Perini Ranch Steakhouse

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#1 of 7 Restaurants in Buffalo GapAmerican, Steakhouse, $$ - $$$

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Perini Ranch Steakhouse

Review

At a glance

Closed today

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Website

+1 325-572-3339Improve this listing

About

Since 1983, Perini Ranch Steakhouse has served as home to the best chuck wagon style food in America. Perini Ranch Steakhouse is proudly located on the Perini Ranch in Buffalo Gap, Texas.

Features

CUISINES

American, Steakhouse

Meal types

Lunch, Dinner, Late Night

Special Diets

Gluten free options

FEATURES

Accepts Credit Cards

Full Bar

Highchairs Available

Outdoor Seating

Parking Available

Reservations

Seating

Serves Alcohol

Table Service

Takeout

Wheelchair Accessible

Location

3002 FM 89, Buffalo Gap, TX 79508-2202

Parking Available

Does this restaurant have private dining rooms?

Yes

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Hours

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Closed today

Sunday

11:00 AM - 10:00 PM

Monday

Closed

Tuesday

5:00 PM - 10:00 PM

Wednesday

5:00 PM - 10:00 PM

Thursday

5:00 PM - 10:00 PM

Friday

11:00 AM - 10:00 PM

Saturday

11:00 AM - 10:00 PM

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4.4

469 reviews

Excellent

324

Very good

Average

Poor

Terrible

Lynda B

El Dorado Springs64 contributions

A Texas experience

Apr 2023 • couples

It is the best steak I’ve ever had but everything else is good, too. We went for Sunday lunch and there was a buffet with fried chicken with liver and gizzard, fried fish. The vegetables were not just mashed potatoes and gravy, but all were uniquely prepared—-even the green beans. Dessert was included with the buffet. My husband and I shared the ribeye meal and a side dish of their hominy casserole. We were too full for dessert. I asked how they prepared their hominy and she brought a cookbook where I could copy the recipe. I looked through the cookbook and bought it. It was money well spent! I can’t wait to try some of the recipes! Mr. Perini has taken his chuckwagon to the governor mansion and the White House when younger George Bush was in office. They were actually on the White House lawn preparing food for a function on 9/11. For security reasons the President was taken to a secure place. Perini had to take everything indoors and the food was used for firemen, policemen, and security personnel. That impressed me.

Written April 7, 2023

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

lmdallas

Georgetown172 contributions

Off the beaten track but worth going

Jan 2025 • family

We were there for an early Sunday dinner; we were seated right by the fireplace on a cold January day and it was very nice. Excellent service, nice atmosphere and the food was very good. I especially enjoyed my strawberry shortcake. Steaks were great but my husband said his filet was salty so just be aware of that. Ample parking. It was cold so we did not walk around the property but would like to go back when the weather warms up a bit.

Written January 20, 2025

Deanna C

3 contributions

Perini Ranch did not disappoint!

Dec 2023 • couples

This steakhouse is amazing! The atmosphere, the service, the drink offerings, and the steaks are all amazing. My husband had the prime rib, it was perfect. Tender, juicing and cooked just right. I had the 22 oz ribeye, it was wonderful as well. It had an impressive seared outside with a tender flavorful taste. Great wine and whiskey selection. The sides are a little deferent than most steakhouses. The zucchini and the cowboy potatoes are our favorite. Don't forget dessert! We both tried the Jalapeño Cheesecake. A little apprehensive at first, it is a slice of cheesecake with a topping of candied jalapeño jelly. Sweet and Savory, a must have. We ordered one to take home as well. We will go back in the Spring. We liked the outside seating, it is a beautiful area of Texas.

Written January 4, 2024

TXbornTXbred

1 contribution

Good Food Bad Customer Care

Jan 2023 • none

Though the food is still excellent and our sweet little waitress took great care of us, I am giving this steakhouse 3 stars because of a manager (female) unwilling to even try to accommodate 4 mid to latter 60s dinners for an inside table. During our over an hour eating experience we had to sit outside in the cold wind with little heat from a heater that ran out of fuel. We arrived at 4:00 on a Saturday and had just come into town unexpectedly and wanted to eat there for nostalgic reasons. No we didn't have reservations. However, during our time at the restaurant, there were numerous inside tables available from start until we left around 5:30. When you think about spending $178 for two people (not counting what the other couple spent) and the manager is completly unwilling to work with you because, you didn't make a reservation...that's not Texas...that's New York City.

