So disappointed I've gone many times to dine in but due to the crazy times I had to order take out. First off I called before hand because online ordering limits your options or modifications. I was instructed to use the special instructions all these orders had a special instruction. NONE were followed. I messaged to inform them and asking for the correct food because we like the place and were hungry but instead we were told we'd only get a partial refund no option of correct food. Awful customer service... thanks a lot read more

This is one of a few restaurants that I am willing to drive 60 miles for. The interior is classy, old world chic. Couches are provided to rest in along with a fireplace and candles to contemplate while having a pomegranate martini. I always try to book the counter (5 seats only) overlooking the preparation and cooking stations. It is a real treat to watch the chef staff putting out such amazing dishes. They work hard to put out a meal both visually delicious and with such an aroma. Oh my!! The Antipasto Fiero is highly recommended...an appitizer platter of three cheeses, meats, egg plant spread and crackers. Its a meal for two people. I love simplicity done well and a plate like the spaghetti with small meatballs is great. Likewise any meal with pumpkin mashed. The house Cabernet is very good. Reservations are a MUST and parking is a nightmare so allow extra time or Lyft it if you're staying nearby. read more

Thanks to my uncanny ability to plan ahead, I scored hard-to-get 8:00 pm reservations for Saturday night. You see, earlier in the week, a friend & I were having a couple of afternoon martinis in Cafe Fiore's bar when the restaurant's General Manager approached and mentioned that she hadn't seen Deb and I in some time and inquired when we were going to have dinner again. As a courtesy, she suggested reservations, so I accepted with the understanding that I receive a reminder call.* General highlights include warm & welcoming environment, beautiful wooden bar area, comfortable, pillow-lined booths, friendly, professional staff, live weekend music, and a great place to spend an evening Our evening's purchases included Lemon Drop and Pomegranite Martinis, Ketel One Martinis, Caipirinhas, 2006 Rosso Argiano Tuscan red, and, not surprisingly, food. Bottom line - we really like this restaurant, including its ideal location, great atmosphere & staff, reasonable food prices, as well as the weekend entertainment. Footnote: I received the call while drinking beer & sunning pool-side in time to get a much-needed nap before dinner. Special shoutout to Ruthie! read more

A solid 6 stars if it hypothetically was possible. With 239 reviews we had to take a visit. Without sugar coating anything, I would genuinely would like to say that i'm impressed. From '02-'04 i've had the pleasure of living in the beautiful country of Italy, and sure enough this place brought back the nostalgia of the country side. Atmosphere: was culturally identical to your common Italian/Sicilian Restaurant. There are wine bottles everywhere, wood beams and rafters on the walls and ceilings, tile on the floor, to the wide big bar sitting in the front as you walk in. Bathrooms: are up to par on cleanliness. There was ice in the mens urinals to assist with odor, and trash was taking out. Food: There are three separate menus. One for lunch, dinner, and dessert (Dolci). There isn't much of a difference between the menus with exception to portion size and price. While you order promptly you will receive your waters along with a basket of fresh bread and little bowl of tomato sauce that is wonderfully mixed and seemed made from scratch. We ordered Salsiccia E Funghi (Tomato sauce, mozzarella, pork sausage & fresh sauteed mushrooms) which was very very tasty. The ground pork sausage really brings out a lot of flavor. It was flat and very similar to how pizza really is in Italy. We also ordered the Tortellacci Di Zucca (Butternut squash tortellacci with Parmesan sage cream sauce) which was filling with the hint of parmesan from the sauce and what tasted like sweet pumpkin pie (Sweet Butternut Squash). Off the Dessert (Dolci) menu ordered the Tiramasù and holy molly I was trying to stop my wife from rubbing it all over her body (YES it was that good). No question you need to go and experience the magnifico food of Cafe Fiore. Olive Garden DOESN'T HAVE SHIT on this place. In fact I'd pay you to go visit. lol. read more

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Bad service and worst food I've ever had, would give 0 stars if I could. The lobster bisque was pretty bad, the most okay thing here are the pizza's. We tried most of the appetizers but they weren't to our liking. Very disappointed. read more

