Recently stopped by this spot for my sister's birthday and wow... what a surprise From the outside, you wouldn't expect much--it gives small hole-in-the-wall vibes and doesn't look like anything fancy. But once you walk in, it's a completely different story. The inside is beautiful, with dim lighting that makes it perfect for a date night. The staff was incredibly kind and welcoming, answering all our questions and making the experience even better. We started off with drinks and ordered the raspberry lemon drops--and they were SO good. Super flavorful and honestly hard to stop drinking The bartender even came by to greet us and introduced a new drink he had just created. Of course we had to try it, and it did not disappoint--we ended up ordering a round for the table! For food, we weren't too hungry, so we went with a three-course option. We started with the mussels (not my personal favorite, but my sister loved them) and the clam chowder, which was a solid 10/10--so creamy and delicious. For the main course, we had the filet mignon, and it did not disappoint at all. Perfectly cooked and full of flavor. Overall, such a great experience--good drinks, great food, and amazing service. I would definitely come back! read more

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From the moment you walk in, the first thing you notice is how gorgeous and luxurious the space feels. Every detail, down to the utensils, feels intentional and thoughtfully designed. What stood out just as much as the decor was the staff. Everyone was incredibly accommodating, welcoming, and genuinely thoughtful. From helpful recommendations to little unexpected touches, the service felt warm and effortless. Now, the food. The menu made it hard to choose because everything sounded amazing. My friend ordered the cherry pancakes, and I had to try them. I did not expect to love them as much as I did. They were fluffy, full of flavor, and honestly didn't even need syrup. That's how good they were. I ordered the smoked salmon, tomato, avocado egg white omelette, and it was exactly what I was hoping for. Light, fresh, and still really satisfying. For drinks, we had coffee with vanilla creamer, and each of us was brought our own adorable little creamer carafe, which was such a cute touch. I already can't wait to come back. This place deserves way more buzz than it has right now. Go. Seriously. read more

Cassie was the best Great place for steaks for lunch! Will be coming back Reasonably priced for great steaks read more

We have been interested in this place since it's in our neighborhood and decided to give it a go and celebrate Mother's Day here. Upon arriving we were greeted with big smiles into a bright beautiful restaurant. Promptly seated and greeted by our server. We placed our cocktail orders and received our drinks pretty quickly. This was the best part of our visit...had we just gone for drinks then we would have given thumbs up, however we came for lunch and I am still fuming over our experience and the disgust on a plate we were served. First our food took FOREVER to come out. 90% of the restaurant was cleared, no reason for the kitchen to be backed up. Ok, good food takes time, so we patiently wait. When our food comes out I'm at a loss. Two of us ordered two DIFFERENT pasta dishes with two DIFFERENT proteins. We immediately noticed the proteins are on the wrong pasta dishes. One being shrimp the other being chicken. We immediately brought it to your servers attention to which she replied "so what is it that you want??" Ummm perhaps what we ordered?? She takes the plates away to the bar area where she's showing it off to other servers before coming back to our table to say the problem was in the kitchen...ok?? Within a couple of minutes she comes back out with our dishes...clearly the kitchen just picked off the protein and swapped it. Never once asking about if we had any allergies that could potentially be life threatening by picking off shrimp from one plate and tossing it on another. As soon as the plate is set down you can see the sauces are curdled...Alfredo AND vodka sauce. As I moved the pasta around trying to make sense of what I'm looking at I can see it's in a pool of oil. I take a deep breath and try to make the best of it...take a bite and it's COLD...the hits keep on coming. How could something so simple that took so long to come out be COLD!!! To say this experience was a disappointment is an extreme understatement. I'm completely disgusted and appalled by the quality of food we were served. I'd like to add the strip steak and filet mignon sandwich we ordered were both overcooked. For the sake of not causing a scene or further ruining my Mother's Day, we chose to not address it with the server who seemed to disappear after dropping our plates. I caution you to avoid this place for anything more than cocktails. Food is an atrocity. Whoever the chef is should be ashamed of what they put out. read more

