We came by for a weekend brunch and were so glad we stopped by here! Parking was a little hard to find (street parking or free public lots nearby. We came in and were immediately greeted by the sight of delicious pastries. We thought there were only a few tables at first, but there are actually a ton of seats in the back. The decorations inside were nice - there's a cute skylight decorated with plants and gorgeous paintings and wallpaper. I got a lavender macchiato and my friend got a caramel cappuccino. To be honest, I'm not really a fan of the coffee. I hardly tasted my lavender flavoring and the coffee flavor itself wasn't my favorite. I love concentrated coffee flavor, but my macchiato tasted almost burnt to me. My friend is also just OK with her coffee. My friend got the BLT and I got their Dutchess breakfast plate. Food took a while to come out, but when it did, wow it was great! I almost never fully eat the toast with my breakfasts (not really a toast fan), but this sourdough was different. It was so thick, crunchy, and delicious. My friend felt similar about her BLT's bread. My plate was seasoned and cooked well. It may be a little salty for some, but it was at a good level for me. My friend said the BLT was probably the best she's ever had. Service is exceptional. I was a bit fussed about how long the food took to come out, especially after watching the tables around us who ordered after us get their food first, even though I saw the same things we ordered on their tables. I wasn't going to say anything, but our server apologized to us for the wait and offered to comp a pastry for each of us. I had no idea what was in the pastry shelf, and our server asked what we usually like. We both replied and she came back with the perfect things for both of us! That was really sweet of her to do, and we both appreciated it a lot. The pastries are super good here too! The next time I'm in Ojai, you bet I'm coming back! read more

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Let me start by saying the food was solid. The people were nice that worked there. I have an issue with the price more than anything. It was $90 for a sandwich, breakfast plate, two lattes and a cookie. That is insane, especially for the portions. The tiny chicken sandwich was $22. read more

The Dutchess - Breakfast platter and chicken sandwich - Cafes Near Me - Ojai, California

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One of the best meals we've had in a while. We ordered: -the nan -crispy rice salad -pork belly noodles -sticky rice donuts All highly recommended. Our server Sofia was great and steered us well. Good vibes and decor too. read more

My family had dinner here last night. We were able to make a reservation online and got there early and was seated early. Very cute ambience and kid friendly which is a plus. Our server Stephanie was so sweet and helpful. We ordered off the kids menu for the kids the butter noodles, chicken tenders and potatoes. They loved all of it. For the parents, we got the naan, chickpea fritters, pork belly and melon salad. Everything was delicious, came out fast and hot. Portions were a nice size and the melon and pork belly definitely had a little kick to it so we did not share these with the kids! Next time we are in the area, we will definitely come back. read more

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visited Ojai for the first time and was looking forward to the Dutchess due to all the good reviews but the experience turned out some how disappointing. We arrived around 6pm and was told the earliest table would be 7pm so we came back 7:03 checked in with host and ended up waiting for another 15mins for a table for two, the two parties arrived after we did both got seated so i had to ask if our table was ready. Two hosts clearly didnt communicate enough, because the lady seems very confused then the male host rushed over and brought us to our table. we ordered Naan, a salad and two entrees, one of the entree were sold out so i had to change, the salad arrived quickly and we waited another twenty minutes to find out that they were also out of naan, naan is a very big part of Burmese diet so it's almost like opening a Chinese restaurant but don't have enough rice. our server offer an appetizer on the house, we accepted, and later found out that it was on our check, had to ask her to remove it. The food, the salad is not bad, but not impressive. both of our entrees are very salty, very, very salty. The ambiance is very nice, fine dinning style. read more

Went to dinner here. We didn't make reservations but they were able to accommodate us at the bar. Very friendly and accommodating waitstaff. They have a fun mixed drinks selection. The appetizers were amazing. We had crispy rice salad and the potatoes. Potatoes are amazing. Had the lamb masala...amazing flavor and it was so delicious and perfect. cant wait to go back again. highly recommend this place. read more

Just ok. Wasn't really what we were expecting. Also, our kids ordered the kids meals and were not impressed either. Cool looking place...Won't be back. read more

Went here for my birthday tonight and they made me feel so special! This is my favorite restaurant and they never disappoint. Service is always amazing and friendly and the food is soooo flavorful. Cool vibes too. Highly recommend. read more

Made a reservation, they had a power outage the night before and canceled all of the reservations, the staff was so wonderful and accommodating we sat at the bar, and watched pastry after pastry come off the baking trays, the pistachio danish was first and we had so delicious, I drank the nitro cold brew, I don't like outside cold brew as I've been accustom to drinking my own for the past 20 years, this was the best I've ever had, no aftertaste and very smooth and fresh the salad was exquisite and the spicy chicken so fresh and gave such great counterbalance to the plums and appropriately dressed salad (you know what I'm talking about), I've got to return to try more and more of the menu. Shout out to all of the staff from front of house for making us feel like we were eating at their house, to the back of house, for executing such picture perfect deliciousness - we will return! read more

The Dutchess - Cafes Near Me - Ojai, California

Amazing food, gorgeous inside, such a fun vibe and outstanding service. Truly a gem, you should check it out for sure!!

