We've been wanting to try this restaurant out for a while now. It did not disappoint. We sat at the bar and had two very friendly and attentive bartenders. My husband enjoyed a margarita and Negroni. We decided to split a couple of plates, the steak tartar,Caesar salad, schnitzel, and patatas bravas. All amazing dishes packed with flavor. The restaurant is modern but inviting with a very friendly staff all around. We will be back. read more

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The food is very tasty, and the prices are reasonable. Cool space to eat in. Would be 5 stars except they charged for soda refills and the oysters that we ordered during happy hour were charged as full price. We were celebrating a birthday so it wasn't worth it to try to save a few bucks by bringing it up with the server. Oddly the reservation site has an option for if it's a birthday, I chose this and provided a name but nothing ever happened. Maybe I was supposed to remind the server, but I checked with the dude at the door when we arrived and I thought that meant a little extra birthday something might happen idk? read more

Menu, harder to read that I would have preferred Parking, readily available considering your are in California and free parking for a few hours is pretty hard to find The servers were nice, and patient since we were really lost on the ordering, they were out of one drink my friend really wanted Meal, it was good, hot and came out as ordered. I was grateful for the burger and fries on the tiny happy hour menu. Over all my visit was nice and my food was delicious, and the part of town we were in was easy to locate. read more

Model Citizen - Sometimes you just need a delightful burger - New American Near Me - Ventura, California

I recommend getting a reservation! When I first walked in, I was surprised by the ambiance. Good music, great interior design, modern but colorful. The food was exceptional as well. The carpaccio was amazinggggg!!! small portion but MELTS in your mouth. Flavorful! I had the steak frites and loved the fries. Steak was a little bland. I got medium rare and i liked the color but it felt like there wasn't a true crust, it was all mainly soft. I think the au poivre sauce tasted more like thousand island dressing so I felt like I was having more of a protein burger and fries. I will be back to try more appetizers and pasta tho. 7/10. read more

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Drinks were really good and so was the smash burger and fries. Everything else was just okay. Service wasn't great. Server was dismissive at times, but engaged at others. While training someone, he had us take our drinks off the tray ourselves which I thought was weird and then she eventually repeated. Also, saw staff eating in the kitchen which felt off putting. Felt like it wasn't worth the price at all! read more

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Braised Short Ribs w/ Polenta, Braised Cabbage and Demi Glacé. My last meal at Model Citizen for whatever reason I have given many chances. Probably because I saw the potential and they are only opened Mondays when I am available. Braised Short Ribs was probably the better out of all the other dishes I've tried but for the price point, there wasn't anything going for it except for quantity. The staff's are amazing though. They truly do deserve the mandatory 18% gratuity. read more

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Would likely never have come to this spot except for the person in our party who is a runner and eats a vegan diet chose where our party of eight would eat on the Friday night after a day of setup work at the California Strawberry Festival. Looked really upscale but was actually down to earth once we entered and were seated at a high table with highchairs. There is plenty of seating. a few high tables in the front by the windows along the street, a U of booths surrounding some tables and chairs and even a bar to the side. My wife and I looked over the menu and were surprised by how many food items were on it that we didn't recognize and possibly could not pronounce. Our server was quick to assist any of us with quizzical looks on our faces. Right when we were feeling intimidated a bit by our choices, my wife pointed out some traditional faves on the Happy Hour menu - a smashburger with a side of fries. Bingo. I added a delicious lemonade to mine. Everyone had fun and enjoyed their food and conversation. A successful dining adventure in downtown Ventura. Really a terrific experience and we would definitely return on a future visit. Take a chance. Walk on in and grab a menu. read more

100% looking forward to a future visit. The drinks were great. Food was memorable! We had the truffle gnocchi, endive salad and the chicken schnitzel. Wow. So good. Service was perfect. Shout out to the host that was on top of our anniversary and brought us a toast of champagne. read more

Model Citizen is one of those vibey spots that feels elevated without being stuffy, and Mondays are my favorite time to go. They are open Thursday through Monday from 4 pm to 9 pm and closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Happy hour runs daily from 4 to 6 pm and all night on Mondays. And yes, you can order happy hour from anywhere you sit in the restaurant, which immediately earns bonus points. Mondays have the best energy. It is relaxed but still lively. I am obsessed with their salads, especially the Caesar, heavy on the parm please. The happy hour menu never misses. Smash burger with a side of fries and garlic aioli is a must. And if you are getting a drink, go for the Negroni. They make a very good one, balanced and done right. Great food, strong drinks, and a really good vibe. Model Citizen is a go to when you want something fun, elevated, and reliably good. read more

