EMC Seafood and Raw Bar to Open at The Collection at RiverPark in Oxnard

Update: No update other than EMC still indicates this location is "coming soon." Hmm.

EMC Seafood and Raw Bar opened in Koreatown in 2013, serving up fresh seafood, oysters, live uni and more. The Collection at RiverPark announced that EMC will be opening sometime this year. It will be located behind Maria's Italian Kitchen and across from H&M. EMC is also planning to open a Canoga Park location by this summer. www.emcseafood.com

Posted by EMC Seafood & Raw Bar on Thursday, March 21, 2013

Dickey's Barbecue Pit "Coming Soon" to North Ranch Mall in Westlake Village

Update 5/4/15: There's a Dickey's Westlake Facebook page to track progress at www.facebook.com/DickeysBBQPitWestlakeVillage.

Update 11/5/14: Progress...but no new news as of 12/31/14.

Originally posted 6/28/14:

Thanks to tip from Rebecca P of Agoura Hills, we enjoyed a free ice cream cone at the new Haagen Dazs Scoop Shop at North Ranch Plaza, 3825 E. Thousand Oaks Boulevard, Westlake Village and we also learned that a new Dickey's Barbecue Pit will be "coming soon" to the 2,100 sq ft storefront (previously North Ranch Cleaner, which has relocated to a new location) adjacent to Haagen Dazs and Western Bagel. Specific timing not known at this time.

This will be the third Ventura County area location of Dickey's, which opened its first location in Ventura in February 2013 and second location in Simi Valley on January 1, 2014.

Travis Dickey opened the first Dickey's Barbecue Pit in Dallas, Texas in 1941. His sons Roland and T.O. took over in 1967 and they expanded in North Texas and started franchising in 1994.

According to its website, "Today, every location smokes all of their meats on-site at the restaurant the same way it was done in 1941. Dickey's serves up beef brisket, pulled pork, ham, polish sausage, turkey breast and chicken, with an extensive array of home-style sides from jalapeño beans to macaroni and cheese. Buttery rolls are served with every meal along with the complimentary ice cream and dill pickles. And just like always, kids eat free on Sunday."

Yes indeed. Kids Eat Free on Sundays and free soft serve ice cream when you eat there, next door to Haagen Dazs. Similarly, the Ventura Dickey's is located next to a Dippin' Dots retail location and the Simi Valley Dickey's is located near a Cold Stone Creamery.

MOD Pizza to Open Simi Valley Location in June Time Frame

Update: MOD Pizza Simi Valley opened in the Fall of 2015.

MOD Pizza is gearing up for opening its second location in Ventura County, at 2941 Cochran Street in Simi Valley in the Sycamore Square Shopping Center. Current anticipated opening date is this June. MOD "Made on Demand" Pizza opened its first VC location in Newbury Park last October. For updates on the Simi Valley MOD, visit modpizza.com/locations/simi-valley.

MOD’s individual artisan-style pizzas are made on demand, using organic fresh-pressed dough and signature sauces. Guests can create their own pizzas and salads, using any combination of 30 featured toppings, or they can choose from a menu of MOD classics. Pizzas and salads are the same price regardless of the number of toppings. Pizzas are hand-cooked in an 800 degree oven in less than 3 minutes and salads are hand-tossed in front of the customer. MOD also serves local draft beers, wine, handspun milkshakes, and house-made lemonades and iced teas. www.modpizza.com

"Make your own" pizzas are definitely the latest rage around town. Other players include Pieology (2 locations in the Conejo Valley), PizzaRev (Oxnard, Camarillo), Urban Pizza (Westlake Village) and Pitfire Pizza (soon to open in Westlake Village).

Grand Opening of Barone's The Pizzeria Express in Westlake Village on April 20th (NOW CLOSED)

Update Feb 2020: Barone’s Westlake Village has closed its doors.

Update 4/18/15: Barone's The Pizzeria Express will premiere on Monday, April 20th at 30990 Russell Ranch Road, Westlake Village. Visit www.facebook.com/baronespizzeria for additional updates. Barone's introduced the first pizza to Los Angeles in 1945.

Original Post: December 26, 2014:

That's what the sign says at 30990 Russell Ranch Road, Westlake Village, in the former home of 9021Pho (that moved to The Lakes at Thousand Oaks) and the extraordinarily short-lived Kora Bistro and Sushi Bar, directly adjacent to The Counter Burger.

Barone's has a location in Woodland Hills and that serves up rectangular shaped "gourmet pizzas made from the healthiest ingredients and dough made from the finest flour available, fresh salads, hearty pastas, hot sandwiches and delicious deserts that will finish any meal." See more at baronespizzeria.com.

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