Loved the food and ambience here! However, I would say that the crudo dish is a lot smaller portioned than anticipated esp with the price tag. Would highly recommend getting the salads and milk + cookie dessert to finish up your meal, though! read more

I came with my fiancé after viewing weddings venues in ojai. My first takeaway was that they are trying to cram as many people into the place as possible. The tables are so close together you are essentially shoulder to shoulder with random people, and are in a sense, a part of each tables conversation around you. Not ideal. You then order an entree to have it come with no sides for over $30. I ordered the steak medium rare, it came as 8 pre cut slices of cold well done steak with an onion on top, the chewiest steak I've ever eaten. For a relatively expensive (for how much you received) steak it was arguably the worst steak I have ever eaten. I don't understand the allure but to each their own, I do not recommend. Ps you have to pay 3% extra on your bill for "employee health" whatever that means! read more

Rory's Place - Inside of the sitting area - New American Near Me - Ojai, California

If you're going for a good aesthetic & great vibe - this is your place! Other than that I don't have much positive things to say. The food was fine, nothing to write home about. The service was genuinely atrocious. I like to think that I'm a pretty understanding person, but the front of house waited several minutes to "greet" us and by greet, I mean be extremely rude and begrudgingly showing us our table. The waitress was also really unpleasant which put a damper on the experience. (They did switch shifts and we had a 2nd waitress who was lovely!) Unfortunately the cool atmosphere was overshadowed by beyond poor service. read more

Rory's Place - Chocolate mousse - yum! - New American Near Me - Ojai, California

See all

Angie's customers service was phenomenal. She made our managers retreat extra special with her attention to detail and her friendly service. We had a big group and she did amazing at getting us well treated. read more

Amazing food, service was fast, helpful and kind. We can't wait to go back the next time we are in town! read more

Rory's Place - Delicious- amazing and inventive cuisine. Don't sleep on the Salt & Vinegar martini - New American Near Me - Ojai, California

See all

Food is good, oysters are fresh. The place is hip and lively but unfortunately the servers are arrogant and rude.. almost every time I've been there I've had bad experiences with the way our servers treated us. Trying to flip tables fast, forgetful, and seem spiteful if u don't order enough. Somehow feels like you're always in the way and they are just not happy to be there. Unfortunate because I would go there more often if they weren't so dismissive! read more

Ok these negative reviews are wild. The portions are small, yes, the food is pricey, yes. But it is delicious and inventive. Ambiance is nice, feels like Highland park in Ojai. Service was great. We had the oysters, daily crudo, the Japanese sweet potato, the beet ravioli, hanger steak and the pavlova for dessert and the cocktails The Satan and the Gimlet. Nothing missed. Everything was top tier. It was $230 for the two of us (we're both small humans) and we were full. So like I said pricy, needed 6 dishes but I know what I was in for and all I care about is the food is bomb read more

there was a hair in our food. we told the staff and they said they would tell their manager but no one came by. when they brought the bill, they didn't comp the item and made us pay full price read more

A Gem That Deserves More Love Not sure why there are mixed reviews -- Rory's Place is absolutely outstanding. The food is thoughtful, fresh, and packed with flavor. Every dish feels intentional, not overdone or trendy-for-the-sake-of-it -- just really well-executed. You can tell the kitchen takes pride in what they're serving. And the vibe? Spot on. It's got that effortlessly cool energy -- warm, welcoming, and stylish without trying too hard. Perfect for a date night, dinner with friends, or just treating yourself. Highly recommend. We'll be back again and again. read more

