Discovery Ventura Opened Last Month with Bar, Bowling, Pool, Great Food and More

DISCOVERY VENTURA CLOSED IN 2020

Last month, Discovery Ventura opened its doors at 1888 E. Thompson Boulevard, Ventura at the former home of the Ventura Bowling Center that closed its doors in December 2012.The facility has been beautifully renovated as a restaurant and lounge, accompanied by a nine-lane bowling alley, several pool tables and shuffleboards.

The boys and I stopped by Discovery Ventura this past Sunday to try out the bowling. It was just before lunchtime and the bar area was well occupied with folks socializing and enjoying Sunday morning NFL on the too-numerous-to-count flat screen TVs.

It was not crowded when we got there so we were able to quickly get situated. Bowling lanes are first come, first serve and cost $15 per hour (plus shoe rentals). As a novice that bowls perhaps twice a year, I was reminded once again that bowling shoes run large. My kids and I took 2 to 3 iterations apiece to get the best fit, but the hostess was patient with us.

The boys were able to find lighter bowling balls (6 to 8 lbs) and the hostess was able to meet our request for "bumpers" to pop up during the kids' turns as we bowled away. After my first roll I did a double take, as after 8 pins fell down, ALL of the pins were lifted up by strings. Quickly thereafter down plopped the two remaining pins. Traditionalists may not be thrilled with this more efficient "StringPin" technology but for a "boutique" non-league bowling alley like this I don't think it will be an issue with most social bowlers. See video below for a close-up of the StringPin action.

The lanes were full sized, though a bit cramped lengthwise and the little black dots used to position your starting point are pretty close to where the tables were. But we managed and had a great time. The boys were hungry and one had the Four Cheese Pizza ($10.95) and the other tried the BBQ Bacon Burger ($11.95), which came with fries. They both remarked how delicious the food was...so much so that my burger eater wouldn't even give me a sample taste. It certainly smelled good. My Caprese Salad ($9.95) was also excellent. And the family a few lanes down dining on Chicken Wings ($10.95) and Nachos ($9.95) remarked that they were both outstanding.

I asked the hostess how they would describe Discovery Ventura...is it a bowling alley, a nightclub, a restaurant, or ? There wasn't a clear answer as it is really all of the above. On its Facebook page it is described as "Simplistic and repurposing best describe the theme throughout the development of the California-lifestyle project. All are welcome to enjoy the laid-back, fun, and easy entertainment with 9 lanes of bowling, a locally-sourced restaurant with delectable California-cuisine, crafted cocktails, and the region’s largest and most fun private event facilities." Having been there, I would agree with that assessment.

Learn more at www.discoveryventura.com or call 805.856.BOWL (2695).

Tizzy Yogurt Cafe Recently Opened in Thousand Oaks

UPDATE Dec 2014: Tizzy has announced that it has closed both of its locations - Simi Valley and Thousand Oaks :(

After posting an update about eateries that have opened and closed during the last half of 2013, Danielle M told us about Tizzy Yogurt Cafe at 1404 N. Moorpark Road, Thousand Oaks at what used to be Golden Spoon Frozen Yogurt. Tizzy opened in the mid-December time frame.

According to the Tizzy Yogurt Cafe Facebook page, the previous owners left the Golden Spoon franchise* and under the same management, changed the decor, menu and experience to become a cafe that serves shakes, smoothies, homemade waffles, homemade oatmeal and illy expresso and cafe, as well as frozen yogurt.

More information at www.facebook.com/pages/Tizzy-Yogurt-Cafe/616860551710287.

In related news, the Simi Valley Golden Spoon has also been changed over to become a Tizzy Yogurt Cafe. No website or Facebook as of yet but their phone number is 805.579.1133. They open around lunchtime.

* This was the last Golden Spoon location in the Conejo Valley. Newbury Park and Agoura locations closed in January 2013. The other Thousand Oaks location closed in summer 2013.

