The Little Lion — Restaurant in Ventura

Don't let the strip mall exterior fool you. From the outside, Little Lion might have you questioning your GPS, wondering if brunch really lives here. But step inside and you'll see--it absolutely does. This place stands tall in the mini-mall jungle, a lone lion with serious charm.

You're welcomed not just by the host, but by the space itself--light, breezy, and effortlessly Zen. It whispers "Namaste," and you feel it. The energy hits you before the menu does. It's hip, it's fun, it's packed. Always. A contradiction to its nondescript location, and a welcome one at that.

The air is alive with the scent of something good on the griddle, and yes, every now and then, you'll catch a lively brunch crew of effortlessly stylish women. It adds to the atmosphere. Because let's be honest--great food, great vibes, and a little eye candy? That's a full-course experience.

But back to business--the meat and potatoes, quite literally. I've had the Breakfast Scramble, served sizzling in an iron skillet that says, "I came to play." The omelette? Fluffy perfection with a side of house potatoes that deserve their own applause. And yes, I've even shared the French toast--pillowy, golden, kissed with maple syrup. Every dish here feels like it's been touched by a hand that understands both flavor and finesse.

The decor echoes that same elegance--a woman's touch in every corner. Graceful, curated, but never overdone. And the circular bar? A stroke of genius. It's not just a place to sip your cold brew--it's a subtle invitation to spark conversation, maybe even meet a stranger with good taste and a good story.

Little Lion is brunch with soul. Coffee, curls, and conversation--all welcome. And that's the kind of place you...

This is the most exciting "Brunch" (daytime) restaurant to open anywhere in Ventura County in ages! This one's for the foodies who appreciate quality, execution, and respect for the ingredients - calling themselves "farm-to-table inspired."

The decor is a cross between beachy-chic and Scandinavian farmhouse. Call it cool and casual vibes.

There's sommelier curated wines that lean local, along with several taps of beer. Lots of fancy mimosa options, including bottomless!

I sat at the horseshoe bar and enjoyed the Salmon Cake Benedict with paprika hollandaise. I'm usually a hollandaise traditionalist, but this variation enhances the dish. Maybe a tad thick/heavy, but great as a pairing with the crispy salmon cake, poached eggs and buttery English muffin. They have sweet potato home fries that are chopped a bit small, but unique. I ordered a side of lemon-pepper fries to try. They are definitely shareable with up to 3 dipping sauces. My fave was the basil aioli.

The menu was split between breakfast and lunch offerings. There were enticing salads, sandwiches, and bowls. Plus some creative looking French toast options. I literally wanted to try ten things! But then the owner mentioned several menu changes already in the works! I hope they give it...

Exactly what this shopping center needed! The Little Lion is definitely a cute spot with great seating. It was our first time eating here and was greeted by a hostess outside of the restaurant. Our waiter was very kind and attentive as he checked to make sure our coffee and drinks ☕️ were full during our breakfast. The coffee and fresh orange juice was great! I ordered The Big Lion (traditional breakfast dish). The scrambled eggs were delicious but the bacon was a little too thin and sausage flavor was not my favorite. My mom ordered the Classic Fluffy Pancakes and the vanilla cream syrup they come drenched in was amazing! The pancake itself self was a little tough to cut through though and $15 for two pancakes was a bit expensive in my opinion. My husband ordered the Chorizo Breakfast Nachos. The waiter mentioned they would be like chilaquiles. It came with two over medium eggs and chorizo on top of nacho chips with cheese and chilaquile sauce at the bottom. It was a bit too dry for our liking and wished the sauce was more evenly distributed as the bottom chips were soggy. Overall we would love to come back and try the brunch options and sit at the bar as that space looked...