Osteria Monte Grappa

Italian restaurant · Ojai

Osteria Monte Grappa

Italian restaurant · Ojai

1

242 E Ojai Ave, Ojai, CA 93023

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Osteria Monte Grappa by Infatuation - Reviews
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Osteria Monte Grappa by null
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Osteria Monte Grappa by null
Osteria Monte Grappa by null
Osteria Monte Grappa by null
Osteria Monte Grappa by null
Osteria Monte Grappa by null
Osteria Monte Grappa by null
Osteria Monte Grappa by null
Osteria Monte Grappa by null
Osteria Monte Grappa by null
Osteria Monte Grappa by null
Osteria Monte Grappa by null
Osteria Monte Grappa by null
Osteria Monte Grappa by null
Osteria Monte Grappa by null
Osteria Monte Grappa by null
Osteria Monte Grappa by null
Osteria Monte Grappa by null
Osteria Monte Grappa by null
Osteria Monte Grappa by null
Osteria Monte Grappa by null
Osteria Monte Grappa by null
Osteria Monte Grappa by null
Osteria Monte Grappa by null
Osteria Monte Grappa by null
Osteria Monte Grappa by null
Osteria Monte Grappa by null
Osteria Monte Grappa by null
Osteria Monte Grappa by null
Osteria Monte Grappa by null
Osteria Monte Grappa by null
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Highlights

Homemade pastas, seasonal ingredients, wood-fired pizza, great cocktails  

Featured in The Infatuation
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242 E Ojai Ave, Ojai, CA 93023 Get directions

omgojai.com
@omgojai

$30–50 · Menu

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242 E Ojai Ave, Ojai, CA 93023 Get directions

+1 805 640 6767
omgojai.com
@omgojai

$30–50 · Menu

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Last updated

Aug 7, 2025

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Osteria Monte Grappa Review - Ojai - Los Angeles - The Infatuation

"Right on the main stretch of Ojai Ave is Osteria Monte Grappa, an Italian spot with great homemade pastas and extremely well-made martinis. Their menu changes based on the season - there’s a wood-burning oven in the kitchen that they use a lot in the winter, but shut off in the summer. Our favorite pastas are the beef and prosciutto agnolotti, or the spinach cappuccetti, which are both excellent, and very simple. You should also go for the daily fish special - it’s extremely fresh, cooked in a white wine sauce, and great if you want something lighter than a plate of pasta." - Brett Keating

https://www.theinfatuation.com/los-angeles/reviews/osteria-monte-grappa
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Rogelio Jimenez

Google
This place is great. The quality of food is awesome, like always. The taste is superb, and the atmosphere is cozy. Too bad this place is closing..

Amanda Wilkins (Duffy)

Google
We talked to some locals and they recommended this spot and OMG… so good! We walked in around 6pm and were able to get two seats at the bar. Everything that was coming out looked so good. We ended up getting the insalata zarina, Pizza del bob, and Ezzelina. My favorite was the Pizza del bob but my friend lovedddd the Ezzelina. The insalata zarina had all fresh ingredients from the farmers market that day and the Ezzelina had homemade noodles! Definitely stop in :) can’t wait to eat our leftovers!

Shawn Gillis

Google
DOG friendly patio in back accessible through the walkways. Seriously some of the best pasta I have ever had. And yes, Im including Italy! Make sure you order the homemade pasta, although I'm sure the dry noodles are good as well. Many other options on the menu. See pics of menu from May 2018. The staff could not have been more friendly or professional. Public parking lot on the street behind the restaurant, across from Farmers Market on Sundays.

