I love this shop. It's beautiful, light and bright, and oddly so calming. Service is phenomenal…read more The woman who owns the shop is really nice and incredibly helpful. She's thoughtful and mindful about the product selections, and she has great taste. The quality of the product is also outstanding. Their oils and balsamic vinegars make the best salad dressings and dipping sauces. Plus, they have exceptional foodstuffs, like pastas, sauces, pesto, tapenade, chips, and more. This time, they also had a sample table with maple syrups from Runamok. They were terrific! Every time I'm here, I spend $100 on delicious things and leave happier than I arrived, so I'm calling that a victory.

This is such a fun store. You can taste any of the products and there was so many items to choose…read morefrom. I had so idea there was white balsamic vinegar. I loved the blueberry dark balsamic. It was so tasty! I need to go back and pick up some goodies for my sourdough bread.

This is a somewhat small grocery store, but has a good variety of specialty foods including fresh…read moreproduce, frozen meats, bulk grains, fresh dairy, baking and cooking ingredients as well as some personal health items like vitamins and essential oils. A few odds and ends but mostly groceries. I appreciate that you can find things for dietary restrictions here, and the products all seem high quality. Love that I can buy Rancho Gordo beans here. Prices are not cheap, so I usually only go here when I need something specific, but they do tend to have what I'm looking for. I haven't ordered at the deli counter before, but the selection there looks good too. Store is clean and well stocked, and the staff has always been helpful for me. Last time I went in I needed some freeze dried strawberries and couldn't find them on my own, and when I asked at the cash register, the young woman walked me to them herself. I would recommend stopping in to see if this is the kind of store you want for your grocery needs. I like it. :)

I visited Rainbow Bridge Natural Foods in Ojai and while the food was great, the service was very…read moredisappointing. Three employees saw us at the register and ignored us. I had to call one over, and she asked me to walk to her instead of coming to the cashier. I ordered a hamburger with just cheese and a juice (which I repeated twice). The juice never came, and the burger arrived with lettuce and tomato. The attitude from the staff was not friendly, and even others in line noticed. Great food, but service is part of the experience. I hope they improve their customer service.

I can't say I fully understand the mediocre reviews. I've been pleased with the fresh produce, the…read moredeli items, and the large selection of locally-grown items, including honeys, oils, vinegars, and more. I'm not sure that we've gotten a single item we haven't been pleased with! Lines move quickly and service is attentive but not intrusive. The shop is clean and well organized. Shelves are well-stocked, and the aisles afford ample elbow room.

When I come up to visit my family in Ojai, I enjoy shopping at Westridge markets. They have…read moreincredible specials and today they had a Tuesday morning special of a coffee any size and a breakfast sandwich for five dollars! Since I was taking my grandson for a walk this morning, we headed for the store and arrived at 9:45 and they have been selling out all day so they made me a fresh one in 10 minutes and we sat outside and enjoyed our picnic breakfast. Always check their flyer that has their incredible deals each month, including their Tuesday and Thursday special deals. They have great coffee every day. An incredible deli with all kinds of pastries made fresh and then their hot deli, including Fresh made sushi. Don't forget to check out Westridge market when you're in Ojai. I also picked up some pork chops and ribeye on special this week at the meat counter.

We arrived towards the end of the market as they were starting to pack up and put things away…read more Still there were plenty of vendors still there offering their goods but slowly shifting and packing up. It's located in a parking lot behind the main strip and in a residential area. All street parking but it tends to be pretty easy. There's a bakery vendors that I've had a few times but they do sell out quite fast. Their fresh baked bread and sweets are one not to be missed. This visit, they weren't there in their usual section so I assume they were pretty much sold out fast. Loads of fresh organic vendors with all their goods. As it was summer, there were so many vendors with amazing tomatoes. Heirlooms, grape tomatoes and so all. Everything all looked so fresh and I'm sure it was straight from the farm that morning. Also loads of other vendors selling their homemade goods, like soap to candles to everything in between. Majority of the vendors are fresh produce so you know you'll be picking up fresh farm products. Also fresh flowers are always a must when a visiting the farmers market. Can't forget the fresh berries and fruits. Doesn't scream summer without all the fresh berries straight of the plant. Regardless what you're looking for or not, I'm sure you'll always leave with plenty of fresh things at this market. Their items are always so fresh. A must whenever I'm Ojai. It's always on a Sunday morning.

Typically, I go to the Ojai market on the weekends, but I was visiting Ojai on the weekday and…read morenotice that they have a small market. They called this the community market. The market is open on Thursday from 3-7pm. Unlike the weekend market the number of vendors is very limited. The limited vendors could also been due to the heat the day we visited. I did spot a yummy bagel vendor-called buckaroo. Their bagels were really yummy made out of sourdough. The farmer's market is right off the main street...so very convenient when visiting. The farmer's market is in the park and there is parking lot right next to the market. A nice, relaxing vibe to go with the family- often there is music at the market.

