Special occasion dinner for four on a Wednesday night. Very professional waiter Tony took great care of us. I had the crab cakes for an appetizer. Delicious. For an entree I had the seared scallops with Lyonnaise potatoes. Delicious again. My wife had the swordfish. Delicious. The other couple each had halibut fixed as requested. Nods of approval. For dessert we shared Meyer Limoncello Zabaglione and Chocolate Indulgence. Super-duper. Great meal!
Review Source:The food was okay, nothing fabulous, tasted pretty much like what you could get at a nicer chain restaurant, pricey for what you received. Â The building itself is nice, good location in downtown Ventura. Â The worst part was the band playing in the dining room. Â They were so loud we couldn't hear each other talk. I was not impressed and will not return.
Review Source:Ok, I'm going to say something about Ventura you might not like:
It's Ventura. Â
Not Manhattan, not Sunset Blvd....not even Montecito. Â
It's Ventura. Â
So when I hear people talk ill of Watermark for being pretentious or over priced, I have to say, "Get over yourselves". Â It really isn't. Â
And the atmosphere, outside of requiring you to not wear your faded Slayer shirt and camo shorts on weekends if you want to eat there, is good for Ventura. Â There are other restaurants in Ventura that charge more for say, Filet (what I always get there) and are only comparable in quality.
Anyways, I just wanted to clarify that I reject any negative reviews of this place based on their being "snooty". Â Good, I say. Â We need some of that. Â Now on to the food. Â
I give this place a five star based on its location. Â In New York (pretentious remark incoming!) I would give it a four. Â But here, there is nothing quite like getting dressed up on a weekend and having a few (well poured) martinis here and then perhaps going to the upstairs bar for music. Â It's a treat.
The food is wonderful, compared to the price point.  Oysters on the half shell have always been fresh with a perfectly balanced Mignonette.  Medium rare Filet comes out actually  medium rare, with the sauces being quite good.  Oh and the wedge...they throw together a phenomenal wedge. Â
Breakfast! Â They have an Arnold Palmer that will knock your socks off. Â It has some sort of spicy thing going on with it, and is perfect with their Eggs Benedict. Â Their Hollandaise is some of the best in Ventura and should not be missed. Â
On a last note, their upstairs bar is my favorite in Ventura. Â Love the feel of it, love the view of the city, love the fact that the bar lights up (I have a weakness for bars that light up for some reason) and love sitting in front of the fireplace if you're lucky. Â
There you have it. Â Watermark isn't for some, and takes some getting used to to enjoy. Â I know 10 years ago I would have hated the place. Â But sitting back, taking your time to make conversation and not be in a huge rush for whatever reason is a commidity I don't mind paying for.
This review is for their French toast only. Our group joined a Ventura tasting tour, and this is our 2nd stop. Tasting their Specialty French toast, they use bruschetta bread which gives a chewy texture and much more flavorful than using regular toast bread to make french toast. What a great idea! Top off with freshly made whip cream and blueberry dressing completes a perfect match! Absolutely delicious! Must try it when you stop by Ventura. Sorry I wish I know more about the food at Watermark but this review is just for their french toast =)
Review Source:Once a bank now a gorgeous restaurant. The old murals and ceiling go perfect with the smart new decor. This was my first visit to the restaurant. My husband and I ate at lunch time. We were greeted by a very friendly hostess/server. I had the chicken panini and my husband the reuben. The sandwiches came quickly and were very good. My only complaint was the potatoe salad, although unique was too spicy. We were told that the coleslaw was even more spicy. Diners should be warned, as I certainly didn't expect the "bite" to potatoe salad. It was very good but I did not want to taste it the rest of the day. I don't know if this was a new menu or if the sides are always prepared this way.
Review Source:This is a review for W2O - the third floor bar - not the restaurant. The restaurant looked enticing, unfortunately they did't serve food on Sunday, so we weren't able to eat here, that said...
It was a Sunday afternoon and we were exploring downtown Ventura's Main Street, it's an cool eclectic strip of restaurants and stores. On a Saturday it's full of shoppers rooming the stores, on Saturday night it's full of drunkers stumbling the streets - and I'm talking DRUNK. Like college-town drunk, falling down, vomiting in the street drunk. But I digress... Because it's right now Sunday afternoon and we were looking to kill some time.
