Last December, a friend came across The Cave while looking for a place to have lunch in Ventura and suggested we give it a try. I'm really glad he did because it's the kind of place I probably wouldn't have found on my own. The first thing that caught our attention was the self-serve wine dispensers lined with bottles ready to sample. We had a lot of fun walking back and forth, looking over the different selections, and deciding what to taste next. Being able to sample wines by the ounce before committing to a full glass made the whole experience feel interactive. I especially liked that I could compare different Cabernet Sauvignons side by side, which isn't something you get to do very often. After trying a few different Cabernets, Chimney Rock ended up being my favorite. The dining room added to the experience. The cave-like ceilings, warm lighting, and comfortably spaced tables made it easy to settle in, enjoy our lunch, and catch up without feeling cramped or rushed. If you enjoy trying different wines, it's easy to lose track of time here. We started with a cheese plate, which turned out to be much more generous than I expected. It came with a nice assortment of cheeses, crisp apple slices, grapes, candied walnuts, crostini, and a savory relish on the side. It was a great dish to share with our wine. My friend ordered the tuna poke tower, and we shared the cheese flatbread and sweet potato fries. I went with the Original Cave Salad with salmon, which came with a generous piece of perfectly cooked salmon over fresh greens, apples, grapes, walnuts, and blue cheese. Everything tasted fresh, and the portions were generous enough that we left completely satisfied. One thing I appreciated was that we never felt rushed. Lunch naturally turned into an afternoon of catching up, comparing notes on the different wines, and deciding which pours we wanted to try next. Before we left, we wandered through the wine shop one more time. If you discover a favorite during lunch, you can pick up a bottle before heading home, which is a nice touch. I'm really glad my friend found this place. The next time I'm in Ventura, it'll definitely be on my list again. read more

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Had a baby shower scheduled on a Saturday and left completely disappointed. Firstly, we scheduled this event and paid a deposit well over 6 weeks ago. The day before, the owner Michele couldn't seem to find the paperwork where we discussed menu, family style, decor, budget etc. Thankfully, we went in the day before to double check everything. Not only were we met with a misogynistic retort to everything we talked about but he did not clarify any details that we later found out would be important. The day of the event, we accidentally hit a bottle of wine bringing in the decorations. Total accident! During the party, we had to constantly find our server (super nice guy but terrible service) to take drink orders, to take food orders, and to clear the table and bring to go boxes. Drinks weren't refilled. We cut and served the cake we brought. Then our bill comes and surprising to us, we were charged a room fee (which I confirmed they DID NOT have prior to booking), charged a cake fee (just for them to store it in their fridge and NEVER told there would be a fee for bringing a dessert, despite Michele asking the day before if we were bringing our own or using them for dessert), and he charged us $50 for the bottle we accidentally broke. With all these extra charges, in addition to already paying a deposit, we were way over the previously discussed budget. I never would have agreed to his idea of everyone ordering individual dishes instead of family style plus his outrageous extra fees had I know it was going to blow the budget. He had every opportunity to tell us there is a cake fee (never have I EVER had to pay a fee to bring a cake- even our server said he felt it was in poor taste to charge us for that). We refused to pay the room fee because we already put down a deposit and were never told there would be these extraneous charges! The terrible ending happened when I slipped and fell (8 months pregnant) in the front of the restaurant RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE OWNER, who stood over me as I was on the ground, and said "you must have slipped on the wine you spilled." Never offered concern, never offered to help me and never apologized. A staff member from the kitchen ran out to help me despite Michel being an arms length from me, looking down on me. Such a disgrace. My dress was dirtied from their floor and I was left with bruises on my knees the next day. No wet floor sign, clearly the floor wasn't cleaned up properly or dried. We will never patronize this restaurant again. What was meant to be a beautiful event turned into a calamity met with a chauvinist owner who lacks customer service and compassion. read more

