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Little Gem

3.8 (66 reviews)
Open • 10:00 am - 8:30 pm

Little Gem Photos

Business Info

LITTLE GEM ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Dogs allowed
Outdoor seating

Recommended Reviews - Little Gem

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Reviews With Photos

Beet salad
Paige L.

I really enjoyed the comfortable patio and had a nice time here! The beet was super fresh and a great combo of flavors, with multiple types of beets, grapefruit, and creamy goat cheese. My peach cocktail was well balanced and delicious while service was friendly and attentive!

Chicken caesar wrap with crispy and delicious fries.
Kari L.

We really enjoyed our lunch at Little Gem. Service was excellent. Food portions were plentiful. The cavatappi and cheese was so creamy and delicious. We didn't really taste za'atar on the chicken caesar wrap, but the ingredients were fresh and tasty nonetheless and the fries were crispy and perfect. We will be back!

Inside menu
Jamie O.

Very cute space! We only came here for drinks, and the staff were extremely friendly. The drinks were pretty strong, but the bartender explained to us that they usually use a big ice block but their machine was down. 5 stars for the staff!

Tree in the property with stunning yellow flowers
Geoffrey S.

I have to agree with previous reviewers statement this restaurant truly has a stunningly beautiful enviro to enjoy... that said... sadly that's about all it has. I wanted to actually explain why I'm giving it 1 star... Not for the poor service (they only had one waitress, so I can't fault them for that, or her slightly arrogant attitude (probably from being the only person there serving)... Not for the mediocre food... it's cars to mess up a burger, they were close (see photo). If you are in a town that was founded by artists in the 1960s one would assume you would take pride in how you plate, and present your food, especially for what you charge for your burger! But that's the kitchen... The French fries were delicious... the Greek salad (that they don't offer lettuce) isn't a salad... but it is a favorite in Israel, the Arabic culture, etc... a Greek Salad it is not... So why did I give them 1 star? The unkept restroom was so dirty, it makes other public restrooms look cleaner! The sides of the toilet that typically is just dusty had urine and poop (stains?) there! There was an unknown dust/residue on a cabinet and floor... If this is how you keep your unisex bathroom... how bad is it everywhere else? That alone did it for me... if I had seen this from the jump, I would have bolted!

Alice Q.

Cute eatery. We sat out o. the patio. Was a slow Wednesday evening. We had excellent service. We enjoyed coctails and server suggested the steak frites which was sooo delicious. The skinny crunchy fries were excellent. My pork belly dish the pork was not as delicious wishes there was more veggies. Our drinks were great and had $1 discount for happy hour! Loved the aesthetic!

Jolie F.

Drinks.... Out of a whim, we decided to stop in this new restaurant on a Friday night for a drink or two in downtown Ojai on the main drag. The restaurant opened in May 2025. This is a cute little restaurant with a good size patio, per the size of the restaurant, and a small indoor space featuring two high tables, a table by the window for two and seating at the bar. Equally small is the kitchen that offers an array of food. Our main purpose of this visit was for a drink or two- the menu features an array of unique cocktails. They have a full bar, so the bartender can make you any drink your heart desires. Plus the restaurant offers happy hour Monday- Thursday. After a drink we decided to try some light food- we ordered a vegetarian dish that had solid flavors. The dish was not overly large, but enough for a meal if an appetizer or salad is ordered. Throughout our night we had solid service from the staff- the staff was very attentive. We even treated to some nice music from the patio area. Based on our experience, we would stop in again for dinner and perhaps happy hour.

Cavatappi cheese pasta and pork belly
Caro F.

I went with my kids for dinner. We sat in one of the three indoor tables so not to be cold outside. They have more seating outside but only two heated lamps that day that were in use. Service was good and attentive. We did two simple pasta dishes, some pork belly and I had a glass of Sauvignon blanc. Nothing fancy or spectacular but it was good and of good value for price!

DOES every menu need a burger?
Brian P.

Small wine list. The Oaxacan Jade was way too limey; the mezcal was buried. Every menu must have a burger? Um, idk... but the fries were good.

Drinks and chill
Rob C.

