Finally got to eat a slice today. It was wonderful!! Had to get a second slice. Amazing!!! We will definitely be back for more. Sourdough crust was absolutely delicious. read more

I ordered a cheese pie. That is the litmus for testing any pizza. The pizza man here makes a proper pizza. It passes multiple tests of this fifth generation Jersey City born NY Italian. He understands that thin crust does not mean paper thin that it falls apart. It's crispy with just the right amount of chew to it The sauce is flavorful. The cheese is good. The sauce and cheese are evenly distributed and not globbed on and also leaves just enough crust -- not too much, not too little, ensuring enough to hold it properly with one hand making a slight bend to the slice. ***never put your slice back on your plate upside down, BTW. Or the crust. That is equivalent to saying FU and insulting the pizza man. Don't insult the pizza man. Respect. Also importantly, it passes the cold pizza for breakfast and leftovers test. This is essential for those of us who still buy an entire pie to eat some slices hot but enjoy leftovers over the weekend. Next time I'll order a pepperoni pie. read more

Back Bench Pizza - Cheese pizza pie - Pizza Near Me - Ventura, California

A hole in the wall with some truly spectacular pizza. My boyfriend (from Chicago) said it was the best pizza he's had in California. The place is very unassuming and kind of difficult to find; there's only a small neon pizza sign and a propped up sidewalk sign to show its presence, so I walked right past it the first time. However, the pizza is excellent. The crust is thin and crunchy, and it's not too greasy. The saucer-like pepperonis have a nice little spicy kick to them, and the cheese is wonderfully melted. We got a pizza with ricotta dollops, and the contrast between the cold ricotta and the hot mozzarella really hit the spot. The honey (which we got on the side) was also quite nice. The pepperoni/ricotta pizza we ordered was a special; it appears that this place has creative rotating specials, which is super fun. On the day we went, there was just one guy making the pizzas and operating the cash register. I don't know how he did it, but he was singlehandedly running a stellar restaurant without breaking a sweat. Ambience is super laid-back and casual; there's rock playing on the stereo, and lots of younger people in punk getup visited when we were there. Definitely a hidden gem. Don't miss it. read more

Back Bench Pizza - Pepperoni and Ricotta, honey on the side - Pizza Near Me - Ventura, California

I almost walked past it, it is easy to miss. Stepped in and fell in love for this reason... The owner/chef is not trying to impress. The space is clean, white with clean, wooden tables. Minimalist. We ordered one of the featured pizzas exactly how he made it, not wanting to add or take away from what he was creating. Our drink options felt more like choosing from a friend's fridge at their house. We got cold Modelos and split a bottle of water. Hip Hop bounced thru the speakers and we still felt like we were just hanging out at someone's house. There is glass separating you from him while he makes the pizza from scratch. Fig + Pig was delicious! Just slightly crispy, minimal flop;) and flavor through the entire pizza, from first bite through the crust. Can't wait to try another! read more

Back Bench Pizza - Fig + Pig - Pizza Near Me - Ventura, California

Went in with my kids because they love Pizza. The dude at the counter was rude - maybe he was having a bad day, or maybe that's just him. There were a group of people who seemed to enjoy the food and time there looked up reviews and sure enough I saw comments and realized that I wasn't the only one. Food reviews look good - too bad I nor my kiddos got to taste it. My comment would be go there and eat based on the reviews I saw - just don't let that guy get to you. His attitude got to me - don't let his fcuked up attitude get to you and spoil your day with your kids or loved ones. And just enjoy your Pizza! read more

Dude, seriously the best pizza in Ventura. Taste, quality, chefs kiss The owner is rad and always plays the best music. read more

BEST. PIZZA. EVER!!!!! We are absolutely obsessed with back bench pizza. All we've had is their pepperoni and plain cheese and they are both amazing. We've been multiple times in the past two weeks since discovering the place. EVERYONE MUST TRY!!!!!! Also he's open for lunch.....so don't miss out! read more

Back Bench Pizza - Cheese pizza!!! - Pizza Near Me - Ventura, California

The food is so fresh. We had the Caesar and the vodka sausages pizza. You could tell they only use the best of ingredients and that everything was made from scratch. The place was intimate and vibey. Plus, shoutout to the blood orange soda. read more

Back Bench Pizza - Blood orange soda - Pizza Near Me - Ventura, California

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Stopped here when riding bikes in down town. Buddies on the ride were repeat customers. Great pizza and great service. Do yourself a favor and get at back bench read more

