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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.
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Toscanova opened tonight at The Commons at Calabasas. This Italian trattoria offers up pasta dishes, seafood and steaks, Spaghetti allo Scoglio and Risotto Ai Funghi. The first Toscanova in Century City opened in January 2009. Visit www.toscanova.com to learn more. Don't look at the menu as it will quickly make you hungry!
Update 4/17/12: In a new Craigslist post yesterday they indicated one last casting call this Thursday/Friday for high energy, friendly Hooters Girls...the final "guaranteed" in-person interview prior before the grand opening (Date still TBA).
"Wear Orange -- Make Green! Hooters is Hiring! (Thousand Oaks)
The all new Hooters of Thousand Oaks is having an open casting call for the perfect Hooters Girls! We are looking for fun loving, high energy, friendly girls who would love to join our team.
If you feel you have what it takes we will be conducting on-the spot interviews at our two day hiring event, so apply in person Thursday - Friday, April 19 & 20, from 1-6pm:
Hooters of Thousand Oaks (corner of Moorpark & Brazil St.)
401 N. Moorpark Road
Thousand Oaks, CA 91360
This is your last chance for a guaranteed in-person interview before the grand opening!
Hooters Restaurant offers more than just a job, we provide a fun work environment, great income potential, meal discounts & flexible schedules! We also give back to our community and participate in a ton of great events!
No previous experience is necessary, because being a Hooters Girl is like nothing else!
Come find out why we say "Hooters makes you Happy!" It'll be the most fun you've ever had."
Original Post 3/15/12: Well it has been nearly a year now since the Ventura County Star broke the news that about a Hooters opening at t
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."
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.
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.
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.
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!
Update 1/31/12: Brendan's has announced via Twitter they are opening the Agoura location on March 5th!
Originally posted 1/27/12:
For the 12 of you who aren't aware, Brendan's Irish Pub and Restaurant is a wildly successful, authentic Irish pub located in Camarillo at the old Sizzler building on Daily Drive. They opened their doors on January 15, 2011 and have been doing extraordinarily well. Beer like you won't believe poured with an authentic Irish touch and a kitchen that dishes out outstanding food like scrumptious corned beef sliders, shephard's pie and fish and chips. Mouth watering. I can tell you that first-hand.
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