts (think banana cheesecake and chocolate torte).

Breakfast at Mountain Sky’s restaurant is a casual affair, with a range of signature ranch dishes (like huckleberry pancakes) to choose from. However, the restaurant goes all out in the evenings. Chef Jonathan Romans' three- and five-course menus are inspired by classic regional staples – and they've been known to include irresistible offerings like oven-roasted bison tenderloin, pan-roasted salmon, and smoked duck breast.

The Ranch at Rock Creek makes the very best of regionally and locally sourced organic ingredients, with an emphasis on classic ranch-to-table cuisine. What’s most impressive about the restaurant is the variety of culinary experiences it offers. Each day, diners are offered tasting menus like the Homestead Supper Club Menu, which focuses on seafood, and the Overland Route Tasting Menu: a feast of Southwestern cuisine.

Rattlesnake sausage and scallop chowder, seared sage and mustard pheasant, and salami and fern pasta may not sound like your typical ranch restaurant menu choices, but they're some of the fancy foods that keep guests coming back to Triple Creek Ranch time and again. Chef Jacob Leatherman uses fresh seasonal ingredients, and the menu changes every evening. After dinner, head up to the rooftop lounge for a nightcap.

The restaurant at Latigo Ranch is something to get excited about. Although it serves a casual buffet at lunchtimes, its dinners are spectacular, with sumptuous dishes like grass-fed ribeye filet, quail with fennel pollen, and elderflower cheesecake on the menu. Look out for the restaurant's monthly eight-course Dinner Club experience, with menus carefully crafted by chef Spencer George and wine pairings curated by sommelier Amanda George.

If you're after an award-winning wine cellar and a luxury four-course meal, make a beeline for C Lazy U Ranch. The restaurant boasts wood-fired, farm-inspired, seasonal menus that incorporate classic ranch ingredients like aged beef, fresh trout, racks of lamb, and homemade bread. Diners can expect to tuck into meaty dishes like bison carpaccio, smoked elk loin, pig roast, and maple-brined dry-aged pork chops.

At Vermejo Park Ranch, chef Giovanni Lanzante has created a modern American menu with roots in classic Southwestern cuisine. It’s worth trying the bison and fresh trout dishes, as the meat and fish are reared locally and on site – and be sure to look out for the traditional cookouts and fish fries that often take place right on the edge of one of the lakes. The restaurant also hosts wine and cooking classes for those who really like to get stuck in.

Zapata Ranch prides itself on using ingredients that are sourced locally – in fact, its bison meat, a common feature on the menu, is reared on the ranch itself. Meanwhile, vegetables are bought from local farms, and wild trout are caught from the nearby Arkansas River. The restaurant's fresh, tasty offerings tick all the boxes, satisfying guests' cravings for traditional American comfort food while also serving up some modern twists.

Take a trip to Flat Creek Ranch, and you’ll be met with a menu of local organic meats and fresh greens sourced from the onsite garden. As ingredients come and go with the seasons, menus change daily, but one thing's for sure: you'll always get a fabulous four-course meal. Recent dishes have included duck confit, local beef osso bucco, and stuffed pork chops.

The James Beard award–winning Barn can be found at Blackberry Farm in Walland, which was once the land of the Appalachian people. The restaurant prides itself on using Native American ingredients in its dishes, as well as fresh produce grown on the farm. Diners can expect a menu filled with perfect plates like cheese dumplings with grilled garden peppers, pecan and mushroom fritters, and country-fried sweetbreads. It’s also worth sampling the whiskies and brandies, as some are exclusive to the ranch.

For an outstanding gourmet dining experience, head for the Cheyenne Club at Brush Creek Ranch. The restaurant offers a three-course farm-to-table menu, and all of its dishes are made using locally sourced ingredients. American wagyu beef is a particular favorite here – and dishes like dry-aged duck breast and miso-glazed black cod are a hit with diners, too.

The Darwin Ranch makes use of the acres of green pastures it's surrounded by to create healthy menus that elevate local flavors. Unlike other ranches, Darwin’s dishes make vegetables the stars of the show – but when meat is on the menu, it's sourced either from its sister ranch, Ishawooa Mesa Ranch, or a local farm. Expect fancy fare like seasonal heirloom legumes, panna cotta made from homemade yogurt, and edible homegrown nasturtium flowers.

The Hideout Ranch operates on a seasonal basis, which means guests can regularly experience culinary creations from different chefs. Like most ranches, The Hideout’s menu changes each night – but diners can always expect to come across classic dishes of seafood, meat, and pasta. How does it taste? The glowing reviews from satisfied visitors speak for themselves.

A three-course fine-dining experience awaits guests at Hubbard’s Six Quarter Circle Ranch, located right on the border of Yellowstone National Park. The menu here is packed with mouth-watering dishes like beef Wellington, walleye (yellow pike) with a lemon caper sauce, and French onion soup. Not only that, but there’s a wide selection of California and Northwest wines to sample at the Rocky Mountain Spirits Bar after your meal.

During the daytime, the food at Vista Verde Ranch is casual Southwestern fare – but the dinner menu, by chef Jonathon Gillespie, is something special. Evening diners can tuck into luxurious options like chicken breast with squash purée, hand-cut squid ink fettuccine, and Royal Red shrimp with roasted fennel, tomato, and sea urchin butter. The restaurant also offers weekly cooking and wine tasting classes.

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