Nocciola

Excellent homemade pastas, olive oil, cocktails and ambiance. We were seated on a chilly night in late November right in front of the fireplace on a 4 top. Our server was attentive and kind, we felt very welcomed with our children and the pastas were delicious. My fish of the day was very nicely cooked but could have used a bit more sauce. Lasagna is legit. The squash ravioli with sage butter was autumn melting in my mouth. The meat pastas were equally incredible. The ricotta cheesecake was a little grainy for my taste. The gelato portion is huge, perfect for sharing. Highly recommend this spot, if I didn’t live so far away I’d definitely come back.

Came here for my 30th and everything from food to service to ambience was phenomenal. My favorite was the quail! Dined with an Italian (who is a bit of a snob when it comes to his country's cuisine) and even he was impressed. Wish it was closer to home. I will definitely come back next time I'm in Ojai.

Delicious Italian spot in Ojai. Extensive wine list. The restaurant feels intimate, and not at all uptight. Housemade focaccia is delicious.

I don't usually write a review unless I'm really impressed. I'm Italian and I can say that this is a real Italian restaurant. Top quality ingredients, interesting food combination. I definitely recommend it and I will come back

Out of this world good! The pasta dishes were incredible… we had the seafood pasta and the bolognese. We also had their soup special, scallops and salad. Everything was on point. I love how they converted the house into the restaurant, it made it feel so homey. Such a great experience, will definitely be coming back!

Loved this place for its ambiance, good food, and attentive staff. They built a covered patio during COVID for outdoor dining. The patio is divided into 4 sections, separated by wood railings and, thus, so are most of the tables. There were plenty of tempting offerings in its menu, but we ordered the specials, lobster ravioli with a delicate curry sauce and snapper on a bed of spinach and mushrooms. Both were well prepared and large portions.

Quick Summary Cool ambiance with the patio seating, especially in the back when you have the backdrop of the Ojai sunset. Food was decent (the highlights were the olive oil and the lamb carpaccio). Plenty of street parking available Food- 4 stars Food was decent but isn't worth going out of your way for Bread with olive oil- the olive oil was very solid and hearty. Really enjoyed it Lamb carpaccio- this was pretty good as well. The only downside is that it wasn't evenly salted (some portions were much more salted than others) Lamb shank- this was good, but the sauce was slightly too sweet. Pork chop- a bit disappointed by the pork chop. Overcooked and way too lean. Not the most enjoyable experience Service- 4 stars Pretty standard, although we did wait a pretty long time between our appetizers and entrees Parking- plenty of street parking Bottom Line Cool ambiance if you're around the Ojai area. Really wished I tried the pasta or ravioli dishes, because was disappointed by the entrees.

Well this is annoying as I can’t get here more than once a week. Last night my lady and I shared an incredible meal with Anthony behind the bar. Guy was legit good people. Super respectful and fire service. We had the lamb shoulder and duck. Definitely will be back monthly

Best place so far in Ojai! Incredible service and fine dining food. Absolutely definitely.

Nocciola is located at the end of the "main drag" in Ojai. It looks like a converted house (is it?) that is both quaint and upscale-ish. That being said, attire is "Ojai casual" as there were a few folks who looked like regulars who looked like they had just come from the beach. We ordered two salads - the rucoletta and the cavolo nero. Both salads were delicious, though on the smaller side so I'm glad we got both. We also had their housemade focaccia which was amazing. For my entree, I ordered the paparadelle with braised lamb shoulder. Yum. The menu is also vegetarian-friendly in case you are accommodating a vegetarian diet.

I'm so glad I was able to get last minute reservations on Sunday night before Labor Day weekend. I have never been here before but seems like all the store owners in the area said it was the best restaurant in Ojai. They were right! Also might be the only restaurant. Celebrated our anniversary here and loved the vibe and ambiance. It was as if we were hanging out in a patio deck outside in the woods. For our appetizers they provided us with bread and olive oil. We ordered the scallops and AMAZING. The best scallops I have ever had. I couldn't tell you what they did to it. Perfectly cooked or over roasted and the bite was on point. Loved the caviar on top and couldn't remember what kind of sauce reduction on the plate. My fiancé ordered the Plin pasta which was a beef tenderloin filled pasta and she asked to add truffle on top!! That was a game changer. They put that dish together so well. Worth paying extra for truffle. I ordered the NY steak. Really good flavoring and I asked for it to be medium well. My fault, I think it would have been more tender if I asked for medium rare. Still a great steak! The potatoes were a bit too salty for my likings. Great time and service was nice. Shout out to the waitress who ran out and gave me my camera. Thank you so much.. I totally would have forgotten about it. I feel I didn't get to thank her. So Thank you!!