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Sunday evening we decided to go for drinks and possibly food in this area. We came across this place for a drink. Once we walked in the Ambiance is beautiful. We decided to sit at the bar to get drinks, but after a few minutes of ordering our first drink, we noticed some ants crawling around and on the liquor bottles. I instantly stop drinking and made it known to 1 of the bartenders. ( older gentleman with glasses I forgot his name.) Although he was nice, he said ook killed one of the ants, and kept working. So a few minutes past and i seen few more ants arised, i let the other male bartender/waiter know instead of cleaning the area or anything, they both went on as if its normal and not concerning. We paid and just left, we were going to eat but since they didn't care we paid for our one drink and left. read more

Maria - your restaurant is amazing. The staff had the highest customer service standards and my family and I feel very taken card of. Everyone on Yelp is right, your bacon stuffed shrimp is delicious. your drinks are beautiful (especially the one with the smoke), and steaks grilled to perfection. It was hard to limit my kids to only two refills, and the premium sides were a bit small vs shareable. I am sad that prices went up for prefix, but understand that everything is going up in price these days. Will try to come back with my family for happy hour! I love your clam chowder! read more

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Excellent service and food definitely recommend! Atmosphere is amazing,parking and location is fantastic

Really good new restaurant. Got the calamari and shrimp fettuccine and it was really good. The appetizer salad was really good. They also have grilled calamari as an appetizer. One friend got salmon and really liked it. read more

Came for brunch and at first impression, this looked like a really nice fancy place. The decor seemed fancy, but that's where the good things stopped for us. I ordered the Chile Verde and Eggs. The Chile Verde was passable, but nothing id order again. The pork was tender but the salsa was unimpressive. The home potatoes seemed old and stale. They were barely warmed and had a crunch to them like they were leftovers. That said, we were the first customers of the day arriving shortly after they opened for the day. Service was stilted and not knowledgeable of the menu. I when I ordered the "Chile Verde and Eggs", she responded as if she wasn't familiar with that item and was scrolling through her electronic ordering device and finally replied, "oh, PORK Chile Verde and Eggs," as that is exactly how it's written on the menu. We asked if the steak and cheese omelet had any veggies in it, because we'd like an item with veggies. She said she didn't know for sure, but she "thinks" its just steak and cheese. Overall, not a place I'd race back to. The decor does give the impression of high quality and standards, but overall they need to up their food game and the servers really need to study the menu more when trying to be a fancy high quality restaurant. read more

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Excellent food service and atmosphere would highly recommend! A little pricey but worth it. read more

I was immediately impressed by the ambiance and beautiful classy decor. We sat at the bar and ordered sauvignon blanc, jumbo shrimp wrapped in bacon filled with cheese, and tuna tartare. The wine was smooth & the food was tasty! Bartenders, Chai and Jesus, provided exceptional service! We will definitely be back! read more

La Duquesa - Sauvignon blanc - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Ventura, California

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Amazing place, food, servers and drinks. We will be back soon and will be telling our crew. Great place! read more

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The restaurant ambience is quite pretty and the décor is really nice. However, the utensils felt a bit flimsy and the napkins were a thin, silky 2-ply material, which didn't match the overall aesthetic. I'm also not sure which demographic they're aiming for. I came in at 4pm but it felt like 8pm at an older, more traditional restaurant. The music was very low and a bit outdated, which added to the confusion in the atmosphere. We tried the breaded calamari and the grilled octopus. The calamari was good, but the octopus could have used a little more seasoning. I also ordered a lychee martini, which tasted slightly artificial. Overall, I think the restaurant has potential, but there are definitely some kinks to work out. I hope to visit again and see how they improve. read more

