Darla Cafe

Amir Hermelin

Celebrated my son's birthday first time here. Overall everything we've ordered was a success (with minor caveats), the vibe is really good, snd the service was good but somewhat slow. Food is pricey but imo you get your money's worth. Cocktails weren't that great - my old fashioned didn't have a ton of flavor in it and not much alcohol. For starters I recommend friend chicken and cornbread, beet salad (if you like beets), cheese curds (but it'll fill you up quickly). The crispy sushi was just OK, I'd skip. For entrée the ribeye was very well made, and the scallops were fantastic. The baby back ribs were also delicious but a rather small portion. We also got the 14oz lobster tail special - it was good but nowhere close to 14oz (maybe with the plate it was 😂) All in all great food great service great atmosphere.

Don Roberts

If you're scanning for a great farm-to-table restaurant, I recommend The Hero Ranch Kitchen in Saratoga, CA. For a little more background, my wife recently came across The Hero Ranch Kitchen and wanted to try it with our family. So, we saddled up and went out for a nice dinner. Parking can be a little tricky in Saratoga, but we found a spot in a parking area behind the shops across the street on 5th Street. We sat in what initially looks like outdoor seating, but it was covered above and on the sides with space heaters on a cold night. It was pretty comfortable. The waitstaff was pleasant and ensured our water glasses never went dry. We began with the Buttermilk Fried Chicken and Cornbread and Truffle Fries starters. Very nice. My wife had the Harris Ranch Prime Filet. My son had the Sweet & Sticky Country Baby Back Ribs. I had the ridiculously tasty 1/2 Lb Hero Ranch Black Angus Burger. For dessert, we had the amazingly tasty Caramel Popcorn Sundae. Everyone was pleased with their meals, and I couldn't seem to put my spoon down with the dessert we shared in front of me. All in all, The Hero Ranch Kitchen is a great place to have a lovely dinner. I recommend you swing by and give them a try.

Natalie Caldwell

Great for our out of town guests, we got to experience the seasonal, farm to table menu of The Hero Ranch Kitchen. HRK is the perfect balance of comfort food, classics, and the unique twist on a traditional dish. In the winter, they have a covered, heated outdoor patio as well as an indoor dining room. Fair warning this time of year- they keep the dining room door open the entire time so the room can get quite cold. The staff is attentive and friendly, ready to give you a recommendation or time to peruse more over the menu. Because let me tell you, it will be difficult to pick just one entree. Or appetizer. We’re so excited to go back just so we can try some of the other amazing things on the menu. Standouts definitely were the pan-seared scallops (the flavor combo over the four not-too-big, not-too-small scallops is devine), halibut, ribs (large and fall off the bone with the biggest onion rings you’ve ever seen), and the filet (impressively tender and perfectly cooked). To start, the two crab cakes and tempura green beans were both delicious. At the end they surprised our birthday guest with a sundae - two scoops of ice cream over caramel popcorn and mascarpone whipped cream. I’m not a fan of caramel popcorn and this was fantastic. Hidden gem of HRK- you can bring up to SIX bottles with no corkage, with each after six costing $25/bottle. Talk about another reason to come back! Regardless of corkage, our meal was fantastic; we cannot wait to come back to try all the other goodies.

Jasmine Pantoja

I will cherish the memory of this restaurant forever and I am definitely planning to return. First of all, the service was outstanding; our server Jasmine was incredible—she was attentive, kind, and provided excellent recommendations. We visited to celebrate my partner's birthday, and they truly exceeded our expectations by giving him a birthday card and presenting a lovely dessert at the end of our meal. The atmosphere was cozy and inviting. I ordered the Harris ranch fillet, which was incredibly buttery, smooth, and cooked to perfection, while the scalloped potatoes complemented the steak beautifully. My partner chose the apricot glazed pork chops, and he commented that they were extraordinary, claiming he had never tasted pork chops so flavorful. Everything felt genuinely special, and the staff were all friendly, making our experience delightful. I am eagerly looking forward to returning.

