Village Burgers Coming to Thousand Oaks

Update July 2013: Village Burgers has closed. That didn't last long. It is now Golden Dragon Chinese Restaurant.

Update 10/17/12: Conejo Valley foodie Scott B indicates Village Burgers is now open. Their phone is 805.379.8858.

Originally posted 7/19/12: In the space previously occupied by Yozen Frogurt at 2416 E. Thousand Oaks Boulevard, there is a large sign that says "Coming Soon! Village Burgers." Location is just west of Harold's House of Omelettes, which has been a Thousand Oaks fixture since 1961, three years prior to incorporation of Thousand Oaks as a city!

Yes, another burger joint coming to Thousand Oaks, following in the footsteps of Smashburger, Umami Burger, and Red Robin. No word yet on the menu and opening date. But stay tuned....and let us know if you hear anything!

16-Screen Century Theatres to Open at The Collection at RiverPark in Oxnard on Oct 26

In case you hadn't already noticed, there's a big new shopping center being built on the northeast side of the 101 freeway in Oxnard, between the Oxnard and Vineyard exits, called The Collection at RiverPark.

If you're a Target fan, the center already features a 150,000 sq ft state-of-the-art Target store that opened over a year ago in July 2011. I've been there with the kids and I can honestly say this is the nicest, coolest looking Target store I've ever been to. There's also covered parking, which kind of nice.

Shea Properties continues construction of The Collection at RiverPark and has announced a number of great new additions to our local shopping and dining scene!  Here's what is coming:

Century Theatres will be opening a brand new 16 screen location on Friday, October 26th (just in time for Halloween)! Two of the screens will use their new XD (Extreme Digital) technology that features a larger screen, up to 38' × 70' and improvements in audio and digital projection.

In November 2012, they plan to open Kabuki Japanese Restaurant, Panera Bread, Menchie's Frozen Yogurt, Five Guys Burgers and Fries, Color Me Mine (do it yourself pottery painting studio) and Massage Envy Spa.

In the spring of 2013 they anticipate the opening of REI Store, (outdoor gear and clothing), a Whole Foods Market and a Starbucks.

For more information and updates, visit shoppingthecollection.com.

Brendan's Irish Pub to Open Newbury Park Location This Summer

UPDATE 1/2/20: Brendan’s announced today that it has closed its doors.

Brendan's Newbury Park opened on 10/8/12. You will be impressed. Authentic Irish decor, 2 pool tables, 3 dartboards, lots of tables, booths, beverages and good food. The Temple Bar section of Dublin is featured on the wall art below. Hard not to like this place! Visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/brendansnewbury.

Update 8/27/12: No specific date indicated by Brendan's but it seems we're really close to the grand opening.

Originally posted 4/8/12: The popular Brendan's Irish Pub & Restaurant has announced that it will be opening a third location this summer in Newbury Park where Eric's Restaurant currently resides (495 N. Ventu Park Road at the Palm Garden Hotel). The grand opening is anticipated in the latter part of summer 2012 (Brendan's implies July is a realistic time frame in a recent Facebook post).

Wow! I'm impressed at Brendan's growth! Brendan's Newbury Park will be located just 9 miles from the Camarillo location and 9 miles from the Agoura Hills location.

Visit the Brendan's Newbury Park Facebook page at www.facebook.com/brendansnewbury for updates.

Beer continues to be on a growth spurt in Ventura County.

Eric's will continue to be open for dinner and drinks in the meantime! Call the hotel at 805.716.4200 or Eric's directly at 805.716.4100.

DISH Restaurant Anticipated to Open in Thousand Oaks in Mid-September

Update Tuesday, 9/25/12: DISH confirms on its Facebook page and via phone that it will be opening in Thousand Oaks at 7am tomorrow, 9/26. Should be a "Yum" Kippur here in the Conejo Valley!

Update Monday, 9/24/12: DISH still not open as today but they say it will be "Soon!"

Back in April we noted that TGI Fridays at the Janss Marketplace was closing and that DISH Restaurant would be opening its second location in the vacated space later this year.

We are getting closer to that date!

DISH is looking for employees! In craigslist post today:

DISH is pleased to announce that will be opening our SECOND location in Thousand Oaks in the Janss Marketplace in Mid-September!

DISH is a Family-Style, American Restaurant open seven days a week, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. We serve creative American cuisine and run different fresh Farmers' Market and seafood specials every day, have a full bar with several craft beers, and interesting wines by the glass.

