It's been months since I was last at the restaurant, but based on my first experience it just keeps drawing me back in from over 100+ miles away when I come down for an appointment about every 3-4 months. Wished we lived closer so I could go more. The food is fresh, every bite is just as delicious as the last one, and the dishes are light yet filling. The service was quick, the staff was attentive and everyone was pleasant. You could tell they enjoyed their work. Now that Main St. has been shut off to all vehicles, when the weather is nice out it makes for the perfect opportunity to grab a table outside, order your food, and enjoy the atmosphere. The ambiance of the restaurant is also inviting to just stay in and eat, people watch and relax. You're bound to meet some great people during this time too. You're never rushed to leave. They enjoy the company. read more

So inviting!!! Chic, European, intimate, and excellent service. The best restaurant on Main Street.

This was the second time I have eaten at Paradise Pantry and it was even better than my first visit; which I also would have considered absolutely flawless! My first trip, during lunch rush they had our food out in a timely manner and it was absolutely delicious. The killer mac was exactly that! You can opt for an egg on top, or any number of meat options, or take it as is. I also got the turkey and pesto, which I will admit I expected to be tasty but nothing outstanding. Boy was I wrong! Toasted to perfection, the meat perfectly cooked, seasoned and served, with an incredibly fresh pesto to absolutely savor every bite with. This time around, we opted for the smokehouse that comes with salmon, as well as the bowl of beef & lamb soup. Again, the description on the menu sounded good but I figured I would see if the food lived up to the narrative. It absolutely did! Every last bite if each item was a flavor experience. To keep me sharp for the night, I also went with a French press that was beyond delicious. I drink my coffee black, regardless of hw late it may be, and this was definitely a cup of coffee that was strong as a straight beverage and would probably mix well if you are more if a cream and/or sugar type of person. They also have a wonderful shop full of goodies and an incredible team that runs the whole deal. Swing by. Enjoya read more

Paradise Pantry - Santa Barbara Smokehouse & bowl of braised beef & lamb soup! - Cheese Shops Near Me - Ventura, California

Paradise Pantry is located in downtown Ventura and is a nice spot for dishes and drinks that use ingredients that are local. They have seating both inside and out, with outside hearing having some heat lamps. The servers were attentive, always serving me water. I got the mini cheese plate with truffle brie cheese, a cheese I didn't know what it was, dried fruit, bread, and almonds. The plate was ok. I wish the bread was toasted and that it had jam or honey provided. For my entree I got the Italiana half sandwich. The sandwich was good, slightly salty and a different type of sandwich you wouldn't find somewhere else. For some reason I thought it came with a side salad. Overall, nice place for a light bite. read more

Paradise Pantry - Mini Cheese Plate - Cheese Shops Near Me - Ventura, California

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LOVE THIS PLACE! The food is delicious! Good seating inside and out! The goat cheese aged Gouda is to die for! The steak, rice and veggies, Thai shrimp, sea bass, bruschetta, smores, and cheesecake were FANTASTIC!! perfectly cooked. The 2022 paso vermantino was sooooo good! Loved everything! read more

This is a perfect little spot for lunch or appetizers. The charcuterie and cheese offerings are extensive and they really know how to present a plate. There is a dining room and another room with a wine and cheese shop. Their wine selections clearly have some thought put into them and they have enough cheese to make a Frenchman happy. We'll definitely return in the future for a proper lunch. read more

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Ok so here's a tip, please look at the menu before you walk into the patio area. We did not do such and we're handed some menus. After taking some time I decided to try the Spanish anchovy and olive oil, which stated it being served with toasted bread and a few other items. Sounded like a light spread over some bread. Alright let's go. Instead it was a small bowl of anchovy's in oil. Turns out we were not handed the full menu and only got some rotating chefs items. Once noticing the other items being brought to other tables I walked to the front to see what menus they had to find an entirely different array of options. Needless to say I stopped our waitress and added a whole pastrami sandwich with caramelized onions. The sandwich is massive of toasted sourdough bread packed high with meat!! What almost started as a waste of a morning brunch turned into a happy full belly! read more

