Every time I'm in Ventura Busy Bee is a must! I love the old diner feel. The chicken pot pie is my favorite along with their burgers. For desert the bread pudding is a must. read more

This was my first time here. Two themes going on here, the rock n roll diner and all the bee nick knacks in the case. We walked in at lunch time on a Saturday and a young gal seated us and then I believe the owner, came right over and said you guys look like you could use some flowers and sat a mug of fresh flowers on our table! No one else got or had flowers,not sure why us, but it was nice. Ok, loved all the oldies music and the menu selection was vast. My mom and I shared a club with sweet potatoe fries and my aunt had juevos rancheros. The iced tea was great. They had sooooo many homemade desserts I wanted to try, will save for next time. Food and service was good. read more

Used to go here all the time, never a disappointment until today. The service was awful, my chicken strips 1. tasted like fish. And 2. Were chewy and slimy. My husbands chicken was also chewy in his chicken&dumplings. Bread pudding was in a bowl of watery weird looking juices... Only good thing was the coffee.. read more

Absolutely tremendous breakfast with fresh, homemade ingredients. Great 50's ambiance and excellent service!

Exactly what I needed today...maybe not what my heart needed butbwho cares. Good old greasy spoon with an old waitress that has seen it all. A bunch of old dudes having rhe same convo they had yesterday. Generous helpings of food and nostalgia. Makes me miss my saturday morning breakfast with my grandpa. Side note: Cannot believe someone (lets call them grouchy pants)in an earlier post complained about getting a whole apple on their plate. I look forward to eating that apple later. read more

This place is no bueno, we played music on their juke box and the manager came over and unplugged the machine. Don't go there.

I ordered soup. Pretty hard to mess that up you'd think. I had to send it back twice because it was COLD. I finally left being hungry and went to a different restaurant on Main St. Don't waste your time at this place. Cajun Kitchen is two blocks away. read more

This is one of my favorite places to eat. We go to breakfast there at least one day a week and most weeks twice. The food is very good and the staff is even better than the food if that's possible. It can be crazy busy and you still get the same service and happy staff. I can't say enough good things about this place. read more

Unbelievably bad service. Incompetence at its finest. We only ordered fry's and shakes. Half the order was forgotten and served at different times. read more

Found this place whilst looking for somewhere to eat a late breakfast/lunch enroute to our first road trip stop. It's a 50's themed diner with the classic old posters and signs, booths complete with coat hanger poles. Service was prompt and food pretty good - they'd lose 1/2 a star if I could as my mash potato was rather lumpy and could have used a little more gravy plus the pork chops had a couple of very chewy bits, plus the table juke box didn't seem to play some of the songs we paid for Wife loved her chili and sundae.. Our server was polite and attentive, especially to a very elderly senior - even. going outside to make sure her taxi that he had called, had picked her up. I'm sorry I can't recall his name. Good value and there seemed to be several regular local customers which in my book is always a good sign. read more

So, I'm a bit perplexed at the reviews that are anything less than 4 stars. I challenge anyone to go here and message me with a LEGITIMATE complaint! Not whiny, entitled (I'm the only person in the restaurant) complaints. First timers today and our greeting was immediate, very nice and helpful. We sat outside and were given the extensive regular and specials menus. I LOVE a place that serves their whole menu all day! Oh boy, do they offer choices! For those of us who like an occasional Bloody Mary or other libations, they also offer a full bar! What a gem they have in Bryson! He is knowledgeable about the menu and the history of the restaurant. We actually did feel like we were the only customers! He was attentive without being obtrusive. His recommendations were spot on and everything was delicious! My poached eggs were cooked absolutely perfect and I so appreciated him advising me to do the half order of ham steak and eggs! LOTS of food for a great price! Will be returning in a couple of weeks and if they're as good as they were today...customers for life with us! read more

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Came here with my Dad. Friendly staff, sat us immediately. Took our order, brought food FAST! A lot of food for the money! Tastes amazing!! So glad we stopped! We will be back!! read more