I have been coming here for years with friends, hosted many corporate lunches in their private back room (pre-COVID). Tonight upset me so much I will likely not be back. To be fair, I understand folks are generally being awful during this pandemic. I also understand that businesses are trying to adjust to how to best meet the needs of their customers while struggling to stay afloat. That requires the additional mile of good communication. HUGE fail last night. We arrived at a little after 4 with the intent of having a happy hour drink (HH here is great BTW) and then have dinner. The hostess was a very young girl who was not friendly or interested at all in going that extra mile by I don't know smiling saying welcome....NOTHING. She simply said how many. With that said I assumed we could be seated right away. Instead she said it's gonna be 15 minutes what's your phone number. I said oh not bad and gave her my name and number and said you'll call me? She said yes and so we had a seat at the bench just outside the patio area. At around 430 (half hour later), I noticed people were walking up and being seated and there were 3-4 open tables. I was getting annoyed and my boyfriend told me to relax, they prob were on the list and they got called. Fair enough. At 445 a couple walked up from the parking structure and I heard them ask if dinner was being served yet. I got up and stood behind them to listen to the owner telling them that it starts at 5 but she could seat them now and they could still have a HH drink while waiting. Then she immediately sat them. I was floored. The original hostess? Gone. I was so pissed I told my boyfriend I was done and we were leaving. At this point he got mad (that's never good as he is pretty patient). He waited until the owner walked back from seating this couple and said "you aren't seating from the list?" She looked perplexed and said "I don't know about a list, I just got here, what's your name?" Then she looked around to see if they had a table and said let me see if I can get you a table. He said no thanks we are leaving. While again I understand things are hectic, waiting 45 min and watching many get sat who walked up and I now know were not on the "non existent list" really pisses me off. No apology, she just let us walk. She should have said, oh dear I am so sorry I will get you sat now, get you a drink and find out what's going on. A good owner ensures they know EVERYTHING going on in THEIR restaurant, especially something as basic as a waiting list. I will say this isn't the first bad experience I've had here. Before the pandemic I was here with friends for Happy hour and the bartender was just so awful and rude, I stopped by the back table where the owners sit and do their paperwork and let them know. She didn't seem interested and I chalked it up to one bad day. It was this same owner as I believe their are two ladies who own this. The other one is very nice and cares. In closing, I would like to say that overall the servers are great, often recognize me and come and say hi. Food is good and great ambience (pre COVID of course). However, I could have forgiven last nights issue but the fact that it happened directly with the owner is to me unacceptable. Good leadership and standards start from the top and the disregard is enough for me to permanently walk away which makes me sad as again this one was one of my staples. read more

I don't write bad reviews but this was so ass. The food wasn't even edible for a dog. We ordered most happy hour meals and didn't enjoy a single one. Y'all nasty PERIOD. read more

Last week, we were THOSE people. Those people who show up with a party of 6, and then gradually become a party of 9, and then a party of 14. Those people who say they are there for happy hour, and then (2 hours later) decide to stay for dinner. Those people who seem like nice professionals when they arrive, and then get louder and more demanding. Also, those people who want to be able to pay in a mix of cash and 8 separate credit cards. And, the staff of Cafe Fiore handled it all with impeccable professionalism, graciousness, and good humor. They really rocked in making us feel welcome, and like we weren't the most annoying group that night (which we had to have been vying for). Happy hour is a slammin' deal for the area. Drinks are delicious and strong. Happy hour bites were also good. The food and drinks were generally a solid 4-stars, with the caipirinhas and the avocado martinis being 5 stars. the ambiance is lovely -- we sat in the Treehouse Lounge and it was perfect. As other reviews have noted, it can be a little slow to get served, but we found them staff to be exceptional in dealing with our giant group. Great place! read more

I just don't get the poor services at this Fiore. This was our first visit to Ventura and every local, and the ladies at the visitors center highly recommended Fiore. We were excited to have dinner here. We stared at the bar. To get service and drinks was challenging. Ordering food and exploring the happy hour menu - ugh - root canal. The happy hour prices, the pizza and the drinks were all good. But after watching the hostesses with customers and seeing the servers stand at the bar chatting and eating bar snacks for 15 minutes while the restaurant had customers - sent us looking for another place to dine. Wouldn't be hard to step your game up Fiore! read more

Cafe Fiore - Behind the bar - Italian Near Me - Ventura, California

Really good place for Italian if in the mood for something for more upscale... gluten free pizza is the best I've ever had!