There was live music playing high above the street. Wait, was that... Why, yes, yes, it's Madonna's 'Get Into The Groove' being sung by an entire bar full of people. Um, yeah. We're going up there.
The gentleman at the door opened it wide and beckoned us inside. "Third Floor," he smiled... We ran through the empty restaurant (because it was closed, remember?), found the elevator, pushed the button and took the ride - giddy with anticipation.
W2O did not disappoint. As I was getting off the elevator, I was groped by a scary woman getting on (of course I'm with my wife, oh and did I mention it's our anniversary? Yeah, so that was both creepy and hilarious by itself). We walked around the corner and took it in:
It's a rooftop lounge with panoramic views of the city and the ocean. There's even a little  patio outside. And it's crowded, full of sweaty people having a great time - and everyone is a minimum of 10 years older than you - I don't care how old you are, they're 10 years older (yes, if you're 100 years old, they're all 110 - it's my story, let me tell it!).
Okay, where was I? So the band is comprised of three dudes and they're AWESOME. I mean, this singer is a strong tenor and he's belting out hits from the 80s and letting people sing along like a piano bar - I'm talking Salt n' Peppa's 'Push it', Bobby Brown's 'My Prerogative', even MJ's 'Thriller'. It was Epic. People are dancing with reckless abandon - just going for it - not a care in the world. We sat at the bar and watched (thankfully there's a TV screen live broadcasting the dance-floor for all to see).
Liquor was flowing and this crowd was feeling no pain. My wife ordered a $12 drink, I had a club soda with lime (I was feeling dangerous). Soon we were singing and bopping around the bar, totally caught up in the splendor of W2O.
We were having a lot of fun, so much so, that the dude next to us decided to join in... And, that's when we decided it was a good time to go, we had some shopping to do before the stores closed - after all it was a SUNDAY AFTERNOON - but you wouldn't know it at W2O, because inside the rooftop lounge it was "Two thousand zero zero party over, Oops out of time! Yeah, Yeah! Tonight they're gonna party like it's 1999!"
Ps: This was my 100th Review on Yelp! I was kind of expecting balloons and confetti to fall form the ceiling when I hit 'post' (^_^)
Awful!  My halibut was so over cooked that the top was "crispy" and my fork couldn't even break through it.  The sides were just as bad  The string beans were over cooked and rubbery.  The asparagus was lukewarm.  So sad too.  This is a great location and beautiful building.  The only plus was the Mint Julep!  Perfectly made and refreshing.  Two stars for this and the location/decor/building.  Go here for cocktails and across the street for dinner.
Review Source:came here before a show at the Ventura theater (its basically right across the street).
we sat at the bar and had drinks so i cant say much about the food. but the menu looked good.
it just wasnt really the place to go and have drinks before a Band of Horses show.
i gave it 3 stars since i didnt have any food.
This review is strictly for the W2O lounge upstairs (aka Wrinklemark):
None of the drinks we wanted were covered by happy hour. Â And it seemed like they were a little tight on the elbow with the wine pours. Â Strike one.
Ordered the calamari. Â The waitress came back 10 seconds later and flung a plate of cold squid on the table, claiming they had "just accidentally made an extra order for someone else." Â The dippin' sauce (marinara and mayo mixed together?) was congealed, as if it had been sitting for an hour. Â Got a little flack when I had the nerve to ask for a fresh order. Â Strike two.
My friend ordered the shrimp egg rolls and somehow got pork tacos. Â But they looked good and she liked them. Â So I'll call this a foul off deep to the left.
After nervously watching them set up, the requisite Ventucky bar band came in and nailed it with some fresh Timberlake. Â Then they had the balls to follow with the best version of "I Wanna Sex You Up" ever sung this side of Saticoy. Â It didn't take long before the lone dancing lady who looks like your mom got crowded off the dance floor by an army of short skirts, large asses and bad haircuts. Â Grand slam home run!
Well played, Watermark. Â Well played.
My husband brought me here for dinner last night (Sat.) without a reservation and we had a great time! Â There was LIVE music, a GREAT atmosphere, and GREAT food! Â
Thank you Audrey for your suggestions and pleasant service! Â Chefs Gary and Kenny, loved the lamb and the pork tenderloin! Â Beautiful presentation also! Â
I highly recommend the Chocolate Indulgence for dessert!