Busy Bee Cafe - 50's feel jukebox on table!! - Diners Near Me - Ventura, California

Great dinner last night. The Eggs Lorraine were great. The child's hamburger looked very yummy. We tend to forget about this place, and parking is a bear because of the stupid Main St. closure, but worth the hike to get there. We'll try to come back when the disabled member of our family doesn't have to walk so far. read more

Used to be a great place, not certain what happened even through the "C" they were doing just fine but the last couple times not sure what happened they say the cooks are the same the results speak otherwise. Normally I dont complain or write bad reviews but the indifference seemed to merit in this case. The food was so greasy it was not edible we considered giving them one more chance but after a small discount for uneaten meals I feel like I paid for literally nothing of value here and will not return in addition will no longer recommend this place. They say All good things must end, seems now is the time for this place, as far as my dining choices at least. read more

This little place deserves 5 stars for atmosphere and fun factor for sure! Unfortunately the food was just ok. We had the sampler plate, clam chowder bread bowl and a French dip. They really need to change the deep fryer oil more frequently. The sampler plate had that old oil semi burnt taste to it. The chili on the chili fries was very good though. The clam chowder bowl was probably the best item we had. The chowder was good and thick with big chunks of fresh clams. French dip again was ok. We really picked the place because it looked fun, and in that we were not disappointed. Note to future diners... The restrooms require a token to get in, you don't don't find out till you get there. read more

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Not sure why the mediocre scores.. Busy Bee served up delicious and large servings when my family and I arrived on a Saturday morning for breakfast in August. I had the salmon Benedict and was super delicious and the muffin was perfect.. Not soft. Rest of my family thoroughly enjoyed their breakfast also. Its a 50's theme so that was the music and we had a great beginning to our day. read more

Good enough old-school style diner with those individual juke boxes in the booths. The food is fresh and tasty and you probably won't have to wait a bunch like you might have to at a place like Denny's. I'm not sure I'd come here for anything other than breakfast, which was just fine; when was the last time you saw apple butter on your table??? They also have a good selection of mustards, including two varieties of Beaver. Seems to be a locals hangout, worth trying. They also have a full bar, which is a plus if you want a Bloody Mary or a Mimosa, or like that. read more

When my wife and I are in Ventura we make it a habit to stop in it's our 3rd time this time we brought my mother in law with us she remembers these diners when she was younger she likes the juke boxes at tables she's happy!!! and we r too if in Ventura stop in. read more

Busy Bee Cafe - Diners Near Me - Ventura, California

Went here for lunch last Sunday. Got seated right away. The food was ok, nothing great. Had a pastrami Reuben which was good. My son had chicken fried chicken with gravy which he loved. Good service read more

The drinks are good. The food is minimal at best. You are paying for the atmosphere. Will only return for milkshakes and a rare occasion at that. Expensive trip to leave unsatisfied. read more

Great old-time diner Decor hasn't changed the 20 years I've been coming here some of the people change but the present owner started as a busboy decades ago when I started coming The. shakes are thick since they don't skimp on the scoops and they liberally pour the syrup that's all good served with a smile Last time I was there I had the pork chop special it was like terrific big thick chop was cooked perfectly Seared the outside tender juicy on the inside It's a deep narrow restaurant so every time I wanted water anything a server is right there because they're all in that long corridor Over the years decent service and it is a reasonable value may not be hip and updated but I enjoyed every time I think you would too read more

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did not like my visit at all! I ordered the fried chicken burger which was a very huge plate but everything on my burger came falling off. It reminds me a lot of cafeteria food! The chicken was absolutely dry and because it is a big plate the buns became soggy due to the huge amount of lettuce they served me as well as trying to hold the enter burger together without all the pieces falling LOL. and the shakes are a bit overpriced than they should be!! Nearly $7 for it when many places charge less. My fault for not checking. I was charged extra for curly fries which is fine but I really hope next time the nice waiters/waitresses mention that certain types of sides are gonna cost extra! Will never come again but cute interior read more

Great breakfast place! The breakfast sandwich and bacon are top notch. Efficiency run even on a busy weekend morning

