Man, my gf and I were in Ojai for a weekend and we ended up eating here all three days. First day…read morefor dinner, second for brunch, and third for brunch again. Every single thing they serve is quality. The chef and founder's got a cool story -- you can look up a short doc on YouTube. It's Bermese food mixed with American. The Biryani, Crispy Rice Salad, Potatoes, Breakfast Plate, Granola, Congee, and Spicy Chicken & Waffle are all great. Ask if you can have a side of their chili oil -- I believe it's made in-house and they even sell it to take home. I would've gotten a bottle but they were sold out! Their cafe is also awesome. We got their chocolate chip cookie, croissant, danish (forgot which one), and sourdough and they were all good. Drip coffee is good + their caffeinated black tea (also forgot the name)! Lastly, the customer service was top notch. Your server will check up on you every 10ish mins or so. Always very accommodating and very friendly, too. Best believe we'll be back sooner rather than later! Thanks The Dutchess Crew!

Stopped in for coffee and pastries while visiting Ojai. They do offer a full brunch with hostess…read moreseating, but the front and outdoor seating areas are available if you're just stopping in for coffee and pastries. Both very well decorated. Orders are placed at the register and pastries are given to you right away, and you'll receive a table tent so they can bring your coffee out. The pastries were really good, with a nice variety to choose from. The only thing that would have made them even better is if the savory pastries were heated. The coffee, however, took quite a while to arrive. We had already finished our pastries and our table was cleared before it finally came out. I went back to grab a few more pastries, and while I was away, a gnat flew into my coffee. I brought it back to the register, and they graciously replaced it without any issue. The second cup came out quickly and was noticeably hotter than the first. It seems like Saturdays can get pretty busy, so it might be a better experience to visit during the week if you can. There are several public parking lots nearby, along with street parking

The Farmer and the Cook -- Fresh Finds Off the Main Road…read more I'll be honest, I wasn't sure what to expect walking in for the first time, but The Farmer and the Cook won me over pretty quickly. It's bright, clean, and has this easy organic warmth to it... the kind of place that feels like it was put together by people who actually care. Right off the main road, easy to find, and the family vibes are real. It's the kind of spot you want to linger in. If you're navigating dietary restrictions, this place is a quiet goldmine. Strong gluten free options, a genuinely vegan friendly menu, and plenty of vegetarian choices too... so everyone at the table actually gets to eat something they're excited about. That's rarer than it should be. The food? Solid. I went with the raw tacos, sopes, and huarache; all filling, all fairly priced for the area. The raw tacos especially surprised me... fresh, flavorful, and not in a "I wish this was a real taco" kind of way. These hold their own. Service was quick and most of the staff had a warm, genuine energy about them. The one small snag; the cashier seemed to be having a rough one. A little gruff, made me feel like my first visit was mildly inconvenient for them. It happens, we all have bad days, but first impressions do stick a little. Overall though, I'm absolutely coming back. There's more on that menu calling my name and an atmosphere that makes it easy to slow down for a bit. Whether you're vegan, gluten free, or just looking for something fresh and honest... this one's worth the stop.

This was a great first stop in Ojai! The ambiance was very inviting and the food was great…read more I would say, it's lovely healthy food in the style of Mexican dishes, but didn't really have a Mexican flavor profile. Definitely elevated and delicious, but don't expect the same spices and preparations. I had the goat cheese and veggies tacos, taquitos, and fresh chips and salsa. The chips and salsa were incredible and super fresh. I loved the homemade hot sauce as well. The star of the show for me was the seasonal persimmon smoothie. I couldn't believe how delicious it was, and for only $7?! The bathroom was pretty disgusting when I stopped in, but I will try not to hold that against them lol overall the restaurant was clean and the people were friendly!

Such a great find. The chicken liver mousse was easily the highlight -- bold flavors, fresh…read moreingredients, and perfectly paired with bread. The team was warm and attentive, and the whole place has a charming but buzzy energy. Definitely a go-to spot for a weeknight out. Don't skip the wine selection, either!

Super friendly service and lively place with nice natural light. I got the itallian works subbed it…read morewith the foccacia. Really good sandwich, my only negative is I like a lot of lettuce on my sandwich and mine didn't have much but still very enjoyable and delicious.

The staff are incredibly welcoming and helpful. The food is delicious, especially if you like…read moresourdough. I got their fresh donuts and they taste like a sourdough base. They were moist and very good quality. There are no public restrooms or places to sit in the entire complex, so you'll have to go up the street for that aspect. It's not as cheap as a Dunkin' Donuts, but it's reasonable, great for vegan and gluten-free (they have just about everything-free), and great quality food.

