Local Buzz covers new businesses, restaurants, closures, local politics, goings on around town and other buzzworthy items in the Conejo Valley and Greater Ventura County. Have a lead? Contact us. Click here for an archive of Local Buzz postings.
Local Buzz covers new restaurants, closures, local politics, goings on around town and other buzzworthy items in the Conejo Valley and Greater Ventura County. Have a lead? Contact us. Click here for an archive of Local Buzz postings.
Update 1/9/12:Yes, Olive Garden Thousand Oaks is opening for dinner service at 4pm today. The first week and a portion of the 2nd week they'll only be open for dinner service, then they will soon thereafter they will announce their standard 11am lunch service. Their phone is 805/777-1744.
Update 1/1/12: Caught what must have been 50 Olive Garden employees waiting in line to get into the restaurant today in what I suspect was a new year's training session. Restaurant to open on Monday, January 9th. I've been told 4pm from a friend of someone who works there. Oddly still no mention on Olive Garden website as of 1/8/12. Guess they're keeping it a secret :>
Update 12/12/11: The time is here. Red Lobster is open for dinner Monday, December 12th through Sunday, December 18
Here is the official press release regarding a new Umami Burger location at The Lakes at Thousand Oaks mentioned here on Wednesday night.
Umami Restaurant Group, creators of Umami Burger, named “Burger of the Year” by GQ magazine, today announced plans for two new Umami Burger locations in Oakland and Thousand Oaks by the end of 2012.
“When we look for new locations, we look for great neighborhoods,” said Adam Fleischman founder and owner of Umami Restaurant Group. “Since we opened our first location on La Brea, we’ve had requests to come to Oakland, which is a great food community. In Southern California, Thousand Oaks was a logical next step for us.”
The Oakland location will be the second Umami Burger in the Bay Area, located at 2100 Franklin in Downtown Oakland. Umami Burger Thousand Oaks will be inside The Lakes at Thousand Oaks. Both restaurants will be approximately 100 seats.
Announcement of the two new locations comes just after opening Umami Burger in Hermosa Beach and 800 Degrees Pizza in Westwood. Umami Restaurant Group has previously announced plans to open locations in Laguna Beach, The Grove and downtown Los Angeles a
Today we sadly learned that another local deli in Thousand Oaks closed its doors.
But the good news is that a brand new restaurant is coming soon to The Lakes!!! Something completely different!
Update 3/23/12: No update on timing of Umami opening at The Lakes. Stay tuned though...
Umami Burgeris coming to The Lakes! Umami (I think it is pronounced "Eww Mommy") according to their website "is a Japanese word describing the pleasant and savory taste imparted by glutamate, a type of amino acid, and ribonucleotides that occur naturally in foods. Umami as a taste is subtle but it blends with other tastes well to expand your experience while eating."
While eating glutamate and ribonucleotides doesn't sound particularly appetizing, this Umami Burger has received rave reviews, including this December 2010 "Burger of the Year" article in GQ Magazine. In that article, the author notes the savory umami sauce is the "fifth taste," after the basics of sweet, sour, bitter and salty.
Obviously I have not eaten a Umami Burger but I'm looking forward to trying one! Currently Umami Burger has locations in Hermosa Beach, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, La Brea, Los Feliz, Studio City and San Francisco. Welcome to Ventura County, Umami Burger!
Check out the menu and you will find some interesting items, including a dozen or so Japanese inspired burgers, side dishes and draft beer. I see a truffle burger with truffle cheese and truffle glaze. OK my mouth is watering now. I also see turkey, ahi tuna and veggie burger options on the menu for those not inclined to eat red meat. Check out the Studio City menu here.
More information about the grand openings at freebirds.com/locations/. I suspect there will be some grand opening events announced, so stay tuned.
FREEBIRDS is about awesome burritos and freedom of choice. As guests join the queue, they are partnered with a team member, known as a "Roller," who helps them choose from four sizes of burrito made from four possible flavors of tortilla then hand-rolled with the guest's personal selection from more than forty freshly prepared ingredients including grass fed beef, hormone-free chicken, or all natural pork carnitas topped with hand-cut veggies and hot peppers plus house made salsas, queso and guacamole to create their perfect burrito. Burritos range in size from the generously-sized Hybird starting at $5.29 to the legendary Super Monster which can weigh in at seven pounds.
Each FREEBIRDS restaurant features the concept's signature Statue of Liberty – affectionately known as 'Libby' – riding a custom-built motorcycle while breaking through the Freedom Wall. Libby was designed to serve as a reminder that each of us can break through walls and truly change the world. The restaurant has a free-spirited ambience with a rockin' soundtrack, reminiscent of a late-'60s rock 'n' roll roadhouse.
These burgers must have a kick as evidenced by the legs on this sign!Originally posted in mid-July: Original Tommy's will soon be opening in Ventura, off the Victoria Avenue 101 exit on Valentine Road. This will be the 2nd Original Tommy's location in Ventura County...the other one is at 1290 Madera Road in Simi Valley.
The ORIGINAL Tommy's opened on May 15, 1946 in Downtown Los Angeles. I remember going there as a kid. Always felt like a special treat.
Update 12/10/11: La Cucina di Venti is slated to open on Monday, December 12, according to the restaurant's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/LaCucinadiVentinp.
Originally posted 8/2/11: Under new ownership, the beautiful Paraiso Town Center in the Dos Vientos section of Newbury Park recently announced that a new restaurant is planned to open this Fall. La Cucina di Venti is a family owned Italian/American Grill. They will serve Italian food and pizza. No additional details at this point but follow their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pages/La-Cucina-di-Venti/124312997662911?sk=wall for the latest updates. And of course while you're at it follow CVG's page for daily updates, contests and other tidbits
Update 11/17/11: The owners of Billy D'z say that their grand opening will be Monday, November 28th! Looking pretty nice in there. Situated in between Tomodachi and Subway across the parking lot from Fresh and Easy.
Originally posted 10/3/11: For those of you driving in the vicinity of Wendy Drive and Old Conejo Road in Newbury Park, you may have noticed this sign facing Wendy at the Conejo Gateway shopping c
Update 10/17/11: Website indicates tentative opening date is Thursday, October 20th from 7pm to 2am.
Update 9/29/11: According to this craigslist post, The LAB is hiring for an anticipated opening in mid-October!
New Brewery Opening Looking for wait staff (Agoura Hills)
The L.A.B. brewery, full service restauant and bar, will be opening up in mid October and is looking for waiters, waitresses, bar tenders, and hostesses. Come interview at The L.A.B. brewery, located at 30105 Agoura rd., Agoura Hills, ca, 91301, between the hours of 10am -- 12:30pm, and 3pm -- 6pm Monday October 3rd. Please bring resume and references. We look forward to seeing you.
Originally posted in July: MOZ Buddha Lounge in Agoura closed on May 14th this year but the owners are planning to open The Lab Brewing Company sometime this August.
The LAB Brewing Company is a collaboration and experimentation in good eats and craft brews. Executive Chef Moez Megji will pair his unique California fresh, farm to table dishes with He
Update 10/27/11: VC Star reports that Hooters is withdrawing application for full bar and is going ahead with permitting for opening with beer and wine only.
ORIGINALLY POSTED MARCH 31: On March 18th, the Ventura County Star published an article about the possibility of a Hooters restaurant at Janss Marketplace at the location vacated by Fuddruckers in April 2010 (and for you old geezers, previously occupied by Sizzler). There are 455 Hooters throughout the world, with the closest locations in Hollywood, Santa Monica and Burbank, far far away from us sheltered folk in Ventura County. Th