Stopped by the Cave with the family after forced family photos. We recently purchased tickets to their "Murder Mystery Dinner" so we wanted to check the place out. In Ventura's industrial area, the Cave is a nice, cozy restaurant that is hidden in the Ventura Wine Company shop. We were greeted by live music which made a lively atmosphere. They have the self vending wine machine with a decent variety of wines for all. I'm going to be honest - I did question the pour size. We ended up buying a bottle of wine at dinner instead and I'm pretty sure that was the economical choice plus it gave me peace of mind. I will say - the plating of the food is strange. Giant plates for small portions never really sits well with me. The kitchen's "thinly sliced" waygu steak was also off putting visually. The Jumbo Scallops w/Leek & Truffle Risotto ($46) is a must order. Scallops perfectly pan seared and that risotto I would eat by itself. The Lemon Chardonnay sauce was incredible. The Slow Braised Beef Short Ribs ($39) was okay. The meat fell apart as it should. The red wine sauce was okay but lacked depth. The creamy mashed potatoes were very good and seasoned perfectly. Wasn't mad that I tried it but would not order again. Wagyu Top Sirloin 12 oz. ($48) was very good despite the poor slicing. The creamy mushroom sauce was perfect to add some flavor but not overpower the protein. The Pepperoni Pizza ($18) was decent for my son. My daughter planned to order the Seafood Pasta until she saw all of her favorite things combined: Mac and cheese, bacon and pizza - the Mac and Cheese Pizza ($21) was honestly top notch. It wasn't overly heavy, the depth of flavor was great and it's extremely tasty. The spicy aioli was top notch. Overall, a good experience at the Cave. I recommend giving it a try. read more

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The food was excellent and the wine vending machines were a cool concept. The Vol a Vent chicken was quite good. It is one of the best ones I've had. Most of the things we had were excellent. The only low point was the charcuterie board. The cheese and meat choices were good. The bread that was served with it was hard as a rock. Otherwise, an excellent meal with good service. read more

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Great great food, ambiance is really different . And service was great. Live music and felt like I walked into a secret place. Dessert is a must! read more

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My girlfriends came to visit me in Ventura and I was looking for a wine bar to take them too. This place was beyond my expectations! It is really quite a unique experience. We arrived around 7:30pm on a Saturday evening and were sat down immediately. Our waiter Gilbert explained to use the wine card and how it works; which I highly, highly recommend getting the wine card. Your waiter will take a credit card to physically hold in place of the wine card. You then take your wine card to any of the wine cases in the restaurant. The wine cases will show you the bottle, a label and will set a price for trying 1 oz, 2 oz and 4oz (I think). You put your card in the wine case and push the oz amount of that wine you want and it is dispensed into your wine glass. It is such a great way to try out wines that you haven't tried to see if whether or not you want to purchase a larger portion of it instead of paying $14 for a glass of wine you hate. The food is also top notch. I got the Salmon Papperdelle and it was sooo good. Great for my wine tastings. For dessert we shared an apricot bread pudding. It was also really delicious. I can't wait to go back. read more

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Update to my previous reviews, love coming here all the time. One of our favorite hidden gems--special shoutout to Megan and Sara hostess and waitress who were SUPER SWEET last weekend. The chef as well, def a good reminder of why we love to keep coming back. read more

0 stars. Friends order was messed up and owner came out and lectures her on his cooking. If ingredients are not listed on menu don't serve them. Then my pizza came out 10 min after first plate dropped at table of 5 (bring it all together) and the bottom was so soggy... I showed it to the waiter and she just gave me a look and a shrug like yes, that's how it is. Staff tried but owner didn't give a shit. read more

We were in the hunt for restaurants with air conditioning on this very hot day and The Cave came up as a result on our Google search. The Cave was super cute. I can definitely see why they call it the cave. The presentation on the food was beautiful. The flavor was ok and the service was ok. They also had a huge event happening so maybe that's why we didn't get much service. I plan on going again to really get the vibe because I see the potential. My favorite part was the love music! Amazing! read more

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One of the best restaurants in Ventura! Michelle runs a tight restaurant with great service and food selection! Don't miss The Cave restaurant in Ventura read more

I'm surprised by how hidden this place is but truly a hidden gem! I came here for a talk and was wondering where this place was as I had heard about it but never been. I'm so glad I came and k will be coming back. Once you go inside, it's like a wine place but you keep walking and that's where the restaurant is. The private room is super cute. I got the cave salad without onions and it was amazing. I also had their short ribs, beef, and it was outstanding. I Usually don't like mushrooms and their mushroom pizza was something else. The apricot bread pudding dessert was delicious! Everything was beyond what I expected. Service was outstanding as well. I am definitely returning and bringing my husband to try this place. Will return very soon. Thank you for the great service. read more