Thank you for stopping by the table and saying hi. Â Â :)
I really enjoy this spot, it has a great view upstairs where there is live music and a bar. Best thing is that you can wait for your reservation at the bar and just enjoy the outside patio. Came here on  Friday night with no reservation, which I suggest making one! We were told the wait would be 30 minutes and it turned to be about a little over an hour.
The decor is great, there is a small bar on your right where you can wait at. There are not that many tables, so I can see why the wait can take awhile. There also is a few people playing violin etc. in the room as well, gives it a different vibe than upstairs.
The one thing that I noticed is how nice and FULL the wines glasses are.
We had great service the whole night, from two bars we went to, to the actual meal.
Oysters on the Half Shell  15
Half Dozen Oysters Served with Red Wine Mignonette and Lemon--- they were fresh and tasted delicious!
I then had the Alaskan Halibut ($21) - the fish was not dry and came with an amazing spinach that was surprisingly full of flavor and possibly gave the dish that pinch of something.
I would definitely come back here again, but make reservations.
This place has so much potential! Its really a shame that they don't live up to this. Waiter was nice but not on point for the price of the food. Didn't take away our wine glasses when we clearly weren't having wine, forgot our appetizers, and then was MIA the rest of the time. The drinks were as everyone else has said, good but WEAK. 2 sips and its gone, and so is the waiter, so you better hope 1 was enough.
We did go upstairs also. Band was pretty good and the bartenders were nice. Crowd was all cougars. Won't go back. Watermark please properly train your servers. A $200 bill deserves better attention. Total disappointment.
Fabulous food prepared inside a classic, historic and very romantic building. Â The old, brick sided exterior is a historic sight, and the beautifully crafted wood ceiling is breathtaking. Â The moment one enters, a feeling of timeless charm and elegance takes over the senses. Â They even had a special cognac cabinet encased by very old and stately looking wood. Â Felt very country club.
Bartender was really sweet and funny. Â She even knew sign language, although I am thankfully not hearing impaired. Â Pretty cool though. Â The bloody Mary, which I have never before ordered, was really great. Â It had a spicy peppered tinge to it and very fresh celery, olive. Â
Next time I am in Ventura I plan to try a meal there. The food looked fabulous!
We've been there twice now, for the Sunday brunch, and really enjoyed the ambiance, service and food, although I'd rate the portions a bit small.
It's always nice to see a vintage building that has been repurposed. Â Beautiful ceilings, light fixtures and the murals on the wall tell about the history of the area.
Beach town or not, this place does need a dress code, simply because some people can't be bothered to dress appropriately. Â There were two idiots with backwards caps and one young woman wearing a watch cap.
The pattern of the prodigal is: rebellion, ruin, repentance, reconciliation, restoration -- Edwin Louis Cole
What a beautiful restored building the Watermark is housed in. Â Started life as a Jewelry Store...then became a bank...then refurbished with a third floor rooftop lounge into the swanky restaurant it has become. Â Impressive murals depicting the Camino Real from the 1920s...beautiful fixtures and carved woof throughout...impressive collection of wine housed in the old bank vault. Â This beautiful room certainly captures a "Mad Men - Don Draper" type of vibe. Â Add in a stunningly talented jazz duo and you have yourself a swinging urban place located in the less than urban area of Ventura.
The food is not quite so innovative though. Â Although it is an independent place, if you have ever ate at a Hillstone Group restaurant (think Houston's) you know the menu here. Â Fresh Seafood and Steaks with a bit of an Asian influence. Â Oysters were very good as was the Wild Mushroom Risotto. Â Steak was competently prepared although the meat tasted like a lesser cut of NY Strip than I expected given the price. Â Desserts were also very good but nothing was particularly great. Â Again, the total package here is what makes this restaurant, not the food which is clearly designed to appeal to as many as possible without offending or exciting.
