Dinner tonight was excellent. Food, service, a,mbience and the newly opened patio was great. Halibut and chop were perfect Not inexpensive. read more

Excellent food, excellent service! We've been doing takeout lately due to the circumstances, love the food.

We've been here for the semi prix fixe New Year's dinner two years running and it was amazing both times. Great place for excellent food, service, and friends. They are accommodating and not overly stuffy. We look forward to trying their regular menu. read more

just back from lunch at cafe zack. the new patio is lovely (lots of room) and the food and service always terrific. plan to return very soon! read more

It is really a good local restaurant. I tried salmon and fillet mignon before, they were delicious. Try it and you will not be disappointed. read more

My BFF and I came here last week. I loved the place, loved the environment, lovely staff and everything was perfect. Go for executive burger. It is so delicious. read more

Came for early dining, manager/owner gave us a stiff greeting and asked if we had a reservation, which we did not have. The restaurant was empty, yet the manager begrudgingly seated us. For the next 20 minutes we were studiously ignored, no water, bread, etc. The waiters and manager stood less than 10 feet away, staring at us, not lifting a finger. Dissmissive contempt best describes the ambiance of this high priced joint. We may return as we have heard the food is quite good, and to ensure that we were not visiting the twilight zone. There are certainly better places in Ventura that understand great customer service, not Soup Nazi style. read more

My wife and I went to Zack's yesterday and over all it was pretty good. We both had pasta dishes that were fairly complex, but not over done. I had the Pasta Italiano which was slightly over cooked, but still very tasty and wife had the Zack's Pasta which was very good. The service was on point, and the atmosphere was pleasant enough. My only two suggestions to Zack would be, step it up on the bread that is served before the meal and get rid of the cheap plastic chairs on the patio. If you are dropping 25+ per plate I don't want to sit in a chair that feels like it will break at any minute. read more

I went to lunch at Cafe Zack last week and this was the first time I had been there. I was disappointed in the mushroom soup I was served as it was so salty that I sent it back. They asked me if I wanted a substitute but there was nothing else I wanted so I declined. The rest of the meal was ok but I was not terribly impressed. They actually charged me for the soup which made my decision not to return very easy. read more

I love this restaurant in Ventura. The food is excellent. Everything is made in-house and delicious. They have a new patio to eat on. I recommend Cafe Zacks to everyone. read more

Wow, what an impressive place! My husband had been here twice already and really wanted to take me for a romantic dinner. The decor and setting reminded me a lot of our other local favorites like Mary's Secret Garden and Cafe Nouveau. A restaurant in a quaint and beautiful little house. We literally live one block away so the fact that this was my first visit in the two years we've lived in Downtown Ventura is a shame. Everything was amazing. I had heard so many great things about the Lobster with Sweet Corn. My husband, being a vegetarian ordered a salad while I devoured my lobster. It had orange slices in it which at first seemed a little odd but it brought out all the amazing flavors of the dish, especially the curry. My husband ordered the Pasta El Jardin which I believe is the only vegetarian choice on the dinner menu which is okay because he loves it and I ordered the Pork Medallions based on rave reviews of my in-laws. The pork was so tender I could cut it with my fork. I wasn't crazy about the apples but they didn't take away from the dish. For dessert we ordered the creme brulee and the apple dumpling with raspberry sauce and vanilla ice cream. Everything had such great flavor. The service from the moment we walked in to when we left was great. I would like to come back for lunch and try the Pasta Diablo with Chicken. read more

I wanted to like Zach. It has the sparkle and twinkle that promises good food! As a single dinner, I sat at the bar. Stools no good for sitting or eating. Too short! The bar area is really a working area for Alfonzo. He did not seem comfortable with having a person in his space. The wine poured was off and I had to send it back. This was greeted coolly. However, the food was great - with the semi exception of the bread, not bad just OK. Dessert awesome! Good but needs something more. Service? Ambiance? Warmth? read more

In a word... YUM! The filets (6 or 8 oz) are so tender you can almost cut them with your fork. And the porcini muchroom sauce makes me want to lick my plate... (I have before when I thought no one was looking). Zack's salad is simple yet delicious, wines are always great, I always ask the waitor/waitress what their opinion is even though I know what I want already, helps them to give better service for some reason. Oh.. and don't forget dessert.. Zack's Pie is the most decadent dessert I might have had yet, it's a very rich dark chocolate pie nestled in a lovely buttery carmel sauce.. OMG! read more