This was probably one of my favorite experiences as a result of walking into a random store. I…read morewasn't sure what to expect when I walked in but I was immediately greeted by Carolina who welcomed me to try anything in the store. I knew Ojai was famous for its olive oils, but Carolina especially embodies mastery and craftsmanship as reflected in her offerings of olive oil and balsamic vinegar. As I was the only patron in her shop at the time, I was privileged with her showing me various unique combinations of balsamic and olive oil. She certainly lives up to the Italian stereotype of having good taste. She suggested against me buying food for my mother for Mother's Day, but she understood when I insisted that my mom is a foodie (where I get it from). Carolina herself is classy and refined, yet still so open and welcoming, all of which also is reflected in her store. It is thus no surprise that her shop has been around for over a decade. I hope her shop is there when I am 100! If there was ever a place to stop in Ojai, I would recommend this place. A truly unique experience, unparalleled. I am bringing my mom and all my other loved ones here.

It's a cute little store. It was quiet since we were the only ones there. They have samples in a…read moreglass covered sampler. We were also told that we could sample anything even if it was closed, which was great. We were focused on the balsamic vinegar. We tried the Blackberry Reserved Balsamic, and it was amazing. I didn't ask, but they have like a salad recipe that it would be paired with or possibly sell salad there as well. So glad we decided to stop by. The lady who helped us was kind and friendly. Overall, we will be returning since the service and tasting was a pleasant experience.

After a fun morning at Foster Park in Ventura with friends, we decided to keep the fun going and…read morehead over to Ojai for an afternoon adventure. Of course it was lunch time so after walking down Ojai Ave. and grabbing lunch at Ojai Pizza Company (be sure to check out my review), what's the best thing to do after lunch, on a beautiful spring day..... Well, Ice Cream of course!!! You really think my kids are gonna say no to Ice Cream?? Yeah, what kid would. Well after walking in to this quaint little ice cream shop, I immediately realized we weren't the only ones that's got them memo. There were multiple sets of parents alongside their own kids, all standing in line for an ice cold, sweet treat. Of course, like any ice cream shop you might find yourself in, they are going to have the classic, signature flavors that we all know. The Vanilla... The Chocolate... The Strawberry... The Rocky Road... The Cookies & Cream... And of course a Rainbow Sherbet. But when you come to a one-off, we'll call it specialty Ice Cream shop, there is always the hope that you wil come across a fun, new, maybe never thought of or imagined flavor.... Well Ojai Ice Cream.... Congrats, you did it!!! A few of the fun flavors that caught my eye.... Orange Honey Comb Espresso Oreo Rum Raisin Heavenly Honey Crunch Ojai Orange (hence their official orange monster mascot) Just to name a few. For those of you with allergies or dietary restrictions.... Many of the flavors are GF or Vegan and some are even made with Soy. Ojai Ice Cream has been doing their thing since 1979, that's 47 years!! And I know cause I counted on my fingers like a 5 year old...haha, so it's no wonder they have this sweet treat thing down pat. So, the next time you find yourself in the beautiful little town of Ojai..... You know exactly what to do! My only question is: What flavor are you gettin'

When in Ojai on a hot day, this spot is a must try! Wifey and I got a scoop of the Matcha and the…read moreHoney Lavender and it was a killer combo!

Casual counter service restaurant with al fresco seating. I started with pint of Lucky Day IPA…read morewhile we waited for the meal. The Fried Chicken Sammy with the bacon jam was amazing! I would totally order it again - we'll seasoned, crunchy, and slightly sweet. The Pesto Chicken Pizza was a nice medium size - six slices of yummy cheese, herbaceous & nutty pesto, grilled chicken, and sweet sundried tomatoes. A yummy pizza - I personally would have liked blistered cherry tomatoes in it for a brighter pop of freshness. Quick, easy and delicious.

I stopped in at this casual eatery for a late lunch. You order at a window and sit in the large…read morecovered patio area or at one of the few booths inside; your food is brought to you. I ordered the BLT Toast (toasted sourdough, basil, goat cheese, roasted tomatoes, bacon crumbles, chives, and hot honey). I wasn't sure what to expect until I was presented with an open-faced "sandwich". It looked tricky to actually pick up so I went with fork & knife. The flavors were great and I really liked it. Although I honestly thought it was overpriced. I also had a bottle of root beer which was refreshing on this hot day. They have their own lot so there is plenty of parking. It's a great laid-back place for a casual bite.

