Ventiki Tiki Lounge & Lanai

Ventiki Tiki Lounge & Lanai in Ventura delivered mid-tier food and service, falling short of the vibrant experience its tiki-inspired theme promises

After a solid seven-mile bike ride, Rosemary and I were deliciously hungry and eager to look for a spot to sit, relax and have a great drink.

So, I had one question for Rosemary: tiki or beer? When Rosemary said “tiki”, I immediately knew the solution:  Ventiki Tiki Lounge.

Now, Ventiki was a spot I remembered fondly from years ago. The thought of tropical drinks, bold flavors, and a relaxing atmosphere seemed like the perfect end to a fantastic ride.

Sadly, what awaited me was not the cool breeze escape I had envisioned. But, some bullshit ass subpar service, unmemorable food, and a surprising lack of professionalism.

Upon arriving, the hostess asked for my California Driver’s License as ID —a reasonable request, except that my wallet was still in the car. Having just finished a ride, I felt it reasonable to ask if alternative proof would suffice. The answer was a firm, dismissive no. She needed to see the physical card.

That’s fine. Sure.

Dutifully, I biked back to my car and drove back to the restaurant.  Only to be greeted by a glaring inconsistency. A few minutes later, I overheard the same hostess allowing another diner without an ID to be seated without question, in a party of 3. I saw that two of the diners showed their IDs – but the third simply said “my ID is in the car”.

Was that a problem? Nope. The same hostess that made me go back to my car to get mine, said “it’s fine” to the woman and sat their table of three without an issue.

That interaction set the tone for the rest of the visit.  Rosemary had been seated at a less-than-desirable table near the trash can next to the host stand – despite the courtyard of the restaurant being largely empty.

So, I moved us to another table. When she came over to ask about our drinks, the hostess asked to see my ID again. So, I  – in turn – asked her about the inconsistency I noticed. She fumbled through an excuse, stating “Oh well – they both showed me their IDs”  before retreating to the kitchen, clearly eager to avoid further accountability.

If it’s a party of three and two people show you their IDs and the third one doesn’t – and you seat them without issue, that’s an inconsistent policy. Period.

But – Ventura is… funny like that sometimes.

Sadly, the food did nothing to salvage the experience. The COCONUT SHRIMP (6 Coconut Breaded Shrimp, Sweet Chill Sauce) was textbook, its accompanying sweet chili sauce indistinguishable from something one might find at a chain restaurant.

The PEPPER-SEARED AHI (ponzu, fire and eel sauces, topped with green onions and feta with a side of cucumber), was fine.

I’ll give it that.

The VOODOO TEMPTRESS OF THE 7 PLEASURES (Sailer Jerry spiced rum, cherry rum, maraschino liqueur, bitters & pineapple juice), a promising cocktail with a dramatic name, was passable but unremarkable—a drink you’d forget before you even finished it.

It wasn’t even served in a tiki glass! Yet, Rosemary’s drink was.

The problem with this is that during my conversation, I reached out to grab the glass – and due to the condensation on the glass and weather – it slipped out of my hand and onto the table, spilling almost everywhere.

Pretty much sums up my time there, honestly.

But the real low point was the PELE ROLL (Cali-Fresh Roll Topped with baked Bay Scallops and Green Onions), a dish so delayed I had to physically approach the bartender to inquire about it. After nearly 25 minutes of waiting—well after Rosemary’s dish had arrived—the roll was finally delivered in a manner that could only be described as careless.

There was a minor casual cast off apology with no acknowledgment of the inconvenience it may have caused. Just a hastily dropped plate that underscored the indifference that seemed to permeate the entire experience.

Ventiki’s prices only deepened the disappointment. For Ventura, the cost of the meal was notably costly, yet the quality and creativity simply weren’t there. This wasn’t Los Angeles or Santa Barbara, where higher pricing often aligns with culinary expectation. Here, it felt unjustified—a hollow indulgence without the substance to support it.

If you don’t like being called out on your bullshit – simply don’t do the bullshit. Rules, when selectively enforced, stop being rules and start feeling personal. Watching others bypass the same rigid standards applied to me only highlighted the dismissiveness with which I was treated.

Mess. Mess. Mess.

After settling our check, Rosemary and I left not only disappointed but also incredulous. She told me that if she’d known it was going to be like that, she would have said “beer” instead.

Ventura has no shortage of dining options. Frankly, there are MUCH better tiki places in Los Angeles and Orange County.

But, if you have a standard for mediocrity and are desperately hungry….

Go somewhere else.


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Ventiki Tiki Lounge & Lanai

701 E Main Street
Ventura, California 93001
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