Toppers Pizza — Restaurant in Oxnard

I recently visited the Toppers Pizza location at 2701 Peninsula Rd in Oxnard for the first time with my girlfriend on Wednesday, August 7th, between 9:00 and 10:00 PM. I had heard great things from friends and was excited to try it. Unfortunately, what happened during our visit left us feeling disrespected and disappointed.

I went to the salad bar using one of the small plates we were given, not realizing the salad wasn’t included without payment. A manager came up, told me I had to pay, and took my plate of food without giving me a chance to pay. She pointed at the counter and walked off with the food, which she later threw away. When I asked why she did that, she said it was so I could get a fresh batch—though I had just gotten it. She never gave me the option to pay for what I had already taken.

It became more uncomfortable when my girlfriend overheard her telling another worker to “keep an eye on us,” and we noticed we were being watched the rest of the time. I politely asked the manager for her name, but she refused and covered her name tag. She just kept asking “Why?” over and over. I explained it was our first time and that the experience wasn’t good because of how she treated us, but instead of apologizing or showing any concern, she just kept defending herself.

Since she refused to give her name, all I can say is that she was the only Asian woman working at the time.

Toward closing time, while we were still eating, an employee gave us boxes and asked us to pack our food and leave. Two other customers were also asked to leave at that time. While we understand closing procedures, it felt rushed and dismissive—especially after the way we had been treated.

We weren’t trying to get free food—I simply didn’t know how the salad bar worked. The whole situation could have been handled with more respect and better communication.

This was our first time trying Toppers, and after that experience, I don’t think we’ll return to that location—or any Toppers at all. I hope this is taken seriously and addressed...

Ok Toppers is usually a great local pizza salad bar place, but I had a couple of problems when we went. I had salad bar and bread sticks while my significant other had pizza. Ok please don't read into this but my cucumbers tasted like fish. Guessing someone cut up anchovies for a pizza and used the same knife without rinsing to prep the cucumbers. The imagery and nasty thoughts that crossed my mind and my significant other's mind were on par to how that sounds... It made it difficult to continue eating and I sure as hell wasn't going to say anything with that topic. Not in a million years. But there was another issue that really irritated me. They have those machines that dispense drinks to make your own flavors. I went to get BARQS root beer with vanilla. And on each machine it was out. I politely told the waitresses (several of them) that the vanilla was out on one machine and I asked if they were all running from the same boxes and they all said no. So I went to each of the three machines and all of them tasted awful. I mentioned it 4 or 5 times to at least 3 employees and not one of them made any efforts to correct the situation. They were all like oh ok. But did nothing about it. Not any of them apologized for being out, none of them came back to me to check and see if I had gotten what I wanted or asked if they could assist in making it happen... Not did they put the vanilla on the machine. That really put a damper on my dining and drinking experience. None of the servers came to check on us. And it was not that busy..Sorry guys I expect way...

Toppers Pizza at Channel Islands Harbor offers a delightful dining experience with its scenic waterfront views and inviting outdoor seating. The atmosphere is relaxed and enjoyable, making it a great spot to unwind, especially on a warm Sunday afternoon.

The food was delicious, showcasing Toppers' commitment to quality ingredients and flavorful pizzas. However, there was a minor oversight with my order—the sausage was missing from my pizza. Additionally, I requested an amber beer but was served a light beer instead. That said, the beer was still refreshing and hit the spot, contributing to the overall pleasant experience.

Despite these small service hiccups, the combination of great food, fantastic beer, and a prime harborfront location makes Toppers Pizza a standout choice. With improved attention to order accuracy, this could easily be a 10/10 spot. As it stands, I would rate my experience an 8/10 and would happily return for another visit.

Highlights: ✔ Stunning harbor views ✔ Tasty pizza & refreshing beer ✔ Relaxed outdoor seating

Areas for Improvement: ➔ Order accuracy (missing toppings, incorrect beer)

Final Verdict: A highly recommended pizzeria with a few minor kinks to iron out. Perfect for casual dining...