Crawford's Social Soft Opening Saturday, December 16th in Westlake Village (Full Service on Tuesday, December 19th)

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The long awaited Crawford’s Social in the Westlake Plaza at 974 South Westlake Blvd (cross street Agoura Road) is today, Saturday, December 16th at 5pm. The bar and lounge will be open for full service at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, December 19th.

Crawford’s Social is a 15,000 sq ft indoor/outdoor lounge and bar serving shareable California coastal cuisine in a beautiful setting. There are booths amidst illuminated trees, firepits and fountain in the resort-like outdoor patio.

The thoughtfully crafted beverage menu was created and is run by expert-mixologist, 25-year London hospitality veteran Ruairi Gilles. Enjoy world-class cocktails with a local flair, like their house special: The Crawford’s Margarita (tequila, pineapple and habanero) and the Westlake Iced Tea (super premium vodka and tequila, triple sec topped with pink champagne). Wines from top marque California vineyards and selected boutique wineries, along with locally crafted beers, round out the drink menu.

The culinary menu is a celebration of California's diverse and dynamic flavors, where patrons will find an array of shareable dishes and crowd favorites. Opening menu highlights include Sweet & Spicy Shrimp with spicy honey aioli and candied walnuts; Filet Mignon ‘Westlake Sliders’ with maitre’d butter; Smoked Scallops with parsnip puree and caviar; and a hand-torn Caesar Salad with buttered crouton crumble. The concept will also offer a selection of Roman-style pizzas with various toppings and a raw selection crafting up chilled dishes ideal for the area’s consistently balmy weather. Crawford’s Social also offers guests a selection of larger plates, including a roast Half Chicken with lemon buerre blanc; Pan Seared Salmon with squid ink couscous and smoked pea puree; Carnitas-Style Pork Tacos with pineapple-jalapeno pico and tomato jam; and more.

Learn more and see their menus at www.crawfordssocial.com. Open 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday.

The Nook Newbury Park Reopening Soon as Mikey's Restaurant (Now Open)

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UPDATE: Mikey’s Restaurant is now open.

Mikey's Restaurant is opening soon at 579 N. Ventu Park Road, Newbury Park (Ralph’s plaza) in the former home of The Nook Restaurant. The poster on the window indicates Mikey's will be open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and several folks have noted the new owners have indicated they will keep the same breakfast/lunch items and crew - while adding dinner service. The website, which is not currently functional, is www.mikeysrestaurant.com.

The Nook opened its doors in September 2019 in what was previously Sooki's Japanese Grill.

Lava Kitchen Mediterranean Restaurant Coming Soon to the County Line Shopping Center in Westlake Village (Soft Opening February 28th)

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UPDATE: Soft opening is February 28th lava-kitchen.com

Lava Kitchen Mediterranean Restaurant is coming soon to 4661 Lakeview Canyon Road (at Agoura Road) in the County Line Shopping Center in Westlake Village. This was the former home of Decker Kitchen, which moved last year to a larger location in the Paseo Market Place, 3731 E. Thousand Oaks Boulevard, Thousand Oaks.

California Bun in Moorpark Announces December 18 Soft Opening Date

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California Bun announced today that its "soft opening" in the Tuscany Square at 144 Los Angeles Ave, Unit 105 in Moorpark is December 18th. Their menu features an assortment of 15 breakfast, lunch and dinner buns made fresh daily, such as Steak Sunrise, Farm Boy, Veggie Voom, BBQ With Seoul and Chorizo Con Huevo, as well as dessert buns. Learn more at californiabun.com.. They are also accepting pre-soft opening pre-orders from a limited menu starting tomorrow, Friday, December 8th at 3pm for pickup on the 13th and 16th. Supplies will be limited. Follow their IG page @getcaliforniabun for details.

Firehouse Subs Coming to Northgate Plaza in Westlake Village (Opened in May 2024)

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Work in process at the future Firehouse Subs in Westlake Village

Got word from an observant friend that a Firehouse Subs is being built in the Northgate Plaza (southwest corner of Westlake and T.O. Blvds - 111 S. Westlake Blvd, #104) in the former Starbucks, between Yogurtland and Sharky's. Firehouse Subs was founded in Jacksonville, FL, in 1994 by former firemen and has grown to over 1,200 locations. The chain was purchased by the parent company of Burger King in 2021. There are locations at the Simi Valley Town Center and in Ventura. Stay tuned. www.firehousesubs.com..

Urbane Cafe To Open 2nd Ventura Location on November 30th

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The popular Urbane Cafe will be opening a 2nd location on Thursday, November 30th in the city of Ventura soon at 811 E. Thompson Blvd. (cross street S. Ash), directly across the street from Spencer Makenzie’s.

Urbane Cafe has been offering delicious salads and sandwiches with its made from scratch Focaccia bread since 2003. A true local Ventura County success story, the eatery has grown to several dozen locations in California and Nevada, including locations in Ventura (soon to be two), Agoura Hills, Thousand Oaks, Camarillo and Simi Valley.

Learn more at urbanecafe.com

JOiBIRDS Cafe Now Open in Thousand Oaks (Closed 10/6/24)

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JOiBIRDS Cafe has closed its doors as of close of business on October 6, 2024. However, they will continue focusing on their original location, JOi Cafe, at the Westlake Commons, 2855 Agoura Road in Westlake Village.

JOiBIRDS Cafe is now open at Santal Thousand Oaks at 299 Thousand Oaks Blvd (across the street from Tarantula Hill Brewing Company). Open 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. www.instagram.com/joibirdscafe