Rory's Place - Where Reservations Go to Die and Influencers Go to Multiply So here's the deal: I had a reservation--you know, that thing where you call ahead, they say "yes," and in theory, they hold a table for you. You remember that ancient practice, right? Apparently Rory's Place doesn't. Because when I arrived at my reserved time (early, even!), I was met with the type of confused stares usually reserved for asking a DJ to turn it down. I stood there, watching table after table filled with people who looked like they were spawned in a TikTok algorithm--wide-brim hats, neutral-toned outfits, aggressively mid banter. It's like someone dared a Pinterest board to open a restaurant, and somehow it said, "Bet." The oysters? Overhyped, like everything else here. I've had more flavor from a salt packet. The service? If you enjoy being treated like a background character in someone else's Instagram story, you're in luck. The host looked at me like I'd interrupted a vibe check just by existing. Every interaction felt like I was infringing on their "soft launch" energy--even though it's been open long enough to know better. Rory's isn't a restaurant, it's a set. A scenic backdrop for people who care more about what's on their grid than what's on their plate. Food-wise, it's aggressively fine. Not bad enough to laugh about, not good enough to remember. Just... there. Like the friend of a friend at brunch who insists on splitting the check by the ounce. In conclusion, Rory's Place is the kind of spot that reminds you some reservations are better left unmade. They may take the reservation, but they sure as hell don't know what to do with it. read more

Ok, this place is just as great as last time, but a big miss this past time! The hanger steak, which is normally tender and perfect, was so dry and overcooked this time! We just ate it because I don't believe in food waste, but I was sad that it could have been more pleasant like the other two times we've been here! Now for the highlights! The squid ink pasta is divine! Perfect way to eat seafood. I also loved the melon and prosciutto appetizer, extremely fresh melon and the best prosciutto I've ever had! Of course, we started with 1/2 dozen oysters that were delectable! As always, the drinks are bomb! Lastly, our waitress was really sweet and even pronounced my sister's name correctly! That was a pleasant surprise! Thank you! read more

Went to celebrate my birthday, and walked out in the middle of dinner. Our party got there before us and did a walk in to get a table (party of 4). My husband and I did get there late. Our party had already started with apps so we ordered drinks and more apps. The server said she would be back to take our whole order and we asked if it would be coursed out. She said yes, the kitchen just wanted the whole order together. We started with oysters and within minutes of receiving them all our food started coming out. A server came out with our steaks and my brother in law told her we weren't ready for them yet and she walked away without a word. She then came back and yells at us in the middle of us having dinner, "you were a hour late for you reservation"! He's responded with something and she continued to yell it at us again and throws the plates on our table. We were so embarrassed and felt like kids being yelled at. In no way did they indicate we needed to be out soon or needed to move things along. Nothing was communicated with us. At that point we were really uncomfortable. My husband barely even touched his food- fries, steak, or finished the drink he just ordered. My husband talked to the GM about us being out to celebrate and she apologized about the communication, server, and offered dessert. I did not find her apology sincere rather routine. This was our first time here, and we were so excited to finally try it. We were having a great time up until this point. They ruined our dinner. We just paid our bill of over $500 to walk out of dinner!!! If the issue was time then they should have told us when we walked through the door, or moved us to another table. Or we could of even gone elsewhere to eat rather than be yelled at by your staff. Who yells at people who are dining with you like that!? read more

