The Gallery Restaurant at The Shoppes at Westlake is Now Open

Update 4/17/15: The Gallery Restaurant has announced that it is now open.

Over the last 12 months, The Shoppes at Westlake on Russell Ranch Road off of Lindero Canyon Road has been moving right along, with the opening of the Target store in July, followed by Total Woman Gym, Jeannine's Gourmet Food Hall, Hook Burger, Greens Up, In-N-Out Burger and others in 2014.

Among others opening at The Shoppes in 2015, The Gallery Seafood and Chophouse Restaurant is coming soon. The Gallery will feature fresh seafood, chops, oysters, innovative cocktails and more in 3,180 sq ft plus and additional 540 sq ft of outdoor seating areas.

The Gallery is located on the west side of The Shoppes, a few doors away from Hook Burger.

Other eateries anticipated to open soon at The Shoppes include Pick Up Stix (opened late March 2015), Olio e Limone Ristorante, Olio Pizzeria, Los Agaves Restaurant, Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co.’s Westlake Village taproom, Which Wich and TIFA Chocolate and Gelato (opened late January).

Other retail stores opening this year at The Shoppes include Tilly's, Guitar Center, Sports Clips and others.

Visit shoppesatwestlakevillage.com for more information.

Margaritas Mexican Grill Now Open at Lindero Canyon and Kanan in Oak Park

Margaritas Mexican Grill is now open at 702 Lindero Canyon Road (northeast corner at Kanan), Suite 704, Oak Park (former home of Cigale Cafe).

Margaritas is a family-owned eatery that opened its Santa Clarita location in 1998, where it offers breakfast, brunch, buffets, authentic Mexican food, seafood, vegan/vegetarian specialties and more. Visit www.margaritasmexgrill.com.

Thanks for the heads up, Pria P via the CVG Facebook page!

Bangkok Avenue Thai Cuisine Opening Soon in Thousand Oaks

Update 5/5/15: Bangkok Avenue Thai Cuising has been open now for about a week. Check out their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/bkkavenuethaicuisine.

Nestled between Donut Depot and Rhineland Deli, at the former home of Los Agaves Mexican Grill in the Select Plaza at 2350 E. Thousand Oaks Boulevard, Thousand Oaks, Bangkok Avenue Thai Cuisine is "Coming Soon." No other details at this time but check www.facebook.com/bkkavenuethaicuisine for updates.

Urbane Cafe to Open New Location in Thousand Oaks in Early 2015

Update April 2015: Urbane Cafe Thousand Oaks indicates a April 20th grand opening date at urbanecafe.com/locations 805.496.7666.

Thanks to a heads up from Sarah A of Thousand Oaks, we've learned that yet ANOTHER new Urbane Cafe is opening in Ventura County...this one at the old Denny's location off of Moorpark Road in Thousand Oaks, joining another tenant previously announced, Dog Haus.

Urbane Cafe is on fire, having opened new locations in Simi Valley in June 2014 and Camarillo in August 2013, joining other local locations in Ventura, Oxnard and Agoura Hills. Its menu includes fire baked gourmet chicken, turkey, beef and vegetarian sandwiches and a variety of salads, including a protein salad, cobb, BBQ chicken, caprese and more. If you've eaten there, you'll know why they're so successful.  More at urbanecafe.com.

Ice Cream Lab Coming to the Westlake Plaza in Westlake Village in Early 2015

Yet another update...Ice Cream Lab closed its doors in May 2016.

Final Update: Ice Cream Lab is now open!

Update 12/2/14: The Ice Cream Lab indicates they are now targeting an opening date of March 1, 2015. Stay tuned...

In May 2014, Westlake Plaza and Center announced that Ice Cream Lab is anticipated to open at the Plaza in the November time frame.

Ice Cream Lab offers “a place where you can create a delicious experiment” by using liquid nitrogen to whip up ice cream in seconds! Find out more about their process and their yummy natural ingredients here: icecreamlab.com

The Ice Cream Lab was founded by Joseph Lifschutz and Tommy Ngan, with it first location opening March 2013 at 9461 South Santa Monica Blvd, Beverly Hills.

It's a good day for some amazing ICE CREAM!!! :D When was the last time you visited Ice Cream Lab? pic.twitter.com/LUsoKFRNsT

— Ice Cream Lab (@LAIceCreamLab) April 29, 2014

Grand Opening of Urban Pizza in Westlake Village Planned for Thursday, April 2nd

Learn more about Urban Pizza at www.facebook.com/urbanpizzawestlakevillage

Juice It Up Raw Juice Bar Coming Soon to Thousand Oaks

UPDATE August 2018: Juice It Up Thousand Oaks recently closed its doors. They must have just run out of juice, so to speak.

