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.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Josh Damigo
Took my date to MC and David was our server. Here is the list of things that she mentioned were “The Best She’s Ever Had”. (And she’s been to over 50 countries and is a huge fan of European dining.)
1. The Steak Tartare 2. The Oysters 3. The Salad 4. David’s Service 5. The Espresso Affogato
Compliments to the chef and staff. We kissed at the end of the night and I think Model Citizen deserved it more than I did.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Joseph Zepeda
Drinks are supposed to be good here - we weren't drinking so can't address that. N/A options are pretty slim, but they have a couple mocktails. Service was friendly. Vibe was fine. Nice-looking bar.
Food was awful: 'pickle plate' was like three raw-tasting pieces of cauliflower and a couple nondescript peppers. Better pickled veggies at any hole-in-the-wall Mexican place, hands down. Then a 'loaded focaccia' which was neither loaded nor focaccia: it was four inches thick, white, bland, undersalted, barely crispy on the outside - supposedly it had sausage, but there was no sausage. Maybe the sauce had once been next to a sausage, but there was no meat in this dish. Those things were on the happy hour menu. Maybe the regular menu is better? Not really. For an entree I got a pasta: nice burrata but the pasta itself was undercooked, chewy (not al dente, just chewy) and a very small amount for an entree. Again, supposedly had sausage, but it more like a sausage-inspired (?) sauce that didn't even taste meaty, more mushroomy. Zero sausage detected after two attempts to order that substance. After the appetizers my wife just didn't order an entree, she had seen enough. We finished our dinner with Costco lasagna back at home, and that was when we finally felt like we had had a meal. It is really not hard to do better than this. If you actually want food with your happy hour, keep walking, this is not the place.
olivia ramirez
absolutely love this place. their happy hour is amazing and so are their drinks n food. highly recommend
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Paul Hoffman
To be fair. It was very busy for a Monday night. Five of us. Very nice host sat us at a booth because we requested no high top. Nice atmosphere with beautiful interior. Took about 8 minutes to even see anyone or get water. Cocktails were very good. Focaccia bread and burrata very good. Entrees not so much. Short rib pasta with rigatoni the pasta was mushy and the sauce tasted store bought and the short ribs were small and kinda tough. The chef did not get the memo that short rib beef should be “fall off the bone” good and there was hardly that much meat for a $25 dish. The hanger steak was good and not overdone but kinda “meh” with some mashed potatoes and some underdone white onions. Not worth $38. The server was nice but not a lot of interaction with us and she was talking to other staff instead of checking on our table. They also add an 18 percent tip to the tab without pre warning on the menu. Nice place but for $350 for 5 people you should have your act together a bit more than this. Lastly, I read all the one, two and three star reviews for this place and they are spot on. Read those reviews first.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 2
Avalyn N
This place was amazing! From the second we walked in. The host, the waitress the bartenders all were amazing. The food was fantastic. Will be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Alysha Cordova
Our group of 6 ordered three pastas, 2 salads, 2 apps (all to eat family style), and had a few cocktails. I forgot to take photos because we were having a great time and conversation. They have $10 cocktails on the happy hour menu and we went on a Saturday around 4:45 (reserved the time) - pleasant surprise to see happy hour on a weekend! Overall, I thought the food was delicious and the cocktails are strong and tasty. The service was also fast and friendly - loved the timing of how each course was brought out. It is on the pricier side and the portions are not super large but if you want a nice treat in a very cute space, it's worth a try!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Maja Adamski
Food was delicious and service was great.
Adam Gilson
This upscale family style American French fusion-lite California chill vibe restaurant is my new favorite place in Ventura.
Great food, cocktails, service, and ambiance.
The daily catch with Beuerre Blanc sauce is a revelation.
If you want huge portions of mediocre food for under $20 to drown out whatever's ailing you, this isn't the place.
If you want well composed, thought out food that is brilliantly understated and laser focused on quality ingredients and flavor, this is the place for you.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Alex Flores
Checked out Model Citizen in Ventura with a group of four. I like trying new places, but this one just didn’t do it for me. The food was just okay—their so-called “mash-burger” was about the size of a McDonald’s double cheeseburger, nothing to write home about and way more expensive
We ordered from the happy hour menu, thinking we’d get a decent deal. Instead, the bill came out to $317, and they automatically tack on an 18% service charge no matter what—even for happy hour. Then they still prompt you to leave an extra tip. So yeah, don’t be fooled by the happy hour prices—you’re still gonna spend a lot.
The drinks were fine, and I’ll say the fries were actually really good, especially with the aioli sauce—but that was about it. Overall? Not impressed. I don’t think I’ll be going back, and I wouldn’t recommend it.
The food wasn’t good. The burger and pasta were below average, I told the waiter, she didn’t even offer anything. Dessert and drinks were good. But I would not go there again.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 2
Veronika Cox
What a great little find this was. Exquisite food at a reasonable price. Good varied menu with fresh local ingredients. I had the fresh tuna tartare with chips and a gem lettuce, pear, blue cheese and walnut salad. Good portion sizes too. One of the best meals I’ve had in Ventura these last six months.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
julia cedre
40% of the menu was not available at the time we were there. Half of their beers were out of stock. It was a Saturday night. Take a chance I guess.
Dan Rettinger
Atmosphere is perfect for a romantic date or get together. We love their cocktails and happy hour smash burgers. Also, their food is great too. They have a great bar also!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Crispy Potatoes, Steak Frites, mc Double Smashburger, Fries
Ryan Shindler
I had a fantastic dinner here. The menu has a legit variety of great items, and it seems you can't go wrong no matter what you order. We ordered multiple appetizers, entrees, and had dessert. It was all excellent.