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I am in total agreement with the other 1 star review. Been excited about going here for months and wow, what a disappointment. Walk in and I'm stared at by 3 blank faces in the kitchen. No 'hello' or acknowledgment. I look left and 2 men are sitting at a nearby table. No one said anything and one of the men was the owner! Finally we were acknowledged and seated and here comes the waiter who had the same flatliner, non-caring attitude like everyone else working there. What a buzz kill and if they wanted to make me feel unwelcome, they succeeded. Food was mediocre. Music was good. Room is loud. Not worth it one iota. read more

Awesome place, loved it! Self serve wine is such a great idea and fun, it brings an extra interactive twist to your dining experience. The food was great and the service was excellent. The only negative about this place and I am not taking away my 5 star review for it is that there are quite a bit of fruit flies flying around due to the inside area connected to the outside, but that is not the restaurants fault at all, the staff even replaced our glasses when necessary. Can't wait to come back, both food and drinks were great. read more

The mushroom pizza and short rib were the standouts here. The service is pretty friendly and quick and it is so cute here.

Went here as a quick stop to grab some grub and hit the road. It was a very cute restaurant, they had live music, someone playing guitar and singing. Their wine looked awesome, although we didn't try it because we had to drive. Next time! We had the meat lovers pizza and it was pretty good, I enjoyed the sausage on it. A pasta with that sausage would probably be a great idea! The service was good, she offered us ranch without us asking. Everyone said bye to us when we were leaving, even the chefs. It was a sweet little restaurant! read more

The Cave - Meat Lovers Pizza and Beer on the side - Wine Bars Near Me - Ventura, California

One of our favorite little wineries had to relocate and The Cave is the new pick up spot. We stopped by to grab a quick lunch and pick up our bottles. Lunch was great. We started with a cesar salad and then had the barramundi with veggies. Everything was cooked fresh and very nicely seasoned. We both really enjoyed our meals here. They also have wine tasting where you insert a card and can pick the amount of ounces you would like to taste. We had fun with that. Service was great, all in all we really enjoyed our first visit here. read more

The Cave - Barramundi with veggies - Wine Bars Near Me - Ventura, California

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One of, if not the most awful dining experience. Immediately upon walking in we were first starred at by kitchen staff then looked at and ignored and left at the front without a word from the hostess while she went into the restroom. We were seconds from leaving when she came out and seated us. All three things we ordered were either sub par or disgusting. Pizza was wet and soggy with so much truffle, we left more than half. Caprese was fine, flavorless tomatoes, minuscule balsamic, the croquettes were bland. Also ordered the tuna poke tower which was fine, but fishy. Our server made us feel weird for not ordering wine and when we were done she lifted up the napkins on the half eaten pizza and asked if we didn't like it. I let her know that we didn't care for it but it was ok. She took the plates and then came back to hash out why we didn't like the pizza. Argued that it was the most popular pizza and asked specifically why we didn't like it. The whole ordeal was uncomfortable and we just wanted to get the H out of there. Awful start to our girls weekend, still confused by the high rating. read more

The Cave is one of my favorite places to go when I visit Ventura. A warm and friendly greeting upon entering the restaurant always sets a positive tone. When you get inside the place, you'll understand why they call it the cave. It's cozy and chill. We didn't have to wait long for our orders to be taken. The Truffle fries are delish. The slow braised beef short ribs is my go to dish; my comfort food. I truly wished we had room for dessert because they're awesome as well. If you're in Ventura, highly recommend you check them out. read more

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Great wine selection! Interesting little dining area and the menu is definitely unique but very good!

We recently attended the Aperture wine dinner where we were treated to an absolutely amazing dinner. The wine/food pairings were 'spot on', but the stand out of the evening was the sumptuous and deliciously exciting five course menu that Chef/owner Michel and his team curated. Each course was not only delicious but also presented absolutely pleasing to the eye. Beginning with the spicy grilled shrimp to the perfectly cooked bacon wrapped port tenderloin, each course built in tempo to perfection. In addition to the outstanding food & wine, the service was professional and the dining experience was phenomenal from beginning to end. read more

Came here to catch up with an old friend and loved it! We sat at a cozy little corner table with cushions and a cute table. Our server, Megan, was knowledgeable and friendly and walked us through the options. We both opted for the tasting machines which were fun and easy to use. The wine was delicious and I loved trying a few unusual ones I would not have thought to taste. Such a fun time! read more

