Hal's Picks for food at the Beach!
Hal's picks are based either on his personal experience or reviews drawn from
a variety of sources. One of the most precious values we cherish here in western
Ventura County and especially in the beach community is our casual unpretentious
life style. For dress guide lines, upscale means "business" casual. "Casual" and
"joint" mean shirts and shoes required (flip-flops are shoes). For
the latest about live entertainment and restaurant reviews, check the
VC Reporter, a free weekly.
A last note about dress: I once asked a veteran Top Producing Real Estate
agent, "Is my casual dress OK?" His answer was, "Absolutely, I once attended a
multi-million dollar sales meeting and the other agent was wearing a wetsuit."
The Whales Tail
Best happy hour views in the Channel Islands Marina, at the end of
Harbor Blvd in Hollywood Beach. Get's top billing because of it's location, but no accolades for the food
here.
Blue Elephant Thai Cuisine
Just across from the Marina next to West Marine, a very
popular little Thai Restaurant.
Big Daddy O's
Very casual Tiny joint in Silver Strand Beach, Burgers, Tri Tip, Chicken.
Check out their Chicken Salad Sandwich.
Boar's Breath Deli
Very good sandwich shop and small sports bar, also just across the Marina by
West Marine. Features Boar's Head cold cuts, reputedly among the best. 719 W.
Channel Islands Blvd.
Capistrano's
Lovely restaurant inside the Embassy Suites Hotel on Mandalay
Beach. Good food with an upscale atmosphere.
Chinese Dumpling
House
In the Ralph's shopping center on Channel Islands Blvd, 1/2
mile from Victoria. Reliable & reasonably priced.
Eric Ericsson's Seafood Co.
Well established restaurant at the foot of the Ventura Pier. OK food, stellar
location, geared to tourists.
Hanami Sushi
Very fresh and innovative. One of my favorites. On par
with the best Sushi restaurants I've enjoyed.
Located in the Ralph's Center on Channel Islands Blvd.
Italian Job Cafe
Traditional Italian food in an small Marina side cafe. Just opened in
Hollywood Beach in the Harbor Landing.
Moqueca Brazilian Cuisine
Unique cuisine with unusual South American
flavors. In Hollywood Beach in the Marine Emporium Landing
Mrs. Olson's
A small local joint, lots of food and calories. Get in line
for breakfast on the weekends. In Hollywood Beach on Los Altos.
Quincy Street
Funky Chicago style Barbeque and Italian food, Generous
portions. Located at the south end of Victoria Ave in
Silver Strand Beach.
Sea Fresh
Fresh Seafood, Sushi and Oyster bar, just reopened after more than a year due
to a fire. I found it reasonably priced and of good quality. In Hollywood beach on the Marina.
Shoal's Restaurant
Right on the Ocean Front in Mussel Shoals in the classic Cliff House Inn.
Exceptional food, so I'm told. I'd give it a try! On PCH, just north of Hwy. 33.
Smokey's House of BBQ
Just opened in the Seabridge Marina. Open for breakfast, lunch
and dinner. Attractive surroundings with good reviews. Try the pulled
pork sandwich.
Spudnut's Donuts
Yes, donuts! Made with Potato flour. My favorite, on Channel Islands Blvd.,
just off Victoria.
Topper's Pizza
A local chain, located in the Ralph's Center on Channel Islands Blvd. Also
try Me-'n-Eds Pizza and Round Table Pizza, both in the Seabridge
Marina.
Yolanda's Mexican Restaurant
Long time fixture for OK "gringo" style Mexican food and refreshments,
Yolanda's just moved from their longtime location inland to the Seabridge
Marina.
Centennial Plaza in downtown
Oxnard
Featuring the Plaza 14 multiplex theaters, it
is also home to a variety of 3 star restaurants, Tortuga Casual Dinning, Casa Escobar, 5th Street Steak
and Seafood, A Good Thai & Peruvian Restaurant,
Cold Stone Ice Cream and of course, Starbuck's.