Went here for lunch, Alfredo was blah but bruschetta was bomb. The reason for 3 stars, the host was RUDE.

This place has it all. A lively bar scene, good italian food, live music and a DJ. If you are there long enough, you will see it all. We came here on a Saturday night at 7pm for dinner. We had a reservation and our cozy booth was waiting or us. From there, the bread and marinara were excellent and we got carpaccio as an appetizer. There was a lot of salad that came with this dish and the meat was yummy. As a main, I had the seafood pasta and it was very filling. There was a ton of meat and there was almost too high of a meat to pasta ratio. The sauce had a nice kick to it and was good to dip the bread in. Our server was extremely nice and was the perfect balance of not too attantive, but attentive enough. After dinner was when the fun began. We discovered right outside in a covered area, was a DJ that would be playing later, and in the waiting area of the restaurant, there would be a live cover band. The DJ dance floor scene had a younger crowd and had a lounge/club feel. The live band had an older crowd but there was still quite a bit of dancing. They played mostly songs from the 70's but did occasion bruch up on some current hits. All in all a great time had here! read more

I have been to Fiore many times over the years. This last visit was spectacular. My main reason for visiting is the martini, but their happy hour menu had me trying the food. The bar seating is quite comfortable. The servers are always friendly. The olive tapenade is sinfully delicious. If you are in the area, check this place out. I don't go for the full on meal, but a snack and drink at the bar is a must do when I am in Ventura. read more

Cafe Fiore - Happy hour menu - Italian Near Me - Ventura, California

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We actually paid for our drinks and left before our food arrived. This is the ONLY restaurant in Ventura listed in this month's Wine Spectator (which was delivered to us three days ago) and we actually drove two hours to eat here. We were excited! We were seated in this beautiful area of the restaurant called "The Treehouse" and it really felt magical. Water and bread were brought promptly. The basket contained two types of bread (sliced Italian and focaccia), warm and delicious. I always feel you can predict the quality of the food by the quality of the bread-- and this was delicious. It came with a fantastic garlicky red dipping sauce that was also warm. Heavenly!! Off to a fantastic start! Then, my husband ordered a bottle of super Tuscan wine from the extensive wine list. The waiter returned with the wrong bottle. He went off in search of the correct wine and returned empty-handed and said they'd been out of the wine we selected for months. Why was it still on the menu? What kind of luck is that when, out of a hundred selections, the one you order is out of stock? Disappointed, my husband ordered another wine; the menu said it was Antinori Tuscan. This time, a woman we hadn't seen before appeared with a bottle of wine that didn't have the word "Antinori" anywhere on the label. Was it the same wine we'd ordered? Hard to say. Nonetheless, we accepted the wine. Meanwhile, we'd devoured the fabulous bread and the waiter brought a second basket but this one was filled with cold bread and icy dipping sauce and didn't eat it. We flagged down the waiter and asked for warm bread and heated dipping sauce, as we'd had previously. He assured us it is MUCH better warm! Well, a new person delivered our third basket of bread and dipping sauce and once again, it was all cold. We weren't having a good vibe at this point and decided to call it quits and go elsewhere. We didn't feel the risk of spending a couple of hundred dollars for mediocre service was worth it. We politely asked for the manager...who turned out to be the same woman who'd delivered our second bottle of wine. Again, she didn't introduce herself, so I can't post her name here. My daughter explained that we'd come from out of town to try this restaurant and had been quite excited but the discontinued wine (not noted on the menu) was disappointing. She responded simply that they don't reprint their wine menu often and their stock changes... Well, duh, but if it's been out of stock for months, I'd suspect some note on the menu was possible. Then, my daughter explained about the bread... Which the manager shrugged off by saying it's always served cold. We protested that our first basket had arrived warm and she maintained that the bread is served warm but the dipping sauce is always cold. I said, no, we got it warm and the waiter even told us it's better warm. She just shrugged us off. So, we left and went to Spasso and had a perfect evening. read more