Please email your resume so we can set up a time with you to meet. You can also stop by the restaurant (currently under construction) on Wednesdays from 10am - 3pm and ask for Kevin. The address is 165 North Moorpark Road, Thousand Oaks.

Smiles and good attitudes are a must; we'll train anyone in any position if we feel they have the potential to support the team in providing each and every guest with the best experience possible, every time. Weekends are an ABSOLUTE MUST! Please do not apply if you cannot work weekends.

www.dishbld.com

Char Fasl in Agoura Hills Changed Hands and Became Maral Cuisine in June 2012

A @ConejoJoe Twitter follower asked about Char Fasl House of Kabob at 5843 Kanan Road in Agoura Hills. Simple enough...Char Fasl changed ownership a few months ago and it is now called Maral Cuisine House of Kabob. According to their website at www.maralcuisine.com:

"Fresh healthy food, attentive Persian hospitality and friendly atmosphere.The kabobs include fresh chicken, beef & salmon, which are marinated in a saffron sauce, and cooked on an open broiler. Traditional khoresh dishes (stews) capture the authenticity and slow cooked flavor of Persian Cuisine. Appetizers, salads and rice with the most unique and authentic flavor of Persian cuisine Saffron which enhances the flavor and aroma of all other ingredients used in Persian cuisine. Persian ice-cream, baklava, zoolbia bamieh and tea."

I don't know about you, but this is making me extremely hungry! But WAIT! Check out their website! They have photos of most of their dishes that look great, like these salmon, whitefish, trout and shrimp kabobs.

Their phone number is 818.889.9495.

Paul Martin's American Grill Coming to The Promenade at Westlake

“Eat organic. Believe in sustainable. Buy local. Love fresh.” is the mantra of Paul Martin’s®. This top California restaurant is the long-nurtured dream of restaurateurs Brian Bennett and Paul Fleming.

The restaurant opened its first location in Roseville, California in late 2007 and has expanded to El Segundo and Irvine. Now they are branching out to The Promenade at Westlake here in Westlake Village! "Coming Soon" at this point! So stay tuned.

Paul Martin's will be located at what previously was Chili's that closed its doors in November 2011.

More from the Paul Martin's website at paulmartinsamericanbistro.com:

At the heart of all great food is fresh, local, peak of the season ingredients. Paul Martin’s^® aims to take diners back to the farm with meat raised in a humane and wholesome way, locally sourced organic produce, the best of both wild and farmed fish, artisan cheeses and cured meats from small local purveyors. Brian and Paul spent more than a year handpicking the sources for Paul Martin’s^® menu. The thorough search produced 40 partnerships with thoughtful, local farmstead producers, 80 percent of whom are located in Northern California and with the opening of El Segundo they have developed a great network of local southern California producers as well.

As much as possible, that’s what Paul Martin’s^® aims to deliver, and at accessible prices, with plates priced mostly between $10 and $22. The menu promises such mouthwatering dishes as: Cedar Planked Salmon baked with shallots and bacon, sautéed spinach and crimini mushroom jus; brick chicken from Pitman Family Farms with mashed potatoes and fresh herb jus; and braised lamb shank from nearby Solano County with white beans, artichokes and cipollini onions. The rich and varied menu also encourages sampling and sharing, with an assortment of small plates, a seafood platter with the freshest oysters, shrimp and crab; and over 50 wines offered by the glass.

The restaurant’s focus on local, sustainable and organic extends to the bar, which features seasonal fruit-infused vodkas made in house, an interesting array of local craft beers and a wine list that offers more than 80 bottles of mostly California wines.

Custom Melt Opened in Moorpark in May

In the space previous occupied by Chronic Tacos at 6593 Collins Drive, Suite D in Moorpark (near Moorpark College, making this a nice destination for those visiting the Moorpark College Teaching Zoo), a new eatery called Custom Melt opened in late May 2012.

I like it from the looks of their website as they have 10 different tasty sounding melts on their menu, including a crispy mac and cheese melt, 4 Cheese, Cuban Reuben, Green-Go, Italian Melt, Meat Ball, Smokey Blue, Tuna Twist, Veggie and PB&J. Other interesting sounding offerings includes chili cheese fries, Herbs & Garlic Yucca Fries, Sweet Jalapeño Potato Puffs and other side dishes. They also serve draft beer as well as wine.

Visit www.custommelt.com or call 805.531.1025 to see/hear for yourself.