Location and Ambiance:Nestled in a great location with a vibrant atmosphere, Rumfish sets the stage for an enjoyable dining experience. The allure of its bar area and lively outdoor seating creates an inviting environment that adds to the overall appeal.Beverages:The beverage selection at Rumfish is commendable. Their cocktails are well crafted and offer an array of flavors and styles. The variety of beers on tap and the well-curated wine selection cater to diverse preferences, although I've yet to explore the latter. My first experience I enjoyed a mezcal cocktail, but this time I had a bottled Mexican lagger.Food Experience:My initial visit to Rumfish was prompted by a friend's glowing recommendation, but it left me with mixed feelings. While the menu promised an exceptional culinary experience, the reality fell short of expectations. The tacos, though decent, lacked the wow factor I had hoped for, leaving me underwhelmed. The flavors were decent, if mild, but what I noticed was a lack of dimensionality. The tortillas are house made and they were delicious, but the overall combination was flat.On my recent return, I ordered the guacamole and Creole Seabass. The guacamole, while enjoyable, didn't quite reach the level of greatness. It was good, but a bit watery and lime-forward, but again lacked dimension. However, the homemade totopos were really good.The Creole Seabass, unfortunately, failed to impress. Expecting a grilled fish bursting with flavor, I was met with a fried skin-on seabass covered with coconut sauce. The fish itself was as bland and tasteless as cod. While the coconut sauce added some dimension, the overall taste fell flat, exacerbated by the underwhelming spice level (about a 2 out of 10). It could just as easily have been called Thai Coconut Seabass. The waiter clarified that by Creole they mean Belize-style Creole which is translated as mild and coconuty, not the North American Creole which means bursting with flavor. He said he was also surprised. Meanwhile, I was just coming to the realization that Rumfish is Belize food. Now I feel stupid. Not sure how I missed that?Price Point:Given the Seabass's hefty price tag, exceeding $30, my expectations were naturally elevated. However, the disparity between cost and culinary experience left me questioning the value. While a $15 entre might warrant less scrutiny, the premium price demands, in my mind, a more exceptional dining experience.Final Thoughts:Despite my reservations, I remain optimistic about Rumfish. While my encounters have yet to align with the restaurant's stellar reputation, I am open to further exploration. I am hopeful that Rumfish will eventually deliver the culinary excellence that has resulted in so many glowing reviews.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
Robert Ballantyne
Another visit to our friend in Ventura. This time she suggested Rumfish. As it turned out, it was a fine suggestion. We were greeted and seated right away at their wonderful outdoor patio. Being a perfect California afternoon, the westher was warm and made for a perfect setting. They have a full bar and their drinks are well mixed and strong. Three specialty cocktails were had and all were perfect for the afternoon. Our server was friendly, funny and helpful describing various dishes on the menu. An order of Conch chowder proved to be an excellent starter. A wonderful blend of tastes, it is not your typical chowder but one that should be tried. The local Halibut fish and chips were ordered and it had to be one of the best dishes we have had. Our local guest said it was the best she has had in Ventura. Along with really great chips, it was the favorite dish. I had their huge Wagyu burger with the excellent fries. I have to say, the size was impressive, the white cheddar and Valentina aioli added a special taste but it didn't quite knock me out, maybe because of the fish and chips. I would still recommend the burger but a little reservation. Since we just had the lunch menu, I can't comment on dinner, but based on lunch I am sure there are mnay excellent choices. Another spot that goes on the 'will return' list.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Yuki Sutton
Came here with my mum and brother. We ordered the goat cheese flatbread which was absolutely divine. Our server was so lovely and helpful. It was our first time in Ventura so she gave us lots of great recommendations. Unfortunately, despite how lovely the servers were, I didn’t feel they were very well respected as the owner was unnecessarily unkind to them which sort of left a bad taste in our mouths. It’s a shame as the food was so delicious. This dampened the experience for us a bit as the atmosphere became quite uneasy after this.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Goat Cheese
Kimberly Munoz
Excellent food, perfect service and wonderful atmosphere. We had a salad, halibut service, and the Mayan. Every dish was amazing!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Marlene Ramirez
Super cute place, with a cozy vibe, and a beautiful patio. Definitely try their Paloma and their dragonfruit cocktail. Paired with the halibut ceviche and the grilled fish tacos.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Queso Fundido, Gluten Free Fish Tacos
G T Sherm
Cocktails are very good. Atmosphere is lovely. Food is excellent. Make a reservation especially on the weekend.