Manav Singh

Google
I can't say enough about this place. We went for a romantic meal, mainly attracted by the ambiance and it turned out to be one of the best meals I've had in a while. If you're in Ojai, this place is not to be missed. The menu is extensive and very well curated. The food is fresh, flavourful and delicious. The prices are a bit high, but generous portions of the high quality food more than justify the prices. I would highly recommend the 'Fettucine di Limone alla Marittima' - lemon/herb pasta in brandy-tomato-cream sauce with fresh wild local catch and baja california clams - I was totally blown away; it is easily of the best seafood dishes I have ever had. The outdoor seating is perfect for the pleasant Ojai evenings, and makes the dining experience delightful. A big shout out to our server who took amazing care of us and made our evening even more memorable. Highly recommend this place!

Lori G Humanitzki

Google
We stopped here on our way to the coastal highway. Love this little town!! This restaurant was fabulous!! Everything was fresh and delicious!! Service was great too!! Wish I lived near by to visit on a regular basis.

Deepa Murthy

Google
Amazing place, great hospitality and the waitress are so warm. A big shout out to “ROSEY”, she was so warm and hospitable and made sure we are properly taken care of for all our meals. This was our one of the few Italian restaurant experience and she made sure we had a great time.We liked everything from drinks to food. If your in ojai please visit this place!!

Chris Lyle

Google
Got here at opening at 5. Unfortunately couldnt try the local wine but had a great italian red that was equivalent. Enjoyed the mushroom risotto, mushroom toast, the housemade pasta with shrimp and a house salad. Ingredients fresh, lots of shrimp with the housemade pasta. The bread with olive oil and balsamic tasty. Since my partner is diabetic, we opted for more pasta vs a dessert so no sweets. Overall did not disappoint. No corkage fee if ya bring your own. Fyi.

Karen K

Google
OMG Italian food!! D-lish!!! Excellent service! Highly recommend!
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Sharay D.

Yelp
Another great dinner here. Came here 2 months ago, and I was hoping the my same dish tasted the same....it did not disappoint. I'm glad to see their warm welcoming service and food didn't change. Unlike my first time, I had a little room for dessert. Their tiramusi was light. The lady fingers had a good amount of espresso but not drenched. Overall it was still a very nice dinner.
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M B.

Yelp
We had not visited this restaurant for about 8 years or so. The original OMG was outstanding, offering great food, pleasant atmosphere, and very good service. This last weekend was a great disappointment. We ordered off the Happy Hour menu because it was the only option that would allow us to sit out on the patio. This was preferable because inside was incredibly loud. This also meant we would get food delivered to our table, but we had to carry our wine and glasses outside, and then put out our own setups. That would all be forgivable, but the food was terrible. We each had a different pasta dish and split a salad. The salad was just OK, but neither of us could finish our meals. Again, the food was terrible - close to inedible. I would skip this restaurant.
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Rob Z.

Yelp
We have dined at OMG 3 times in the past 2 months. It's that good. (Note: I am fighting grade inflation; a 4 star rating from me is a strong recommendation). We enjoy the ambience, the service, the drinks, and most definitely the food. The salads and pastas are excellent. Large salad is perfect for sharing. The espresso martinis, I definitely won't share! I trust you'll enjoy dining here as much as we do!
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Mel H.

Yelp
We were in Ojai to see a friend's play on a Saturday night. Really great meal. They do not take reservations and we got there when they opened at 5pm and there was already a line formed. They have both indoor sitting and a back patio. The host and our server were both very attentive and made our meal run very smooth. The food is fantastic. We just came back from Italy so our Italian palate is still pretty judgy. This was authentic and a must try for anyone who is looking for great Italian food.
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Genezaret C.

Yelp
We arrived in search of an appetizing meal and a delightful dining experience. The artisan bread was served with oil and vinegar, a great way to begin the evening. We ordered a variety of dishes to try, they could be prepared with penne, spaghetti or fusilli pasta. I had my little pup with me, so nice to have dinner in a dog friendly restaurant! Our server Olivia was outstanding and continuously checked on our party. It was a little pricey, but you can definitely taste the quality!
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Sharon S.