Drink list is top notch with wines for a variety of budgets and a full bar. Â We started with an excellent Martin Codax Albarino and then ordered previous Santa Rosa Press-Democrat wine of the week River Bench Russian River Pinot with the entrees. Â Grand Marnier and other cordials finished my companions meals while I went with a lovely German Ice Wine. Â
In increasingly hip Ventura Downtown, I highly recommend this swanky joint :)
This concerns only the bar on the second floor with music. I love the restaurant (4 stars), but the upstairs is terrible. It used to have great ambiance and a dress code. Last Sunday it was filled with young people, in shots and T-shirts, and scruffy ladies. Most of them were drunk. The band was overwhelmingly loud and bad.
I guess this is to keep the restaurant solvent, but for me, it is a total mess and I won't ever go there again.
Fantastic. By fantastic I mean not the best restaurant in the world but all of the little things give it the extra leg up.
The mojito to I ordered wasn't anything special but the other drinks at the table were enjoyed by their consumers. When ordering the waiter allowed the others at our table to order the special from the bar menu. He didn't have to as the policy of the restaurant is that you must sit in the bar to order from the bar menu, donut was very nice.
The fresh bread and olive tapenade are fantastic. Had the beet salad and portobello sliders as a starter. Portobello slider was stupendous while the beet salad was good but a bit boring and should have more beets.
Everyone enjoyed their entree but we were a but supposed at their presentation. Â All of us had something different while the plating was all the exact same...carb on bottom, vegetable on next layer and protein on top. Wasn't a bad presentation but maybe use different styles for different dishes.
Deserts were good, creme brûlée was a hit while the peach-berry cobbler was good but the peaches were completely lost by the overwhelming flavor of the berries.
What brings this from above average to outstanding is the ambiance. The building is gorgeous and the acoustic guitar set a perfect mood. The service was very good to boot.
All in all a very pleasurable dining experience. Will return on the next business trip.
Five stars for entertainment, service and atmosphere.
Three stars for the drinks (small and on the weak side)
Three and half stars for the food. The best part of our meal was the warm homemade bread and olive tapenade. Hubby had the halibut  small portion on the dry side, I had the shrimp scampi it was okay~ pasta was a bit overdone shrimp was good.
Willing to give it another try.
My Mom lives in Ventura and when I come up to visit sometimes I end up at the Watermark for drinks or dinner. I had dinner there on Saturday, and since I've been many times now, I figured it was time to write a review... While the Watermark is hands down the classiest place in downtown Ventura (Cafe Flore would be second), that's really not saying much.
The Good: Fresh seafood, nice decor, convenient location. Sometimes cougars congregate at the bar upstairs. They have a lot of fancy mixed drinks that will impress a date.
The Bad: It's expensive. The staff here knows that there is no competition for the Watermark in the immediate area and it shows.
The Ugly: I have repeatedly found the servers and bartenders to be aloof and somewhat haughty at this place. The last time we had dinner here the server repeatedly said "look at the menu" when people in our party asked about dishes. A little more smiling and friendliness would go a long way (and would immediately up my review a star). Â
The Watermark is a bastion of style and sophistication in a downtown scene that is lacking in both those areas. While it stands as a nice changeup from the divey scene in Ventucky it really doesn't stack up against classy places you will find in a larger city.
This review is for the W20 roof top bar.
Great drink selection
Wonderful beer choices
2 words - COUGAR PARADISE. Â Definitely a "cougar hangout".
We reserved the private room for a group. Â Service by Kelly was wonderful. Â She was attentive and very friendly.
We sampled a few of the "happy hour" offerings - they were tasty and reasonably priced at the happy hour prices. Â Be ready to shell out a lot of money if it's after 7pm.
I would give 4 stars - but the music was HORRIBLE. Â I guess I'm not the target audience - married mom, but I go to concerts and enjoy live entertainment. Â The band and karaoke set up had such poor sound engineering, I was cringing. Â
I would return again with my husband for happy hour (before the music cues up) because the decor and atmosphere was really nice - no college kids.
Also - don't let the "DRESS CODE" turn you off. Â Jeans and a decent shirt/top is perfectly appropriate. Â The website of this place is more pretentious than the actual spot.
I often visit the upstairs of Watermark (W2O) for the Sunday bands and happy hour and I always have a good time.
Last month my family had company in town so we decided to treat ourselves to a nice meal and dinned downstairs Watermark. Hands down one of the best meals I have ever had, our company thought the same! Everything was extremely fresh, flavors all worked beautifully together on every dish, dessert was amazing (Chocolate/Carmel/Sea Salt!) service was great - just an overall really enjoyable time. Looking forward to going back!!