Sun Oven is a delicious gluten free bakery with lots of vegan items…read more This is the headquarters where they bake so you can come in and order but there is nowhere to sit. The employee was welcoming, the store was bright and clean and the pastries looked delicious. You can also order it by mail and it is available in a lot of stores around here and in Orange County. I recommend trying it at least once, ordering online as gifts or stopping by the HQ

We hired Dana for our wedding in June 2014 in Ojai, CA. Dana was absolutely amazing, from start to…read morefinish. From our very first phone call, I enjoyed speaking with her and thought she'd be a great fit for us. She understood what I was going for, had great ideas about food & even decorating options that went beyond the expected, and was enthusiastic and fun to talk to. Once we met her in person and tasted her food, my husband and I knew immediately she was the right caterer for us. Throughout the planning process, Dana was fantastic to work with. She answered all my questions quickly & clearly, no matter how big or how silly. She was generous with her time, her energy and her ideas at every stage. She was tireless in her prep leading up to & on the day of our wedding. I always felt completely comfortable with Dana, and knew she had everything under control. Even our guests commented on how much they liked her. On the day of our wedding, everyone RAVED about the food and the presentation. Our guests were blown away. Dana put together a delicious menu of appetizers for cocktail hour (lamb sliders, watermelon skewers, gazpacho shots, mushroom bruschetta -- all of it mouthwateringly good) and an even better dinner menu (roasted chicken, asparagus spears, vegetable orzo and more). And the desserts were excellent too. We did a mini dessert spread, and she made us a small cake to cut that was so good we brought half the top layer (which she remembered to freeze for us without us ever discussing it) with us on our honeymoon. Beyond all this, Dana threw in special touches that made her unique and special to us & our wedding. She provided mint julep cups & wooden boxes for our tables, as just one example. And she handmade a beautiful table runner for the desserts that was inspired by a painting done by my sister (who passed away when I was 15), something that was truly special to me and I will cherish. I can't say enough about how glad I was to find Dana, and that she became part of our wedding. I highly recommend her!

We hired Arroz two times to cook for family and friends. It was a great experience to be outside,…read morewatch them cook, hear their stories about their cultures and ingredients and not have to be stressed cooking the meal. The food was FABULOUS!! So delicious, our guests continued to rave about it weeks afterwards. I cannot wait to use them again to help my events be easy again and delicious!! Warm, professional and seriously great food! The seafood and lamb paella were so good as well as the Spanish tortilla and Pane con Tomate. Thanks you!!!

Pedro & team make the best paella around! They catered a large dinner party for us where everyone…read morecouldn't stop taking about how good the food was. Highly recommend!

I know how stressful it can be planning a wedding and trying to find a caterer who produces…read morewonderful food. Let's be honest, there are very few weddings where the food is one of the highlights of the day. Most of the time it's expensive and the food is overcooked or lacks flavor. Yikes. Well, I can say with confidence that all my guests truly enjoyed the food at my wedding. Once I found my perfect venue, The Lavender Inn, I asked the Innkeeper to recommend a caterer. She recommended Ellen to me because I mentioned that food was a very important factor and I wanted everyone to treated to an amazing meal. When I contacted Ellen, she instantly made me feel comfortable . I told her what my budget was, and she worked around it, and went far and beyond to accommodate my husband and I. We met several times to go over the food, and rentals. It really felt like she was my wedding coordinator because she worked out all the little details. She's definitely a cross your t's and dot your i's type a person. And the FOOD was soooooo wonderful. This is not typical wedding food. She cooks with a lot of love, and it shows in her food. I know that it sounds like I'm talking her up, but I have so much respect for this woman and would give her nothing but a great referral. She is simply amazing. It's been well over a year since my wedding, and Ellen still comes up in conversation. If I ever have a private event in the future, I will not hesitate to contact her. I added La Piu Bella Tavola- Ellen Sherwood on Yelp because she is definitely someone that everyone should hear about. If you are looking for a caterer, look no further. Ellen is the cream of the crop. Review of The Lavender Inn: http://www.yelp.com/biz/lavenderinnojai#hrid:WdZGhJGCM9k_udsFwC8HxA

I cannot say enough good things about One Table Catering. Wonderful food, presentation, service,…read moreattention to detail, the whole package. You could really tell that the ingredients were fresh and prepared with care.

From the owner: One Table is a full service catering and events company based in the Ojai Valley and serving…read moreclients from Santa Barbara to Westlake. With a global influence of flavors, crafted from locally sourced-quality ingredients, we prepare each and every item on our menus with an inspired passion for culinary excellence. We strive to deliver a truly remarkable food experience for every occasion. Whether it's an intimate gathering with friends, a corporate event, holiday celebration, wedding, or social event of any kind, we work closely with you to ensure delicious results that you and your guests will enjoy.

I was a little worried to use this catering company because they had received only one review and…read moreit was only one star. Much to my surprise and relief, Greg got back to me immediately and was very helpful and accommodating! They made me a fantastic meal for my party which was for about 50 people. They made us an assortments of kabobs, breads, dips, and desserts! Everything was delicious and was raved about by all the guests for days to come. Everyone should use Ojai Catering!

We had a confirmed catering event planned for my husbands 50th birthday. I should have known…read moresomething was amiss when Greg would only communicate by a random email server. We exchanged over 8 emails going over menu details, payment, etc. The week before the event I ask for a deal memo attachment to re-confirm. He canceled last minute 2 days before our party! Beware of Ojai Catering, I believe it's a scam company.

While in Ojai, I stopped in for some ice cream and was pleasantly surprised by the wide variety of…read moreflavors. I went with a classic vanilla and chocolate swirl, and there were plenty of toppings to choose from as well. You can order your ice cream in either a cup or a cone. Ice cream is by weight. Great service and seating is available outside the shop, which adds to the relaxed, small-town vibe. Parking is convenient, with several public lots nearby.

Review is for a time : 6:18 on Mother's Day. They tried to serve me a half cone, not full, refused…read moreto give me my order. Ridiculous place, ice cream is crap too, doesn't look like they clean up the machines.