A decent little retro-themed diner, nothing special or fancy. Good burgers, lots of food on a plate, malts and shakes and fountain drinks. We left a baby bottle on our table when we left, and we noticed it was missing by the time we'd reached the car, about 10 minutes later. We drove back to retrieve it, and asked if one of the servers had picked it up. A couple servers said they hadn't, but a table of patrons eating nearby told me they'd seen "the guy server" pick it up. A guy server happened to be on a break, eating at the counter, and he slunk really low in his chair when he heard them. The other servers looked around behind the counter, as Guy Server tried to become invisible over his plate of french fries. "That guy," pointed out the helpful customers, indicating the frymuncher. The other servers asked him what he'd done with the bottle, and he mumbled "I threw it away." Seriously? We were gone 10, maybe 15 minutes tops and you threw it away? First off, it's pretty crappy to do that. I've worked in the Service Industry, and rule number one is you NEVER toss any personal items you find on a table, no matter how useless you think it is. You at least keep it 'til the end of the day (kid's toy, baby bottle, sippy cup), more if it's obviously something of value (cell phone, keys, gloves). Second off, OWN UP if you did it! Admit your mistake rather than having to rely on customers to call you out! Seriously low class move, dude. I'm not going to base the entire rating on one server's mistake, but it certainly soured me on the overall experience. read more

50's themed diner. Cute. We split the chicken fried steak with eggs over easy and extra crispy hash browns. The eggs were cooked to order and so were the hash browns. The cfs was just a tad over cooked for our liking. The gravy was a bit bland. I prefer my sausage gravy to have nice chunks of sausage and be able to taste it in the gravy.... This was not that. The service was excellent and the decor was fun. A weird note.. They actually serve drinks and have a case with top shelf alcohol. I will say I did not expect to see that and it was an interesting surprise. We would go back again and try something else. read more

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This place certainly has character with its old school diner booths and decor. I came for breakfast while in town on business and sat myself at one of the many open booths. The problem is that there was only one waitress and she was running around trying to take care of several tables on her own. This caused a pretty timely delay even getting coffee, and several customers were standing and waiting to pay, and one guy even left. When my poor waitress was able to get to me she quickly apologized and tried her best to keep my coffee full and did get my meal to me pretty quickly once I ordered. I had a really good omelet with a side of delicious hash browns. I think this would be a fun place to come with a group of friends on a Saturday morning when you're not in a hurry and can sit and relax. I did notice that they have a full bar and serve Bloody Mary's as well. read more

I've been to Ventura so many times and I've never seen this cafe before. My boyfriend and I were walking around and we came across the cafe. I love the decor and the vibes. Our waitress was so sweet and understanding. The portion sizes blew my mind. I definitely had leftovers to take home. The spiked milkshakes were bomb too! We will definitely be back. Thank you for the amazing service!!! read more

The one place I bring all my friends from Europe to - because this is a classic American diner the way Europeans envision it. The atmosphere and decor (not the food) are what bring me here over and over again. Black & white checkered tiles, several red diner booths with private coat racks, red & white tiles along with vintage and retro signs on the wall, table juke boxes that actually work (two songs for a quarter), a lot of stainless steel and the staff wears old school car hop costumes. The food - unfortunately - is just average and sometimes rather bland. Their special pies are quite tasty though; my favourite is the Oreo Cream Pie. The shakes are pretty good, too. There are a lot of better dining options in Ventura, but I still love to visit the Busy Bee Cafe. Maybe it is the Bazooka Bubble Gum with the comic strip inside that you get with your check. read more

Not much to say ... it's better-than-average diner food. Great location, great prices, friendly wait staff, clean facility, oldies music. If you want a good, affordable stop in Ventura this is the place. My husband had a burger that hit the spot and my open face hot turkey sandwich was PERFECT. Oh, did I mention the malts & shakes ... FABULOUS! Think Johnny Rockets ... only not a chain. :) read more