Written January 23, 2023

Gina E

Midland239 contributions

Disappointing

Sep 2023 • family

We have been wanting to try this place for years. We had heard good things about it. We were so disappointed! Definitely NOT what we were expecting. Portions were small, meat was dry, rolls weren't even good. Prices are ridiculously expensive for what you get. You literally get a (allegedly 16 oz) steak and a small salad for $45!!! Potato or veggies are extra. A couple in our group even left hungry. Do not recommend and won't be going back.

Written September 3, 2023

TC Patron

Truth or Consequences103 contributions

Sides are best of show….Mains, not so much

Mar 2023 • couples

This is consistently the most overrated restaurant in the Abilene area. The steaks are not of great quality, but will usually have a good flavor. The sides are the best of show. The hominy, twice baked potatoes, green beans are all good and have no complaints. I had the grilled chicken tonight and it was truly awful. They had split a small breast and pounded it out to about a quarter inch thick and then grilled the hell out of it. So dry that it would choke you to eat it. My date had dusted shrimp and it had an unusual and not pleasant flavor. This dish is usually ok, but was subpar tonight. There were no signs of the owners on site tonight and whoever was supposed to be watching quality control was asleep at the helm. Just another frustrating night out in Abilene.

Written March 2, 2023

Gina H

Texas36 contributions

Good.

Jan 2025 • couples

From all the hype that we had heard about this place, I expected it to be better. 1, the staff was awesome. Our waitress was wonderful and extremely friendly. 2, the food was good BUT not great. I had the 8oz filter and added shrimp. Honestly, my husband makes better steaks for me. And those are steaks you get at Walmart or Brookshire. And I've had my fair share of steaks cooked by a Food Network contestant. 3, hubby had the prime rib sandwich with green chilies, mushrooms, grilled onions, and cheese. It was so tough that he only ate half of it. Our dog enjoyed the rest. 4, their in-house made pickles were the bomb. I could've eaten a whole jar of them. 5, the rolls were good when they were hot and fresh. 6, the desserts were decent. For me personally, I would've preferred the strawberry shortcake to not be soggy. It was all very good, though. The bread pudding was definitely my favorite. Overall, it was good.

Written January 4, 2025

John J

Dallas666 contributions

Great Service but perhaps an off night for steak

Nov 2020 • none

The Perini Ranch Steakhouse feels like going back in time to the old west, only with better food. Raven was our waitress and she was great. Drink prices for whiskeys were beyond reasonable (Macallan $7.50). We started with the Jalapeno Bites. My wife does not care for Jalapenos, but loved these. They were the best poppers. They also brought out two biscuits, but they were too flour tasting and we didn’t care for them. Unfortunately, the steaks were just ok. My wife had the 12oz prime rib (seemed larger than 12 oz) and while it seemed to be cooked a perfect medium rare, it was very dry. May have been smoked, but did not have an overpowering smoky flavor. I had the ribeye and it was very flavorful, but cooked to medium (vs. medium rare) and not very tender. We expected much better meat from past experiences at Perini Ranch. We shared the green chili hominy which was very good. For desert we tried the old fashion strawberry short cake. I grew up with it prepared this way, but again the biscuits were the same as we had for dinner, so disappointing even with the cream. Still, we really liked the old west atmosphere and would come back to try again next time near Abilene or Buffalo Gap.

Written November 22, 2020

AMPWyo

Cheyenne148 contributions

Don’t Miss Perini’s

Mar 2023 • couples

An outstanding old school style steakhouse. In town for Outlaws and Legends and caught an early dinner. Server Lauren couldn’t have been more pleasant and efficient. Started with the quail legs. A perfect tidbit to ease a hungry stomach without being too heavy to spoil dinner. Basic dinner salad, lettuce fresh and crisp garnished with cherry tomatoes and mushrooms with a ranch dressing that didn’t taste like it was out of a bottle. Then the steaks… perfect medium rare. Ate every bite. Save room for desert. The jalapeño cheesecake was something to write home about. Also sampled the Texas sheet cake with a scoop of Bluebell. Very good but the cheesecake reigns supreme. On the way out, took a picture with Barbadillo in her Easter finery. If you’re in this part of West Texas, this is a destination dinner. Server tidbit: said the place fills up starting at 5 and doesn’t slow down. Make sure you get a reservation or do like we did and grab an early dinner.

