Located on El Paseo Rd this secluded little restaurant is a gem in Ojai with a menu that changes frequently! I ordered Tagliatelle Slow roasted duck ragú, seasonal mushrooms. My son decided on the Anatra Pan-seared duck breast which came with mashed potatoes and a red cabbage. My wife's choices was Tortelli Sweet potato ravioli, piave fondue, brown-butter, sage My DIL chose the Fish Filet special that came with Black Rice. We ordered sides of Roasted Potatoes and their mixed vegetable blend! We ordered several wines and soft drinks to accompany our dinners. All the dishes were excellent and the in house made pastas were absolutely amazing! Service was excellent from start to finish. read more

We were on a girls trip and had reservations for dinner our first night in Ojai. I really enjoyed my cocktail - the Scotsman. It was well balanced and delicious. For food, we ordered a few things including the Cesare salad, Tortelli, scallops, seafood pasta, lamb shank, mushrooms, and one other special. Everything was ok, but nothing was particularly remarkable or interesting. All the food was well-prepared and the lamb was tender. The Cesare salad was good and so were the scallops. I wouldn't get the Tortelli again, it was plain. The service was poor. We had to flag the server down a few times. She didn't check in with us throughout the meal. My friend didn't like her cocktail and asked for a new menu and she ordered another drink. We didn't make a fuss and the server didn't ask about the full cocktail that she took away. I don't expect them to comp the drink, but the server should have at least asked what was wrong or why she didn't like it. Feedback is important and she didn't seem to want any. I expected better service at this restaurant, which is supposed to be one of the better restaurants in Ojai. Overall, I'd recommend going elsewhere if you're in town. The food was good, but nothing special and there are other great restaurants that are more affordable, with better service. read more

We visited Nocciola while in Ojai for meetings. It's a cool restaurant converted from a house. Limited seating so making a reservation in advance is really recommended. They also have an enclosed patio for additional seating, but it can get noisy out there. Service was on point and the dishes were tasty. We had the specials this visit but I really like the wagyu tagliatelle. Dessert with crème puffs finished us off!! It feels like you are eating in Italy! If you find yourself in Ojai, definitely worth a visit. read more

Nocciola - Crème puffs - Italian Near Me - Ojai, California

Very late review but I was going through old photos and wanted to share my experience. I went on a last minute trip to Ojai and chose this dinner spot because it was close to the hotel we stayed at. It looked good and had good reviews so we went. We got sat outside in the very back which was fine with us because it was quiet so we could hear each other... at first anyway. We both selected the 6 courses but we wanted different options to you know try different things and share plates. It started that way and everything was fine. Then seated right next two is a huge party of like 10 people and they came in loud and it never calmed down after they arrived which not only ruined the vibe we felt forced to listen to everything they were saying. The thing that was most disappointing was that we had to cater to them with their demand of food orders being a priority to ours. We were suppose to be getting served opposite menus and then about 4 out of the 6 courses we were served the same. When I noticed we were no longer being served opposite courses the waiter simple said they couldn't do it anymore because of food orders being higher. It was a disappointing experience to say the least. It's one of those things that you can't choose who you sit next too and how loud they get but for our food experience to also have been affected was the biggest damper. I liked the concept but not the execution. read more

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I really liked this restaurant. It's quiet and unassuming, The wait staff were excellent and our waiter very friendly. The food was delicious. It's a very relaxing place to go. read more

