Local Buzz covers new businesses, restaurants, closures, local politics, goings on around town and other buzzworthy items in the Conejo Valley and Greater Ventura County. Have a lead? Contact us. Click here for an archive of Local Buzz postings.
Local Buzz covers new restaurants, closures, local politics, goings on around town and other buzzworthy items in the Conejo Valley and Greater Ventura County. Have a lead? Contact us. Click here for an archive of Local Buzz postings.
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Update 9/12/17: Flatiron Bagel Co. is now open for business.
Flatiron Bagel Co. will be opening soon at 1817 Thousand Oaks Blvd in Thousand Oaks in the Big Oak Shopping Center. Bagels made from scratch in-house! Sweet bagels, bagel sandwiches (choices to include curried chicken, turkey and avocado, roast beef and muenster, albacore tuna melt and more), breakfast bagels (smoked salmon and others) and more.
Learn more at flatironbagelco.com.
Photo Credit: Shawn Berger of Bandits BBQ
A brand new "brick and mortar" Mister Softee is slated to open Thursday, July 13, at 2100 Ventura Boulevard (at the corner of Fir Street) in Old Town Camarillo. Located directly across the street from the Mongolian BBQ.
Mister Softee serves up cones, ice cream sundaes, soda floats, banana boats, shakes and more. You may have seen one of their ice cream trucks around town.
Visit their website at www.mistersofteesocal.com or follow their Facebook page for updates at www.facebook.com/mistersofteeCA.
UPDATE 2/11/18: 101 North Eatery & Bar is the name of the place that will be opening soon.
Sign indicated applicant, Barrocca, LLC, has filed for a transfer of liquor license.
There's a yellow Alcoholic Beverage Control sign up at the former Olio Pizzeria at The Shoppes at Westlake Village (Olio closed its doors on February 2, 2017). The sign indicates the applicant, Barrocca, LLC, has filed for a transfer of the license to sell alcoholic beverages at this location.
While I've been in contact with the chef that is a principal in the new business, the venture is in its early stages. More information to come at a later date.
Update 2020: Tara’s is now Bollywood Spice Indian Cuisine bollywoodspiceusa.com
Update 7/29/17: Well, that was quick! Tara's Himalayan Cuisine has been open now about a week, according to Jonathan Stewart of Jonathan Stewart of Jonathan Stewart Photography. His initial indications are...good food and good service!
Cafe Topanga Pasta & Pizza at 171 N. Reino Road in Newbury Park has closed its doors but a new eatery is coming soon. Tara's Himalayan Cuisine. Tara's will offer up authentic Nepalese, Tibetan and Indian cuisine.
Tara's has locations in Los Angeles (near Culver City) and Artesia. According to its website:
“Tara’s Himalayan Cuisine is about family, yours and ours. Serving authentic Nepalese and Tibetan cuisine, we invite you to experience a true taste of home.
We use mountain grown herbs and spices from Nepal and whenever possible, locally grown vegetables. Our yak is Colorado raised. All of our dishes use the finest ingredients, and are prepared with a light touch. Tara’s Himalayan Cuisine is the dream of Tara Gurung Black. Born in a tiny mountain village in Nepal, she started her training in Nepalese classical and cultural dance at age eight. This inspired Tara to theme the restaurant according to classical and cultural Nepalese tradition.
While performing one day in Los Angeles, she had an overwhelming desire to share her Nepali culture with the people of Los Angeles. That is how and why Tara’s Himalayan Cuisine came to be.”
Stay tuned for updates or check tarashimalayancuisine.com or check the Tara's Ventura County Branch Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/thcventura.
So long, Cafe Topanga, and best of luck in your future endeavors.
Another update: Natas Pastries Thousand Oaks closed its doors in January 2020.
Update: Natas Pastries is now open at 2388 Thousand Oaks Boulevard as of early September.
Natas Pastries will be located directly across from the Thousand Oaks Toyota dealership (not that I had to tell you given the reflection in this photo).
Natas Pastries is a Portuguese bakery and cafe that has operated in Sherman Oaks since 2005. It claims to be the only Portuguese bakery in Los Angeles.
Natas is named after its signature pastry, nata, a crisp puff pastry shell filled with custard. Mmmm!
Well welcome Natas to the Conejo Valley as they plan to open a location at 2388 Thousand Oaks Boulevard (at Pleasant Way, near Harold's House of Omelettes) in the recently closed Pizzeria La Piccola location.
A sampling of some of the menu items includes:
Portuguese Sweet Bread French Toast
Caramel Crunch Belgian Waffle
Chourico e Queijo Sandwich (Grilled Portuguese sausages/Chouricos, grilled onions, tomatoes and melted cheese, served with kettle chips and salad) - I'm sold on this one.
Chicken Panini Sandwich
Caprese Salad
Caldeirada (Seafood stew of sea bass, salmon, cod, shrimp, clams and mussels, served over rice or potatoes)
Learn more at www.nataspastries.com.
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Flashback to July 11, 2012: Smashburger opened its doors at the former home of Chuy's at 650 North Moorpark Road.
It just under five years later and Melissa B alerted me yesterday via Twitter, July 2, 2017 that Smashburger Thousand Oaks has closed.
Sure enough, Smashburger Thousand Oaks is closed, joining three other business, all in a row (White Elephant Thai, a massage business and a donut shop).
So Smashburger fans will have to drive to Camarillo or perhaps in the future in Simi Valley, where another Smashburger location is planned for the Mountaingate Plaza.
UPDATE: Prawn & Basil will be reopening as Roast & Rice Kitchen at 30990 Russell Ranch Road, Westlake Village in 2022.
Prawn & Basil closed in the fall of 2021 and a new place is coming soon “Phil’s.”
Update: They opened in early August 2017.
I've driven by the sign numerous times while driving down Thousand Oaks Boulevard recently but today finally stopped to document the excitement. The former home of Geppino's Sicilian Kitchen (which closed earlier this year) and Vitello's before that will soon be home to Prawn & Basil.
The liquor license sign in the window at 3316 E. Thousand Oaks Boulevard (just northwest of Duesenberg Drive) says "Prawn & Basil by Exotic Thai" so there appears to be a connection with another Thai place around town. We shall see. No timing at this point but the sign sure looks good. Stay tuned.
Hatch Café & Market is now open at 30651 Thousand Oaks Boulevard in Agoura Hills. While I have not had the opportunity to see their menu as of yet, their Instagram page gives a little peek, including a Chorizo & Potato Flatbread Benedict, delicious looking cookies and more.
Chorizo ➕ Potato Flatbread Benedict.🍴🍴🙌🏻🙌🏻 #hatcheatery
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Update 6/23/17: Sushi Haru has closed its doors.
Posted 5/19/16:
Red Coral Sushi at The Village at Dos Vientos Ranch in Newbury Park closed its doors on April 30th, after seven years in business.
But the good news is that Sushi Haru, Japanese Fusion Restaurant opened June 4, 2016 (according to Brian).
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