Came with some friends for a nightcap after being impressed with the Yelp photos of this spot and their unique cocktails on the menu. On a Thursday night it was pretty dead but we didn't mind, WE ARE the party! The restaurant/ bar is surprisingly spacious which wasn't outright apparent from the outside. Once you walk in there is a nice long bar on the right hand side. A couple of booths and plenty of tables. It was actually a lovely evening (plus our group gets loud & rowdy) so we decided to sit outside on the high top patio table. It was perfect as it could fit the seven of us no problem. Initially i worried how service would be as we were alone on the patio but immediately my concerns went away as we had a fabulous bartender named Jordan helping us out. Despite making the drinks inside and engaging with customers at the bar, he was very attentive to our outside patio group. The drinks were brought out at an impressive pace and we felt valued as customers. Jordan gave great suggestions for shooters for us to try and also was overly accommodating, by allowing us to all pay separate/individual checks per our request. I grow to appreciate that more nowadays because some businesses do give patrons a hard time about splitting tabs. I was grateful despite being a big group he was willing to accommodate us. We only came for drinks, so I can't speak for the food but this spot is a solid bar. They have some interesting cocktails and I liked that they had a couple of shooter/shot options. Good selection of beer and even some wines. I really enjoyed both my Mexican candy shot and the purple heater shot that Jordan recommended for me and a friend. Drinks were cold and they kept flowing. Easy to give this spot 5 stars as the service was good, atmosphere was welcoming, and reasonable prices for being on Main Street. I'd definitely come back and would be happy to try some appetizers next time to see how the food is. My only baby upgrade is that the patio cushions on the chairs need a good wash or to be replaced. Otherwise everything else was clean from the tables, to the bar area, to the restrooms etc. The patio just needs a tiny bit of TLC which a couple of us noted. We had a great experience here though and I'm glad we stumbled upon this spot. read more

The Twist on Main - Guinness and a Mexican candy shot - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Ventura, California

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Fun place to hang with friends. This spot does need a bit of TLC. Service was great. Friendly staff! Did not taste the food but would be willing to come back. Very chill on a Thursday.. not busy. read more

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Dear Hubby and I kept saying that this space looked very familiar. We thought we had dined there several businesses ago. We couldn't remember the name that it went by then, or even the type of food that they served. Now it's predominantly a bar. The main draw was a live trio of gentlemen playing and singing. We decided to order drinks, find a table, and enjoy the music. There was no one to greet us when we went inside. After scoping out the scene, we fell in line behind another patron who was ordering a drink at the bar. A busy bartender and his assistant seemed to be the only employees in the place. They were so busy that neither one paid attention to us, either. Eventually, it was our turn. I received a, "What can I get you?" kind of welcome. Dear Hubby asked to sample a couple of their draft beers, as he wasn't familiar with their assortment. I asked if they had any zero proof beverages to make a mixed drink, as they appeared to have a full bar. The bartender looked at me like I was from another planet. Oh-kay, so he hasn't heard that non-alcoholic versions of popular spirit types is becoming a thing. (i.e., tequila, bourbon, whisky, gin, etc.) Whatever. I ordered a pineapple juice. By then, all of the tables that we'd seen as available when we walked in were now occupied. Many by people who weren't even ordering anything. Or maybe they were waiting for someone to come take their orders - likely someone who never would come, given the short-staffing situation. DH and I ended up at a stand-up counter outside adjacent to the band's stage area. We'd hoped to relax for a bit and maybe have a dance or two. With no dedicated space available on the outdoor deck area, that wasn't meant to be. Am giving two stars because there wasn't much pleasant about our visit to The Twist, other than the band. We only caught part of their last set, so that didn't help, either. Apparently they were only there from 1:00 to 4:00 in the afternoon for their Sunday gig. There might have been more music planned for later, but we didn't stick around to find out. It wasn't like we could ask the staff, since they were too busy to interact. read more

I came here for music Sunday night. Music was nice and very relaxing. I ordered a cocktail named Ocean blue, it tastes good.They put a cute fish gummy on the cocktail! That's very cute. Good service even though they were busy. I ate dinner already so I didn't try their food. The bar is located on Main Street in downtown Ventura. Maybe good place to have drinks after dinner! read more

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Chill spot on a Friday at 6:30. Mozzarella sticks tasted more like bread sticks filled with cheese. Not your usual deep fried fare. Titos's Mule delicious. Victoria was super sweet and kept checking on me. I definitely recommend this place for a first meet, group or solo dining. read more