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I went in around 1pm and sat at the bar. There were a few parties seated nearby, and the ambiance was lively. The menu was extensive, honestly, a little overwhelming. Pages and pages of drinks, and the same for food. I ended up going with their house special, which came with a soup or salad, a lobster tail, a filet, and a side (loaded potato). Everything was delicious! The service was friendly, the price was great for what I ordered, and bonus points for the super comfortable bar chairs. My only critique is the overwhelming options to choose from on their menu. read more

La Duquesa - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Ventura, California

Very sexy place. The service is really good. Everyone is super attentive and knowledgeable of the menu. The food is good. I guess depends what you order! read more

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Amazing customer service. Great ambiance. The food and drinks were excellent. I will be returning. read more

My wife came across this new restaurant in Ventura on Nextdoor and we decided to try it. I was able to make a reservation online which is always a plus with me. We arrived a couple minutes late but were seated right away. We had a lovely plush booth which was extremely comfortable. We were offered water and then our server Alan came to our table and introduced himself and took our drink orders. I was driving so I just had Sprite and my wife had a glass of Sauvignon Blanc which she said was very good. The menu is quite extensive but manageable so after a couple minutes we made our selections. Alan brought our drinks and we placed our dinner orders. My wife had the grilled halibut which came with a choice of salads ( Caesar, house , garden etc...She had the house ) and a premium side of which she had the grilled asparagus. I had the 3 course meal which consists of an appetizer, salad, and entree. They are several choices of each course but I chose the Calamari ( I asked for the rings only since I don't care for the tentacles and they had no problem accommodating me) as my appetizer, the Cesar salad, and the 12oz. New York steak. Each course was timed perfectly and everything was AMAZING. The calamari was breaded wonderfully and both salads were delicious.My wife's fish was light and flaky and the asparagus was grilled to perfection. My steak was also cooked exactly the way I wanted it and along with the sauce it was served with was great. We shared a vanilla gelato for dessert. Great service by Alan and his supporting staff along with great food at a very fair price. We will be returning with friends and family and highly recommend La Duquesa. Well done everyone! read more

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I think this place could be super great. I just think a few things need to be changed with the menu. I wish the special they offer with the 3 courses came with an appetizer option that is not seafood. When I asked if I could substitute a non fish option the server said no. So no appetizer for me. The other thing is the mains not coming with a side. I chose the filet & it was served just a steak on a plate. I must have a side with my protein so I had to order the overpriced mashed potatoes. The decor was nice and served was polite. Include a side on the special menu & I may go back. read more

La Duquesa - Decor. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Ventura, California

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I had breakfast here this morning with a group. The restaurant is decorated in black and gold very pretty. The wait staff was friendly and welcoming. The waitress suggested the tuna sandwich as one of the favorites in that category. The orders took a very long time to b served. When mine came it was raw tuna . I was expecting a warm seared tuna steak sandwich. I immediately told the waitress. She asked me if I wanted the menu to order something else. I told her no as I didn't want to keep the rest of the party waiting. At that point I would have thought that management would have brought me an easy complimentary item like a dessert. They didn't explain that the sandwich was raw fish, that was their mistake. Also, I was sitting there with no food until my friend offered to share with me. To me this was a missed customer serving opportunity. Going a little extra to smooth things over goes a long way and it didn't happen in this case. read more

We're locals and this is our 4th time here. First time for Dinner. What a fantastic experience the wagyu rib eye was the best steak ever. the service was the best. Alan was great and so attentive. Please don't miss this opportunity as a visitor or local. read more

La Duquesa - Dessert - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Ventura, California

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Food was amazing, well cooked and great selection of drinks. Also, service was superb and the ambiance was fancy.We will return for sure! Great job!! Must try! read more

Today was the first time having breakfast here and our table for four all loved our choices! Always top-rate service and delicious dishes. My Huevos Rancheros was amazing and I would order again, but I'm looking forward to trying their other dishes as well. New on the scene, you must try!! read more