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Delicious, fresh, texture, flavor, beauty all the must haves when it comes to good food! I am sad to say, this is my first time, and visiting AFTER I moved away...ack!!! Farm to table quality and flavor, such a variety of menu options for any food preference (gluten free, for example). Reasonable prices, friendly staff. The cheese monger is a MUST interaction, we had the best time planning a charcuterie board for a simple party, she is knowledgeable, funny and entertaining. I had the best time hearing about how to put a board together, why those choices, and the variety of milks, the region...really fascinating. I do visit Ventura at least once a year, so this has been added to my must returns. read more

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Incredible quaint little wine bar with a full service kitchen that serves the most delectable farm-to-table dishes! "milk & honey" is an absolute must. I know it just sounds like basic cheese and bread but I promise you the experience is SO much more. I can't wait to go back to try more of their menu read more

What an adorable establishment filled with lovely people who work here! We came in and I was amazed at how much was packed in this little store. On one side is the cafe, where folks were eating and on the other the shop, which contained an assortment of wines, chocolates, honey, jams, nut butters, amazing cheeses and more, much more. I picked up some lavender infused honey, crackers and sheep's milk cheese. What impressed me the most was the knowledge and friendliness of the staff. The lady helping us knew all about their products, of course, that's what you'd expect right? I mean she knew details that I had never even thought about. Next time I'm in Ventura will stop by for their sandwiches and spreads. Allow time, there's so much to peruse. Street parking is metered and may be tricky on the weekends to find a spot so be prepared to walk a short block or two. read more

Paradise Pantry - Time for Jammin'! - Cheese Shops Near Me - Ventura, California

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Great location in Ventura where you can walk around and check out the various shops. Had lunch here with a group. Ordered the Italian sandwich because I love me an Italian sandwich and was intrigued by the 'wrapped prosciutto'. This was is a bit different tho - when I think of an Italian sandwich I think of the different meats, but with this one you get an overwhelming flavor of cheese. The bread is good, the cheese is delicious and despite the prosciutto being wrapped, you hardly taste it. It was still a really good sandwich, just not what I expected. Served with really yummy pickles. Really good service, food didn't take long to arrive even though they were l pretty busy. read more

Paradise Pantry - Italiano Sandwich - Cheese Shops Near Me - Ventura, California

NO HAPPY HOUR but food is tasty (altho pricey). Table for 2 very small. Nice variety of wine & cheeses. Decent service.

We had a fabulous lunch here. There was a bit of a wait on a Sunday. But we shopped while waiting. I had the Grilled cheese sandwich. It had grilled onions inside. I wish they would have been smaller. The big pieces were a bit slimy and crunchy. But it still was tasty. They standard Mac & cheese was delish! My guy had the Italiano sandwich. Our friends had he pastrami and the spicy chorizo Mac & cheese. Everyone enjoyed all. The pickles that came with were sweet/hot. They were yummy, somewhere between sweet and dill and not too sweet. And they sell them in the shop. I bought a $7 jar. read more

Paradise Pantry - Italiano Sandwich - Cheese Shops Near Me - Ventura, California

My husband and I walked in on Saturday last week. We were quickly seated and almost immediately offered cheese samples by a lovely woman. The restaurant is small but they effectively use the space. Our server was helpful and knowledgeable about the menu offerings, including the wine list. I was given samples to help decide. After ordering our cheese plate and sanwiches, I visited the cheese counter, the cheese monger was friendly, and offered samples. I purchased several cheeses and meats for a charcuterie board at home. Unfortunately, as soon as our food came, we were informed of a family emergency and had to ask to have everything boxed up so we could leave. The servers were all very, very quick in helping us get out the door even though they had gotten quite busy. We will most certainly be back and hopefully stick around long enough to eat our lunch at the table instead of in the car. read more

