Mothers — Restaurant in Ventura

UPDATE: After my initial interview, I've since learned that this establishment cooks a lot more of their dishes in tallow then I had been told. (it's very difficult to find a restaurant that is 100% seed oil free, but this place comes real close). Bumped to 5 stars. Excited to have the next Mothers Tacos (original is in Napa) open down in Ventura. Fairly easy to get to heading northbound 101, but a little more work if you're driving southbound. Sit inside or outside. Less than a mile from the ocean, so be prepared for both overcast and/or bright sunshine. The menu is relatively simple and they use a blend of canola oil and avocado oil for cooking. Food is fresh tasting. No over-the-top salt or too many spices trying to make something flavorful. The salsas they serve are crafted in house and are unique and tasty. I've read some of the reviewers say things like "bland" but I believe it is more of a natural style of letting the food's flavor speak for itself. I'd call it fresh tasting. The alcohol menu looks plentiful and inviting. Their churros are supposed to be good and I'll update this review the next time I stop in. Pro Bonus tip: After you're done dinning, go take a walk on the beach. You're less than a mile from it. Go enjoy it! Head east on Thompson and right on San Jon (1st light). Drive a half mile until you run into the ocean. Two choices here....park on San Jon and walk down towards the beach OR turn left on Harbor, continue 1 mile and make your first right and you'll see the entrance to San Buenaventura State Beach ($10.00 entry, last I checked). Tons of parking. Public rest rooms and during the summer, lifeguards if you bring the kids, and stay awhile. There is a boardwalk/bike path that starts at the far end of the state park and doesn't stop until Santa Barbara. Covers a considerable percentage of Ventura's beaches. Makes for a nice stroll. Hope this...

My wife and I were very excited to try Mothers Tacos and finally had some time for a lunchtime date. Parking lot was nearly full, which is usually a good sign. The restaurant is very clean and very presentable, which impressed us. There was a short line to order that we stood in and when we reached the register, we were greeted by a very eccentric young man. We didn't need help ordering or have questions about the menu, but he was going to tell us about the menu anyway. We each ordered the three taco plate with rice and beans, two alcoholic beverages and a side of chips and salsa. The total was 3/4 of $100, which stung a bit for a taco shop.

On to the food, the chips and salsa were great, it was your basic house salsa, catered to the masses. My wife's cocktail was good and my beer was fresh. The Al Pastor taco they served on my plate was rubbish, all fat, and terrible for the price. The battered fish taco was delicious, using Negra Modelo for the beer batter. The steak taco was good, basic street style with a good portion of steak. The cilantro they put on the tacos was old and visibly wilted. My wife's plate was different as she went with the seafood option like oyster and something else. She did get a braised beef taco that she said was terrible and chewy mush. Overall, it's a fancy street taco shop that is heavy on the dining experience (even though you have to stand in line to order..). It's worth a try and your experience might be better than ours. If you want authentic Mexican food that doesn't empty your wallet, there are much better places in Ventura and Ventura...

Tl/dr: Higher prices but Worth Every Penny for Mexican food made with all the love you'd have at home. A little loud bc of the open floor plan and it's small so it packs quickly, but the music is good and the service is excellent just like the food.

Long Version: My family has made it a tradition to try all the Mexican restaurants that pop up in Ventura County. It used to be about finding the ones that our elders liked the most. After they passed, it's been about being together and remembering them, talking about what they would have thought.

This restaurant is the pinnacle of that experience for me. The moment I stepped in, the well-lit plants and artwork made me think of my grandmother who would have immediately commented on how she would have done it the same way.

The staff were immediately friendly and offered information about the food. Everything on the menu looks fantastic, and its set up well for ordering things to share.

The food itself was fantastic. Everything from the escabeche to the mole is made in house, and you can tell. The heat of it is very mild, but the flavor is spot on and each table has an array of oils and salsas that ramp the heat for those who want it. The churros are made to order, and they are cooked to perfection each time. They're perfectly savory and sweet, and the chocolate to dip is quality with a hit of dark bitterness.

I will be going back to try their drinks next time, I have high...