Came for a birthday. Restaurant is stunning, bathroom doesn't match the place, felt like a gas station bathroom. The food and drinks look instagramable, however no taste. Service was great,. feel like they need to improve their menu to make it taste better. We were a party of 8 and 4 of us did not like the food, one was returned. The menu said grilled calamari, instead chef prepared it with garlic butter sauce, very bland, looked boiled, no taste. Maybe breakfast is better, it's a new place, I'll give it a year to try it again. read more

We do I start? Walking in I thought it was in Dracula's dining room with Elvis blaring on the sound system. A gothic gaudy dark look with black velvet booths trimmed in gold, great for a Halloween Party? Whose decor idea was that? I was concerned/surprised the place was completely empty being in an early Saturday evening, knowing Ventura has a lot of early bird diners? It looked like the tables were set for fine dining (with very high meal item prices to match) however, it wasn't that at all? The menu was loaded with too many items so you know they're a using frozen items and not fresh. The wait staff was inexperienced, something not tolerated in a higher end restaurant. They were very unsure of themselves and didn't know how to properly wait a table. Not knowing how to open a wine bottle? Really? There was a big screen television over the bar with the Dodgers playing? Really Again? Fine dining prices with people at the bar cheering for the Dodgers on the big screen? The place was confusing, loud, and empty? I don't know what this place is or supposed to be?? A sports bar or fine dining? We were all confused? The Bartender couldn't even make a Rusty Nail? Really? The Tomahawk Steak came sliced which is a Big "No No." Which didn't matter anyway since the Tomahawk was full of fat and gristle and not of high quality. Do that in Chicago and the customers with go nuts and beat you with the bone. Slicing the Tomahawk robs you of the juices that are now on the plate and it cools down the meat too fast. It should be on customer request only. The waitress didn't bring out plates until nearly 10 minutes after the Tomahawk steak was on the table. And she only brought one plate with Chimichurri on it even though she was told before hand it was to be shared. My wife used one the starters severing plates for her plate. Total inexperience and lack of training. The deserts were (Tiramisu and Chocolate Lava Cake) were also bad. Needless to say, will we ever return or recommend this place to anyone? The answer would be a hard no. Both horrible and bizarre at the same time. On the upside, they were friendly. read more

The mushroom soup was great. The steak was super over cooked after asking for medium rare. Salad was - basic house salad and they had good ranch. Octopus was grilled nicely. Lamb was okay- not well seasoned. The restaurant was fairly empty, but had a nice bar setup. read more

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Horrible ambiance. Very cold. Incredibly loud and obnoxious couple sitting at the bar. Impossible to have a conversation at a dinner table while they carried on. Shocked the management didn't ask them to keep it at a dull roar or leave. Food is ridiculously overpriced. $15 for a teeny house salad. $5 for a plain iced tea. Love to support local businesses, but I'm one and done for La Duquesa. read more

1st this restaurant is new. The place is very nice, very welcoming, calm. Service has much improvement to do, but it's not terrible. Kitchen also can improve on food being served and timing of the food being served has some improvement to do as well I am guessing all kitchen staff. The food was not the best or the worst, I had an egg-white omelette was amazing. Dad had a T-bone steak breakfast, it was ok, it was cooked right, problem it was served cold. Mom had the 24oz Ribeye dinner paired with clam chowder, steak was delicious, the soup was cold, but still had a good taste. Brother had the La Duke filet mignon breakfast, it was served cold had to send back to reheat, not really what LD is going for classy fancy, but it has some improvement to make, I will be returning with whole family to give it another try. The staff overall is very friendly, we had a cocktail after lunch at the bar, nothing bad to say about the drinks, very well made. We will be returning. read more

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new restaurant.. good vibes.. good food.. check it out!. good portion..friendly staff.. read more

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Came here for happy hour on a whim and couldn't be more happy. The spicy margarita was excellent as well as the bacon wrapped shrimp. Cassandra and the bartender (didn't catch his name) were very friendly and made me feel at home. I'll definitely be back! Thank you for a great first time experience! read more

