The Dutchess - OJAI

This place alone is worth the drive from LA to Ojai.A gorgeous eatery in the middle of downtown Ojai, The Dutchess welcomes you with open arms to its beautifully lit and meticulously decorated atmosphere. THE FOOD (I'm just going to jump to it) IS INCREDIBLE. The naan was to die for; the mussels were divine; The Pork Belly noodles had to have been my favorite... I mean, the glaze was impeccable; can't go wrong with the curry; but the Goat Masala IS A MUST. Oh- and don't pass up on dessert. The Lime Pie was incredible, but you HAVE to get the Brulee Pie and the Sticky Rice Donuts. You'll thank me later.

We chose The Dutchess for a birthday dinner and with 4 adults 1 small child we were walked through the beautiful, ambience-filled restaurant to our table in the less atmospheric outdoors area, doors closed to keep the diners inside warm.The servers were friendly but not attentive and each of our dishes, ordered for sharing, as the restaurant suggests, came quite some apart from each other. So instead of a table full of wonderful dishes, we shared one dish before waiting for the next. Not quite the experience you see in the photos. We settled for a single round of drinks as we were not asked once if we’d like to order more.My impression is the outdoor dining area is somewhat neglected and undertrained staff are busy elsewhere. The 3% charge to cover cost-free healthcare for staff .. if you pride yourself on such a virtue, ensure the service and dining experience is exceptional.

One of the best eateries in Ventura County. First off the service is AMAZING. from the moment we walked into the rear bar and had cocktails to our appetizers, wine, and main dishes, each course brought us a new unique taste. From the Puri liver mouse to the Casitas duck, each course was amazing. We went thru a lot of the menu between the 4 of us as we really wanted to experience as much as we could at this phenomenal restaurant. Thanks to the attentive and knowledgeable staff this was a dinner we will not soon forget!!Vegetarian options: Large gluten free options.

First time eating here. Ordered the Mushroom Puri and was disappointed in the amount of mushrooms for the price. Mimosas were pricey but delish. Not sure I’d come back or recommend.

Bartender in the back was rude. I still tipped him 2 bucks for a beer. Checked my card statement the next day and got charged $20 more than the check total. Check your bank statements and make sure the staff doesn 't get confused.