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Cafe Nouveau
Categories: Restaurants Breakfast & Brunch Restaurants American (New) Breakfast & Brunch, American (New) [Edit]
1497 E Thompson BlvdVentura, CA 93001
(805) 648-1422
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Breakfast
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
132 reviews for Cafe Nouveau
Review Highlights
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"They have homemade vanilla caramel syrup which is delicious." In 6 reviews -
"PICK THE BLUEBERRY CORN MUFFIN." In 5 reviews -
"...and try the pineapple upside down pancakes with their syrup." In 3 reviews
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132 reviews in English
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Review from ginny g.
Los Angeles, CA
12/12/2011
Cafe Nouveau is on the list for brunch every time I'm in Ventura. The menu is filled with ridiculously good sounding items. Dish after dish sounds better than the previous. I usually have to flip a coin to decide.
I've tried a little bit of everything here and it's all good. My personal preference is for any of the waffle dishes. (they serve them with magical house-made syrup.) The portion sizes are great. If you are lucky and the weather is permitting definitely grab a table on the patio. They have a good list of champagne cocktails that are fabulous after a night of boozing.
The waitstaff is always really attentive and friendly. The food is great. You can't really ask for more. -
Review from Nikki P.
Ventura, CA
2/6/2012
Ok, so I totally love this place, but there is a dilemma, everything looks so amazing, but I always end up getting the same few menu items. =/ maybe someday I'll branch out.
The atmosphere is amazing. For those of you who don't know, it's a house that has been converted into a restaurant. They play the best 20's era jazz, and the whole place is very sweet. Curious to me, though, is why the servers wear tie die shirts. Hmmm......very curious indeed.
The only reason I didn't 5 star them is because they don't really have a combo deal. I usually end up with some fruity variation of the pancakes or french toast. That's all. You have to pay (what I feel) to be a disproportionate amount of money (to the value of the meal as a whole) to add sausage, eggs, bacon etc. The staff has always been sweet and attentive. I love this place for brunch. -
Review from Stephanie P.
Ventura, CA
1/31/2012
Interior - great
Exterior - great
food - good or great
Serving - average
Will be one of the best place for brunch in Ventura. -
Review from Bettie B.
Ventura, CA
1/23/2012
this place was amazing the first time I went 2 yrs ago, but I went back and it wasn't as good.
then, I gave it one more chance and it was even worse..me and the friends went and I ordered a bloody mary and it was real bad and my friend ordered a mimosa an that was also bad, warm and gross..it's pretty hard to mess that up =\
the soup we ordered was nasty..tasted old..bummer because I really loved this place the first time. the outdoor patio is lovely.
maybe it was just a couple of off days but one too many for me especially because it's not cheap. -
Review from Ivana J.
11/12/2011 1 photo
The food here is 5-star. Their pancakes are delicious and fluffy, and the vanilla-caramel sauce is amazing. Too bad their service is not.
Our breakfast was going swimmingly, until we got the check. I had asked for a half-order of banana pecan pancakes (I hate wasting food, and we were on a road trip so I didn't want left-overs). The pancakes are large, so 2 was a perfect amount. However, when I got the check, my half-order cost more than the full order! I had not been warned that I would be charged full price for the half order, much less that I would be charged a couple dollars *more*. When I brought this up at the counter, they brought the price down to the full order price, which is still far over-priced for 2 (admittedly tasty) pancakes.
The whole ordeal left a bad taste in my mouth. Such a waste, given the food quality here. -
Review from amanda b.
Carlsbad, CA
8/16/2011
The food at Nouveau is good but everything else isn't. The building is awkward, the service is rude and the bathroom is disgusting!
I suggest having them repeat back your order to you because at our whole table- something on everyone's plate was wrong- but once we did get it - it was delish.
And the bathroom - seriously- can we clean the vent and put a new toilet seat on there please? Yuk -
Review from Stepho F.