Yelp
Fresh! Fresh! Fresh! We spent our last meal in Ojai here at Osteria Monte Grappa. First, the service was incredibly friendly and welcoming. We walked by this place the other day but never noticed it because it's so dark in there. This time of year Main Street is pretty quiet, but when we walked in last night it was packed. I can see why. I ordered the Bigoli con Vongole which was delicious and chock full of clams. My mom and sister ordered the Maserese pasta dish which was very, very salty but good if you like that. My cousin ordered the Pappardelle alla Ezzelina but with spaghetti which she enjoyed. We ordered a side of bread to cut the saltiness of our dishes. The pasta was all fresh and delicious. A great way to end our vacation in Ojai! Thank you!
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Brock S.

Yelp
I admit, I feel like I'm in the Twilight Zone. Only a year ago, these people were rude and had bad attitude. This time, it seems like the whole town became friendly, including this restaurant. We got seated right away at 5:30pm on a Saturday, which was kind of crazy for such a crowded weekend. The ambiance was friendly and inviting. Everything looked clean and food looked tasty. We ordered a variety of pizza and pastas. Everything was really good! I ordered a duck and mushroom pasta fusilli which was pretty amazing although it could have been a little hotter (temp). Overall very tasty!
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Kristin jensen S.

Yelp
Food and service is incredible... Always! They don't take reservations so get there early and put your name in and then stroll the arcade.
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Lucy L.

Yelp
Very good food, excellent service and atmosphere in downtown Ojai. Osteria Monte Grappa is located in the Ojai Arcade. It has quite an extensive menu including pastas, meat & seafood entrees, sides and desserts. We had the clam & pasta dish which was delicious and served with many little clams. We also had the pork chop which was cooked well and comes with a side of cooked vegetables and chunks of roasted potatoes. They have an extensive bar & wine and offers lots of choices. We opted for cocktails. For dessert we had the house made tiramisu and refreshing lemon sorbet. Lovely dining experience here.
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Anne M.

Yelp
Monte Grappa is always good and with a friendly staff. I almost always order their ravioli with browned butter sage sauce which never disappoints. They recently started a Happy Hour menu for the bar and patio areas which has a good price on yummy flatbreads and discounted drinks. A lovely, local Ojai restaurant right in the middle of the Arcade.

Michael T.

Yelp
Packed on a Saturday night at 8pm, good service, noisy ambiance. Great salads. Delicious chicken parmigiana...yet $10 more ($46) compared to the better tasting and less cheesy version at Ca' Marco Ristorante. Excellent butternut squash ravioli. Pasta panderosa with chicken & mushrooms was sooooo divine. Both of the salads ordered here were tastier than Ca' Marco Ristorante. Since this place is in the center of town, it's busier. Respectable dressed people here, so no clowns with baseball hats, sunglasses , flip flops and ripped clothing.
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Tom L.

Yelp
Food, food, food! This place is worth the trek if you don't live near Ojai. Did I mention how good the food is? Everything is prepared so fresh. The homemade pasta will have you trying to polish off portions that are not only delicious but large. The service was good. They're very considerate from hostess to waitress. The ambiance is nice, but it can get loud when it's packed.
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Melissa D.

Yelp
I absolutely love this restaurant. The staff is extremely friendly. The food is divine. There is indoor and outdoor seating (back patio -- closed during winter months). They have an assortment of delicious wines and house-made desserts like cheesecake and tiramisu (drool-worthy). I always like to start with their salads. The black kale salad is incredible and very noteworthy -- just so different than anything I've had before. It is refreshing to have such authentic Italian food in this area. To my knowledge, they make most of their sauces, pastas, and desserts in-house. You really can't go wrong with anything on the menu, but I particularly love the "rose" sauce aka vodka sauce. Last time, I had it with fettuccine, and it was just perfect, but there are many other pasta options to choose from as well. I am still thinking about that meal! I also love their pizzas. One of my favorites is the mushroom, but the Margherita is a crowd pleaser if you're in a group. Just a note: the atmosphere is a bit loud and dark. It's a nice date night spot.
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Ashley C.