When my 21-year old cousin went to the restroom and didn't return, it became the running joke for the rest of the evening that "a cougar got 'em."
Visit this place, and you'll see why!
The crowd was GREAT! Â So was the live music, there was no shortage of dancing and it was a non-threatening environment on the dance floor. Â The crowd may be older, but they are a lot of fun!
The security/bouncer/bartender were all incredibly friendly and efficient as well. Â It's been a while since I've said that about ANY club!
Well done, watermark.
We took my wife's parents here for dinner just after Christmas for my mother-in-law's birthday because she likes the live music they provide. This is the second visit to the Watermark and the building is part of the ambiance to be included with your dining experience. Overall value for cost left me disappointed unlike my first visit.
Good - There was a jazz singer who entertained like a professional and was wonderful to listen to.
Good - The cocktails are excellent and a great value
Service - Our waiter seemed unfamiliar with the bar menu and couldn't recommend scotch they carry behind the bar. She also neglected to mention the raw bar was not available until we were perusing the menu for selection.
Food - I had the lobster bisque and while it was not what I expected (odd color and texture) it was still good. We had the braised short ribs, salmon, steak and scallops and all meals were prepared and presented well.
I would consider returning however, I will look first for alternate dining establishments.
The Place
The good - Really great looking restaurant & bar in one of the most beautiful buildings in the county.
The bad - We were seated in a nondescript hidden alcove upstairs with one other table - BORING.
The indifferent - It's loud wherever people are - acoustics not great.
The Service
The good - Wait staff was professional
The bad - We booked on Opentable; they knew it was first time AND our anniversary - Nothing special done for us - not even in greeting; novice hostess has no business in a fine restaurant on Saturday night. The waiter was too quick - and we're fast eaters. No space between courses . . .NONE. Felt rushed. Waiter could have helped kitchen pace the meal with a little communication.
The indifferent - You might be satisfied, but you won't feel taken care of, much less pampered.
The Food
The good - super fresh sushi, quality of duck was excellent
The bad - Neither of us could eat what was under our proteins - veggies and sauces ecchhh and . . . . why microwave homemade bread to toughness??
The indifferent - My bib lettuce wedge was really weak - tomatoes? pancetta? a quarter teaspoon of each. sigh . .. . Â
Overall - The Real Rating - against it's peer group - 2.8 Stars - This is a fine restaurant wanna-be that needs a firm manager and much better cooking just to be a very good restaurant. They seem to do great with fresh stuff from the ocean - from sushi to shellfish to swordfish filet - I'm sure their steaks are at least good . . . . but the sides (fresh breads put in a microwave to heat!! yipes) . . . weak to terrible sauces and vegetable sides, etc. are not helping.
You walk in. You feel transported to a big city, beyond cool, lush with antiques and oozing-with-style hotspot. Diners turn around to check you out. You are escorted by a handsome host up a glass elevator (with an embedded flatscreen tv) and seated with a flourish in a mezzanine seat, overlooking an Art Deco era former bank, lavish with funky new textures and lovingly restored antiques. Strains of acoustic guitar drift up through the 25-foot high ceiling to your table. The evening proceeds unevenly from there.
Your server is an elegant gentleman, who seems to mean well, but keeps interrupting you and reaching over you (instead of coming around). The service? Ambitious but flawed.
You are served a delightful salad with crispy slivers of persimmon and pomegranate seeds and baby spinach, You think, this is going to be good. Then, you are presented with yesterday's chewy, leftover beef, draped elegantly over about two tablespoons of gorgeous crunchy vegetables. Or you might be served perfectly cooked salmon, skin-side up (it tastes better than it looks) on two tablespoons of risotto. For dessert, crème brulee with a crust a bit too hard and the custard a bit too weak. The food? Ambitious but flawed.
After supper, you amble upstairs to the rooftop lounge, where a searingly hot Blues band gyrates their way through their repertoire, sounding much like Stevie Ray Vaughan before he died. You feel cool and lucky to be there.
After you walk out of the restaurant, you shake your head, wondering what exactly you spent all those hundreds of dollars on.