Los Angeles, CA
11/11/2011 1 photo
This place is WONDERFUL! Whenever I visit friends in Ventura, I must make a stop at this restaurant!
I've only ever had the chance to go for brunch, but I would love to check out their dinner sometime. I agonize over what to order for a good 15 minutes here because each dish sounds better than the next. The egg dishes are very good, homemade biscuits, malted waffles...I could go on and on. Champagne cocktails are so adorable and delicious. Coffee is fresh and strong if that's more your speed.
Outdoor patio is lovely if the weather is nice. Inside is warm and friendly and well decorated. The service is wonderful; everyone is so friendly. A lot of TLC goes into the running of this place, and it shows, right down to the little complimentary brownie cupcakes that come with the check. Dine here and you won't regret it! -
Review from Garrett M.
Camarillo, CA
11/27/2011
This place is perfect. There is nothing like breakfast on a cool summer morning, sitting in the patio and drinking mimosas or some other type of fruity breakfast drink.
Their cinnamon syrup tastes like Disneyland and are the reason taste buds exist. The portions are great, the food is dynamic and fresh and they are dog friendly.
I love Nouveau. I will be going there this week and loving every moment of it. -
Review from Sarah Q.
Thousand Oaks, CA
7/27/2011
I'm going to open this review with a controversial statement. This is the best breakfast place in Ventura. I know, I know, there's Pete's and The Golden Egg, and I do love Corrales for a breakfast burrito, but nothing beats Cafe Nouveau for breakfast.
While I normally get an omelette, they make amazing pancakes! The outdoor seating area is pleasant and because the restaurant is situated in a house the indoor seating is charming. Like any good breakfast place, be prepared for a wait on weekend mornings, but it is well worth it.
I have been to Cafe Nouveau for dinner once and enjoyed my entree very much, but this is my go-to breakfast place. -
Review from Danny B.
Brea, CA
11/13/2011
Very nice little cafe on the corner of the block with a quaint little patio area out back.
Again, I came here after yet another night of power drinking and needed something to settle my stomach. Ordered the custom two egg plate with onions, bell peppers, mushrooms, and bacon. Just enough amount of salt and grease to make me stop feeling like poo. It was really delicious, nice side of hash browns and some toast. The other side options sounded pretty bomb too (sweet potato muffin, blueberry muffin, roasted potatoes, etc.)
And to top it all off, something that isn't even necessary, but you always appreciate it when it happens: little complimentary cupcakes arrive with your bill. That's just a nice touch that adds to the feel off the place. I like these types of quaint restaurants that make you feel like you're eating at home when you're there. -
Review from Stacy G.
1/30/2012
This place is more about ambiance than food. The patio is lovely, the restored old house adorned with vintage Parisian posters, and the food is adequate. Breakfast might be stronger than the lunch menu, although my aunt loved her entree (seafood-stuffed poblano pepper).
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Review from Juan F.
Los Angeles, CA
6/21/2011
Ive never read reviews about a 3rd party's dining experience, its always usually about the person who is writing the review. So im going to switch it up today and do just that; which is write solely based on observations from this couple i seen eating at Nouveau sitting across from me at an adjacent table.
So im dining alone and see this beautiful woman walk in. First thing i notice is her pretty hair which looks very full and vibrant, next i notice by the blotchy darker colors (in comparison to the rest) of her hipster cut jean-shorts, that they appear to be wet for some reason which is maybe why she is walking in a peculiar way. Mind you its 10am on a Tuesday morning, so i dont know why her shorts would be wet like this..maybe blame her dryer for that.
She sits elegantly by herself at the table whilst twiddling around on her cell phone then this handsome and very fashion forward gentleman walks in with a smirk on his face. Sitting by myself and eating i am forced to notice his hair which is a very nicely styled fohawk however the inconsistent amount of styling gel leads me to assume his hair wasnt fixed this morning but maybe the night before? I wonder why that would be?