Matt B. and I spent our 12th wedding anniversary in Ojai last month, and booked Nocciola for our celebratory dinner. It was the right place for it, a charming restaurant in a converted house just a short walk away from the busiest part of downtown Ojai. I booked the dining room, thinking the patio looked more casual, but I was glad when we checked in and there was a patio table available. It was a pleasant space, with a nicer atmosphere than the dining room, which felt slightly overlit. Service was great, though there was a weird thing where we were wished a happy anniversary--I must have noted it on our reservation--then asked if we were celebrating anything like five minutes later. Otherwise, no complaints. Our waiter Alec took excellent care of us. We started with a round of cocktails, and while Nocciola isn't really a cocktail place, these were worthwhile. I got the Don Pompelmo, a refreshing drink with tequila, mezcal, chile shrub, and ginger beer. Matt had an Aristocratico with rye, cognac, Cointreau, and sweet vermouth. We had a bottle of Rosso di Montalcino with the rest of our meal, a Sangiovese that drank well with everything. The food was almost uniformly delicious, starting with a bread service of white bread and focaccia with rosemary olive oil. We ordered two appetizers, and they were both exceptional. The capesante were beautifully seared scallops, served over parmeesan fondue and finished with microgreens and truffle perlage, these little black truffle pearls that looked like caviar. The quaglia was a dish of succulent roasted quail, with porcini, polenta, and a marsala reduction. If you eat poultry, this is a mandatory order. We shared two pastas, and these were wonderful, too. I loved the casoncelli, delicate packets of roasted beet ravioli, with poppy seeds, piave cheese, and brown butter. The tagliatelle with wagyu beef bolognese was hearty and flavorful, with just the right texture to the pasta. The agnello was the one dish that didn't quite hit, a New Zealand rack of lamb with a rhubarb-port demi-glace sauce. There were three pieces of lamb, and they were cooked to different temperatures. One was a tender medium rare, the others a tougher medium or medium well, more or less brown in the center. The lamb came with a bland assortment of roasted vegetables, carrot and Brussels sprouts and cauliflower. We finished our dinner with the bignè and the chocoholic. The bignè were homemade pastry puffs filled with Nocciolato cream, flavored with chocolate and hazelnut. The chocoholic was a Madeira-infused flourless chocolate cake with poached pear and crème fraîche. Both sweet, decadent desserts. Nocciola wasn't perfect, but we were very happy with our experience. The food was good and often excellent, and the patio was a lovely place for an anniversary dinner. Would definitely recommend for a romantic date night in Ojai. read more

A friend who is very familiar with the area recommended this spot. It was also the only restaurant with high ratings that could accommodate a large party at short notice. It's a wonderful, relaxed, and unique setting in an older house that has been converted. Food and service were excellent all around. The carrot soup, home homemade pastas were my favorite along with the chocolate cake for dessert. read more

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Unbelievable experience. The food and service were top notch. Would come back with friends, date night and maybe even alone since it's that good read more

Solid but nothing stupendous. A bit expensive for what it was $63 rack of lamb, $48 pork chop felt like city-level very fine dining prices for serviceable city fine dining fare. Cozy main dining room with a quaint fireplace. Decently attractive back porch. Menu wasn't anything spectacular. Didn't highlight much local fare or regional flair - just run of the mill fine dining. Attentive server who was very friendly. Was transparent about specials and pricing. Never made us felt unseen. Good way to end a day of hiking or olive oil tasting. read more

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Fresh pasta? Ummm yes please! Very cool place that was converted from a home into a restaurant. You immediately feel welcomed and cozy. Service here was excellent and the food delish! I can't remember all the dishes we had, I just know the lasagna was hands down the best I've ever had. If you're ever in Ojai this is worth the stop. read more

Went here with the family on a Saturday and had great service from the staff. The owner Pietro was very patient with looking at photos on Yelp and answering all our questions. I don't know what we did to deserve complimentary desert but we were very thankful and will be coming back. The lemon drops were also very very yummy! read more

Nocciola - Desert! - Italian Near Me - Ojai, California

Had a wonderful meal at Nocciola. It is a beautiful converted house, and the vibe on the panoramic back patio is IMMACULATE. You feel like you are in a treehouse. Beyond romantic. The staff are lovely and knowledgeable. We shared an incredible artichoke and toasted almond arugula salad (crunchy, peppery perfection), which prepared our stomachs for the onslaught of decadence to follow. The scallops: charred and burnished but perfectly tender. The lasagne: superb. Crusty caramelized edges, gorgeous layers--delicious. The tagliatelle special with braised lamb ragu: outrageously good. They really nail their textures here! Topped off with their take on a white Negroni--a very special experience indeed. read more