Thank you for amazing birthday dinner you and your staff went above and beyond My steak and lobster was amazing. Our 13 other guests were very impressed and happy with service and food. Thank you so much for making my birthday amazing read more

From the moment we walked in we were treated like royalty. The atmosphere is stunning from the chandeliers to the beautiful bar to the crystal glasses and gold ware. Brisa provided impeccable service and our cocktails were presented beautifully (and were equally delicious). The food was excellent and the wine list was impressive. Highly recommend! Excellent. Go now. read more

Ate here tonight for the first time and it was a really good dinner. I choose the dinner meal with calamari, caesar salad and penne vodka pasta with chicken and a gin and tonic. The food was hot and very flavorful! My husband ordered the clam chowder, ribeye and pesto pasta. He enjoyed his meal too!! Our waiter was very kind, he explained the menu and was very attentive! Restaurant is elegant! read more

The best clam chowder I've ever had. Bacon wrapped shrimp was out of this world. Unfortunately we did have to send some steaks back due to them being overcooked but it was dealt with. Great drink selections too! read more

I'm not a Julie or a Karen, I have traveled exstensivley and have dined at steak houses all over Southern California. With that said, this place is a gem. The quality of the food is exquisite as well as the staff and the drink you can not go wrong with this hidden gem in Ventura. read more

My three girlfriends and I visited La Duquesa for dinner, and from the moment we walked in we were impressed. We were seated promptly, and the space is beautiful -- black and gold tones, plenty of windows, and a warm, polished atmosphere that feels special without being stuffy. The menu is surprisingly extensive, with something for everyone. Most dishes are structured as a set-price meal, where you get an entrée plus either an appetizer or premium side and a soup or salad. For Ventura, that value is excellent -- my entire three-item meal was only around $40. The wine prices are equally friendly: we enjoyed two bottles at $36 each. Our server was outstanding -- attentive, personable, and patient as we asked questions and ordered four totally different meals. Between us we covered steak, fish, and a couple other entrées, and not a single person had anything negative to say. Everything was hot, well-seasoned, and delicious. We've heard great things about their breakfast and cocktails as well, so we're already planning a return visit. Overall: Great food, great service, great value. Highly recommend La Duquesa -- a wonderful new spot in Ventura that's absolutely worth trying. read more

The ambiance is beautiful. The drinks were good. Service was really good.We were really excited about the $39 pre fix menu. My husband got French onion soup and didn't like it. He said it was bland. The bacon wrapped shrimp appetizer was really good. Our friend got the pork chop and said it wasn't good. We got the filet and it was a bit undercooked and wasn't seasoned very well. This is a really beautiful restaurant, and you can tell they are working to keep their prices competitive, they just need a little work on the food. read more

Went here for breakfast with my family. The food itself was good, which makes this even more frustrating. What wasn't good was the lack of transparency about drink refills. My cousin got apple juice and was allowed to refill it multiple times -- no one said a word. We later found out we were charged for each refill. At no point did the server mention refills weren't free, and there was no notice on the menu either. If we had known, we obviously wouldn't have kept refilling. It's not about the juice -- it's about being informed. Letting someone refill several times and only revealing the charges on the bill feels misleading and honestly pretty shady. Good food doesn't make up for policies that aren't clearly communicated. We won't be coming back. read more

Came in with friends just to try drinks and appetizers. The restaurant is beautiful with cozy booths and pretty table settings. Greeted very warmly by staff. We ordered a Negroni which came in a martini glass with NO ice....a Negroni needs a big ice cube or ball in it! That was disappointing. We ordered bacon wrapped shrimp that were huge and delicious. Mozzarella sticks that passed the cheese pull test nicely. I will go back and try a breakfast sometime. Meanwhile they need to make that Negroni with ice. read more

What restaurant has all 3 and Kaver is by far the finest waiter we've experienced! You need to try this. We will be back! read more

Long wait for cold steak. Total meh as far as the food drink and service. Not sure who they are trying to cater to? Really wanted to like it as it's right around the corner, but I did not. read more