Deeeelish BBQ in California

Coming up I-5 on the way from L.A. to NorCal last summer, we bumbled across a little town in the middle of nowhere called Buttonwillow. There wasn't much there. I think there was a fast food joint and maybe a Denny's. But tucked behind some old car repair places and dilapidated industrial buildings was the Willow Ranch BBQ. There were a couple of patrol cars parked in the lot and there were plenty of people there, so we figured it was a good bet. Oh... my.... gosh. This place was amazing. It's easily the best BBQ I've had in years. The baked potato was unbelievable. You must try this place. It's a long drive, but if you're making your way upstate or downstate, it's definitely worth a look-see and a hearty bite. Prices are reasonable. Service staff was terrific.

What kind of BBQ was it? What types of meats and side dishes. Any special exit in Buttonwillow. Any other info you have?

According to the[url='http://www.buttonwillowraceway.com']Buttonwillow Raceway[/url] page the address is 27770 Lagoon Drive. Looks to be right off I-5 to the east, according to Yahoo.

Brad

Could you be a little more specific as to location, as I frequently make that jaunt!

Click[url='http://maps.yahoo.com/broadband#mvt=m&q1=27770%20lagoon%20drive,%20buttonwillow,%20ca&trf=0&lon=-119.396839&lat=35.399545&mag=2']here[/url] for a map. Location "A" is where you want to go...

Brad

I wish the original poster would come back and answer the menu and location questions.

quote:

Al-The Mayor-Bowen Posted - 06/13/2007 : 12:08:54
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I wish the original poster would come back and answer the menu and location questions.

Al ..... I'm sure Parizienne is to busy working in the kitchen getting ready for the lunch crowd.

Ohhhh Frank, Don't spoil my image of the wayward traveler pulling into a strange place and finding a BBQ jewel.

quote:

Al-The Mayor-Bowen Posted - 06/13/2007 : 13:02:52
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ohhhh Frank, Don't spoil my image of the wayward traveler pulling into a strange place and finding a BBQ jewel.

Al you might be right I just noticed the poster used the word "bumbled" .....not hardly a word used by folks in Kern county .................... maybe apologies are in order but that's something I'm fresh out of.... 4 miles off I-5 in the boonies is a little to much bumble ............... Linda just chimed in and said maybe the poster meant "stumble" in which case the folks around Bakersfield do a lot of..... lol
is bumble the Latino word for stumble?

Willow Ranch has a varied menu, from BBQ, Steaks, Seafood to burgers and fries & Cold Sandwiches.

A very sweet lady answered the phone and we discussed the place for about 10 minutes.

For 2:30 in the aftrenoon the place sounded packed. They offer a daily menu special, and country fried steak with mashed taters and gravy was today's.

If the Q is real??? I don't know, but sounded like a place to go eat at before enjoying a race at the speedway.





Sizz & Al - I wondered too, when I saw the op's location, maybe they lost their internet privileges. For some reason Johnny Cash, popped into my head..........

Well, I have to say I am surprised at the number of responses already. Wow... this certainly is an active forum.

This was about a year ago, so I will remember as much as I can. I had the chicken. It was juicy and flavorful -- nice and smoky, not overly sweet or drowned in sauce. You could really appreciate the meat's flavor as well as the spices and flavorings in the sauce. I had it with a baked potato that I recall was one of the best I've ever had. I don't know where they get their taters, or if this one was just the luck of the draw, but it had great flavor. I had it with butter and sour cream. My husband had the pork ribs. He recalled that they were really tender (and he's pretty picky about his BBQ) and the sauce didn't overpower but complemented nicely. They also served a nice chilled dinner salad. The iced tea was good, and the service was top notch. It wasn't a fancy place, but it was worth the stop. I think they have homemade desserts, too, but we were all too full to indulge.

And no --- I am not the cook. Heh. I'm a middle school teacher, actually. As for the bumbling, we probably actually stumbled, but we may as well have bumbled because we were hauling all of my worldly possessions in a U-Haul and towing a trailer to boot. We looked like holy heck, the lot of us, and we had to leave our poor cat in the car while we ate. Poor kitty. So when I said bumbled it was because we were sort of bouncing around I-5 hoping the trailer wouldn't come unhitched and that my lovely walnut and plate glass curio cabinet would survive the rough and tumble ride to NorCal (it did).

My husband just refreshed my memory -- the corn on the cob that was served was probably a frozen one. He recalls it was mushy and tasteless. He also remembered that they served the tea southern style, that is, by asking if we wanted it sweet or unsweet.

Sweet or unsweet? You don't get that sort of hospitality in the big house! Not that we live in the big house, but we can hear 'em blowing the whistle for roll call across the river from our lovely suburban paradise. Couldn't let that crack about losing my internet privileges and Johnny Cash go. Hehehe...

Welcome back, My Dear.

Now that you have established your credentials as a real person we hope you will report on decent places for travelers to nourish themselves in the Capital City area.My brother bailed out (no pun intended) of SoCal for a place near you in Granite Bay a few years back. He loves the area!
As a retired SoCal Teacher, I acknowledge your survival skills and pay all due respect to your career choice. Middle School is a "unique" experience..somewhat similiar to a 2 to 5 year sentence in that institution across the river from you !

Al!! You're a railfan? I just ran across another of your posts where you mention this. We are, too. Wasn't sure you'd remember me from this thread if I posted to that one, so... here it is. Anyhow, Jamestown California is a great place to go for railfans. You've probably been there. And -- a bonus! It's down Highway 99. Lots of cool eats along 99, yep.



Pari.

Pari,

Yeah I am addicted to train-chasing and photography, right up there with my Roadfood habit! The "Mayor" title comes from my California Location near the summit of Cajon Pass for many years. My rail-buddies labeled me the "Mayor of Cajon" and the title stuck !
In your area we have visited Roseville Yard and followed the old Western Pacific line up thru the Feather River Canyon for Photo-Op's several times. we hope to do another West Coast run in a year or so.

Please keep us aware of foodie locations in the Capitol City area..and up and down the valley. Lots of folks ask about food on the 99 and the 5 during the traveling season.

AL

Thank God for the old Western Pacific. In my younger days (1967) I hopped a Western Pacific out of Denver to Oakland to save money and see what it would be like. Well everything was beautiful going over the rockies but out on the desert the train derailed and I was in a flat car with no freights open. It was HOT and my buddy and I ran out of water, I made as dash back to the caboose, not knowing if the railroad man would kick me off the train or not. I asked for water for our canteens and he said sure and take some ICE. It tasted like heaven I believe. I thanked him profusely and went my way. Always have a place in my heart for the Western Pacific R&R.

Stopped at Willow Ranch on the way back from a weekend in SF. They do have a varied menu but since they say BBQ, I had the tri-tip sandwich.
Very nice roll, piled with beef, with BBQ sauce on the side. Along with the great french fries it was excellent. I liked the sauce so much I bought a bottle. The label says it's a family recipe.

My wife enjoyed her turkey melt sandwich.