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    Ventana Grill

    4.1 (3.1k reviews)

    Ventana Grill Photos

    VENTANA GRILL ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Romantic
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Ventana Grill

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    Reviews With Photos

    Lobby wall decor
    Mina L.

    We made reservations at 7pm for Saturday evening and was promptly seated. Our server Dan was super friendly and awesome. After a busy day at ATVs and at Morro Bay, it was nice to have a nice quiet dinner at Ventana Grill. Nice elevated dining experience, yet the dress code was still California casual. Dan gave us complimentary hand made tortillas that were literally steaming when we opened up the napkin. It was served with a trio of salsa. We ordered pork chops and shrimp with rice dish. Both were yummy. I would return to Ventana Grill. Make reservations, as we were leaving we heard the wait was 1 1/2 hours.

    Golden hour non alcoholic drink
    Viviana G.

    This restaurant has a beautiful beachfront location with gorgeous ocean views, making it a great spot to enjoy a meal with family. We had a reservation for a birthday dinner and arrived about 30 minutes early. We were told we'd be seated closer to our reservation time, which was completely understandable. However, as we waited, we watched several groups (including walk-ins without reservations) get seated before us. Even after our reservation time had passed, we had to check in with the host again before we were finally seated, despite there being plenty of empty tables. The service at the front definitely could have been handled better. The food, on the other hand, was very good with a great variety of options. I loved that they start you off with freshly made tortillas, cinnamon butter, and salsa to share. I ordered the Campechana de Mariscos, which was fresh, generously portioned, and perfect for sharing. We also had the Molcajete, and it was delicious! It came with a great mix of steak, chicken, chorizo, jumbo shrimp, nopal, and cheese. The portion was generous and easily enough for two people. Other dishes we ordered also included the pozole, chicken nachos, and lobster mac and cheese. Everything was delicious as well! The mac and cheese especially. For drinks, I tried the Golden Hour nonalcoholic cocktail, and unfortunately, I wouldn't recommend it. It tasted like watered-down ginger beer with no carbonation and only the faintest hint of pineapple. It was more on the bitter taste. Overall, this is a great restaurant for the ocean views and flavorful food. The portions are generous, and there's something for everyone on the menu. The only downside was the host service and the unnecessary wait despite having a reservation. I'd still come back for the food and the scenery.

    Cynthia Z.

    View: 10000/10 Food: 7/10 Clam chowder was very thick and gummy - not my favorite. Big chunks of clams were awesome but some had sand. :( Calamari - tasty but also greasy. Only recommend it if you have a strong tummy. It came with 3 sauces which is nice. Service was fast and attentive. We thoroughly enjoyed the view from the bar seats and the outside. They also have an awesome selection of cocktails.

    Lobster Mac and cheese
    Malik C.

    My wife wanted to visit a nice restaurant with a view for our anniversary. I opened Apple Maps and checked the pismo beach area and Ventana Grill was the first restaurant that stood out to me based on location, therefore, I made a reservation. Note that the parking lot, depending on which day you go, can fill up very quickly. The location is right off of the 101 and easy to find. We checked in and was seated within 10 minutes at a booth that overlooked the beautiful views of the Pismo Beach coast line. Our server, a younger black woman, who told us her nickname was 'TiTi', if I'm not mistaken, was wonderful. Her personality and hospitality was infectious and exceeded 5 stars. She brought us fresh hot corn and flour tortillas with a small cup of brown sugar butter and three different salsas to try. Everything was delicious. We ordered the surf and turf special which was a jumbo shrimp on top of a filet mignon that rested on mash potatoes and a creamy/savory white sauce. We also ordered the lobster Mac and cheese. Everything was exceptionally good. My only takeaway would be that I found the food, especially the lobster Mac and cheese to be pretty salty. Definitely excited for my next visit.

    Cristina D.

    We were looking for a place to have dinner to celebrate our anniversary. We looked around yelp the night before and found this gem. We made a reservation for the next day. We originally made our reservation for 7:30 p.m.... we then decided we wanted to perhaps change it to 6:30. We called ahead and hopes that they could accommodate us. They said they couldn't promise anything but they would try. We showed up around 6:15. And they sat us down around 6:35. We had a beautiful window seat overlooking the ocean and had a perfect view of the sunset. I forgot our server's name but he was amazing. This place sounds fancy and bougie but it's really not. The food might be, but the vibe is not. There's no dress code. Everything we ordered was soooo tasty and delicious! We ordered fish and chips, baked clams, a wedge salad, and seafood pasta. For drinks we had two mocktails that were just okay. We also got a couple of flour tortillas with some cinnamon butter and a salsa trio. Our server suggested we spread butter inside the tortilla and drizzle our favorite salsa inside. So good. After dinner we decided to walk around the restaurant and appreciate the views. I'm so glad we came here. We will definitely come back next time we come to Pismo Beach

    C A M P E C H A N A  D E  M A R I S C O S
    Shannon S.