Going back to that smirk, i see him walk in hinting he is holding something in his left hand which he is keeping behind his body very cool (like the other side of the pillow) then walks up to the woman at the table smiles at her and says while pulling his left hand towards her "hey, here..i picked this for you" which was a nice single white lily flower which the woman then gently grabs, brings to her nose and lightly smells followed by the instant catalyst of a genuine smile.
[i didnt need any sugar for my coffee, they were being sweet enough]
Anyhow as i was out the door i happened to glance over at them again and notice they were both drinking what looked like a mimosa which was complimented by a certain cocky funny swagger body language which i was assuming since i couldnt hear them talk but it seemed like they have having some in depth conversation about something relevant ~maybe about themselves, maybe about their evening together.
All of this i just observed which took place warmly inside a Mediterranean-esq backdrop of this restaurant was very classy i must say, especially considering it was Tuesday 10am and most people like this are at work or doing something much more boring.
Four Stars for sophistication. -
Review from Lydia S.
Diamond Bar, CA
7/6/2011
My friends (local residents) suggested this an said everything on the menu was excellent.
My eggs with Chile Verde had an authentic sauce (even if the eggs had mozzarella versus cheddar) and the dish was excellent (including tortillas) I found the home fries to be a bit greasy but the little "gift" of the 2 mini muffins made for a nice surprise.
A definite "must try" for Ventura! -
Review from Dan M.
Los Gatos, CA
10/2/2011
Sunday Breakfast...
Very nice patio area.
Big menu. Good food.
Eggs Florentine and Ropa Vieja.
Worth visiting again and trying something different. -
Review from Kurt A.
Ventura, CA
4/15/2012
Great, hearty food. Try the pork chop. Can't wait for them to reopen. Service is always good as well.
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Review from cindy t.
San Diego, CA
12/30/2011
A cute and tasty place for brunch in the ventura area. It's sort of embedded in a residential area, but you won't miss it. I arrived at around 1:30 on a tuesday and it wasn't crowded at all. I ordered the Baja Omelette which had shredded beef with a spicy sauce and it came with a biscuit and hash browns. I totally would have had leftovers but it was too good to stop eating and besides that I was going to be out and about for the rest of the day and would rather eat it all than let it spoil in the car. I also shared a banana pecan waffle which was deelish!! i definitely would come back to this place because the prices are pretty decent, the atmosphere is really nice, the food is tasty. Also the menu is pretty diverse with everything and anything you could think of having for brunch.
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Review from Matthew H.
Oxnard, CA
10/30/2011
Very crowded arrived at 11am and had to wait 30 minutes to be seated.
Parking is difficult because it is a residential neighborhood so you will probably park on the side street
1. Seafood Melt $10.95
Delicious sourdough sandwich with crab, shrimp and fish -
Review from Clint G.
San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA
1/14/2012
Love meeting family down here for a good, fair priced breakfast and seeing old friends and their families. Carlos does a great job and everyone has a blast!
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Review from Henry R.
Mission Hills, CA
8/25/2011 2 Check-ins Here
SHHHHH.... This place is a gold mine!!!!
Food is spectacular!!
Service is not that great...
our waiter was rude and bothered at times....
i can't wait to try something else off the menu!! -
Review from Leticia W.
Ventura, CA
8/7/2011 2 Check-ins Here
The breakfast here is always great. I am never disappointed. I love dining on their patio and I almost always order the Nouveau Scramble - The eggs are always fluffy, the green sauce is sooo tasty and the crunchy tortilla strips make this scramble PERFECT!!! I like the coffee and service. I also really like the mini cupcakes you get at the end....yummmm.
Carlos (the owner) is very personable and runs a top notch restaurant. -
Review from james s.
Ventura, CA
1/16/2012
Great breakfast spot. Wife found it on line to be dog friendly patio. They are dog friendly alright. Food is amazing staff is great very will price grey atmosphere. Great Saturday morning breakfast spot. Our Frenchie loves it as well.
