42 Best American Restaurants in Ventura

“I had a another great experience at Immigrant Son! Cortni was incredibly informative and engaging--she really listened to what I wanted and offered some great suggestions. I mentioned I was looking for something keto-friendly and protein-packed, and she recommended a side of chicken and a side of avocado. Simple, healthy, and surprisingly delicious! To top it off, I treated myself to their strawberry sourdough scone--absolutely amazing, especially paired with a good cup of coffee! Ronan, the manager, was exceptional as well. The positive energy in this place is always contagious--it's the kind of vibe that makes you want to come back. Great people, great food, great atmosphere!“

“Today was my first time giving Happy Place Eatery Food Truck a try, Great fast service, super friendly staff. I gotta say the smash burgers are rich, juicy, and full of delicious flavor and the fries are so crispy and yummy with ranch. Hands Down!!! Follow Your Tastebuds“

“is really good for the family“

“If you're searching for a quiet meal on the beach, this place has few rivals. We came here for our anniversary, and LOVED the rooms, the peace and quiet, the row of chaise lounges at water's edge, the restaurant on site, and the gracious continental breakfast. The management was chill, and we couldn't ask for more.“

“Model Citizen is one of those vibey spots that feels elevated without being stuffy, and Mondays are my favorite time to go.

They are open Thursday through Monday from 4 pm to 9 pm and closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Happy hour runs daily from 4 to 6 pm and all night on Mondays. And yes, you can order happy hour from anywhere you sit in the restaurant, which immediately earns bonus points.

Mondays have the best energy. It is relaxed but still lively. I am obsessed with their salads, especially the Caesar, heavy on the parm please.

The happy hour menu never misses. Smash burger with fries and garlic aioli is a must. And if you are getting a drink, go for the Negroni. They make a very good one, balanced and done right.

Great food, strong drinks, and a really good vibe. Model Citizen is a go to when you want something fun, elevated, and reliably good.“

“great service, delicious large portions, very fresh n hot coffee“

“Spendy, but isn’t everything these days? Favorites are the breakfast burritos (huge!) and the chicken fried steak. Beautiful view, friendly staff. Linger a little in the parking lot and soon you will see the Great Blue Heron and white heron activity in the eucalyptus grove across the way. That’s worth a few of those dollars right there - what a treat!“

“Great live music with local musicians“

“Thank you Samantha for a nice early dinner tonight 10/7/22 You did a great job considering you could have been issued a bus person to help . Wasn’t thrilled to hear the manager lady reprimand you in the middle of your shift as that can throw anyone off . All in all beautiful young lady giving her all so thank you ?“

“I gotta say it's was my first time being there to experience the breakfast on the cozy patio. I order the pecan pancakes with crispy bacon and their special syrup so deelish. The beignets are magnificent. The staff super Friendly!!! I highly recommend you try this French restaurant out . Follow Your Taste Buds!!!“

“We all loved Paradise Pantry , the food, the presentation, and the service were all fantastic The attached gourmet wine and cheese store is not to be missed. This place is a real gem in Ventura Ca.“

“Great food great staff great all around fun place“

“Awesome Smokey juicy meaty heaven, get you some now!“

“I love Stonefire Grill. Their portions are pretty good size.“

“Ventura is filled with God breakfast restaurants, but this place is the OG of great breakfast. I've been coming here about 40 years, and never disappoints. Complimentary Swedish pancake is a great touch. Plus, Pepper plant on the table - nobody else does this. Don't know what it is? You don't know what you're missing.“

“We had dinner tonight 10/24 @cafe zack. I made reservation for 6 pax. We seated in the patio and it was beautiful. I ordered rack of lamb (forgot to take photo). I ate every bit. We had Ceasar salad and the rest of the group ordered cowboy rib eye and fettuccine seafood curry. We had the desserts. Everything was delicious. It was our first time and cafe zack didn't disappoint us. We definitely comeback on December 26 for my birthday!“