The Farmer and the Cook -- Fresh Finds Off the Main Road…read more I'll be honest, I wasn't sure what to expect walking in for the first time, but The Farmer and the Cook won me over pretty quickly. It's bright, clean, and has this easy organic warmth to it... the kind of place that feels like it was put together by people who actually care. Right off the main road, easy to find, and the family vibes are real. It's the kind of spot you want to linger in. If you're navigating dietary restrictions, this place is a quiet goldmine. Strong gluten free options, a genuinely vegan friendly menu, and plenty of vegetarian choices too... so everyone at the table actually gets to eat something they're excited about. That's rarer than it should be. The food? Solid. I went with the raw tacos, sopes, and huarache; all filling, all fairly priced for the area. The raw tacos especially surprised me... fresh, flavorful, and not in a "I wish this was a real taco" kind of way. These hold their own. Service was quick and most of the staff had a warm, genuine energy about them. The one small snag; the cashier seemed to be having a rough one. A little gruff, made me feel like my first visit was mildly inconvenient for them. It happens, we all have bad days, but first impressions do stick a little. Overall though, I'm absolutely coming back. There's more on that menu calling my name and an atmosphere that makes it easy to slow down for a bit. Whether you're vegan, gluten free, or just looking for something fresh and honest... this one's worth the stop.

A really difficult review to write. On the one hand, decent food, and decent environment…read more On the other hand, very dramatic and poorly managed "community" space. I was poisoned there with food that I am allergic to by a spiteful employee. Management not only never apologized, they never did anything. The results were lab tested. I went over and above to give them a chance to be civil and professional, and they came up a complete blank. So sad

Visited Ojai Olive Oil as part of our day trip from LA and really enjoyed the experience. Compared…read moreto another olive oil tasting we did in Paso Robles, this one felt a bit more fast-casual and relaxed--which honestly wasn't a bad thing at all. It gives you the freedom to taste everything at your own pace. You order the tasting first, then they give you a tray with delicious sourdough bread from a local bakery. The staff explained that the balsamic vinegars are imported, while all of their olive oils are produced in-house, except for the truffle oil since the local soil isn't suitable for growing truffles. After that, you head over to the tasting section where you can grab samplers of the olive oils and balsamic vinegars before finding a seat outside under the olive trees. The space itself is beautiful and peaceful. There were around 10 olive oils and 10 balsamic vinegars to try. My favorites were the TH (Tuscan Herbs) olive oil and the traditional balsamic. The flavored balsamics were interesting and fun to taste, though I still personally preferred the classic options. Overall, such a fun and worthwhile stop if you're in the Ojai area. Paid $20 for two people. Also, bonus points because they happily give extra sourdough bread if you need more :)

I barely recognize this place. What the hell happened?…read more I hadn't been back in years, and maybe that long absence is what made the decline so obvious. I remember coming here for the experience as much as the olive oil and vinegars. The warm welcome, the hospitality, the tasting experience, the opportunity to wander around and talk to people, meet new people and sample things without feeling like you were inconveniencing anyone. We used to happily spend loads of money here because the experience made you want to. This time? Cold. Impersonal. No greeting when we walked in. Tastings reduced to oils and vinegars in tiny plastic cups for purchase. What is this nickel-and-dime hustle/operation you have going? And the portable toilets outside??? What hillbilly ruined this experience? I understand that COVID changed how businesses operated. I really do. But COVID is over, and apparently the customer service decided to stay stuck behind. What disappoints me most is that this place used to have a bit of magic you couldn't manufacture. We loved returning year after year. Now it feels transactional, and that's a shame because the products deserve WAY better than that. After this visit, you can have whatever THAT is. Keep the misery to yourself. The olive oil may still be good. The balsamic vinegars are top tier. (I make soda pop out of them). But the one of a kind experience and hospitality is GONE. Save your money.

Wow, I am so glad I stopped in! The cute outdoor setup drew me in, but the food completely blew me…read moreaway. The ambiance is absolutely perfect for a sunny outdoor lunch, and ordering inside is fast and easy. I got the quarter chicken plate with garlicky potatoes and cauliflower as my sides. Honestly, these might be the best potatoes I've ever had in my life. They were cooked to absolute perfection--super soft on the inside, a little crispy on the outside, and topped with an incredibly flavorful garlic sauce. On top of that, it's an amazing deal for a substantial amount of food. You get to try a bunch of different items, including an extra homemade sauce and pickled beets. I could not recommend this place more

Oh Boy! The ambiance of this place, we really loved it! We felt like we were on a secluded picnic…read more Food options so healthy and flavorful just by the menu description. We tried wine, hummus to die for, sourdough and homemade butter! Wow! We found a GEM!