In Oxnard/Port Hueneme
Cabo Seafood Grill & Cantina,
nicely decorated with good food,
on Oxnard Blvd, just north of Wooley.
CJ's BBQ, primarily takeout, on Victoria, just north of
5th.
Dominick's Italian Restaurant, reasonably priced
basic Italian faire, 2nd or
3rd generation still running the place, located on Oxnard Blvd, just off 3rd
St., in an old Studebaker dealership building.
El Taco de Mexico, a great Burrito joint, on Saviors',
just south of Channel Islands Blvd.
Marianne's Italian Villa, family friendly,
American style, on Channel Islands Blvd, just off Patterson.
Montezuma Restaurant, 5 stars, excellent family
friendly authentic Mexican Restaurant in El Rio, not fancy, just north of the 101
off Vineyard.
Numerous small Mexican Restaurants, ranging from great
to OK. Consider finding the great ones an adventure.
Pirates', sports bar and grill with decent casual food,
on Victoria, just north of 5th St.
Tacos Jalisco, good seafood and other traditional
entrees, casual, definitely worth a try. 271 E. Channel Islands Blvd.
Tierra Sur in the Herzog Wine Cellars,
a notable 5 star gourmet restaurant inside the winery. 3201 Camino Del
Sol, Oxnard, Reservations a must
Nearby,
In Ventura Harbor:
Andria's, a casual seafood joint.
Brophy Brothers, a legend in Santa Barbara, casual seafood,
great chowder, recently opened in
Ventura.
Milano's Italian Restaurant, good Italian, in the Ventura Marina.
In Downtown Ventura:
Numerous upscale and casual eateries along Main Street. Check
it out!
This area has gone though a redevelopment in the past few years and offers
some new very exciting dinning opportunities.
Aloha Steakhouse, 4 star rated, on the beach in Ventura next to the
Crown Plaza Hotel at the foot of California St.
Brooks, 4+ star reviews, upscale, trendy Nuevo Americain cuisine, 545
East Thompson Blvd., Ventura.
Cafe Fiore, solid 4 star, Italian restaurant with a popular bar, another
favorite, 66 S.
California St, downtown Ventura.
Cafe Zack, 5 stars but casual, Seafood and Italian, beer and wine
only, 1095 East Thompson Blvd.
Nona's Courtyard Cafe, Respectable food, but it's the atmosphere, in the courtyard of the Bella
Maggiore Inn, try it for a very inviting lunch. 67 S.
California St., Ventura
Prime Steakhouse, 3 1/2 star reviews, specialize in Prime Rib, on 2009
East Thompson Blvd., Ventura
Watermark, 3 stars, really a bar with upscale food. DRESS CODE, 598 East Main St., Ventura
Zoey's Cafe, more Bistro than Restaurant, 4+ reviews, live music ,
downtown Ventura on Main St.
By the Pacific View Mall in Ventura
Allison's Country Cafe, great breakfast-lunch family destination, busy
place, 3429 Telegraph Road, just north of the Mall.
Mimi's Restaurant, a popular chain with reasonable prices and
good food.
Wood Ranch BBQ Restaurant has a unique style. Try their
tri tip. Always popular, this local chain has been very successful.
Romano's Macaroni Grill, nearby, on Telephone Road, across the 101.
North Oxnard
BJ's Restaurant and Brewery, a micro brewery with a big
following. Just across from Home Depot.
Off Rose Ave. and the 101, a bevy of chain restaurants: Olive Garden, Red
Lobster, El Torito, Chili's Grill, TGIFriday, Hometown Buffett, Chick-fil-A and others.
On Victoria Ave in Ventura
Just north of the 101, a good selection of casual eateries, among them,
Chipotle Mexican Grill, Daphne's Greek Cafe and Fat Burger.
Best in Class!
China Dynasty on Johnson Drive by the Century 16 movies. Some
say the best Chinese food in the Area.
Familia Diaz in Santa Paula, again arguably the best Mexican
Restaurant around.
Piatti's Italian Restaurant in
Montecito. My personal favorite.
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