My good friend and I decided to go to Brunch on a Sunday and our choice location was Immigrant Son Cafe in Ventura.
It was a chilly day, but we decided to get seated outside if it meant we would get seated sooner, since we were both hungry.
We were seated just outside of the restaurant, outside of their wood built outdoor area in a cute cafe table perfect for 2 people, 3 at most.
We chose are prospective dishes quickly and easily. The waiter got our orders and left.
This is what we ordered... Salmon Eggs Benedict, side of soup of the day, which was tomato, eggplant parm sandwich/panini and a side salad. I ordered a water w/light ice and my friend wanted a cup of warm water because she was just getting over a cold.
We got our food in a reasonable about of time, and my water w/ light ice was brought out as well. I began eating, but noticed my friend was not digging into her food. She was having very small tastes of the food, but was waiting on the water. When the waiter would pass by, she'd politely ask if he could bring her, her cup of warm water. He kept saying he would, but it took an additional 2 attempts, so a total of 3 attempts before anything was done about it.
She was parched and did not want to start eating until she had water because she did not want to choke on her food. It was about 15 minutes before she would get her water and start eating. She asked another wait staff for regular water because clearly, our waiter was not prioritizing her water.
Have you ever been in that position? I hate it. It's when you are really in need of the simplest of things, but cannot do anything about it. I think that is why I almost always travel with a water bottle. I just don't trust that when I need something as essential as water, that someone will fetch it as urgently as needed, especially if a restaurant is short staffed. They are typically frazzled and understandably so.
But that was not the case here.
I hate to gripe over something that seems so trivial, but it does impact the dining experience.
The salad was very good, but it was clear they are trying to save money. There wasn't much salad in the salad bowl. The dressing was very delicious, that is why I wish there was more salad. Maybe next time, I will get a full salad. I really enjoyed it. The Eggplant Parm Panini was more a sandwich than a panini. It was obviously toasted, but it did not at all look pressed. So, please don't call something a panini if it isn't. I would have ordered something else had I known that. I was really looking for something that had a texture of a real panini and I wanted the sandwich to be hot with the ingredients hot and oozy as well. Thats what makes an amazing panini in my opinion, but everyone has their preferences.
The restaurant was nice. It was tastefully decorated. I loved the colors. Blue is my favorite color and I loved that it was one of the main colors used. The bathroom was nice and clean. The staff was friendly. And parking was easy to access and close, but not right next door.
And even though our food was good, it wasn't exactly what I had hoped or expected.
I think the videos I have seen about this restaurant was very effective, but it didn't quite live up to the hype. Also, the prices were a bit high for a breakfast/brunch spot. I do realize that inflation and price of eggs right now ($6.99-9.99/dozen eggs) is insane, so maybe that's a factor.
Everything was $5-7 more than other restaurants of the same caliber. And I know that my choice of life style affects my review (I do not eat meat and try to avoid dairy as much as possible), but I wish they had more vegan/plant based options. They had vegetarian options, but I would have preferred more options. Even oatmeal with fresh berries and oat milk would have been amazing.
I may consider going back again, but not any time soon. And I am hoping they take into consideration adding more vegan/plant-based options. They don't have to be anything crazy. Like a mentioned, I would have been happy with oatmeal as well.
I read somewhere that people love to dress up and go to brunch here. I could see that being true. It is in a very "Instagrammable" due to the decor, location and the people that pass by.
It's definitely a fun place to eat and can be "SUCH A VIBE", so please, do not let my person experience deter you from coming and experiencing this place yourself.
The breakfast carbonara pasta looked amazing. If it did not have meat it in, I would have gotten that!
Come check out Immigrant Son Cafe! read more