Looking for great food, service and atmosphere? This restaurant has it all. One of our fav's in Ojai, it never fails to please. Go for a lovely dinner experience and you won't be disappointed.

Highly recommend for a date night in Ojai! The ambiance is super cute, looks like an house that was remodeled. We were seated on the porch area, tons of heaters so we were nice and warm even in the chilly evening. Service was great, everyone was super attentive, helpful, and informative and the food came out very quickly. Food: - They split the salad for us which was great and it was also delicious and the scallops were SO good (heads up they only come with two). - pasta is clearly freshly home made and perfectly al dente. I got the ravioli which was really good! - dessert was also solid, we got the puff pastry dessert and it kinda tasted like nutella esque filling. Light but a perfect filling dessert.

It is all about the desserts and the dessert wines. A lovely view off the quiet outdoor balcony with first-rate service, I enjoyed my apserol spritz from the full bar. They also have an extensive wine list, and my husband and I thoroughly enjoyed their red blend. I wasn't that hungry, and I enjoyed their salad, so I had room to enjoy their incredible flourless chocolate cake made with rich flavorful chocolate. We compared the tokaji with the 2018 Sauternes from Bordeaux, and found them both to pair perfectly with the dessert.

Delectable tasting menu at this charming restaurant. A beautiful home like setting with impeccable service. Start with house made focaccia bread and Ojai olive oil. Then delicious dishes paired with a juicy Ojai Syrah. Round up this fantastic dinner with decadent dessert and more wine.

My wife and I have been to Ojai 7 times for our anniversary over the past 20 years. According to our server, the restaurant has been around for 9 years. This was a very disappointing realization. A little background. I work in the wine industry for the past 25 years and have traveled the world dining in some of the most incredible, unique and high rated Michelin places; I know quality in food. Nicciola is the best restaurant in Ojai and may be the best meal I have had in maybe 3 or 4 years. Ceasar salad; crisp with a touch anchovie and Parmesan. Completely balanced. We had the Quail. Perfectly prepared with a slight maple smoke to it, best prep ever! Second, house made pasta with black truffles; stupid good. I have spent more than hundred days in Italy; on par or better than any I have had. The staff; most professional I have had in Ojai. We stay exclusively at the Ojai Valley Inn; top place in the area. Both do it right. If you stay at the inn, you have to try this place.

This was such a wonderful recommendation from the Ojai Valley Inn. The restaurant is quaint and welcoming. I highly suggest their fresh pasta specials (we had the lobster linguine and the rabbit pappardelle). The octopus was one of the best I've had anywhere in the world. It was served with a beautiful ratatouille, fresh from the farmers market. We will definitely be back!

Every dish was excellent: yellowtail tartar, burrata, truffle pasta, wagyu lasagna The cocktails were excellent: some type of lavendar gin drink. I don't even like gin.... Or lavendar! The service was fantastic -1 star for being nickel and dime cheap for wanting an additional al $4.50 for extra bread (even though I didn't need or order it), but this place is worth 6 stars so they still get a 5 in my book.

Delicious food and wonderful service! Love that the outdoor patio is dog friendly as well.

Amazing food and service. Got a lil mixed up on the sampler. The manager was kind enough to fix the bill for me and the family. Bartender and host were kind and friendly. Highly recommended. Everything was delicious.

Restaurant is very great, it has a very relaxed but still high end atmosphere. Our server was insanely attentive and kind. He was always around, and went above and beyond to make sure everything was perfect for us. The food was delicious! It was absolutely perfect and was very fresh. It's not a cheap place to eat but you definitely get your moneys worth here.