This review is for the restaurant and food and not the wine tasting. The food is average and not authentic tasting or looking. The ravioli had so much watery gravy in the bowl that it looked like we ordered soup. The pizza was average. My wife liked her pasta dish. A local told me that it is hard to find good Italian food here. The wine tasting looked like a lot of fun and the different bottles of wine offered was excellent. The prices were excellent also very fair. It's a great place for wine for sure and the wine scene there is 5 stars. read more

Traveling for Thanksgiving week, we were in Ventura on Thanksgiving Day. I researched and found just a handful of places open for a meal. We chose The Cave because we thought that would be a fun atmosphere in which to dine. And they have lots of wine! The prefix meal was $84 including tax and tip. All drinks extra. They had 3 or 4 entree options. All 6 of us got the turkey dinner. We had a 6 PM reservation, their last seating of the evening. That was probably a mistake. The Good: They have a wine shop, too, and prices are reasonable. The food we had was really good. Turkey and several sides. Large green salad. A variety of desserts. Good wine. You can even get some from wine dispenser machines. There was a good guitar player providing ambient music. The Bad: it's not a Cave at all. It's a building in a row of buildings with one small room covered in stucco floor to curved ceiling. And they walked us right thru that room to an adjacent room that was pretty drab. So much for the unique dining experience. I should've paid more attention to photos. Although the food was good, the portions were lacking, except the turkey. We had a lot of turkey, but a tablespoon or two of all the sides. Seriously. See pics. One plate was missing the 12 kernels of corn the rest of us got . It was like a child's plate. So.... Was it because they were running out of everything except turkey? Did earlier diners get a grown up portion. I don't know. But our meal was the same price so I'd expect the same thing or an accommodation to make up for it. They required reservations so they should have know how much food to make. The desserts we chose, lava cake and crème brûlée, were cold. No hot lava, no warm caramelized sugar. Everyone left full, but we all said we wanted more corn or potatoes or ... all the other tasty stuff we got but a sampling of. I appreciate that they opened their doors on Thanksgiving and that we got what we got. But for the price it was underwhelming or for the portions it was overpriced. read more

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The Food was overall good. We ordered and shared a Caesar salad and short rib with red wine reduction plate. The portion sizes were adequately sized and enough to share. The service seemed off though and somewhat put my table off. Nothing negative, just seemed off and not inviting. Just average place in my book. Great if you're there to drink a whole bottle of wine. Limited glass of wine choices. read more

I love this restaurant! They have wine tasting dispensers and it's very fun. You can taste some kinds of wine but small portion. I can't drink a lot so tasing is good for me to control the amount. Pizzas were so good. We ordered Mac and cheese pizza and mushroom pizza. Both were so good. Also ordered chocolate lava cake. Yummy!!! They are selling lots of wines. They have outdoor seating and it's dog friendly. There is a little space and you can have a party there. Parking is in front of the restaurant. read more

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The ambience is definitely very cool, the lights are low and there's usually live music. I throughly enjoyed the pasta I had but the service was a bit slow and lacking. read more

The Cave - Tortellini - Wine Bars Near Me - Ventura, California

Celebrated both Christmas Eve and New Years Eve dinner with friends and everything was great. The Chef, the food, the staff and the music were excellent. The Cave never disappoints us. We enjoy the monthly Wine Pairing dinners and special events. Our favorite place to have dinner in Ventura County. Lunch is also A+. Best burger and Poke Tower. Not to forget the wine selections and wine Club. Super. read more

Very nice cozy place to have dinner or snack along with their great wine shop. It is a nice wine diner with good menu selection and they will let you do wine tasting through their tasting machine or you can buy your wine from their wine store and with a small corking fee enjoy your dinner. We usually go there after we shop at the Camarillo Outlets. Prices are reasonable wine selection is very good and of course being located I Ventura, makes it even a better experience. read more

The Cave - Charcuterie and Margherita Pizza - Wine Bars Near Me - Ventura, California

The cave burger is great! The bread had a good texture and the meat and cheese were appropriate. My Cesar salad was good. I like the ambiance and friendly staff. I did notice however service is on the slower side. I appreciate that all plates came at once. read more

