You loved The Original Ranch House as a kid, and the new owners want you back.
“I want it to be a destination again,” said Massimo “Leon” Squadrito, co-owner of the six-decades old landmark on Northwest 138th Street, just west of the Hialeah water tanks.
There has been a Ranch House in South Florida since 1958 or ’59 when it began in Fort Lauderdale, according to a March 2023 story on Burgerbeast.com.
It described how the restaurant grew to 100 locations in seven states.
In 1980, the name was changed to Neighbors in Miami-Dade County locations. The Ranch House in Hialeah is the last one, according to the article.
The new owners have strong ties to the area and years of experience in the restaurant business.
Squadrito, 52, of Davie and Jorman Lemus, 38, of Miami Gardens, are equal partners in Salvatore Pizza at 1550 W. 84th St. in Hialeah. It was founded 31 years ago by Squadrito’s father.
Lemus had been an employee there before the pandemic, which hit the business hard.
Also during COVID in 2021, Squadrito lost his wife Melissa to cancer.
“I was raising two girls at home, and it was all just too much for me,” he said.
He considered selling the pizza business, which was reduced to take-out only as people coped with crowd restrictions.
But Lemus came to him, wanting to fully reopen to host customers, and as Squadrito’s partner.
“He’s seen me at my lowest,” Squadrito said of Lemus. Since they’ve teamed up, he said, “I’ve been happier than I’ve ever been.”
This past April, they went across the parking lot to The Original Ranch House and bought the business.
“We did invest a lot in the business,” Squadrito said.
Their staff of 11 includes longtime servers Rosalie Tough, 84, and Linda Hesler, 77.
The restaurant is closed late afternoons and evenings while renovations are underway that so far include a new floor, counter, interior paint and lighting.
Next is replacing the ceiling and installing a table for large parties.
“I want to add a bar, for nights,” Lemus said.
Once renovations are complete, evening service will begin.
“The space is perfect for a lot of things, events,” Squadrito said. “We want to change the reputation of the Ranch House and bring this back to life. This was Jorman’s idea. I know his drive. And I owe him a lot.”
As for the food, classic diner fare (a full breakfast and lunch menu, such as milkshakes, fries, lots of different burgers, grilled cheese or tuna melt sandwiches) can still be had.
“We cut down the [old] menu at least in half,” Squadrito said. “It was overwhelming. It had Italian dishes, Mexican. You get anxiety looking at it. To me the best restaurants are the ones that have a limited menu. They had at least 15 desserts.”
The partners are also offering a new menu that is displayed on tables and is served until early afternoon.
The Ranch House Burger comes on a toasted brioche, and like other entrees has two sides: white rice and black beans or those combined as moro rice; sweet plantains; fried plantain chips; French fries; mashed potatoes or fried yuca, for $11.99.
A side salad or Tostones (fried unripened plantains) costs .99.
Mimosas are a special, $6.99, served from 8 a.m.
“We have a new chef, he’s really good,” Lemus said about Josue Ortiz. “Everybody loves his food.”
Fourteen other new items include a Palomilla Steak, thin, juicy with onions and pico de gallo (salsa) for $14.99; a Churrasco skirt steak with chimichurri sauce ($22.95), or grilled Salmon or Mahi-Mahi, both $17.99.
Judy and Frank Messing of Palm Springs North said they have dined at the restaurant for more than 35 years.
“It’s my Jersey diner,” said Judy Messing, who is from New Jersey. “We’re here two or three times a week.”
Her lunch on a recent Thursday was “fabulous,” while his was “excellent.”
“These are the best owners yet,” she said. “They care. They take an interest.”
Dottie Wix, former chair of the Miami Lakes Elderly Affairs Committee, recently enjoyed a lunch of fried chicken, mashed potatoes and a salad.
“I just ask for it and I get it,” Wix said. “I’m a longtime customer, for 30 years. I keep coming back, for the food, for the waiters and waitresses.”
About the ongoing renovations she said, “They’re giving it an uplift and I think when they get through, we’ll really like it. They’re really good people.”
The Original Ranch House is in the Palm Spring Lakes Shopping Center in Hialeah at 1548 W. 84th St./Northwest 138th St.
Open daily from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., until 3 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. To reach them call 305-821-8200.