Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Cafe Zack

    4.4 (419 reviews)
    Closed 5:00 pm - 9:00 PM

    Cafe Zack Photos

    Business Info

    CAFE ZACK ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Intimate
    Quiet
    Dogs allowed
    Outdoor seating

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Cafe Zack

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Certified Angus Beef Filet Mignon
    Vee V.

    Hidden Gem With Exceptional Steak! We hosted our company Christmas dinner at Café Zack, and I was absolutely blown away by this hidden gem. From the warm, attentive service to the rich, bold flavors and cozy atmosphere, it truly felt like a magical holiday dining experience. We sat on the patio, which was perfectly heated and comfortable. Our servers gave amazing recommendations -- we started with the baked brie and the Tuscany pear salad, both of which were incredible. For our entrées, we all ordered their signature filet mignon with peppercorn and mushroom sauce on the side. The steak was buttery, tender, and full of flavor -- and the mushroom sauce was definitely a favorite! We ended the night sharing a decadent chocolate mousse pie that was unbelievably rich and delicious. My only regret? Forgetting to take pictures because we were enjoying ourselves so much! I can't wait to return. Easily a 10/10 experience!

    Salmon
    Jenai D.

    My husband and I held our wedding rehearsal dinner at Cafe Zack on Thursday, Sept. 18th with members from both sides of our families. The rain threaten to bring our party inside, but in the end the weather mostly held up and we were able to keep our original reservation outside. The restaurant set up a nice, long table outside on their patio with string lights and space heaters encasing us. Our waiter did a good job of managing such a large party and keeping tabs on everyone's wants and needs. The food was very delicious! I had the lamb and ate every bit. My husband had the salmon and my sister had a mussel and shrimp pasta. I took photos of those items, but honestly the whole table had various dishes and I only took my phone out occasionally to snap a few photos. Unfortunately I didn't take any dessert pics and couldn't eat any either because I was so stuffed, but it all looked really good. I did try the ice cream and that was really good and creamy. My sister and step mom both got the dumpling dessert and I had envisioned them being small / delicate, but in reality they were HUGE! All of our family members loved the restaurant and couldn't stop talking about how good the food was. Even my husband's French relatives were impressed and were joking about going back to eat there again before they left. I would also like to say a big thank you to the restaurant because one of my husband's uncle is vegan and there was a bit of a mix-up internally about his diet, but we had already booked the restaurant and didn't want to have to find a different place. Thankfully, they were willing to work with us to prepare a vegan dish for him so he could still attend.

    Mari I.

    This is a beautiful intimate restaurant perfect to enjoy a nice dinner. They have seating inside and outside. Service is very personalized and I noticed many of their guests frequented the restaurant often as the waiters knew them by name. That is always a great sign indicating great service and great food. My husband and I made a reservation for dinner and started off with their delicious crab cakes. They were made to perfection: crispy, light, and packed with flavor. I had 2 of their speciality drinks with mezcal and they were made just right. I ordered their prosciutto penne which was very filling and only ate half of the portion. The mushrooms and sun dried tomatoes were just the combination needed to pair with the prosciutto. We ended the night with their bread pudding with ice cream. While the picture I captured may not look appetizing you will have to simply order it to taste the rich pudding flavor. Overall we had a lovely dinner with delicious food!

    Chuck M.

    Great food, impeccable service. We sat outside on their cozy patio. We had a wide variety of dishes, all of which were perfectly prepared. The filet mignon was amazing. Prosciutto penne pasta, tye duck breast, the rack of lamb were all on point. They have a nice wine list.

    Mushrooms with garlic & black truffle oil - so so good!
    Tracy M.

    One word - AMAZING!!! Although a small, cozy establishment - the food was exceptional and service great.

    It was a rainy night, but so glad we went out
    Bonny G.

    We decided to go for a nice dinner on February 13 We arrived there, and everybody was in a good mood and it was a great atmosphere. It was pouring rain, but it did not bother any of us. I had the chicken PIZZIOLA and I mentioned to the waiter that I love artichoke hearts... I think they doubled the artichoke hearts. I was so happy. Mark had the bone in ribeye. Every once in a while, it's nice to go out to a grown-up restaurant and celebrate.. This is our celebratory restaurant. Thanks for making it such a nice evening for us

    Elisa P.