Had been to Rory's one other time last March and despite experiencing issues that many have stated (rude staff, sardine style seating, high prices etc) we did really love our meal so we were excited to head back on this trip. Sadly nothing has changed for the better. Somehow the host staff and wait staff have gotten even more rude and cold and not the slightest bit helpful whatsoever. We were seated at a two top-close to the back of the restaurant and were seated next to a group of 4 women who had absolutely no etiquette and were screaming the entire time they were there to a point we couldn't even hear one another and we are sandwiched in between them and another table merely inches apart. I love a fun and vibrant vibe but sitting so close to the people next to you and having them be that obnoxiously loud just made it a bit unpleasant. Apparently our server was Angie. Had to look at the bill. She never mentioned it. We noticed that the menu was missing some of the items we had the last time like this wood fired bread and the steak dish. I asked and she seemed so annoyed that I did and very abruptly explained their wood fire oven was not working. Ok. Not ideal as we were so looking forward to those items but we pivoted and ordered. We thought the herb salad would be nice. I promise you it's not. I somehow interpreted the dish to be a salad with lettuce and some herbs or herbs mixed in. No. It's quite literally a very small plate of like cilantro, mint and some other unidentifiable "herbs" and a few Pepita's and we found it so un enjoyable and unpleasant to eat. We did the broccolini which we thought we liked last time and it was drowning - I mean drowning in straight up balsamic vinegar to a point my daughter choked on the dressing it was so strong. It was inedible to be honest. We then moved to the pasta limone. It was fine. Antony portion for the price. And I mean TINY. the noodles had the consistency of rubber bands - so chewy but at this point we were so hungry we just ate it. And finally the chicken. It was the only protein that even remotely appealed to us. Again. It was fine. I don't know that I'll ever eat blackberries with chicken again. It wasn't like a cherry balsamic glaze it was just straight up heated blackberries and it was odd. We don't eat dark meat chicken - strictly preference so the tiny piece of white meat chicken we shared was barely enough. It came with some sort of leafy greens that were entirely forgettable. We don't drink. And they don't have soda. I asked for a sparking water thinking they would bring a bottle and it was the smallest glass of club soda. And never one did the server ask me if she could refill or bring another. When I tell you these servers almost make you feel like you're doing something wrong by existing and being there - it's no lie. It's honestly wild. Bill came. Was 122 which felt criminal and I'm quite accustomed to high price meals. And there was little to no enjoyment here tonight other than the company with me. Perhaps it's just that Ojai lacks many other options because despite it all - the place is packed so I'm certain my review won't phase them in the slightest. Nobody there will care and that's fine. I Why be bothered when tables are turning multiple times a night - every night. Which is sad because they could make this place so much better than it actually is and make people feel welcome and appreciated. But sadly they fall short in quite literally every area and it was really hard to find anything positive to say about this meal and experience tonight. So save your money and find somewhere else to go. I promise you aren't missing much based on this latest experience. Left there tonight So disappointed and do disregarded. And possibly a bit hungry as well. read more

Rory's Place - our bill. part of two who don't drink. - New American Near Me - Ojai, California

At long last, Rory's is back and better than ever! My wife and I shared the heirloom tomato salad, their take on deviled eggs, and chicken liver pate for starters followed by some delicious fresh halibut, and their fresh fig tart for dessert. Everything was fresh from farmers' markets and the halibut was fresh caught purchased in Ventura that morning. The staff are so attentive (not hovering), upbeat, knowledgeable and can answer any question you may have. This restaurant is a real gem! If you're making a weekend trip to Ojai, make a reservation a week or two in advance. read more

Rory's Place - Fresh honey fig tart! A true delight! - New American Near Me - Ojai, California

I had an exchange with the "GM" today that put me off from this place forever. The restaurant messed up my reservation TWICE and ultimately did nothing to get me a reasonable replacement reservation. The person I spoke to was bereft of any courtesy or accountability; I was offered a table that could not seat my full party as an "accommodation" for the first mistake they made - I'm not sure how that could ever be viewed as an accommodation if it meant telling one of the adults in my party they couldn't join us for dinner. We come to Ojai often and I am so disappointed to remove this restaurant from our rotation. Shame on the GM for missing the whole point and going about the situation completely wrong. read more

We were sat outside on a Wednesday night and it was packed. The seating is very tight so you and the tables next to you are close. The music was loud and it was hard to hear my friend or our server. Food is designed to be small plates and everything was really good. We had the borscht, fish n chips, steak, bread with feta dip and desert. The desert was average. Cocktails were not good and they are tiny. Will eat there again but won't bother with bar drinks. read more

