It started out as just a pizza and sub shop, but when owner Robert Gach took over Ventura's in 1990, it grew into a lot more.
"We consider ourselves more of a family restaurant than a pizza shop," he said.
The restaurant and the menu have both seen major renovations under Gach. It's grown to having a full menu, where pizza and subs are just a small part of what they serve, he said.
Gach didn't want his own culinary tastes dictating what his restaurant would serve, he wanted to find out what his customers like, so he tracks each item purchased from the menu, and generates computer reports on what the best sellers are. He changes, adjusts and rearranges the menu every six months based on the reports.
"It's a living menu," he said.
The black Russian sandwich has taken the number-one spot of the menu recently. He has a couple ideas of what's going to pop up on the next menu revision, but doesn't want to give away any surprises.
A recent addition is fresh seafood on Fridays. Gach doesn't know what's available until he places the order on Wednesday. It's then shipped in fresh on Friday from Baltimore. A recent sampling included clams and mahi mahi.
The chefs are always working on new items, too, Gach said. For lunch specials, Ventura's always carries a list of five different items you can get for $5, and those specials change regularly as well.
And if you're looking for someplace to go for dinner, Ventura's offers theme nights with different specials, such as Taco Tuesdays, Crab Leg Wednesdays and Wing Night Thursdays. Each Friday they serve the fresh seafood and Saturday night features prime rib.
If you're going out for a few drinks and want to enjoy the game, down the hall from the dining room is a lounge area. It's a sports-oriented bar with flat-screen TVs all around.
I stopped in and tried the sausage pepper Parmesan sub. You won't leave hungry if you order this. I even had a little trouble finishing it.
The sandwich has a sweet taste to it as the sub is stuffed with sweet sausage, and an even sweeter marinara sauce. The melted cheese on top of the concoction of sausage and tomato on homemade bread made a great sub, and made me want to stop in again the next time I'm in the Fairfield area.
Ticket to Lunch is a weekly column featuring local restaurants' meals available during the lunch hour. Reach Steve Marroni at smarroni@eveningsun.com.
If you go
LOCATION: Ventura's Restaurant and Pizzeria, 100 E. Main St., Fairfield
HOURS: Opens at 11 a.m. every day. Food is served until 10 p.m., and the lunge is open until 2 a.m.
OWNER'S PICK: The fresh seafood, which is delivered every Friday morning.
PARKING: Lot.
ACCEPTS: All major credit cards.
TAKE-OUT: Yes.
DELIVERY: No.
DETAILS: You can view their menu online at www.venturasfairfield.com.
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