There is are exceptions to a fantastic and adorbs cheese shop. Paradise proves such. From the moment you arrive, you will know you are somewhere special. The ambiance is pleasant as you enter. One side is a cafe and the other a shop. There is a small bar in the back. The cafe serves lunch and dinner and offers a happy hour. My favorite is the pastrami. The cheese on it is delicious! It pairs well with a nice glass of wine. The service is efficient but not intrusive. The cafe is filled with noise but is often not loud or disruptive. It's a wonderful place to meet a friend and catch up. There is street parking available. read more

Paradise Pantry - Cheese Shops Near Me - Ventura, California

Delicious food. I don't take pictures of my food but I did this time solely so I could reminisce better. Great service, small outdoor seating area with a great vibe. read more

Everything is way over priced. The service is good, but the food is just average at best.

One of the best hamburger I've had. Definitely a stop when visiting Ventura. Their quiche is also wonderful. Large selection of meats and cheeses in the Pantry. read more

Paradise Pantry - Yummy hamburger - Cheese Shops Near Me - Ventura, California

Lamb burger was good. Flatbread with mushrooms and pork belly was ok. Will try the quiche next time!

Wow, what a fantastic restaurant! The service was by far 5 star. I truly appreciate this as it is becoming more rare to be treated well in todays society. I was greeted so warmly by our server. It was as if she had been waiting for us all day to arrive and was so happy when we did. I work for a 5 star hotel so when I also receive amazing service I am beyond thrilled. The food was delicious. I ordered the vegan sandwich and the cheese platter. The only negative was that the wine flight was rather small for such a large price. I think if all sample carafes were poured into a wine glass it would have only filled half way up. Other than that, everything was delightful and we will be back. read more

Amazing! The Mac and cheese was to die for. We also had the best grilled cheese I've ever had!

March 6, 2022- In my opinion Paradise Pantry is the best restaurant in the City of Ventura. Downtown across from the Mission Chef Kelly Briglio, one half of the dynamic duo (with partner Tina Thayer) behind Paradise Pantry. Everything is made in house and is unique to Paradise Pantry where creating seasonal dishes from what the land is offering is their mantra. Loyal to local farms, their goal is to "always try to be better, share new exciting products and dishes and to overall deliver an unforgettable experience." Starters: Santa Barbara Smokehouse Salmon Pâté Sampler- * Vegan mushroom & pistachio with marsala figs* House made duck liver mousseCountry pâté (pork) with butter and herbs. Followed by: Spicy Fish Soup Mac Meal with Pantry dinner salad topping our dinner off with these favorites! Dark Chocolate Pot de Crème Petty Ranch Meyer Lemon Pie read more

Paradise Pantry - first course Pâté Sampler followed by Smokehouse - Cheese Shops Near Me - Ventura, California

My favorite restaurant in downtown Ventura for the quality of the food, the inventive menu, friendly service, and a great attached deli/pantry. I really have nothing negative to say, other than I wish they were open more often for dinner. read more

Spur of the moment lunch after hiking the Ventura Botanical gardens, great choice! We split the Cobb salad then she had the lamb burger and I had the turkey&pesto sandwich! Wonderful food and very good service for a busy Friday afternoon. Delicious flavors will have us coming back again! read more

Love this place when we are visiting Ventura especially the peanut butter and jelly grilled sandwich. Yummy. They have wine tasting flights too. read more

Paradise Pantry is great, but very busy. The food is good but it's on the pricey side. Nice little patio for pretty days. A wonderful place to catch up with friends. Service was good. read more

