# Why do some restaurants have "House sauce" instead of Ranch dressing? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 10, 2019, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-restaurants-have-house-sauce-instead-of-ranch-dressing/833802 "2019-05-10T23:26:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2019, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-restaurants-have-house-sauce-instead-of-ranch-dressing/833802/21 "2019-05-11T11:29:06Z")
The restaurants around here all have some sort of vinagerette as their house dressing. Many also have a house sauce that they serve as a dip; at one place their house sauce is a delicious garlic aiolo. One particular Italian restaurant serves a salad with every meal. Each table gets a cruet of oil/vinegar/seasonings which serves as your salad dressing. No other dressings in the house, don’t bother asking! ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2019, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-restaurants-have-house-sauce-instead-of-ranch-dressing/833802/22 "2019-05-11T11:57:45Z")
> [@UltraVires](#): > > Yes. In north central West Virginia where many people are of Italian descent, a “house dressing” in an Italian restaurant is a homemade Italian dressing that has typically been in the family for generations. They will sell it to you by the pint, quart, or even a half gallon for carry out. People that have moved away and are back visiting families will stop in at these restaurants to buy the dressing to take home. > > I guess that feeding off of that, if you go to a diner and ask for “house dressing” it will be Italian dressing out of a bottle. I have never heard of ranch dressing being “house dressing.” I have never been to a diner with a house dressing. A diner will have a choice of dressings, which as far as I can tell all come out of a bottle. A restaurant may have a choice of dressings , one of which includes “house” or a restaurant may not have any choices and serve all the salads with the house dressing - but although the house dressing may be a ranch or vinaigrette based dressing, it’s typically not the same as you would get out of a bottle. There’s one restaurant that I go to ( **Little Nemo** probably knows it ) that has a house dressing that as far as I can tell is a blue cheese dressing with BBQ sauce. ---
**Author:** ![PookahMacPhellimey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pookahmacphellimey/32/3175_2.png) [@PookahMacPhellimey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PookahMacPhellimey)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2019, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-restaurants-have-house-sauce-instead-of-ranch-dressing/833802/23 "2019-05-11T12:05:59Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > One particular Italian restaurant serves a salad with every meal. Each table gets a cruet of oil/vinegar/seasonings which serves as your salad dressing. No other dressings in the house, don’t bother asking! That’s actually what happens 99% of the time in Italy. And they the salad after the main course. ---
**Author:** ![actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2019, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-restaurants-have-house-sauce-instead-of-ranch-dressing/833802/24 "2019-05-11T19:22:19Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > One particular Italian restaurant serves a salad with every meal. Each table gets a cruet of oil/vinegar/seasonings which serves as your salad dressing. No other dressings in the house, don’t bother asking! I like this idea. It reminds me of places that don’t offer ketchup to ruin their french fries. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2019, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-restaurants-have-house-sauce-instead-of-ranch-dressing/833802/25 "2019-05-11T19:43:19Z")
> [@digs](#): > > Maybe that’s why we had a server ask us if we wanted to hear what the \*“Soup Du Jour of the Day” \*was. Once in Wyoming we were at a chi-chi hotel restaurant and had a very young waitress who had apparently just started. When we asked “What’s the soup _de jour_?” (as they had it on the menu) she said, brightly, “Oh! That’s the soup of the day!” She had evidently just learned that that morning. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2019, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-restaurants-have-house-sauce-instead-of-ranch-dressing/833802/26 "2019-05-12T02:43:14Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > It’s the equivalent of sour du jour. > [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](#): > > “I’m sorry, sir, _today’s_ sour is **Tart**. _Tuesday’s_ when we whip up a batch of **Astringent**. Afraid you’ll have to come back next week.” That was probably a typo. I think he meant _SOUP du joup_. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2019, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-restaurants-have-house-sauce-instead-of-ranch-dressing/833802/27 "2019-05-12T02:49:08Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Once in Wyoming we were at a chi-chi hotel restaurant and had a very young waitress who had apparently just started. When we asked “What’s the soup _de jour_?” (as they had it on the menu) she said, brightly, “Oh! That’s the soup of the day!” She had evidently just learned that that morning. 😃 [“Mmm-hmm. That sounds good. I’ll have that.”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zH2uFpCI6c) ---
**Author:** ![Chicken\_Fingers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Chicken\_Fingers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chicken_Fingers)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2019, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-restaurants-have-house-sauce-instead-of-ranch-dressing/833802/28 "2019-05-12T12:41:28Z")
> [@Banksiaman](#): > > And of course while ranches and houses have their own sauces, clubs serve [club sauce](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hBH8Gy9kFE). Spicy stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2019, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-restaurants-have-house-sauce-instead-of-ranch-dressing/833802/29 "2019-05-12T15:26:51Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > …It’s the equivalent of sour du jour. > [@kaylasdad99](#): > > That was probably a typo. I think he meant _SOUP du joup_. Formerly Chuck’s. mmm ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2019, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-restaurants-have-house-sauce-instead-of-ranch-dressing/833802/30 "2019-05-12T20:36:01Z")
