My wife wanted to visit a nice restaurant with a view for our anniversary. I opened Apple Maps and checked the pismo beach area and Ventana Grill was the first restaurant that stood out to me based on location, therefore, I made a reservation. Note that the parking lot, depending on which day you go, can fill up very quickly. The location is right off of the 101 and easy to find. We checked in and was seated within 10 minutes at a booth that overlooked the beautiful views of the Pismo Beach coast line. Our server, a younger black woman, who told us her nickname was 'TiTi', if I'm not mistaken, was wonderful. Her personality and hospitality was infectious and exceeded 5 stars. She brought us fresh hot corn and flour tortillas with a small cup of brown sugar butter and three different salsas to try. Everything was delicious. We ordered the surf and turf special which was a jumbo shrimp on top of a filet mignon that rested on mash potatoes and a creamy/savory white sauce. We also ordered the lobster Mac and cheese. Everything was exceptionally good. My only takeaway would be that I found the food, especially the lobster Mac and cheese to be pretty salty. Definitely excited for my next visit. read more

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This restaurant has a beautiful beachfront location with gorgeous ocean views, making it a great spot to enjoy a meal with family. We had a reservation for a birthday dinner and arrived about 30 minutes early. We were told we'd be seated closer to our reservation time, which was completely understandable. However, as we waited, we watched several groups (including walk-ins without reservations) get seated before us. Even after our reservation time had passed, we had to check in with the host again before we were finally seated, despite there being plenty of empty tables. The service at the front definitely could have been handled better. The food, on the other hand, was very good with a great variety of options. I loved that they start you off with freshly made tortillas, cinnamon butter, and salsa to share. I ordered the Campechana de Mariscos, which was fresh, generously portioned, and perfect for sharing. We also had the Molcajete, and it was delicious! It came with a great mix of steak, chicken, chorizo, jumbo shrimp, nopal, and cheese. The portion was generous and easily enough for two people. Other dishes we ordered also included the pozole, chicken nachos, and lobster mac and cheese. Everything was delicious as well! The mac and cheese especially. For drinks, I tried the Golden Hour nonalcoholic cocktail, and unfortunately, I wouldn't recommend it. It tasted like watered-down ginger beer with no carbonation and only the faintest hint of pineapple. It was more on the bitter taste. Overall, this is a great restaurant for the ocean views and flavorful food. The portions are generous, and there's something for everyone on the menu. The only downside was the host service and the unnecessary wait despite having a reservation. I'd still come back for the food and the scenery. read more

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View: 10000/10 Food: 7/10 Clam chowder was very thick and gummy - not my favorite. Big chunks of clams were awesome but some had sand. :( Calamari - tasty but also greasy. Only recommend it if you have a strong tummy. It came with 3 sauces which is nice. Service was fast and attentive. We thoroughly enjoyed the view from the bar seats and the outside. They also have an awesome selection of cocktails. read more

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Very disappointed in my experience. I've been to Ventana years ago and always enjoyed the food and service. But it just wasn't great anymore. The waiter was not very pleasant. He spoke very quickly, didn't smile and seemed to just want to get through the order. In addition, his accent made it even harder to understand. Our drink order was messed up. They gave us the wrong drink as a freebie which we didn't like. I guess to make up for the mix up. Then our dinner came immediately before our tortillas as appetizers. Catch of the day was sea bass with a few veggies and rice. Definitely not special. The flourless chocolate cake was dry. Overall a very underwhelming dinner. So sad. Probably not going back. read more

This was our first dinner spot for our honeymoon trip. 1st off the view was unbelievable!! Literally gorgeous! Roberto (our waiter) was incredibly attentive and kind. We both ordered the surf & turf with poblano mashed potatoes. Those taters were phenomenal! Steak was cooked perfectly. They also made our go-to drink, a Mexican martini, which was off menu. & They nailed it! 10/10 recommend! read more

