We ordered and picked up dinner for my husband's birthday yesterday from Cafe Zack. Curried Lobster and Corn appetizer, house salad and filet mignon steaks cooked perfectly. For dessert we had flourless chocolate cake. The meal was absolutely delicious! What a treat for us! read more

Cafe Zack is top-notch! It is a quaint and cozy little restaurant with great food and wine. The manager is great and his passion for what he does is apparent in every aspect of his service. My family has been coming here for decades, now I am the only one left in the area and the above-par service keeps me coming back for date nights. read more

Amazing food you can't go wrong with filet mignon excellent with mushrooms, ( disappointed no béarnaise sauce durning the week:()New York steak with pepper corn sauce delicious we asked for no veggies and extra potatoes and received 3 cut pieces of white potatoes- huh , we didn't get veggies be generous the steaks $35.00 for goodness sakes.. Ahí tender and delicious . I didn't give them a 5 star because their attention to detail just isn't there. For example cold Hard butter, PLEASE pull it out early so diners aren't tearing up the bread to spread the butter, then I ordered soup and we had no more bread so we asked for more bread . It arrived after I finished my soup. It was freezing cold and windy I asked to be put in a alcove area of the patio to block the wind, I was told there was another reservation 30 minutes after our group and they had already been assigned to that table- huh? Then they had heaters but they weren't on when we arrived so they struggled to start them and there was not propane- huh? All these things are part of arriving early and setting things up for your diners. This place isn't cheap it's fine dining with unprepared servers and managers. Then to add insult to injury and we are frozen cold we walk through the Restruant and there were tables in the covered patio with nice warm people - WHY? We had a 5:00 reservation and were giving a terrible location freezing cold . I will return but not until there is 100% inside dining ,I love the food I just hope this can help offer some training to their team. Your servers and workers need to be ready when diners arrive! read more

We went downtown to eat tonight to try something new but there was an event on Main Street so we googled something close and found Cafe Zack. I'm so glad it worked out the way it did. They had one of my favorite wines and the Lamb Tenderloin was incredible. I always hesitate with Lamb because it can be "gamey" but this lamb was delicious. Our server Lorenzo was very attentive! Our wine glasses were never empty and his recommendations were perfect. He knew what we wanted from the start! It was our first time at Cafe Zack but I can surely say, it won't be our last! read more

Cozy place with food done right. Modest menu and that's why they hit it in the mark. Matt was an exceptional server and sometimes helping check people in. His service was similar to what you find at a very high fine dining experience. Thanks Matt. read more

Back on May 6th, 2021, we had a dinner for four.. none of us had ever been there, it was my birthday. We chose it because of some of the Yelp reviews and their time in business. We don't know what happened, but two of our orders were the New York strip steak @ $35 each, one was the filet and other was duck. I will spend time here on the New York because neither was really edible. They were cooked as we requested, but extremely tough and stringy. The server asked how things were and when we mentioned the poor quality, the manager overheard and offered an explanation. He stated that they have been unhappy with their supplier after numerous feedback like ours. You would have thought we would have been asked if he could replace with something else, but no. Then a reduction on our bill was the next thing we looked for, but no. We had brought our own wine in and a simple thing at the least would be to comp the corkage.....no. I'll close by saying, the duck was o.k., not crispy skin as is the norm. The filet was good, no complaints. We hope they improve in a number of ways for their good; however, none of us will ever return. If anyone ever mentions the name, we will have to tell them what we thought. There are way to many restaurants in Ventura to treat a dissatisfied customer as we were. In closing, our bill was around $240.00. Not crazy, but you would expect quality. read more

Great quaint atmosphere and overwhelming reception and personal hospitality by Matt and Hector. The filet mignon with peppercorn was perfectly cooked and quite wonderful. Great wines, super apps, and reasonably priced. Bravo! read more

Cafe Zack - Filet Mignon - Seafood Near Me - Ventura, California

Ate there today. Kobe beef burger. Ordered med rare came well done. No juice. dry. How can that be? Cheese, bacon and onions on burger appeared to have been cooked separately and was cold, not melting over sides, but sitting neatly on meat as if cooked in an egg ring. Bun was soggy, not grilled/toasted. Just a cold, off-the-shelf grocery store bun. Asked for mustard and waited until the waitress came back out to the patio to take care of another customer. Which was long enough for my friend to eat more than half of her lunch. Thank God I didn't order something that required some kind of expertise! Never go back. read more