    Had such a great experience here! The food was delicious and service was great. I highly recommend making a reservation especially for the weekend dinner times (we saw some people get turned away without reservations). The filet mignon was incredible and if I'm ever in the area again I'm definitely ordering it. The restaurant is like a little house with a cute patio in the back. It's dark inside and very cozy and can get a little loud but seems like a great spot no matter where you sit.

    Just a little setting show off!
    John G.

    What a terrific little restaurant in Ventura! Cafe Zack's has a unique menu with such things as Slow Roasted Boar Shank oven roasted Milanese with a rich Demi-glacé or a Duck Breast prepared differently every day! They also make their desserts fresh everyday so they are ever changing! They do have a Great wine and Beer list and also have speciality drinks! Service was extraordinarily great friendly and fun. Definitely a must try if visiting Ventura CA

    Bread service
    Chuck G.

    We've come to Zack's twice, and well, I guess it's okay, but wouldn't be my choice. Let's start with the good...cute transformed old house in Downtown Ventura has a nice ambiance. The patio is super cute and heaters to keep you warm on the cool close beach proximity evenings. Water was constantly refilled without asking. The staff is super friendly and attentive. The food...meh! Our order included the 16oz cowboy rib-eye. It's cut at under a 1/2" thick and was likely closer to 10-11 oz. Ordered medium rare and came closer to medium to medium well. Last year they got my topping sauce wrong so I've had both the peppercorn and blue cheese. Both toppings are good. Steak is not a quality cut and the mid-grade Costco steaks are 200x better. The Tuscany salad...beautifully presented. Something was stale though, either the walnuts have been sitting around in the humid air too long or the Gorgonzola was getting old. Crab cakes...pretty good and a nice presentation. But, when eating the bed of lettuce noticed it was brown and wilty. Dessert had an Affogato. Google what an affogato should look like and what I expected to get. Instead I got an old ugly college cafeteria bowl full of espresso, a bit of Carmel at the bottom and two small scoops of ice cream that not only looked terrible, but was pure espresso tasting and too harsh on the palette to finish the night. Last year had the Apple dumpling and it was good but crust was still doughy. Probly good for a date night table for 2. Wouldn't suggest for a party. Waiter was a bit rushed and kept saying I'll be right back, the kitchen is getting backed up.

    Norwegian salmon
    Cheryl R.

    Café Zach is set in a whimsical house turned restaurant with quaint dining rooms and al fresco dining. Service was pleasant and comfortably paced. We enjoyed the Salade Maison with fresh ingredients. The Norwegian salmon was well seasoned and the green beans were perfectly tender. The only disappointment was the French Onion soup. The onions and broth were tasty, but the bread was not toasted and the cheese was barely melted and tasted like deli counter Swiss. A toasted bread with broiled Gruyère would take this to the next level.

    apple dumpling
    Bill T.

    wow, if I could give out 6 stars, this would be the place. Our new favorite for a fine dining meal in Ventura County. I can't believe we've been here nearly 10 years without dining here. At the reco of some friends (C Zak is their fav) 3 of us dined at 7pm--on a Monday the place was 75% full--a good sign. We opted for outside--nice weather, widely spaced tables, very pleasant and inviting. Matt our waiter was incredible--2 steps above--99th percentile in everything: pleasant, efficient, friendly, accurate, knowledgeable etc, etc. He brought us water, bread, drinks (which were very good). Everything was paced at our pace (which was a lot slower than most as we closed the place!). After Matt answered our questions, informed us of specials and what they did not have available that night (often forgotten by servers until after you order it!!!), my wife opted for the caprese salad and lobster ravioli. My buddy and I opted to share an 8oz filet and a wild boar shank, proceeded by split pea soup. The caprese salad was large and reported delicious-comparable to that she had in Italy 3 months ago. The Lobster ravioli was filled with chunks of actual flavorful lobster--sauce was excellent and portion generous. The wild boar was melt in your mouth tender as was the filet (we opted for the cracked peppercorn sauce which was excellent). The filet was cooked perfectly-med/rare pink but not bloody-which was appreciated. Lots of veggies (not overcooked). The dessert options were extensive--all memorized by Matt--with detailed descriptions. His 13 years of experience shows. We opted to share an apple dumpling with a full apple inside the puffed pastry and covered with caramel sauce and of course home made french vanilla ice cream on the side-awesome and huge even for 3 to share. In every way a phenomenal evening and meal. Yes it is on the pricey side but I can't remember ever having a perfect filet not to mention a wild boar shank and it not being a bit pricey. No corner cutting or skimping to get a meal like this. We will be back.