“We enjoyed the fried pickles and sandwiches. Fish tacos were also delicious.“

“I was first introduced to Bright Spark In March at the Ventura Beer Experience. We talked with a lovely couple behind the table and tasted Day Trip, which has become my all-time favorite. We were introduced to a concept called Musical Bingo that day, and I was delighted to make my first visit to the brewery on my 55th birthday in May. Every single one of the employees there was kind, gracious, and warm. The food was absolutely amazing and the Musical Bingo is so much fun! I have since been dragging people left and right there and recommending you guys because of what a great laid back family-friendly atmosphere it is. I will be back again and again and again. and I will bring everyone I can with me! 😊🎶🤘🏼“

“Great food the Bangers and mashers were delicious!!“

“We had so much fun in the cave! Me and Toothless were in the cave and we were asleep and Toothless is already snoring and Toothless is in hibernation and Toothless Watches Over Me in my sleep and Toothless and he has his snores. Luna woke up and the Snowstorm and I had Toothless.“

“😊Great healthy lunches. 😀😀“

“Love this place and have been coming for years specifically for their parmesan crusted tacos, think Taco Bell on steroids! They have a lovely patio, you can bring your pups, and the service is outstanding! 👍🏻👍🏻🌮❤️“

“The busy bee café is a place to go eat you could eat indoor or outdoor. They wait on you as soon as you get in they are so nice it’s clean services top-of-the-line, and the food is more than top-of-the-line. Great food come in and get it I live in Santa Barbara and I go to eat there each time, I’m there in Ventura.“

“I have been here many times in the past, The service seems to be slipping no longer as friendly of an environment as it used to be.

I am making this comment over my last three experiences, to be fair in the past It's always been great.“

“Everything is perfect 😍 Always I go to the Finney’s in Westlake for dinner 🍲 I love this restaurant 🤩“

“The food is delicious 😋 breakfast 🍳 is the best“

“Big ole BRC w/Avocado Burrito $10 includes chips/salsa 👌🏾“

“What can you say about this place? There is no better Sports Restaurant around. Great food, people, and sports.“

“I have visited The Cave twice, a week apart. The first time was for a wine pairing dinner, which we did with another couple. There were 5 courses (appetizer, salad, two entree courses, and dessert) and each dish was delicious. We decided to return a week later to see if it would be as good for just an ordinary night out. The restaurant was not too busy (it was a Tuesday) but each of the dishes we enjoyed was well prepared and very good. We ordered the Macadamia Crusted Salmon, a chicken special stuffed with goat cheese and spinach, and another chicken dish. The restaurant is attached to a wine shop, and if you don't want to sample wines by the ounce or order wine off the restaurant list, you can go into the shop and choose from literally hundreds of wines at all price points and then bring the bottle into the restaurant where they will serve the wine for a very minimal ($10) corkage fee. Done be put off by its location in an industrial park. This place is a gem! Inside it looks like a wine cave and they usually have some quiet live music at dinner time. This is definitely one of the better dinner spots in Ventura!“

“It’s always a favorite. Beautiful classy interior and exterior. The best food and drinks are the best.“

“When Ventura first opened up my wife and I ordered meals to go unfortunately things were a little shaky at the time and the meals were short certain items and some things were correct. After calling Ventura and talking to the manager they agreed that next time we come in the meals would be on them. Well as time goes along some things get lost and today the wife found the receipt and called up the restaurant and talk to the manager his name is Nicholas. Well he did a great job he not only provided the meals for us but he was Very very cordial about it and thoroughly understanding he did a great job he made a lifetime customer with my wife and I and I appreciate his hard work and the good food that comes out of this restaurant thank you“

“The food is delicious 😋 breakfast 🍳 is the best“

“One word, Mimosas! Owned by the same family that owns LoRu's at the Camarillo Outlets. Good food and good service. The (chorizo) breakfast tacos were very good.“

“I already knew they had the best ham for holidays or special occasions, so I was excited to learn they made lunch every day! They make amazing sandwiches that are very reasonably priced considering the quality of the ingredients that go into them.
For those days where you’re just craving a delicious sandwich and some chips for lunch this is the best place around for that! Grab a sandwich to go so you can take it to work or if you’re close enough take your lunch break there.

The service was fast and friendly, and the prices are so reasonable. You can eat here more than once a week without it, putting a dent in your wallet. I love a fast affordable lunch during the week.