Yelp
Dinner was alright but nothing was outstanding. Service was a bit slow, although the busboy was quite fast, almost a bit too fast for comfort. Bruschetta was a nice appetizer. Refugiana pasta was okay, I felt like it was too dry and needed more sauce. The Pork chop was a bit dry in some parts. The highlight was the house-made papardelle with cream sauce and scallops. The scallops were a bit overcooked but the sauce was good and the papardelle texture was great. If I came back, would definitely get the housemade pasta and skip the other pasta dishes, the fusili and penne really did not compare. For dessert, we tried the cheesecake and the chocolate hazelnut cake. Of the two, the chocolate hazelnut cake was definitely better. Both were a bit too sweet for our taste though, so sharing them with a group worked out well.
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Karen K.

Yelp
Lovely setting, comfortable ambiance and excellent service. Food is superb. We'll worth the price.
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Diane W.

Yelp
We had dinner last night at this charming restaurant in downtown Ojai. Our meals were excellent. I had the halibut that was perfectly cooked and it was accompanied by roasted potatoes and a vegetable medley of broccoli and kale. Delicious and beautifully presented. My friend had the Ciopinno and she thoroughly enjoyed it. It came out piping hot and was loaded with seafood. The toasted bread served was wonderful to sop up the broth - which she loved. I would highly suggest this restaurant and we will definitely return when we are back in Ojai. Oh and the service was excellent as well.
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Maria Jose C.

Yelp
Delicious food and excellent service! My husband and I came here on a Saturday at 5PM and were served right away. We ordered local beer on tap, bread (the balsamic vinaigrette is amazing), salad (with olives, avocado, pecorino, and mandarins), seafood pasta (highly recommended), and the tiramisu. Everything was tasty and a good sized portion to share.
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Stacey C.

Yelp
If you're ever feeling Italian in Ojai, you MUST try this spot! They are only open for dinner starting at 5pm and you will already see a wait outside their restaurant at that time. The hostess and our servers were very friendly. We weren't sure which red wine to pair with the dishes we ordered, so she offered to let us sample 3 to see which one we liked best. My friend and I had a hard time deciding among the pastas and ended up ordering 3 of them...that was definitely more than enough for 2 ladies! We should've just picked 2 pasta dishes between the both of us because their portions are a good amount. The ingredients tasted fresh, but my favorite pasta out of all of them was the pappardelle handmade pasta. It was so silky!
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Greg S.

Yelp
All I can say is, 'wow'!! Last nights dinner at Osteria Monte Grappa was no less than fabulous. Although I am surprised that I didn't go with the cioppino, the duck was off the charts awesome. We sat at the bar and engaged in wonderful conversation with the bar staff and other patrons. Such a warm and inviting atmosphere. You can't go wrong with carving out a couple of hours for dinner at OMG. In fact, I now argue that an overnight stay in Ojai can only be considered incomplete without enjoying a fabulous dining experience at OMG.
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Sam R.

Yelp
We loved our time at OMG! We came here at 5:40 pm on a Saturday and was told there was an hour wait. They don't take reservations for small parties, so no problem, we were ready for that. We got some wine nearby and got a call 45 mins later that our table was ready. We heard that pasta was the star of the show, so we split the Laghetto and Paiefien Al Pastore. They were both so delicious, and the hand cut pasta is to die for. I wouldn't have changed a thing about either dish, and the portion sizes were much larger than other nicer Italian spots. For dessert, we got the tiramisu. I'm not normally a huge tiramisu fan, but it's made in house so I had to try it. DO IT!! Best tiramisu I've ever had without exaggeration, and I'm Italian! We would absolutely return next time we're in Ojai!

Frank L.

Yelp
I've eaten here three times and always anticipated it to be better than it is. I've tasted three of their main courses and many of their side dishes. Verdict is "Meh". Nothing was better than okay and several of their dishes didn't even taste vaguely Italian. I know that because I'm Italian and my parents owned two Italian restaurants!
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Don S.