One of the best meals I've had! Service was impeccable and the restaurant itself is so cute! The complimentary bread with the amazing olive oil was the perfect starter. We also got the lamb carpaccio and yellowfin tartar as appetizers and oh my god!!! Both were so flavorful and absolutely delicious! Our main entrees were the lamb ragu with tagliatelle and their special of the day pasta which was wild boar ragu with parpadelle and again both left us so happy and satisfied with their rich and delicious flavors. The hand made pasta was so yummy and cooked to perfection! We were being real greedy and decided to get dessert so we got the chocoholic which was out of this world decadent and chocolatey! It was the perfect end to a fantastic dinner. I can't wait to come back to Ojai just so I can come here again.

Top to bottom GREAT meal. Wine list and menu are solid. We will def be back. Wish we had an Italian restaurant of this caliber in Ventura...

Nocciola was an absolute dining delight. The care and attention were tangible. Our server happened to be the manager. He was so patient and helpful as we chose a bottle of wine... which was absolutely perfect! The food was divine. We do not eat out often.... I love to cook and we usually feel like eating out is a waste of money. Not here.... Absolutely worth it! It's an experience.

Food was fantastic. We did the 5 course meal absolutely fabulous, highly recommend. Attentive service. Will be back!

We came here for our 2 year anniversary where I got the truffle risotto. To be honest, it didn't look remarkable but I can't stop thinking about it even now. I've tried other truffle things since trying to recapture some of the same delicious experience, but nothing so far has held up to the truffle dish I had here. Bonus points: leftovers tasted delicious the next morning. PARKING: ample street parking

I had my eye on Nocciola after researching some restaurants in the Ojai area. I did not have a reservation but I arrived shortly after opening on a Sunday evening (around 5:30pm) and it was just me and I was so happy when they were able to accommodate me at the bar. I hydrated well with water while I dined on some really amazing food starting with the Tartara. The ratio of yellowfin tuna, avocado, shallots, capers, and crostini was pretty good but I wouldn't have minded a few more shallots or capers. Nonetheless, my entre quickly made up for the incredibly minute tartare issue. For my main course I treated myself (any my waisteline) to the gnocchi. I ate every last piece and also used the delicious bread that was brought out as a starter to soak up the rest of the heavenly sauce after I ate every last kabocha squash pillow. A truly delightful dish. The sauce was made out of piave fondue, sage, and a brown-butter again creamy and delightful. Unfortunately I did not have ANY room for dessert, not even a coffee which was too bad. I really enjoyed my entire experience at Nocciola. I thought the time between dishes was a little extensive but I was happy as a clam nonetheless as I read my dining partner aka a good book. I definitely got what I paid for - great food, great service, five stars. I will definitely be back if I'm in the area - highly recommend.

Truly a memorable experience! My partner and I decided to go with the chef's tasting menu. Essentially, it is a curated dining experience. If I remember correctly, it came with 2 appetizers- one hot/one cold, 2 pasta dishes, 2 main entrees, and dessert. The portions were perfect because by the end of it, I almost didn't have room for dessert. Some of my favorites were the lamb capriccio, yellowtail ceviche, the scallops, and the quail. Definitely a fun experience

Everything was incredible, the patio setting at sunset, the food all home made and delicious!!!!! The service was very helpful with selections and prompt. The bar is very inviting and cool. A perfect date nite or occasion spot!

Took my mom for an elegant dinner and this place came through with flying colors. Service was excellent, food and drinks yummy, and they were very accommodating of my mom's food allergies. I can't wait to go again. Definitely make a reservation in the weekend.

Quick Summary Cool ambiance with the patio seating, especially in the back when you have the backdrop of the Ojai sunset. Food was decent (the highlights were the olive oil and the lamb carpaccio). Plenty of street parking available Food- 4 stars Food was decent but isn't worth going out of your way for Bread with olive oil- the olive oil was very solid and hearty. Really enjoyed it Lamb carpaccio- this was pretty good as well. The only downside is that it wasn't evenly salted (some portions were much more salted than others) Lamb shank- this was good, but the sauce was slightly too sweet. Pork chop- a bit disappointed by the pork chop. Overcooked and way too lean. Not the most enjoyable experience Service- 4 stars Pretty standard, although we did wait a pretty long time between our appetizers and entrees Parking- plenty of street parking Bottom Line Cool ambiance if you're around the Ojai area. Really wished I tried the pasta or ravioli dishes, because was disappointed by the entrees.

