Love, love, LOVE this place. The decor was fabulous, transporting us back to the 50's and 60's with Marilyn Monroe & Humphrey Bogart movie posters, and jukeboxes at every booth. We put in 25¢ for 2 songs, but left before we heard them. Meanwhile all the songs we did hear transported us back to a rock'n'roll time. We used the bathrooms, which were singles, and they were clean and stocked. The women's room had a baby changing table. The signage advised us to not smoke (thank you), pay our server (of course), and warned us not to dance on the tables (tempting). The staff was super efficient and friendly. As soon as drinks or food were ready, they came out to the table. My neice and I could not resist the drink specials. She had The Hawaiian Grinch & I had the Hot Toddy. Both were good. Husband, our designated driver, had a Coke. Neice ordered the tuna melt without the bread and a side of pickle & potato wedges. Husband had the pot roast special with toasted roll, gravy and mashed potatoes. I ordered the Sunrise Special: 3 pancakes with strawberries, blueberries and bananas - all fresh fruit! It came with syrup, but I didn't need it. Everything was delicious! Niece & I joined the clean plate club, but Husband left some potatoes & pot roast on his plate because he was too full to eat anymore. And he wanted to try one of their home made desserts. They looked so tempting. No room!! I hope we can return here for more meals. It was such a great experience! read more

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This is all very, very sad, and it pains me to write this. Busy Bee used to be one of Ventura's more memorable experiences. It still is - but for all the wrong reasons. Our family and friends have been going to the Busy Bee for over 30 years. Within the last year, everything has noticeably deteriorated. It just isn't the same place. One of the former staff told me before she left that the owner no longer shows up and has farmed the place out to his kids. The food quality now screams "CHEAP!", yet prices have become OUTRAGEOUS ($10 for a milkshake that is half the size of what it once was). Our recent experience here (September, 2025) was SO bad that we didn't even stay for dessert, which is what the place is known for. Most of the long-time staff have left, and have been replaced either with new people who barely speak English or the owner's kids themselves, who behave like the spoiled, always-got-to-work-for-daddy brats they are. The ambience isn't anywhere close to the fun 1950s vibe that once characterized the place (the jukeboxes at the tables and the big one in the corner are all broken and there is seemingly no interest in fixing them), and the owner's kids are more interested in cheapskating than in giving a great experience. Again, very, very sad. read more

After a beautiful morning walk along the beach, my friends and I came across this restaurant just off of C street in Ventura. Must mention, Ventura is a lovely city with much to see all in an easy walking radius. The Busy Bee Cafe wasn't busy when we came along, about 11:00am which was perfect as we had our choice of outdoor seating and terrific personalized service. Our server was quite patient, answering all of our questions while making helpful suggestions. After perusing their vast menu, I chose a grilled portobello mushroom sandwich with avo, red onion, cheese, lettuce and tomato presented on a delicious whole wheat bun. Sandwich was delicious! Subbed coleslaw for the fries and life was good ;-) Parking can be tricky at peak hours. We parked in one of the nearby lots earlier so had lots of choices. Hope you check out the Busy Bee, there's something for everyone here! read more

Using DoorDash i have ordered Yeager Schnitzel and cherry pie. Knowing Germany very well and having had dozens of this dish there, i am sorry to say that your dish not only does NOT taste like the German one, but it was inedible to me and it went straight in my garbage. Totally wasted over $41. Your cherry pie was not good either and it went in my garbage as well. Once upon a time i had a Polish stuffed cabbage dish, which was very good, but it was at least ten years ago. Needless to say i am not ever planning to either visit or order from your Cafe. read more

This is one of our go to eateries in Ventura. They have selection of vegetarian items that I usually find something good to eat. Not so today! They had an advertised special of vegetable lasagna but it is anything but special! It was gobs of thick white sauce with shreds of carrot and scrapings of carrot. There are many good things on the menu but definitely skip this one! !!! read more

I decided to visit the Busy Bee Cafe because it's a 50s diner with an outdoor patio on the street. I liked how the interior had a juke box and a checkered floor. I always enjoy that architectural style. But, I had mixed feelings on the menu. On the positive side, they have every variety of mixed drink and milk shake you can think of. I ordered a "spiked" strawberry banana milkshake, and it was good. Their food menu has a huge variety too. On the negative side, I agree with other reviewers that the food itself is kind of bland. Service was fine. I didn't have to wait long to get served, and they let me pick where I wanted to sit outside. Overall, I recommend this place if you like 50s diners and the accompanying wide variety of milkshakes. But, don't get your hopes up on the food. read more

