Cafe Nouveau

This place is so cute! So eclectic & different. Outdoor setting is gorg & relaxing, plus they allow dogs! All the food was great & they even leave you with cute complimentary treats when paying out! Such a cute touch. Only thing I could suggest, it would be awesome if they could have a full bar or the option of champagne and vodka. They must have a limited liquor license because their alcoholic drinks were wine based. Great spot for brunch.

I loved this place! We travel from L.A. Just to have breakfast on sat mornings. Food is always great and staff is very friendly. Sometimes a lil bit of a wait but it’s worth it. Try to be there early to avoid longer wait time.

A little crowded but the breakfast is very good! Love the setting, it’s a homemade made type of feeling coming here.

Worth a drive to the Coast with a good friend… Café Nouveau is your must stop breakfast location. The setting is awesome… we always wait for a table outside because it truly is worth the wait. Can’t think of a dish we have tried that we haven’t liked… I am not a donut lover but the maple flavored Beniette (sp?) was a really tasty start with coffee… ending with the bite sized muffin. Make a day of it and go shop the downtown

Had breakfast and the food was good. Everything I come to California I come here with family. Nice staff clean restroom and not to long of a wait for setting. A nice outdoor space for you and your dog or dogs very welcoming. So have a nice time with family and or friends.

Definitely a hidden gem in Ventura county. It’s a little café that blends in with the neighboring homes, very cute. The food was great. I had their omelette and hash browns which were amazing, but what was even more amazing were their French quarter bignets. It reminded me a lot of the ones from Disneyland.

Ambiance and décor…5 stars… totally cute place, dog friendly… I wish the location was my own restaurant!
Service and pricing…3 stars… they were busy, service was satisfactory… prices were average, the wine was delicious and very well-​priced.
Food…1 star at the most… I ordered the salmon and, brother, I’ve never seen or tasted salmon like this… so completely over-​cooked, it was no longer pink, but totally white… the sauce used was terrible, IMO. The gf ordered a steak, which was mediocre, a little on the rubbery side.
The menu (to me) was boring, but I love salmon, so I thought I’d be alright. Worst salmon ever. Very sad, because I wanted to love this place!

Great flavors and nice presentation. A very comfortable patio dining with trees and special little nooks to give you a feeling of seclusion and privacy.
The southern creole flavors are excellent. The servers were very friendly and took care of presenting a nice breakfast. Food was prepared promptly. They serve Santa Barbara Roasting Co. Coffee — great flavor.
Try the Maple Bacon Beignets — a real treat.

Everything I have eaten at this place is fantastic and fresh. I highly recommend ordering a Honey Mule if only for the adorable gummy bear glasses!
Most recently we came here for dinner and drinks. We ended up just getting a few apps and dessert with a few Honey Mules in between. The sweet corn tamale is awesome.
The carrot cake is sinfully delicious! I was craving key lime pie this particular evening and it did not disappoint. You will not be sorry if you stop here for breakfast, lunch, or dinner!

This place is AMAZING. The décor is beautiful, the food is delicious and the service is just what any customer would want.
I had the Banana Foster waffle (they make their own syrup which has cinnamon in it and makes it taste like you’re eating a churro). Admittedly it was too sweet for me but I ordered a side of eggs to kinda balance the sweetness.
My sister ordered the Eggs Nouveau and they’re definitely some of the best poached eggs I’ve tried.
Oh, they also have coffee for those waiting to be seated!
I’d definitely stop by again if I’m in the Ventura area: D

They offer an unique menu of delicious items you can’t get everywhere.
The bacon beignets were beyond delicious.
The eggs Benedict served with the au gratin potatoes were unique for breakfast but delicious. The eggs cooked perfectly and the hollandaise sauce delicious.
The service was warm and friendly.
The only thing that can be a challenge is the parking. They don’t have a lot only street parking in a residential neighborhood.

I’ve been back a few more times. Went a couple times near Christmas and again just the other week. I loved how they decorated for Christmas, really enhanced the already cozy atmosphere. I have a couple quibbles about the food. I found the French toast somewhat sour — not sure if it was the butter or what made it taste «off.» I think it’s the only time I’ve ever left French toast uneaten in a restaurant. I would have loved a pitcher of maple syrup to help wash everything down. Another time, I ate lunch there and had some kind of stacked dish with eggplant, Portobello mushrooms, tomatoes, cheese, etc. I took pictures. It was not bad. I could have done without the drizzle of balsamic on top. I think my favorite item is still the beignets. It’s hard to go wrong there!
Word of warning — don’t try to go at 3 in the afternoon. They close for a few hours between lunch ending at 2 p.m. and dinner starting at 5 p.m. We had no idea and pulled up to eat there around 3 or 4 and the place was dark and empty. So either go for breakfast, a not too late lunch, or dinner after 5. Also, they are NOT open for dinner on Sundays, Mondays, or Tuesdays.