I love this place, which serves consistently high quality, delicious meals. They now have outdoor dining in a cosy setting. Favorite dishes include lobster and corn, curry seafood fettucine, aglio + olio and all their dessert. read more

Café Zack was such a delightful surprise. The food was EXCELLENT, great service, and warm atmosphere. We'll definitely be going back. FYI, make reservations. read more

Based on Yelp reviews, we decided to celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary at Cafe Zack. It was delightful. The food was amazing, the service both friendly and impeccable, and the atmosphere delightful. Thanks to the chef and the whole staff for making this a memorable dining experience. Hope to be back next time we're in Ventura. read more

Walked down and grabbed a Brie, tomato soup and dessert during the quarantine....asked about recommendations for red wine and was recommended a Syrah from Ojai....yummm. Just plain yummmm. Support local business!! Delicious! Can't wait until we can sit inside and enjoy! Be safe and thank you for remaining open for take out during this uncertain time!! read more

Excellent Atmosphere, Food and Service. Stopped in for lunch today and the Halibut tacos were very tasty...!!! If you want dessert and a chocolate lover, you must dine here...!!! Yes, I've eaten here several times and each time the service & food was excellent. read more

Fabulous! Fabulous! Fabulous! My husband just said... "This is the best meal I've had... Since the last time I was here!" Everything is scrumptious and the service is impeccable. Thank you to Matt and Hilda and Hector and Kat for always making us feel so welcome... And serving up the most incredible feasts. You know if we find out the name of the chef... we are kidnapping him! read more

The service was horrible. We waited a long time for drinks and food order. I had the halibut which was chewy and over cooked. The potatoes and vegetables were bland. My boyfriend had the prosciutto penne pasta which was mediocre at best. The best part of the meal was the glass of Tampanillo we had, we wanted a second glass but the waiter never came back to refill our water or wine and the bus boy took our glasses when clearing the table. They did bring us the tiniest creme brûlée I've ever seen (about 3 spoons in dish) for our anniversary but dropped it off and ran before we could order real dessert and coffee. Waiter didn't come back for 15 min and by that time we were so disgusted that we just asked for check. Waiter never asked us how our meal was which I'd expect at a place this expensive. There was an error on our bill that my boyfriend had to ask them to correct. This place is definitely overrated and over priced. read more

Cafe Zack - Halibut was chewy and over cooked. Vegetables were bland. - Seafood Near Me - Ventura, California

Just experienced a very disappointing end to a birthday party dinner. After having a $600 dinner, I knew they did not provide any "birthday dessert " so we took our own cake to celebrate with. Without mentioning there would be an $18 charge for small plates for the cake, there it was on the bill. I think that is being cheap and unfortunately I wont be returning. read more

Really a 4.5 . I was visiting Ventura for the night and came to Café Zack after reading reviews on Yelp. I have to say that I was not disappointed. The food was fantastic, the service was really good and people were all friendly. On the plus side the food was amazing. I started with the butternut squash soup which was perfect. That was followed by the lobster appetizer which was delicious. The lobster was tender and my concern that it might be too sweet, was set aside by the touch of curry that was in the sauce. I'm a huge sauce fan, and I couldn't get enough of it. My wife and I both ordered the steak. She had the filet, and I had the NY. She ordered hers with the porcini mushroom sauce and I had the maytag blue cheese cabernet on the side. The steaks were both cooked perfectly and the flavor, cut of meat and temperature was perfect. I could have eaten it with no sauce but once again, all the sauces were awesome! We finished with the Zack's Pie which had a dense dark chocolate filling, topped with pecans. Really tasty. The only reason I didn't give it five stars was for a few small things. First of all we were sat in the back room with a cement floor with plastic patio furniture. It wouldn't have bothered me if the prices weren't that of a high end restaurant, but the decor, price and food didn't line up. Then there was the silverware, which was more suited to a diner or coffee shop. Then when my glass of wine came with a few few particles in it, and I asked if it was cork, instead of saying "I'm sorry let me take care of it" it was "Oh yeah, the bottle was just opened" and I wound up fishing it out my self. All in all, despite the minor flaws, I would certainly eat there again and would certainly recommend it. read more

