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    Rory's Place

    3.7 (240 reviews)
    Closed Closed

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    RORY'S PLACE ATMOSPHERE

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    Outdoor seating
    Dogs allowed

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    pavlova
    Charlene K.

    Rory's Place killed it... we made a reservation for 2, and weee not expecting to have such a phenomenal meal. We had the half-dozen oysters, chicken pate, herbs salad, hanger steak, and the pavlova for dessert. The last two literally changed our lives... though truthfully everything was so delectable. My only bone to pick with the restaurant is that the tables inside are way too close together, it was pretty much shoulder to shoulder to the point I can hear our neighbor's conversations as our own LOL. Rory's incorporated unique flavors and ingredients in such an intentional way, we'll be back the next time we visit Ojai. Thank you!

    Oyster varieties
    Monica S.

    Rory's Place is a fun place for a group since many of the dishes are tapas style. The hangar steak was beyond compare, and the sweet potatoes, although not in a fry form, were absolutely delicious. I'm not an oyster eater, but my friend ordered them. Oysters from CA, MA, and Maine provided a nice variety for people who enjoy that type of delicacy. The atmosphere was lively and the service was impeccable. I definitely want to return later this summer with my husband.

    Dining room
    Ashley G.

    I will think about my meal & visit to Rory's place until I can go back and experience it all over again. I had such a special anniversary meal with my boyfriend there. Rory's place is such a cool, comfortable, romantic, perfect spot. The restaurant is beautiful, warm woods, soft colors & textiles, down to the dinnerware, every element seems to be perfectly and thoughtfully curated. The staff was friendly. We enjoyed the oysters, tuna tartare tartine and tinned fish to start and they were all heavenly. I ordered the roast half chicken for my entree and it was a perfect, so delicious. We had a gorgeous bottle of white wine and to end we had a two flavors of gelato one being grape which was unique and had a great flavor. Go to Rory's place!

    Summer herb salad
    Ching L.

    Review of most of the vegetarian stuff on the menu (granted there isn't a whole lot): Gigante beans (3/5) - marinated and too sour for my taste. I ate it for the protein solely. Cucumber Gazpacho (5/5) - I was a total skeptic on this, have such a aversion to gazpacho that I tried to dissuade my table from getting it to no avail. And joke's on me because I actually really liked this. So creamy and cooling and refreshing. Totally faded all my disappointed memories around pathetic tomato gazpacho. Herb salad (5/5) - wow this was so good and I don't even like chicory normally. The pepitas were also so perfectly crunchy and flavored. Just the right amount of dressing too. Dandelion greens salad (5/5) - my favorite. I ordered another for the table i loved it so much. Something about the balance of the bitter dandelion greens against the sweetness of the dates and the saltiness of the parmesan was just perfect! The dates are not super well distributed though and could benefit from a more thorough chopping/mixing. I didn't mind the almonds either. They added to the texture. Tomato Plum Salad (4/5) - pretty delicious and fresh tasting but not super special. Close cousin to the tomato burrata salad that I am quite fond of making myself (really easy to make). Japanese Sweet Potato (4/5) - not originally vegetarian but we got the bonito on the side so the veg folks could try. Pretty good but not a standout. And the drinks! All so unique both in presentation and flavor. Such a delight! Melon Sour (5/5) - my favorite, not overwelmingly sweet, and a delicious flavor without being too spirit forward. Salt N Pepper Martini (3/5) - too strong and spirit forward to me. Not my cup of tea. Tiki Drink (5/5) - close second for me. All the ingredients sound like they would make the drink too sugary (also being a tiki drink) but it was really well balanced. Hello Satan (4/5) - for being a mezcal drink (I usually don't like), it was pretty good.

    Bar POV
    Betty B.

    They have ambiance down! I went right when they opened for dinner service. They let me sit at the bar for dinner which was the perfect view to the restaurant. Food - Hamachi crudo with fennel and tangerine strips. This was the crudo of the day it was slightly acidic with a fatty hint from the olive oil. Then it has this savory lite crunch from the tangerine and fennel. Such a clean and satisfying bite. - Japanese sweet potato, now I have had a similar dish from Gjelina in Venice. But this one might be my new favorite. The miso butter added a nice smokiness to the dish. But the lime that i squeezed in top of the bonito flakes gave this such a bright lift. Smoky, acidic, rich, sort of shrimpy. Love this dish, almost not enough. - Pesto pasta rags, I had to look this style of pasta up. It's like a lasagna noodle just flat and al dente. The pesto was rich and velvety. It was such a clean ending to my meal. I absolutely loved it! Overall another great service and eating experience. My only critique is that the dessert menu wasn't as exciting as the food. So I opted to go to Ojai ice cream across the street. Please give us some yummy dessert options

    steak
    Nicholas G.