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.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Took my date to MC and David was our server. Here is the list of things that she mentioned were “The Best She’s Ever Had”. (And she’s been to over 50 countries and is a huge fan of European dining.)
1. The Steak Tartare
2. The Oysters
3. The Salad
4. David’s Service
5. The Espresso Affogato
Compliments to the chef and staff.
We kissed at the end of the night and I think Model Citizen deserved it more than I did.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Drinks are supposed to be good here - we weren't drinking so can't address that. N/A options are pretty slim, but they have a couple mocktails. Service was friendly. Vibe was fine. Nice-looking bar.
Food was awful: 'pickle plate' was like three raw-tasting pieces of cauliflower and a couple nondescript peppers. Better pickled veggies at any hole-in-the-wall Mexican place, hands down. Then a 'loaded focaccia' which was neither loaded nor focaccia: it was four inches thick, white, bland, undersalted, barely crispy on the outside - supposedly it had sausage, but there was no sausage. Maybe the sauce had once been next to a sausage, but there was no meat in this dish. Those things were on the happy hour menu. Maybe the regular menu is better? Not really. For an entree I got a pasta: nice burrata but the pasta itself was undercooked, chewy (not al dente, just chewy) and a very small amount for an entree. Again, supposedly had sausage, but it more like a sausage-inspired (?) sauce that didn't even taste meaty, more mushroomy. Zero sausage detected after two attempts to order that substance. After the appetizers my wife just didn't order an entree, she had seen enough. We finished our dinner with Costco lasagna back at home, and that was when we finally felt like we had had a meal. It is really not hard to do better than this. If you actually want food with your happy hour, keep walking, this is not the place.
absolutely love this place. their happy hour is amazing and so are their drinks n food. highly recommend
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
To be fair. It was very busy for a Monday night. Five of us. Very nice host sat us at a booth because we requested no high top. Nice atmosphere with beautiful interior. Took about 8 minutes to even see anyone or get water. Cocktails were very good. Focaccia bread and burrata very good. Entrees not so much. Short rib pasta with rigatoni the pasta was mushy and the sauce tasted store bought and the short ribs were small and kinda tough. The chef did not get the memo that short rib beef should be “fall off the bone” good and there was hardly that much meat for a $25 dish. The hanger steak was good and not overdone but kinda “meh” with some mashed potatoes and some underdone white onions. Not worth $38. The server was nice but not a lot of interaction with us and she was talking to other staff instead of checking on our table. They also add an 18 percent tip to the tab without pre warning on the menu. Nice place but for $350 for 5 people you should have your act together a bit more than this. Lastly, I read all the one, two and three star reviews for this place and they are spot on. Read those reviews first.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 2
This place was amazing! From the second we walked in. The host, the waitress the bartenders all were amazing. The food was fantastic. Will be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Our group of 6 ordered three pastas, 2 salads, 2 apps (all to eat family style), and had a few cocktails. I forgot to take photos because we were having a great time and conversation. They have $10 cocktails on the happy hour menu and we went on a Saturday around 4:45 (reserved the time) - pleasant surprise to see happy hour on a weekend! Overall, I thought the food was delicious and the cocktails are strong and tasty. The service was also fast and friendly - loved the timing of how each course was brought out. It is on the pricier side and the portions are not super large but if you want a nice treat in a very cute space, it's worth a try!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Food was delicious and service was great.
This upscale family style American French fusion-lite California chill vibe restaurant is my new favorite place in Ventura.
Great food, cocktails, service, and ambiance.
The daily catch with Beuerre Blanc sauce is a revelation.
If you want huge portions of mediocre food for under $20 to drown out whatever's ailing you, this isn't the place.
If you want well composed, thought out food that is brilliantly understated and laser focused on quality ingredients and flavor, this is the place for you.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Checked out Model Citizen in Ventura with a group of four. I like trying new places, but this one just didn’t do it for me. The food was just okay—their so-called “mash-burger” was about the size of a McDonald’s double cheeseburger, nothing to write home about and way more expensive
We ordered from the happy hour menu, thinking we’d get a decent deal. Instead, the bill came out to $317, and they automatically tack on an 18% service charge no matter what—even for happy hour. Then they still prompt you to leave an extra tip. So yeah, don’t be fooled by the happy hour prices—you’re still gonna spend a lot.
The drinks were fine, and I’ll say the fries were actually really good, especially with the aioli sauce—but that was about it. Overall? Not impressed. I don’t think I’ll be going back, and I wouldn’t recommend it.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 3
Restaurantji Recommends
The food wasn’t good. The burger and pasta were below average, I told the waiter, she didn’t even offer anything. Dessert and drinks were good. But I would not go there again.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 2
What a great little find this was. Exquisite food at a reasonable price. Good varied menu with fresh local ingredients. I had the fresh tuna tartare with chips and a gem lettuce, pear, blue cheese and walnut salad. Good portion sizes too. One of the best meals I’ve had in Ventura these last six months.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
40% of the menu was not available at the time we were there. Half of their beers were out of stock. It was a Saturday night. Take a chance I guess.
Atmosphere is perfect for a romantic date or get together. We love their cocktails and happy hour smash burgers. Also, their food is great too. They have a great bar also!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Crispy Potatoes, Steak Frites, mc Double Smashburger, Fries
I had a fantastic dinner here. The menu has a legit variety of great items, and it seems you can't go wrong no matter what you order. We ordered multiple appetizers, entrees, and had dessert. It was all excellent.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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