I came here with friends during Ventura Restaurant Week. I have been wanting to try this restaurant for years, and was super excited to see that they were participating. I will start with the good. My entree, Norwegian Salmon, was absolutely incredible. It was served over perfectly cooked, flavorful veggies, and I have never tasted a more perfectly cooked piece of fish. Also, the creme brulee for dessert was exceptional. I thrilled at the sound of my spoon tapping against the perfectly "bruleed" crust. Now to the not so good. My boyfriend found a large clump of dirt in his salad. Although the staff were demonstratively upset and apologetic, their concern seemed to be more for the image of their restaurant than for our experience as diners. I understand that because it was a fixed menu for Restaurant Week they couldn't easily just comp a salad, but what they did do was comp a coffee drink that our friend had ordered. This struck us as a little tacky because it was the cheapest item on our bill, and because it didn't directly compensate my boyfriend, who was the affected member of our party. I may be drawn back someday by the allure of perfect salmon, but a big part of going out to eat for me is the total package of good food, ambiance and service. My recent experience prevented me from adding Cafe Zack to my regular, "must go" list of restaurants. read more

I'm a fanatical cook anything from osso bucco to cioppino; risotto; braised lamb shank... You name it. My husband cooks. We know food. When we go out to eat we want it to be exquisite. This restaurant was not that. We ordered the boar shank ... Too much tomatoe paste. We ordered the lobster appetizer... Where was the lobster??? It was good but more of a corn dish with curry flavor - and we ordered the Brie puff pastry and it was ok though not phenomenal We decided to skip dessert The waiter was nice but inexperienced The ambiance was ok though it felt we were sitting in a converted trailer home or back patio that was enclosed. I would not recommend this restaurant. read more

This family owned restaurant is by far, the best dining experience I've had in a long time. Their passion for guest satisfaction is beyond measure. Excellent food, served by the friendly and professional wait staff (the owners). The filet was amazing. The Zack's pie can not be matched anywhere. I could not recommend them more highly. read more

If you are dining here for a small event--such as a dear friend's birthday dinner--I would definitely make reservations. The food at this establishment is exceptional, to be true. Every bite that I took was lovely from start to finish. I would eat this food every night, if I could. Their osso buco is truly delicious. The ambiance is intimate, which is rather nice, though the decor could use a little updating. I understand the atmosphere that this restaurant strives for, but the fresco in the back looks like it belongs in an Olive Garden. Cafe Zack seems above this sort of flawed aesthetics. Unfortunately waitstaff left something to be desired. For a restaurant of this caliber a fleck of warmth in the service would be appreciated. Perhaps this experience is due to the fact that I arrived with a small group of twenty-somethings, but I honestly expected a better customer service experience than the ageist, bored fellow that ran the house that night. For a tab of a few hundred dollars it would have been pleasant to not have been treated in a thinly veiled manner that suggested that we were quite out of our element. As a result I don't think I'll be heading back here for a while, which is a shame, as the food really is excellent. read more

I have been meaning to try Cafe Zack's for years adn I finally got around to it last night. My wife and I were able to get a sitter and wanted to take her out to a place that didnt have bicycles hanging on the walls. This is a great, intimate little restaurant. The staff was very friendly and we enjoyed our evening here immensely. I had the special sea bass with chipotle sauce, vegetables, and potato. It was fantastic. My wife ordered of the standard menu, pork medallions and they were even better. We both got the house salads and those were very good. Now that we have finally gone to Cafe Zacks, we will go any chance we get. read more

It's been 10 years since I moved to Burbank from Ventura and I had family staying at the Pierpont, from the East coast. Jorge was able to accommodate us with a table for 9 without a problem on a Saturday night. I had raved to my family about this place and they did not disappoint. I had the Filet with béarnaise and it was fantastic. My brothers had the Boar which was very tender and lean. We had two fussy kids with us and they made, off menu, Alfredo for them. Everyone, including the kids were very happy. We will definitely be making it up here more often in the future!! read more