Model Citizen - french fries and specialty cocktails - New American Near Me - Ventura, California

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My favorite restaurant in Ventura County. The menu is always changing, focused on fresh ingredients, and never disappoints. You can tell the chefs really care about both the food and presentation. Great cocktails and a wine list that pairs well with everything. The quality is top-tier, and the pricing feels fair for the experience. Service has always been friendly. Pro tip: start with an appetizer, order at least two entrées, and don't skip the sourdough or focaccia--both are incredible. The butter (sometimes with caviar) is a standout. Love the retro, minimalist vibe, and the brewery next door makes it perfect for a drink before dinner. I recommend this spot to everyone new to the area. read more

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The chicken schnitzel was sooooo amazing. The focaccia needed more vinegar with the oil. I think it's fine to have an automatic included tip but i think it makes your waiters not give af about their job. The waitress we had was not good and she lowkey made us feel unwelcome with her weird attitude. I think you should talk to your staff about timing. They brought out drinks and the meals at weird times. Like we should have drinks before or at the same time as our meal read more

NY city dining experience in VTA. Came early had happy hour and a dinner side to share. Really excellent. We live in VTA and will be back with friends. Cheers! read more

This place has a rotating menu that never gets boring! Had the pleasure of trying a couple new dishes- WHOLE BRANZINO W/ SAUCE VERT, HERB SALAD AND WINTER SQUASH & BRAISED SHORT RIB W/ POLENTA, BRAISED CABBAGE AND DEMI GLACE Both dishes were delicious and packed with such delicious flavor. The braised short rib was so tender and the cabbage paired perfectly. Always have great service here, as the staff is very friendly and attentive. They usually have some nice tunes playing during the dinner service. I look forward to visiting again for their next new menu items. read more

Model Citizen - Braised short rib - New American Near Me - Ventura, California

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Cannot wait to go back!! Everything we had was top tier. Perfect Martinis, amazing shrimp appetizer and the BEST pork chops I have ever had. The staff were knowledgeable and very polite. Perfect for date night or with a group of friends!! read more

Model Citizen - New American Near Me - Ventura, California

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By now I think everyone knows Model Citizen is one of my favorite restaurants in downtown Ventura. It's the ambiance, the decor, the super sweet staff, amazing food and unique drinks that have kept me coming back. Model Citizen is such a breath of fresh air in the area. I love seeing them succeed and when it's a packed house on a Thursday night it makes my heart happy. We've got to always support local gems and small businesses in the 805. I've never had a bad dish or cocktail here at model but here's some of our recommendations from tonight's menu. The Happy Hour Smash Burger: Sucker for a juicy perfectly cooked double smash burger. We are purist sometimes and the simplicity of a patty, cheese and secret sauce is sometimes all you need. Baby Gem with plum, pistachio, feta and honey vinaigrette: the salad of all salads. I'm grateful my friends make me eat healthy sometimes lol! This salad was perfectly dressed where every bite was coated in their delicious light honey dressing. The feta gave the salad a perfect creaminess and who doesn't love plums? Delicious! Rigatoni with vodka sauce and sausage: GET THIS! Spicy, creamy, and the stracciatella dab made this dish a slam dunk. We made many interesting moans at the table while eating this bahahaha (sorry to the couple next to us) but really, pasta done right is a beautiful thing. We had so many other amazing bites: oysters, happy hour skinny fries, and corn fritters. Too many options to choose from so just highlighting a few. The best nights to come in my opinion are Mondays for all day happy hour or Thursdays currently as they do a $10 cocktail deal. read more

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This has been on my list for months! Lovely place! Very clean, eclectic ambiance. The minimalistic kind which I love. Their choice of drink-ware, server ware was tasteful. I didn't have a chance to try the cocktails because I was driving - but the ones my friends ordered were amazing! We had the focaccia for appetizers- delish and really flavorful and well proved! For the entree- I had the crab tagliatelle which was divine! Slightly lemony, and delicious My friends had the schnitzel and the hanger steak and both were fantastic. Definitely worth visiting, and specially great for both date night or family night. read more

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Went in tonight, a Friday, around 7, was busy which is good to see. Have been a couple of times over the years since they opened and each time the service is hit or miss. I understand they are under a new chef recently, which brought a more approachable menu for Ventura. Definitely have to return for the pasta dishes but tonight called for a steak. Great portions, good flavor, but the issue for almost every time I come: the food is cold. I know I could cause a scene and complain, but I understand the problem. There's no heat lamps at the pass. Don't know if that's an architectural issue or a speed issue, but the food is too good to be served cold! I hope they can improve on this and be a good addition to the very hungry Downtown Ventura neighborhood! read more