Nocciola - Scallops Crescione - Italian Near Me - Ojai, California

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I'm so glad I was able to get last minute reservations on Sunday night before Labor Day weekend. I have never been here before but seems like all the store owners in the area said it was the best restaurant in Ojai. They were right! Also might be the only restaurant. Celebrated our anniversary here and loved the vibe and ambiance. It was as if we were hanging out in a patio deck outside in the woods. For our appetizers they provided us with bread and olive oil. We ordered the scallops and AMAZING. The best scallops I have ever had. I couldn't tell you what they did to it. Perfectly cooked or over roasted and the bite was on point. Loved the caviar on top and couldn't remember what kind of sauce reduction on the plate. My fiancé ordered the Plin pasta which was a beef tenderloin filled pasta and she asked to add truffle on top!! That was a game changer. They put that dish together so well. Worth paying extra for truffle. I ordered the NY steak. Really good flavoring and I asked for it to be medium well. My fault, I think it would have been more tender if I asked for medium rare. Still a great steak! The potatoes were a bit too salty for my likings. Great time and service was nice. Shout out to the waitress who ran out and gave me my camera. Thank you so much.. I totally would have forgotten about it. I feel I didn't get to thank her. So Thank you!! read more

Nocciola - Italian Near Me - Ojai, California

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Many people wouldn't know good food if it jumped up and bit em on the nose. The rest should go here as budget will allow. It is important to sit on the outside deck as the patrons sitting inside lacked the same happy glow as those outside. The looked like they had missed the party. Had missed the boat. Not only missed the boat, but drove their figurative selves into the sea trying to board a boat that wasn't there. Great service attentive but not hovering. Pasta wonderland. read more

Definitely fine dining. Great food the ambience is great they converted a house into a restaurant. Dessert was not that exciting. But overall a great experience. Highly recommend. read more

Food was amazing!!! We had the best experience - my kids loved it as well! Will definitely be back

we had an excellent dinner here recently. I highly recommend the salads and homemade pasta. nice atmosphere and charming with a cute little bar. The wine by the glass selections weren't great but that's not uncommon for many restaurants. We will go back for sure. Cheers! read more

Appalled by what we saw tonight at the restaurant. It appeared to be the owner yelling at a table next to us, removing plates and drinks aggressively. Not sure what happened, but there was nothing obvious about the table being disturbing. We paid our tab, walked out, and heard this continued in the streets. The owner was yelling, calling the customers names, and we heard him threaten to smash their heads down the stairs. Police showed, we left, completely ruined our experience. Will never go here again. read more

Delicious food. We literally felt euphoric after eating here. We loved it. The ambiance is warm & relaxing and we had a view from our table of the Topa Topas. Great dinner. A little expensive. read more

Nocciola is located at the end of the "main drag" in Ojai. It looks like a converted house (is it?) that is both quaint and upscale-ish. That being said, attire is "Ojai casual" as there were a few folks who looked like regulars who looked like they had just come from the beach. We ordered two salads - the rucoletta and the cavolo nero. Both salads were delicious, though on the smaller side so I'm glad we got both. We also had their housemade focaccia which was amazing. For my entree, I ordered the paparadelle with braised lamb shoulder. Yum. The menu is also vegetarian-friendly in case you are accommodating a vegetarian diet. read more

Good service and really nice setting in an old house. Patio was beautiful. Only issue I had here was with the portions, I know it's Ojai on the weekend but two small scallops for $33 dollars was quite the value proposition stretch. I actually thought for a second I was getting punked! Pork chop was good and tasty but again, portion was very small. Focaccia bread was great. Good experience other than being a little hungry after dinner. read more

Cute ambience and amazing scallops. But the New York steak was overcooked. Sent it back and was brought back out. The meat is rather tough and not so tasty. I've definitely had better steak, probably almost every other restaurant. read more

We had a FABULOUS experience -- truly memorable food and service. The fresh pasta made with imported Italian flour is amazing. Everything abut our meal was great--we shared a salad, lasagne and a tagliatelle with wild boar Raghu. Then flourless chocolate cake. Every single thing was absolutely amazing, including our server (Alex or Alec?)--friendly, professional, and great knowledge of the menu. I highly recommend this restaurant!! read more

I love this place service amazing especially from the cute hostess so yummy and bougie read more

