Akash Cuisine of India Opened in Thousand Oaks in Late January

Update 8/25/18: Akash Cuisine recently closed its doors.

A tip from Ed G via the Conejo Valley Guide Facebook page led me to the newly opened Akash Cuisine of India at 2130 E. Thousand Oaks Boulevard, Thousand Oaks at the Select Plaza, adjacent to The Lakes at Thousand Oaks. This is the space previously occupied by Cafe Provencal that closed its doors in March 2012. The sign indicates they specialize in Bangladeshi and Indian food. No website. Call 805.379.4849.

Hmm, in searching for what Akash means, I discovered it is a medium-range mobile surface-to-air missile defense system in India. Yikes! In Hinduisum, Akasha, or Akash, means the basis and essence of all things in the material world. That sounds better. All righty then. In any case, I'm hungry for some good Indian food!

The Local Table Opening at The Village at Dos Vientos Ranch in Newbury Park on Saturday, February 1st (CLOSED IN AUGUST 2023)

UPDATE 8/5/23: The Local Table had a great 10 year run but announced it was closing effective 8/6/23. A new eatery, Gema, subsequently opened in its place.

Update 2/4/14: The Local Table indicated via Facebook that there was a minor delay in alcohol permits that moved the grand opening from the 1st to TODAY, February 4th at 4pm.

Original post 1/13/14:

TOP CHEF FINALIST, CHEF DANIELLE KEENE & CHEF ROB BRACALIELLO JOIN THE TEAM FOR THE GRAND OPENING OF NEWBURY PARK'S NEW RESTAURANT, THE LOCAL TABLE!

Join us for the Grand Opening of The Local Table, 360 Via Las Brisas, No. 110, Newbury Park on February 1st, 2014!

The Local Table, Newbury Park's newest restaurant, was generated from the idea that great food and hospitality in an ideal and serene location can flourish with hard work, dedication and attention to detail. Our talented Chef Danielle Keene, a Top Chef: Just Desserts finalist and Chef Rob Bracaliello get top billing at The Local Table with their ardor and unique talents for baking and cooking. The Local Table's location serves Newbury Park, Moorpark, Camarillo, Simi Valley, Ventura and other nearby communities.

For Danielle, making gourmet desserts and ice cream has been a passion, a career and a tradition. She grew up in a dessert loving home where her grandma decorated cakes and her mother made chocolate chip root beer floats and oatmeal cookies. "There's something special about dessert," Danielle says. "At any point, on any day, dessert can put a smile on your face. No matter what age you are, it can make you feel like a kid again."

Chef Rob brings a family friendly atmosphere with fresh local fare and a California twist.His cuisine is rooted in fresh, family style cuisine. He took an early interest in food, watching his mother and grandmother prepare meals for the family utilizing ingredients from local waters, woods and farms. Growing up in a rural farm community in New Jersey, Rob's appreciation for fresh food became ingrained.His family has an active farm and understands the benefits of ethically raising animals and sustainable farming.

For more information about The Local Table and the Grand Opening, visit www.thelocaltablenp.com or visit www.facebook.com/thelocaltablenp.

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.