Model Citizen - New American Near Me - Ventura, California

Fine dining at its FINEST! What a gem of a restaurant here in downtown Ventura. I've visited about 3 times now and leave so satisfied and full every time. I recently visited with some girlfriends and got to share a variety of dishes that were all so incredible. Thursdays are $10 cocktails and great happy hour options until 6pm. Their menu seems to be more of a rotating one with great seasonal options that really highlight the produce of each season. We tried the smash burger, fries, and corn fritters from the happy hour menu. All 3 were a homerun on flavor! For mains we got the baby gem salad with plum, pistachios, and feta and the DELICIOUS rigatoni with vodka sauce. Please get both while on the menu. Service was great! I love that they were showcasing children's art on the wall. Gave it such a personal touch and we even got to meet one of the mini artists while visiting. Pro tip: make a reservation to secure your spot. I was thrilled to see them have a packed house on a Thursday and equally thrilled we had made a reservation and got a comfy booth. read more

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Perfect dinner to celebrate my birthday, the food was so good and the service as well! My friend got the wagyu burger and it was so delicious, so was their gnocchi and steak! Amanda was our server and she was super nice and helpful with any questions we had. It's the cutest restaurant and I'm surprised it wasn't that busy but it was a really rainy weekend. I think their menu changes seasonally which is cool but also doesn't match their website so if you're trying to plan ahead it might be a bit different when you get there. Loved it! read more

Model Citizen - Burger, steak, Caesar salad - New American Near Me - Ventura, California

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Happy Hour Review Only: Popped in for happy hour before a dinner event! I was welcomed by the super modern minimalist ambience. Seating featured tables, booths and a bar that you can curl up to. Just before five, I settled down at the bar to enjoy their happy hour offerings. Happy Hour is offered 4-6pm Wed-Sunday and all day on Monday. For happy hour they have a selection of drinks-wine, cocktails, beers and food offerings. I decided to try their margarita- Margarita was good but nothing special- they did not add their own spin to it- instead kept it classic. If you seek a classic margarita than this fits the bill. Margarita was ten dollars. As oysters were on the menu-I decided to sample some oysters too- well maybe a half dozen- on happy hour they are each 3.50. Oysters were from Washington and VA. I decided VA was too far to travel, so went with the Washington oyster that seemed fresh, not fishy. They were tiny little oysters though. The service at the bar was excellent. The bartender was very attentive throughout my visit. As I was just there for a quick happy hour, I would be interested in exploring the rest of the happy hour menu and sample their dinner menu. read more

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Outstanding. Besides the mysterious and funny name, the food was great. Memorable. We will return, even though from LA. We ate from the Happy Hour menu. The tiger prawns have a great sauce (& are difficult to eat -- we used our fingers and while a bit messy, effective.) We also had the steak tartare -- great!! And then a strawberry crostata -- also very good. Anyway, we loved the place and will return. read more

I have been looking for a fun spot with a great menu in downtown Ventura. I have found it! This was my first time to Modern Citizen. I didn't have a reservation so I was seated at the bar. Walking in, I was greeted by a very friendly hostess. Everyone who works here is exceptionally pleasant. I can during happy hour so I ordered a few items to share with my husband. The steak tartare was delicious. We ordered one each but could have shared one. It was flavorful and served with homemade potato chips. Floyd, the bartender, was really helpful in walking us through the menu. I also ordered the Grilled Tiger Prawns and the Date Carpaccio. Everything was delicious! I look forward to coming here to try something new as everything on the menu sounds amazing. Great experience all around! read more

Model Citizen - Grilled Tiger Prawns with Tare and Salsa Macha - New American Near Me - Ventura, California

Very nice dinner experience with fantastic service. Cool vibe, the music is on point, place is spic n span clean. read more

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Came for dinner and was impressed with the fries. The dishes are small but good for sharing. Make a resy as it gets packed. read more

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Simply perfection. I came for happy hour and stayed for full dinner because of the vibe and the food. Started with a spiced old fashioned that was delicious. Then did a happy hour oyster and whipped Brie. The oyster was so fresh. The whipped Brie blew my mind. Imagine the best oozy Brie with juicy berries and honey drizzle paired with warm toast. I shockingly ate the entire plate. I went with the chicken schnitzel and it was definitely the best schnitzel I've ever had. It was topped with sauerkraut, curried carrots, seared chanterelles. It was crispy and juicy and I could make a different bite with the creamy sauce and toppings with each bite. I had to do dessert. Pavlova with quince and strawberries and amazing. I also got a peppermint tea to match. The texture of the pavlova with crisp and crunch and creamy crème Anglaise. Can't go wrong. The staff was incredibly friendly and warm and checked in at just the right times. One of the best dinners I've had in a while. I'll be back next time I'm in town. read more