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My first time in Ventura and I loved it! We stopped by the Twisted because they have a pianoist outside and the vibes were giving so we stopped by. The bar area was empty because everyone was enjoying the music outside. We came in to watch a game. The atmosphere was awesome. Indoor sound was chill. Not too loud. The bartender were attentive with us, probably because we were the only ones. But apparently they have a live band that start playing at 8! We got to enjoy a little bit of it, I wish we would have stayed longer to dance. We shared the mac and cheese. It was delicious. I also tried the pizza, dont have it pictured, but it was good. read more

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Good vibes, good pizza, good people! Plenty of street parking , they close off the street for pedestrians which is awesome! L.A. tourist here, thank you for the Blues music and incredible service. Would def recommend. read more

The Twist on Main - Pepperoni pizza the size of a medium, super thin yummy crust. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Ventura, California

We came in because we heard the live music. It was a Wednesday night and pretty quiet in downtown Ventura. We had the goat cheese pizza and some local beers. The venue was still decorated for Christmas. The staff was very friendly and the beers were good. read more

This was my first time back here since they changed it from Grapes and Hops. It looks so cute in here now ! The new seatings are so much more inviting and comfortable. Happy Hour is Wednesday through Friday 4pm-7pm . So I had 2 tequila and 7ups! We kept it simple and ordered: Blistered Shishito- ok this was paired so deliciously with their garlicky aioli and don't forget to squeeze the lemon wedge to top it off. Un-Wedged Salad- very refreshing and tastes so good . Cheese and Charcuterie Plate- such a beautiful presentation but the flavors didn't mingle well for me read more

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Stopped in for a quick drink and ended up staying for the live music and pizza. We tried the gluten free vegetarian pizza and it was amazing! Fully loaded with all the veggies. They had a great cocktail drink menu and wide selection of other beverages. This place was a whole vibe. Service was friendly and entertainment was great! I would definitely recommend for a fun time out with friends. read more

Gotta love the live music on Sunday -it's not usually what I listen to, but it was wonderful dancing music. Everyone was seated outdoors, even if they weren't dancing, because the music gave a wonderful liveliness to the air. The staff were friendly, and the cocktails were excellent. I enjoyed the Bull-winkle, which was a great size and not too Red Bull-y, but still gave the energy I needed; and my partner had the Dark Side of the Moon which was an excellent twist on a margarita. Will come again to enjoy the ambiance and let loose! read more

The Twist on Main - Dark Side of the Moon - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Ventura, California

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What a surprise! I accidentally found myself at The Twist this last Sunday and I was not disappointed! I was initially drawn to the place due to the live music out of the patio. I decided to sit down and have a drink and enjoy it as well. A young lady named Jamie came over to help me and I couldn't have asked for anyone better! She made recommendations, was polite and a joy to be around. She very attentive to me even though it seemed like she was running around to every table. Which brings me to the second half of this review. I got up to use the restroom inside and noticed that there was another employee working as well. (Which by the way Jamie was running around, I would not have guessed that) "Working" may not be the right word. He was sitting down just talking with friends for the whole duration of time that I was there. I walked up to the bar to see what beers they offered because Jamie let me know that they rotate. Not once was I greeted or acknowledged by the other employee. He seemed too busy chit chatting to even realize I was standing there for what felt like 5 minutes. I'm not sure if management is aware of this employee and his lack of customer service but something needs to be done about that. When i was finally greeted with a "What do you need, boss?" I was too annoyed to even order anything. Overall, The Twist surprised me in a good way. I thought for the longest time that it was a wine bar. Come to find out that their schedule and weekend line up is anything but that! I will definitely be coming back on a weekend to see what else goes on here! 5 stars for Jamie 1 star for the other read more

I had the worst experience here today on Thursday night 2-29-24. My husband and I walked in about 8pm because they had a live band playing. We were standing close to the bar, so the bar tender asked if we wanted anything we said no we were ok. I wanted to hear a few songs play to make sure I wanted to hang in there long enough to order some drinks. Five minutes later the same bar tender (tall, skinny, longish black hair & maybe facial hair) asks again if we want anything I said no because it was barely the second song so I wasn't sure yet if I wanted to stay... next thing you know he shouts out "the band is for paying customers only" I was like wth my husband was so offended he was let's go so we left. Super rude and the thing is we come here often and we have never been treated so rudely. Management needs to do better about how people get treated here even if they are not "paying customers" huge disappointment read more

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Ew spring summer drink Menu. Great bartender and servers. Good food. Lots of entertainment from music to trivia. read more

The Twist on Main - Menu - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Ventura, California

Pretty cool spot. Normally have music on weekends on the outside patio which is pretty cool! Service was friendly last time they gave me a free birthday shot!! Prices are fair! read more