Rosanna Burke

We had the most amazing experience and will return every time we are in the area! Perfect “pairing” with Mountain Winery 😉 The hostesses were very friendly and accommodating (able to waitlist us and seat us timely), wait staff was attentive, food was delicious (especially crab cakes, strawberry butter cake, and flourless chocolate cake) 😋!!! HRK has a great wine selection as well!!

eddie wang

We had a fantastic dinner at Hero Ranch Kitchen. We started with two cocktails—both were vibrant and full of fresh fruit flavor. For appetizers, the salad was crisp and refreshing, and the octopus was impressively tender. Our mains were all standout dishes: the ribeye steak was juicy and flavorful, and the Harris Ranch filet was cooked perfectly—tender and rich. The halibut filet was delicate and moist, and the short rib rigatoni was absolutely excellent, hearty and full of depth. We finished with the flourless chocolate cake, which was rich, decadent, and perfectly balanced—not too sweet. Overall, great food, thoughtful preparation, and a memorable dining experience. Highly recommend!

Arthur T

Stopped by Hero Ranch Kitchen for my dad's retirement dinner! Pleasantly surprised with the experience. Four of us ordered: grilled octopus $24 beet salad $18 fork and knife caesar $16 ranch platter $275 butter cake $16 The Ranch platter included a 38 oz tomahawk, 4 Australian lamb chops, 2 lobster tails, truffle fries, grilled asparagus, and onion rings. Brianna was our server and she did a great job taking care of us...ultimately pushing this to a 5 star experience! Grilled octopus was definitely a big winner! I'm not sure if the ranch platter was necessarily worth it for the quantity of food, but definitely a great platter of food for a good photo op. Street parking only. Parking can definitely be difficult during peak hours. I ended up parking behind Florentine's.

Foodie Bayarea

Great service. The steak was nicely cooked topped with truffle butter. My go to drink "Old Fashioned" was perfectly done. Nice atmosphere, parking can be a premium, but can't hold that against them. Will come back for the high quality food they serve.

Annette Goh

The food was absolutely amazing, with every dish expertly prepared and bursting with flavor. The cocktails, on the other hand, were disappointing. While they looked visually stunning with elegant presentations that raised my expectations, the taste didn’t quite live up to their appearance. It felt like more attention was given to the kitchen than the bar. While I’d gladly return for the incredible dining experience, I’d likely skip the cocktails next time.

A S

We’ve frequented Flowers before so had to stop by Hero Ranch. The restaurant has beautiful decor with chandeliers and tufted velvet booths like Flowers. We came here to celebrate a birthday and they did not disappoint. The octopus was grilled to perfection and tender. Loved the scallops especially, as well as the other seafood choices.The family enjoyed the rigatoni and lamb chops. And their butter cake is a must! Because we were celebrating a birthday, they gave us ice cream at the end.

Zoe S.

Delicious food, great service, and we brought our own bottle of wine for corkage – which they were incredibly accommodating with. We ordered the crispy sushi appetizer, the bacon wrapped shrimp, scallops and steak. Since it was near Valentine’s Day, they even gave complimentary champagne! Fantastic service!

Kenjiro Y

We loved their sister restaurant, Flowers so we came to The Hero Ranch Kitchen and it did not disappoint at all. The food was excellent. Everything was good. I recommend the Apricot Glazed Pork Chops. The visual and the first bite was amazingly good. This is a must have on the table. We usually have a lot to say about value, but this was a restaurant where we walked out very happy. Great service by Isaias and great food. For my wife's birthday, they gave us ice cream which boosted her mood. Thank you so much!

We started with some amazing appetizers that set the bar high for the rest of the night—everything was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. The absolute star of the show, however, was the bone-in ribeye. It was cooked to absolute perfection, incredibly tender, and had that rich, smoky flavor you only get from high-quality cuts. If you are a steak lover, this is a must-order! The atmosphere was great and the service was top-notch. I’ll definitely be coming back soon.

My wife and I came for dinner on our 1 year wedding anniversary. The staff were attentive, kind, and great all around. The sushi starter was delicious, the steak was tender and melted in your mouth, and the ice cream sundae was a real treat. Highly recommend for special occasions. Our server, Richard, was exceptional and took care of us.