Sorta last minute I decided to drag my aunt with me to the bar & semi crash my best friend's 11th wedding anniversary. Tim greeted us at the door and was super personable and willing to sit us (despite this place buzzing like a beehive on a summer Friday night). I asked him if he'd do be a solid and send my best friend and her husband a glass of champagne- I was hiding behind a menu so they couldn't see me (I was not a master of disguises) so my cover wasn't the best. But, Tim nevertheless helped me make it possible and it was comical. Sarah was our server- totally patient with walking my aunt and i through the wine options. She was super busy and I can tell we might have tested her a bit but she definitely kept her cool and attended to us while managing her section. We enjoyed the tuna tartare which was savory and fresh. I tried my best friend's hanger steak which I guess they're known for and it was delicious- like melts in your mouth. I'm not a meat eater but I will try it here and there and I can attest to this steak being a must try! I also saw the bar staff assemble a seafood tower that looked incredible. I didn't try it but it looked fresh and well designed. read more

See all

Recommend for a bite in Ojai! Food - enjoyed the brunch options but especially loved the raw bar. The oysters, shrimp and crab were all so fresh and delicious. Cocktails were tasty! Bloody Mary was OK. Service - really friendly and attentive service. A little bit of a wait but what I assume would be typical of such a popular brunch spot in downtown Ojai on a Saturday. Ambiance - definitely can be crowded for weekend brunch, a bit tight of table setup but overall great option to enjoy a meal with friends. read more

Rory's Place - Delicious cocktails - New American Near Me - Ojai, California

See all

I'm surprised by all of these negative reviews! I had a wonderful time at Rory's earlier this year. My sole reason for making this a 4 star and not five is the wait. The two of us arrived ten minutes early for our 7:30 reservation and were not seated until almost 7:50. I give a good amount of grace considering it was a Friday night, though! Here's all the good: Ambiance is very lively and active and the dining room is regularly packed, so keep that in mind. Both the hostess and server were absolutely wonderful. We ordered the Pasta Al Limone, Lentil Soup, and Persimmon sticky toffee pudding and it was all exceptional. The people complaining about price in these reviews do not understand how expensive it is to run a busy restaurant in the center of a tourist town AND serve high quality food. I felt that the price was completely reasonable and would've paid more for the food we got. Service was super quick. It of course would've taken longer if we'd ordered a steak or something akin to that, but it was still faster than expected. I would say we got our entrees within ten minutes at the absolute most. read more

We are escaped LA due fire situation. I could say this place is INSANE. Amazing food 10/10, especially service. Thank so much you Carrie (the best server). read more

Rory's Place - New American Near Me - Ojai, California

Went on Saturday and tried to walk in, we were a party of 5. It doesn't say anywhere online that they only take reservations. After I gave the host my info I asked how long she thought the wait would be and another worker there told me they wouldn't be able to seat us unless they had a cancelation which they didn't think would happen that evening. I would have waited 3 hours if they told me that was the case. Basically make a reservation since they don't accommodate nightly walks ins. read more

It really shocks me that this spot does not have more stars, do people only like to complain on this app? Rory's was excellent in service, quality of food, and ambiance. We came back twice for dinner during our stay in Ojai because it was so wonderful! We loved the Crudo, Tuna Tartare, Hanger Steak, and the Mushroom Ravioli. If you enjoy cocktails, please try the Tiki Drink! It was delicious and paired well with the food. We luckily were served by Dylan both times and he was very informative and attentive. Rory's Place will single handedly be the reason we come back to Ojai! read more

See all

Creative and innovative cuisine served by a caring staff in a lovely setting. Our server Carey was incredibly attentive and helped guide us through the most interesting menu. We started with the crudo which was a halibut with and cilantro served on shrimp chips that was wonderful. And the chicken pate with delicious bread was another star. The baratta and beets were also outstanding. The hanger steak entree was cooked perfectly and the wine Carey suggested nicely paired with the entire meal. read more

Service was almost mute. Music so loud you can't hear the server, if they did talk to you. The tight banquette seating is so tight you CANNOT get to your own seat without your ass being served on the neighbors table. And my ass is not that big! It's mortifying!!! Food was good, but not great. Expect a very limited menu, which is fine, but a warning. read more