The menu is not large. On a Saturday afternoon when we where here they had a cvs pretty good jazz band playing. The service was good. The food was real slow coming out. We are sitting outside. They have 10 - 15 tables outside. Really setup for party's of no more then 4's. They can most likely put them together. They have warmer outside if it is cool. Music was wonderful. But, we are still waiting for food. Very, very slow service. They said they are getting rid of the guy, trying to get a new one. It took at least 45 min to get our food. And they had to come back and ask us again. I am still waiting for my salad. Wedge salad was one of the worst I have ever had. And her Italian sandwich was missing provolone cheese. This is a nice place for a drink and listen to the live band. But, do not order food or plan to eat. A four on my reviews is a high rating. To be a five you must be over the top with great food and service and not a large chain. Privately owned. read more

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Wonderful afternoon listening to live music and enjoying small bites. Typically not a fan of charcuterie board but everything on ours was fantastic. All high quality items. The spinach artichoke dip was the home run. Full of flavor and easy to spread. Could eat the dip none stop. Server was also cool and helpful. 5-stars read more

The Twist on Main - Charcuterie board and spinach artichoke dip - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Ventura, California

So much fun!! Great music. Fun atmosphere We can't speak of the food because we came by at 9pm read more

Awhile ago I received an invitation via FB to attend the Grand Opening for The Twist on Main. I was familiar with the location, plus I'm always down to support local businesses. I enjoyed every bit of the experience. Normally, I ignore "the house wine" on the menu. Turns out it was so good I bought 2 bottles. And the band RadioXX were phenomenal! The waitstaff and kitchen didn't seem to be in tune so food and drinks were slow at times but it was opening night, so you're bound to have a few hiccups. I'm excited to see what they do next. Keep up the great work! read more

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A fantastic spot for outstanding live music, great food and beer along with a healthy dose of fun people watching. Highly recommend especially on a Sunday afternoon. Terri, the owner is super friendly and Dave selects the greatest acoustic acts. The Twist on Main has quickly become our go-to place. read more

The Twist on Main - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Ventura, California

Wonderful atmosphere. Friendly staff and the food choices are awesome. Excellent wine selection at reasonable prices.

This bar is one of the best on Main. During October they had great decorations. They have great drinks, live music, and plenty of seating inside and out which was convenient because there was no wait. We ordered a few appetizers, the Shishido peppers were so good. I look forward to returning and will definitely be here next Halloween. read more

The Twist on Main - Live bands stage - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Ventura, California

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Great staff and drinks and always great music! The twist is great place to listen and dance to great live music.. older crowd, the younger place is next door. I always have a great time. read more

So impressed with the staff. Jordan called me back to let me know the performers he told me 30 minutes earlier would be giving a performance has cancelled. This was a surprise and is above and beyond. You have a good team working there. read more

Great experience two times this weekend! Stopped by Friday around 530p. Had some sparking rose' and the burrata ciabatta. Live music and great people watching from the patio. Came back Sunday at 11A for some sangria and cheese and charcuterie. A little more chill before the band started up, but great service and experience both times. read more

The Twist on Main - Red Sangria. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Ventura, California

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I'm here with two friends on opening night. The staff have been accommodating The place is a buzz with a crowd of people who bring a very good vibe themselves. We are enjoying two of their craft cocktails" the Darkside of the moon" and" sweet child of mine". The drinks are a class act in themselves. We are enjoying the most amazing truffle mushroom flatbread, Also the most tasty beautiful beet salad. Who would have thought almond butter could be such a great addition to a beet salad. We also enjoyed the spinach artichoke dip in a fresh bread bowl. So far great food, drinks, atmosphere, music and great service. Whatever you do Twist on Main, don't change a thing. I love it all. read more

this place was so sick!! we had a show cancelled down the street at bombay and they let us move here last second. owners are super chill, food was great! read more

The mozzarella sticks had freezer burn taste. The menu is basically pizza. The tots were undercooked and also had a freezer burn taste. We didn't eat them and they wouldn't take them off. GROSS!!! Don't eat here! read more

Came here over the weekend for a late lunch and to catch the live band. It was a nice relaxing Saturday outdoors.. The music was great and we loved everything we ordered. We got a few things for the table. Best things in my opinion were the au jus steak sandwich, the mushroom truffle flatbread, the spinach artichoke dip, & jalapeño popper grilled cheese sandwich. Decent prices for the drinks as well and good customer service read more

The Twist on Main - Jalapeño popper grilled cheese and wedge salad - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Ventura, California

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Well, I am a woman of integrity and my word. I am truly grateful and blessed that The owner of Twist on Main, Teri, reached out to me herself, and took full accountability for this unfortunate hostess and experience. She has restored my faith in good humans and business owners. Teri, Thank You for being genuine and heartfelt. I am excited to keep enjoying The Twist on Main. It is after all, a quaint establishment. Looking forward to the Country Nights on Wednesdays! read more