    Delicious drinks and food. got there early, didn't feel too packed. People say the inside is sardine-like seating but I wasn't bothered, have seen much tighter. The mole cocktail and hello satan were amazing. Steak too. Great oysters. Unbelievable halibut. Definitely higher than a 3.5 star place. A shame they got 1 star review-bombed by an 11 member bachelorette party that didn't understand what kind of place it was.

    Arpineh E.

    Shoutout to Angie, she went above and beyond. GGIATA TEAM LOVES AND APPRECIATES YOU. Food is great and atmosphere fun.

    Makayla A.

    restaurant vibe is cute and has potential but i'm pretty sure all of the employees hate their jobs. Megan should never serve another customer again! after getting seated and looked at the menu, one of the people in our party asked "do you guys have any lighter sweeter cocktails?" server gave us a look like we were crazy... and offered a negroni?? i've never had a light sweet negroni. we came just for drinks and apps and the server made us feel so terrible about that. giving us very confused dirty looks "are you guys just not hungry??" because we wanted to share a few things. drinks came out and they were so mid for almost $20 a piece. none were remarkable cocktails, just unbalanced and bad. honestly every business has such terrible customer service and energy. servers shame you for not ordering enough "are you not ordering anything else beyond that?" with the same dirty face. we would have ordered more if she wasn't judging out every move. unfortunately gratuity is included, otherwise we would have left $0. not sure if it was racial as we were all asian. if you're a minority thinking about visiting ojai, DONT! update: after checking out some of the other 1 star reviews on yelp and google reviews; seems like management knows that there service is a joke and even has some snappy responses to customers. this place does not deserve your money.

    Desert

    Food was delicious. Oysters were fresh, steak sauce had great flavor. Sweet potato was amazing. Wine list was good. Desert was also very tasty and fun.

    Menu
    Jaidyn N.

    Amazing food Service is a bit slow but not bad Depending on where your table is, it can be noisy Raw oysters - fresh and tasty Uni and ikura - Sweet and smokey Bluefin tuna crudo - so good we wanted second Dandelion salad - delish, though not your typical salad. Dandelion greens are a little tougher than your typical lettuce but boy, whatever dressing they toss them in was amazing Braised leeks - cold and strange. The only dish we didn't like so our server took it off the bill. Such great service Duck - shio koji, say no more. So much flavor with every bite Steak - cooked to perfection, and the sauce with a hint of acidity just cut thru the richness of the dish. I read others' reviews about how their steak were lukewarm, I can see what they meant. However, with the type of cut, how it's prepared is just perfect - tender with no chewy parts. Panna cotta - creamy, light, and not gelatinous, a must Honestly, don't know why this place has 3.5*. The restaurant was packed. There were diners who'd give the servers, manager warm goodbyes as they leave, I assume they were frequenties.

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    23 days ago

    Food was really good, I got the tuna tar tar and my girlfriend got the hangar steak, the cocktail was strong, which is a good thing

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    Page 1 of 6

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    The Dutchess

    The Dutchess

    4.1
    (685 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$

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    Photos
    Interior design
    Interior design
    Burmese Fried Chicken Sando
    Burmese Fried Chicken Sando
    Naan good texture but the herb butter was just okay.

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    Naan good texture but the herb butter was just okay.
    Yume Japanese Burger Cafe

    Yume Japanese Burger Cafe

    4.5
    (382 reviews)
    0.1 mi
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    We had a great experience at Yume! The burgers were super tasty and delicious. Lots of flavor!!…read moreThe fries were good but I feel could have had more flavor. The service was great and very friendly. We enjoyed our time here. Also loved the Miyazaki art in the bathroom!!

    Photos
    Interior seating
    Interior seating
    Ojai burger, topa topa burger,classic burger
    Ojai burger, topa topa burger,classic burger
    Vanilla custard strawberry crepe.

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    Vanilla custard strawberry crepe.
    Farmer And The Cook

    Farmer And The Cook

    3.9
    (627 reviews)
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    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

    Photos
    Inside grocery store
    Inside grocery store
    I would like to give a review of Garrett's "Not a Chicken Sandwich"! It was the absolute best! I love the fresh garlicky aioli, crunchy pick
    I would like to give a review of Garrett's "Not a Chicken Sandwich"! It was the absolute best! I love the fresh garlicky aioli, crunchy pick
    Inside

