1st this restaurant is new. The place is very nice, very welcoming, calm. Service has much improvement to do, but it's not terrible. Kitchen also can improve on food being served and timing of the food being served has some improvement to do as well I am guessing all kitchen staff. The food was not the best or the worst, I had an egg-white omelette was amazing. Dad had a T-bone steak breakfast, it was ok, it was cooked right, problem it was served cold. Mom had the 24oz Ribeye dinner paired with clam chowder, steak was delicious, the soup was cold, but still had a good taste. Brother had the La Duke filet mignon breakfast, it was served cold had to send back to reheat, not really what LD is going for classy fancy, but it has some improvement to make, I will be returning with whole family to give it another try. The staff overall is very friendly, we had a cocktail after lunch at the bar, nothing bad to say about the drinks, very well made. We will be returning. read more

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Food was amazing, well cooked and great selection of drinks. Also, service was superb and the ambiance was fancy.We will return for sure! Great job!! Must try! read more

Horrible ambiance. Very cold. Incredibly loud and obnoxious couple sitting at the bar. Impossible to have a conversation at a dinner table while they carried on. Shocked the management didn't ask them to keep it at a dull roar or leave. Food is ridiculously overpriced. $15 for a teeny house salad. $5 for a plain iced tea. Love to support local businesses, but I'm one and done for La Duquesa. read more

My three girlfriends and I visited La Duquesa for dinner, and from the moment we walked in we were impressed. We were seated promptly, and the space is beautiful -- black and gold tones, plenty of windows, and a warm, polished atmosphere that feels special without being stuffy. The menu is surprisingly extensive, with something for everyone. Most dishes are structured as a set-price meal, where you get an entrée plus either an appetizer or premium side and a soup or salad. For Ventura, that value is excellent -- my entire three-item meal was only around $40. The wine prices are equally friendly: we enjoyed two bottles at $36 each. Our server was outstanding -- attentive, personable, and patient as we asked questions and ordered four totally different meals. Between us we covered steak, fish, and a couple other entrées, and not a single person had anything negative to say. Everything was hot, well-seasoned, and delicious. We've heard great things about their breakfast and cocktails as well, so we're already planning a return visit. Overall: Great food, great service, great value. Highly recommend La Duquesa -- a wonderful new spot in Ventura that's absolutely worth trying. read more

new restaurant.. good vibes.. good food.. check it out!. good portion..friendly staff.. read more

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The best clam chowder I've ever had. Bacon wrapped shrimp was out of this world. Unfortunately we did have to send some steaks back due to them being overcooked but it was dealt with. Great drink selections too! read more

We do I start? Walking in I thought it was in Dracula's dining room with Elvis blaring on the sound system. A gothic gaudy dark look with black velvet booths trimmed in gold, great for a Halloween Party? Whose decor idea was that? I was concerned/surprised the place was completely empty being in an early Saturday evening, knowing Ventura has a lot of early bird diners? It looked like the tables were set for fine dining (with very high meal item prices to match) however, it wasn't that at all? The menu was loaded with too many items so you know they're a using frozen items and not fresh. The wait staff was inexperienced, something not tolerated in a higher end restaurant. They were very unsure of themselves and didn't know how to properly wait a table. Not knowing how to open a wine bottle? Really? There was a big screen television over the bar with the Dodgers playing? Really Again? Fine dining prices with people at the bar cheering for the Dodgers on the big screen? The place was confusing, loud, and empty? I don't know what this place is or supposed to be?? A sports bar or fine dining? We were all confused? The Bartender couldn't even make a Rusty Nail? Really? The Tomahawk Steak came sliced which is a Big "No No." Which didn't matter anyway since the Tomahawk was full of fat and gristle and not of high quality. Do that in Chicago and the customers with go nuts and beat you with the bone. Slicing the Tomahawk robs you of the juices that are now on the plate and it cools down the meat too fast. It should be on customer request only. The waitress didn't bring out plates until nearly 10 minutes after the Tomahawk steak was on the table. And she only brought one plate with Chimichurri on it even though she was told before hand it was to be shared. My wife used one the starters severing plates for her plate. Total inexperience and lack of training. The deserts were (Tiramisu and Chocolate Lava Cake) were also bad. Needless to say, will we ever return or recommend this place to anyone? The answer would be a hard no. Both horrible and bizarre at the same time. On the upside, they were friendly. read more

