Loteria Grill at The Promenade at Westlake...Coming When? Coming "Soon"

Update March 2017: Loteria closed its doors in March 2017.

Update 4/17/12: Loteria indicates on its Facebook page that they will be opening for business this Thursday, April 19th!

Update 3/25/12: In May 2011 I noticed the absence of La Salsa and "Coming Soon" sign for the new Loteria Grill Regional Mexican Cocina & Cantina at The Promenade at Westlake. Well it is nearly April 2012...10 months have passed and we have this beautiful Loteria sign but no Loteria just yet.

According to a response to a post to their Facebook wall on March 16th, the Westlake Village location will be opening "soon."

Musical Hot Dogs in Thousand Oaks! Wienerschnitzel Gone, Garage Dogs Coming!

Sept 2012 Update: Garage Dogs has closed.

UPDATE 4/16/12: Garage Dogs has announced it will be opening its doors on Monday, April 23rd!

Recently we announced that Conejo Valley hot dog consumption would be taking a dive as the long-standing Wienerschnitzel next to the Do It Center on Thousand Oaks was completely demolished to the ground to make way for a Chick-fil-A.

Well hold on to your buns as there's a new dog coming to town (and thanks to CVG reader Richie for pointing this out)! Garage Dogs is setting up shop at 2626 E. Thousand Oaks Boulevard, just 1 mile west of dearly demolished Weinerschnitzel. This is literally across the street from 24 Hour Fitness! Very convenient for rewarding yourself after the treadmills!

Check out their menu at www.garagedogsto.com/menu.html. Hot dogs, sausages, rippers (I believe these are deep fried hot dogs), burgers and a nice variety of specials, like the Gran Torino ("Chicago Dog") all beef steamed dog with neon relish, onions, mustard, tomato, sport peppers, pickle spear, celery salt, poppy seed bun. I'm salivating on the keyboard.

They also have turkey dogs and veggie dogs, which is nice to see.

Hooters of Thousand Oaks Starts Making Its Presence Known

Some temporary Hooters signage on display at the future Hooters of Thousand Oaks today. The inside of the place still appears to need a lot of work but I'm sure we'll be hearing more about the opening date at www.janssmarketplace.net. Hooters hiring fair this coming weekend.

Additional Evidence of Hooters Opening Seen on Janss Marketplace Website

Hooters of Thousand Oaks is hiring.

N'Awlinz Bistro in Newbury Park

UPDATE: N'Awlinz Bistro closed this location on 12/21/13 to focus on its new, larger location in downtown Oxnard.

N' Awlinz Bistro opened its doors at the Wendy/Kimber Plaza in Newbury Park in February 2012. They serve contemporary New Orleans French-Creole style food created by chef and co-owner, Marcus Webster and George Pero.

The Wendy/Kimber Plaza, aptly named after the intersection it resides, is a non-descript strip mall that is most famously known as the birthplace of Baja Fresh. Ah, I remember those days fondly in the early 1990s. Baja Fresh has since left Newbury Park but N'Awlinz Bistro will be providing new foodie memories for years to come.

They serve Po'Boyz, gumbo, sliders, jambalaya and other cajun specialties. We ordered tri-tip sliders, shrimp po'boyz, gumbo, catfish and side orders of zydeco slaw and homemade potato chips. I tried a bit of everything and over-ate. It was really good. Food like this you don't find many places around here. Loved the gumbo, the blackened catfish smothered in Bourbon Street etouffee, the crunchy thick-cut potato chips, the braised shrimp po'boy as well as the fried shrimp po'boy. Didn't get around to tasting the kids' tri tip sliders as they were quite territorial about them.

The Po'Boyz were really tasty as they were made with a nice, tasty cajun sauce with some cole slaw inside. The bread was quite nice too. This was a welcome change from someone who dines on fast food sub type sandwiches on a regular basis. These had some originality going for them. My teen enjoyed his po'boy too and he really raved about the gumbo. (Stop by and I bet they'll give you a sample taste!)