Yelp
We spend every anniversary there. Food is great, service is great. We missed the outside dining but we adjusted. Highly recommend
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Vanessa P.

Yelp
This was my first time here. And to say it was AMAZING is an understatement !!! From the ambiance to the delicious espresso martini to the perfectly paired Sangiovese wine with my Tagliatelle al Pastore dish made to perfection, as well as my boyfriend's Padernota. I can't forget our super sweet and informative waitress lizette. Monte Grappa stole my Italian heart ! We will definitely be back!
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Susana A.

Yelp
We recently dined at Osteria and were disappointed with everything about the meal. The Caprese salad had no sliced Mozzarella, just little crumbs of some kind of cheese with mushy tomatoes and soggy cucumbers. No seasoning or flavor. The flatbread, although it had plenty of greens, had no flavor. We had to use the salt and pepper on everything, something we never do. The bar serves good drinks though. It had been quite awhile since we last ate here and the food is definitely not as good as before. This is sad because there is so much potential in that location
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Sherri C.

Yelp
We were greeted very nicely by the hostess! We were taken through the dining room to the back , I was like oh no ,but to our surprise it was a lovely patio with a gentleman playing acoustic guitar that was very enjoyable and suited the ambience & dining experience! We were shortly greeted by Anthony (Ant) had a nice conversation with him & commented how he had the same name as my fiancé! We were stoked on him being our server! we decided on a glass of wine ,5oz for my fiancé, 9oz. For myself ( birthday girl ) ! We ordered a salad to share with some bread as well ! My fiancé ordered the carbonara pasta , I ordered the clams & linguini but asked Ant to give me the same pasta as my fiancé ( same as carbonara as it's thinner I didn't want the thicker noodle). So perfect here we go , we're going to have a great dining experience!! The salad came out very fast with bread ( bread was grilled and crusty nice and hot ),balsamic vinegar and oil it was very tasty! Wine is tasting good , our entre's come out in a timely manner ! The Carbonara is delicious with home made pasta ( no peas as it's a recipe from a region where they don't put them in ) so yummy still !! My linguini came out with the thicker spaghetti noodle that I didn't want . Waited a little bit to see if Ant was going to come and see if Everything was prepared to our liking ? No sign of Ant . So oh well I'll eat it . It was good as well but would've preferred the thinner noodle that I had asked for. So not only did Ant not check on us about our meals or if we wanted another glass of wine we literally never saw him again , didn't get asked if we wanted dessert as he never even returned at all for anything . I finally saw him again, and had to waive him down and ask for the check, he gave me no eye Contact, brang the check back with no eye Contact . We paid the check ( not a very good tip for Ant) we walked right by Ant & yet still no eye contact no nothing . You do half the job , you get half of the tip . Restaurant was great , food was great! Ant couldn't finish the great job he started maybe this will help him in the future !
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Rebekah U.

Yelp
cutest little tables and an incredible menu!! we drive from santa clarita to come eat here. so so good.
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Mark C.

Yelp
Great staff! Opening again for lunch, bouncing back from Covid. A local favorite, if you are in from out of town this is a must!

Debbie M.

Yelp
Honestly, I would have loved to eaten here (as I have in the past) but unfortunately I encountered a problem. My friends and I were really hungry, so we walked in as a party of four. No one was waiting and half the tables were empty. The hostess said she would be with us in a minute. She proceeded to walk away and disappeared for several minutes. Another guy behind the desk ignored us until he just walked away...saying absolutely nothng and making no eye contact at all. Then someone came for a to-go order and.....10 minutes later the hostess said "just to let you know, there's an hour wait" at which point I said "you could have started with that". I enjoyed their food in the past but I didn't enjoy their bad customer service today.

Alyn L.