Back Bench Pizza - Pizza Near Me - Ventura, California

Love this place! The pizza is always so fresh and flavorful. I usually just walk in and a grab whatever hot + ready slices they have and it is always so so good. The owner is very kind and you can tell he puts in so much effort and care into his business. The space is clean and very simple with plenty of seating. read more

Back Bench Pizza - cheese pizza with ranch - Pizza Near Me - Ventura, California

Food was great. Their pizza tastes fresh, you can tell the ingredients are high quality and you can taste the chef's experience in the food he prepares. Love this place. If you want real pizza in Ventura come support this business. read more

Back Bench Pizza - Pepperoni Slice - Pizza Near Me - Ventura, California

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Overtook Fluid State for best pizza in Ventura. Seriously good pizza. Love the fast and easy slices

Best pizza in Ventura no doubt with the sour dough crust it makes me want to cry it is so good you need it

Best pizza I've tried in ventura county! I got a simple vodka + sausage slice and it was out of this world, can't wait to try more flavors! The owner was extremely knowledgeable about pizza and you can tell he's really in it for the love of the game. Highly recommend! read more

I went here and we got a pizza which was Delish...fresh and so good! Hidden gem I didn't even know how to get inside I wish they had ranch but it was good nonetheless (not sure if they do but when we went they said they didn't have any) And they were playing title fight and free throw automatic 5 stars read more

Pizza is probably the best in all of Ventura, but the wait is a challenge and the menu is limited... we ordered a Caesar salad on a Saturday night and they said they couldn't because the guy in the kitchen didn't have time to make the dressing that day. Will still go back because the pizza is that good, but know it's got some kinks to work out. Hope they make it!!! read more

Incredible pizza!!! The owner is an artist who curates masterpieces. If you appreciate pizza and quality ingredients you have to try Back Bench Pizza. The owner is so well educated on his craft and you can tell he takes tremendous pride in what he makes. He makes special pizza's monthly and his creative new haven style sourdough is the best dough I have ever had. Try his cookies but be careful they are dangerously delicious. You have to try Back Bench and tell everyone, more people need to know about this gem! read more

Good pizza, probably the best since Jimmy Slice closed in Ventura. However, and a big however, is the hours this place says it's open. You can order, you can try to walk in the store, and find they're closed during their advertised open hours. Super random closing hours. Frustrating. Leads me to other restaurants on Main St. read more

Great pizza, great service, great cookies too. My only wish is that it was open more days of the week cus it's that good :)

Been here twice and the pizza has been great. Tasty crust and many topping options. We will be back but the comments about the owner reflect my experience as well. For those who remember the Seinfeld sitcom there is a bit of "soup n**i" vibe with the owner. Which we now expect and laugh it off. read more

Pizza was ok, but definitely not worth the 1 hour wait to get it. It would be nice if you were told when you order how long the wait is. But there's zero customer service here. The guy behind the counter is not the friendliest and didn't bother to tell us how long it would take or apologize for the long wait. The cheese pizza was better since it actually had cheese, the pepperoni one had barely any cheese and was overcooked. We were definitely disappointed. The restaurant has no signage and the seating area is very small and crowded. I'm honestly baffled by all the 5 star reviews.. read more

Great pizza. Casual place. Get the specials--whatever they are. Also, their slices are great when they have them, but they sell out so get there quick. read more

This is by far the best pizza I've ever had! The sauce is great. The flavors of the different specials are top notch. There's not too much cheese. No flop. It's super crispy, even when you order a whole pie. This guy puts a lot of care into what he's doing here. I've been to most places in the county, and some very well known places in LA. Let me tell ya, this is it! read more

Back Bench Pizza - The Plain Pie - Pizza Near Me - Ventura, California

Pizza was below average and overpriced. Bad atmosphere. Not going back and not recommended

Best pizza in Ventura county! As a person born on the east coast, but living on the west coast for over a decade, I have struggled to find good pizza. Sadly, I have been disappointed with the options near where I live in Ventura. I am happy to have found Back Bench Pizza! It is the pizza I have been searching for! And it happens to be right down the street from home. Do yourself a favor and try it! Right on Main Street next to the Cinemark movie theater! read more

Back Bench Pizza - Pepperoni pizza to die for! - Pizza Near Me - Ventura, California

Teen daughter is competitive cyclist, pizza is her go to recovery meal. I ensure she has a hot pie box on her lap as soon as she gets off her bike and into the car. We get lots of pizza at a lot of locations - this pizza was excellent. read more

Best pizza I've had in California. What else can I say? They were sitting in the first bench in pizza school!