The food timing was all over the place, my steak arrived nearly 40 minutes after ordering, while everyone else at my table was already halfway done. Nothing kills the vibe more than watching your friends finish their plates while you're still waiting. This spot is more about the "scene" than the food. Think snobby, LA-transplant energy with shallow vibes and staff who don't seem too interested in hospitality. My server (the Asian server) was dismissive and unfriendly. When we arrived, the host was loudly chatting with a friend at the front about her Hinge date, shucking oysters, and popping wine bottles instead of focusing on guests. On top of that, walk-ins were seated inside before us, even though we had a reservation and had been waiting patiently with the same party size. As for the food! The steak was underwhelming, with the chimichurri being the only thing that gave it any flavor. Definitely not worth the wait. Honestly, the highlight was spotting a YouTube celebrity, which seems to be the draw here for a lot of people. If Erewhon had a restaurant, this would be it: style over substance. Fries for $10? Cmon yall. Beans out the can for $9? Yea right. read more

We were in Ojai for the weekend and came here for my birthday dinner! Definitely recommend making a reservation because they were packed on a Saturday evening! We reserved online for 630 on the patio, however I got a text message from the restaurant the day of that they had double booked our reservation and asked if we could come in at 7pm instead, which was fine with us. We got a free dessert for being flexible. We got to the restaurant at 7 and it was very busy with a lot of large parties. We got seated closer to 720. Our waiter was wonderful, though he did have a lot of tables so service was a little on the slow side. The food a lot took quite a while to come out compared to other restaurants, if felt like 10-15 minutes between our entrees coming out though not sure entirely. Their drinks are very flavorful and strong! We ordered 2 cocktails - the satan and the MIA and both tasted great. I highly recommend the seafood tower for any seafood lovers! We got the basic tower (there is also a Primo tower for $60 more), which included 12 oysters, clams, mussels, 2 crab claws, 6 or so shrimp and caviar. It tasted so fresh, was incredibly filling and felt like a great deal for so much seafood. We also ordered the mole duck confit, hangar steak and root vegetable gratin to share for our main dishes. The mole had a good flavor and the duck was tender - it also came with a lot of cabbage. The steak was ok and tender, but would probably not get again as it was not as memorable as some of the other dishes. The root vegetable gratin came with carrots, potatoes and turnips according to our waiter and was filling. I would definitely stick to the seafood and raw bar at this restaurant. Street parking only. We were staying nearby so we were able to walk. The outdoor patio is dog friendly. read more

See all

In part, Rory's Place is a victim of its own hype in this review. The expectations that were raised given its status in the "new wave of Ojai eateries" were not met by the food, which languished somewhere between not-quite tweezer food and not-quite filling. Plus, I'm fairly certain I was given the wrong salad, one which contained anchovies--I'm not the kind of vegetarian who freaks out about a minor unintentional lapse but suffice it to say, it wasn't an ideal mistake. I can see the appeal of the trendy atmosphere for a certain clientele, but ultimately you'll find better food and better deals elsewhere downtown. read more

Rory's Place - New American Near Me - Ojai, California

See all

I try to support the local restaurants in Ojai. but it's is impossible with this place. after 3 times, and constant issues, I am writing a review. the food is inconsistent and not good, the attitude of the staff is appalling, it seems like no one is managing it at all. do not waste your time here. it's a bunch of hype and in any major city, would last less than a year, if that. I ordered 6 oysters, and one of them, didn't have an oyster. I told the waiter, and she told me, that's how they come. lol I said, oh really so the other 5 oysters had an oyster. then, I ordered a steak for 33, bucks. medium rare, it came out ice cold, and bloody, ie: very rare. and the waiter said he would ask for it to be seared a little more, cut to 30 minutes later. he said the chef said someone else took it. lol. I am not kidding. I could go on and on. Ie: there is no manager, no decent chef, the kennedy lesbian hype is over, and no one cares at all about your meal or experience. def don't waste your money. it's lame and almost ridiculous this is even open. horrible just horrible. and the locals know it. even our hotel when I spoke to them said. oh so sorry, everyone knows don't eat there. read more