Busy Bee Cafe - Diners Near Me - Ventura, California

Amazing place! Friendly staff. Very clean. Love the vintage style. Enjoyed every bite and mainly their morning coffee. Highly recommended. Visiting from Los Angeles and definitely will be coming back. read more

Busy Bee Cafe - Coffee and Baileys! DELICIOUS - Diners Near Me - Ventura, California

We came here after reading lots of reviews. Needed a place that would interest our kids (3-6 yrs old) & thought a 50's diner would be great. Plus I was starving for a burger! FOOD - server was dull in personality - my ortega burger reminded me of those frozen circular shaped hamburger patties you can find stacked in a single plastic sleeve at Costco (although I bet Costco ones taste much better). Flavorless, I salted the heck out of it, took 3 bites & then gave the waiter my plate. - fries, more like potato wedges that seriously looked like they were fried, sat around for an hour, fried, sat for an hour, then fried again & served + club sandwich, decent taste, nothing special ++ kids meals, huge portions + kid pancakes typically buttermilk, and portions for kids huge ++ the food came super fast ATMOSPHERE + 50's diner theme well done - our juke box didn't work (but it did eat our quarters) - bathroom appeared to be decently cleaned until one locates the plunger just below the toilette paper RECOMMENDATION: I would only recooked this place for shakes and breakfast food read more

A really fun and nostalgic place to stop in! Staff is very friendly and welcoming. You feel like you walked back into a simpler and easier time here at the Busy Bee. Very nice stopping point on your next day trip to downtown Ventura, or getting a late night snack after a show. Enjoy! read more

Great food. We ate breakfast. I had an omelet, which was tasty. Great, attentive service. Love the diner vibe.

Visiting this spot for the first time and omg! The food was amazing the server was very nice, very attentive to our needs. we came as a family of 5 and 6 of you count the little dog in our stroller. The food was freaking amazing l. I had the sausage omelette. My best friend she had the seafood omelette which looked amazing and I will be coming back for. Just a nice place to come eat at. Also I dig and love love love the 50s area vibe. Will be back for sure read more

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Busy Bee's has always had great food. Today I ordered a bowl of their "World Famous Chili", "World Famous" cause it tasted like it came out of can labeled "Hormel Hot Dog Chili"... I was REALLY disappointed.. I will be back, I just won't order the canned chili... read more

We had a great time at the Busy Bee. The Sundae shake, chicken and waffles and tuna melt were all really good we will be back for the fun atmosphere, great service and tasty nostalgia. read more

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So me and my husband decided to go to busy bees because we never been there before and the menu had really good choices. The customer service was awesome we didn't wait too long and sitting area was nice as well it gives a good vibe and nice people. The only down size was the food of which I order the waffles was undone and the chicken was beyond well done . Have you ever ate something and thought to your self I can cook way better than this yeah that's how I felt. But as they say each is own and this just my opinion next time I'll try some different read more

Busy Bee Cafe - Chicken and waffles - Diners Near Me - Ventura, California

I had a wonderful solo breakfast here yesterday morning. It was a busy Saturday but the diner greeted me right away and sat me at a booth. The food was hot and delicious. The restaurant was clean and cute! Definitely going back next time I'm in town. read more

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They did refund my money back for the the terrible experience I had. Hopefully next time I go it will be a more pleasant experience.

I had been wanting to check this place out and I'm glad we finally did. The food was great! The sausage burrito was very yummy and had great portions of sausage, egg & potatoes. We also had the coffee & baileys drink, loved it. My boyfriend had the American breakfast plate and while he was eating it he kept mentioning on how good everything was tasting, especially the pancakes. The service was great. The staff was friendly and attentive. Unfortunately, the juke box was not working but the diner was still a vibe. I'll definitely be back. read more

Busy Bee Cafe - Breakfast Sausage burrito - Diners Near Me - Ventura, California

Great place for brunch and breakfast. Their breakfast cocktails are delicious as well. Has an old diner vibes. Service was excellent, even while busy. read more