Beautiful ambiance and amazing Italian cuisine. Perfect place to celebrate my birthday. Very cozy location. Highly recommend visiting if you're looking for delicious, authentic Italian food in Ojai.

Yes.... Nocciola can be a little pricy but .... It is definitely worth it. Food is so delicious, good wine selection and outstanding deserts. I am very happy to have found this place. The staff is very good as well: Lucie was very kind and professional. I definitely recommend it.

Everything at this place was A+ from the ambiance to food and service. Relaxed vibes and just amazing food paired with a Delicious wine list. Dolce vita living in Ojai I will return with friends and family Thanks for the great service

This is my new favorite restaurant. The impeccable food, delicious wine, laid back atmosphere, location--it's all perfect. And the service is OUTSTANDING.

Food and service was amazing on Saturday night! Loved the porch and the inside was cute

I had one of my best Italian meals at Nocciola! I went with two other people, and we ordered family style. We shared an absolutely amazing steak, rissoto, and two salads. Everything was both simply and spectacularly prepared, and the service was professional and friendly. I had a Barrolo by the glass that was worth every penny. We all had our own desserts, which were also delicious.

I went here with my parents, and it was just amazing, great food, and a really friendly atmosphere

Dinner started out wonderful, but at the end was a horrible disappointment. We had a table for five, ordered starters, mains, drinks, and desserts. Their attitude quickly changed as our table was cleared of plates with some food still on them, and soon after we were asked to leave, as they needed the table. My dessert was still in my hand! Dropping several hundred dollars wasn't enough for them to treat you with respect for your entire dining experience. Nothing special and would not recommend (unless you're a quick eater).

We went to both Nocciola yesterday and Olivella the day before. Both are excellent Italian restaurants. Nocciola was a more cozy atmosphere in downtown Ojai. The service was excellent and the food was exceptionally good. My wife and I shared the caprese salad. Then we the scallops and octopus (seasoned well and slightly crisp). Our seafood pasta was well prepared and seasoned. They also had a 6 course tasting menu which we opted not do (we did that one at Olivella).

We had a wonderful meal here. The atmosphere on the patio is warm and inviting. Our waiter Pietro was helpful from the moment we sat down. The cocktails are delicious and inventive. We shared the scallop starter with truffles that was incredible. Then we moved on to the the rigatoni with sausage which we loved. The pasta is homemade and served perfectly. And we split the Halibut special that was superb. Also we pared our courses with some great wines suggested by our server. And save room for the deserts. We had the bignets that were a perfect end to a great dinner.

As a vegetarian, fine dining can be hit or miss. Coming from LA, I have been spoilt many times. The food at Nocciola was good, but standard fare. The highlights: * The Herborist cocktail was deliciously fresh, and the Toscana Rossa was a perfect pairing for every course * The tortelli was absolutely delicious. Hand assembled in a jacuzzi of sage butter I wanted to drink the sauce, heart disease be damned * The service was impeccable, and a standout even compared to some Michelin 1 star restaurants I've been to. A big shout to Pietro our server for providing excellent recommendations, and being extremely attentive. * The risotto was very generously portioned For Ojai, this is probably one of the best restaurants in the area, the rest of the food was good, just not memorable enough that I would visit Ojai specifically to eat here

If you are visiting Ojai, Nocciola is definitely a must restaurant to go. This was my first time to try Nocciola and I'm looking forward to come back already. The restaurant is so beautiful , cozy and romantic. I was seated inside but the patio looks perfect for any occasion. My server was so nice and friendly always big a smile. They took care of me very well. They made sure O was satisfied with my food and service. My mushroom pasta was exquisite. This is dish you should try, Specially if you don't eat meat . Plenty of parking on the street.

This place is unreal. Food is so special, simple, yet phenomenal. The homemade pastas really hit the mark and don't skip the gelato for dessert!

Amazing! The food, service, atmosphere were great! Highly recommend if you are visiting Ojai or live there.