From the moment we walked in we were treated like royalty. The atmosphere is stunning from the chandeliers to the beautiful bar to the crystal glasses and gold ware. Brisa provided impeccable service and our cocktails were presented beautifully (and were equally delicious). The food was excellent and the wine list was impressive. Highly recommend! Excellent. Go now. read more

I'm not a Julie or a Karen, I have traveled exstensivley and have dined at steak houses all over Southern California. With that said, this place is a gem. The quality of the food is exquisite as well as the staff and the drink you can not go wrong with this hidden gem in Ventura. read more

Came in with friends just to try drinks and appetizers. The restaurant is beautiful with cozy booths and pretty table settings. Greeted very warmly by staff. We ordered a Negroni which came in a martini glass with NO ice....a Negroni needs a big ice cube or ball in it! That was disappointing. We ordered bacon wrapped shrimp that were huge and delicious. Mozzarella sticks that passed the cheese pull test nicely. I will go back and try a breakfast sometime. Meanwhile they need to make that Negroni with ice. read more

The ambiance is beautiful. The drinks were good. Service was really good.We were really excited about the $39 pre fix menu. My husband got French onion soup and didn't like it. He said it was bland. The bacon wrapped shrimp appetizer was really good. Our friend got the pork chop and said it wasn't good. We got the filet and it was a bit undercooked and wasn't seasoned very well. This is a really beautiful restaurant, and you can tell they are working to keep their prices competitive, they just need a little work on the food. read more

Ate here tonight for the first time and it was a really good dinner. I choose the dinner meal with calamari, caesar salad and penne vodka pasta with chicken and a gin and tonic. The food was hot and very flavorful! My husband ordered the clam chowder, ribeye and pesto pasta. He enjoyed his meal too!! Our waiter was very kind, he explained the menu and was very attentive! Restaurant is elegant! read more

Went here for breakfast with my family. The food itself was good, which makes this even more frustrating. What wasn't good was the lack of transparency about drink refills. My cousin got apple juice and was allowed to refill it multiple times -- no one said a word. We later found out we were charged for each refill. At no point did the server mention refills weren't free, and there was no notice on the menu either. If we had known, we obviously wouldn't have kept refilling. It's not about the juice -- it's about being informed. Letting someone refill several times and only revealing the charges on the bill feels misleading and honestly pretty shady. Good food doesn't make up for policies that aren't clearly communicated. We won't be coming back. read more

What restaurant has all 3 and Kaver is by far the finest waiter we've experienced! You need to try this. We will be back! read more

Came here for happy hour on a whim and couldn't be more happy. The spicy margarita was excellent as well as the bacon wrapped shrimp. Cassandra and the bartender (didn't catch his name) were very friendly and made me feel at home. I'll definitely be back! Thank you for a great first time experience! read more

What a wonderful addition to the Ventura dining scene! Fine dining at its best and the upscale go-to for the discriminating diner. We had a lovely dinner there and have nothing but good things to say. The cocktails were exceptional, the decor and ambiance were stellar and then the piece de resistance-the food. All quality, well priced and served elegantly. We plan on being regulars and can't wait to bring our friends, both local and out of town. Support our neighborhood businesses! read more

La Duquesa - Ribeye and Filet steaks - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Ventura, California

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Long wait for cold steak. Total meh as far as the food drink and service. Not sure who they are trying to cater to? Really wanted to like it as it's right around the corner, but I did not. read more

I have mid feelings about this place. We went on NYE and waited over an hour to be sat with a reservation. Nbd we got drinks at the bar and the bartender gets 5 stars he killed it on a busy night . Got sat and apps were great. Tuna tartare was amazing and so was the French onion soup ! Main course is where it took a turn. Got the Tomahawk steak , ordered it medium and it came out COLD ... like not cooked enough cold... and red like it just died. Sent it back asking for a little more grill and it came back the exact same . Took it home and cooked it myself and it was pretty good but it felt like it was a 100$ waste . It's a new restaurant so maybe would try again once they get their stuff together ? read more

First time here and we heard some great reviews from friends. We had a nice bottle of wine and did the pre fix menu. I am very picky with ribeye steaks and it was cooked perfectly. The wait staff was very attentive and friendly, thanks Kaver. We would recommend this restaurant. read more

Excellent breakfast, great service, in a brand new location. Convenient location with parking right on Main St.