Pizza ight but the guy who's always having a bad day is really rude, he doesn't like questions and can't even split a pizza. Says alot

This place has Ventura's best pizza! And we are thrilled there are vegan options! The vegan kale sausage pizza is delicious, as is the vegan Caesar salad! The owner makes the pizzas with care and creates a fantastic sourdough thin crust. Also, Back Bench Pizza is right next to the movie theater downtown! We recently grabbed pizza and then went out to a movie. Highly recommend this spot! read more

THE BEST PIZZA!! This is our entire family's favorite pizza and we always recommend Back Bench to visitors and locals! Great service and wonderful staff! So happy you are in Ventura Back Bench! read more

Pizza is still the best in Ventura. Last night we tried the lemon ricotta cake and their homemade cookies and they were both incredible. Don't sleep on this place! read more

Literally the best pizza you will ever eat. So good it makes Toppers look like Chuck-E-Cheese.

This guy knows his pizza. While I mean no disrespect to Fluid State or Tony's, both of which I am thankful for given that they have brought viable pizza option to Ventura, Back Bench takes it to a whole new level. I have been waiting since I moved to Ventura in 1980 for this pizza. Crust is perfectly crispy every time, great sauce and cheese. The icing on the cake is the fresh grated cheese and basil. The pizza is so good I can't bring myself to order anything other than a plain cheese pie. If you are lucky enough to be there when they have fresh chocolate chip cookies with sea salt, do not pass these up either. Don't expect much in ambiance and don't let the nondescript settings fool you, Back Bench is legit! Only problem now is how I continue to feed my Back Bench pizza weekly cravings. read more

one of the best pizzas i've had in my life and their ranch is hands down the best ranch you will ever taste. High quality ingredients and overall amazing atmosphere read more

By far the best pizza in the area nothing even comes close! Hand crafted and curated ingredients with that classic slice shop vibe. Simple and straight to the point which is a breath of fresh air in this town. The food speaks for itself nothing else is needed plus there's always great music playing. read more

Back Bench Pizza - Pizza Near Me - Ventura, California

4.6/5 An impressive take on a NY style pie with a crust that wins in so many ways!! Shop 4.6/5 - cool little setup by Kao Ramen downtown. Great location! Love the simplicity - slices upfront, some brewskis for sale. No nonsense, all business. Considerably clean and aesthetically pleasing. This place looks like it's gonna sling some top quality pies - I'm excited to try! Bustling with people, one man show - just feels right! Sauce 3.9/5 - milled tomatoes, maybe San Marzanos, maybe not. It's simple, I can sense it's that way for a reason - to allow the dough to stand out. Just a preference thing for me, I like a bit more depth in sauce...but reminds me of Joe's NY. Not bad by any stretch. Cheese 4.5/5 - good covering, I like the shaved Parmesan after cooking, adds a rich, sharp depth that I found interesting and tasty. A little fresh basil on top added flair. Dough/structure 5++/5 - my God. I don't know how or what my man in the kitchen is doing but it's LEGIT! The most airy, delicate, well structured crust I can recall. I loved how something one could find so simplistic carries such complexity....this isn't just a crust to hold cheese and sauce, this is a masterful take on pizza dough. I don't get the sourdough notes I catch from many...and that's totally fine by me. It's the texture that's pillow soft with the ability to serve as a robust chassis for the toppings. Just fantastic, really. Hat is off to the chef. All in all, a fantastic NY style with a refined classiness all packed into a no nonsense shop that handles its business. I will be back, you should hit this spot too!! read more

Definitely worth coming here if you're in the mood for pizza by the slice or a whole pie. I'd say one of the top places for pizza in Ventura. Thin crust and perfectly cooked. Located next to the Century theater downtown, pretty low key so don't miss it, it's also neighbors with Kao Ramen. My slices were to go but everything looked clean. read more

Our favorite pizza in Ventura county (actually maybe ever? I can't think of one we like more lol).

The owner/dude in the back making the pie comes across introverted and cold. The place is basic with little to offer for drinks and a very simple menu. The music selection is on point and his pizza dough is amazing. My new favorite Friday night pizza joint... Barstool Pizza Reviews, Dave Portnoy needs to swing by next time he's in SoCal and give a review of his plain pie which I bet could be competitive with great NY pizza. read more

Best pizza in Ventura County. Needs to be on LA Times best pizza in the region list. The crust is amazing and the pizza's change monthly, innovative, fresh, delicious. read more