Food is overall ‘good’ with French Toast being ‘great’. I think it’s the syrup.
Staff is friendly.
Environment is comfortable. There is no sense of being rushed like other cafes. Outside seating is neat. There are little birds that fly around. I always want to feed them but not sure the etiquette.
Nothing over the top to earn 5 stars. And my last two visits I was told after my food had been served that they were not taking any credit cards as their machine was not working. I do not typically carry cash, so it was a bit awkward being in a position to depend on my party covering my tab.

My beautiful wife went full on Food Network on me when describing our brunch. Too bad I can’t remember everything she said. Let’s start at the beginning…
The wait is a little long, but totally worth it! They offer complimentary coffee while you wait. There is a small waiting area with seats, but the sidewalk works as well. Parking is on the street and may require a short walk because this place is popular.
Recommend dining on the patio. The inside dining seemed a little noisy, and well, patio dining is my favorite! The combination of birds chirping, waterfountain splashing, trees, and plants can’t be beat. If it is chilly, you can request a heat lamp.
We started with water, coffee, pomegranate mimosa, and nouveau sunrise mimosa (orange juice, cranberry juice, and champagne). Next, we enjoyed French Quarter beignets served with homemade vanilla carmel syrup (OH MY). The syrup was rich and flavorful without being overly sweet.
Wesley had to assist with ordering because everything sounded amazing! We enjoyed our selections!!!
Banana pecan pancakes served with vanilla carmel syrup. They were light and yummy with nothing but a little bit of butter, yet perfect with the syrup. Though nothing out of the ordinary, the eggs and bacon were cooked perfectly.
The white chili scramble is a must try! The eggs were fluffy and scrumptious when combined with the white beans, cheese, and spices. The cool avocado and crunch of the tortilla strips rounded out the dish to perfection. Because we prefer a bit of heat, we added Cholula, but it didn’t need it.
Note: Westly was a rather wonderful server! She helped us figure out what to order, had impeccable timing, and was super friendly!

I’ve actually been to Nouveau a handful of times before, so I’m surprised I’ve never wrote a review? I honestly thought I wrote one, so I’m hoping it was magically deleted… With this said, here is another review based on my most recent visit…
Nouveau is located in the corner of Thompson and Chrisman; it can easily be missed because it’s camouflaged with trees and plants, plus it looks like a house that’s been converted to a restaurant. They offer 2 seating options to be either indoor or outdoor. Overall, the restaurant is not that big, even in combination with the outdoor patio– so plan ahead.
The hubs and I walked in around 0930 and was seated right away. As we were walking up, the Sunday crowd started building, so I was excited to be seated right away. Our server arrived shortly after we were seated to obtain our drink order, very soon after that she took our food order. I was a bit sad because Loren then came back within minutes to tell me that they were out of French toast? Crazy right?! Moving on, I changed my order to the Coconut Macadamia Nut Waffle.
For starters we order the Maple Bacon Beignets. (please refer to my pictures of this fabulous dish)
These benny’s are beyond amazingballs. They have the perfect crunch on the outside, with a soft doughy texture inside. On the outside, the benny’s are drizzled with a homemade maple syrup glaze, powdered sugar and their finished off with crispy bacon bits that go perfect with the savory and sweet combination. These are a must, you have to order them! 4 pieces, $ 5.95– it’s worth it, I promise.
The hubs ordered Huevos Rancheros with his eggs over easy. The potatoes were pretty basic, but the beans were delicious. I’m not a beans person, but the beans were light and airy, pretty tasty. Needless to say, he ate every off his plate-​so it must have been good.
My 4-​piece Coconut Macadam Nut waffle was good. After spreading the butter balls evenly over each fourth I drizzled some of the maple syrup and enjoyed every bite. My side of eggs and bacon came out shortly after. Ask for a little side of their homemade salsa, it goes perfectly with scrambled eggs.
When they deliver your bill, it comes with complimentary muffins with a cream cheese frosting. (Check out my pic).
Nouveau has yet to disappoint. We’ve always had a great experience; even with sometimes waiting 30 – 40 minutes for a table for 2… It’s simple as to why the wait is «so long»…it’s ‘cuz this place is worth the wait…
*Total Breakfast Experience Turn Around Time (TAT)= (Walk-​in to Walk-​out): 43 minutes.

Absolutely fantastic.
Only have been here for breakfast, but the French toast with blueberry and cherry compote was delicious! It comes with caramel/​vanilla sauce and crunchy oats! Yum yum in my tum tum! Going back ASAP!

Came back here again for a second visit. Once again, extremely pleased with the food, service, everything. One noticeable difference was the lack of flies! I am guessing because it is winter the flies have died off. Either way, it was much more pleasant to sit on the patio without swatting flies away. There were nice heat lamps on so we weren’t cold at all. Only complaint is when they brought my dish there was basically no avocado, just two tiny slices. I asked for more though and they brought me a good portion. My dish last time was very miniminal on the avocado too, so you definitely need to ask if you want more. Overall the food was excellent. A very lovely lunch and excited to return again in the future!