Yelp
My husband was given a gift card for his birthday. It was our 1st time. My daughters and I were hoping to try some of their chicken dishes. We were told they were out of chicken. They had only been open for 2 hours! Ok, reset...we all ended up getting pasta dishes. Which we 3 agreed were good, but bland. My husband had the pork chop, which he LOVED! And would have again if we decide to return. Cozy restaurant.

Mom Z.

Yelp
Food was good but very high priced. Service excellent. Ambience very noisy. We had two entrees, 3 total glasses of wine and our bill was $150 without tip, with tip $180. Pretty pricey for an okay dinner. we won't be back.
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Victoria T.

Yelp
I love the food here. I had a delicious that satisfied my craving for everything. Salads are tasty and past? Amazing. Highly recommended.
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Marissa H.

Yelp
Absolutely delicious food. The Bob pizza was tasty, and the Casalinghe al Covolo (homemade pasta) was AMAZING. Came on a Friday for our first time and waited about an hour and 15 to be seated. The staff was extremely kind and amazing. We hope to be back again, probably with a reservation!
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Cindy J.

Yelp
The food was so fresh and delicious. All 6 of us ordered something different and everyone loved their dinner. The service was great. Our waiter was attentive and took great care of us. Nice ambiance, not too loud, not too quiet. We'll be back!!!
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Cynthia K.

Yelp
Rosie was out waiter. Excellent. Ambience excellent. Food excellent. Cocktails excellent. Thrilled to find this place in Yelp. I liked the menu. It was close to our motel. We got so lucky to find this great restaurant.
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Tatianna E.

Yelp
The service was phenomenal and our waitress was super hospitality and attentive to our family of five. The food was super delicious (We ordered Strozzapreti al Covolo and Paglia e Fieno alla Marittima) Our one year old loved and couldn't stop eating the twisted pasta and tender beef. I was surprised with a beautiful Tiramisu for my birthday! Everything including the ambiance was perfect! It's a wonderful restaurant to take a loved one for a birthday birthday or just celebrate life! Thank you so much for making a beautiful moment for my family and I!
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Keith D.

Yelp
My wife and I just had dinner at OMG Ojai. The food was exceptional as well as the service.
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Andi W.

Yelp
Didn't have a lot of high expectations going into Osteria Monte Grappa. I only say that because when you go to a smaller restaurant that has a giant menu, the expectations are that they aren't making a lot of things to order or the quality suffers. This was not at all the case at least for what we ordered. The Caprese salad was delicious, the squash ravioli was also better than expected, and their wood-fired pizza is on point. Also, the decor and ambiance here is really great. Very cozy feel to it and everyone from the hostess to the waitress, to the busser, were all very nice. I would recommend a stop in here if you are visiting Ojai.
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Dr Nancy D.

Yelp
Finally, after years of missing their open hours, we had an amazing meal on a quiet evening with our little dog in tow! The back patio was closed but the main dining area allowed pets. The menu had so many wheat free options I didn't know what to order! We need to go back to try other dishes. Our server provided the right amount of attention. And the ambiance was fit for family dining or date night.
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Jim R.

Yelp
Went again. This is one great Italian restaurant. Each pasta we have had has been fantastic. I will venture away from pasta next time and see if there is good with the other entrees
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Dennis R.