My boyfriend and I had a beautiful 5 year anniversary dinner here! Perfectly cooked to ask tomahawk with a delicious buttery mushroom sauce. Kaver was a very attentive, friendly and informative server. We enjoyed some lovely cocktails after dinner. Kaver helped me decide mine and my boyfriend said the Duquesa old fashioned was the best old fashioned he's ever had. Thank you! read more

La Duquesa - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Ventura, California

In all fairness, I wish I could give 4.5 stars. In many ways, this restaurant is still a work in progress. However, we had a very pleasant evening here. My wife and I prefer to have dinner early. La Duquesa is open all day. Brisa did a great job as a server (5 stars). Very helpful, informative, and caring. We had the lamb chop (4 stars), the mushroom soup (4 stars), the seared tuna (4.5 stars) and the brussel sprouts (4.5 stars). Because I wish to support local bussiness, I have rounded up. We will be returning, but will probably try a different entree next time. read more

The restaurant is beautiful and the food was good( came for Brunch on the 28th of December. One of the most important parts of a restaurant's experience is the waitperson's knowledge of the menu. Our waitress was underage so she had no knowledge of the drink or liquor offerings. She couldn't describe some of the menu dishes and had to leave the table several times to "ask". This restaurant is new so I may try again. Disappointed as this was a birthday for a friend. read more

Total disappointment!!! Food took for ever to come out, steak totally raw. Side dish never came out. read more

Soon after opening of the restaurant we had a very nice brunch. Food was good, service was acceptable for a brand new restaurant. Today I brought the family for dinner for a birthday celebration. Terrible decision. Restaurant was busy. We waited for a server who never came and was eventually asked by the owner for drink order. She did not write it down and when drinks came 2 of the 4 were not what we ordered. After serving the drinks she took our order, also did not write anything down. We waited almost an hour for first course to come out which occured only after I asked about it. One of the first courses never came out at all. Ceaser salad was tasteless. French onion soup had almost no soup due to 2 large pieces of bread on top covered with Parmesan cheese which soaked up all the soup. It was also very salty. The main courses came out before we were done with starters. The food runner spoke no English, asking us questions which we did not understand. Finally was able to sort out who got what. Everything got worse from there (as if it could). Both steaks were literally less than 1/2 and inch thick. The wagu ribeye was overcooked and tough. The porterhouse was even thinner with no filet, just a charged small piece of something. The steaks were tasteless. The mixed seafood was supposed to have octopus. There was none and was replaced with overcooked small bay scallops. All the seafood was sitting is about half a cup of oil. The Elk rack was not a rack but a piece of what I believe was loin and tasted like bland beef. Service was non existent. Water not refilled, never asked if wanted additional cocktails. If curious why we did not return the food to be recooked, it was because we were already there over and hour and a half at that point I understand you were busy but a restaurant should never tell patrons that it is your busiest night yet as a reason for poor service and food. We don't care. A celebratory dinner was ruined. I hope you can turn your restaurant around but we will not return. read more

Excellent food and service! Highly recommend this restaurant. We had dinner and tried the La Duquesa three-course option. Portions were great, and the food was delicious. Our server was amazing, the place was super clean, and the ambiance was perfect. read more

We went this evening with another couple. We had drinks and ordered fillets, lobster and halibut for our entrees. Everything was cooked perfectly and was delicious. The brussel sprouts and baked potatoes were great sides. For dessert we ordered lava cake. Staff was attentive and we experienced wonderful service. This was our first visit but won't be our last! read more

We dropped in for breakfast on a whim. Brand new after opening last week, the staff was very friendly and welcoming, the interior is beautifully decorated. It was just breakfast but the food was excellent. I had the Smoked Ham omelet and my wife had the Bacon and cheese omelet. Both were delicious. read more

Food was good, did not have the wagyu and now wish I did. Had a porterhouse with brussel sprouts and baked potato. Would definitely definitely make the order again. read more

Very nice decor and bar looked super. The service was excellent and efficient. I had the T bone steak with baked potato. The steak was super thin and had no flavor. My wife had fettuccine Alfredo and she said it was great. Not my favorite place. read more

Duck breast was amazing and the sauce was incredible, I can't wait to get my breakfast once I go back again!!

