Are there no good eats in Ventura County?

2011 Update on some of the restaurants mentioned - and why I now cook at home - having given up on Ventura County for the most part:

Suzanne's In Ojai - still thriving and god knows why - except that the Ojai Valley Inn & Spa recommends it to guests after they are tired of staying at the hotel and hotel restaurants.

Various Restaurants at the Ojai Valley Inn & Spa: inspiringly boring hotel food. . . and expensive. . .used to always eat on the patio as the view in lovely. . . gave up 4 years ago (management/chef changes) - even the holiday buffets are nothing anymore

Chamomile Cafe in Carpenteria - closed - sadly - the owner was really sweet -

Ranch House in Ojai is someone's favorite restaurant? Maybe back in the day. . . . not very inspiring cuisine - and at those prices - absurd - pretty atmosphere tho

Bodee's - in Ojai - they try very hard and since there is not much in Ojai, its the go to place if people come in to town - nice atmosphere - food ok, nothing to write home about

Barrilochi on Main Street in Ventura changed owners, raised prices and then closed - although I think there is still one elsewhere in Ventura or Oxnard or Camarillo - but I don't know if its the original people or the ones who bought it before it died on main

Natural Cafe on Main St Ventura is reliably good - Mount Fuji Stir Fry with Chicken - yum!

Tutti's in Ventura - used to always eat at Tutti's when it was in Montecito - somehow - although the patio dining and all is very nice, the food never seemed to measure up to the good old Montecito days - however, the chocolate/chocolate chip/chocolate who knows what sort of soft cookies (dont buy them if they feel hard through the plastic wrap) they sell at the counter are UNGODLY GOOD

Osteria Monte Grappa - Ojai - Pathetic that good Italian food, which can be so delicious, and can actually be simple to prepare - is not well represented in Ojai - this restaurant is new and has outdoor seating - and we've tried . . . its ok. . . thats the best i can say. . .

Knead - yes, there is a new bakery in Ojai - its the only "real" bakery - and they make little flat bread pizzas and salads for lunch and such - everything is delicious - my only grip - it is really too expensive - but frankly, the only "foodie" food in the town - despite what all the promotional magazines and etc put out by the Ojai public relations machine (translate - all publications & newspapers for their advertisers) says. I wouldn't spend money anywhere else in the town.

foodaspoetry in Los Angeles Area

Pumpkin everything....That time of the year!

I'd love an update on Urth Cafe Pumpkin pie please. In 2002 I lived nearby the W. Hollywood cafe and became addicted, it was phenomenol and the whip cream was, indeed very real. I moved far far away, but when I had it a few years later it was. . . . not so good. . .either at the orig or the Beverly Hills place. It seemed like all the desserts had become. . . really average. . .was it just me remembering them better than in 2002, or did expanding beyond the original kind of result in loss of deliciousness??? Please update me.

foodaspoetry in Los Angeles Area

Eating Adventures in Ojai and Beyond

Don't think much of the new bakery. . .tried it all when they were selling at the Ojai Farmers Market. . . too expensive. . .the sweets not really that sweet. . .the former bakery on the premises, The Oak Tree Bakery was quite good IMO, but alas, that didn't last long, I was sorry to see it go. I don't give Knead much more time either. . .

foodaspoetry in Los Angeles Area

Are there no good eats in Ventura County?

Clarification is necessary - Boccalli's (the Ojai location) is a very charming place, with grow their own vegetables and etc., but the food couldn't be less "real Italian" and neither the pizza or anything else there is close to gourmet. Its great for family dining as its very very very plain and basic. It is not gourmet, fine dining, authentic italian or creative italian AT ALL. Very average, but will offend few.

foodaspoetry in Los Angeles Area

Are there no good eats in Ventura County?

Yes yes yes Cabo Grill y Cantino, a real treasure among so much average food in Venura County. We are always the only anglos there, it is usually busy but not horrible crowded and it is absolutely fantastic; I wish I lived closer and could eat there more often. We introduced the place to friends who stay in Oxnard on the beach a few weeks each year and they threw a catered party on the beach which Cabo did and it was really delicious. Extensive menu, love the guacamole made at the table, the fish dishes are great---found out about it years ago when Triple A magazine did a review on fish tacos i think. The place and everything we have had there has been even better than the magazine reviews. Try things you've never had before, rather than the typical, you won't be sorry.

foodaspoetry in Los Angeles Area

Are there no good eats in Ventura County?

Hilarious post by Harry Nile re Suzanne's but he's right on the money, at least as of fall 2009.

foodaspoetry in Los Angeles Area

Bagels in LA?

I am so excited to read your post. I & Joy from the 60's WAS "the bagel". When I left LA and moved to an area with NO deli food whatsoever, the things that passed and continue to pass for bagels was so upsetting I stopped trying. But lately, even in LA when I visit, they are not so good. I am heading for The Nosh and hoping to revisit I & Joy days!!!

foodaspoetry in Los Angeles Area

Best challah and rugallah in the East Valley

Keep in mind that different Gelson's have different rugelachs, even chocolate chip (which is the only kind i generally get). I have noticed differences in the Gelson's Rugelachs between Century City (years ago), West Hollywood, the one in the Valley on Laurel Canyon, the one in Thousand Oaks and the one in Santa Barbara. . . .so, just know if you like it at one Gelson's bakery, it might not be the same.

foodaspoetry in Los Angeles Area

Eating Adventures in Ojai and Beyond

I think World Cafe closed down, and I'm sorry if it did as I never made it in there. I heard things were fragrant and well spiced. . . an unusual phenomenon for Ojai. I must look to see if it is still there. It seems that places that are actually using fresh and innovative food and spices don't last long in Ojai.