Unfortunately, the Delmonico steak special was not good. Difficult to cut and chew. My wife gave me a hard time for ordering steak in a seafood restaurant, but if you're going to offer the steak, it should be on par with the seafood. My wife loved her sea bass.
SBMimi
Lovely atmosphere, broad healthy menu-that is also yummy, and very nice service. I live in Santa Barbara and Rumfish is my go to meeting spot when I drive down to meet friends from down South. I think it is probably also wonderful for group parties. Such a special space...Thank you for another great meal.
JuanitaV
We six had an excellent meal and cocktails were delicious. Service was a bit slow. The waiter seemed grouchy. Had to wait for details, like another drink, more bread, the check. We will be back. It was the first time for the birthday lady.
Natalie Larkin
Service a bit slow. It got cold outside on the patio. A bit pricey.
Vegetarian options: There are good vegetarian options in the menu
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
AliH
The flavors at Rumfish Y Vino are unique and fantastic. Our server was on top of everything & provided great food and drink suggestions. He went above and beyond and made our experience memorable.
LorraineB
Outstanding menu with many fish choices. Also vegetarian and vegan. Cauliflower soup was really good. The kids next to us got burgers and fries and loved them too. Staff very friendly.
MichelleS
This place has been one of our favorites for years! The food is delicious, the ambiance is beautiful, staff is very friendly and polite. We have recommended this restaurant to many of our friends and have had several date nights here! If we could give it 10 stars, definitely would!
LisaS
Great food! We ordered several appetizers for our group and all were worth ordering again. For entrees, we had salmon and fish tacos (both grilled and fried) and they were great. Will definitely be back.
Location and Ambiance:Nestled in a great location with a vibrant atmosphere, Rumfish sets the stage for an enjoyable dining experience. The allure of its bar area and lively outdoor seating creates an inviting environment that adds to the overall appeal.Beverages:The beverage selection at Rumfish is commendable. Their cocktails are well crafted and offer an array of flavors and styles. The variety of beers on tap and the well-curated wine selection cater to diverse preferences, although I've yet to explore the latter. My first experience I enjoyed a mezcal cocktail, but this time I had a bottled Mexican lagger.Food Experience:My initial visit to Rumfish was prompted by a friend's glowing recommendation, but it left me with mixed feelings. While the menu promised an exceptional culinary experience, the reality fell short of expectations. The tacos, though decent, lacked the wow factor I had hoped for, leaving me underwhelmed. The flavors were decent, if mild, but what I noticed was a lack of dimensionality. The tortillas are house made and they were delicious, but the overall combination was flat.On my recent return, I ordered the guacamole and Creole Seabass. The guacamole, while enjoyable, didn't quite reach the level of greatness. It was good, but a bit watery and lime-forward, but again lacked dimension. However, the homemade totopos were really good.The Creole Seabass, unfortunately, failed to impress. Expecting a grilled fish bursting with flavor, I was met with a fried skin-on seabass covered with coconut sauce. The fish itself was as bland and tasteless as cod. While the coconut sauce added some dimension, the overall taste fell flat, exacerbated by the underwhelming spice level (about a 2 out of 10). It could just as easily have been called Thai Coconut Seabass. The waiter clarified that by Creole they mean Belize-style Creole which is translated as mild and coconuty, not the North American Creole which means bursting with flavor. He said he was also surprised. Meanwhile, I was just coming to the realization that Rumfish is Belize food. Now I feel stupid. Not sure how I missed that?Price Point:Given the Seabass's hefty price tag, exceeding $30, my expectations were naturally elevated. However, the disparity between cost and culinary experience left me questioning the value. While a $15 entre might warrant less scrutiny, the premium price demands, in my mind, a more exceptional dining experience.Final Thoughts:Despite my reservations, I remain optimistic about Rumfish. While my encounters have yet to align with the restaurant's stellar reputation, I am open to further exploration. I am hopeful that Rumfish will eventually deliver the culinary excellence that has resulted in so many glowing reviews.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