Nocciola - water - Italian Near Me - Ojai, California

The food was ahhhh-mazing! We ordered the Kurobota porkchops and bolognese and they were both delicious! I wanted more. The ambiance was relaxed, perfect for a quiet dinner - or drinks with friends. There were a mix of guests when we went for dinner and everyone seemed to be having a great time. Set in what used to be someone's home transformed into an Italian resto, I thought the whole place passed the vibe check. Service was on point. We were greeted by the Manager who provided a list of the specials that night, along with consistent check ins by our server to make sure we weren't out of water or anything that needed attention. Can't miss this place when you're in Ojai! I would def go back. read more

Nocciola - Pasta and Pork Chops. Delish! - Italian Near Me - Ojai, California

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It is all about the desserts and the dessert wines. A lovely view off the quiet outdoor balcony with first-rate service, I enjoyed my apserol spritz from the full bar. They also have an extensive wine list, and my husband and I thoroughly enjoyed their red blend. I wasn't that hungry, and I enjoyed their salad, so I had room to enjoy their incredible flourless chocolate cake made with rich flavorful chocolate. We compared the tokaji with the 2018 Sauternes from Bordeaux, and found them both to pair perfectly with the dessert. read more

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You have to order everything all at once because, while the chef is super talented, he is a pompous egomaniac who just has to have things his way. That said, the food is terrific...flavorful, creative, generous enough portions. Service for us was good but not great because our server had to answer the phone when it rang, and so she was indisposed for fairly long periods of time...not her fault, but not as attentive as she could have been for sure. Cocktails were well made (strong) and the atmosphere is truly pleasant. Dining at Nocciola is a positive experience...truly delish food, solid drinks, good service, nice atmosphere. read more

Unfortunately our experience last Saturday was unpleasant 1. I MADE RESERVATIONS FOR TWO, tables are super small tiny, cant barley fit 2 plates on the table, not enough space to enjoy 2 or 3 dishes at the time, practically impossible, menu is fantastic, food delicious but atmosphere no well distributed. 2. The price for the food is fear high but fear for the nice meals, BUT, 115 dollars for a tiny bowl of Rissoto well is not really pleasant. 3. We had to leave the table quickly because they had another reservation made for the same table, after 1 hour, considering that We ordered salad, 4 main courses, so, was not time enough to enjoy and romantic night, We did have to pack last 2 meals and take home. FINALY THE BILL. $ 400 DOLLARS For a meal We couldn't enjoy because or the limit time We had and no even a courtesy of deduct such big bill for the inconvenience, plus We were not the only couple was not happy about it. So next time think about it. Place, space, and services matters, I work and hospitality and services, the costumer have always the rigths as consumers. Thanks. caridadproanogio@gmail.com 818-319-5889 read more

Stumbled upon this great spot when I was unable to get into Rory's Place. Sat at the bar and had great service from many team members. Wine by the glass list is interesting with lots of great options. The menu is diverse with too many great choices so I elected to do the tasting menu. It was a splurge but definitely worth it. I highly recommend checking out Nocciola when in Ojai. I will absolutely return on my next visit! read more

The patio seating is great, especially once the sun sets and a cool breeze settles in from the lunch mountains. All the food we had was amazing. The watercress salad, split leas with crab, and pork chop main dish. Was a perfect anniversary dinner with my love. Our server was Anthony, he was very hospital and provided great service. read more

WOW! What a delightful, unique and mouthwatering diamond in the rough I stumbled upon while visiting Ojai recently! This delightful culinary experience is a MUST SEE when you are in town! Its decor, atmosphere and staff are all warm, inviting and memorable! They offer a full bar and EXTENSIVE and thoughtful wine menu to boot! I will most definitely be a repeat customer! read more

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Wonderful meal and experience. This restaurant is quintessential fancy Ojai Locals. Its located in an old home overlooking a park - we sat outside and the weather was perfect. The interior was pretty and I'm sure just as enjoyable. We got the arugula salad and pasta with wagyu ragu. The dishes were both fresh and different flavors but comfortable. They did split our salad and pasta perfectly in 2 for us which I heavily appreciated. Also, they do seasonal cocktails that go with what would be in season - neither of us drink but we love mocktails. I got the lavender, lime martini style and my boyfriend got a spicy very savory ginger ale. They were different and inventive drinks. While we did not get desert, we did appreciate bread being provided and not an add on at the beginning of your meal for red onion focaccia and fresh sourdough with some of the richest Olive Oil I've ever had. In my opinion, the price made sense for the atmosphere, service and food quality and amount provided. I'd come back here again for sure. read more