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We were looking for a place to have dinner to celebrate our anniversary. We looked around yelp the night before and found this gem. We made a reservation for the next day. We originally made our reservation for 7:30 p.m.... we then decided we wanted to perhaps change it to 6:30. We called ahead and hopes that they could accommodate us. They said they couldn't promise anything but they would try. We showed up around 6:15. And they sat us down around 6:35. We had a beautiful window seat overlooking the ocean and had a perfect view of the sunset. I forgot our server's name but he was amazing. This place sounds fancy and bougie but it's really not. The food might be, but the vibe is not. There's no dress code. Everything we ordered was soooo tasty and delicious! We ordered fish and chips, baked clams, a wedge salad, and seafood pasta. For drinks we had two mocktails that were just okay. We also got a couple of flour tortillas with some cinnamon butter and a salsa trio. Our server suggested we spread butter inside the tortilla and drizzle our favorite salsa inside. So good. After dinner we decided to walk around the restaurant and appreciate the views. I'm so glad we came here. We will definitely come back next time we come to Pismo Beach read more

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Lunch at Ventana Grill right when they opened and this place delivered. The views alone are worth the stop, but the food backed it up. Service was attentive from start to finish. Ordered the carne tacos and they were excellent -- great flavor, good sear on the meat, and everything tasted fresh. The spicy margarita was refreshing with just the right kick. Definitely a spot I'll be coming back to. read more

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Beautiful views, nice staff, good food. Came up for my birthday weekend and made reservations for 7 p.m., husband requested a window seat and about 25 min after out reservation time we were able to get one. The starter campechana De mariacos was good and was HUGE, but wish we would have got more then three little packs of crackers. It was really busy so didn't get to ask for more before the food came out. The three different salsas were also great! My husband had the molcajete and I had fish and chips, I was too full from the starter to eat the main, my husband too, but he ate it the next day and said it was amazing! I never got around to eating the fish but my husband said it was good too. The view was amazing, go there for this. More authentic Mexican food is abound in California. read more

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The service was amazing! The food was excellent! We especially loved the shrimp cocktail & ceviche! Would highly recommend this restaurant to friends and family. read more

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Another wonderful time at Ventana Grill - our yearly stop. Thank you for the delicious food and friendly service. We shall see you next time. Note: lunch time during the week is quiet and so pleasant to enjoy the ocean scenery. read more

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Super delicious Latin American food! The fresh tortillas as a starter were so good paired with the cinnamon butter and salsas. Also the molcajete was insanely flavorful!! It had a huge amount of protein and is def best shared between two people. I forgot our servers name but she was really helpful in providing recommendations and answering all of our questions. This restaurant has a very nice view of the beach so we were able to watch the sunset during our dinner. Would definitely recommend this place if you're in the pismo beach area! read more

Ventana Grill - Molcajete - Latin American Near Me - Pismo Beach, California

This place is INCREDIBLE. The service, location, food, this place literally hits every box for me that a great resteraunt would have. My co worker has been hyping this place is for YEARS and a word trip brought us out to Pismo so I finally got to check it out. Located right of the 101 highway in Pismo, you will find the Ventura Grill nestled right along the Pacific Coast. Truly a beautiful and magical location. Our host and server were incredible friendly and so helpful. We got seated over looking the ocean and it made it right in time for sunset. We orderd some Cadillac margaritas and enjoyed that sunset. The margaritas were fresh and so good! Menu has a great variety. Defenitly had to try the Tinga Flautas and the Enchilada Suizas and WOW. THEY BOTH WERE INCREDIBLE. Full of flavor, huge portion, and cooked to perfection. Very aunthentic Mexican food and I appreciated that. Every penny spent was so worth it in my opinion. If your in the Pismo area and looking for a place, don't look any further. YOU MUST COME TRY THEM FOR LUNCH OR DINNER. I also heard they have an incredible brunch with all you can drink mimosas and Bloody Marys. Thank you Ventana grill for the memorable dinner. Next time I'm in Pismo I will most certainly be back. Till next time. read more