Another visit to our friend in Ventura. This time she suggested Rumfish. As it turned out, it was a fine suggestion. We were greeted and seated right away at their wonderful outdoor patio. Being a perfect California afternoon, the westher was warm and made for a perfect setting. They have a full bar and their drinks are well mixed and strong. Three specialty cocktails were had and all were perfect for the afternoon. Our server was friendly, funny and helpful describing various dishes on the menu. An order of Conch chowder proved to be an excellent starter. A wonderful blend of tastes, it is not your typical chowder but one that should be tried. The local Halibut fish and chips were ordered and it had to be one of the best dishes we have had. Our local guest said it was the best she has had in Ventura. Along with really great chips, it was the favorite dish. I had their huge Wagyu burger with the excellent fries. I have to say, the size was impressive, the white cheddar and Valentina aioli added a special taste but it didn't quite knock me out, maybe because of the fish and chips. I would still recommend the burger but a little reservation. Since we just had the lunch menu, I can't comment on dinner, but based on lunch I am sure there are mnay excellent choices. Another spot that goes on the 'will return' list.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Came here with my mum and brother. We ordered the goat cheese flatbread which was absolutely divine. Our server was so lovely and helpful. It was our first time in Ventura so she gave us lots of great recommendations. Unfortunately, despite how lovely the servers were, I didn’t feel they were very well respected as the owner was unnecessarily unkind to them which sort of left a bad taste in our mouths. It’s a shame as the food was so delicious. This dampened the experience for us a bit as the atmosphere became quite uneasy after this.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Goat Cheese
Excellent food, perfect service and wonderful atmosphere. We had a salad, halibut service, and the Mayan. Every dish was amazing!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Super cute place, with a cozy vibe, and a beautiful patio. Definitely try their Paloma and their dragonfruit cocktail. Paired with the halibut ceviche and the grilled fish tacos.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Queso Fundido, Gluten Free Fish Tacos
Cocktails are very good. Atmosphere is lovely. Food is excellent. Make a reservation especially on the weekend.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Key Lime Pie, Pizza, Coconut Flan
Unfortunately, the Delmonico steak special was not good. Difficult to cut and chew. My wife gave me a hard time for ordering steak in a seafood restaurant, but if you're going to offer the steak, it should be on par with the seafood. My wife loved her sea bass.
Lovely atmosphere, broad healthy menu-that is also yummy, and very nice service. I live in Santa Barbara and Rumfish is my go to meeting spot when I drive down to meet friends from down South. I think it is probably also wonderful for group parties. Such a special space...Thank you for another great meal.
We six had an excellent meal and cocktails were delicious. Service was a bit slow. The waiter seemed grouchy. Had to wait for details, like another drink, more bread, the check. We will be back. It was the first time for the birthday lady.
Service a bit slow. It got cold outside on the patio. A bit pricey.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Gluten Free Fish Tacos
Restaurantji Recommends
Vegetarian options: There are good vegetarian options in the menu
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
The flavors at Rumfish Y Vino are unique and fantastic. Our server was on top of everything & provided great food and drink suggestions. He went above and beyond and made our experience memorable.
Outstanding menu with many fish choices. Also vegetarian and vegan. Cauliflower soup was really good. The kids next to us got burgers and fries and loved them too. Staff very friendly.
This place has been one of our favorites for years! The food is delicious, the ambiance is beautiful, staff is very friendly and polite. We have recommended this restaurant to many of our friends and have had several date nights here! If we could give it 10 stars, definitely would!
Great food! We ordered several appetizers for our group and all were worth ordering again. For entrees, we had salmon and fish tacos (both grilled and fried) and they were great. Will definitely be back.