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    Inside
    Pinyon

    Pinyon

    4.1
    (195 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$

    Out looking for a quick and delicious breakfast and coffee on the way to Farmers Market this…read moremorning, and we decided to try out Pinyons breakfast offerings. I have been here a few times, but really just to buy bread and their fabulous bagels to go. The bacon egg and cheese bagel is fantastic- worth the wait for it to be made in the wood-fired pizza oven- excellent everything bagel with tons of seeds and great flavor - bacon MADE IN HOUSE(as are all of their products ) meat and eggs purchased from the same local farm and a wonderfully sharp cheddar (not sure of the origin of the cheese). I love that all of their menu items are made with local ingredients and are organic. The food tasted fantastic and the staff was welcoming, personable and informative. The price is inclusive of tax and tip- and their business model provides a livable wage and benefits including a 401k match - how many restaurants offer that! ?!? It looks like they have a nice selection of wines in the bottle shop and we will be back for pizza/dinner sometime soon ! I love to support local businesses- especially ones that are supporting other local businesses!! #community

    We had a great experience at Pinyon! We ordered the Rosso and the Madonna, and both were delicious…read more The atmosphere had a wonderful vibe--relaxed, welcoming, and enjoyable. The service was friendly and attentive, and everything was clean and well-maintained. The indoor dining area is beautiful, and the restaurant is located in a lovely neighborhood that adds to the overall experience. We'll definitely be back and would highly recommend Pinyon to anyone looking for great food and a great atmosphere.

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    Pinyon
    Fresh figs from the Farmer's Market.
    Fresh figs from the Farmer's Market.
    Woodfired Broccolini

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    Woodfired Broccolini
    Revel Kombucha Bar & Acai Bowls

    Revel Kombucha Bar & Acai Bowls

    4.7
    (209 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$
    Locally owned & operated
    Kid friendly

    I was visiting Ojai for a retreat and found Revel on a lunch break. I love trying new kinds of…read moreKombucha and was excited when I saw the sign. I had no idea the magnitude of what I was about to experience. I sample kombucha every chance I get, and I can say with confidence that Revel has the best commercial kombucha that I've ever tasted! I had the pleasure of being served by Adam the owner, who is a superb beverage alchemist and has created an array of blends that are as beautiful as they are delicious. Revel is an apt name for these drinks as the sublime colors are as delightful as the pleasure of their tastes. The interior is spacious with minimalist decor, an attractive menu board, a feeling of earthiness with natural wood, and the clean brightness of white walls. It's the kind of place where you might meet a friend for a healthy drink, work remotely, or buy some growlers for a unique contribution to a dinner party. It was a gloomy rainy weekend, and I visited four times. I wasn't eager to go back out in the cold, and a few times I was the only customer so I had a chance to chat with Adam. I was intrigued to discover that Jun Kombucha uses honey instead of sugar for the fermentation process. I started home brewing Kombucha in 2011, and was taught that honey's antibacterial properties would block the fermentation process and kill the culture, aka SCOBY (Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeast). Enter the unique Jun SCOBY which only feeds on honey. It was amazing to talk to Adam about his brewing journey. He poured me samples and it was difficult to pick a favorite because they're all so good. Even the bottles are a work of art carrying the theme of the business. Recommended 100%!

    I'm visiting my daughter in Ojai and a must stop is always for my favorite kombucha. Today they had…read morea few more flavors available in the four packs which is what I always get so I can take them home and enjoy them one a day. I tried the sunbeams which is citrus and vanilla but it was a little too subtle for my taste so I tried the Hoppy Valley, which is fabulous and my favorite is always the OM which is the bar in lavender. I decided to get the happy Valley for the first time and the nice young lady serving me said that I could mix a match so that made me really happy because no one has ever offered that to me before. I decided to get two of the happy Valley and two of the OM Which came to a total of $22. I signed up for the loyalty points, hoping to get my first purchase towards earning rewards, but the employee told me that the four packs don't count towards rewards. This is why I only gave four stars for the very first time because this didn't make any sense to me. Oh well. I guess things aren't perfect here after all. I will keep returning, but it made me sad not to be earning points for my purchase.:( Happy New Year's Day and may you enjoy the best kombucha ever and come here and try it. It's a really fun place to just hang out and it's nice and quiet and they have fun little games to play. I just added the review from four stars to five stars because Adam, the owner, responded to my constructive criticism and said that he was going to have the system changed to allow loyalty points to be earned when customers purchase the cans. He also added loyalty points to my rewards account for my purchase today. Thank you For being a responsive owner to your customers needs and coming up with a solution right away. That's what makes your store so excellent in addition to serving an excellent product.

    Photos
    Jun Kombucha Flight
    Jun Kombucha Flight
    Jun kombucha on tap.  Lavender and blackberry along side ginger and spirulina.
    Jun kombucha on tap. Lavender and blackberry along side ginger and spirulina.
    Try our assortment of organic, ceremonial grade matcha lattes

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    Try our assortment of organic, ceremonial grade matcha lattes

    Rory's Place - newamerican - Updated July 2026

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