SERVICE AND FOOD IS SUPER SLOW! We got seated for breakfast within 10 min of our walk in. That's when things took a turn. We ordered our food at 11:09 (took a photo of the menu for this review right before we placed our order). Food did. It come out until 12:05pm - almost an hour of waiting for 2 entrees and 2 sides. Our server seeing us waiting did say twice during this nearly hour-long wait that our food was coming "soon". It also took us asking after 30 min for our drinks. With kids at our table, an hour felt like days. To make matters worse, the server didn't apologize for the absurdly long wait or bother to comp us a free cookie or pastry while we waited or at the end of the meal. While the food was pretty good and the ambiance is nice, it's just simply not worth the bad service and SUPER SLOWWWW wait between ordering and receiving the food. Will likely not come back. read more

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Being Ojai locals, we've been here several times for breakfast and have loved it. This was our first visit for dinner--full-blown sit-down service. We thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Service was great, food was terrific, ambience----see below. At the server's suggestion, we picked a dish from each category on the menu--great advice. We selected the naan, the crispy rice salad, the biryani, and passion lime pie for dessert. Each dish was terrific. The salad and biryani had just the right amount of heat for us. Having experienced both Indian and Burmese foods elsewhere, (knowing that the chef is Burmese) I must say I thought the dishes we had were more reminiscent of Indian, rather than Burmese food styles. But, as advertised, definitely with a twist, riffing off the more traditional dishes of the same names. Ambience...there was the rub. We are AKs ( meaning chronologically challenged, meaning old folks). One issue that distressed us was the incredibly high noise level. Week-night, so the back area of the restaurant was not in use. The noise level was so high when our area (the middle room) was more than half full that we literally could not hear each other. Hard floor, hard walls, low and hard ceiling. When it was 2/3 empty we could finally talk to and hear each other in conversation across a small table. I know, younger folks seem to adore this type of restaurant setting; not so much the older crowd. Much though we enjoyed the food we both decided we would stick to breakfast there. Pity. read more

So yummy! Highly rec any of the breakfast and big shout out to Amanda our server. So kind and thoughtful. She made my birthday breakfast so special read more

The pastries were really good that we went back twice. They have a wide variety of different flavor with gluten free options, as well as sweet and savory items. We got the ham and cheese croissants and the chocolate croissants. The croissants were babes to perfect and it was very flakey. The cashiers were nice and patient even though the lines were long in the morning. The restaurant was charming with ample seating inside and out. There were fresh flowers too that added to the ambiance. read more

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We visited the restaurant for breakfast on Friday. Bakery items are great and there are many seats in the restaurant. Staffs are friendly. I think the potato in breakfast plate was a little too salty to my taste but bakery items are good. I do not love crispy bacon either but it is just me. (I like my bacon a little softer.) It is a cute and nice place. I will visit for dinner in the future if I am around again. read more

Seemed to be a locals spot. Lots of choices. Enjoyed the cherry Danish and apricot pastry. The coconut macaroon is filled with coconut. read more

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The Dutchess totally reminded me of my favorite food stops in upstate NY road trips. In all likelihood, I will come here each time I visit Ojai. Between the fantastic food offerings - a California farm to table meets Burmese and Asian flavors, and the FOMO inducing pastry/cake counter and the beautiful interior, it's easy to understand why this restaurant has often landed on many a food writer's list. And it does not disappoint! I want to keep coming back so I can eat through their menu! read more

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Our whole family (10 of us) went to dinner last month, on Sunday before the Thanksgiving. We didn't have good experience. The food was below average. The Tea Leaf Salad and Chickpeas Fritters were not good. The Cucumber Raita quantity was less than two table spoons! The worst thing about the restarunt was that we told them that we were there to celebrate our two granddaughters (both 10 years old). The server did bring two scoops of ice cream for them. However, when the bill came, they charged us $12 for these two scoops of ice cream! Our total bill was close to $600! This is really was really cheap and graceless behavior. We are not going back there again! read more