Yelp
Ojai has many restaurants that are well reviewed and recommended and the one we chose to try first was Osteria Monte Grappa! The restaurant opened at 5pm for dinner and we came right on time as they opened and were seated right away. We ordered a bruschetta bread, a carbonara parmese on fettuccini and a clam pasta on fettuccine with a pork chop as the main dish. Of course, what's an Italian dinner with out wine? We chose the Pinot noir from the local Ojai winery. The bruschetta with fresh tomato was so fresh and refreshing with savory hints of butter and garlic which just made my mouth water! I honestly didn't ever imagine that tomatoes and bread could taste so good! Both the pastas were absolutely delicious! The carbonara parmese had such a rich, thick sauce that just went perfectly with the fettuccine which allowed the sauce to coat it all the way with all of its tasty goodness. As for the clam pasta, it tasted like it was straight out of the sea and was cooked so well! We found out from our waitress that it was locally sourced and brought from the Channel Islands. The greens with the pork chop was delicious! I believe it was sautéed and I can honestly say it's the first time I've had greens that I was excited to have every single bite! The potatoes were soo good! Toasty on the outside and soft on the inside with perfect seasoning. The pork chop was incredible and served with the side of the juices that came out from cooking it and let me just say, it is absolutely worth it! For dessert, I chose the tiramisu and my partner for the berry tart. Both were a awesome way to get a sweet fix to end our dinner. I cannot say enough how much I'd recommend everything at Osteria Monte Grappa. From the service, the ambiance and the food, everything was such a positive and enjoyable experience! I will definitely remember the food here forever as one of the best restaurants I've ever had!

Chris F.

Yelp
The browned butter sage raviolis are amazing, although the first time we ordered they were generous with butter which perfectly sweetened the sage, and only a little red sauce - 2nd visit we came back just for those raviolis but I think they burned the butter because there were black specs and seemed like they added way more red sauce to cover it up, just wasn't anywhere near as good. I was a bit disappointed the Zia Maria chicken says sautéed w butter but didn't really taste buttery, just a breaded crispy breast w some sage on top. Parmigiana was good but wish I'd tried something else. I did enjoy their Alfredo but pesto felt like something was missing. First time we went it was a Friday evening, maybe only 2/3 of tables were full but it was unbearably loud. I started getting a headache and was honestly concerned staff should be wearing hearing protection exposed to those volumes all shift long. Not at all intimate or romantic. Thankfully the background noise was more reasonable on a slow Tues evening. They really need to install some sound dampening panels because the rectangular floor plan and bare walls make it a giant echo chamber.
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Andrew C.

Yelp
Although I've been to Ojai now countless times, it was only my second visit to OMG... which are appropriate initials because OMG this place is so good. I started with the Zuppa di Pollo e Verdure, mainly because none of the salads did it for me. Interestingly enough, they don't have the traditional Caesar Salad on the menu. My lovely date, however, was mesmorized by their offerings, and her Insalata Cioxota was so large she took some of it back to our home for the weekend. The soup was very good, flavorful, and the vegetables were fresh. On to the main course! I had the Maltagliate all'Asolana and wow wow wow! First the pasta itself was just fantastic. Very wide, thick noodles and they were perfect for the beef which was juicy and combined with the sauce was a perfect choice on a cold wintery night. My lovely date had the Vongole and asked for shrimp instead... they were quite succulent. The service is always great and it's in a great location right in the heart of Ojai. They don't take reservations so be prepared to wait... on a Friday night we waited about an hour or so but Ojai is such a charming little town we didn't seem to mind... we strolled up and down the main drag and the time flew by. Can't wait to return!
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Todd W.

Yelp
Excellent Italian and kind of farm to table. Great Ojai Arcade location. Very consistent. Don't skip the bread.
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Bernie R.

Yelp
We arrived early for the 5pm opening time on Saturday night. We were seated right way to begin a fabulous meal. Good thing we got there early because after 5 pm there was a long wait for a table. We started with the fresh baked artisan bread served with olive oil and a tasty rather thick balsamic vinegar. We also had the greens and fennel salad, a great start to our meal. The menu had so many options it was hard to decide. I ordered the Cioppino and my wife got the mushroom risotto. My Cioppino was the best I ever had. It was served piping hot and filled with tasty seafood, three large scallops, three large shrimp tail on, large chunks of fish and about 12 clam shells. The tomato soup was so tasty and filled with mild spices. Great for dipping the bread at the end. The mushroom risotto was cooked to perfection and my wife enjoyed it. But the Cioppino was the star of this meal! Our bill for these dishes, one soft drink no wine with tip was $100. Given the quality of the meal, a good value for a nice dinner in Ojai.
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Gabriela C.