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Amazing window view of the ocean. Server Cameron. Great job. Food very good. Great dollar value. Ohhh Fresca Margarita. Yes please. Easy freeway access. Enjoy life read more

Ventana Grill - Latin American Near Me - Pismo Beach, California

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Such a beautiful restaurant! We got a table right at the window and it was stunning. Food is really good too! We got the ceviche (yummy, super fresh) pozole (also delish) and the ahi salad which was so refreshing. The butter they bring you with the tortillas was 10/10. Really yummy overall and prices weren't bad. read more

Awesome restaurant wherein every table has a Fabulous view. The service is impeccable and liquor selection is wide. The handmade tortillas & sauces, the Calamari, Sea-bass, Mac & Cheese & Clam Chowder are all exceptional. read more

Ventana Grill - Latin American Near Me - Pismo Beach, California

This place was out of this world good! The ambiance, location, food, everything. We didn't have a reservation but were able to sit in the bar area upon arrival. The bartender/server was super nice and spaced everything out perfectly. We started with some of their homemade flour tortillas that they bring out with three salsas and a cinnamon honey butter. We also did chips and guacamole. All very good. The Pazole was excellent and the chile rellenos and chicken enchiladas were some of the best we have ever had. Just look at the pictures. The best part was this was 1/2 of the price of the nice seafood place we ate at the night before. This will be a definite stop in the future. read more

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It was our regular place to be every time we are in Pismo, couple years ago we went there 4 days in the row, it was that good to us, but not this year sevrvis was not great didn't do no water refill needed to ask 2 times still didn't refill the tea for my dad, nachos was disappointing, clam chowder was cold, I hope they fix it, still Pismo is my favorite place to relax read more

I ordered the almejas al vapor (steamed clams), and they were honestly the best I've ever had. We also got the quesabirria, which my son gave a 10/10. The Coconut Breeze mocktail is incredibly refreshing. My husband ordered the campechana, it was loaded and super satisfying; they definitely don't skimp on portions here. We can't wait to come back! Our waitress, Sakheela, was incredibly kind, gave great recommendations, and was just an all-around wonderful person. We can't wait to come back! read more

Ventana Grill - Coconut breeze, handmade tortillas and salsa - Latin American Near Me - Pismo Beach, California

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The food was exceptional. We had shrimp cocktail, clam chowder (the best ever), Fish and chips. It was my husband's birthday The waiter was excellent, and the ambiance was incredible. Looking out the windows at the ocean, seagulls, and pelicans was a delight. read more

The food was really good. Every plate had food beautifully placed and the food looked so fresh. The views are amazing and interior is beautifully decorated. I am sure this place looks even better when it's sunny. Drinks were good but it was the food and the view that really stood out for us. You can not go wrong with any of the choices. The service was great and friendly. I would have loved ti be seated near the window but no seat has the bad view. Every seating is ocean facing. A great place for special occasions read more

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Stunning space! Fish and chips were really good too! Along with the fresh complimentary flour tortillas and butter. Don't know if it's a must revisit for me, but did enjoy my meal there! read more

We came for lunch at 2pm, just after brunch ended and had to wait 20 minutes for a table because we couldn't make a lunch reservation. We were seated by the window and had a beautiful view of the ocean. The ambiance for the first hour was very loud, very busy, and although service was very friendly, it was a bit slow. The chips and guacamole was excellent! My seared ahi salad was good, but had too much dressing. My friend loved her ceviche--very flavorful, with 4 different dipping sauces. Parking is available in the lot onsite. I'll go back for lunch on a weekday when it's not so busy because the food is good. read more

Ventana Grill - Sesame-seared Ahi Salad - Latin American Near Me - Pismo Beach, California