    Beautiful views, nice staff, good food. Came up for my birthday weekend and made reservations for 7 p.m., husband requested a window seat and about 25 min after out reservation time we were able to get one. The starter campechana De mariacos was good and was HUGE, but wish we would have got more then three little packs of crackers. It was really busy so didn't get to ask for more before the food came out. The three different salsas were also great! My husband had the molcajete and I had fish and chips, I was too full from the starter to eat the main, my husband too, but he ate it the next day and said it was amazing! I never got around to eating the fish but my husband said it was good too. The view was amazing, go there for this. More authentic Mexican food is abound in California.

    Menu
    Mary D.

    Lunch at Ventana Grill right when they opened and this place delivered. The views alone are worth the stop, but the food backed it up. Service was attentive from start to finish. Ordered the carne tacos and they were excellent -- great flavor, good sear on the meat, and everything tasted fresh. The spicy margarita was refreshing with just the right kick. Definitely a spot I'll be coming back to.

    The view + a friend
    Autumn G.

    This was our first dinner spot for our honeymoon trip. 1st off the view was unbelievable!! Literally gorgeous! Roberto (our waiter) was incredibly attentive and kind. We both ordered the surf & turf with poblano mashed potatoes. Those taters were phenomenal! Steak was cooked perfectly. They also made our go-to drink, a Mexican martini, which was off menu. & They nailed it! 10/10 recommend!

    Molcajete
    Jaz M.

    This place is INCREDIBLE. The service, location, food, this place literally hits every box for me that a great resteraunt would have. My co worker has been hyping this place is for YEARS and a word trip brought us out to Pismo so I finally got to check it out. Located right of the 101 highway in Pismo, you will find the Ventura Grill nestled right along the Pacific Coast. Truly a beautiful and magical location. Our host and server were incredible friendly and so helpful. We got seated over looking the ocean and it made it right in time for sunset. We orderd some Cadillac margaritas and enjoyed that sunset. The margaritas were fresh and so good! Menu has a great variety. Defenitly had to try the Tinga Flautas and the Enchilada Suizas and WOW. THEY BOTH WERE INCREDIBLE. Full of flavor, huge portion, and cooked to perfection. Very aunthentic Mexican food and I appreciated that. Every penny spent was so worth it in my opinion. If your in the Pismo area and looking for a place, don't look any further. YOU MUST COME TRY THEM FOR LUNCH OR DINNER. I also heard they have an incredible brunch with all you can drink mimosas and Bloody Marys. Thank you Ventana grill for the memorable dinner. Next time I'm in Pismo I will most certainly be back. Till next time.

    Molcajete
    Candyce P.

    Super delicious Latin American food! The fresh tortillas as a starter were so good paired with the cinnamon butter and salsas. Also the molcajete was insanely flavorful!! It had a huge amount of protein and is def best shared between two people. I forgot our servers name but she was really helpful in providing recommendations and answering all of our questions. This restaurant has a very nice view of the beach so we were able to watch the sunset during our dinner. Would definitely recommend this place if you're in the pismo beach area!

    Chile Relleno
    Kevin L.

    This place was out of this world good! The ambiance, location, food, everything. We didn't have a reservation but were able to sit in the bar area upon arrival. The bartender/server was super nice and spaced everything out perfectly. We started with some of their homemade flour tortillas that they bring out with three salsas and a cinnamon honey butter. We also did chips and guacamole. All very good. The Pazole was excellent and the chile rellenos and chicken enchiladas were some of the best we have ever had. Just look at the pictures. The best part was this was 1/2 of the price of the nice seafood place we ate at the night before. This will be a definite stop in the future.

    Enchiladas
    Shruti J.