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Wow .. wow .. wow! The dim lights , the aesthetic clean look and the service ? 5/5! We opted to sit at the bar and Ray is the best bartender. So attentive and friendly. Marg was delicious. Great happy hour! I will be back to try the food. This visit made me want to return for sure! 18% service charge already included. Which I don't mind as I became accustomed to this when I lived aboard. read more

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Don't ask me twice to go, delicious sourdough, fresh lobsters, tan ink fish with locally grown zucchini, to die for , wow this meal made me feel happy. . The only thing g was the selection of mezcal - sold a well mezcal as a premium mezcal. Don't recommend their mezcal. If u want to get a delicious mezcal go to Jaguar . Across the street. But their good is delicious read more

10/10!!!! Everything--from our server Kelli to the lovely cocktails, great food, and the cutest atmosphere--was phenomenal! Went here with a group of 4 and just told Kelli to choose our items for us. Every single dish she recommended was excellent. We got the sourdough bread, oysters, roasted squash, grilled broccolini, pasta with fennel sausage, schnitzel, and braised short rib--everything was so good. Drooling just thinking about it! It felt amazing to show up and have Kelli lead the way. It was the first time for 2 out of 4 of us, so this just felt so comfortable. She was incredibly knowledgeable about the food and cocktails and really made our experience above and beyond! Such a great experience--highly recommend! The only sad part? I only got a picture of our cocktails because we were so focused on the food and the moment. Just goes to show how great Kelli's service was and what an excellent experience we had living in the moment! read more

Model Citizen - Gin martini with oyster & caviar - New American Near Me - Ventura, California

So delicious! Amazing service too, and such a cool ambiance. Feels very modern and fresh. Loved everything here, especially the oysters! Yummmmm!! read more

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We stopped by because we saw they were donating a portion of their proceeds to vcdefensa! The special was a smash burger and it was so delicious. We got an order of fries to share, and they were light and crispy. Our server recommended the sex in the city cocktail and it was insanely good. A wonderful mix of tangy and sweet. It's a fun place with a great atmosphere, I will definitely be coming back! read more

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Gorgeous restaurant, mid food and service, and solid drinks. Came for happy hour and honestly was not too impressed with what we got. Firstly, the happy hour does not have much going on. We got the Arancini and the sourdough bread with caramelized butter (not on the HH menu). The Arancini is a single deep fried ball filled with short rib in a marinara sauce that is reminiscent of like a mole variation in my opinion. It was aight, but I would never want to eat it ever again. The sourdough bread was served warm and I quite enjoyed it, but who doesn't love bread?! the caramelized butter went well with it, but again nothing to write home to. The old fashion my partner got was delicious and wonderfully priced at about $10-12 (can't remember). Wonderfully balanced and smooth. Service was quite slow. We were seated at the high chairs/tiny table area and it was hard to get anyone's attention and it took forever to get our food. Luckily I was in good company and just admired the beautifully simple yet chic design of the interior. All in all, I think this place would be great for just drinks and aesthetics, but not much more. read more

Model Citizen - Arancini - New American Near Me - Ventura, California

You know the scene in ratatouille where the critic eats the ratatouille and is transported. Thats what every dish on this menu does. We started with the hamachi crudo the perfect light starter,fish melted in our mouths. Which lead us to the ceasar salad with crispy capers, Japanese sweet potatoes were an absolute perfect blend of crispy and soft and the chicken schnitzel is a flavor i never want to be far from. The that's all folks is my favorite drink- a fat washed whisky with arugula syrup is perfectly balanced. 10/10 read more

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The food here is the best we've had in Ventura. The place itself is a nice setting, a comfortable, modern feeling inside. The service left a lot to be desired, however. The timing was just off with our server with just about everything. The cocktails arrived after our appetizer was finished. The desserts were served and finished before the coffee was even close to arriving. But to the food. The tagliatelle was bomb, and the schnitzel was gorgeous. The pickled daikon is out of this world. The desserts are excellent as well, particularly the berry crostata. I'd also recommend to the owners to serve cold water at the table, rather than room temperature. Overall, a superlative meal with lackluster service. Perhaps because the gratuity was included, but I would have left more if she had been more on top of things. I'd definitely go back and just would hope to get a different server. read more

