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WR Kitchen debuts in California with fast-casual bar format

Casual-dining chain Wood Ranch BBQ & Grill tweaks concept for future

Nancy Luna, Senior editor, Nation's Restaurant News

May 6, 2019

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WR Kitchen & Bar, a hybrid restaurant by the operators of Wood Ranch BBQ & Grill, opens today in Southern California, offering a blend of upscale casual-dining barbecue food with fast-casual service.

But this is not your typical fast-casual outlet. The restaurant is set up like a modern gastropub, with a long 16-seat bar nestled in front of an open kitchen. The bar is also strategically located near the front entrance because this is where guests order their food.

The restaurant’s owners, who founded the first Wood Ranch 27 years ago, said they’ve created this hybrid variation of their casual-dining brand to stay relevant for the next three decades.  The 4,000-square-foot restaurant maintains many full-service amenities such as a bar with craft beer and cocktails.

Eric Anders, co-founder of the Westlake Village, Calif-based company, said a second WR Kitchen will open later this year in Carlsbad, Calif.

Take a closer look inside WR Kitchen & Bar.

All photos by Nancy Luna

Contact Nancy Luna at [email protected]

Follow her on Twitter: @FastFoodMaven

About the Author

Nancy Luna

Senior editor, Nation's Restaurant News

Nancy Luna is a senior editor at Nation's Restaurant News and a contributing editor at Supermarket News. She covers the industry's largest and most talked about fast-food brands including McDonald's, Starbucks, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, KFC and Subway. She is an award-winning journalist with more than 25 years reporting experience. As a veteran business reporter based in Southern California, Nancy has covered some of the country's most beloved food and retail brands including In-N-Out, Taco Bell, Trader Joe's, Aldi, Whole Foods Market, Target and Costco. Luna is a graduate of Cal State Fullerton. When she's not digging for news on her beat, you can find Nancy regaling her fans about her latest dining adventures on her Fast Food Maven social media channels. Contact [email protected]  or follow her on Twitter at https://twitter.com/fastfoodmaven

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