N'Awlinz Bistro is located at 3321 C Kimber Drive in a small spot where Jetway Gourmet used to be, with 2 small tables to dine at and a couple off tables outside. (We ordered take out.) But the good news is that they are expanding and in the next several months will have indoor dining for 24 tables.

I've received unsolicited feedback about this restaurant several times. People are raving about it.  N'Awlinz Bistro is something new, unique and high quality. We met Chef Marcus Webster and he aims to please.

See their menu at www.nawlinzbistro.com or call 805.499.7400. Their current hours of operation is Monday to Saturday, 11am to 8pm.

The French Bulldog Bistro & Lounge in Camarillo Opening Thursday, March 15th

JJ Brewsky's in Old Town Camarillo is currently in renovation to re-open as The French Bulldog Bistro & Lounge next weekend! Specifically, the new owner indicates they will be opening on Thursday, March 15th and reservations are currently being taken via email. (See The French Bulldog Facebook page for details.) The French Bulldog is a gastro-tavern serving a new selection of martinis, specialty drinks, beers and food by Chef Gael Lecolley! Their website is www.thefrenchbulldogbistro.com and phone is (same as JJ's) 805.482.5249. Should be fun to check it out!

Anyone else noticing the clear trend in gastro pubs and taverns around town!? Brendan's Pub in Camarillo and more recently in Agoura Hills, The Tipsy Goat and The Mermaid Tavern in Thousand Oaks, Ladyface Alehouse and The Lab Brewing Company in Agoura, the new Cronies location in Newbury Park (also in Simi, Ventura and Camarillo), The Kitchen in Downtown Oxnard and more. Bottom line: Beer is recession-proof!

N' Awlinz Bistro Opening in Newbury Park this Month!

UPDATE: N'Awlinz Bistro, which originally opened it doors in Newbury Park in February 2012, announced it closed its doors on 12/21/13 to focus on its new location in Oxnard.

Now this sounds good! A bN'Awlinz Bistro, which originally opened it doors in Newbury Park in February 2012, announced it closed its doors on 12/21/13 to focus on its new location in Oxnard.rand new restaurant is in the works at the Wendy Kimber Plaza in Newbury Park. N' Awlinz Bistro will serve contemporary New Orleans French-Creole style cooking created by chef and owner, Marcus Webster. 

Check out their menu at www.nawlinzbistro.com. Fried catfish, Po' Boys, Bourbon Street Seafood Jambalaya (oooh, my wife will love this), Seafood Gumbo, Blackened Red Snapper and more. This sounds like some mighty fine Cajun cooking. I can't wait.

Their address is 3321-C Kimber Drive, Newbury Park. Call 805.499.7400 for more information.

Mermaid Tavern is Coming to the Old Roxy's Deli Location in Thousand Oaks

The Mermaid Tavern opened on Saturday, February 4th!

The Mermaid Tavern's website is www.mermaidtavernandrestaurant.com.

Mermaid Tavern (Previously Roxy's Deli), 1345 E Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks

Update 10/20/11: A "sign" of things to come. I see a mermaid.

Originally posted 8/2/11: Thanks to an observant CVG Facebook page follower and dart thrower extraordinaire (and by the way, check out the Ventura County Dart Association if you're so inclined), I've learned the name of what will soon occupy the vacated Roxy's Deli space: Mermaid Tavern

Beer is definitely recession-proof it seems, with numerous breweries popping up all over town, including Ladyface Alehouse in Agoura, The Tipsy Goat in Thousand Oaks, Brendan's Pub in Camarillo and soon The Lab Brewing Company in Agoura, possibly a Hooters in Thousand Oaks and now, Mermaid Tavern.

I've confirmed that Mermaid Tavern is shown on the CB Richard Ellis brochure for the Northstar Plaza, where subject tavern shall be located.

Stay tuned. Two Beers or Not Two Beers? That is the Question! The address of the soon-to-be Mermaid Cafe is 1345 E. Thousand Oaks Boulevard, Thousand Oaks.