This might be one of my favorite places in the central coast. Excellent service, perfect view for dining, and food was great. We went at lunch and it was not busy, we sat on one of the booth window seatings and it was great for my wife's birthday. The waiter Taylor made great recommendations and I was surprised how fast the calamari, birria tacos, and fish tacos came out. Our favorite was all 3. Fish tacos if you want something light and the birria tacos are probably the best in town. We will be back. read more

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A huge draw of this restaurant is the view of the ocean and the birds flying by. We were lucky enough to snag a table by the window and it was just great. We dined in late afternoon so that's probably why we were able to get this great table. The food was fantastic. I had pasta con mariscos and I cannot recommend it enough. It was so tasty and it was a very large portion so I was able to take some home for the next day. Two days of eating pleasure! Honestly, I cannot remember what my dining companion had because I was so focused on how good my food was. Ha ha. The service was fine, not notable. I definitely recommend this restaurant. read more

Ventana Grill - Fish with vegetables - Latin American Near Me - Pismo Beach, California

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Great place, great food, great prices. The photos do not do this place justice, much better in person and the views are amazing! Staff are attentive and friendly, place is clean and well kept. The reviews make this place seem boring, but it's wonderful and one of our new favorite spots. read more

We chose this place for dinner as it looked like a more upscale Mexican restaurant. Located on the cliffs, it has a great view of the ocean. Service was friendly and attentive, it was nice they gave us tortillas and salsas as an appetizer. I ordered the carne asada nachos as my entree, my wife got the molcajete surtido, and the kiddo got a cheeseburger. My carne asada nachos were huge, I didn't even finish them! They were tasty too and a good amount of meat. The molcajete surtido was likewise huge and tasty! A very unique dish with several different kinds of meat. Next time we'll split that and it will be great! A little on the pricier side (especially if you are thinking about regular Mexican food) but the portions are good and it has a great view and atmosphere. read more

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We go to Ventana Grill every time we visit the central coast. We love the service and the food. The fresh homemade tortillas, instead of bread is a treat. The ambience is not too noisy and has a beautiful view of the ocean. We were there for the sunset, which was beautiful. A special shout out to our server, Hailey. She provided great service with a smile and a great attitude. We will definitely be back when we visit the central coast again. read more

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Fun restaurant perched right over the cliff facing the water. The food is fresh and delicious.the Halibut was fresh and cooked perfectly. The tortillas are home made and delicious The shrimp were really large and delicious. Good service and great atmosphere. read more

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Great location and views! We got an awesome table next to the window and enjoyed a great dinner. Sergio was a nice and attentive host. When I had an issue with my drink, he was more than accommodating to bring me a new one. We enjoyed all parts of our meal. Noteworthy are the fresca margarita, surf & turf, and ceviche. They have a pretty large parking lot and we got great parking, but on a busy evening I can see it getting packed. I'd recommended coming early for your reservation and waiting in their nice lobby until your table is ready. read more

TLDR : Fancy, upscale dinner with a view. Tried Ventara during our weekend in Pismo and did not have reservations but were able to grab a seat at the bar and loved it. The drinks and appetizers were good - loved their old fashioned. But the view from the bar was absolutely wonderful especially at sunset. read more

Ventana Grill - Flautas - Latin American Near Me - Pismo Beach, California

Had my first dinner visit 5-25-25 and it was great. The staff are all very nice and helpful. They make sure and check in on you so you always have everything you need. The food and drinks hit the spot. The views of the ocean are awesome. I highly recommend you check them out. I'll be back for sure. Plenty of parking, clean restrooms, and a walkway that wraps around the building with nice views of the ocean. read more

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What a great experience at Ventana! From the views to the food to the service, nothing disappointed. Our waitress Alyssa was extremely friendly, and helped guide us along the menu. We tried the halibut and the shrimp and both dishes were fantastic. Fresh tortillas were brought out before the food and those were incredible as well--warm and soft and definitely tasted homemade. Make a reservation though, it was packed when we got there but we were seated right away with the reservation. Can't wait to come back when we're in the area! read more

Ventana Grill - Halibut and shrimp - Latin American Near Me - Pismo Beach, California

Had drinks and an entree. Both were excellent. The ocean view is the best in town. Really nice staff too.