Amazing location filled with an amazing team of hospitality professionals who handled all our needs wishes and requests. The service was exceptional and the food was excellent and beautifully prepared and presented and our guests raved about it all night long. We had our wedding reception at The Duchess on New Years Day with 125 of our family and friends in attendance and we could not be happier with all aspects of our choice in The Duchess. Our signature cocktails and curated wines were on point. The reception style food was superb and the dessert buffet......well I need say no more. There are so many names that I should mention but Jesse from The Duchess who handled all our pre planning and day of needs was OUTSTANDING in all she did for us and The Duchess team all took their lead from Jesse. The ambiance of the restaurant nestled in the heart of Ojai cannot be surpassed. Everything was Perfect! Thank you The Duchess. read more

Best dinner ever!!! I'm normally a picky eater and I loved every single thing we ordered!!

Centrally located in the heart of Ojai's popular town and the cutest spot for a romantic date or to just gather with friends for some great Burmese inspired bites. The flavor was fantastic although note they are a bit small proportions if you intend to share with the table. Our waitress was accommodating and was kind enough to let us taste wines before deciding. The naan bread was great although the simple garlic butter was a stand out here. Our table split the Biryani and although it has great flavor, they felt it was lacking on the amount of meat. Highly recommend getting the Ohn No Khao Swe soup as it was impeccable flavor!! Cannot recommend this enough. A smaller portion but still enough for one. read more

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We can't order online through Toast or Door Dash. Can't make a reservation for 3 until 9 pm. Do you want our money? No one answers the phone - just a pre-recorded "up yours for wanting a customer service rep" message giving out 2 email addresses because that's what patrons want from a restaurant - an email option. I'm sure the email responses are warm, and fresh out of the oven, served with a smile and butter. We've tried so many times to eat at The Duchess - at this point it seems like a concerted effort to prevent customers. We're done. read more

During my visit to Ojai, the Dutchess was one of the places that I wanted to visit. After trying it out during the morning and later for dinner, I was impressed! It's hard for me to turn down a breakfast pastry, and the restaurant offers a wide selection to choose from. Everything I tried was well-made, and I even took some baked goods back home for later. I decided to have an early dinner before heading out of town, and service was excellent throughout my meal. It was fun to see the contrast between the daytime and evening menu, with dinner leaning towards Burmese influences. This is definitely a restaurant I would want to revisit when I'm in Ojai again. read more

The Dutchess - Interior shot - Cafes Near Me - Ojai, California

We came here for brunch on a Sunday. It's really like 2 restaurants in one. They have an incredible pastry section, that is wonderful to have as you wait for brunch. It does get busy so I suggest if you want to sit down to book via open table. Brunch was great, they have traditional type items and then some Burmese selections which makes for a fun choice. Food was excellent. The service outstanding! And we just loved the vibe. read more

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I always recommend that friends come here when they visit Ojai! (I've only been for breakfast and wine - so can't speak on dinner) They have an amazing selection of pastries in the AM - I have gotten quite a few different ones and all of them are amazing! Good lattes and ceremonial grade matcha! There is plenty of seating, both indoor & outdoor - and it's very cute and cozy. Lovely staff too! read more

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Ambiance: quaint space and kind energy flowing from the front to the back. Service: efficient! Our server was patient, informative and just a really kind man. He even gifted us desserts for the road. The owner came out at the end of our meal to check on our experience and share the history of th Food: Delicious, especially the crispy rice salad. They even had non-alcoholic rosé for me to enjoy with my entree! My boyfriend loved his chicken, it was a huge serving even for a man with an appetite! We recommend going if you're in Ojai! read more

The Dutchess - Smashed Potatoes - Cafes Near Me - Ojai, California

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Picked up a tea leaf salad and crispy rice salad - both were very fresh with great flavors. I need to wait about 20-30 additional minutes past predicted pick up time which was fine and understandable given how busy they were. Really impressed with the kitchen's efficiency and how good all of the dishes looked coming out. They were all booked up on a Tuesday night, so recommend getting reservation well in advance. Will definitely come here again if in the area, not enough burmese places like this around! read more

The Dutchess - Tea leaf salad - Cafes Near Me - Ojai, California

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I loved the Asian notes and fusion on a lot of this food. This was my first time ever having a savory waffle and I think I liked it for the most part? I'm still deciding lol the pastries and drinks were phenomenal Service was okay. A bit slow but we did go during the brunch rush. Atmosphere is gorgeous read more

The Dutchess - Rhubarb tart, morning bun, and almond croissant - Cafes Near Me - Ojai, California