I took my girlfriend here tonight for dinner. The location and atmosphere is good. It's a pub up front and restaurant in back. It's a great place to grab drinks and eat some food but not for a fine dining experience. The great service made up for the OK to sub average food. It cost a bill between two of us this evening. The bruschette antipasto (appetizer) was good. 3 different kinds come with the plate... eggplant, tomato, and an onion slaw. All were tasty, bread a bit toasted to thick crusty and hardness in places but good flavors. Main entrees, we chose off the chef special menu and it wasn't anything to write home about. Risotto, it was flavorful at first but cooked too long (or stored after it was made then heated back up). The salmon on top was the same, it had a frozen reheated taste and texture to it. It tasted and felt like it was days old and reheated. Halfway through I couldn't eat any more of it. Not worth the $20, I just wouldn't serve it. + $8 wine pairing. I eat proper risotto on a regular basis, so I know risotto and after the initial flavors it was a miss. I bet it was pretty darn good fresh. Pesco, my girlfriend had the halibut on polenta with vegetables. The thin filet of halibut was nicely seasoned and grilled and went well with the polenta. The snap peas were blanched and good, the tomatoes and peppers were a bit of a mystery. This dish seems better than the risotto but was average but not worth $27 + $8 wine pairing. Dessert, I had the weekly special chocolate mousse on oreo with white chocolate creme. My girlfriend had the lemon trio. The mousse I had was stored and the macadamia nuts on top were soft and tough from being stored in the fridge. Just adding the macadamia fresh at serving would have been a nice touch. The lemon trio was decent and came with 3 pieces so a large sampling. Some of it seemed stored for a while... hmm... We probably won't go back for any fine dining experience but we might go back for the drinks and bar style italian food... ie. pizzas, bruschette, and simple things that can't go wrong. All in all, glad we tried out the place. For the prices of their specials, I would go to Cafe Firenze in Moorpark where you get a true culinary experience. LIke I said the service is really good though, busy bar, live music. Sub par food but the bar food and drinks seem pretty decent. read more

Parm pizza was incredible!!! Ruthie the manager was great. I hear the chicken Lollipops are superb. Need to come back and give them a try. read more

Cafe Fiore - Parma pizza - Italian Near Me - Ventura, California

This place was seriously AMAZING! I look for this type of place everywhere and they are seriously hard to come by. I would think more places like this would be found in Santa Barbara. Our server was the mixologist. Their drinks were out of this world. My best friend and I tried 2 different mixed drinks each. Granted they are WAY overpriced at $10 a pop. But hell, if they can sell it! All our food was great. Beef Carpaccio with Arugula salad, avocado, crab, cucumber and calamari salad with a jalapeno dressing, braised lamb shank with gnocchi in a gorgonzola cream sauce. Even the bread was a foccacia with a tomato sauce/salsa was so good. And lastly our dessert was a ball of coffee ice cream dipped in a dark chocolate ganache and drizzled with white chocolate and chocolate dipped coffee beans. Our total bill came to about $90 (half of that being the drinks). We were lucky enough to have our dessert be bought by our friendly neighbor who noticed us drooling over his dessert lol LOVE THIS PLACE AND DEFINITELY COMING BACK!!!! read more

Oh baby, you had me at "Martini Bar" on the big sign outside. ;) You hooked me, reeled me in with Sinatra playing, and put me in your net with the BASIL WRAPPED/BLUE CHEESE STUFFED olives in my martini! So I was just wandering up the downtown sidewalks in search of a libation after my drive up. And there was that sign across the street. I made a B-line for the door. Fiore House Martini immediately caught my eye. (Belvedere vodka) What is this "wrapped" olive you speak of? Oh yes my friends... to die for. Crazy, new to me, not to be forgotten, basil leaf wrapped olives. $12. I also ordered a pizza shortly after sipping, in delight, my cocktail. CALABRESE: (awesome)Tomato sauce, mozzarella & spicy salami for $15. I ate 1/2 and took 1/2 back to my hotel room for 2 a.m. ! It was the best pizza I have had in a while. The crust/dough was perfect, and the sauce was unique and delicious. The spicy salami - who does that? What a great change from pepperoni. :) Local patrons were friendly, as were the bartenders. The place was very nice, clean, and roomy. My bill wasn't too bad. And I would absolutely make this my first stop next time I am in Ventura. Cheers! read more