More overrated than Star Wars.
The building and outside garden décor is so «aw» and the dog friendly patio is sure to warm up the hearts of dog lovers. Don’t let that hypnotize you!
Self guest sign up, like why have someone there «checking-​in» if you’re doing it yourself?
They have coffee while you wait which is nice for the morning wake up.
Our WAITRESS was really nice. I didn’t catch her name but she mentioned to the table over that she was from the Great Lakes state. Super genuine and I saw her put up with the most annoying patron, you know the million questions one that has the most random requests, yeah that one… and not once did she seem annoyed.
Food
Beignets: At the first bite I was flashed back to New Orleans. that only lasted a bite as it leaves a splenda like after taste. They were decent though, a lot better than most beignet attempts on the west coast. 3.5÷5
The egg dish with the tamale: It was the 24^th and being Mexican and all, I had that tamale desire burning through my veins. Stupid me, why would I expect Café Nouveau to give a good tamale out but also why would you offer it? It was a weird tamale, very lemony taste. Disgraceful part of the dish. The poached eggs were fair and the potatoes as well. 2.5÷5
Waffle with caramelized bananas: You hardly catch me complaining about prices… BUT over 10 $ for something I could have made at home? This was a joke. The taste of it was nothing special, don’t let the «gourmet» sugar coat on the menu push you into thinking this is anything more than a waffle available on the howard johnson’s complimentary breakfast menu. 1.5÷5
I had a taste of the macadamia and coconut pancakes… safer bet. although their whole pancake/​french toast/​waffle options seem to be aimed at matching Cici’s Café’s creativity (also very meh) .
The best part of the meal and I am not kidding when I say this… were their complimentary mini cupcakes, which I forgot to ask if they’re made there? The frosting has a good hit.
Final Say…
You can live without trying it. Management. box me up some mini cupcakes and I’ll delete this review. just kidding, writers integrity.

My husband and I visited Café Nouveau during our Santa Barbara/​Ventura trip. After looking through our breakfast options on a Tuesday morning, I chose it based on the reviews and what seemed to be an interesting menu.
I’m sure this place gets packed on the weekends, but on a Tuesday morning there was no wait and we were seated on the outdoor patio, which is very nice. The menu is extensive so it took awhile to decide on our plates, but we finally chose the garden omelette and the banana pecan waffle.
Garden omelette– sauteed spinach, onion, mushroom, and tomato topped with sour cream and avocado. The ingredients are good but it was pretty average and upon reflection, I wish it had cheese. Omelettes come with a choice of potatoes in various styles, white beans, or fruit and a biscuit, tortillas, toast, or muffin. I chose the white beans (they come re-​fried) and the sweet potato biscuit. The beans were good and were cooked with cheese. The sweet potato biscuit flavor was excellent, but the texture was too soft and dense. It would have been better if it was a bit more flaky.
Banana pecan waffle– apparently the waffles are made with malt powder but it didn’t seem to make much of a difference in terms of texture or flavor. The waffle was good but was on par with waffles at other breakfast spots.
While our choices didn’t exactly «wow» us, I would return on my next visit in order to sample other items because it seems like their menu does have a lot of interesting things to offer (like the Creole eggs). Also, the little details are nice: their vanilla caramel syrup is delicious and the complimentary vanilla cupcakes we were given were moist and topped with a light and buttery frosting. The ambiance is pleasant and the interior, situated in a Spanish bungalow, is charming.

The little guidelines for coming here:
— Wanting good breakfast/​brunch
— Wanting a cute place with a French theme inside & a garden patio outside
& if yes to any one of these, then this is the right place for you!
Everything on their menu is delicious!
What I love about this place is that they put a «twist» to some of your traditional food items.
For example, for breakfast I ordered the «Eggs Benevilla» which is basically a tamale and eggs benedict. BUT Café Nouveau fries that cheese & jalapeño (by the way, it’s NOT spicy) tamale, then puts 2 poached eggs on top of that tamale and drizzles their hollandaise sauce on top and adds salsa and avocado and BOOM that’s the Eggs Benevilla! It also comes with hash browns or sauteed potatoes.
Best part about this place is that they give FREE mini cupcakes at the end of your meal!
Come here for good quality food with beautiful ambience!

Si je pouvais mettre 10 étoiles, je les mettrais !
Cadre magnifique, très zen. Belle carte et excellent rapport qualité/​prix. Assiettes énormes (nous sommes aux USA, n’oublions pas).
Les pancakes sont un régal. Demandez les avec des fruits pour plus de gourmandise. Ils né sont pas servis avec du sirop d’érable mais une crème à la vanille… Mmmmm
On en profite pour commander nos sandwich pour midi !