    The food was really good. Every plate had food beautifully placed and the food looked so fresh. The views are amazing and interior is beautifully decorated. I am sure this place looks even better when it's sunny. Drinks were good but it was the food and the view that really stood out for us. You can not go wrong with any of the choices. The service was great and friendly. I would have loved ti be seated near the window but no seat has the bad view. Every seating is ocean facing. A great place for special occasions

    Fish tacos
    Dominic D.

    This might be one of my favorite places in the central coast. Excellent service, perfect view for dining, and food was great. We went at lunch and it was not busy, we sat on one of the booth window seatings and it was great for my wife's birthday. The waiter Taylor made great recommendations and I was surprised how fast the calamari, birria tacos, and fish tacos came out. Our favorite was all 3. Fish tacos if you want something light and the birria tacos are probably the best in town. We will be back.

    Birrria Two Tacos

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    28 days ago

    Great food, excellent service, and a beautiful ocean view! The staff was friendly and attentive, and everything we ordered was delicious

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    26 days ago

    Woman at the bar today was super kind and helpful. And the soup is always 5 the drinks were to strong though for me.

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    Ventana Grill Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Ventana Grill

    Do they allow dogs?

    Not in the dining room, no. There is an outdoor area surrounding the restaurant, but they do not serve food out there. If you wanted to grab drinks from the bar and sit outside with your pup that is allowed.

    Do they have steak? Like ribeye or mignon? Thank you.

    Not a the regular menu. They do have daily specials nor on the menu and those could have a steak. They had a surf and turf with a filet mignon when I went.

    All You Can Eat brunch?

    Yes, every Sunday from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm

    Is Ventana Grill attached to Shore Cliff Restaurant?

    No it is not.

    Do I need a. Reservation?

    Depending on the time you go or the size of your group a reservation would help, however my husband and I have gone without a reservation and have been seated pretty quickly.

    It is dog friendly?

    No.

    Is there outdoor seating available?

    To the best of my knowledge there is no outdoor seating. The windows facing the ocean are at the edge of the cliff.

    Is the Sunday brunch back up and running? If not, is there any plan to open in the future? Thanks.

    call 'em

    Gluten free menu?

    Yes many options!

    Do they have outdoor dining for lunch and are dogs allowed?

    No outdoor dining, just great views. I don't believe dogs are allowed either.

    Are you still offering bottomless mimosas?

    no for the moment

    Does anyone know if they are still doing their sunday brunch special?

    I had the the same question and wrote an email 9/1/2022... got answered quickly with a NO, not serving the Sunday Brunch any longer.

    Do you accept reservations?

    They only accept a certain amount of reservations a day

    Is this place still open? I've called 17 times during posted hours but it just rings indefinitely.

    Yes it's open!

    Is there a dress code?

    Casual dressing

    Is there a kid's menu?

    Yes a small selection but yes

    Your ad says vegan options but I don't see anything on your menu?

    For eating at the restaurant, just ask your server. They can accommodate vegans.

    Do you have to make reservations?

    Yes and no

    Do they have gluten free options?

    Not many, but they do have a few salads.

    Is Mimosas included in the Sunday brunch price?

    Yes!!

    View All 31 Questions

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    Harry's Night Club & Beach Bar

    3.7(341 reviews)
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    Pool tables, and karaoke? You bet! After we got checked in…read moreat our hotel, we saw Harry's about a block away from where we were staying and walked over to grab a couple of cold ones after a long day on the road. I.D. Is checked at the door, and you are given a wristband. So, no minors/kids allowed. (Nice!) Harry's has a well stocked bar and a decent variety of beer on tap as well as cold bottles. Classic rock music was being played throughout the bar as we had a quick game of pool. The place started filling up with people after we'd been there for about half an hour. Apparently Karaoke night is a big thing here for the locals, because people were stepping up to the mic and killing it!They don't serve any kind of food here, but they do allow you to bring your own food in. (There are several hole in the wall type restaurants just a few steps away from Harry's to choose from, if you like) Recommend you hit Harry's up if you're passing through or staying in town for the weekend!

    Went here to hear a band play. We had a really nice time. Drinks are good mixed drinks are a little…read morepricey but I guess its the going rates. Bathrooms are clean, no food options but you can bring food in I guess we did. Music was good, nice dance floor. But the 2nd band was way too loud that it made us all leave. So they should get a handle on that. Its nice to be able to carry a conversation with your friends and enjoy drinks but once it gets deafening then thats time to exit.

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    Harry's Night Club & Beach Bar - Rock 'n rollers on stage

    Rock 'n rollers on stage

    Harry's Night Club & Beach Bar - CAB Street live at Harry's Bar in Pismo Beach, Ca.

