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    Cafe Zack

    4.4 (425 reviews)
    Closed 5:00 pm - 9:00 PM
    Updated 1 month ago

    Cafe Zack Photos

    Business Info

    CAFE ZACK ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Intimate
    Quiet
    Good for groups
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Cafe Zack

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    Certified Angus Beef Filet Mignon
    Vee V.

    Hidden Gem With Exceptional Steak! We hosted our company Christmas dinner at Café Zack, and I was absolutely blown away by this hidden gem. From the warm, attentive service to the rich, bold flavors and cozy atmosphere, it truly felt like a magical holiday dining experience. We sat on the patio, which was perfectly heated and comfortable. Our servers gave amazing recommendations -- we started with the baked brie and the Tuscany pear salad, both of which were incredible. For our entrées, we all ordered their signature filet mignon with peppercorn and mushroom sauce on the side. The steak was buttery, tender, and full of flavor -- and the mushroom sauce was definitely a favorite! We ended the night sharing a decadent chocolate mousse pie that was unbelievably rich and delicious. My only regret? Forgetting to take pictures because we were enjoying ourselves so much! I can't wait to return. Easily a 10/10 experience!

    Salmon
    Jenai D.

    My husband and I held our wedding rehearsal dinner at Cafe Zack on Thursday, Sept. 18th with members from both sides of our families. The rain threaten to bring our party inside, but in the end the weather mostly held up and we were able to keep our original reservation outside. The restaurant set up a nice, long table outside on their patio with string lights and space heaters encasing us. Our waiter did a good job of managing such a large party and keeping tabs on everyone's wants and needs. The food was very delicious! I had the lamb and ate every bit. My husband had the salmon and my sister had a mussel and shrimp pasta. I took photos of those items, but honestly the whole table had various dishes and I only took my phone out occasionally to snap a few photos. Unfortunately I didn't take any dessert pics and couldn't eat any either because I was so stuffed, but it all looked really good. I did try the ice cream and that was really good and creamy. My sister and step mom both got the dumpling dessert and I had envisioned them being small / delicate, but in reality they were HUGE! All of our family members loved the restaurant and couldn't stop talking about how good the food was. Even my husband's French relatives were impressed and were joking about going back to eat there again before they left. I would also like to say a big thank you to the restaurant because one of my husband's uncle is vegan and there was a bit of a mix-up internally about his diet, but we had already booked the restaurant and didn't want to have to find a different place. Thankfully, they were willing to work with us to prepare a vegan dish for him so he could still attend.

    Mari I.

    This is a beautiful intimate restaurant perfect to enjoy a nice dinner. They have seating inside and outside. Service is very personalized and I noticed many of their guests frequented the restaurant often as the waiters knew them by name. That is always a great sign indicating great service and great food. My husband and I made a reservation for dinner and started off with their delicious crab cakes. They were made to perfection: crispy, light, and packed with flavor. I had 2 of their speciality drinks with mezcal and they were made just right. I ordered their prosciutto penne which was very filling and only ate half of the portion. The mushrooms and sun dried tomatoes were just the combination needed to pair with the prosciutto. We ended the night with their bread pudding with ice cream. While the picture I captured may not look appetizing you will have to simply order it to taste the rich pudding flavor. Overall we had a lovely dinner with delicious food!

    Chuck M.

    Great food, impeccable service. We sat outside on their cozy patio. We had a wide variety of dishes, all of which were perfectly prepared. The filet mignon was amazing. Prosciutto penne pasta, tye duck breast, the rack of lamb were all on point. They have a nice wine list.

    Appetizer: Prosciutto and fig with pine nuts, basil, and olive oil.  Spectacular!

    Our favorite Ventura restaurant! Outstanding appetizers, entrees, and salads. Indoor and outdoor seating. Very friendly and comfortable. Their menu often has delicious specials. It is our go to place when we are in town. A+

    Tuscan salad

    Matt's service was impeccable, the pepper crusted filet was so tender and flavorful. Such a wonderful, hidden gem in our community.

    It was a rainy night, but so glad we went out
    Bonny G.