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Review from Stacey B.
Oak Park, CA
1/9/2012
This place is adorable and charming and the food was delicious. I went with a group of 7 and every single person loved their food. The only thing was the wait...we arrived around noon on a Sunday and we weren't eating until about 1:30pm. They don't take reservations, so expect to wait a little while! I guess that's the price to pay for such a yummy place! The pancake syrup was amazing, crab cake eggs Benedict was yummy, and the biscuit served with sausage gravy was comfort food at its best! Try to sit on the patio if the weather is nice!!! I will definitely go back!!!!
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Review from leanne p.
Port Hueneme, CA
10/28/2011
Best brunch in Ventura. The caramel butter sauce with the pancakes is worth going alone. My husband is in love with the chorizo plate w/ tortillas. When you get a mini cupcake with the bill, how could it be bad?
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Review from Susana V.
Burbank, CA
4/8/2011
I had a lovely lunch here with my boyfriend and his mom....
I had the Cobb Salad and it was awesome!!!!!
The bacon on it was fresh! and it had more blue cheese than I can even begin to explain.
My only boo boo was the wine.... I had a glass of one of their cabernet and it was not my favorite. It was probably the last day that bottle could be served before it went bad.
Great lunch, we will definitely be back :) -
Review from Zeb D.
Ventura, CA
3/22/2012
This place is always great.
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Review from heather g.
San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA
2/18/2011
this place is quite the gem! I would come here time to time for breakfast on the weekends, although pretty busy, they have a super cute patio with a bunch of flowers and plants. your can bring your pooch and they will give them a little water bowl. the breakfast is pretty standard and you get little muffins while you wait for your food.
last night we drove by and saw they were open .. I didn't even know they were open for dinner so we decided to try it out. all I can say is WOW. Dylan got the maple cedar plank salmon that came with potatoes a gratin with sweet mashed potatoes on top, veggies and polenta..he said it was one of the best dishes he's had in a long time and I could agree, so much flavor!! I got the roasted vegetable salad with vinaigrette on the side.. it had zucchini, eggplant, carrots roasted corn and sundried tomatoes. usually I like my salad with meat but I have to say it had a perfect amount of veggies and the sundried tomatoes replaced the need for meat perfectly.They also had a huge selection of weird beers and good wines.
our waitress was pretty nice too and was very knowledgeable and actually had opinions about certain dishes( which I love, rather than them saying they like everything)
all in all awesome -
Review from Raymond M.
Los Angeles, CA
1/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
As much as I usually hate being in Ventura, I must say that I became a big fan of Cafe Nouveau when we came here breakfast. If I've said it once, I've said it about 23 times...I'm not really a breakfast person but I really enjoyed the food at this unique, shack-looking establishment where all the waiters/waitresses wear tie-dyed, hippy looking shirts.
The main reason I usually don't do breakfast is because I'm not a fan of the typical/ordinary bacon, eggs and toast option. However, Cafe Nouveau had this, PLUS a plethora of omelette options, waffles, pancakes and specialty items. I was happy with my Mediterranean omelette, however I think that "tomato" (which I think was just canned salsa) was a little overkill. The homemade biscuits were AWESOME and the organic coffee was AMAZING...strong just how I like it.
For you sweet tooths, they also give you a mini-chocolate muffin as a type of "mint" gesture. I'm not a fan of chocolate, but my family can confirm they were good!! Parking can be a little tricky (only street parking, including in nearby residential area) but the patio seating and great service are well worth it. -
Review from Cristina T.
Ventura, CA
5/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
Great atmosphere for families or a date! They have Mediterranean, Mexican, and French dishes. I had the vegetable pesto frittata..so good! Fresh pesto and veggies! Great prices for breakfast and lunch, but dinner is a bit more expensive. But worth it!!