Charming, charming, and charming! My very first impression of Café Zacks was...wow, this used to be someone's house! It's not typical to have a restaurant at the corner of a residential street. Walking into the establishment was like walking into someone's living room; it was a small yet has this cozy friendly atmosphere. Café Zacks offers a full menu and wine list. The service was prompt and very friendly. I had the grilled 1/2 chicken smothered with raspberry chipotle sauce with a side of roasted potatoes and steamed veggies. The chicken was good-sized and the meat was tender and very juicy. The chipotle sauce tasted like tangy BBQ and although it was delicious, it was too much. I had to scrape off most of the sauce just to savor the taste of the chicken. Besides that, my meal was superb. Prices are reasonable for the quality and quantity of the meal. I highly recommend Café Zacks, especially for special occasions. read more

This restaurant had been recommended by a couple of locals a few years ago but honestly, we forgot about it. So, last Monday, when lots of other restaurants are closed, we gave it a try and absolutely LOVED IT! Not only was the food delicious, perfectly cooked, great ingredients and presentation but the service was impeccable. As good, if not better, than any 5 Star restaurant in Los Angeles. We will definitely return! read more

Other Yelpers have raved about this place, but I thought it was just OK. Their to-die-for Filet Mignon was over cooked, dry and swimming in a very spicy peppercorn sauce. What a waste. Baked brie looked and tasted pre-fab; it was an unappetizing appetizer. Tuscany salad was excellent as was the Pasta El Jardin. My duck breast was not bad, but the cherry-brandy sauce made it worthwhile. Overall, I expected a lot more from this Cafe Zack. read more

Quaint comfortable outdoor seating. Chefs and staff super nice. Great service. Husband had delicious Kobe beef hamburger unlike any we've had before. Charred and grilled to perfect med/rare, just the way we like it. Flavor unbelievable! So big we could have shared it, but he did give me a few bites. Almost didn't give it back! Nice salads to choose from. Next time I will try one of the specials. I immediately put Cafe Zack on my Ventura restaurant list, then called my Phoenix family, who just left, said this is where we will take them next time. Can't wait to go back. read more

I LOVE this place. Everything I ate was beyond delicious and I had a huge idiotic grin on my face the entire meal. The restaurant itself is small, cozy and very unassuming. Some of the other reviews describe it as looking like it was converted from someone's home. I can't come up with a more apt description than that. That's exactly how it looks, which I really like as the focus is on the food not the flash. We started off with the Foie Gras which was excellent. I would have liked a larger portion, but I always think that when I have foie gras, so that's hardly a criticism. It was really tasty and a great way to start off the meal. Our next appetizer is probably one of my favorite apps of all time (I would put it in my top 5). We had the Lobster with Sweet Corn. It was cooked with truffle oil and curry sauce and served in a corn husk. It's every bit as delicious as I'd hoped it would be and I can't wait to have it again. For my main, I had the Seafood Curry with Fettuccine. As with the Lobster appetizer, I CANNOT WAIT to have this again! I couldn't get enough of the curry sauce; it's definitely one of those dishes where you want to lick your plate clean. I can't really praise this place enough. I enjoyed my experience here so much that I'm giving it 5 stars despite the fact that they serve only beer and wine. Normally, this is a bit of a downer for me, but the food was just so good, I didn't miss my cocktails at all. Cafe Zack is a real gem and everything I could want in a dining experience. read more

We stumbled across this cute little cottage-like restaurant. - We had the lobster appetizer which was made with a butter emulsion with cream and a hint of curry powder. What a delight! The Mandarin oranges provided a burst of flavor that unexpectedly complimented the lobster dish. - We shared a plate of lamb, which was cooked nicely, but I thought the sauce was a bit too overpowering for me. I had to scrape off some of the sauce on the lamb. - The dessert was divine. We had the peach dumpling served with two scoops of vanilla ice cream. It was made with a sauteed peach wrapped with a puff pastry. The sauce was similar to a banana foster sauce, which was rich with brown sugar and buttery taste. I think it was a little too much and would have gotten the sauce on the side next time. The puff pastry did get a little soggy from the sauce, but it was still delicious. Overall, it was a great experience and I will definitely be back to try their other dishes! They have a great wine selection and it is definitely cheaper to order by the bottle than a glass. read more