    CAB Street live at Harry's Bar in Pismo Beach, Ca.

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    Hot Shots Family Entertainment Center

    Hot Shots Family Entertainment Center

    3.4(216 reviews)
    1.0 mi
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    We decided to give this place a try on a whim. We usually come to pismo beach once a summer and it…read morewas a pleasant surprise. Some reviews was kinda steering me away and I was very apprehensive about this establishment. But I'm glad we were bored out of our minds and fought thru my apprehension and gave in. It was a pleasant surprise . A little bit of something for everyone. Plenty of Arcade games, plenty of billiards table and classic American fried foods. Of course the front cute gift shop and shirts. The atmosphere was energetic and enjoyable. Music and game noises, seating areas for food, and even seats throughout the pool rooms. $18 and hour fit the table, not too bad. We did enjoy our experience. The workers were nice and only intercom yelled at a costumer for sitting on the pool table. Go try it out.

    We came here for a beer while my brother & everyone else with us did some pool. It is a casual no…read morefrills atmosphere with pool, video games, & other games. I cannot say much for the service & food as my brother went up & ordeered. Judging how it was not a long wait for our beer, things are pretty efficient. This might have been the place we came to years ago for wonderful fish sandwiches & fries. In any case, I will have to try their food & more of their expansive beer selection the next time I am in town. They seem to have something for everyone weather games, drinks, food, or shirts. Keep up the good work guys.

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    Hot Shots Family Entertainment Center - Pool area

    Pool area

    Hot Shots Family Entertainment Center
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    Pismo Brewing - Onion rings, chicken strips, pizza (beer tasters are empty because I didn't want to be rude, so we watered the trees with the beer)

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    4.0(355 reviews)
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    •$$

    Upon arrival, it was obvious the server had her hands completely full with the group of 4 that had…read moreordered. They were loud, obnoxious, had a dog that she had to keep asking the owner to stop letting him go behind the bar, but kept her cool. Her POS was giving her trouble on top of that. We (4 of us) placed our order and sat outside. The server (Celeste) turned out to be a one woman show. She was a terrific juggler, taking orders, tending the bar, cooking and later washing all the kitchen mats outside. Kept the crazies under control and was one step ahead keeping us covered. We had the stuffed pretzels and fish tacos. Very good! Original and fun idea for a pepperoni pizza in a pretzel stick/bun. This is bar food, so if that's not your jam, don't go. Our friends loved the beers they had and the wine they serve is canned. As a snobby wine person, it was above average. We got to talk a bit with Celeste after the other group left and we all agreed that the owner(s) is VERY lucky to have her. Probably the best weather day to sit outside and enjoy our food and people watch. Drop in and see if you agree with us. Don't think you'll be disappointed.

    stopped in town to meet the family and picked Pismo Brewing for lunch! we were greeted and seated…read moreby Celeste who is an ABSOLUTE ROCKSTAR!!! we brought the party quite literally because prior, there was no one in the entire restaurant, but shortly after we ordered, Celeste was serving the whole place from front to back solo!!! As a former waitress of 15 years, it was really impressive to see and so fun to watch! The food was absolutely spectacular, delicious beers, and if you're feeling wild, be sure to try the boozy rootbeer!! The rootbeer is also brewed in house and is some of the best I've had in my 35 years of this little life so be sure to stop by, you will not be disappointed

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    Pismo Brewing - Outside area

    Outside area

    Pismo Brewing - Nacho burger

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    Cool Cat Cafe

    Cool Cat Cafe

    4.2(1k reviews)
    1.0 mi
    •$$

    Drove up 4 hours just to visit this cafe. Visited a few years ago but they were closed as it was…read moretoo early when we visited. A very cool restaurant with an old school style ambiance. Just a short walk from the Pismo Beach Pier. The staff was great, had Misa as our waitress. I think she could tell we weren't locals so she made some recommendations which were great, offered up some directions to other near by destinations and just had all around great customer service. The food tasted great, bbq sauce for our fries and onion rings was recommended and I believe she said it was made in house, a spot on recommendation. If we're ever in the area we'll for sure be swinging by for lunch again.

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    Dive feel

    Cool Cat Cafe - Chili cheese fries with onion.

    Chili cheese fries with onion.

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    Grasshopper shake

    Ventana Grill - latin - Updated October 2026

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