Cafe Fiore - House Martini! :) - Italian Near Me - Ventura, California

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Too expensive for the (un)quality of food... but this is one of the few venues in Ventura that cares about ambiance. Don't go on amateur nights (too crowded, poor service); best bets are M-W. ps: the pesto gnocchi is sometimes really good, but usually overcooked. *edit: this crowd is turning lol. read more

Cafe Fiore - Italian Near Me - Ventura, California

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Sunday Happy Hour. Pretty good. Looking forward to the band at 5:00 in the treehouse. read more

Cafe Fiore - Goat Cheese Fritters - Italian Near Me - Ventura, California

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This review is extremely late, but...The friendly greeting from the host enticed us to try this restaurant for the first time. Our waitresses smile as she took our order was appreciated. Then our first appetizer, calimari with Mariners sauce, was brought to the table. Since our table of 4 were sharing the appetizers, I asked for a very small bowl of sauce so I wouldn't reach across the table. They were not happy with the request. It just went downhill from there. Perhaps they ignored us the rest of our time with them because they thought I might make another request. We haven't gone back. Hopefully they are a little more accommodating now. read more

Went here on a Friday night by myself. Found an empty seat at the bar. No one wanted to talk, I enjoyed my meal by myself and loved the risotto with lamb. Delicious, creamy and an overall wonderful flavor. Cassie was my bartender and she was great! I will be back soon! read more

Cafe Fiore - Risotto with lamb. - Italian Near Me - Ventura, California

From the interior decor to the menu options that seemed to be endless. The butternut squash was delicious, Osso Bucco divine, pumpkin gorgonzola mashed potatoes different but tasty and last but not least the Lamb shank with gnocchi was very nice as well. Desserts were presented on pretty plates and were scrumptious in their own right. We went August of last year on a Monday night and this place was FULL but I'm not sure if they were locals or just people in town on a Monday night. Wine list extensive great balance between World wines and California. Respectfully Reviewed read more

We went here today for lunch, amazing food and wonderful atmosphere. They have great drinks as well, I am a old fashion guy and they made a spot on old fashion. We will definitely be back, this visit we did not have the greatest of service (the bus's boy or assistant waiter was awesome) but it's OK, not bad enough to take a star away. read more

Cafe Fiore - Caprese Salad and Bistecca Salad.. - Italian Near Me - Ventura, California

We were recommended here by the hotel we were at, and so glad they did. The service, the food and the drinks were excellent! We had the butternut tortellini in a sage sauce and a salad. Set up well for Covid with a big spread out tent in the parking lot , and a small patio seating section beside a the restaurant. Will return soon:) read more

The food is always good! The music is a real plus. Cocktails are delicious. We love sitting at the bar because Kato is always welcoming and makes its feel at home yet like a good night out! They have the best calamari in town and the flourless chocolate cake is amazing. read more

Our waiter Jake was great! Food was good once we got it.... short staffed on a Saturday night put us in a corner and seems like they forgot about us. Loved this place when it was a greasy diner California 66.... may not be back anytime soon read more

