The story
Rory's Place is the collaborative vision of sisters Rory and Meave McAuliffe, who grew up in the kitchen of their mother’s Santa Monica bakery in the 1990s. Their philosophy is rooted in the warmth and excitement of that childhood kitchen, which they now share with Ojai. The sisters describe their restaurant as a place for "celebration, experimentation, connection, and kinship."
The menu at Rory's Place is a celebration of Californian cuisine, driven by the fresh, seasonal produce, seafood, and livestock from Ojai, Santa Barbara, and the surrounding areas. The kitchen relies on live-fire cooking and other timeless techniques, weaving in new ideas and flavors from the sisters’ travels. The menu, proudly shared in full, showcases this approach with dishes like a passion fruit and fresno chili aguachile, a caviar pasta made with handcut squid ink noodles, and a wood-fired roasted half chicken with blackberry and caper. Raw bar offerings are a highlight, with a detailed oyster report that names the farmer, harvest location, and even tasting notes for each variety.
Located on East Ojai Avenue, the restaurant offers both indoor and outdoor seating, including a patio well-suited for private events. The restaurant’s dedication to locally-sourced, seasonal Californian food and its welcoming atmosphere have earned it a Michelin Recommended distinction. For the McAuliffe sisters, the mission goes beyond great ingredients—it’s about creating partnerships with local farmers, ranchers, and fisher people to build a healthy, sustainable food system.
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