    We decided to go for a nice dinner on February 13 We arrived there, and everybody was in a good mood and it was a great atmosphere. It was pouring rain, but it did not bother any of us. I had the chicken PIZZIOLA and I mentioned to the waiter that I love artichoke hearts... I think they doubled the artichoke hearts. I was so happy. Mark had the bone in ribeye. Every once in a while, it's nice to go out to a grown-up restaurant and celebrate.. This is our celebratory restaurant. Thanks for making it such a nice evening for us

    Elisa P.

    Had such a great experience here! The food was delicious and service was great. I highly recommend making a reservation especially for the weekend dinner times (we saw some people get turned away without reservations). The filet mignon was incredible and if I'm ever in the area again I'm definitely ordering it. The restaurant is like a little house with a cute patio in the back. It's dark inside and very cozy and can get a little loud but seems like a great spot no matter where you sit.

    Mushrooms with garlic & black truffle oil - so so good!
    Tracy M.

    One word - AMAZING!!! Although a small, cozy establishment - the food was exceptional and service great.

    Just a little setting show off!
    John G.

    What a terrific little restaurant in Ventura! Cafe Zack's has a unique menu with such things as Slow Roasted Boar Shank oven roasted Milanese with a rich Demi-glacé or a Duck Breast prepared differently every day! They also make their desserts fresh everyday so they are ever changing! They do have a Great wine and Beer list and also have speciality drinks! Service was extraordinarily great friendly and fun. Definitely a must try if visiting Ventura CA

    Bread service
    Chuck G.

    We've come to Zack's twice, and well, I guess it's okay, but wouldn't be my choice. Let's start with the good...cute transformed old house in Downtown Ventura has a nice ambiance. The patio is super cute and heaters to keep you warm on the cool close beach proximity evenings. Water was constantly refilled without asking. The staff is super friendly and attentive. The food...meh! Our order included the 16oz cowboy rib-eye. It's cut at under a 1/2" thick and was likely closer to 10-11 oz. Ordered medium rare and came closer to medium to medium well. Last year they got my topping sauce wrong so I've had both the peppercorn and blue cheese. Both toppings are good. Steak is not a quality cut and the mid-grade Costco steaks are 200x better. The Tuscany salad...beautifully presented. Something was stale though, either the walnuts have been sitting around in the humid air too long or the Gorgonzola was getting old. Crab cakes...pretty good and a nice presentation. But, when eating the bed of lettuce noticed it was brown and wilty. Dessert had an Affogato. Google what an affogato should look like and what I expected to get. Instead I got an old ugly college cafeteria bowl full of espresso, a bit of Carmel at the bottom and two small scoops of ice cream that not only looked terrible, but was pure espresso tasting and too harsh on the palette to finish the night. Last year had the Apple dumpling and it was good but crust was still doughy. Probly good for a date night table for 2. Wouldn't suggest for a party. Waiter was a bit rushed and kept saying I'll be right back, the kitchen is getting backed up.

    Norwegian salmon
    Cheryl R.

    Café Zach is set in a whimsical house turned restaurant with quaint dining rooms and al fresco dining. Service was pleasant and comfortably paced. We enjoyed the Salade Maison with fresh ingredients. The Norwegian salmon was well seasoned and the green beans were perfectly tender. The only disappointment was the French Onion soup. The onions and broth were tasty, but the bread was not toasted and the cheese was barely melted and tasted like deli counter Swiss. A toasted bread with broiled Gruyère would take this to the next level.

    apple dumpling

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    11 months ago

    Great service. Absolutely exceptional food, the peppercorn filled mignon was by far the best we've had.

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    1 year ago

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    5 months ago

    Quaint ambiance, friendly/professional service, and food consistently delicious and served hot every time.

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    7 months ago

    Really yummy food, a beautiful ambiance and very solicitous wait staff. All so lovely. I hope to come back many times!

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    2 years ago

    I loved this place the food and service was fabulous. Ambience is great too. Would most definitely come back.

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    1 year ago

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    1 year ago

    Amazing ribeye, great service, romantic setting. Our go-to place for a nice quiet dinner.

