Lure Fish House — Restaurant in Ventura

Went here on a recommendation from my nephew, who lives locally. We were seated at a tiny table behind the bar area, with constant staff traffic going by. Ordered fresh oysters, crab cakes and calamari to start. I almost told the waitress to bring items one at a time, since the table was small. Well, I should of, because item after item showed up in the hands of a different person each time, who just sat the plate on the edge of the table, then attempted to push it forward. If I hadn't acted quickly to sort the other plates, drinks and candle already on the table, I wonder what the flippant staff would have done? Menus had not been picked either, adding to the issue. Oysters were the best item. Crab cakes fell apart, and contained very little crab, with little to no taste. Calamari was soggy and under seasoned. Then we ordered a Caesar salad and a spicy rigatoni with scallops, thinking (how could they screw that up? Salad dressing was watery, with the anchovies having the only flavor. When the pasta dish was set down, I almost vomited. It smelled of bile and scallops that had turned. We asked another staff to please send our waitress, Christine to our table immediately. This guy's attitude was horrible and I watched him ignore our request as he stood two tables away, talking to those guests. I got up, found Christine, who confirmed she was never asked to come to our table. I asked her to remove the awful smelling dish immediately, which she did not, until I asked her two more times. She went to get a manager, and as we waited, another guest sent their dish back as well. Manager told me it was the cheese on the dish that smelled, but no one could have gotten past that smell to even begin to consume the dish. Manager did take $10 off, but that still did not set the price for the terrible food we were served to a proper level. When I pointed out the guy who blatantly ignored our request to get our waitress to the manager, saying if it was up to me, I'd fire him, the manager just giggled. I cook up better seafood at home, without having to deal with the horrible disregard towards food preparation, customer service, and highly inflated prices we...

When it comes to food, I can be ridiculously picky and annoying. It's usually very hard for me to like everything I have ordered From one visit because there is always something that I dislike! That wasn't the case when I visited lure fish house!! Wow is what I would call this place! Everything was soooooooooooo good! I can't describe it, you have to try it yourself. I'll bookmark this place as a MUST TRY IN VENTURA. It is so beautiful inside and outside, great service, plenty of food options and AMAZING FOOD! My fiancé has been here before and decided to come again so I can try it. They don't take reservations over the phone so you have to go there and make it. We got there, they have some waiting for outdoor but even longer wait for indoor. However bar area is open if you choose to sit there while waiting for your table. That was the plan however there was a sweet lady that was sitting at the bar whom she had reservation and was texted to be seated but already sat at the bar and had her food so she gave us her spot. Thanks Leslie. We sat down and our server came and asked us for drink order, and made some recommendations, the house specials are good, but really everything is good.

Started with some oysters, I'm not the biggest fan but those were OUTSTANDING. They tastes sooooo good! Actually they have cute oyster bar which is adorable. Got the house ceviche and asked for no onions so pick was on the Side However it still has onions. I tried it, it was good but I wasn't planning to pick every onion out. Then we got the clam chowder!! The best I've even had besides the one I had in Seattle. I ordered the silly sand dabs, my first time having it. It was sooooo good! I got it with squash and Brussel sprouts. It comes with some sauce. The server didn't recommend it but I thought it was perfect! My fiancé got the seabass but I don't think it was presented that well, he said his food was okay, I tried it and I felt it was okay too but I enjoyed everything else! This place is definitely my favorite! I will return to it soon once I'm back in Ventura!! Delicious is an understatement!! Try it!

tried this place few more times and never...

Jan 2019

Have eaten here twice for lunch. Had the swordfish and rockfish; both were excellent. My first experience was great, the waiter was very good to me as it was my first visit. The second visit, the waitress was not as attentive but I got what I wanted. Will be back for sure. In my opinion, the lunch prices and portions are spot on.

Update, 3/4/2019:

I am going to knock this place down a notch in my rating. I have been here many more times and although the food remains the same quality, the service has not been as good as my first time in. I believe the waiters and waitresses here differ in their attention to detail. For example, last time in, I got my chowder within a few minutes and my drink 5 minutes later. The drink should arrive first and quick. If the waiter/waitress does this, this can lead to more sales and a larger tip for them and keeps the customer happy. The other thing I have noticed here is that the waitress takes my order but doesn't deliver the drink, the salad nor the meal. What is their purpose then? Just to take my order? The waitress/waiter should be the conductor for my meal. Ensuring that things arrive in the proper order and when I am ready for them, not otherwise.

Update 4/15/2019

Guess I came here once too many times. Again the food is good but again, too many runners. The beer, the bread, the chowder, the crab cakes and then the entree all delivered by someone different. Of course the delivery ordering was wrong and so I discuss this with the waitress and she blames the kitchen. She must have informed the manager so I get a visit from him as well. I state that I need no apology but just ask him to reconsider the nonsense regarding delivery of food by so many different people who don't care. After all am I not tipping the waitress? Another star lost. One last thing, just as I was leaving, the manager seats a party next to me. I look over and the woman puts her dog down on the bench seat next to me. This WAS one of the places I like to go to. Now it's...