For the past four decades, members of the Mundt family have been satisfying thirsty and hungry customers with salt-rimmed glasses filled with their award-winning margaritas and nachos voted the city’s best for the past 12 years. As longtime customer Larry Moorhead says, “The best margarita in town served by the best bartenders.”
Ventura’s, the tradition started by Al and Adela Mundt on Nov. 15, 1984, is now being carried on by their daughter, Valerie Mundt Scott, and granddaughter Kristen along with business partner, Todd Pierson. “I want to continue the legacy and values I learned from my father. I hope he is proud of what I am doing with the business and I know he is smiling down on me every day,” Scott said.
Following her father’s death in 2021, she and Pierson formed a partnership and assumed ownership of the business. “I had been working here since 1987 and I have performed throughout the years every job, filling in wherever needed,” Scott recalled. “Todd has done the same. We both know all of the recipes and we have done our share of cooking through the years,” she emphasized. “My daughter Kristen started working here when she was just 16 and she also has learned the ropes, serving as waitress, cashier, and more. She is now our night general manager and helps in the office as needed. Todd’s daughter, Jacy, started as a bartender three years ago so we continue to be a family operation,” she noted.
Scott explained that many of the traditional recipes found on the menu were handed down from Adela’s mother, Ventura Cavazos, for whom the restaurant was named.
“However, we have modernized some of the items over the years, One of our top-selling original menu items is the wet burrito, one of Adela’s family recipes. The popular cajun chicken nachos and cajun shrimp enchiladas were the creations of one of our earlier chefs, Darlene Miller,” she pointed out. “Nan Walaskinski took over kitchen duties in 1990 and is the current kitchen manager. She oversees all of the cooking and preparations of our menu items,” Scott pointed out.
“We also offer great American food including homemade soups, ribs, wraps, and burgers,” Scott said.
Ventura’s guacamole and refried beans are made fresh daily in-house. Working with local partners, Ventura’s purchases over 100 cases of freshly-made chips from LaPerla and goes through 100 gallons of salsa each week made from the recipe created by Al and Adela Mundt in conjunction with Hirzel Canning Co. This salsa is only sold and used by the Loma Linda family restaurants.
Open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 am to 9:30 pm, lunch specials are offered until 3 pm, and happy hour is celebrated from 2 to 6 pm.
The Mundts have also made several upgrades to the facility throughout the years. When the Mundts first opened Venturas, only minimal renovations were made. In 1990, new restrooms, dining rooms, and an extended kitchen were installed. A third dining room was added in 2002 and the outdoor patio was opened in 2011.
Scott credits the hard work and efforts put forth by her dad and Adela who laid  a firm foundation for the business. She also points out that the staff’s loyalty and longevity have been a major factor for the business’s success. “For example, Shannon Meadows and Todd have been here since the beginning,” she said. “They are both amazing and know many customers by name. They are certainly a big reason for our success as are the others on staff who have been with us for many years. Another reason we can celebrate our 40 years of business is our wonderful group of loyal customers who have been coming here for years,” Scott acknowledged. “While we are celebrating we are looking forward to the future thanks to our employees and our customers.”
Fans of Ventura’s agree.
“My husband and I feel like Ventura’s is our weekly tradition! We have been going there at least once a week for over 30 years. We knew all the waitresses who had been at Ventura’s for a long time. They have since retired so we now have a new group to get to know. During COVID, we ordered pick-up once a week to help nurture the business. I have never sent a meal back since the cooks do such a great job. Our family and friends always enjoy meeting us there and the margaritas are always good too!” noted customer Pat Olsson.