Wood Ranch BBQ and Grill, 3335 Grand Ave. (at Peyton), Chino Hills

Wood Ranch is a chain, and while I rarely spotlight chains here, I do so on occasion when one has only a few Inland Valley locations. Such is the case with Wood Ranch, which has a spot in the Shoppes at Chino Hills and otherwise nothing closer to us than Corona.

There’s an outdoor patio, covered, a bar with copious seating and a spacious dining room with a beam ceiling, lots of wood and ample, comfortable booths. It’s not overly light and not overly loud. Upscale and tranquil for a barbecue restaurant — which will be either a turn-on or a turn-off, depending on your tastes. At least it’s not hoked up.

The menu has beef ribs, tri-tip, chicken, burgers and salads. I got the immodestly named America’s Best BBQ Tri-Tip Sandwich ($12) and a side of smashed sweet potatoes. Those could be America’s Best Smashed Sweet Potatoes (they were excellent) but the sandwich was more like America’s Most Adequate BBQ Tri-Tip (it was fine but didn’t wow me, and the sauce was sweeter than I’d like).

My lunch companion, who eats there all the time, had the pulled pork sandwich (price forgotten), also with potatoes, and enjoyed it.

Later a foodie friend told me she loves the salmon. Well, maybe another visit. I’d give the edge to Lucille’s (which also has a Chino Hills location, as well as one in Rancho Cucamonga) for chain barbecue, but I’ve got no beef with Wood Ranch.