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    5 years ago

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    1 year ago

    Always a great experience. Great food and service is outstanding! Highly recommend for a night out

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    4 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Everything is great about Cafe Zack. Excellent service food, drink. My wife and I eat here every time we're in town and are never let down

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    3 years ago

    Intimate, quiet and homey. The food is rich, delicious and hot. I love this place so much.

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    Page 2 of 11

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    Lure Fish House

    4.5
    (3.3k reviews)
    0.5 mi
    $$

    Outstanding seafood, prompt service from a friendly and welcoming staff.... Diner here twice,…read moreeverything was top shelf.

    Terrific! Visiting Ventura for a few days so stopped by here for lunch on a lowkey Monday…read moreafternoon. Not a single complaint to be had. The blueberry margarita and limoncello beverages were my two drinks of choice, recommended by our lovely waitress Bethany. I liked my drinks a little sweet and girly and both fit that vibe. Shared some oysters with the wife and some crab cakes, they all hit the spot and were solid appetizers to start with. I also got a cup of clam chowder before my main meal. One of the better clam chowders I've had to date. Nice and creamy, fresh and satisfying, it almost had me wishing I ordered a bowl instead. My wife tried mine too and had to order her own right after. The lobster roll with some fries was my main course. So good! The bun was lightly toasted and crisp and the lobster was just sweet and buttery without being too heavy. Very satisfying. And then finally I had to wrap things up with a dessert. Their strawberry basque cheesecake was the easy choice for me. This is the kind of dessert where everyone says they're just going to have a bite and suddenly half of it is gone. I'm glad I split it because I could have easily indulged and eaten the whole thing on my own if the temptation was there. And again, service was excellent. It wasn't particularly busy when we were there. The drinks came in a little slow because there was only one bartender and the bar was busy but otherwise, our waitress checked in on us a healthy amount of times to see if we needed anything or to refill our waters. We sat outside so nice ambiance too. We went to three restaurants while visiting this area and this was the only one I really felt compelled to write a review for. Certainly recommend it.

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    Eric Ericssons Fish Co

    Eric Ericssons Fish Co

    3.8
    (778 reviews)
    0.4 mi
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    Favorite Food: small Delicious menu, a small bar, and MadeWest Brewery is upstairs…read more Service: The people are friendly. You pick up your order at the counter. Zay's The Best bartender. Ambience: You're at the beach, on the pier. Can be loud (ish) or chilly, but n nothing tops the views and vibe. They play good music too. Very family friendly. Outdoor seating is dog friendly.

    I came here with 6 adults and 4 small children. There was a 20% service charge for parties of 10 or…read moremore. This is standard for most places with an actual server in a sit down restaurant but the thing is this place is fast casual. You order at a counter, NO server, nobody bringing your food to you, nobody asking how you're doing, nobody cleaning your table for you. The customer does it all yet they charge you for 20% gratuity. It's the same service if you went to McDonald's or Jack in the box. I asked if they can atleast help find a table for all of us to sit together and they said it's up to us to find it ourselves. $60 for gratuity on top of high priced foods. I questioned the policy to the cashier who literally just said it's the owners policy, ran my card with the 20% gratuity, and that was it. I would have just eaten somewhere else if my family wasn't so hungry. I know my review won't mean much to visitors, or even to the owner. I rarely ever leave negative reviews. I have been coming here since they opened and was excited to share the food with my family on our vacation and the experience left such a sour taste in my mouth. This is definitely the last time I will be coming here or recommending this place.

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    Inside
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    Spencer Makenzie's Fish

    Spencer Makenzie's Fish

    4.0
    (2.4k reviews)
    0.2 mi
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    This place might feel like a hole-in-the-wall, but it's right in the heart of Ventura -- and it…read moreabsolutely delivers. From the moment we walked in, the vibe was welcoming. Great bar setup, relaxed atmosphere, and a fun, lively environment without feeling overwhelming. The service was super friendly -- the kind of place where you immediately feel comfortable. Now the food... excellent across the board. The fish and chips were battered perfectly -- light, crispy, and packed with flavor. Not greasy, just done right. My son ordered the carne asada tacos and couldn't stop talking about how good they were. He loved the seasoning and the flavor. I had the ahi burger, and it was cooked perfectly -- great texture, well-seasoned, and full of flavor. My wife ordered the original fish tacos, and they were outstanding. Fresh ingredients, balanced flavors, and great quality overall. One thing we really appreciated was the three different house sauces they offer. Each one was excellent and totally changes the experience depending on your palate. Whether you like something sweet, spicy, or slightly tangy to balance everything out, they've got you covered. It's a nice touch that lets everyone customize their meal. You can really taste the freshness in everything. It's a great family-friendly spot but also perfect if you just want to hang out at the bar and enjoy good food and good vibes. We had an awesome time and will definitely be back.