Busy Bee Cafe - Breakfast combo - Diners Near Me - Ventura, California

In all the years that Busy Bee has been a staple of downtown Main Street, I've never been. Recently my father and I have been meeting for Breakfast every Sunday and we decided to not only visit our favorite haunts, but try some new (new to us) restaurants out. I enjoy a laid back, diner like feel when I visit an establishment, that was Busy Bee to the core. We arrived early and had our pick of seating, the booths are definitely well worn from years of patronage . I ordered the western omelet and my Dad ordered a Ham and cheese, both of us were pleased with our meals, and my Dad being the Biggest breakfast critic I've ever known, gave the greenlight to come back. Don't expect bells and whistles, this is down home old fashioned cooking, with decor to match. Prices weren't bad, compared to a majority of the competitors in the near vicinity that are about 15% higher. I'll definitely be back . read more

We've gone to Busy Bee many times over the years mostly for lunch. We had not visited in a long time however. Decided to go for dinner. We were VERY disappointed in the food and the prices for what we received were off the charts and not in a good way. The service was good but the food quality was not! read more

We loved the vintage aesthetic and ambiance this place had. It had a lot of character, the neon lights were so cute! As for the food I got a blackened chicken burger, it had a lot flavor and the potato wedges had a good amount of seasoning. For dessert I got a homemade cream pie, the flavor they had this day was coconut! It was pretty sweet but overall the coconut had a great texture. The service was also pretty fast and our server was nice and attentive. read more

Busy Bee Cafe - Homemade Cream Pie - Diners Near Me - Ventura, California

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This is a really fun place to come with kids or maybe a first date. They have typical 50s diner style food. Burgers, fries, sandwiches or some veggie options. They make amazing milkshakes!! It comes in the metal mixer which I love. The kids adores their shakes. They have a jukebox at each table which my kids thought was so cool. This combined with the pictures on the walls of old celebrities and vintage music and red booths is just such a fun vibe. Check it out!!! read more

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Enjoyed coming here for a late breakfast. They offer a wide variety of breakfast options all day. I had the breakfast combo with banana oat walnut pancakes and they are some of the best pancakes I have tried! They were so delicious that I should have ordered the full stack. The decor is very cute and does take you back to a different period. Their shakes are so sweet too that I would come here just for the different flavors they offer. Super fun place to enjoy a bite! read more

Busy Bee Cafe - Diners Near Me - Ventura, California

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A nicely decorated 1950's diner. The chocolate milk shake was yummy! I liked the potato skins as well. Quite a few people for an early Thursday evening. Many regulars talking to the waiter. Excellent service as well! 5 star. read more

If you're visiting Ventura, or even if you're a local, you need to stop by the Busy Bee at least once in your life. I have eaten here many times and it's a staple and usually the place I will have lunch if I have friends visiting the area. Love the vibe and décor inside the restaurant. Always reminds me of a restaurant from the 50's or the Happy Days era. This most recent visit had to be outside because of the c0vid, but even though it was a nice day, it was very windy and blustery. Would have preferred to eat inside. But, anyway... Food was fine. Service was fine. I felt a tad neglected eating outside, to be honest. I don't feel I got the same service as I have in the past. But again. Thanks be to the c0vid for that. The clam chowder was the best thing of this visit, and I wouldn't recommend their fish and chips and/or their chicken strips though. The breading on the chicken is really weird and not flavorful or even tasty. And it appears the breading was the same on both?! Huh?! We only had a bite of the one of the chicken strips and wasted the rest, sadly. Should have sent it back for something else, but again with sitting and eating outside, it was just too much work. Have had different menu items in the past and they were good enough. Burgers and fries are a staple here, too. Would recommend for a good quick lunch spot, if only for the atmosphere and location near the beach. :) read more

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Loved the vegetarian options, jukebox, and great service. Charming, comfortable, and great food! read more

Busy Bee Cafe - Portobello mushroom burger and coffee malt. Yummy - Diners Near Me - Ventura, California

Just plain good food and good service--go there and fined out for yourself--enjoy --you are welcome read more

Busy Bee Cafe - Diners Near Me - Ventura, California

Nice little place in the middle of downtown Ventura that looks like a 50's dinner and has indoor and outdoor seating. The service was a little slow at first but once our server got to us she was always around and checking in on us. The food was good, a fairly decent sized portion, and everything was cooked exactly as we requested (ex. well done hash browns and medium cooled steak). I'll definitely be back when we visit again and would like to try other things on the menu. read more

Busy Bee Cafe - Steak, eggs, and cottage cheese. - Diners Near Me - Ventura, California

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Really good service our server was on top of her game. Noticed the ranch was running low and came over incredibly quickly. The tuna melt was really good it was missing something but it was really good. The fries weren't my favorite but the pina colada was AMAZING. read more