We loved this place so much we went twice during our trip to Pismo, once was even to celebrate my wife's birthday. The food is incredibly authentic, full of flavor, and clearly made with care. Pair that with the beautiful views and it's hard to beat. Our favorites are the tinga flautas. Amazing food, great atmosphere, and a spot we'll always come back to when we're in the area. Highly recommend! read more

Ventana Grill - Latin American Near Me - Pismo Beach, California

So the wife and i got married here 15years ago! Went back now that we live here on a double date with the neighbors last night! The food was really good, but.... I felt like the ribeye could be a little better quality for the price. Dont get me wrong, it was good, but not awesome. For the most expensive thing on the menu, it could have been better. Everyone else loved the food and our waitress was fantastic. Got a seat right on the water and had a great time with friends. I'd say check this place out, but be careful if you are picky about steak. read more

Harried bartender all alone, clearly overwhelmed and not really a happy gal. Asked about the happy hour specialty cocktail of the day for $8 and she admitted there wasn't one. When I asked her what I could get for $8 she said something like a vodka tonic was it. Frankly I signed this unacceptable because this is advertised on both the website and the table menus, so I feel like it was a bait and switch. Even though our trusty bartender said it wasn't always really a very good cocktail just some kind of a bad flavored margarita, it needed to be offered and available. The other drink special is $2 off a $14 cocktail, so I settled for a Ventana Sunset, a gin drink so strong i could barely finish it with tiny sips. Husband had ordered an 805 beer, $10 for 22oz, but was delivered someone else's Modelo by a random server trying to help out, so he drank that instead. We definitely wanted to try the carne asada nachos based on the reviews, and they did not disappoint! With the beans on the side, it was still quite a pile in a bowl of crispy chips, heavy cheese some really quality steak, jalapenos and good crema and pico toppings. I also had a cup of pozole chicken Verde which was good but not brothy enough more like a stew. Very filling. The only disappointment was the taquitos de Camaron which were shrimp rolled in corn tortilla in a puddle of mole sauce, rhen topped with a lot of guacamole and garnish. The guacamole was good, the shrimp were unseasoned in the tortilla and bland. The dish was kind of visual mess. A male bartender came on near the end of our meal, but we did not order further drinks. I hope our gal had a better day after she left. The sunset view here is astounding and happy hour is only in the bar are so go early! read more

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One of the most magnificent and breathtaking views in all of Pismo Beach. The experience of dining while watching the coastal sunset unfold before your eyes creates memories that will last a lifetime. The way the golden sun dips below the horizon, painting the sky with vibrant oranges, pinks, and purples, while the ocean waves gently crash against the shore, truly makes this one of the most memorable and enchanting experiences that Pismo Beach has to offer! read more

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This place would not have the reviews it does if not for the view. The actual cuisine is mediocre. The view is absolutely stellar, and it was so peaceful sitting at our table watching otters play in the surf over dinner. We each got cocktails and my margarita was strong but had little flavor and was poorly balanced. My fiance got the Mexican Manhattan, which again was strong but the tequila overwhelmed everything else in the drink. Our food was fine- it tasted decent but was very salty and didn't feel like it was super fresh. It also was overpriced for the quality. Service was incredibly slow- our waiter was friendly but it seemed like they were likely understaffed and stretched pretty thin. Overall- if we were with someone who was dying to go here, we'd be fine going back. Otherwise, we'd skip it in favor of some of the better restaurants in the area. read more

Good food, good service, no Coke, that's a shame, only Pepsi and no Mountain Dew but it's ok.

Food was good. I just felt customer service should have been a bit better. With it being Mother's Day you think they would have made you feel more welcome and appreciated. Server was nice but a couple of things. Our food came out first then our child. She barely came around for drinks. I understand other tables needed to be attended. But I would maybe come back and refer this business to friends and family. read more