Yelp
We decided to forgo our usual Italian choice in town, Nocciola, and that was a mistake. The vibe here seemed good and it's one of the only restaurants in town open past 9pm so we really wanted this to be good. Sadly it was a bust. Started off by not having a server come around to take our order for over 15 min. We got the mushroom crostini and the caprese OMG for appetizers. I asked for no olives since I just wanted a standard caprese salad. What came out was literally just mozzarella and tomato, with 4 tiny sprigs of basil. We had to ask for olive oil and balsamic since it wasn't even dressed, or have salt and pepper. The mushroom crostini looked a lot better than it tasted. The mushrooms appeared to have been canned and had absolutely no seasoning. For our entrees, my husband ordered the pork chop and I ordered the carbonara. Both were OK (hence the 2 stars) but everything needed salt, just like the appetizers. The wine was terrible, my husband ordered a Chianti and I got a Prosecco. First time ever we left a dinner without finishing our wine. It was that bad. Such a bummer that the food here is bad, it seems like there's a lot of potential. Service was slow, the bussers were excellent though. Not coming back.
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Troy B.

Yelp
OMG is one of Ojai's local-owned restaurants that appeal to couples on a night out, family and friends alike. It meets all the criteria. The owners have put their long history of restaurants into a comfortable and clean setting with beautiful ambiance filled with locals and tourists alike. The staff here is superb and friendly. Mostly Locals that love ojai and work very hard to prepare an Ojai experience. The food here is consistently well-prepared and proper Italian flavors. Not over-done but rich with flavor and nice-sized servings. They have great wine list and popular bar with handmade cocktails - there's always a seat or two somehow!. Yes, they use fresh citrus and don't skimp on anything here. With new over-priced restaurants moving into Ojai and the very idea of trying to make a buck in this business is running many restaurants out of business, OMG's owners have worked hard to maintain great food at reasonable prices. Definitely make this as stop if your in Ojai.
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Kerri H.

Yelp
We loved almost everything about Osteria Monte Grappa- the one qualm I have was that the risotto I had was really more of a delicious rice dish and less of a creamy risotto, but it's honestly a very small qualm. The service was so friendly and accommodating and even offered us a dessert on the house to celebrate our anniversary- which we would have happily accepted if we hadn't been so perfectly full! We started with bread with olive oil and a reduced balsamic- yum! The bread was very good and perfectly toasted if not freshly baked and the reduced balsamic was awesome- why do we not always reduce the balsamic?! The wine list was small but good- a mix of imported Italian wines and local southern California wines. We also split a caprese salad- delicious- and then each had our own entree. My husband chose the ravioli special and it was incredible. I ordered the roast chicken, kale and zucchini risotto, which was made with a rice other than arborio and so wasn't quite as creamy as I like my risotto to be, but it was still quite delicious. It was a dimly lit open room so it did get a bit loud, but not in a way that diminished our experience. I liked the Fresca on the wall inside. The patio was really lovely and I wish that they had heaters outside because it was just a little too chilly to sit outside without a jacket or heater. Next time I'll bring cardigan!
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Jim G.

Yelp
Skip Nocciola and try Osteria Monte Grappa! Head to head Lissa G and I tried both. We liked Osteria much more not only because of the food, but the great service, and "family" feel while dining. Rarely do we have pizza but the Pizza al Portego was great. Perfect crust with a couple burn spots, yum. The Spessatin De Fileto is perfect for a cold night while dining on their patio. The Agnolotti with crispy sage on top was also a hit. No reservations so get there early if you want to guarantee a spot.
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Patrick M.

Yelp
Food was excellent, service was very friendly, and ambience was casual and light. Great work!
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Emily R.

Yelp
Really really good Italian food! Their outdoor patio creates beautiful ambiance. The staff is friendly and helpful