Ojai has more incredible restaurants per square mile, possibly per square foot, than anywhere I've been. Point is, to stand out you have to be good. Exceptionally good. Amazingly good. The Dutchess stands out. The vibe is cool, mildly pretentious because it's "the place", yet warm and comfortable. The service was like Goldilocks--not too much, so you were interrupted by a zealous server; not too little so you had to flag your server down because it was a packed house; but just right. Our server was passionate about every dish, and knew every wine and cocktail like he invented them. He did spend a little too much time selling us on the amazing bakery, which was odd for a dinner. Save that for morning. The food is amazing. I've never had Burmese cuisine, and doubt I ever will again because there is no way it would be better than this. We started with the sprouts and shrooms. It was like your first real kiss. I've had plenty of sprouts, served plenty of ways, but none have been as fresh, perfectly balanced, and savory as these. My wife had the duck breast and shared it. Some restaurants go light on portions of duck, but not the Dutchess. It was "if this were my last meal" incredible. I had the yogurt braised goat masala. I'm not a huge goat fan, but ordered it based on the server's recommendation. Well done my loquacious, insightful friend. The goat comes with Naan. Light, crisp, soft never before Naan. We didn't try the desserts. I have a big appetite and the combination of rich, savory, and balanced entrees were plenty without making me feel full. It's a "just right" kind of place. The only catch to dinner at the Dutchess is the cost. It's pricey in the "very" kind of way. Yet, there are more expensive places we have eaten in Ojai and they haven't come close to the value of the Dutchess. It's worth it, yet you may want to try the more reasonable breakfast or brunch. read more

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The Dutchess has a great vibe. The pastry case looked amazing, but I was only there for a beverage and to work on my laptop for a bit. I had a chai latte. It was good. Maybe not my favorite ever, but tasty nonetheless. Baristas were friendly and efficient. I would definitely go back. read more

$7 latte - barely warm. Lemon coconut chiffon takes like neither. Too expensive and over-rated read more

The Dutchess is a classy, moody bar and restaurant in Ojai with absolutely divine food!! We ordered the lamb biryani, the beef masala (not pictured), and the naan. You know this food was great when I forgot to take a picture of one of the dishes!!!! Lamb biryani: Rich with spices (but not spicy), this dish was comforting and flavorful. The rice and lamb alone were stars but the puff pastry added a buttery goodness to the entire dish. The pickled carrots and yogurt sides were nice additions to add a different flavor. I almost liked it more by itself but fun to try it with different toppings that add a crunch and tangy flavor. $35 Beef masala: Huge chunks of fall apart, slow braised beef in a delicious tomato sauce with a side of basmati rice. Perfectly cooked! Less sauce than expected. Not spicy but flavorful. I wouldn't have minded more of a spicy kick to this dish but it was still yummy!! $32 Naan: Similar to the biryani, I loved the naan by itself more than with the garlic butter!! I liked using it as a vessel to soak up the remaining sauce in my other dishes. I thought the garlic butter had an oily flavor closer to margarine than salted butter, which is why I didn't love it. $11.5 I shared all of these with a friend and it was more than enough food for the both of us. The meal was around $60 per person, so be prepared to splurge! Prices are higher than I expected, but I have no idea what it costs to make these dishes with so many locally sourced ingredients (probably $$$). This spot is definitely for special occasions. It says a portion of the costs for the naan goes to a local animal charity, which I have never seen at a restaurant. The servers were very friendly. Bathrooms onsite. Street parking in the area and close to other shops so you can park further away and stroll for a bit. I recommend making a reservation if you want a table guaranteed. I believe bar seating is first come first served. We got there around 5 pm on a Saturday and just missed the dinner crowd by a few minutes. There's ample indoor and outdoor seating. It's quite a large space, with a back patio and a pool table inside! Would be a perfect spot for a date night!! Overall I am glad I tried it!! It's my friend's favorite spot! The meal was very filling without making you feel too full. It's not heavy or greasy. We left feeling happy!!! Thank you! read more

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We really enjoyed our 1st visit to this lively cafe. It's located in a beautiful facility. The interior has an impressive custom antique looking solid wood bar and coffee / baked goods counter & display case. There is plenty of indoor seating of various types (tables, benches, etc. They even have a pool table in the back room! Service was friendly and efficient. The coffee was hot and fresh. The spicy ginger kale salad was heavy on the dressing. The standard bacon, egg, potatoes and toast breakfast menu item was very good. A+ for the cinnamon citrus bun pastry. Overall we enjoyed our experience. Suggestion: turn the music down just a bit so people can hear each other .. read more

Amazing experience at the Dutchess! The food was so fresh and delicious! We had the chocolate croissant, waffles, bacon, and the granola. The matcha was pretty good too. The service superb! The ambiance is really nice...and even there can be a lot of people inside you can still relax and talk with your family and friends! Will def recommend! read more

The Dutchess - Cafes Near Me - Ojai, California

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We drove an hour and a half just for their pastries! Everything we've tried has been delicious!

