I Rediscovered A Favorite Local Spot For Delicious Mediterranean Food

Several years ago, a friend - knowing my love of Greek and Middle Eastern food - took me to an unassuming family-run Greek restaurant in Ventura, CA, called Stephen's Market and Grill. I had just moved to Ventura County and was so excited to discover this place. I went back several times but, not being in my immediate home area, it sort of became *out of sight, out of mind* and, even though I didn't completely forget about it, I hadn't been back in years. Recently, I decided to take my mom to lunch (she shares my love for Greek cuisine) and see if it was as good as I remember. Spoiler alert: It was!

Stephen's Market and Grill is located on Main Street, just a couple of miles west of downtown Ventura and a couple of blocks from Pacific View Mall.

The restaurant has a warm, friendly atmosphere and a menu full of all the traditional Greek offerings you would expect. You order at the central counter, grab your drink of choice, and wait as patiently as possible for your food to be brought out. But don't worry, it doesn't take long at all.

There is a cute little outdoor patio with vegetables growing in pots and umbrellas for warm, sunny days. It was a bit chilly when we visited, so we opted for indoors.

The dining area is spacious and airy, with lots of natural light and Mediterranean-inspired murals on the walls.

I ordered the falafel platter because it has so many of my favorite Greek flavors on one plate - salad with kalamata olives and feta, falafels, hummus, tzatziki, tahini, and addiction-worthy fries (seriously, I don't know what they do to them!) Not to mention the fact that there is plenty to take home and have a second lunch.

My mom has a serious thing for authentic lamb gyros. This was her first time here and she was not even a little disappointed. The menu also offers chicken gyros. You can't go wrong with either, especially with the out-of-this-world tzatziki sauce!

Despite being pretty full and boxing up half of our meals to go, we both wanted a little something to finish off our meal, so we shared an order of Greek Coffee and Baklava. A perfect ending.

The "market" area of Stephen's is worth perusing, whether or not you come to eat. There is a deli case with quite a few fresh cheeses and a few other things.

You can also purchase a host of canned and packaged foods, from olives and stuffed grape leaves to sauces and specialty pastas. They have a nice little Mediterranean wine selection, too.

Last, but absolutely not least, the bakery offers several varieties of baklava, traditional cookies, and other sweets, as well as honey, jams, etc.

I am so glad I remembered this place, and I have a feeling it won't be long before I return. Have you eaten at this Greek restaurant in Ventura, CA, before? Let us know what you think and what your favorite thing to order is! Visit Stephen's Market and Grill online for more information, including hours, menus, etc. If you are visiting Ventura and looking for cool things to do, work off your Greek feast (or work up your appetite) on a gorgeous hike through the Ventura Botanical Gardens.

Can't get enough food inspo? Check out our collection of awesome places to dine in Southern California!