Food - cocktails, wine, beer small bites like olives, papayas bravas, grilled asparagus. Salads and mains. Had the burger and it is served with 8 oz patty. Surprisingly a good burger with its tomato and carmelized onion compotes. Burger comes with skinny fries. Good combo but fries was slightly undercooked. But imagining it as crispier, this combo would be dynamite. They have happy hour all day Wednesday and Thursday and 3-6 on Friday and 6-8 on Sunday. Service - good and friendly Ambiance - clean and modern and cozy. Verdict - since I overheard that they are just open for 3 weeks, they are headed in the right direction. Room for improvement as they say but it's getting there. Burger is good! But fries could definitely be better cooked. But when in Ojai, do try them.

Cauliflower Soup and Pork Belly
Michael B.

The location is fab - the second best in Ojai (I think Topa Topa has a better spot). The ambiance is peaceful. Beautiful inside decor. Inside seating is small; more space outside and it's very comfortable. Staff is great - the girls do a good job. I popped in on a Sunday afternoon for a lite lunch. The wine selection is small and okay. But the pour I got was really small (see photo). At first I thought she was giving me a sample but no that was my glass. So I had to go easy on it during my meal. The cauliflower soup was delicious - I was actually surprised because I generally don't like cauliflower. The pork belly was okay. I needed more asparagus (they don't give you much), eating just pork belly is no fun. It needs an accompaniment. All in all was okay. There are some other items on the menu I'd like to try so I suspect I might be back sometime in the future.

Asparagus w/ whipped goat cheese

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10 months ago

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1 year ago

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1 year ago

Great little gem in Ojai! Nice outdoor seating, terrific gnocchi and warm olives. Definitely recommend

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9 months ago

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9 months ago

Food and drinks were terrific. Chill vibe. Server Lulu was awesome. Highly recommend.

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1 year ago

Delicious Chopped Greek salad and wine in a charming outdoor venue. And Jayme gave our table excellent service. Thank you!

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1 year ago

Specials were amazing! Ingredients were very fresh. Margaritas aren't too sweet and so delish!

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Page 2 of 2

Ask the Community - Little Gem

Snug Bar - Bathroom

Snug Bar

5.0(2 reviews)
0.2 mi

We stayed at Hotel El Roblar for our anniversary last month, and ended up at Snug Bar in the lobby…read moreafter dinner. It really was snug, nestled into a corner of the lobby, with one bartender, a few stools, and a cozy, intimate vibe. The bar was as beautiful as the rest of the hotel, richly designed with polished wood, attractive furnishings, and warm lighting. The whole lobby was loud and happening on the Saturday night of our stay, but when we walked into Snug Bar after dinner on the Sunday, we were the only customers. The bartender was a friendly woman, named Lauren I think, who we learned was a cousin of the nice server who waited on us at dinner. She made our cocktails and we took them into the lobby, where we claimed two handsome chairs on either side of a handsome table. The drinks were excellent. I got the Summer Blanco Negroni, a clear negroni with La Tierre de Acre Cenizo mezcal, Luxardo bitter bianco, and Spanish blanco vermouth. My husband had the Wild Condor Old Fashioned with Wild Turkey bourbon, Amaro Picon, vanilla, and house bitters. The Snug Bar experience was so snug that I fell fully asleep in one of those handsome chairs. The bar was good enough that I might have wanted another round, but I guess that negroni was all the nightcap I needed. I very much enjoyed this bar and Hotel El Roblar in general. I hope to come back and have another drink in this little corner.

Snug Bar, located in the lobby of Hotel El Roblar, is perfect for an after Libby Bowl concert and a…read moreshort walk from the venue. We rolled in at about 9:45 and it was popping. Beautiful furnishings and seating for different size groups. Though busy, we received our drinks quickly. After drinks it was another short walk to the hotel we were actually staying at. Next time we visit Ojai, we will absolutely make the leap to having a meal in one of the 2 restaurants Hotel El Roblar offers.

Photos
Snug Bar - Fireplace

Fireplace

Snug Bar - Bar

Bar

Snug Bar - Lobby

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Lobby

Little Gem - mediterranean - Updated November 2026

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