Review: Ojai Rôtie Slings Rotisserie Chicken Worth Sitting in Long Weekend Traffic For | Eater LA

"A vibey rotisserie chicken restaurant with strong Lebanese and French influences, there’s no better patio to picnic on than the expansive one out front, and it has solidified itself as an anchor in the main vein of town — an ideal start or end to any day in Ojai. Between sky-high sandwiches, a strong list of locally sourced wines, and snacky dips like Lebanese muhammara, I come most for the shareable chicken meals (whole $35, half $25, quarter $18) with sides like purslane tabbouleh, cabbage and fennel slaw, and schmaltzy pommes rotisseries; the meal also brings beet-stained lift (pickled turnips), garlicky whipped toum, and za’atar-rubbed manouche bread, and I especially liked the pommes and the caramelized cauliflower. The Mezza Mezza meze platter rounds out the table with dolma, tuma cheese, olives, Persian cucumbers, lift, and more grilled manouche, and all the dips hit; if you’re choosing, make it the charred eggplant dip and the classic Lebanese muhammara, a can’t-put-it-down blend of roasted red pepper, walnuts, pomegranate, and toasted breadcrumbs. On the wine side, choose something juicy and bold — “The Optimist” Grenache blend from Sanguis Wines in Santa Barbara or a local syrah from Chief Peak Vineyard in Ojai both fit — and know the “wine box” is the center vestibule on the patio for ordering by the glass or bottle (inside is for food and non-alcoholic drinks); you might have to flag someone down there, but it never takes too long. Best for lunches as soon as you land in town and no-fuss, wine-soaked group dinners with friends or family." - Nicole Fellah