Bad service, rude staff, save your money and go somewhere else. Food is average, not worth the hassle

This spot was buzzing!! Tons of people on a Saturday night which was cool to see in a smaller town like Ojai. I'm vegetarian so options were a little more limited for me. There weren't any main entrees that were vegetarian but our group got fries, asparagus, the feta and tomato salad and i got a soup which combined served as a meal for me! So i was still able to make do. My group got the steak which they seemed to enjoy. Ambiance was great just wish there were more vegetarian entree options (or at least even one) but still great overall! read more

Food: 4/5 - We had the tuna tartare, beets, and pesto pasta. Tuna tartare was excellent. We did not care for the beets and felt that the char was overpowering. Pesto pasta was very good - noodles were cooked perfectly and the sauce was fantastic. They have a good wine selection as well. Service: 5/5 - Our waitress was sweet and attentive. Space: 1/5 - Cute interior design but the tables are uncomfortably close and the space feels loud and cramped. Being 2 feet away from the tables next to us was very unpleasant. Would I come here again? Maybe but probably not due to the seating arrangements. If I'm paying this much for a meal, I want some personal space. read more

Don't believe the haters . From LA and a foodie ate here on vacation had great service , cool vibes, and every dish we had was absolutely delicious . Look forward to coming back soon !!! Ate the oysters , crudo, uni, herb salad , beets , pesto pasta , carrots , cheese board , artichoke, chocolate mouse, strawberry rhubarb crumble . read more

It was magical to say the least! Servers were awesome. Had our wedding reception here. Our guests loved the oysters. Since we were the wedding bride and groom ourselves, we didn't get to eat as much. But I can tell you, the steak was delicious. The cocktails were really good too! Everyone had a blast! Thank you to the staff. Everything was wonderful :) what a vibe read more

Rory's Place - New American Near Me - Ojai, California

This is one of my favorite restaurants ever for ambiance and food. They just know whats up. So many good things on the menu, you can't go wrong. Love the aguachile, herb salad, the liver pâte, hanger steak, the desserts, the wine...! read more

Ambiance was charming, service was very friendly and the baked goods were so yummy! I heard the ice cream is great too. It's a place we'd want to go back. read more

Rory's Place - New American Near Me - Ojai, California

See all

Incredible food!! Great cocktails and superb service. We asked for no finishing salt as the past two times we ate there it was way too salty. They nailed it:) perfect balance of flavors without the overabundance of salt. Every dish was exceptional. Love the herb salad and the fish special, so tender and flaky. read more

We had an amazing dinner here! We started with the aguachile which was a passionfruit ceviche with local rockfish. The flavors came together so well with a citrusy punch. The sweet potato with miso butter was caramelized to perfection and the hanger steak with the chimichuri like sauce was so tender with a perfect char. Our server Jordan was super friendly and provided excellent service and the manager checked in on us as well. We loved the wine so much we decided to buy a bottle to go! I would reccommend sitting outside, as the inside was packed and super loud. Don't expect big portions but it all was fresh and great quality. read more

Food was great. Aquachile was a standout. Unique wine list. Front of house was at best dismissive, at worst down right rude. We walked in and were not acknowledged for multiple minutes while we listened to the host and general manager talk poorly of patrons while they stood maybe 18" inches from us. We were packed in like sardines, seated so close to the nearest guests that it felt awkward to converse. Tuna tartine was delicious and very fresh. read more

I know everyone goes on about this place but it's a no for me. They brought our food out at completely different times. First my meal, then my son's ten minutes later, then my husband's FORTY minutes later. He got the chicken and it wasn't even good. I have no idea why everyone is a fan, maybe the bar, but I just can't. read more

The absolute best food I've had in all of Ventura county. Everything was so delicious and fresh. Great ambience, great service. Ojai fine dining at its best. The halibut was insanely good, plus the fresh oysters. read more