Crazy Dr. Cafe

Diverting time, energy, and money from doctor-hood to open a little café may seem like madness to some, but that's exactly how Crazy Dr. Café earned its name. After growing to depend on fresh, organic coffees and smoothies for on-the-go energy, a physician at Ventura County Medical Center bought out the neighborhood’s old Juice and Java and expanded the menu with healthful options.

Piping-hot mugs of organic, locally grown coffee and espresso still fuel the army of doctors and nurses who inhabit the café’s surrounding medical facilities. When not crafting flavorful coffee drinks, baristas send fresh fruits and vegetables through juicers or blenders to create smoothies or liquid meals that busy hospital staffers can consume through discarded IVs. Empanadas and bagels also lurk within the eatery’s pastry case, and breads, cheeses, meats, and fruits assemble together to create fresh, gourmet sandwiches.