Yes, 5 stars they get. Amazing all around, for a diner. Simply put, you will be satisfied no matter what you get. I had the chicken and waffle and boy am I glad I did. The chicken, perfectly fried. The waffle, so fluffy and soft but at the same time well cooked. I've never tried such delicious chicken and waffles. Roscoes, move over, these guys take the price. 5 stars forbthe following: Portions are nice and big Prices are just right for what you get Location, inside and out is very nice Staff,very friendly and attentive You have to try it for yourself, you will be back, I promise. I sure will be back again with wify and friends. Speaking of, wife has been here a couple of times and I finally had the chance to try it and was not disappointed Come on over, plenty of free parking and walking on main st was nice! read more

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Was looking for a old style diner to grab some shakes with the kids. This place hit it the spot perfectly. The pot pie was great. The chili cheese fries were very good. And the shakes were great. read more

Solid breakfast spot on Main Street. I tried the western omelette and it was good. Portion was good too. My partner had the stuffed French toast and that was so good! The menu had so much variety, so I will be defiantly coming back to try some other things out. read more

Busy Bee Cafe - Western omelette - Diners Near Me - Ventura, California

Casual dinning in the middle of downtown, Big selection that is great for big families with picky eaters. The burgers and sandwiches are always a good option and the staff is fast and friendly. It's a good option that is more kid friendly than restaurant in downtown. read more

I took my family for breakfast and the food was average at best. However my reason for this review had to do with a cup of coffee. My wife ordered a cup and added three creamer cup to it. Jump to the end of the cup when my wife noticed a slimy clump of ???? Come to find out the creamer was spoiled and had curdled at the bottom of the cup. My wife saw it and gagged and ran to the restroom to vomit. I showed the manager the spoiled creamer and his response was "ok". When he brought the bill, he said " I took the coffee off your bill." He didn't ask if my wife was ok as she was throwing up all of her breakfast. Its not like i needed or wanted him to discount our bill, just show some compassion for the situation. We had been eating there for years, but now we are in search of a new place for breakfast. I refuse to take my family places that hires people like the manager. read more

This was open on Thanksgiving day. Perfect place to hang out. Food was good. Atmosphere was excellent and we enjoyed the bread pudding. The mashed potatoes and gravy were delicious. The fried chicken was over cooked and dry. Overall it was a great place to go on Thanksgiving day. Service was great. Very friendly staff. read more

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I would give this place no stars but I can't I ordered the sliders which you get 3 one Hawaii one Chicago and one cheeseburger well we I got them all the had in them was just cheese lettuce and tomato nothing else well I will never go there again read more

So cool. 50s diner. Jute box you can choose records "vinyl" drops onto turntable. Great food huge portions. Just like 50s 60s. The APPLE PIE IS AMAZING. It's literally the best apple pie ala mode I've ever had and I come here often for it. Wonderfully sweet staff just a great place to hang out. read more

Busy Bee Cafe - Diners Near Me - Ventura, California

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The service was wonderful! The man helping us was attentive but not pushy and the food was great! We got the Sunrise Pancakes and Corned Beef Hash meal and it came out fast and was absolutely delicious. The diner is very retro and cute inside and I loved all the decor. It was very clean as well! read more

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Don't judge the book for its cover! On Thanksgiving day my partner and I were cruising for breakfast and most of our favorite places were closed. Being European diners are usually not my first choice and today it was THE ONLY breakfast choice downtown Ventura, so we decided to give it a shot with no expectations. We were very positively surprised with the food ( ordered both egg Benedicts in vegetarian version - it is called Valentino, one with potatoes the other with hash browns). I also ordered hot Toddy. Our sever Lily was just delightful! She was very knowledgeable about food and drinks ( which they have sooo many) and accommodated my request of speeding up our order as we were on tight schedule). The hot Toddy was delicious and the egg Benedicts to die for! Out of potatoes and hash browns the hash is the winner! The outdoor patio dinning is pet friendly. We definitely will be back and will check their Happy Hour which they have 4-7 Monday through Friday! read more

Busy Bee Cafe - outdoor patio - Diners Near Me - Ventura, California

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Old school mid century diner vibe right smack in the middle of Downtown Ventura... The food was good and the service was excellent. This particular trip I had a BBQ beef sandwich with fries (my arteries suffered but damn it tasted good) and split a shake with my wife. read more

Busy Bee Cafe - Diners Near Me - Ventura, California