We've been going to The Hero Ranch Kitchen for quite some time now, and we try to visit at least once a month, if not twice. The staff are incredibly kind, friendly, and professional, and they always go out of their way to take care of their customers. I can only think of wonderful things to say about the entire team. We've never felt rushed, and the food is impeccable. My favorite dishes — and my daughter's — are the pan‑seared salmon and the pan‑seared halibut. My partner loves the Black Angus burger and Mary's rosemary chicken. The stuffed mushrooms and the fried chicken with cornbread are our favorite shared plates, and the berry cobbler is our go‑to dessert. The ambiance is warm and inviting. We always dine outside, and the heat lamps, blankets, and cozy chairs make it perfect. This is truly our favorite restaurant, and we will continue to come often.

Amazing food, incredible service, and a great vibe! We went on a Saturday night and even though it was crowded, it never felt too noisy. The ambiance was perfect for both couples and larger groups like ours. Eric took care of us and he was fantastic, and the bussers were just as attentive. Seriously, the service here is top-notch. Now the food… wow. I had the scallops and they were unbelievably good. My friend had the vegetable pappardelle and loved it, my daughter had the pasta with pork and devoured it, and the pork ribs at our table were a huge hit. And yes, I stole a couple of fries from my friend, they were as good as McDonald’s (and that’s saying something!). We ordered several appetizers and every single one was amazing: the crispy sushi, the Mexican street corn, and the grilled octopus, which was the star of the night for me. Highly recommend this place. Excellent food, outstanding service, and a great atmosphere. We’re definitely coming back!

Great experience last night at Hero Ranch, delicious food, tasty cocktails & great service. One of their specials, the Corn Chowder, was honestly the favorite dish of the night, as simple as that sounds…. It was fantastic. Crab cakes and grilled octopus were of course yummy and the main courses (salmon and the filet) were just as good. Great experience! Will be back soon!!

C Edmiston

We've been going to The Hero Ranch Kitchen for quite some time now, and we try to visit at least once a month, if not twice. The staff are incredibly kind, friendly, and professional, and they always go out of their way to take care of their customers. I can only think of wonderful things to say about the entire team. We've never felt rushed, and the food is impeccable. My favorite dishes — and my daughter's — are the pan‑seared salmon and the pan‑seared halibut. My partner loves the Black Angus burger and Mary's rosemary chicken. The stuffed mushrooms and the fried chicken with cornbread are our favorite shared plates, and the berry cobbler is our go‑to dessert. The ambiance is warm and inviting. We always dine outside, and the heat lamps, blankets, and cozy chairs make it perfect. This is truly our favorite restaurant, and we will continue to come often.

Asif Alam

We started with some amazing appetizers that set the bar high for the rest of the night—everything was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. The absolute star of the show, however, was the bone-in ribeye. It was cooked to absolute perfection, incredibly tender, and had that rich, smoky flavor you only get from high-quality cuts. If you are a steak lover, this is a must-order! The atmosphere was great and the service was top-notch. I’ll definitely be coming back soon.

Julieta A

Amazing food, incredible service, and a great vibe! We went on a Saturday night and even though it was crowded, it never felt too noisy. The ambiance was perfect for both couples and larger groups like ours. Eric took care of us and he was fantastic, and the bussers were just as attentive. Seriously, the service here is top-notch. Now the food… wow. I had the scallops and they were unbelievably good. My friend had the vegetable pappardelle and loved it, my daughter had the pasta with pork and devoured it, and the pork ribs at our table were a huge hit. And yes, I stole a couple of fries from my friend, they were as good as McDonald’s (and that’s saying something!). We ordered several appetizers and every single one was amazing: the crispy sushi, the Mexican street corn, and the grilled octopus, which was the star of the night for me. Highly recommend this place. Excellent food, outstanding service, and a great atmosphere. We’re definitely coming back!

We went on a Saturday night for dinner. Reservations are highly recommended as this is a popular location. First off,if you don't know the area,it's full of restaurants and bars.So parking can be difficult. It's mostly street parking. The waitress was very professional and friendly. She asked if we wanted to start with drinks. When she came back she explained the specials,and asked if we had any questions. We started with fried cheese curds. Super crunchy crust,soft melted cheese inside. The waitress recommended that we try it with some honey butter. Great recommendations, sweet and savory. Everyones order arrived and it was great. My steak was cooked to a almost perfect rare. I would have liked it to have a little more char to it ,but I understand that it's hard to achieve due to it being rare. My daughters risotto tasted great, but seemed like a small portion considering that this was a main dish not a appetizer. We ended the evening with a bowl of Carmel corn ice cream.

