Fat Ivor's Rib Rack - Valley Center

The food was excellent, and the service was outstanding. The prices were reasonable, and the ambiance was lovely. It’s a beautiful place to unwind!

Fat Ivor's is the perfect spot if you're craving barbecue ribs. They serve outstanding BBQ beef ribs, and their all-you-can-eat beef rib dinner is a must-try!

When residents of Valley Center talk about their community, it's easy to see why they choose to stay. The dining options are limited, with the only decent places being the casinos and the golf course. Those are really the only choices available.

To honor what would have been her husband’s 70th birthday, Thomas is organizing a private party on January 19 and hopes to open the doors to the public shortly thereafter. She plans to keep the original menu and staff, having retained her cooks and servers on payroll during the rebuilding process. “Everything on that menu is somebody’s favorite, so we're going back to how it was,” Thomas shared. The restaurant's decor will also be restored to its welcoming Americana theme, featuring old publicity photos of stars like John Wayne and Ronald Reagan, as well as images of the Blue Angels, beer signs, and bald eagles. The restaurant’s specialty remains all-you-can-eat ribs. Remarkably, the only item to survive the fire was a framed photo of the Thomases with country music legend George Strait, which hung on the wall where the electrical blaze started—an occurrence Thomas finds hard to believe. This blaze was the second fire to affect Valley Center Road within just three months; a historic building housing the Corral Liquor Store was also lost to flames in early December 2002. Tragically, just weeks later, Tommy Thomas passed away from complications related to diabetes. Known widely for his philanthropy and his restaurant, Tommy, a jovial man who named the restaurant after himself, brought a lot of character to the place. “Ivor means John in Welsh,” Georgine explained, recalling how after their opening, “you wouldn’t believe how many Ivors came out of the woodwork.” As she reflects on the reopening, emotions run deep for Georgine, as she wipes away tears. She has found solace and inspiration in the support from the community over the last two years. Shortly after the fire, a sign was placed on the property stating: “If you rebuild, we will come back.” Although the sign has faded from exposure to the elements, Georgine has vowed to keep it as a symbol of hope. “Every time I go into town, people express their excitement for Fat Ivor’s reopening,” she expressed. “We receive calls daily and make sure to respond to each one.” Remarkably, she even received an inquiry from a man in England planning to visit, who wanted to ensure the restaurant would be open during his trip. “It fills me with joy to bring it back,” Georgine said, her enthusiasm shining through. “That is what has driven me forward.”

My family and I have been dining at Fat Ivor's for a very long time. It was my grandfather's favorite restaurant, and we would go there every weekend for the "all-you-can-eat" ribs. Ivor would always come out to chat with my grandfather and make sure we had extra bones to take home for the dogs. He was such a wonderful person, and I truly believe his wife follows in his footsteps. You all feel like a second family to us, and I couldn't be happier that you reopened. We were devastated to learn about the fire that destroyed the restaurant, but we're thrilled to see it up and running again. We've visited since the reopening, and I have to say it feels just as cozy as it always has. Although I now live further away, I still plan to come back very soon!