As a vegetarian, fine dining can be hit or miss. Coming from LA, I have been spoilt many times. The food at Nocciola was good, but standard fare. The highlights: * The Herborist cocktail was deliciously fresh, and the Toscana Rossa was a perfect pairing for every course * The tortelli was absolutely delicious. Hand assembled in a jacuzzi of sage butter I wanted to drink the sauce, heart disease be damned * The service was impeccable, and a standout even compared to some Michelin 1 star restaurants I've been to. A big shout to Pietro our server for providing excellent recommendations, and being extremely attentive. * The risotto was very generously portioned For Ojai, this is probably one of the best restaurants in the area, the rest of the food was good, just not memorable enough that I would visit Ojai specifically to eat here read more

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Highly recommend for a date night in Ojai! The ambiance is super cute, looks like an house that was remodeled. We were seated on the porch area, tons of heaters so we were nice and warm even in the chilly evening. Service was great, everyone was super attentive, helpful, and informative and the food came out very quickly. Food: - They split the salad for us which was great and it was also delicious and the scallops were SO good (heads up they only come with two). - pasta is clearly freshly home made and perfectly al dente. I got the ravioli which was really good! - dessert was also solid, we got the puff pastry dessert and it kinda tasted like nutella esque filling. Light but a perfect filling dessert. read more

Nocciola - Italian Near Me - Ojai, California

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We came here for our 2 year anniversary where I got the truffle risotto. To be honest, it didn't look remarkable but I can't stop thinking about it even now. I've tried other truffle things since trying to recapture some of the same delicious experience, but nothing so far has held up to the truffle dish I had here. Bonus points: leftovers tasted delicious the next morning. PARKING: ample street parking read more

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We were very excited to go and try this place. I was there a year ago and it was okay. However this time it was a horrible experience we got there at 5:45 p.m. and by 7:15om we still had not gotten our meals. There were two tables that were seated after us approximately 20 and 40 minutes after us respectively and both tables not only got their meals but had finished the and paid their bills and we still had not gotten our dinner. They said there was a mix up in the kitchen? We decided the experience was ruined and left. Won't be back. read more

Nocciola - All we got after about an hour after sitting down was a tomato appetizer. - Italian Near Me - Ojai, California

So very good. We did the 5 course tasting menu and it was spectacular. There was 2 of us, so we asked if they could do different dishes if available so that we could get a lot of variety and it was superb. The Squid ink pasta with lobster was fantastic!! The vibes were great. It's inside this house which is so very cool, but a little confusing to where the entrance is initially. The wait staff were so kind and helpful and made the entire experience exceptional! read more

I had my eye on Nocciola after researching some restaurants in the Ojai area. I did not have a reservation but I arrived shortly after opening on a Sunday evening (around 5:30pm) and it was just me and I was so happy when they were able to accommodate me at the bar. I hydrated well with water while I dined on some really amazing food starting with the Tartara. The ratio of yellowfin tuna, avocado, shallots, capers, and crostini was pretty good but I wouldn't have minded a few more shallots or capers. Nonetheless, my entre quickly made up for the incredibly minute tartare issue. For my main course I treated myself (any my waisteline) to the gnocchi. I ate every last piece and also used the delicious bread that was brought out as a starter to soak up the rest of the heavenly sauce after I ate every last kabocha squash pillow. A truly delightful dish. The sauce was made out of piave fondue, sage, and a brown-butter again creamy and delightful. Unfortunately I did not have ANY room for dessert, not even a coffee which was too bad. I really enjoyed my entire experience at Nocciola. I thought the time between dishes was a little extensive but I was happy as a clam nonetheless as I read my dining partner aka a good book. I definitely got what I paid for - great food, great service, five stars. I will definitely be back if I'm in the area - highly recommend. read more

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Great authentic Italian. Always good and fresh. Great place to take friends when visiting in Ojai.

We celebrated a 94th birthday! They went out of their way to acknowledge the big day. Food was terrific, especially the salmon. Service was top notch. We sat by the fireplace which was lovely. Excellent evening thanks to the entire staff. read more