Written April 2, 2023

Texas Transplant

1 contribution

Perini Rance Peppercorn Tenderloin Delivered Late 2 out of 2 times.

Dec 2021 • none

I have ordered the Peppercorn Tenderloin from Perini Ranch 3 times, for my parents in Georgia. the last two times it has been late, this last order was to be delivered on 12/21/21, it is past 2PM on 12/22/21 at my parents house and their Peppercorn still has not arrived. I called the Perini Ranch business number and their response was that they cannot control the delivery end, but that if the meat was spoiled when it finally arrived I could file a claim with Fedex. The Peppercorn Tenderloin is very good but the customer service is severely lacking in my opinion. This is my last time ordering from Perini Ranch and I would recommend you ask detailed questions about delivery and what happens if there are issues before you place an order with them.

Written December 22, 2021

SneakyFoodNinja

Taylor55 contributions

An absolute must visit destination

Aug 2022 • couples

This is an old school ranch style steak house. The staff was amazing and specifically our server was super polite and perfectly attentive without being over the top. The food was perfectly prepared. Our steaks were seared exactly to our request. Looks like every item on the menu is scratch made. We had a Harvest Moon mixed drink which seemed like their take on an old fashioned.....delicious and I highly recommend. Dessert (bread pudding) was the perfect topper to the meal. If you are in the area and don't make the trip you're missing out. This is a destination place to dine.

Written August 10, 2022

j y

Abilene1 contribution

Emperor's Clothing

May 2020 • none

It had been years since my family had a meal at Perini's Ranch because I felt the food quality and service had markedly declined. We went back as my son wanted to eat there. Never again, even if someone else is paying. The steaks continue to be of poor quality (obviously choice and not prime ,though priced like prime) and inconsistently cooked- medium was nearly burnt and medium rare was dry. Sides are small. Perini's is certainly not a top level steakhouse. They need to up their game with the same prices or keep the current "quality" and lower their prices.

Written May 19, 2020

Jerome G

Coppell615 contributions

Put on your cowboy boots ....

Aug 2020 • none

No need for any fancy city duds here. Casual, boots, shorts, gimme hats are all approved clothing. This is a destination restaurant for all but the 432 residents of Buffalo Gap but is worth the visit at least once to experience the vibe and the food. Seating is available both inside and out at this rustic place. Menu items are all those you would expect at a steakhouse but the quality and creativity are unexpected at such a rural location. Our salads were huge and delicious - be sure to order one - split it if you choose with a companion. The filet and prime rib were cooked as ordered, well seasoned and piping hot. They were good but too bad they were CHOICE rather than PRIME. Maybe a PRIME option would be a good idea. For those driving from afar, consider staying at one of their 2 well decorated, comfortable cabins less than a mile from the restaurant.

Written August 14, 2020

Trip Advisor from Dallas

Dallas252 contributions

WONDERFUL MEAL AND LOVED STAYING AT CAMP HOUSE!!

Mar 2021 • none

We recently were on a trip to Big Bend and our first stop was Perini Ranch for dinner and we also stayed at the Camp House that is on the Perini Ranch! First dinner was amazing! Steaks were cooked perfectly and all the food we had was absolutely yummy! Secondly, we stayed at the Camp House on the property - so lovely, quiet and completely perfect for an overnight stay. Everything you need for breakfast the next day is provided -- from eggs to english muffins to jam to coffee, orange juice, milk, soft drinks, snacks. Just a wonderful lovely place to stay in the country. thank you Perini Ranch for a wonderful dinner and lovely stay at the Camp House!

Written April 23, 2021

Paige F

6 contributions

Perini's - JUST GO.

May 2021 • family

Perini's never disappoints. The perfect food and raw perfect ambience. The service was amazing and the waiter was knowledgeable and able to answer all questions. The steak was cooked EXACTLY how I wanted it and presented beautifully. My martini was perfectly prepared and served ice cold. If you are even remotely a fan of vodka, you MUST get the Perini-tini. The meal started with the best jalapeno poppers you can get in Texas. Not kidding. The sides were hot and perfectly complimented the meal. Impressive wine list, and I was able to quickly find a red to pair with my steak. This gem is worth the drive. If it takes a moment to prepare your table, or if you get there early, the seats out back have such a great view....you can sit out there and sip a Texas beer and forget that you're waiting! Side note: get your reservations in if you really need a specific date and time. They fill up quick!