This is the first time our waitress was bad. She came back once to check on us and left before we could even answer. She must of messed up on something else in front of the manager because he sent her home. Rightfully so! Kudos to the manager!! -
Review from Bob F.
North Hollywood, CA
10/13/2011
Food is better than the service. The waiters and busboys don't communicate well, which contributes to the generally slow service. The wait staff is not warm and friendly, and treated us in a businesslike fashion making the overall experience a bit disappointing.
And the iced tea is $3.50/$4.00! Overall the food is pretty good, but there are certainly better values in town provided by purveyors who actually pour your coffee with a smile on their face. -
Review from Mandi S.
Long Beach, CA
10/29/2011
love, love, love, breakfast at this place. Lunch is great too, but haven't tried dinner. The patio is great and you can have your dog out there. The service is fantastic. I moved away from Ventura years ago but I always come back for the caramel syrup and fluffy pancakes. Seriously - you have try it. I'm so full, and yet....I can't stop eating them! a beautiful little place just off the free way. Usually a wait for a table for breakfast after 9am but don't miss it.
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Review from Diana H.
12/7/2010 1 Check-in Here
Everything was excellent, the food, the service, the ambiance of the restaurant. Love! We were worried about the wait after reading the Yelp reviews, but we must have come in at the right time because we walked right in and sat down!
I had the Eggs Benedict Del Mar and WOW! it was delicious, I cleaned the entire plate. The dish also came with real hash browns!!!
I also really liked how the bill came with 2 mini cupcakes toped with an awesome cream cheese frosting.
I will definitely go back when I'm in the area. -
Review from Paige B.
Ventura, CA
3/12/2011 2 photos
I love Cafe Nouveau, and I am giving them 5 stars because:
-It is my favorite breakfast place
-I love the blueberry corn muffins
-They are so friendly
-Its so cozy
-Its always a good time
-The crew is awesome
-They always say "see you tomorrow!"
I went there for lunch yesterday and got:
Polenta & Aubergine Napoleon: ...stacked with grilled eggplant, sautéed spinach, tomato & a marinated Portobello mushroom topped with smoked mozzarella & basil pesto cream sauce
It was intimidating looking, and quite rich. Very good, but it's not something I would get again. Its a one time... needed to try it... tried it... now I'm good... kinda thing. I enjoy their breakfast much more personally! It never disappoints me!
http://healthyhitsthes...
Healthy Hits the Spot -
Review from Greg J.
Pasadena, CA
2/5/2011
OK, I am rating them lower than they probably deserve but we left there kind of ticked off.
We both had short stacks of pancakes. Mine were blueberry and hers were banana walnut. I also had sausage with mine. The short stack has 2 very large (not plate sized, but close) very dense pancakes. The blueberries were fresh and huge. There were also a lot of bananas and walnuts int wife's. We don't like pancakes that are dense, we are both more fans of "fluffy" style pancakes. The sausage were links and were pretty tasty.
The thing that ticked us off was the price we paid for my wife's pancakes. We were charged the same amount for a short stack as we would have been for a regular order. We pointed this out to the waitress, but she just gave us the "that's the way it is" speech, even after I showed her on the menu how the price she charged didn't make sense.
So we left with a small amount of ill will towards the place and decided not to return. -
Review from Salil G.
Chicago, IL
12/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
Great breakfast place and veggie friendly. Went here two days in a row. Simply good food and great patatoes. their vanilla-caramel sauce is really really good. skip syrup and go for it!
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Review from Geoff G.
San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA
10/11/2011
Ventura's finest !!! Hands down the best little breakfast & lunch in Ventura !! Every time I come it gets better, for breakfast I suggest the eggs nouveau... Can't go wrong !! For lunch .. well.. pretty much anything goes ! It's all good . And the service and atmosphere are excellent .. especially outside in the mornings ! LOVE THIS PLACE !!
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Review from Kanani B.
