The Dutchess
Burmese restaurant · Ojai ·
Bakery, cafe & restaurant with Burmese fare, cocktails & pastries
Bakery, cafe & restaurant with Burmese fare, cocktails & pastries
"Opened in 2022 and immediately embraced as one of the more prominent contributors to Ojai’s dining scene boom, this day-to-night spot lets me move from coffee and homemade breads, pastries, and breakfast dishes (including congee) to bright Burmese and Southeast Asian plates with a Californian sensibility from chef Saw Naing. The space feels large inside, with two back dining rooms that have banquettes or wooden tables with vintage pews for chairs, and I love the old-school Dutchess bread oven from the space’s original bakery built into the brick wall of the back dining room. For breakfast, I kick the day off with the classic plate—Niman Ranch bacon, tomato chutney, Weiser Family Farms potatoes (iykyk), sourdough or gluten-free toast, and two sunny-side eggs—or get it in sando form with sharp cheddar on a sesame milk bun. Gluten-free congee with garlic chile crisp is an exceptionally comforting way to begin the morning, especially paired with the spicy-peanut-pocked kale and chicken salad, which has slivers of cabbage and a sweet-and-sour tamarind dressing. During dinner, must-get dishes like goat masala curry can be sopped up with freshly baked naan, while a classic tea-leaf salad and pressed chickpea fritters with tamarind chutney make for compelling sides. Pastry chef Kelsey Brito rounds the menu with seasonal desserts like a mango sticky rice sundae and strawberry semolina cake in the summer—the gluten-free sticky rice doughnuts stay no matter the season. In the mornings I see young families toting a croissant-loving kid or two in strollers; at night it’s couples on date night and the actor whose name I can’t remember who owns a vacation home in the mountains. Insider tip: the bakery makes some of the most decadent, in-demand wedding cakes in the region; pre-order through the website." - Nicole Fellah
"By day, a bakery and cafe with pastries, sandwiches, and Burmese-inspired bites like a Burmese fried chicken sando; by night, a bustling Burmese restaurant led by Chef Saw Naing featuring specialties such as tea leaf salad. Called a “love letter to Ojai,” the operation sources the majority of its ingredients from within 50 miles—produce from Ojai Roots Farm, wine from Ojai Alisal Vineyard—with a focus on farmers, ranchers, fishermen, and winemakers committed to the health of land and water. Only using what’s local and available is described as a hallmark of Burmese food, and that ethos defines the menu here." - Daniel He
"Smack in the center of Ojai, The Dutchess reigns from its perch inside a charming 1920s building. It may be the queen of cool, but prim and proper it's not. Instead, this quirky concept features a bakery/cafe by day and a trendy Burmese restaurant by night. Come hungry, as this heartfelt menu is brimming with snacks, salads, curries and large plates designed for sharing. Begin with a tea leaf salad, piled high with slightly bitter tea leaves balanced by napa cabbage and sungold tomatoes with crispy-crunchy peanuts, fried garlic and shallots. Chickpea tofu is perfectly golden-brown and sided by a sweet and sour tamarind sauce. The contemporary, rustic dishes are bested by the skillfully prepared desserts, like a decadent chocolate-caramel ganache tart." - Michelin Inspector
"Ojai’s dining scene has expanded in recent years, thanks in part to this Rustic Canyon Group-owned restaurant that combines baked goods with chef Saw Naing’s all-day offerings. Drop by in the morning for baker Kelsey Brito’s outstanding pastries and dishes like a croque madame with smoked ham and poached eggs. Come dinnertime, don’t miss Naing’s Burmese-influenced dishes like the show-stopping seasonal fried fish, served with a tea leaf salad, chickpea curry, jasmine rice, lentils, chili paste, and house-made naan." - Eater Staff, Mona Holmes
"If we lived in Ojai, the people working at The Dutchess would probably know our middle name, favorite song, and daily coffee order by heart. This all-day spot from the restaurant group behind Rustic Canyon is that comfortable. Much like every well-styled photo of "a boho cabin in Ojai" on the internet, this place is full of antique wallpaper, sturdy wooden furniture, and coat hooks shaped like ducks. Starting at 7am, they serve breakfast, lunch, and pastries, ranging from croque madames to samosa hand pies. If you stop in for dinner, expect a menu of Burmese-Californian dishes you won’t find anywhere else in town. They have a walk-in bar with a pool table in the back, so even if you can't snag a reservation, you can still drop by for a fun night out." - nikko duren