My girl brought me out to this spot with a large group of friends on a busy Friday night. This place is huge with inside , outside and covered patio option all fitted for great seating options.. We met our party in the covered patio area which a little more dimly lighted than inside with that cozy feeling but yet a cool air passing through the room. Service was a little slow and unattentive, but you would kind of expect this for a table of 14 people,, plus they were maxed out tonight.. I have been to cafe fiore a few times before but mostly for lunch so it was great to see it come to life at night, reminded me of a hopping bar / lounge / restaurant you would find in a up and trendy city, not expected in Ventura.. Food choices here take some serious menu studying since they have more than your typical italian fare and if you take a few minutes you can find some great gems.. I opted for the swordfish which was cooked perfectly and went well with the fried green tomatoes and mash potatoes, portion size did however seem kind of small on the sides however the fish steak was a perfect cut for dinner. Being so dimly light it was hard to kind of see what I was really putting into my mouth as far as the other sides, however, this intensified the tasting experience so much more.. The chefs did an incredible job I must say and had everyone cleaning there plates. My girl got the pasta stuffed with butternut squash and she could not get enough of it, I think she is a fan for life. Now for those of you who are not in the local area know how, you would not guess what happens after 10 pm at this place. Cafe Fiore, converts its well packed patio dining area into a dj poping, dance floor hopping, club scene.. Ya they effortlessly convert there large patio into a back area dancing spot equipped with a DJs strobe lights and flat screen tv action and the locals sure know about it because it packed and hopping very quickly.. We walked into a restaurant around 8pm and walked out of a club around 12:30pm all without moving an inch.. however why all of this was going on outside, on the inside of the restaurant ,with its vibrant bar scene, was right there keeping up with the action and packed to the brim with its patrons.. Free parking structures backs right up to this place so parking is easy and close. As far as getting in on busy weekend you might want to make reservations it seems like, during the probably not needed. My only really major downfall with this place is they automatically put in their tip on your check which I totally disagree on, its our choice as guests to decide on how much we want to tip. Great restaurant and vibe.. read more

Absolutely my favorite! From the great atmosphere to the delicious drinks & food and the friendly service! The complimentary warm soft bread & dipping sauce are amazing! The bartenders always suggest new drinks depending on what I describe I'm in the mood for! The house salad, chicken & spinach ravioli butternut squash ravioli & spaghetti & meatballs are perfectly delicious! Oh and the desserts are sooooo good...tempura bananas & creme brûlée are my favorite Last the live band & DJ add to an already perfect night with dancing read more

Cafe Fiore - Tempura fried bananas with butterscotch, Nutella & berries Perfectly delicious! - Italian Near Me - Ventura, California

We were a large group and our waitress was amazing. I heard some of our party state their food was not good, and some said it was great. I had the bianco pizza, it was good, I also had the lobster bisque soup; I was disappointed with that. I thought it would have actual chucks of lobster, but it didn't. The taste was ok. The restaurant itself has a nice atmosphere inside, but we are outside which was also nice. read more

Excellent lunch portions, the lasagna was tasty and service was great, I would love to come back and try this place for dinner I must say I loved the food and atmosphere. read more

I LOVE Cafe Fiore! Went in not having read any reviews and no real expectations. I was pleasantly surprised. Excellent staff, great ambiance, amazing food and drinks! Cucumbertini is a must! See my pics... read more

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During COVID, they're running a $40 special dinner (for two) to go. I can't tell you how amazing the food was at such an incredible price. We got gnocchi, a pear salad, a bottle of wine, garlic bread, and chicken parmigiana for two. Do you yourself a favor and order in a romantic dinner for two. read more

Dropped in here last night for coffee and dessert. Sat at a high table in the bar and the service was great. We ordered bruschetta which was not my style. Each piece of bread was different, egg plant marinara, cheese and tomatoes, cheese and roasted peppers. Admittedly I didn't read the menu well b/c I'm sure it explained all this I just asked our server who said it was good and I went with it. I'm a traditionalist...tomato, basil, garlic, olive oil...done. This was not my speed. We ordered a trio dessert, butterscotch custard type dish, a flourless chocolate something or other and some ice cream that tasted like almond. All tasty and very rich. Decaf coffee to go with was perfect. Atmosphere was great, rest of the menu looked delicious, live music was kind of fun for something different. Only a 3 b/c we didn't have a meal and I wasn't crazy about the bruschetta I did order. I'd definitely like to visit again on another trip. read more

Cafe Fiore - Non-traditional bruschetta. - Italian Near Me - Ventura, California

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A very good idea for late lunch on a gorgeous day. At 2pm I was seated right away. Got to pick a little table on the outside patio. Server was very kind and only appeared when I needed her. She also gave me a great recommendation for a coffee shop down the street. I had the chicken and spinach ravioli - which was so freaking good! It was topped with fresh house made soft cheese and multi colored cherry tomatoes. A glass of merlot and a basket of fresh bread made this a perfect meal. read more