Love this place...so many delicious bakery items from their croissants,bread,scones,muffins to their dinner items like fried chickpeas,potatoes,salads and THE BEST naan bread !!! Great local beers to choose from and amazing cocktails...They always had an amazing staff and always a great vibe by the bar, dining room or outdoor patio!!! AAAAA+++++ read more

Learned this brunch place from Reddit. We ordered spicy chicken on scallion waffle, Duck Leg Confit, pastries like morning bun, everyday bagel, and samosa pie with tomato sauce along with Americano and Gibraltar Coffee (I requested 4 expresso shots & it is the best!) I enjoyed the chicken because it is truly spicy in the right amount as well as it is soft (it's not that big but I'm not a big eater so the size is sufficient for me) waffle is also soft and buttery (a perfect blend of salty & sweet). The Duck Leg Confit also tastes good but the savory flavor kind of mimics curry. All the pastries that we ordered are also enjoyable, I like the morning bun the most. Lastly, I liked their Gibraltar Coffee because the coffee is strong and at the same time creamy. The Interior is a nice, mid-century vibe, and the staff is friendly and efficient. 5/5 on this one! read more

The Dutchess changed my life! Last year, I decided to come here with a friend and get some job applications done while enjoying the pastries, coffee, and good vibes. We decided that we were not allowed to leave until we finished both of our applications. We ended up staying through breakfast AND lunch, and the staff were very patient with us and let us hang out for as long as we needed. We both ended up getting accepted to our jobs! All thanks to the wonderful service and food at the Dutchess!! Another time, I was ordering at the counter when I got a notification that Queen Elizabeth II died! I shared a solemn moment of shock and sadness with the cashier before we moved on to payment. I genuinely love this place, and it's my go-to spot to take friends for ANY meal in Ojai. From the seriously breathtaking bakery, to the homey yet sophisticated bar, to great Burmese food, The Dutchess has everything covered. On my most recent visit we tried the following: Burmese chicken sando: Spicy! Punches you in the face with flavor in a really good way. Explores a flavor profile not commonly associated with chicken sandwiches. My friend (a chicken sandwich connoisseur) really liked it. Egg sando: subtle flavors which serve to highlight the best of each ingredient- the richness of the egg is lightened by the freshness of the herbs. However, a little underwhelming tbh. MY ALL-TIME FAVORITES: Morning bun: sugary and slightly citrusy The bagel with cream cheese and toppings!! -- No other place does a bagel like this! Lamb biryani Seasonal fruit Lassi pie!! Ambiance: walking through the four distinct dining areas is like walking through different scenes in a movie with entirely different vibes. "The unique decor, perfectly curated music, and joyful chatter of well fed guests makes dining here feel like attending the perfect dinner party thrown by your most stylish friend." - Cian M. Service: the staff is incredibly welcoming The Dutchess would certainly stand out as just a bakery/brunch spot OR as a trendy Burmese restaurant alone, but combine the two, and you have the best of both worlds. As a powerhouse of an establishment, it stands out because it perfectly executes several vastly different elements -- baked goods, cocktails, Burmese food, ambiance(s) -- and it is the best at all of the above. **This is one of only two restaurants in Ojai in the Michelin guide! read more

The Dutchess - Pastries (passion fruit cream cheese danish was amazing) - Cafes Near Me - Ojai, California

This came recommended by a few people & I'm so glad we stopped in. We came in for brunch. Dog friendly which is always a bonus. I got the steak & eggs & it was cooked perfectly! Hubs got the spicy thyme chicken & waffles and it had quite a kick but delicious! Service was great! Everyone was on top of it and very friendly! Def a revisit next time we're in town! read more

The Dutchess - Yummy yummy!!! - Cafes Near Me - Ojai, California

The Dutchess was an okay dining experience. I think this establishment had a lot of promise but I was slightly let down. Firstly, the service was quite underwhelming. Our waitress gave minimal insight into the menu when we asked questions, and wasn't extremely welcoming. It took 30+ minutes for all of our entrees, with no remorse for the wait. She also offered a refill for my drink without letting me know they weren't free. As for the food, the crispy potatoes and garlic aioli were quite delicious, though the aioli was sparse. I had the rockcod with carrot curry for my main entree; the fish was well cooked and seasoned and the curry was yummy, though there was a very small amount of it - not worth the $35 price tag. Nonetheless, this place was very cute and had a charming vibe, I would think about returning to try out their breakfast. read more

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