I dined at this little gem last week after driving past it probably 50 times! My bad, because this place is full of personable service and delicious food that is reasonably priced. I found the wine list to be outstanding in price which is great for one who enjoys good juice. I dined with my girlfriend and we both agreed it was a fabulous time. I had the pork cutlets which were sooo tender you could cut them with a fork and she had the sea bass which was perfectly cooked and 'sushi' quality fresh. We started with a lobster appetizer that was smartly served on banana leaf accompanied by a very tasty sauce. I will definitely return as I look forward to sampling many more dishes. Highly recommended! read more

Lobster and corn chowder....OMG so good....Lamb....best I have had. Steak amazing...Pasta dish. I think it was Deablo, chili's with shrimp, is to die for. Very charming and excellent service. read more

This place is in an old house near downtown. I wasn't sure what to expect but left feeling surprised and satisfied. I would give 5 points but I never do because I save that for a life changing experience. Really really good food!! My companion had the salmon and she loved it. This place is a little more expensive as ~15$ for a decent plate, but totally worth it. Its not a commercial restaurant like Joes Crap Shack. This place is legit! Go here and eat food on a day that is nice and you are hungry. Perfect place for a romantic date or intimate occasion read more

No match for this restaurant in Ventura, Ca Pork tenderloin for me, filet w/ peppercorns for my dinner partner. Perfecto! read more

We found Cafe Zack through Yelp. We were in Ventura with some friends and looking for a good place to eat. The ambiance is very charming and the service was excellent. My friend ordered the Wild Boar and it was really very good (we all tried it). It was the bread pudding, however, that really blew us all away. My friend and his wife order bread pudding wherever they go and said this was the best they'd ever had. It was absolutely amazing! You'll definitely want to save room for dessert. The only issue we had was that my daughter had the curry seafood plate and had to send it back because it was't hot enough. They still get 5 stars, though, because they took it back immediately (without any attitude) and warmed it up. When they brought it back, she said it was one of the best meals she'd ever had (and she's in culinary school). I figure mistakes happen and as long as they're willing to fix it promptly, all is good. We'll definitely be back! read more

My absolute favorite restaurant in Ventura! Never in a million years would I think that I could find such amazing food, service and ambiance in this unsuspecting house on Thompson. I have been to Cafe Zack several times whether it be for a special occasion or if I just want to treat myself to a fabulous meal. Each time I go I am even more impressed and the food is unbelievably good. I so wish that Cafe Zack would open more locations, but then again- it makes it that much more special! read more

Had an incredible little meal here with my boyfriend lastnight. Friendly staff, great menu, wonderful food (including one of the best desserts I've had in awhile) and a beautiful yet cozy atmosphere. Would highly recommend and will be eating there again soon. read more

Comfortable atmosphere. Nice staff. They use excellent cuts of meat and seafood. Unfortunately they feel a need to drench the salmon in an overpowering lemon sauce and drown the filet in what resembled undiluted Campbell's cream of mushroom soup. Caesar salad way too citrusy. What's with the lemon fetish around here? End the sauce madness and pass the savings to the customers. read more

I've been here 4 times for large dinner functions in their private room in the back. During all occasions, the food and service have always been consistently excellent. The portions are generous. I really love the filet mignon with the peppercorn sauce. It is a little saucy and peppery, but in my opinion has much better flavor than the butter drenched filets at top steakhouses. My last visit, I had a dinner presentation and forgot to bring my laptop. Hector and Alfonso went above and beyond and came to my rescue. If I could give more than 5 stars for service, I would. read more

I have been a few times. Food is always on point and service is impeccable! Really enjoy the environment. Try one of their wine pairing nights! read more

Everything we ordered, from the appetizers to the dessert was PERFECT! Such an amazing wait staff as well. My water glass was never empty and neither was my wine glass :) I will be eating here again, and again, and again read more