Came here for my dad's birthday and enjoyed how nice and upscale the experience was! Good: - The service was so good! It's so pretty and nice inside, dimly lit - I enjoyed my pork chop a lot - the apricot sauce added a lot to the experience and there's so much food - The crab cake was a tasty dessert - They had a nice birthday dessert for my dad and the bread pudding was so tasty too! Bad: - Overall it's pretty expensive so come only for special occasions - Food arrived slowly Overall would have to find another special occasion to come again!

The halibut and scallops were both great. The appetizers were fantastic. Octopus with salad was our favorite. I would not recommend the steaks or any meat dishes. My husband and son got the steaks. The medium turned out to be way over done. It didn't have any flavor. Could have used salt. The restaurant felt bad and was very accommodating. The desserts were all very tasty - my favorite had to be the caramel popcorn Sunday. Next time we would try the other non meat dishes and appetizers.

wayne tindall

We went on a Saturday night for dinner. Reservations are highly recommended as this is a popular location. First off,if you don't know the area,it's full of restaurants and bars.So parking can be difficult. It's mostly street parking. The waitress was very professional and friendly. She asked if we wanted to start with drinks. When she came back she explained the specials,and asked if we had any questions. We started with fried cheese curds. Super crunchy crust,soft melted cheese inside. The waitress recommended that we try it with some honey butter. Great recommendations, sweet and savory. Everyones order arrived and it was great. My steak was cooked to a almost perfect rare. I would have liked it to have a little more char to it ,but I understand that it's hard to achieve due to it being rare. My daughters risotto tasted great, but seemed like a small portion considering that this was a main dish not a appetizer. We ended the evening with a bowl of Carmel corn ice cream.

Jenny Xu

Came here for my dad's birthday and enjoyed how nice and upscale the experience was! Good: - The service was so good! It's so pretty and nice inside, dimly lit - I enjoyed my pork chop a lot - the apricot sauce added a lot to the experience and there's so much food - The crab cake was a tasty dessert - They had a nice birthday dessert for my dad and the bread pudding was so tasty too! Bad: - Overall it's pretty expensive so come only for special occasions - Food arrived slowly Overall would have to find another special occasion to come again!

Samir

After a good start to our birthday dinner things took a wrong direction with the bone in ribeye being undercooked. But Alan the GM saved the day. Comp’d our meal and gave us delicious desserts and a twist on a two shot espresso with a lemon twist and it was so good on the palette..and our server Erick came through with bomb whipped cream! We’ll be back guys!

The review is the story of two tales: 1-) Ambiance and service (not so great) We were sit in the second room (called wine tasting room) for the dinner we had. That room has extremely low ceilings and does not have a good ambiance for our liking. One major issue we had though was the speed of the dishes. The gap between starters and main dishes were close to 45 mins where we waited for actual dishes for 20 mins or so. I cant tell if this is due to some comms issue between the server and the kitchen or load on the kitchen. Regardless it made the experience subpar. 2-) Meals and Drinks (Great) The food was decent and every meal was properly cooked and presented. We had the Fillet Mignon, Ribeye, Risotto and the chicken. Each dish perfectly prepared. The starters octopus and beet salad were also great. One major kudos to the establishment is the fact that their wines are literally market prices (with no additional restaurant markup)

Beautiful place but the menu was hot and miss. Pasta and desserts were on point but the meats (steak/ribs) were real tough and service was robotic.

Ismail Sebe

The review is the story of two tales: 1-) Ambiance and service (not so great) We were sit in the second room (called wine tasting room) for the dinner we had. That room has extremely low ceilings and does not have a good ambiance for our liking. One major issue we had though was the speed of the dishes. The gap between starters and main dishes were close to 45 mins where we waited for actual dishes for 20 mins or so. I cant tell if this is due to some comms issue between the server and the kitchen or load on the kitchen. Regardless it made the experience subpar. 2-) Meals and Drinks (Great) The food was decent and every meal was properly cooked and presented. We had the Fillet Mignon, Ribeye, Risotto and the chicken. Each dish perfectly prepared. The starters octopus and beet salad were also great. One major kudos to the establishment is the fact that their wines are literally market prices (with no additional restaurant markup)

Mongoose

Beautiful place but the menu was hot and miss. Pasta and desserts were on point but the meats (steak/ribs) were real tough and service was robotic.