I grew up in a town in the middle of nowhere in the California desert, where the best restaurant in town had a “house dressing”. It was a particularly unique dressing, unlike any other dressing I’ve ever had. Nothing like ranch; it was reddish in color, and had some finely minced vegetables in it. They are still serving that same house dressing, the same recipe, forty years later. I love it. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2019, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-restaurants-have-house-sauce-instead-of-ranch-dressing/833802/31 "2019-05-12T21:39:56Z")
> [@Asuka](#): > > There’s still places calling it House Dressing, [Jack in the Box](https://loveandmagnoliagardens.files.wordpress.com/2014/09/screen-shot-2014-09-11-at-10-25-08-am.png) and [Carl’s Jr.](https://s3-media3.fl.yelpcdn.com/bphoto/RtgruMQN_XbuMaTBNAtxCw/o.jpg) for starters. I’ve also seen other places like Sizzler do it too. actually on the sauce cup im holding from jack in the box its a joke now it says “buttermilk house sauce” then under it: a.k.a. ranch ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2019, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-restaurants-have-house-sauce-instead-of-ranch-dressing/833802/32 "2019-05-12T21:56:08Z")
> [@Asuka](#): > > Is Ranch copyrighted or does house mean it’s a different style distinct from ranch? Just to clear this up — Copyright law protects works of expression, like books, films, and songs. It does not protect single words, names, short phrases, or slogans. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2019, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-restaurants-have-house-sauce-instead-of-ranch-dressing/833802/33 "2019-05-12T22:05:00Z")
yeah, look up the story on how Bayer lost the trademark to the word aspirin … I remember being told coke would send out little flyers to places that had soda fountains reminding/demanding them to use “coke” only when referring to coca cola so they didn’t lose the trademark the same way seems some places referred to any type of cola as coke … ---
**Author:** ![furryman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/furryman/32/99_2.png) [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2019, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-restaurants-have-house-sauce-instead-of-ranch-dressing/833802/34 "2019-05-13T18:14:10Z")
A house tastes better than a ranch? ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2019, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-restaurants-have-house-sauce-instead-of-ranch-dressing/833802/35 "2019-05-16T23:49:46Z")
I remember in the late 70’s-early 80’s when I first became aware of Ranch, it being called House at many places. These days the only dressing I know of being called House is served at a local Italian place and it’s nothing even close to Ranch. Very much in the “a vinegar based Italian dressing” category, but I don’t care for it at all. Fortunately they have a very delicious Ranch dressing and I order that when I have a salad from there. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2019, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-restaurants-have-house-sauce-instead-of-ranch-dressing/833802/36 "2019-05-22T11:41:04Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > I’ve been to places where the “house dressing” was a vinegar based Italian dressing. In fact this was more common (back in Cleveland) than house dressing meaning ranch, in my experience. Amusing side-note: My very first restaurnt job in 1983 was at Arby’s, when it still had a salad bar. The names of the dressings were imprinted on the handles of the ladles, and the ladle for the “lite” Italian dressing was stampled “Lo-cal”, short for “Low calorie”, of course. Except it didn’t include the hyphen and the two word fragments were too close together, so most of the employees and customers thought that it said “Local” and supposed it to be some kind of fresh, locally-made dressing (which would be madness in a fast-food restaurant). ---
**Author:** ![Eo\_Echo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ebca7d/32.png) [@Eo\_Echo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eo_Echo)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2019, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-restaurants-have-house-sauce-instead-of-ranch-dressing/833802/37 "2019-05-24T04:39:10Z")
When I was in college I worked at an Italian restaurant. What was called House Dressing was homemade. It was equal parts olive oil, vinegar and parmesan cheese, blended. I never ate salad but that stuff was pretty good for dipping bread into. ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2019, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-restaurants-have-house-sauce-instead-of-ranch-dressing/833802/38 "2019-05-24T06:39:49Z")
I just visited a local arcade called “Round 1” and at their food court their ranch dressing is called “House Ranch” too. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2019, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-restaurants-have-house-sauce-instead-of-ranch-dressing/833802/39 "2019-05-24T13:57:22Z")
House dressing? I’d ask what it was. Could be anything. Bugs me. I would imagine it bugs servers to have to explain it again and again and again. It’s stupid. ---
**Author:** ![stretch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a6a055/32.png) [@stretch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stretch)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2019, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-restaurants-have-house-sauce-instead-of-ranch-dressing/833802/40 "2019-05-24T14:42:56Z")
> [@Chicken\_Fingers](#): > > > [@Banksiaman](#): > > > > And of course while ranches and houses have their own sauces, clubs serve [club sauce](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hBH8Gy9kFE). > > Spicy stuff. I want you to know this user name/post combination was seen and appreciated. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-restaurants-have-house-sauce-instead-of-ranch-dressing/833802.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-restaurants-have-house-sauce-instead-of-ranch-dressing/833802.md?page=3)