The Cave - Wine Bars Near Me - Ventura, California

My husband and I went here last night. It was INCREDIBLE! I can't consume any dairy except butter and they made my food exceptionally well. What I also loved was their wine. You go and try as many as you want in 3 different sizes. They also have a wine store that you can buy a bottle from (or bring from home). Beyond excellent. We shared their crab cake. I had shrimp scampi with garlic potatoes and then we shared a pear gallete. Perfect. read more

The Cave - Glass with wines in the background that you can taste. - Wine Bars Near Me - Ventura, California

Celebrated a relationship milestone with my partner here a few nights ago and it was very sweet. The waitstaff was extremely friendly and knowledgeable, and the food was all DELICIOUS! We dined in late at the restaurant. As we were getting to the end of our meal I decided I wanted to do the diy wine taster so we got the card and started pouring some glasses. Unfortunately we were rushed to wrap up and asked to close out our ticket at 945, even though the restaurant closes at 10. Made us feel a little uncomfortable but luckily everything else about the experience was great. read more

The Cave - Chef's Choice Charcuterie and Cheese Board - Wine Bars Near Me - Ventura, California

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This place has deteriorated big time. I remember coming here for their fresh salad and great ambiance... The seating area we were smelled bad... the pillows were dirty ... distressing smell- was not washed for a long time. Salad- it seemed that ingredients all came from the instant box- also their mashed potatoes. It didn't taste as good as before. Apricot pudding is okay. Salmon tacos - filled with oil. I miss the old cave, wish they maintained the food quality of their food and the place itself. Service was great though. read more

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My only criticism is the cork fee. If I'm purchasing wine from your establishment, why am I charged to enjoy it? Cork fees are typically issued when customers don't purchase wine from the restaurant's selection. Overall, it was a good experience. The food was phenomenal and the staff was friendly, knowledgeable, and courteous. The atmosphere was intimate and memorable. Would visit again and do recommend this establishment. read more

This has to be my favorite place, the food is amazing, the ambience is very calm and welcoming they a wine store with a large selection and u can choose a bottle and enjoy with your dish. the staff has always made me feel welcome witch i couldn't say this about most places u must try the mac n cheese pizza read more

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we love this place. LOVE! it is a 2hr drive from So Orange County. worth the drive. we try to make it up here at least once a year. i adore the mushroom risotto. i first tried this dish in Italy. could not stop thinking about it. the mushroom risotto here is better than what i had in italy. today's lunch. chicken sandwich for mom with truffle fries. great. she really enjoyed it. i had wagyu steak sandwich with mushroom / tomato risotto. amazing!!! best steak sandwich. read more

The Cave - wagyu steak sandwich with risotto. - Wine Bars Near Me - Ventura, California

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We attended the mothers day brunch. The food was excellent. Started with the Ceasar salad. Very crisp and tasty. The eggs Benedict were extra good with potatoes. Yummy. The service was excellent. Our waitress was very attentive and friendly. However at this time I can't recommend the restaurant. read more

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We hadn't been to The Cave in awhile and we sure were surprised! The Cave has opened up! It now has cozy outdoor seating. We had such a wonderful experience! We both loved the menu! I had the chicken surrounded with a pastry covered with a rich savory mushroom sauce and mashed potatoes. Decadent to say the least, but delicious! Sherrie had the salmon tacos that had thinly sliced vegetables with a light creamy oil sauce. Perfectly seasoned. What made it a delightful evening was our server Megan! She was so easy and answered all of our questions about the menu as well as their wine club membership. She had us laughing and made us feel like she was having us over for dinner! We had quite the experience as well as reasonably priced! Thank you for making our anniversary so special... oh and we even had dessert! We will definitely be back! read more

I've always loved The Cave. It was my husband's first time going and he loved it too. The food was excellent they always nail the flavors!! And the ambiance is great. We especially enjoyed the live music. read more

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The food is AWESOME. We had the scallops, macadamia nut crushed sea bass, burger, and bison sliders. Our waitress was new so I guess I can't blame her too much but she was confused on the prices of some things and wasn't very helpful with the menu (like idk make something up!?) Ambiance is the cutest. So cozy and great for a date night. I love the self pour. read more

The Cave - Jumbo Sea Scallops with Risotto - Wine Bars Near Me - Ventura, California

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The food was overpriced and made us feel sick to our stomachs. Our server couldn't remember what restaurant he was working at and forgot about us. read more