Wahhhh. I wanted to love this place, but hellzzzzz to tha nah! Food- OK. Service- lame sauce mcgee! I ordered a steak medium, and it came back completely charred. It so bitter and burnt it tasted like licking a used charcoal grill. When I told the waiter, he brought me sauce and said if I put it on the steak, it will help mask the flavor. Ummmmmm no. I mean $32 for a steak and it's sizzled? Lame! So when I sent it back, he got super annoyed and said that's the "way steaks are with the peppecorn crusting". So I got the steak without the peppercorn crusting. I had to wait and watch everyone finish their dinner, and when it finally came half an hour later....it was burnt. Again. I didn't have the heart or time to send it back. My boyfriend pork osso bucco was OK, but wayyyy too salty. Also, we informed the waiter it was my fiance's bday, and he basically didn't care. The table next to us which was a large party got a small cake with a candle in it, but newp nothing for us. When the bill came, the waiter had done nothing to apologize for burning my steak twice and making me wait an hour for the food. Sorry Zack, I really wanted to love you, but we're never ever getting back together. read more

This was the worst date night with my wife ever. 20 minutes to sit down with 4 empty tables. 30 minutes for two sodas and old bread 5 minutes to see waiter picking up orders from the window and profusely sweating and the sweat dripping in the bread baskets. Yukkkk! 35 minutes for dinner Wife's dinner great I ordered the fish, no salt, no pepper, no flavor, inside of fish half/frozen RAW. I didn't order sushi!!!! When I asked them they said, "we purposely undercook fish so it moist" really it's freakin' raw and frozen still. This was first and last time I go send my money there. I warn everyone to keep away from this place. read more

Best steak, seafood and much more! Moved from LA a year ago and miss the food choices. But Cafe Zack feeds the foodies in us. It's LA fine dining with Ventura prices. read more

I proposed to my wife after a night at Café Zack! Totally set the mood for a perfect evening. Food was amazing and the staff was very professional. It was a beautiful night for the patio and make sure you save room for dessert! Can't remember the name but it was a Apple Dessert that probably distracted her enough to say, "Yes!" LOL! read more

Our favorite restaurant in Ventura. My husband and I go every year for our anniversary, but lately we have been treating ourselves more often! Definetly get the filet mignon! read more

Impeccable service, lovely atmosphere and delicious food. The Baked Brie appetizer was decadent and I enjoyed the Chicken Pizziola. I would highly recommend this place for a charming evening. read more

This is a small, quaint, California Bungalow with wonderful food and attentive servers. We had a delightful lunch on the Friday before the 4th of July weekend and had plenty of energy for a full afternoon of wine tasting and sight seeing. It is someplace we will definitely return to when back in Ventura. read more

Small, quaint and family run. I always support family run operations (if they are at least a 3 star). Good wine selection. I had the duck: taste and presentation was good to very good. Serving size large. Tasty break. The house salad so-so. Would I go back? Yes. The hostess (owner) needs to liven up her customer service personality. She is nice and polite but no personality. Personality adds to the dining experience. read more

I took the fiance here for his birthday, I wanted somewhere we hadn't been but still special. Unfortunately, we were disappointed. I had the duck breast and it wasn't completely rendered, so it was chewy and underwhelming. My other half had the filet mignon, but found it mediocre. I've gone for lunch and it was better. Maybe we just went on an off evening. read more

The first time I came here was three years ago and I loved their dishes and their appetizers. Just recently I came back and was disappointed. Their appetizer was okay. Their lobster bisque made me a bit sick from being too creamy and salty. The fillet mignon was tooo salty. My friends pork chop was salty. Pretty much everyone's dish was too salty. Overall experience, it's not something I'll be craving to "must come back" read more

Hands down the best rib eye steak on the west coast ! Go on Saturday night , order the rib eye with the blue cheese wine sauce and you will leave a happier person . Great service , great food and cozy atmosphere . A hidden gem in Ventura ! read more

New to Ventura we were very excited to have our first 'dine out' experience. The place had charm and the staff was excellent but that's just about all the good things we can say. Based upon a recommendation we first ordered the corn & lobster starter as well as the pear gorgonzola salad. It was a shame they doused the corn/lobster mixture with too much curry hiding the lovely flavor of the lobster. The salad was good though we wished they gave us a little more than a few crumb size pieces of the gorgonzola cheese. As for our entrees, we ordered the lamb tenderloin and the seafood pasta. If they again used a lighter hand with their curry the flavor of the seafood would have shined through but instead everything was drenched in the heavy curry sauce. The lamb tenderloin fell flat. When the plate arrived I was stunned to see small bits of tenderloin cut up as if it was leftovers for the dogs' dish. No medallions, slices or strips but tiny bits. As for being tender ........ forget it. There was a very heavy sauce dropped on top that was again tasty but over powering but thankfully the liquid from the spinach watered it done . The sauce was interesting but really, meat bits is not what one would expect for a $26.00 entree. It's not spaghetti sauce. The bread was cold and the cappuccino was watery. Sorry to write such a negative review but hopefully someone will take a hint. Sauces are meant to enhance not drown out flavors. As for the presentation of the tenderloin, shame on you. If you were running low that night you should have taken it off the menu instead of serving scraps. We wish the food had been as good as the service. read more

Excellent food, impeccable service. Will be back next time we're in town! Highly recommend the Fettuccine Seafood Curry. Apple Tart for dessert was amazing. read more