San Diego, CA
8/31/2010
I just moved within walking distance of this brunch stud! If only I had a gym within walking distance to balance all the calories. Expect a wait on the weekends. The patio is beautiful on a sunny day. The service is great - once I realized the mediterranean omellette was filled with more of a sauce than chopped vegetables, the manager brought me out some sliced artichoke hearts to remedy the matter. The food is delicious although I've only had the egg dishes. You get a complimentary mini muffin with your check!
+1 Delicious food
+1 Outdoor patio
+1 Reasonably priced
+1 Good service
-1 Weekend wait -
Review from Bob D.
Ventura, CA
11/19/2011
The food is better than advertised. Servers are knowledgeable, attentive and full of personality. Our favorite dinner spot for years. Breakfast on the patio is a positive treat every time too!!! The Manhattan Clam Chowder is incredidible!
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Review from Jamie M.
Ventura, CA
Outside seating on this visit!!!!!
Again I was wowed, maybe the outside seating completes the package. It's serene, with lots of flora, flowing fountain, and just enough shade from the surrounding trees to let in the right amount of light.
Again went with the Mediterranean Omelet, and again was full to the brim. My other half got the Chile Verde burrito, which was making me drool just by mere sight. The check was accompanied on this visit with two small chocolate chip cupcakes topped with a dollop of cream cheese frosting, yum!
Everything was wonderful, I highly recommend outside seating!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/9/2010
Very, cozy, warm, inviting atmosphere hits you when you walk into this place. The decor you… Read more »
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Review from Boky S.
San Jose, CA
1/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
I love this place. the atmosphere is amazing, the staff is welcoming, and the food is great. Can't get better than that.
One of the best features is that they offer you space on their patio if you'd like to have your dog with you. As a dog owner I really appreciate being able to take my pet shopping or go for a walk and stop for a nice lunch. I don't want to have to stuff my companion in the car all the time. There are certain establishments that cater to people with pets and I don't believe it's a reason to dock the quality of their establishment. If you don't like dogs, sit inside. Simple as that.
As to my experience as a diner as well as a dog owner, I've never been bothered by anyone else's pets and their policy shows how attentive they are to their customers. Honestly, I hardly notice when other people bring them. When seated they bring a dish of water for the diner's companion and with the amazing outdoor atmosphere the pets lay own and blend right in.
Thanks you Cafe Nouveau for creating an atmosphere that caters to all types of clientele. As to the person (or anyone) who docs a business because they dont like dogs... if you see an unruly dog take it up with the dog owner. Don't try to penalize an establishment and get those of us with well behaved pets banned from places we enjoy. If you don't like dogs at all, just sit inside. There's a WHOLE RESTAURANT set aside just for you. -
Review from Rhett S.
1/25/2010
Cafe Nouveau is a quaint little restaurant that serves up some of Ventura's best breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Nouveau is situated right on a residential street bifurcated by homes emanating the faint sounds of hide-n-seak and smells of home cooking.
On a sunny clear day the umbrella, fern, and water fountain enclosed patio is where the hungry eaters can be found. Very cute and inviting. In addition, the interior seating is reminiscent of a bright warm home with a bouquet of bold Spanish flavors in the air. Everything is perfect, especially after a sunday morning exhausting tennis match. Bring on the bloody mary!
The service is impeccable. I would be shocked if not less than three servers are at your beck and call at all times. Super friendly and engaging staff.
Be it a breakfast/brunch of pancakes with homemade vanilla maple syrup, jeuvos rancheros, kitchen-sink scramble eggs, spinach feta wrap with basil or even a lunch/dinner of ancho chili pork, polenta and aubergine napoleon, empapelado del mar, and a side of french triple creme brie (sooo good!). Everything is first class and delicious.
Highly recommended for anyone driving through the city of Ventura in the need for something a little special at an extremely low price. My new favorite place for breakfast/brunch anywhere hands down.Listed in: Hooorrrray for Breakfast