Came here on a Tuesday night and got to meet Jordan and Jake who were super awesome and gave great service! They recommended their goat cheese pizza with caramelized onion pizza and it was delicious will def be back, thank you!!! read more

Spent St Patrick's day here with friends had a wonderful time. They had two DJs both were fantastic. They have a great selection of beers and they had green beer to celebrate! The servers were very nice and the decorations were cool. read more

Having recently moved to the area I was looking for a new local place for entertainment and found The "Twist on Main" in downtown Ventura. I love everything about it! Food is always well prepared and delicious. Good service. Delightful signature cocktails with rock n roll names. And best of all it features LIVE music A Wonderful and intimate live music venue. Various bands of various genre are featured nightly on the inside stage and on the patio on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. This place is great! And it's pet friendly! You should check it out, you'll be glad you did. read more

This is under new ownership after being a great wine bar for years, but things have changed. I was hoping for the same vibe but they have made changes that have made the experience not so good. The music is way too loud for a restaurant and they really need go understand that people aren't here for a concert...they are here to eat and socialize as well! The food is overpriced and the music is so loud you cannot even socialize during the meal! Anyway, I won't ever pay fifteen dollars for a wedge of iceberg lettuce they buy at the store for less than a dollar so unless they turn the music down I won't come back for even that! Sorry Twist...You could do so much better. read more

We were seated immediately. We had to ask for someone to serve us after 15 mins of waiting. We were ready to walk away. The tables are not cleaned after people leave. No one knew what they were doing and argued over who should serve us. Will NOT return. Very disappointed. But the live music was great read more

This place has great drinks, appetizers, and live music. We can't wait to return and try the rest of the menu. The service was excellent and the Halloween decor was quite an experience. read more

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The Twist is a VIBE! I just went there for the first time and I really enjoyed it. To start, the atmosphere is great, whether it's the musical decorations or the live musicians playing there! I ordered the Jalapeño poppers and the Dark Side of the Moon. BOTH were phenomenal. Highly recommend if you ever need a new spot to try or have a date night coming up! read more

Fantastic! Live the service, drinks, food & music! On vacation and found this gem! Great bloody marry! Nice outside seating to people watch and listen to music. read more

The Twist on Main - Candied bacon BLT! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Ventura, California

I love this places food, drinks, vibe, and service. They get packed on Fridays and those servers look like they are spinning trays with a smile! The owner is always there making sure her customers are happy, sitting back and watching the vibe and what enhancements can she make. Her target audience seems to be 40+ and upper middle class...that's the vibe I get. It was previously a much older crowd, but that seems to have evolved. The bands are great and not always local, but the crowd definitely dances. If you like to watch people this is a perfect venue. Please note, if you are going to enjoy the bands that a restaurant brings for your entertainment, buy food and drinks in support of our local venue...don't be a stingy taker (I see that too much in Ventura in Surrounding area) and if you are going to sit for hours taking up prescious seats you better be eating and drinking out of respect or give up the table to someone who will. OK, I'm off my soap box. The charchuterie (sp?) is pricey at $18, but there is enough for two people and it's awesome! I have had both the cheese and meat and they are better put together than if I did it myself. I prefer the cheese because you get some very interesting cheeses...not the "safe" cheeses other restaurants give, but cheese that pairs well with the other items and tastes yummy and intriguing! Makes my mouth water thinking about it! Next, I want to try the jalapeño grilled cheese sandwich and hummus board. I miss the homemade pretzel bites...those were out of this world! The spinach dip is not too cheesy and so good! They also have gluten free flat breads and chips. I've had probably three flat breads and I love them all depending on my mood. I'd like to see more Sonoma or Lodi wines on the menu...specifically a smooth full body cab. During summer roses and Sauvignon Blanca are always refreshing. They have us covered! I believe they have music 6 days a week. Nice place to chill and eat with a cool beer or glass of wine. The art on the walls will keep you intrigued. Bathrooms are always clean. Crowd is always friendly! I love how even though we are close to our neighbors tables they aren't too close and sometimes you can strike up some good conversations with others and maybe even dance. Love it all! Let's get some quality singles coming to vibe at The Twist! There...I said it! Get out there and dance unabashedly! read more

Now that this place has changed hands again, I am updating my review. We stopped in on Saturday night to see one of our favorite local bands and have a couple of drinks. The new owners are nice. We did not see even one of the many regulars that were guaranteed to show up every time the Dive Bar Messiahs play there. So glad Terri sold the business, and hoping that the new owners can turn it around. The name though: "Twist on Main"? What does that even mean? The decor needs some work. The rock album covers that Terri's boyfriend Dave put up probably should come down, seeing as the establishment is not a record shop for boomers. The place was pretty empty for a Saturday night considering that it was always packed when Tammy owned it. read more