My wife and I dined at Cafe Zack on our anniversary a couple nights ago. We had such a wonderful experience that I knew I had to share it. First off, there were 2 other couples enjoying their anniversaries there too that night (that is a good omen). There's nothing fancy about the decor or the inside of the restaurant. It makes you feel that it's all about the food, and it is. I had the boar shank and my wife had the filet mignon, we shared the lobster and corn appetizer. I highly recommend all of them. The service was polite and knowledgeable. Our server made us feel welcome and not rushed. Zack's lived up to all I had heard about it. We can't wait to go back. read more

I have been here twice for lunch and the ambiance does not match the food. It's a small location, a little awkward but the food and service are amazing! It's fresh, Italian fare, with a bit of California cuisine. read more

Ordered the aglio e olio...they weren't kidding about the olio. The pasta was swimming in it. The flavor was good though I'll order something else next time. The steak on the pasta was ok, though it was a small portion and didn't seem to be the best cut. They serve sodas in cans which is more annoying than it is classy or "European." Especially given they have a bar out front. It tasted expired but I didn't have the opportunity to check. Bread was quite good. I had some kind of chocolate cake with a pecan crust for dessert. Good crust, average dessert. Staff was a bit inattentive though very friendly. So...quality food, decent taste, acceptable portions, very nice ambiance. I was unimpressed for the price but perhaps I need to explore the menu more. Great place for an intimate dinner. read more

This used to be my favorite restaurant in Ventura. But I made reservations for my family to celebrate a birthday. After and hour and a half waiting after the appointed time, we were told they had no idea when we could be seated. As we left in disgust, I saw the entire back patio area was empty. I will never, ever go back. read more

Just moved to santa barbara from san diego, and looking for some good restaurants. Last weekend my wife and I ventured south a bit to ventura, where we joined cafe zack for their dinner. We were referred here by some friends and im glad we went. small, cozy, comfortable atmosphere. Had a lovely bottle of wine and had a very knowledge able server walk us through our three course dinner. Was a better dinner than i expected.. Props to cafe zack! I'm a fan. read more

I occasionally forget that this place exists, as its not on the main drag and stands opposite a Jiffy Lube, but to forget this place entirely is a true shame as its a Ventura treasure. I often remember Zack's for special dates or special occasions. It's so cute & intimate, laid out inside an old craftsman style home. On the inside you can be very cozy with the people around you, but for more privacy I usually prefer the beautiful heated & candle-lit back patio that's more spread out. I love the Filet Mignon the best with either the Bernaise or the Mushroom sauce & of course the Chocolatey/Caramely Zack's Pie for Dessert. read more

I wanted to treat my wife to an intimate fancy meal for our anniversary, so I searched the web for places all over Ventura county and found Zack's, the reviews do not do this place justice, the service was very good, the staff was very inviting. Our appetizer the baked Brie was fantastic, but it was absolutely forgotten about after taking my first bite of the night special Halibut. Wow the best piece of fish I have ever eatan in my life, absolutely amazing!!! My wife was there too but was also forgotten after the first bite. Just kidding... Maybe. 10 stars! read more

Good menu for a good price. One thing the wife and I did notice during our meal on Friday, 2/4/11: Items were consistently slightly overdone. Not considerably but just a little darker than I would like them. Char on the duck special, the toast on the apple dumpling.. seemed a little odd. Portion sizes were good bordering on TOO big. Great flavor in the boar shank but veggies on both entrees seemed like an after thought. Table service neglected us a little, spending more time with familiar locals but I didn't dehydrate. Shared app, shared salad, two entrees, shared dessert, no wine :( .. and we got out for under $100 before tip. Would definitely return! read more

Everything we had was delicious. The lobster appetizer was made with curry, and it was fantastic. The pork medallions had a fantastic sauce, and the seafood fettuccine was also in a curry sauce that was the bomb. Great meal all around. read more

Best restaurant in Ventura, period. Best service, best food, nice quiet intimate setting. The owners are very friendly and even though we only go there for a few times a year, the owners always remember our names at the door! read more

Had the pork medallion and some Chianti and the food was very tasty and well made. Unfortunately when the bill came I noticed that they overcharged me by about $30 - when I complained I just got "sorry, I forgot to clear the calculator" - no effort in making it right like offering me free desert or taking an item off my bill which makes me think that this is not the first time that happened - I will not visit this restaurant ever again and advise everybody to check their bill carefully read more

This is the best restaurant in Ventura county bar none. You can not go wrong with any menu item. But the filet mignon is to die for. Their raspberry vinaigrette salad with carmalized pecans and pears is Soo good. The lobster with sweet corn sauce (appetizer) a great choice. And the Zacks Pie OH My GoD!! Heavenly! read more

The only thing stand-out about Cafe Zack is Zack's pie. Other than that, the food here is painfully average.

Excellent! Baked brea, chicken pizziaola , seafood pasta, peach dumplings! Wow! Excellent service as well!