We arrived about 10am on a Wednesday morning. We basically stumbled onto Paradise Pantry just because we were in the neighborhood and were searching for a breakfast place - we had no idea about the longevity or great reputation at the time. Upon arrival we had to get in line on the sidewalk. This told us we were probably in the RIGHT place to eat, if they had a wait-line on a weekday. The line moved quickly and were seated inside in less than 15 minutes. Now, you should know that I don't order pancakes (or any sweet breakfast items) as they sit in my stomach and make me feel sick an hour later. However, the temptation to order pancakes here was HUGE. So many interesting flavors!! I ordered more of a "hash" type dish with hash browns, meat, onions, peppers, cheese and eggs on top. But NEXT time I will definitely throw caution-to-the-wind and order their pancake sampler where I could have tried 3 different selections. The 3 I would choose next time are Caribbean, Cinnamon Roll and Blueberry. My husband did order the buttermilk pancakes with his eggs and bacon and they were very good. Typical but very good. (I think the secret sauce here is trying the creative flavored ones). One thing to NOT miss was their sweet/cinnamon syrup served warm. THIS was delicious on his pancakes AND I added some to my coffee for a delicious treat. We don't live in TN but visit a few times a year. I can't wait for another chance to have breakfast here and order the pancakes. BTW, our server Roberta was friendly and efficient. Try to get in her section if you can. read more

What a treat! It's been a while since I have been here. I'm not much of a salad eater but I went for it. I got the purple haze salad which is a mix of greens with lavender herb dressing which is amazing. Topped with goat cheese strawberries and walnuts. I like salads now! Go to www.paradisepantry.com. They have numerous wines to taste along with cheeses. Check it out! read more

One of my favorite lunch spots downtown. I could legitimately live off appetizers so this place was made for me. I always get a few bites and a yummy drink. But don't let me deter you from the mains. The old world pastrami sandwich is a must. I just love a good variety. The pantry bruschetta is unreal. I was hesitant at first considering it's a very unique version of a bruschetta but OH MAN, I'm here for it. And who doesn't love a good charcuterie board? After lunch, be sure to stop into their little market right next door. Buy a little gift for someone, or get the sweet & spicy pickles for yourself. Either way. read more

Paradise Pantry - Pantry Bruschetta | Mini Cheese Plate - Cheese Shops Near Me - Ventura, California

This place has been on my list for a very long time finally made it there yesterday for dinner. We had reservations for dinner at 7:15, unfortunately the table was occupied.we had drinks and cheese plate amazing red with cheese plate.( They have a good selection of different wines reasonably priced ) Finally we sat at our table and saw the menu great variety of selections.Wagyu beef with organic veggies home made fettuccine was excellent . Also, great desserts loved lavender honey cheesecake!! Must try the hidden gem in Ventura. Indoor/ outdoor dining. read more

Fabulous, hidden gem! Stopped by on our way home from Ojai Valley Inn. Cutest little town ever! Wine was Devine! Spicy Fish soup was so good!! read more

My friend and I lunched here. We ordered the following: -the Standard burger ($16.50 + $1.50 for cheese): 6 oz, season, grass fed Snake River Farm Waygu beef patty, wrapped with Nueske's smoked applewood bacon with house made piquillo pepper + chipotle chili ketchup, roast garlic + grainy mustard aioli, local tomato, shaved onion, organic mixed greens on an Agostino burger roll. Whew. A whole lot going on in this burger. What I liked best about this burger was that the bacon was positioned at the bottom of the patty - it dramatically changed the flavor profile. In addition, the patty was so juicy and tender...but alas, with so many fixings, it was really difficult to maneuver bites. In any case, if you are a burger fan, go with the burger. -half an ono melt ($10.00): freshed roasted ono, mixed with sauteed fennel, capers, herbs + caramelized onions. Served open faced with tomatoes, arugula + melted cheese. SO good. I thoroughly enjoyed my fish sandwich. The medley of flavors really melded and for once, I wasn't weirded out by cheese with fish. The real winner of the lunch was the a cup of spicy fish soup ($6.00): fresh fish in white wine, saffron + tomato sauce with roasted peppers, garlic, herbs + topped with cilantro. There was SO much fish involved in this soup, it was crazy. The broth was hearty and enhanced the overall flavor of the soup. SO good. I have to admit, lunch was on the pricier side, but I did enjoy everything we ordered. read more