Dickey's Barbecue Pit to Open Location in Simi Valley This Summer

Final Update 12/31/13: Grand opening 1/1/14!

Update 12/18/13: Grand opening date delayed a bit longer with date TBA.

Update 12/6/13: Grand opening date anticipated December 19th.

Update 11/20/13: Grand opening anticipated by the end of November!

Update 9/24/13: Grand opening anticipated around October 31. For updates, visit the Dickey's Barbecue Pit Simi Valley Facebook Page.

Original Post 6/18/13: Good news for barbecue fans...another Dickey's Barbecue Pit is coming soon to Ventura County. The first location opened on February 28th in Ventura.

We've been to Dickey's Ventura and definitely enjoyed the quality of the food, the reasonable prices and the free ice cream! We enjoyed the beef brisket and turkey as well as the barbecue beans, baked potato casserole as well as the green beans with bacon. In fact, I just slobbered on the keyboard as I typed this. Good stuff! Also, they have a Kids Eat Free deal every Sunday!

A second Dickey's Barbecue Pit location will open later this summer, possibly August, at 2902 Tapo Canyon Road, Suite B in Simi Valley. For updates, visit the Dickey's Barbecue Pit Simi Valley Facebook Page.

Mouthful Eatery Opened in Thousand Oaks in Mid-November

Mouthful Eatery opened on November 13, 2013 in the space previously occupied by Garage Dogs at 2626 E. Thousand Oaks Boulevard, across the street from 24 Hour Fitness.

According to its Facebook page, Mouthful Eatery offers handcrafted sandwiches with serious meat that is brined, basted and roasted. Bread is made from scratch.

Their food has a Peruvian flair. Sandwiches include hand carved roasted turkey, roasted chicken, roasted pork loin, "meatballs of fire" (turkey meatballs), potato crusted cod and roasted portobello veggie. Salads and "Powerbowls" include chopped salad, tuscan kale, southwestern salad and the "arnold bowlzenegger" (eight ounces of roasted turkey, steamed red quinoa, roasted veggies, chipotle-bbq sauce).

The pictured "arnold bowlzenegger" was quite tasty, with fresh ingredients, though a bit on the small side.

Sounds great! Visit www.mouthfuleatery.com for more information or call 805.777.9222.

(Thanks to Lauren T for pointing this out on the CVG Facebook page.)

Yes, They Demolished the Thousand Oaks El Torito to Pave the Way For Chick-fil-A

Grand opening is Thursday, May 29, 2014.

Yes indeed, as several people have inquired on the CVG Facebook page, the historic, or at least kind of historic, El Torito restaurant at the corner of Moorpark Road and Brazil St in Thousand Oaks that poured its last margarita on January 24, 2012 is now demolished. Was that a run-on sentence? Well that means I need a margarita. Blended, light salt, please.

I digress. This location will continue not serving margaritas for the foreseeable future as a new Chick-fil-A restaurant has been approved for the site and is anticipated to start pulling building permits for the location early next year. No details on the timing of the grand opening of this soon-to-be second Thousand Oaks Chick-fil-A location but I'd imagine we're looking sometime perhaps in the summer 2014 time frame. Just my guess.

The Thousand Oaks El Torito was reduced to rubble last week.

Ah yes, the El Torito we shall always remember. I for one will miss this place.

Famous Dave’s Bar-B-Que to Open at The Collection at RiverPark in Oxnard on Dec 18

NOTE: Famous Dave’s Oxnard closed its doors in January 2019, after five years in business. In fact, there are no remaining Famous Dave’s in Ventura County.

Famous Dave’s Bar-B-Que is opening its third Ventura County location next Wednesday, December 18th, at The Collection at RiverPark in Oxnard. Famous Dave's is known for serving up mouth watering hickory-smoked ribs and barbequed meats,  sandwiches, burgers and salads.