    See all

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    18 hours ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    9 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Chuck M.
    47
    238
    158

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Chuck G.
    4
    76
    326

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    28 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Eric G.
    214
    51
    10

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Steven C.
    78
    80
    11

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of S S.
    1
    43
    18

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Great service wonderful food. I didn't know about this hidden restaurant we are going for Thanksgiving. Can't wait.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Maria T.
    17
    42
    41

    1 year ago

    Birthday lunch for my daughter today. Delicious as always. Renovation came out beautifully patio very pleasant with our beautiful weather

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ava W.
    0
    15
    10

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 10
    Thanks 2
    Love this 8
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    4 months ago

    Quaint ambiance, friendly/professional service, and food consistently delicious and served hot every time.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Marion S.
    21
    43
    13

    5 months ago

    Really yummy food, a beautiful ambiance and very solicitous wait staff. All so lovely. I hope to come back many times!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Great service. Absolutely exceptional food, the peppercorn filled mignon was by far the best we've had.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 11

    Cafe Zack Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Cafe Zack

    How do you make a reservation here?

    Phone # on YELP

    View All 4 Questions

    You might also consider

    Rumfish y Vino - Cozy outdoor seating

    Rumfish y Vino

    4.4(1.5k reviews)
    0.7 mi
    $$
    Outdoor seating
    Private events

    One would never guess what is behind the simple Rumfish signage at the end of Main on Palm. My…read morefirst trip was years ago and I've been back several times since. It is great for any special occasion and offers inside and outside dining. I suggested this restaurant to my out of town guests to celebrate my dear friend's birthday. Rumfish did not disappoint. The Spring weather is beautiful in Ventura so we sat outside. Service is prompt and casual. It was crowded even on a Thursday evening, but the outdoor area is spacious. Everything from appetizers to dessert is fresh and first class. Seafood options are plentiful and seasoned perfectly. The only downside is that parking is limited - only one handicapped spot for two busy restaurants. No parking signs prevent street parking up Palm.

    Rumfish y Vino for Mother's Day…read more We made a reservation a week before and only had to wait about 10 minutes past our time, which honestly was not bad for such a busy day. The restaurant has a really cute Mediterranean/Italian vibe with gorgeous lemon trees and comfy patio seating. It was chilly outside, but the heaters made it comfortable. Staff was friendly, just very busy because of the holiday. Food took around an hour, but understandable for Mother's Day. The food was excellent. I got the flatbread with apricot jam and bacon, and it was such a good mix of sweet and savory with fresh arugula on top. Definitely recommend it. My boyfriend got the wagyu burger medium with fries and everything was cooked perfectly and served hot. Other people at our table got shrimp and corn, fish tacos, and burgers, and everything looked really good. Great place, will come back

    Photos
    Rumfish y Vino - Pork Belly Taco

    Pork Belly Taco

    Rumfish y Vino - Creole Seabass

    Creole Seabass

    Rumfish y Vino - Happy hour drinks!!

    See all

    Happy hour drinks!!

    Immigrant Son Caffe - Lil things that makes a huge difference, fresh flowers display on each table| 03.08.2025