CVG Facebook follower Charlotte H tipped us off that Juice It Up Raw Juice Bar is planning to open its first Ventura County location at the Conejo Valley Plaza Shopping Center, 1414 N. Moorpark Road, Thousand Oaks, in the former home of Golden Spoon (and more recently Tizzy Yogurt Cafe, which closed in late 2014). UPDATE: Juice it Up opened in June. www.facebook.com/JuiceItUpThousandOaks

What is Juice It Up? According to its Facebook page, "Recognized as Southern California's original raw juice and smoothie bar, Juice It Up! was founded in 1995 by a couple of guys who after spending several unfulfilling years in the corporate world, simply wanted to work for themselves. What started as a single raw juice and smoothie bar in Orange County turned into a California phenomenon spreading like wildfire. Today, Juice It Up has nearly 100 stores across California, Arizona, Texas, and New Mexico."

Juice It Up's menu includes raw juices and juice blends, smoothies, superfruit smoothies and bowls and fruit and veggie fusions like Raw Fusion™ - Kale, spinach, pineapple, apple, banana and Red Fusion™ - Beet, pineapple, red grapes, strawberries, cucumber, banana.

For updates, visit www.juiceitup.com.

A photo posted by Juice It Up! 🍎🍊🍋🌿 Official (@juiceitup) on Mar 23, 2015 at 6:19am PDT

Twisted Oak Tavern Gastropub and Brewery in Agoura Hills

Twisted Oak Tavern is a new Agoura Hills gastropub and brewery that offers guests a fresh twist on the classic tavern concept

Jointly conceived by managing partner Jeff Walker and partner and head brewmaster Roger Bott, the tavern features creative California cuisine made almost entirely from scratch using locally-sourced ingredients; a broad selection of popular domestic, imported, and craft beer to accompany the tavern’s in-house brews produced on site under The LAB Brewing Company brand; a robust wine list highlighted by award-winning vintages from prominent regional wineries; and one-of-a-kind, artisan cocktails made with fresh, locally-grown citrus juices, premium spirits, and house-made ginger beer, tonic water, and cold-brewed coffee on nitrogen.

Designed by Executive Chef Jon Peloso, Twisted Oak Tavern’s menu offers an original, inspired, and highly-innovative array of flavorful starters, salads, sandwiches, flatbreads, burgers, vegetables, entrées, and desserts — nearly all prepared from scratch using fresh, locally-produced, farm-to-table seasonal ingredients.

With over 20 years of professional experience in the culinary arts, Chef Peloso oversees a scratch kitchen in which most menu items and their various components are created on the premises from the ground up:  from tangy dipping sauces, salad dressings, sandwich spreads, and aiolis, and baked-daily tortillas and flatbreads, to the house-ground burgers fashioned from a blend of Angus chuck, short ribs, and pancetta and the tavern’s delectable desserts.

Located just off the 101 Freeway at 30105 Agoura Road in Agoura Hills (just east of Reyes Adobe), Twisted Oak Tavern is open seven days a week, including most holidays, for lunch, happy hour, dinner, and late-night dining and cocktails. For more information, please visit www.twistedoaktavern.pub.

Jeanette’s Edelweiss to Open in Former Home of Brats Brothers in Newbury Park

Update 3/24/15: Grand opening is this Friday, March 27th, at 6pm.

Update 3/17/15: Jeanette's Edelweiss indicates it will be doing a grand opening on Saturday, the 21st for lunch and dinner. Updates at www.facebook.com/jeanettesedelweiss.

Posted 1/19/15: As mentioned on the CVG Facebook page on January 5th, the former Brats Brothers (and prior to that, the beloved Lamppost Pizza) location at 2160A Newbury Road in Newbury Park is slated to become Jeanette's Edelweiss German Restaurant in the coming months.

Jeanette’s Edelweiss will offer classic German food including weiner schnitzel, bratwurst, spatzle, goulish, apple strudel and more, a selection of German beers, friendly service and a live band playing German folk music along with rock ‘n roll. Also on the menu are beef tenderloin medallion sliders, Rhineland Cold Cut Platter, Authentic Bavarian Weißwurst, herb-infused chicken sausage, Bavarian Goulash, Munich Roasted Chicken, Kassler Pork Chops, Atlantic Salmon Filet, Vegan Entrees (made without soy) including bratwurst, sauerbraten and sauteed vegetable casserole and much more.

I also see Black Forest Torte, German Pound Cake, Cheesecake, Cherry Strudel and Apple Dumplings on the menu. Mmmm.

Celebrity German chef Kurt Ehrlich, who has served mouth-watering German specialties to Hollywood stars and several U.S. Presidents, will ensure that patrons enjoy a true taste of Bavaria.

The owners are Jeanette Buerling Milio and Jim Milio. Jeanette is a highly successful German movie producer who has lived in Los Angeles for 15 years. Jim is a successful writer, producer and director who has been involved numerous productions over the years, including Rescue 911 (CBS), Dog Whisperer (National Geographic) and a co-executive producer of My Big Fat Greek Wedding.

Jim will be writing and directing a reality series covering around the launch and behind he scenes of Jeanette’s Edelweiss  Edelweiss in Hollywood.

Can we handle this much excitement in Newbury Park!? Bring it!!

Updates will be posted here when available but visit www.jeanettesedelweiss.com for more information.

Former tenant Brats Brothers that opened in December 2012 and closed suddenly in February 2014

And scenes from the still talked about Lamppost Pizza that closed its doors in December 2011 (Photo Credit: Scott Harrison)