The Ranch

I’ve been here a few times. Nice food, great selection on the menu, not very crowded over lunch with ample parking. I had an awesome steak cooked perfectly.

I’m rating this for my experiences coming to this place ONLY for Uni Nights on Wednesdays. I never came here for anything else.
With that being said, my, oh my, was this place the best place to live directly adjacent from while studying abroad. This place was perfect for having a fun time with locals and living the life of a careless college student.
Hump Wednesdays were the best way to celebrate the middle of the week and to get you through the next couple of days. The drinks weren’t bad, but the themes were the best! If there’s only one place I remember coming to while studying abroad and going out near MacUni, it was this place. The music was great. The people were friendly. And the atmosphere was just what you needed!

I’ve purchased many things on the menu here, and am always disappointed with the food, the price or both. The only redeeming item on the menu is the $ 12 Ranch Roast — it is the only thing you should buy unless you have a seniors card (in which case, you should take advantage of the senior’s menu).

Good for kids but the food is pub quality at above average prices. They usually have some interesting beers on tap though.

The daily specials are good value, however the queue is long, the beer garden is filthy, the wine is expensive, and the chips can only be described as the worst in all of Sydney. All to save a few bucks?

Went Tuesday night where they have a «2 main meals for $ 30» deal. Meals need to be between$ 18-​$ 30 to qualify.
Order a scotch fillet, 2 eye fillets, pan fried barramundi, and salt & pepper calamari.
The calamari was lovely — it was fresh and tender.
We ordered the 2 eye fillets as medium rare and the scotch fillet medium.
The eye fillets came back medium and medium well; the scotch fillet came out medium rare. We’d also ordered one of the eye fillets with chips and veges (usually they come with either chips & salad or potato & veges), it wasn’t put into the til correctly, but when we mentioned it, they offered us extra veges on the side, so that was pretty cool of them.
The barramundi… stay away from the barramundi. It was NOT fresh, and tasted that way. The butter sauce was overwhelming.
Also, if you want to hold a conversation while you’re there make sure you either finish before 8pm or go on another day. The trivia host is LOUD, we were practically screaming at each other across the table!

Over priced food. Long waits for cold food.
We know some of our food sat on the counter for at least twenty minutes before we were buzzed to come over and get it.
Entrees ready 45 minutes after the mains took 45 minutes.
I only would return to have a drink with mates as it is the only pub in the area.
Better off ordering pizza delivery and eating it in the beer garden. Which I have seen done here as the food is so pricey for what you get and for how long you wait.

Really family friendly place! Food is not bad (not excellent compared to price). I recommend this place to families with kids (2 – 7 yrs old).

Average fair. Wouldn’t pay near $ 30 for the salmon/​barra fillet. I could get more (even if just more salad) for this price. Only go there when there is a good deal such as 2 meals for $ 60.

We haven’t been to this place for a few years. Last night we tried again, and definitely we won’t return for a few years again. We ordered kangaroo and a hamburger. The hamburger was so-​so, and the chips that came with it were incredibly salty. The kangaroo was tender but the sauce was hopeless.
The food was not cheap, for that price we were expecting better quality.
There are many specials during weekdays that may be OK if you want to eat on a budget, but otherwise I’d stay out of this place.
We’ll try again in a couple of years…

Our martial arts club goes here every Monday night after training. We go because A) Its close, B) It serves beer and C) Its the only place for miles around that will let in a group of badly dressed guys who stink after 3 hours training (which gives you some idea of the general ambiance of the place).
On the plus side the beer is cold and there is a reasonable selection.
On the minus side The music is crap and they won’t turn it off even if we are the only ones in the place, the TVs are always on and competing with the music and its full of pokies.
The clientele is almost exclusively students from Macquarie uni and the place is a real meat market. If you want to pick up 18 year olds that may be a plus. If you want a quiet drink its not.
If there was anywhere (and I mean anywhere) else in the area that was open late and would let us in, we would ditch the ranch and good riddance.
There is a bistro which is supposed to be OK but its closed when we get there so can’t comment on that. As a local pub though its a lousy choice but the only one around.