Ventura Eating:
Tipp's Thai, Cooke's Smokehouse, The Aloha Steakhouse
May 2005
I do love my adopted home town, but there was something to finding restaurants in the Los Angeles area that I really enjoyed. There was such a variety of neighborhood eateries in a variety of price ranges, making it easy to find, if not always good, certainly interesting, meal.
Ventura is a smaller city, and doesn't seem to have that same variety. I know there are good places in Santa Barbara and Thousand Oaks, but both are just a little bit too far to get to when the wife and I are able to get a baby sitter and get out.
Here's a few of the places I've tried eating.
When the Charthouse closed to become Joe's Crab Shack, many of the employees weren't pleased with the change. Working with the city, the former Charthousers leased a space across from the Holiday Inn to open the Aloha Steakhouse.
Similar to the Charthouse in menu and appearance, the Aloha Steakhouse provided a great meal and friendly environment for my wife and me. We both went with daily specials and found the meal quite good. The service was very quick and friendly. I had very good vodka martini with my meal from their extensive bar. Definitely a place I'd both recommend and go back to. Dinner for 2 with a drink was about $50.
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Tipp's Thai is the oldest restaurant on this list, opened in the early 80's. Located on the corner of Main and California, the restaurant boasts excellent food and service. If your not familiar with thai, it is closer to Chinese than Japanese cooking. The sauces are generally lighter and more spicy than Chinese, with an emphasis on peanut sauce.
Large portions and very good white rice define Tipp's Thai. After taking my wife there for the first time during the spring Art Walk, we returned again the following week. Dinner for two is around $30.
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Cooke's Smokehouse is a tri-tip place that serves burgers and breakfast on Main Street, around the corner from my house. Probably my favorite thing for the menu is what I order my children, the Hot Diggity Dawg from the kid's menu. It's a big, grilled hot dog served on a tasty bun with french fries. My last time in I had one of their 3/4 lb. burgers. Not bad, but not special either. I believe a good burger is defined by it's seasonings, and though the grilled onions and mushrooms added something, their was no special sauce or flavor to define the meal.
I've had their tri-tip before, and felt the same way-not bad, but not special. The service was good, the price on the high side of reasonable. It's a small place, with only 8 tables, and generally there's a crowd. Not worth a special trip, but you don't have to cringe if someone suggests it. Their breakfast menu looks good, but I haven't tried it yet. Meal for two with soft drinks (They do serve beer and wine) is about $30