It’s also pretty convenient to pick up dinner during the week, including side dishes, which are also very delicious and reasonably priced.“

“Great atmosphere & the drinks are delicous.“

“They have best Brussel sprouts in Ventura and we try a lot of brussels sprouts. Their margaritas are excellent as well especially the cucumber jalapeño Margie.“

“I had a great experience at IHOP thanks to our waiter, Carol. From the moment we sat down, she was warm, welcoming, and super attentive. She checked on our table often without being intrusive and made sure our food came out just the way we ordered it. Carol kept our drinks filled, gave great menu recommendations, and made the whole visit feel easy and relaxed. You can tell she really cares about her customers. If you’re coming to this IHOP, definitely ask for Carol—she’ll make your meal even better!“

“Red Robin earns a solid 4 stars in my book — it’s a consistently fun, casual place to eat with good food, friendly service, and a family-friendly atmosphere that still works well for teens and adults who just want a laid-back meal. The moment you walk in, you’re greeted with that classic diner-meets-modern-sports-bar vibe, with bright red booths, TVs playing sports or random trivia, and the smell of burgers in the air that kind of makes you hungrier than you thought you were. The menu is big, with lots of burger options, from classic to wild (pineapple and teriyaki, anyone?), and everything feels customizable — you can swap patties, remove toppings, or go with a lettuce wrap if you’re trying to be healthier, which I appreciate.

The bottomless fries are a huge win — crispy, well-seasoned, and super addicting, and if you ask, they’ll bring you more without hesitation. Their milkshakes are thick and indulgent, and the freckled lemonade is still a fan favorite. It’s not exactly “gourmet” food, but it’s good quality for the price, and portions are generous. They also have options beyond burgers — like salads, chicken sandwiches, and even vegetarian and gluten-free dishes — so there’s usually something for everyone.

Service tends to be friendly and pretty quick, though depending on how busy it is, you might have to wait a bit for refills or extra fries — nothing major, but it’s worth noting if you’re on a tight schedule. The restaurant is also family-oriented, so you’ll often hear kids laughing or the occasional birthday song from across the dining room, which is fun for some people and a bit much for others depending on the mood. Still, it doesn’t take away from the experience — it just adds to that casual, all-ages vibe they’re going for.

Overall, Red Robin isn’t trying to be super fancy, and that’s exactly why it works — it’s comfortable, tasty, and dependable, especially when you’re craving a big burger and fries in a setting where you don’t have to dress up or feel rushed. A few minor things (like noise or wait times during rush hours) keep it from being five stars, but I’d still definitely recommend it for anyone looking for a chill, satisfying meal with friends or family.“

“Loved everything about it. Can't remember the bartenders name but the tattooed dude was excellent. Anyone know his name?“

“Impressive customer service, while our waiter was busy w/other tables (which is understandable and totally fine) there is a busy bus boy buzzing around with water, clearing off plates and bringing extras people are asking for. Our waiter came and took our drink order. Malbec for me… so good, I had to ask what it was: Öko 🤤 and my husband ordered a smash berry something. THAT was SO BOMB! A hint of mint and full flavor of berries bursting bar god deliciousness! We ordered the butter board, now the presentation could use some work… I’m more about flavor and that butter (two options) was finger lickin good. The waiter took a few minutes to chat and told us it was pineapple butter. 🤯 it’s served with small pieces of… maybe focaccia bread (which btw alone was so good too). Meanwhile, the manager has his eye on everything. He saw the moment we put down our menus, and was there to ask is we has any questions. I did: there’s no house salad on the menu & he accommodated my request for one, which was a deciding factor for my main course. The SoCal Bolognese was bursting with flavor. This is new to the menu, we’ve been a few times… my husband is a fan, I was never impressed… until last night. The chorizo was spicy, but not overpowering, pasta cooked perfectly. The house salad could’ve used more tomatoes, but I really can’t complain since it’s not on the menu to begin with. My husband ordered the ahi steak on top of green beans and he said it was really good. It looked amazing, but I was in heaven with the butter board & the bolognese, my palate couldn’t handle the flavor overload 😜 After about 6 visits, I finally found something worth writing home about. For sure putting this place back into rotation. And the prices… very reasonable. Might be coming here a lot more. Everyone was super nice and helpful.“

“Shrimp scampi pizza!!!!!!“

“always loved Foster freeze and this one especially since it is the original from 1962 I recommend Foster's freeze it's the best!!!“