Hal's Picks for food around the Beach Area!
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).
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 Real Estate 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.
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.
Sushi Holic
Reasonably priced and Located in the Ralph's Center on Channel Islands Blvd.
Anaba Sushi
Some consider the best sushi around, in the Von's Shopping Center, Seabridge Marina
Fisherman's Catch
Fresh and affordable family run restaurant and fish market, much of the fish is caught fresh by the family. Try the Fish Tacos! In the Von's Shopping Center on the Marina.
Italian Job Cafe
Traditional Italian food in an small Marina side cafe. Recently 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. Located at the south end of Victoria Ave in Silver Strand Beach.
Sea Fresh
Fresh Seafood, Sushi and Oyster bar. I found it reasonably priced and of average quality. In Hollywood beach on the Marina.
CJ's BBQ Takeout
Victoria Ave, just off 5th St. My Favorite!
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 their new location, right on the waterfront. On Peninsula Road, just past the fire station. Also try Me-'n-Eds Pizza and Round Table Pizza, both in the Seabridge Marina (Von's) Shopping Center.
Rusty's Pizza
Local chain with decent Pizza, in Port Hueneme at Hueneme Road and Ventura Road
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. Great Bar.
Just in the last year or two, we have seen an influx of Sushi Restaurants and BBQ Restaurants, so there are several to chose from around the area.
Centennial Plaza in downtown Oxnard
Featuring the Plaza 14 multiplex theaters, it is also home to a variety of 3 star restaurants, Iron Horse Bar and Grill, Sugar Beets Bar and Grill, 5th Street Steak and Seafood, China Square Restaurant, Cold Stone Ice Cream and of course, Starbuck's.
Inland Oxnard, Port Hueneme
Off Rose Ave. and the 101, a bevy of chain restaurants: Olive Garden, Red Lobster, El Torito, Chilis Grill, TGI Friday, Hometown Buffett, Chick-fil-A and others.
In addition, a shopping center just opened up with several new restaurants. Across from St. John's Medical Center, on Rose Ave and Gonzales, notably is Hooks Burger Bistro. Founded by the same folks that created The Habit, this is a must try place!
BJ's Restaurant and Brewery, a micro brewery with a big following. Just across from Home Depot, in the Esplanade Shopping Center.
Cabo Seafood Grill & Cantina, Nicely decorated with good food, on Oxnard Blvd, just north of Wooley.
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 Burrito de Mexico, a new location for a family run local chain of great Burrito joints. Fresh and authentic. Channel Islands Blvd, just east of Ralph's Market.
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 OK casual food, available for informal banquets 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.
Vallarta Mexican Market
A specialized grocery store chain with about 30 locations in Southern California. Outstanding Bakery, extensive hot food selections for takeout & catering, full butcher shop and fresh seafood, Mexican Deli and always good prices on can goods and produce. On Wooley, just west of Oxnard Blvd.
Nearby, In Ventura Harbor, Beach:
Andria's, a casual seafood joint.
Brophy Brothers, a legend in Santa Barbara, casual seafood, great chowder, recently opened in Ventura
Golden China Restaurant, very good food and Kariyoke, off Seaward and adjacent to the 101, 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.
Bombay Bar & Grill, cocktails, bar food and live music, on California St, just up from the beach, Ventura.
Busy Bee Cafe, retro '50's diner with good American traditional food and burgers, on Main St, 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.
Chicago's Ribs, all around good revues, on Main St in downtown Ventura.
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
Thai Peru Restaurant, find out what happens when a Thai cook meets Peruvian Cook, not fusion, separate menus, but amazingly complimentary. Very Good! Main St. 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.
71 Palm Restaurant, upscale menu, Main St in downtown Ventura
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.
On Victoria Ave in Ventura
Just north of the 101, a good selection of
casual eateries, among them, Daphne's Greek Cafe and Fat Burger, Trader Joe's
Market
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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