Came for the first time and definitely returning. The food, drinks, and service were top tier. The tiramisu martini was delicious. Definitely recommended for a date or out with friends. read more

La Duquesa - Tiramisu martini. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Ventura, California

Great service and excellent food!!! The ambiance is amazing. The staff are very friendly and welcoming!

The ambience was perfect. Our waitress was pleasant and knowledgeable. The abundance of specialty cocktails was top shelf. My wife had the ribeye steak and I had the elk chop. Both entrées were cooked to perfection. The baked potato toppings were delicious. we split a Tiramisu for dessert. Totally delicious. We will definitely return to this restaurant. They also serve lunch and brunch, which will be on our to-do list in the future. read more

amazing staff, amazing food. try the jumbo shrimp wrapped in bacon filled with cheese!! i'm coming back again...just for those!!

We wanted to have a nice birthday dinner, so we made a reservation for 6 pm. We arrive, a server greets us, then takes us to our table, but forgets to give us menus. We ordered 2 glasses of wine, very light pours, and ordered two dinner combos that come with an appetizer, soup or salad, and entree. I ordered calamari, Caesar salad, and baby back ribs. The calamari was good, the salad wasn't fresh and had brown leaves, and the ribs were dry and tough. Shanna had crab-stuffed Portobello, mushroom soup, and filet mignon. The stuffed mushroom barley had crab and was mostly cream cheese, the mushroom soup had white clumps in it, maybe flour for thickening, and what may have been stems from I think the rosemary that was in it. The filet was tender but had little to no flavor and was served with what was supposed to be a butter red wine cream sauce that tasted more like gravy for biscuits. We also ordered a baked potato, which came with butter, sour cream, cheese, bacon, and green onion. After the very disappointing meal, I didn't want to bother with dessert. so for an over $150 meal and a little bit of leftover filet, it was a very unpleasant birthday meal. read more

Food was delicious, service impeccable and atmosphere delightful. We had fresh oysters before dinner and they were amazing?

Anniversary for the wife and I, had no plans and no reservations. Decided to try this place out. Was told it was going to be 10-15 minute wait. Asked to wait at the bar and we ordered drinks and an appetizer. About 20 minutes go by and so saw a couple walk in, wait a minute and then was seated. Not sure if they had a reservation or not and another couple was sat at the bar near us. So I followed up with the hostess, she said the corner booth will be available soon. About 5-10 minutes went by and I noticed the couple that was near us is now sitting in the booth that was supposed to be for us. I went to the hostess, she said she messed up and went to talk to someone. They offered us a table, unfortunately it would have been a shared table with another couple. It was the only thing they could do sit us so we paid for our drinks and appetizers at the bar and left. read more

We enjoyed a wonderful breakfast. The Steak and Eggs werea good value, the bacon is top shelf, and the omelette was wonderful. Coupled with attentive, convivial service, La Duquesa joined our Ventura restaurant "to visit" list. read more

Met another couple for dinner last Saturday and have a very good time. It's great to have another fine dining option, especially down this side of Main St. Hopefully any negative feedback is taken in the constructive manner intended, as I'd like to see this be successful. Firstly, someone needs to major overhaul the menu. The font and colors are difficult to read and the one online is completely unreadable. The menu overall is extensive...we'll see if they are able to maintain high quality while having to maintain so many different options. Disappointing that there is not a single non-seafood appetizer. Appreciated the main entrees coming with a salad and choice of side. Ordered the 10 Oz filet and was initially pretty disappointed, since I had asked for it to be prepared "blue" rare and it came out very overcooked (more like medium or medium well). The one may friend ordered came out medium rare as requested. The gladly refired a new steak which was cooked perfectly. The quality of the meat was good and tender, but the 10 Oz cut still seemed a bit smaller than that. The other guests ordered the elk and the chicken steak and both were happy with their meals. Was a bit surprised that the pasta al pesto side was served cold...apparently intentional but a bit strange and not what I expected. Averall a good dining experience. Will definitely go back. read more