Cafe Fiore - Table for one - Italian Near Me - Ventura, California

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To be completely truthful this restaurant has gone downhill these past years. Ive come a few times with my significant other and each time has gotten worse. I used to think of cafe fiore as a romantic place for dates or family nights to enjoy a night out but this is definitely not the case for me and my partner. I tried calling a few times to make a reservation and no one answered so i thought they were just busy but i walked in and it was hardly anyone there and the people that seat guests but they were just sitting down chit chatting that literally made us not want to come back this is poor (management) and poor work ethic in general. Once we got seated they only had one person really taking orders and it looked like she was bartending and serving which i know should not be the case she literally is running around trying to help everyone while the managers are just sitting down doing nothing.she still took our order and conversated with kindness,and this isnt the first time even with some male bartenders having to go above and beyond its crazy! I know i might be ranting but this seriously is a cause for concern and is quite sad. I used to love coming here now i dread even thinking about this once great restaurant that literally is dying. read more

Had the spaghetti carbonara glad I didn't play it safe with the mushroom risotto (next time) I've never actually had an egg yolk dropped into my pasta and I wasn't disappointed. Till next time! read more

Cafe Fiore - Italian Near Me - Ventura, California

Okay, 3.5/4, is the official rating here. I've only been here once so let me tell you what my ONE time experience was here. I went with my father late one night. ( Yes, late night dining! Not just bar! ) The atmosphere is romantic, I'd like to go on a nice-formal date here some time. I will say, not much here sounded appetizing to me, although my taste for italian food is typically limited to cream based/sauced dishes, over red sauce, and tons of mushroom ravioli and/or tortellini. And I don't like seafood, I feel so deprived. Their brushcetta/bruchette was good, I liked the fresh bread, and the sauce wasn't lacking flavor at all. I think it's hard to fuck up bruschette though, personally. I believe I ordered the Agnolotti Di Pollo E Spinaci, which if you go on their website can get a more detailed description of what it was. I was THOROUGHLY impressed with the freshness of all the ingredients, it was astonishing! I think that if you like seafood pasta dishes, or light, delicate tasting fresh salads, go here. Also, if you have a buck. I wish I could write more, I might try to update some other time when I go again. read more

Beautiful restaurant and amazing food! The quality is impeccable and the wait staff are very professional.

Overall, not happy with my experience. One star for: The food and drinks were great! I went to a happy hour here with some friends and we had an assortment of food and the drinks were also delicious and strong. Second star for: The service during the visit was also okay. The hostess was kind and showed my friend (who was familiar with the facilities) and I to the back area which was an ideal space for hosting intimate events, just to peek. The waitress was also attentive and very sweet, yet maybe a little scattered. I knocked off 3 stars due to what happened after my visit and how it wasn't resolved in a way that felt right. As a manager of my own business, if there is an error made on my or my staff's part (even if unintentional), I would always do what was right for the customer. When we received the check my friends and I split payment with some cash and cards. The entire amount ended up getting charged onto my card only (which I didn't realize until I checked my banking app, and received notifications for an overdraft charge and fee). The receipts that we signed for we're in the split amount so what I agreed to paying was significantly less and therefore I wouldn't have overdrafted my account. When I noticed the charge 3 days later, I immediately called to speak with the manager. They took my information and told me they'd call back after looking into it. I got a call back the next day saying the issue was due to the machine not accepting my friend's card, so the total amount defaulted when my card was ran. I asked to speak to the manager and they were in a "meeting" and the information was relayed through the server who had actually waited on us. In my experience as a business manager, the amount I signed for is all I've agreed to pay and should be credited back the additional $60 I was charged of the bill... Not to mention the $45+ overdraft charge and fee that I had to pay on top of that because of being overcharged (which I did not ask them to reimburse). I was told that could either have my friend give me the $60 overcharge amount, or have my friend go and pay the amount owed and then the restaurant would credit me back the $60 overcharge that defaulted to my card. Needless to say I'm really pissed at the poor management and lack of resolution. The issue was not my fault and even if it was a "harmless mistake", the right thing would have been to apologize and comp the meal. At least that's what I would have done in my own establishment. read more