Winchesters Grill & Saloon — Restaurant in Ventura

Oh Winchester, I really wanted to love you. Not just because of Shaun of the Dead, but because I really wanted to have a go-to place for burgers, apps and cold beers. Sadly, I would urge you to avoid unless you’re only getting cold beers. Then maybe if you don’t mind waiting.

We tried: The BIG Salad with Steak and the Grass-fed Pasture Raised Burger.

The BIG Salad with Steak: Well, ya know, it was a moderately sized salad. It’ll probably fill you up, but it isn’t terribly impressive as it seems they might have just dumped the slightly sad, wilted lettuce out of the bag and into the bowl, which they then topped with relatively dry steak bits.

The Grass-fed Pasture Raised Burger: Oh the humanity! So, normally, I like my burgers medium rare. I figure, if you’re going to eat meat, you should get the juicy best you can, hence why I went with a grass-fed option. Honestly, I was a little happy and surprised they had this option. The first alarm bells went off for me when they didn’t ask how I wanted my burger cooked. Turns out that’s because they thoroughly overcook and destroy their burgers. It was dry, mealy and crumbled when I took a bite. Couple that with their dry, cold and seemingly fresh out of the bag in the fridge bun, oh lord no. The fries were perfectly decent frozen fries. Ketchup delivery service.

Ah, one final note: slow as molasses service. Though, as I’ve seen from quite a few places around Main St. there, that seems the norm. Still to note.

Anyway, yes,...

My friend took me there for my birthday. It was a typically mild Ventura evening and the music inside was excellent but loud, so we chose the patio facing Main Street, which was perfect for people watching.

My friend enjoyed her Chardonnay and I my Blueberry Smash cocktail. I savored it throughout my meal. With my Flatiron Steak, I chose garlic mashed potatoes and coleslaw. My friend's Ribeye Steak was accompanied by roasted brussel sprouts and the aforementioned potatoes.

The steaks were cooked to order and even my Flatiron steak was moist and tender, a perfect vehicle for the garlic mashed potatoes. The coleslaw was dressed with sesame oil; did I detect a trace of rice wine vinegar? Suffice it to say, the coleslaw was a refreshing, green, light and crispy compliment to my steak snd potatoes.

My friend's Ribeye was rich and tender; she enjoyed her sides and was almost disappointed that she had none left over to take home.

Last but not least, the service was exceptional; our server was bright and sharp, friendly, funny and knowledgeable. Will be back, maybe try lunch next time, although the Venison Stuffed Mushrooms are mighty appealing. This could be my...

prob one of the worst places I’ve ever been to. Waiter was a smart ass. Then when I complained about my food not being out and to cancel it. He was talking shit about our table to another table. Def unprofessional. We asked for the manager several times and no one came. When I called to complain the manager. Again unprofessional, stated for me not to be worried the waiter left crying and he’s going to be fired. Why do I care to knw that information. I said you should’ve been at our table. And also you should apologize to the table being served about the food taking so long. And don’t offer a complementary appetizer then turn around and try to charge us for it. Once I cancelled my food order at the end of the meal. My table was being charged for food I never received!!! Then the manager has the audacity to say, no on told him we were asking to speak to him. Everyone needs training here. I have never worked in a restaurant ur I knw that when you have a big party you bring out the food at the same time. Why was half of our table served. And the grilled cheese took 1.5 hours to come out. Come on now! Get...