Paradise Pantry - half an ono melt + a cup of spicy fish soup = $16 - Cheese Shops Near Me - Ventura, California

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Yes, they are very much a scratch kitchen. I opted for the Ono sandwich - normally served open faced - I asked for it to have some bread on top, thus the pic. The menu said it included fennel, which I normally steer clear from, but the server said it was very light and didn't overpower the ono. She was right, and I ate the whole sandwich which was massive. (I was very hungry at the time). On the side, I ordered the squash lobster bisque (I think that was what it was) - it was very good soup although there wasn't much lobster to the flavor. All in all, very good, natural - from scratch kitchen. read more

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A slice of paradise indeed! This place has a phenomenal reputation, and for good reason. I went here for my 30th birthday dinner with some friends and every single thing we ordered was top notch * cue the chefs kiss * - I swear ai could eat here everyday and never get sick of it. The fish and steak options are to die for, and I've never had a better charcuterie board. I'll be back for certain!! read more

Pastrami Sandwich!! Simple yet very flavorful and delicious!! Got two meals outta it! Service was very good and the patio seating is a great place to dine, people watch and enjoy the time with my friend! read more

Horrible and weird experience. We walked in and the lady in the front, her name is Arielle. She said with the weirdest look on her face "where do you wanna sit" so we took a second to decide and she said "if you want to sit inside make sure to sit at a 2 top and not a 4 top" Then we said "okay so should we go outside or what's best for you" because we never been there so we weren't sure how it worked. She said "up to you. We'll follow you" mind you, there were only 4 tops available outside so we went to the closest one which she watched us do. She then sent the blond male server to tell us we can't sit at a 4 top and we need to move to a 2 top- then proceeds to move us to a different 4 top!!!! Wtf! Lmaooo so then we asked why they moved us to a different 4 top and he said it's because there was a "reservation at that one" we said okay. Then he comes out and tells us the reservation was that was going to sit at the other table the moved us from called and canceled! SURE they did Lol! they were just weird to begin with and extremely poor service we were so uncomfortable because mind you, they're playing musical chairs with us IN FRONT of the entire outside patio!! read more

What a treat. This place is amazing. Great spot with very good service and friendly staff. I highly recommend it but it's pricy. read more

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The absolute BEST spot for lunch. Turkey and Pesto coming together on a locally baked bread for the ultimate sandwich. Doesn't hurt that next door they offer some very unique treats and gifts as well to look at on your way out. They set the standard for soup and sandwich style eateries, and deserve all the best as I can't wait to go back to Ventura to enjoy this gem of all gems read more

Paradise Pantry - Standard Mac - Cheese Shops Near Me - Ventura, California

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One of the best pasta dishes I've EVER had! Ever. I went to their wine shop b/c friends are coming to town, and I wanted to get a couple can't-find-anywhere-else- wines on their "$23 and under" shelves . The food in their connected-restaurant is so wonderful I decided to stay for dinner and read the Sun Magazine I keep in my trunk for such an occasion. I ordered the pasta with black garlic oil, added specialty mushrooms and sautéed veggies that were not your average sautéed veggies! In addition I ordered a wine flight (they even have two choices of flights!). So by the perfectly-timed time my meal came, it was paired with a sampling of a $92 bottle of delicious red I can't recall the namebut of course I'd know it if I saw it, b/c I have my . If you're accessible to Ventura, head to Paradise Pantry and treat yourself to a beautiful meal in a sweet quaint quiet spot on Main Street. You won't regret it! read more

Came here for brunch last Sunday...the best food and service ever! I think it was the most flavorful scramble (mushroom with pork belly) I've ever had. And possibly the best Bloody Mary I've ever had. We happened to arrive before the throngs arrived and got in with no problem but suggest arriving early for Sunday brunch. Our waitress was so nice and attentive--I have been raving about it to everyone who will listen all week. Can't wait to visit again. read more