This is one of my favorite restaurants at the moment. The interior has a modern vibe and I love the openness that flows through the restaurant thanks to the huge windows and minimalist design. Their cocktail and culinary program is amazing! I love the creativity displayed through the unique options available. Everything is fresh and crafted with the utmost care. I enjoy their rotating menu which aligns with whatever is in season. Some of my go-to items include the twilight princess (gin cocktail), patatas bravas, happy hour smash burger, crudo, and charred broccolini. Service is usually great, but there have been a few times the servers seemed a bit understaffed so check ins & item delivery was a bit delayed--however, it is always worth the wait considering how great the food and drinks are. Very happy to see a restaurant like Model Citizen taking up space in downtown Ventura. read more

I was so excited to go to this place with my friend, but ended up being highly disappointed in the customer service. No one spoke to us, besides the bartender who helped us and who checked us in. Outside of that everyone just walked around, didn't say hello. There was a guy that was behind the bar with the other bartender and he just kept looking at us but never said anything. Very odd, but spoke to everyone else who came in after us. there was even a guy who I guess was like the waiter and he literally reached over us to grab our plates and didn't say, "excuse me are you finished?" or "pardon my reach..." just nothing! The food was really good and so were the drinks and the aesthetic is really cute. The place has a lot of potential, but because the customer service was not welcoming at all I don't know if I would return. read more

The hanger steak was perfection and the fries were addicting. Service was friendly and I appreciated them explaining the tip was built into the check. Will return. read more

****************** Unique cuisine, prepared with quality ingredients Exceptional Cocktails ... layered and well balanced Nice atmosphere ... Good service ... A terrific date night spot, great booth options for a quiet conversation. $240 ** for two ... Four small plate food selections: - Ceasar Salad to split - Tuna Tartare - Pasta - Squash Two deserts Four cocktails ** Beware of the added 18 % "staff gratuity" Our server, Macy, was juggling multiple tables and at times the bar was slow (20 mins) to get a second cocktail out. But each cocktail was nicely crafted - kuddos I'm annoyed at the Model Citizen management for the 18% gratuity automatically added to my check. Annoyed enough to perhaps never return. 40% gratuity? I'm irritated at myself for "accidentally" tipping an additional 20% gratuity on top of the total bill (meal, tax, 18% gratuity) - trusting the traditional dining model we've all experienced countless times over the years. But not reviewing the details the dinner check dropped at my table. Honestly, I Feel a little bit conned / deceived ... Transparency might look like this ... "hi, here is your check, we have an 18% service fee added. If you feel you'd like to add additional ..." Personal Responsibility isn't lost on me. It's my responsibility to review my dinner check. Trusting the establishment was a mistake on my part. * read more

My wife took me here a few months ago and holy cow. You cannot beat that happy hour menu. This is now my favorite spot to eat and drink. I literally make trips up here just to go here! read more

Overall this place is a great place to catch up with old friends over nice dinner or take a date. Dessert was the star dessert was the star of the show and the fennel salad came in close for 2nd. Steak was done nicely. The tagliatelle with tuna chunks was a miss. (Huge miss.) Overall service was friendly and seemed very efficient. They took care of us for the bad pasta, which was very nice. It's has an elevated, mid century modern dinner vibe. Food could be better, but great time nonetheless. read more

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Solid 4 star restaurant in downtown. I would recommend a reservation online for ease of being seated at a spot you would like. I was surprised that the restaurant was quite full during my visit on a Thursday night at 7PM. I ordered a Sourdough Bread with lemon butter, Handmade Rigatoni, and a Pan seared Sea Bass. The price to portion ratio is a little steep compared to other restaurants in the area, but the flavors make up a part of it. The sourdough bread, although as appetizer, was my favorite part of my meal. The bread was toasty warm, and the lemon butter complimented it perfectly. I was honestly a little surprised by the portion size of the rigatoni; the shredded beef and flavors were amazing, but I was left on a slightly empty stomach. The seabass was also really good, but again, it's a piece of fish with some beans, so it wasn't as filling as other downtown restaurants in the area. I also ordered a Bend and Snap cocktail, and it's...really unique. Although very crisp and refreshing, I felt like I was drinking snap pea juice. Not really my glass of cocktail, but I can see the appeal in people who want something a little different (which is why I ordered it). Note that there is already a mandatory 18% service charge, which kind of explains the nice service. Our waitress was very friendly and happy to answer all questions we had regarding the menu. However, I wish they were a little more attentive as I remember waiting a while for them to hand me a check so I can pay. read more

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