Took a group of 18 H2O Polo players and some parents here for a last minute 'between tournament' lunch. The staff were very helpful with getting us seated together and handling the checks. Food was very good. From the breakfasts to lunch items everyone enjoyed their meals. read more

Came here with my fellow employees the last two days . Yesterday was great food and service, today, not so good. The potato skins were dry and you can tell they buy a frozen potato skin. The mozz sticks though were absolutely horrible. First they came half fried and when we asked for new sticks instead of making a new order they illegally put the same mozz sticks in the fryer and served them to us. They came back so fried that there was no cheese inside . I mean come on we aren't talking about something difficult it's just mozz sticks . If you can't do the simple things right shut your doors your restaurant isn't worth s#i+ read more

We visited this café on Saturday, 17 July. They were quite busy but we had no problem getting seated right away inside. The food was quite good but the service was quite slow. This may have had something to do with the fact that, at one point, while our food was ready to be served there appeared to be a bit of an augment between some of the staff. read more

My friend and I were there last week and we were over charged 7$. It took me several calls to finally talk to the manager, always an excuse as to why she couldn't come to the phone. After our conversation back and forth about how it had been my fault that I was overcharged she finally agreed to give me a discount, she didn't specify the amount of the discount, but oh heck I decided to give them another chance. We went back yesterday and I immediately mentioned the discount I was offered, the waiter said she didn't know anything about it and that there was no notice with my name on it, of course the manager wasn't there. Anyway, the discount was all of 2$. Needless to say my friend & I will never ever go back to that place. Moral, check your bill very carefully before you leave the joint... read more

It was more than enough. Great burgers and fried chicken. Cute place, very old fasion and good service. read more

Busy Bee Cafe - Guacamole jack burger with bacon added - Diners Near Me - Ventura, California

Cute little diner serving typical diner fare. We had breakfast (brunch) on a busy Saturday and it was pretty good. Service was fine if a little scattered. read more

Busy Bee Cafe - Haunted jukebox. .. - Diners Near Me - Ventura, California

I loved this 50's style diner. The waffle, eggs and bacon were cooked to home made perfection. The wait staff was friendly, and efficient. The music made me feel happy, and they served my juice in a cowboy boot mug. I felt like a kid again. I want to come back for an old fashioned shake :) read more

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I love the 50s theme! Red leather booths, checkered floor, classic oldies and showtune music. The setting itself takes you to another time. The menu is huuuuuge. But I went with a cheeseburger and was not disappointed. Next time I'll have to try a chocolate shake! Our server was very attentive. He visited our table the perfect amount of times and I honestly can't wait to go back. Yay Busy Bee! read more

Busy Bee Cafe - Diners Near Me - Ventura, California

Such a great old fashion diner perfect for the family or just a. Date after hitting the beach close by. My cook was Juan he made sure my pancakes were light and fluffy and my daughter loved her waffles overall great place !! read more

We were in Ventura this weekend and we arrived there to eat in the morning on Saturday. We were hungry and wanted to eat near my nephews hotel. We found the place in the down town area. We had seen it on prior trips but never eaten here. We were greeted and seated upon entering the place. I ordered coffee and my husband ordered water to drink. I got the veggie omelet, with busy bee potatoes and my order also came with biscuits and gravy. My husband order a breakfast combo also. My nephew got a burger and potatoes and a soft drink. Our waitress brought salsa and jam to the table. My omelet was more like a veggie scramble. I got one cup of coffee the waitress kept saying she was bringing coffee every time she came by but it took forever. I finally got my second cup after I was done eating. What a dissappointment that was. Oh after I was done I thought Id better use the ladies room because it had been a long drive. Well there is one bathroom for women. And you have to pay coins to get in. I think that it terrible. Thankfully the lady held the door for me so I wouldnt have to pay. They have a sign that says no public restrooms but I was a paying customer and to have that is terrible. The food was just average. Nothing special except the decor which was 50's themed. read more

Not worth your time or money. Rude service and basic food. Only unique thing is decor so if you walk in to enjoy the view, do yourself a favor and walk right back out. read more