The upshot? Eat elsewhere, then retire to the bar downstairs for the guitar music or to the rooftop for the blues. You will be happy either place. Order an appetizer. Impress your date. Then thank me for saving you from wasting all that money.
Let me start by saying I am no food critic, management guru or interior decorator, but Watermark gets my praise for all three. The food was beyond what I expected, the seared Ahi Tuna melted in my mouth and the lobster bisque I could eat every day.
The downstairs atmosphere was what I would expect from an upscale restaurant, but the penthouse bar blew me away.... I can eat like a king and dance away the guilt...
Last and certainly not least, the management and staff was wonderful. Our waitress was attentive and checked in on us regularly, she even brought the owner by to say "hello". Â
Who knew such wonderful place was right in my backyard...
First the positives: Watermark was as gorgeous as everyone described. Â I really enjoyed the ambiance, live music, and the food. Â The signature cocktails were fun and delicious! Â
We went here for a birthday dinner with a large group. Â They were very accomodating about the reservation during a peak time on a Saturday. Â The entire party had a great time and enjoyed the food.
I personally ventured out  and tried the watermelon salad and lobster pot pie.  Both were super amazing and not found on any ordinary menu.  The pricing was right on for the upscale atmosphere that they are going for.  Portions were large enough to fill me up but definitely not a place where you end up with leftovers.
Where they lost me: Our waiter although knowledgeable seemed unfriendly. Â It almost seemed as if I was bothering him when I asked for something. Â They are very attentive so I didn't have to ask for much but a smile wouldn't have hurt anyone.
All in all, Watermark in Ventura was an enjoyable dining experience that I would be glad to do again.
First, the penthouse bar is a GREAT secret Ventura watering hole. Walking into the restaurant, you wouldn't even know the upstairs bar is there as there's a double bar downstairs as well. It's well worth the journey up the antique elevator. Best yet, they have Hendricks gin. Yum.
Dinner was amazing. I had the filet. I ordered it medium rare and it was spot on. I didn't need the steak knife, I could've cut it with my fork.
Watermark is a little pricey but reasonable for the quality and service.
My father--who is like the Jeffrey Steingarten of our family--said his steak from Watermark was "the best I ever had." I've never heard him praise a restaurant like that before. So I was excited to try it.
My buddies threw a surprise birthday party for me here at the 3rd floor lounge. Wow! Really great place--perfect ambiance, fantastic service, delicious food from the small plates menu (you must try the kobe sliders and calamari). I especially enjoyed our seating in front of the fireplace, the ocean views and the dessert menu. I had both the dark chocolate salted caramel tart AND the cheesecake stuffed chocolate covered strawberries. I was basically in heaven.
I'm so impressed with Watermark and it's now by far my favorite restaurant in Ventura--also near the top of my list of favorites in general.
Fancy schmancy and way too crowded. The place is beautiful! Unfortunately we didn't get to enjoy it because it was way too packed without a place to stand. The food looked over priced and so did the drinks. Based on previous reviews they are and apparently they are not great either.
What I found kind of interesting was the crowd. This place has 3 floors and it seems like they are divided into age groups. The oldies on the first floor...meaning the crowd was made up of people in their 40-50's, the second floor people looked like a mid-30's crowd and the 3rd floor looked younger. The third floor is where all the douche-bag people seem to hang...if the Watermark was a wedding cake it would have a black and white first layer and topped off with douchey bride and groom atop the cake. The bride would be a scantily clad cougar and the groom would be a dressed up brah.
It's a very classy looking place and the decor is ultra-fabulous! Â But, we think it's a little over-rated for what you get. Â The highly priced meals and drinks are what we get for having the experience of looking at the unique decor. Â They have a spectacular selection of fine wines, but the food was mid-stream for the price you pay.
The lounge upstairs is very visually appealing, but again the experience is not so wonderful when people are stumbling over one another. Â The place is entirely too small and the establishment doesn't seem to limit the amount of people going in...so congestion is inevitable on Fri and Sat nights. Â
If you're looking for a more romantic, classy atmosphere, you may want to try this place on a Thurs night instead or get there early on a Friday/Saturday night. Â The atmosphere is definitely nice when it isn't so hustle/bustle. Â ;0)
Yvette L. Brownstone from Ventura, California
So here is my problem with people (ok, more like one of many, but who's counting?):
Often times, we experience something, impose our own interpretation on what actually happened and then rave about how great that something was, when really we're just raving on about some deranged figment of our imagination.