foodaspoetry in Los Angeles Area

Eating Adventures in Ojai and Beyond

Azu is always really crowded, and I keep trying different things there figuring I am just ordering wrong. I've concluded it is average but there are simply no decent places to eat and so. . .people go there as there's not much choice. I've had a tasteless tomato soap, an uninspired salad, and most of the not that many entrees. Nothing to write about. The decor and the crowd is generally weird, it IS loud, but I never have tried the gelato. Now, I will!!!

foodaspoetry in Los Angeles Area

Eating Adventures in Ojai and Beyond

We went to the annual Taste of Ojai last Sunday for the first time, gifted to us by a friend. It started at 2pm and was to go untili 6pm. It was expensive at $65.00 a person and by the time we got there at 4pm, many of handful of restaurants participating were already out of food so no tastes left. There was plenty of wine, but no bottled or other water ---no soda, no water, not one bottle---to drink and it was only 4pm. So, very few "tastes," no water but plenty of wine. The scene of the event had been moved from its usual beautiful setting in the beautiful old herb garden of the Ojai Valley Inn and Spa to a strange place in the middle of the Inn's golf course, on a nearly 100 degree day the guests were situated in the middle of a fairway with no shade, no trees, without the usual vine covered arbor with a view of the Highway and an earful of noisy traffic. Interesting choice to move the event, especially as we drove past the usual spot which was empty---so it wasn't like there was a conflict of some other wedding or other event. Lots of wine, and for those with food left, a really average or below average "taste" except for Vesta---which served vegetable and chicken panini's with sweet potato fries. Not spectacular, but well spiced, interesting choice of ingredients, nice bread and nice toasting and easily the best "taste" served. The owner of Vespa was very nice. . . .if only we weren't parched and dying for some water in the middle of a golfcourse, we would have had seconds. But, we will dine at Vespa when we are in town, and it was a nice surprise that Vespa's food was as good as it was.

foodaspoetry in Los Angeles Area

Eating Adventures in Ojai and Beyond

Being quite familiar with Ojai food scene, the flavor free/problematic review of Snackish is more in line with my experience at Farmer and the Cook. I think Enorah isn't quite as picky, and lucky for her if she'll be in Ojai for any length of time.

foodaspoetry in Los Angeles Area

Eating Adventures in Ojai and Beyond

I'm curious if Enorah ever made it so Suzanne's for a meal and what he/she thought. A very pretty setting, the only place recommended by the Ojai Valley Inn and Spa to its visitors who want to eat off the property, and expensive, I saved dining at the spot until I had my own special guests to take somewhere when they came to the area. Whoa was me, and I was so embarassed to have taken my people there. A beautiful but hot afternoon and an entirely empty patio at the restaurant, and the person handling the seating wouldn't allow our well dressed party of four to eat on the gorgeous patio under the fan---they said the table was reserved---so we ate in the heat and watched as the fan-assisted table remained empty (as did most of the others on the patio) for the entire 2 plus hours we were there. My chicken dish was tasteless, undercooked, no spices; my friend's omlette was tasteless, no spices; the other friends salad looked good but she was underwhelmed. The bill HUGE. I've been back and sampled other things, and found a tuna sandwich passable---but in a foody challenged town, its sad when the "best" restaurant is so overpriced and average---not to mention the strange"reservation" service. I don't remember the butter---but then again, if that was the recommendation as the best item on the menu, I might have known better than to go there.

foodaspoetry in Los Angeles Area

need restaurant in ventura/oxnard for anniversary

Glbtrttr is giving you proper advice re the food scene in the Ventura vicinity---not so good. Steer clear of Ojai as all things fresh and creative (except perhaps wine) are exported; there isn't even a real Italian food in town. Suzanne's, Ranch House, Azu are where people go, but the menus are tired, service uneven and really overpriced for what is served. LA or Santa Barbara. There isn't even a real Italian restaurant in the town---The scenery in Ojai is gorgeous, the food. . . not so much.

foodaspoetry in Los Angeles Area

Rome recommendations

Thanks "where are my glasses", for your take on things. I've been reading the board for months and am leaving this weekend for Rome and some northern coastal cities and its great to have current updates. Its one thing to search the board, but things can change in restaurants as well as different people having different takes on things. Your post was much appreciated. . . I'll be heaving to La Taverna dei Monti !!!

foodaspoetry in Italy

Wedding Spots in or around Rome

Years ago, on my first trip to Rome, I was taken to a restaurant for lunch called Casina Valadir. It was located in a villa on the edge of the Borghese Gardens with a view of the city below that was unbelieveable and we ate in a sort of covered indoor/outdoor porch of sorts. Someone (Italian) was having a wedding which I peaked to see, on the top floor of the villa. I am still single, but used to fantasize about having a wedding there. I am going to Rome at the end of the week and plan to go back for lunch. . . having no idea how the place is now/or has changed. Here is the info I saw on the restaurant Casina Valadier, Piazza Bucarest 00187 Roma, Roma (Latium), Italy. 06 6992 2090 open sunday they have a website ilcapodannoaroma.com or just google the name. I am not a Roman, but I've been to some pretty spectacular weddings (living in LA and with some association with the entertainment biz) and . . . I thought it was "real" but very very nice.

foodaspoetry in Italy

Penne Arrabiatta

i must have had it once a day for three weeks in one visit to Rome (all at different places and long ago). it was piccante and sometimes molto piccante and I was thrilled. . . sometimes with visible pieces of the pepper that is used on the plate. i haven't had it in the US made properly. . . never have seen the pepper on the plate, probably they just use the flakes.

foodaspoetry in Italy