Learn more at www.famousdaves.com/oxnard. Other locations at the Simi Valley Town Center and in Thousand Oaks at 3980 Thousand Oaks Boulevard.

JM Mission Burrito Opened 2nd Simi Valley Location on Saturday, December 7th

JM Mission Burrito has served up traditional Mexican cuisine in Simi Valley since 1972 at its east Simi Valley location at 2161 Tapo Street. This past Saturday, Mission Burrito opened a second location at the Simi Valley Town Center, on the east end food court near the Macy's Men's and Home store.

Visit www.jmmissionburrito.com or call 805.579.7815 for more information.

Village Pizza and Pasta Coming to The Village at Dos Vientos Ranch in October

Update 1/13/14: Check out THIS POST for an update on The Local Table and its anticipated grand opening on Saturday, February 1st.

Update 11/20/13: A few days ago the Village Pizza and Pasta Facebook page indicated "The Local Table" is coming to The Village at Dos Vientos Ranch on 1/7/14. They say The Local Table will have pizza, pasta, calzones, a great bar and fantastic pastries and baked goods, all at family friendly prices.

This is a slice of pizza from the CVG files. We look forward to sampling the pizza at Village Pizza and Pasta soon!

Posted 9/14/13: There is a new restaurant planning to open at The Village at Dos Vientos Ranch sometime in October. According to its Facebook page, Village Pizza and Pasta will serve up pizza, pasta and sandwiches and have plenty of space for sports team gatherings.

Village Pizza and Pasta will be located at 360 Via Las Brisas in the space most recently occupied by La Cucina di Venti and prior to that, Mama Rita's.

I kind of like the sound of what they are trying to do...create a family-friendly eatery well geared for kids' sports teams and casual dining. Stay tuned...

Additional Information About Proposed Westlake Village In-N-Out Restaurant

Proposed In-N-Out at The Shoppes at Westlake Village (Image courtesy of City of Westlake Villlage)

The City of Westlake Village has published a video highlighting information about the proposed In-N-Out Burger that will be covered at a December 21 Public Hearing. Featured in a Q&A session are City Manager Ray Taylor and City Planning Director Scott Wolfe. The video is embedded below but here is a summary of points covered:

• Construction of The Shoppes at Westlake Village is moving along, with infrastructure (water/sewer) and paving in place and building foundations and initial framing underway. The target date for opening of the Target store is July 27, 2014 (updated July 2014).

• The proposed In-N-Out Burger is planned for the west end of The Shoppes development up against the existing Bank of America building.

• The proposed In-N-Out lies on about a one acre plot, with the restaurant itself occupying about 3,700 sq ft., which is a typical size for an In-N-Out.

• The architecture of the In-N-Out will match that of the rest of The Shoppes, including stonework, natural tile and other "Older European" treatments. It will thus have a different look than a typical In-N-Out.

• In-N-Out originally proposed one bronze colored In-N-Out sign facing the 101 Freeway, with two others in the standard In-N-Out corporate color scheme. Working with the City, the plan has been changed such that all three signs are proposed to be bronze to match the coloring of other stores at The Shoppes.

• The City wanted to make sure there was adequate queuing space for drive-thru traffic. Wolfe indicates typical fast food restaurants have space for 7 to 9 cars and typical In-N-Outs accommodate 15 cars. The City worked with In-N-Out to accommodate in excess of 20 cars for this particular In-N-Out Burger!

• The City is satisfied that In-N-Out and The Shoppes have adequate walls and landscaping planned to ensure car headlights in the parking and queuing areas do not impact drivers on the 101 Freeway.

• In-N-Out has proposed store hours of 10:30 am 7 days a week, closing at 1am Sunday through Thursday and 1:30 am Friday/Saturday. Wolfe indicates this is subject to City Council review.

For more information about the proposed In-N-Out restaurant in Westlake Village, visit www.wlv.org/index.aspx?NID=351.