I'm near certain this is what's going on at Watermark at the bar upstairs.
Yes, the ambiance is lovely. Yes, the elevator is kinda cool. Sure, the views are fantastic. But are these ever the three main reasons you come to a bar? No. You come to a bar to drink, people. If I wanted ambiance, I would have lit some candles in my bathroom. Views? Drive to the beach. It's five minutes away and infinitely cheaper. You, and I, go to bars for the booze.
I spent $20 on two Grey Goose and tonics that were deplorably weak. Even my girl friend remarked, "are you sure he put any alcohol in the glass?" The bartender was a jerk (and yes, I was still on my best behavior at this point of the evening). When I ask for two limes, I don't mean one per drink stupid. Ugh. Whatever. You can keep your Grey Goose and limes for the next elevator load of tore back cougars to maraud through.
Everyone has tossed around the idea of opening a restaurant at some time or the other. Strike it rich, open a great place at some sea side town with a bar, and great food, and BAM! you retire.
Problem is, most of are not trained in the culinary arts. We are plumbers or, lawyers, or whatever. The point is, we enjoy eating at restaurants, but this does not qualify us to open and run a successful one.
Watermark seems like that. Its a beautiful space, as anyone can see. The restored murals are awesome and worth a trip alone. I loved the W20 bar, and plan on returning to the bar to hang out with friends.
Really the only problem is the food. As someone else said its a little better than Hotel food. The Menu really has no identity. Is it Italian, Mediterranean, California Fusion? I had the Scampi appetizer, which was drowning in oil and garlic and it was still just OK.
The bread with various spreads was great.
The Caesar Was good, not great. Loved the Anchovies. But the Croutons were meh, and the greens were mostly Iceberg.
The main course was bad. I had the "Famous" short ribs. It was more like a beef roast on top of mashed potatoes with "pan sauce" poured over it. The beef was so fatty I could not believe it. I did not finish the plate, safe to say. My wife had the Chili rubbed Scallops, and she said the scallops were overwhelmed by the chili, which was way too hot she said.
I do not mind spending good money on great food. It can be very worth it. but at $140 for 2 I would have expected better.
While at home watching the Anaheim Ducks dominate the Montreal Canadians - that's NHL hockey to the uninformed - Deb suggested that we visit this high end restaurant in Ventura for cocktails & appetizers.[1]
Highlights:
1 - Keitel One Lemon Drop martini
1 - W20 Signature martini
2 - Watermark Mojitos  Â
1 - bottle of Rumbauer Chardonnay
1 - Roasted beet, goat cheese, & spinach salad
1 - Roasted squash soup with bacon
1 - Chili rubbed, Sea Scallop entree [2]
Lowlights:
Meeting former Countrywide CEO, Angelo Mozilo at the bar and discussing the World Series baseball game, while touching upon the current global economic mortgage meltdown. Fortunately, Mr. Mozilo, arguably one of those most responsible for the meltdown, was optimistic that America could recover if her citizens would simply exhibit confidence and resume spending at prior levels.[3]
Summary:
For all of you that are hip, have some cash (or credit), and dig a great environment, this is the place! Â One ground level bar, plus a club-like bar on the third level. Only the beautiful people hang here! [4]
Website:  <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.watermarkonmain.com%2F&s=ce4339e4315f7a71281bcd7b51766f7650b34077d8b2b7acc04809c21cd94bc3" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.watermarkonma…</a>
Footnotes:
[1] Â Frankly, I don't understand why she wanted to dine out. Last night I cooked lamb chops, garlic mashed potatoes, steamed carrots, with a balsamic vinegar, garlic, shallot, & rosemary reduction and was willing to cook again.
[2] Â If you order this, I strongly suggest requesting that they go easy on the chili powder.
[3] Â This guy is in denial that there's anything really wrong with the economy.
[4]  Other than Angelo Mozilo, that is.  <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fwp-dyn%2Fcontent%2Farticle%2F2008%2F01%2F11%2FAR2008011103673.html&s=7124978de207631e3fe11db158c4d731aecb1c5aab6326d54590276ca0b3ff54" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.washingtonpos…</a>
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