    Immigrant Son Caffe

    4.7(1.1k reviews)
    0.5 mi
    $$

    A few weeks ago, my husband and I enjoyed a Saturday brunch at the Ventura location on our drive up…read moreto Paso Robles from Pasadena. At 9:30AM there was already a line with about 5 parties ahead of us. We only waited for about 20 minutes and we were able to sit al fresco to enjoy the sun & people watching. I ordered a Cortado with Oat milk for my espresso kick and my husband enjoyed the Tuscan Sunrise juice from the seasonal menu (fresh pineapple, orange, carrot, ginger, lemon and tumeric) that was refreshing and restoring. I loved their signature Breakfast Lasagna, which was fully stacked and hearty - layers of bacon, bechamel, prosciutto cotto, spinach, eggs, and mozzarella, all smothered in marinara and topped with a fried egg. It's more than filling and great to share with someone who ordered brunch entree on the sweet side like pancakes or Belgium waffles. My husband had the Chicken Avocado Bacon Panini with Swiss & cheddar cheeses, butter lettuce, garlic aioli and caramelized onions. He asked to omit the roma tomatoes. I had a bite and it was yummy...great for a lunchy entree. We finished the meal with another season menu item, the Pistachio Ricotta Cake. I could have ordered two...not to share, just for me. It was really good and I hope they keep it to their standard menu. The service was at a slower pace, but the server did check on us periodically. We'd definitely come back as we pass through and look forward to enjoying more brunchy Italian fare.

    Came in here for brunch few weeks back and had a really good experience overall. We had to wait…read moreless than 10 minutes to get seated - they have a nice mix of indoor and outdoor seaing which made the atmosphere feel comfortable and relaxed. It was easy to find and parking can take a little patience since it's downtown, but we ended up parking in the structure nearby. The service was friendly and attentive, and even though the place was busy our server came to check in on us multiple times and also gave us his recommendations. The food was fresh, flavorful, and certainly live up to the hype. We ended up ordering: - Avocado Pomodoro Toast: sub poached eggs with scrambled eggs - Focaccia Breakfast Sandwich - Oat Milk Caramel Latte Loved the decor and definitely worth checking out if you're in the area!

    Photos
    Immigrant Son Caffe - Caffe open to the outside.

    Caffe open to the outside.

    Immigrant Son Caffe - Breakfast Lasagna

    Breakfast Lasagna

    Immigrant Son Caffe - Vodka pasta in bread bowl

    See all

    Vodka pasta in bread bowl

    Lure Fish House

    Lure Fish House

    4.5(3.3k reviews)
    0.5 mi
    $$

    One of the nicest dining options in Ventura. Their Sunday…read moreHH are the best value- but seating fills up super quickly as you have to be in the bar area to receive HH pricing. Extensive craft cocktails, fresh raw and grilled oysters. This is the restaurant for when your parents are visiting, or if you want to impress for a date night. Ventura does not have many fancier date night restaurants so Lure's stands out.

    We found ourselves in the area earlier than planned for an appointment, so we stopped in for an…read moreearly lunch. Parking was easy across the street & thru the alley, in the lot with many 4-hr parking spots. Sarah was super warm from the moment we sat down to when we left. Friendly, spot on service, & such lovely energy! She gave us some recommendations - which were really helpful bc there are so many great-sounding things on the menu. We loved everything we tried: Bacon cheddar biscuits - the crunchy bottom crust, the bits of bacon throughout the tender middles, & the sticky glazed/chive topped tops were so so good. The whipped goat cheese butter was almost unnecessary. A must get! We saw others with baskets of fresh sourdough bread - we didn't get any, but we will next time. Sally's sand dabs - a generous amount of lightly floured, delicate wild caught fish with a delicious lemon butter caper sauce. My pineapple coleslaw & parm potato cake were excellent sides. This was super good. Grilled rockfish tacos - 2 large tacos, with our chosen side of miso brussel sprouts. Delicious, with big pieces of super fresh rockfish. Roasted butternut squash - this side of mapley glazed, heavily garlicky squash was delicious. There were a few lesser roasted pieces of squash mixed in but the ones that were more soft & roasty made it all delicious. The covered outside patio was slightly breezy & the option to have the heaters on or off was nice. Walking thru the inside, I saw their beautiful full-service bar & the inside booths. Really, all were nice places to sit in any of the spots. Restaurant manager Kevin brought out a couple of our dishes & said hello, asking how our meals were. Nice! Great food, menu choices for carnivores, pescatarians, veggies, kids, really everyone. Add to that the easy parking & warm service & that makes this one of my fave places in the area. I'd highly recommend coming here for drinks, snacks, lunch, dinner, anytime!

    Photos
    Lure Fish House
    Lure Fish House
    Lure Fish House

    See all

    Cafe Zack - seafood - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...