Highly recommended, great experience. Service was excellent, the food was amazing, and the ambience was very nice.

First timer. So lovely. I had the octopus. I could have eaten 5 orders. The char was spot on. Then I had the grape with cheese salad. Each bite captured the essence of each ingredient. The lamb pasta was my kind of savory. Lastly, chocolate cake. We split one. A whole piece was destined for a coma and the ER. The service was delightful. The vibe I got was kindness. The restaurant itself is stunning. It is loud and not everyone could hear or join in the conversation. I doubt there is anything you can do to change the acoustics. It was sad for us as we are a family that doesn't see each other often.

Worst dining experience of all time. Do not go and tell your friends to avoid. Arrived at 5:26 and after entrees and two bottles of wine we were asked to move to the bar after less than 2 hours. We had been rushed the whole time, but thought finishing our second bottle would be acceptable as we were almost done. I was with my mother and friend visiting from San Francisco. I hadn't been able to finish my dinner before they asked if I'd be willing to take it home. We had no dessert, but 1/3 of a glass of wine left from the second bottle. Manager Alex came over and said a group was waiting and we had to leave the table. We asked about our unfinished wine and he said we could move to the bar. I've never experienced anything like it. Humiliating and unacceptable. Will never return and will never recommend.

Went here to celebrate our birthdays. We'd heard of nocciola for years, but had never made our way to having dinner here. Decided this year that it seemed like the perfect place. We were not wrong! The bread and focaccia were amazing. Had the tartara as an appetizer and it was truly sublime. We chose pasta dishes as our entrees and they absolutely delivered on flavor. We were too full for dessert (unfortunately) but were given a port gratis for celebrating our birthdays there. Can not wait to go back.

Handmade pasta, incredible wine selection and hazelnut cream puffs. What an amazing experience! Came on a recommendation and was not disappointed. Definitely need a reservation if you are coming on the weekend. Ordered the sea scallops and octopus appetizers and the beef cheek ragú and rabbit pappardelle for the main courses. The sea food was prepared perfectly; melt in your mouth tender. Both pastas were equally delicious, but my favorite was the hazelnut cream puffs for dessert! I would never normally choose cream puffs, however, our amazing server Anthony recommended them and we trusted his insight. Honestly, I would go back just for those! A pricey meal, but would happily repeat for a special occasion! I will dream about those cream puffs

Food was prepared nicely. Atmosphere is cozy. Away from the traffic. Right next to Cluff Park In Ojai.

What an amazing experience! We were visiting from out of town and celebrated our wedding anniversary here. They welcomed us with a glass of champagne to celebrate. We decided to splurge and go with the chef's choice. Looking at past reviews, it looks like the price was raised significantly over the last couple of years, but so has everything so it was expected. Let me tell you, it was worth the money! The food was delicious and also gorgeously plated. We enjoyed every course and left more than full. We would love to come back and explore the menu even more. Also, the wine menu was fantastic!

If u are interested in having a great dinner and wine this place is definitely a great option our party was very pleased with the food drinks and service our waiter made us feel very welcome and confortable it's a place we're u can relax and enjoy the night

The sauteed radicchio special was no good. The veggies on the korbota chop plate were soggy and the sweet potato hash tasted like it was made 3 days ago. Not a good experience and not what i remember from this restaurant.

Run don't walk! Food was tastefully crafted. Cocktails were on point and the ambiance was dreamy.

Delicious and cute little place! We had the salad with hearts of palm (Crescione), Pólipo and Tartara as appetizers, the Tagliatelle with duck ragu, and NY steak which was seasoned and cooked to perfection (and we are really lucky with steak since we grill at home a lot). We finished with the flourless chocolate cake which was more of a mouse, but still yummy. Everything was delicious and I can't wait to go back again!

5 stars - ambiance 5 stars - food 5 stars - service So impressed with Nocciola! The restaurant is a house with the cutest rooms, so quaint - I loved the ambiance. Started with the burrata and prosciutto with crostini - simple and delicious Wagyu beef bolognese - surprisingly this was very light pasta, very good. Branzino was the fish of the day and was excellent. Service, food and ambiance- 5 stars I highly recommend Nocciola- I will try the tasting menu next time!