    This place is supposed to be a must try in Ventura and I read that it's one of the best seafood…read moretaco and burritos spots in California but it's not comparable to some great LA spots. First of all there were no Latinos in the restaurant as patrons and that was the first sign. We ordered the shrimp taco's, ahi tuna tacos and a burrito w grilled fish and shrimp the tortillas where cold ish grocery store quality -mission flour tortillas. The tacos had more mostly cabbage than shrimp and they were underwhelming. The burritos were ok but not great overall food was a let down. Service also not great still don't why people love this place must be nostalgic. L

    Photos
    Inside pic #1
    Inside pic #1
    Tempura Fish and Chips
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    Andria's Seafood Restaurant & Market

    Andria's Seafood Restaurant & Market

    3.7
    (1.8k reviews)
    2.8 mi
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    Great lunch spot, excellent harbor location, one menu trap to know about. We've eaten at Andria's a…read morefew times now and it's a reliable, great lunch spot right on the Ventura harbor. The location alone is worth it, and they do fried seafood platters as well as anywhere around. Good portions, good fry, good harbor views to go with it. One caveat worth flagging for future diners. Some items on the menu are offered "Parmesan" style, and if you're picturing something like a parmesan crusted fried shrimp, that is not what you're getting. It comes out essentially as chicken parm style treatment, covered in marinara and mozzarella, turning what should be a crispy fried seafood dish into something closer to a fish pizza. Learned that one the hard way and won't be ordering it that way again. Stick to the straightforward fried preparations and you'll have a great meal.

    I came here again on my way back home from Chumash Casino in Santa Ynez, CA. I usually get some…read morekind of fish and chips, but this time I got the grilled snapper with rice and garden salad. This was so delicious. The portion was huge. Customer service was great. I got there right before they opened, so the line wasn't too long yet. The line is almost always long at this restaurant. The restaurant has plenty of tables and chairs, especially at the back at the patio. If you're a seafood lover, I highly recommend Andria's. :)

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    You pay in a different station than where you order
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    California Halibut & Chips
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    Ventura Crab N Spice

    Ventura Crab N Spice

    3.8
    (551 reviews)
    3.1 mi
    $$

    GETTING HERE:…read more Ventura Crab N Spice is located a few doors down from The Habit on Telephone in Ventura. The footprint is the Winco shopping center. REVIEW: First timer here (what.) and it was so good! Quiet, not too busy on the day we went (during the week). I remember in my baby years of Yelp I used to note that a restaurant was "good" if it was busy. Post-shutdown and currently 2026, it's OK to me if it's ghost town inside. :) We ordered the Clam Chowder Bowl and Sweet Potato Fries. GREAT! The chowder had nice flavor and was thick, and the clam pieces were tasty. The bread was warm and soft, so full of flavor. Service was good. Love the vibe inside, too. Love the decor and the entire vibe. As much as I love seafood, I can't wait to go back to try their other menu items. Thank you for a great meal. Highly recommend!

    I had a really disappointing experience at Crab N Spice…read more We arrived around 7:50 PM, knowing they close at 8 PM. There was no wait, and we stood there for about 10 minutes without being helped. Finally, a waitress came over around 8:05 PM and told us they were closed at 8 and couldn't seat us. That doesn't make sense--if you close at 8, you should still be seating guests before that time, especially when they've been waiting and there's no line. The lack of communication and basic customer service was frustrating and unprofessional. It wasn't about the timing it was about how it was handled. Standing there with no acknowledgment and then being turned away last minute is just bad service. Definitely not the experience we expected.

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    Ventura Crab N Spice
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    Cafe Zack - seafood - Updated July 2026

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