VC Star Reports the Thousand Oaks Denny's Closed Its Doors Today

Well it first came to my attention from CVG Facebook friend Steve C. of Newbury Park this afternoon, then confirmed by this VC Star article...effective this morning, the Thousand Oaks Denny's, located at the corner of Moorpark Road and Thousand Oaks Boulevard near the 101 freeway, closed today.

Best wishes to former Denny's employees in finding new jobs. There are a number of new restaurants that will soon be opening their doors in town, including DISH, Paul Martin's, Village Burgers, Lure Fish House and Lemonade!

According to the VC Star article, the new owner plans to split the property into three spaces, possibly to include 2 smaller restaurants. We shall see.

The property was originally built in 1973 and includes a 4,084 sq ft building on a 30,927 sq ft lot, according to an online listing on Loopnet. The asking price of this property was $2.9 million.

Well, while we're sad, kind of, to see the loss of this Denny's, there's still another Denny's in the Conejo Valley, in Newbury Park. No worries...don't need to completely give up your local Grand Slam just yet!

Char Fasl in Agoura Hills Changed Hands and Became Maral Cuisine in June 2012

A @ConejoJoe Twitter follower asked about Char Fasl House of Kabob at 5843 Kanan Road in Agoura Hills. Simple enough...Char Fasl changed ownership a few months ago and it is now called Maral Cuisine House of Kabob. According to their website at www.maralcuisine.com:

"Fresh healthy food, attentive Persian hospitality and friendly atmosphere.The kabobs include fresh chicken, beef & salmon, which are marinated in a saffron sauce, and cooked on an open broiler. Traditional khoresh dishes (stews) capture the authenticity and slow cooked flavor of Persian Cuisine. Appetizers, salads and rice with the most unique and authentic flavor of Persian cuisine Saffron which enhances the flavor and aroma of all other ingredients used in Persian cuisine. Persian ice-cream, baklava, zoolbia bamieh and tea."

I don't know about you, but this is making me extremely hungry! But WAIT! Check out their website! They have photos of most of their dishes that look great, like these salmon, whitefish, trout and shrimp kabobs.

Their phone number is 818.889.9495.

Bauducco's Westlake Village Indicates It Is Moving to a New Location

Update 2/10/14: No updates. I suppose this will be the last "no update" update I make. :)

Update 1/14/13: There is a "for lease" sign up at the Thousand Oaks Blvd location mentioned below, no website updates and the phone number has been disconnected. This will be our final Bauducco's update unless someone contacts us with new info!

Update 9/26/12: No updates, no news, other than the phone number listed below is no longer in service. Hmm.

Since 1970, Bauducco's Italian Restaurant, Market and Deli has been a Westlake Village fixture. However, it closed its doors at 2839 Agoura Road back in early March and indicated in its phone message that it would be relocating elsewhere in the city.

Now the message gives a specific location at 3825 Thousand Oaks Boulevard, Unit A, Westlake Village, in the space adjacent to GNC and a few doors down from Jersey Mike's, Thousand Oaks Fish & Chips, Hunan Restaurant and Rite Aid. It has been over over 4 months since Bauducco's closed...stay tuned to see if indeed they re-open at this location.

New home for Bauducco's? That's what they say! We shall see.

Bauducco's phone was 805.495.4623 and their website is no longer functional.

Yamato Camarillo is Closed-Doh!

This past week, Yamato Restaurant at 1901 East Daily Drive in Camarillo closed its doors.

There is a sign on the front door thanking us for our patronage and directing customers to its Encino location. This was quite a large restaurant, kind of dark and slightly dreary, yet a friendly feel with cheerful wait staff and having one of the largest sushi conveyor belts I've ever seen...larger than the one at Cho Cho San's in Thousand Oaks.

The Yamato revolving sushi bar fully stocked with salmon with no customers in sight :<

Trivia time: What restaurant occupied this space prior to Yamato? I believe that would be Tony Roma's.

Freshii in Westlake Village is Closed

It appears the 6 month old Freshii eatery at The Promenade at Westlake closed within the last week or two. I attempted to eat there several times over the last 6 months but each time I tried, it wasn't open. Hmm. Well at least we have the new Loteria Grill now open and coming soon, the new Cinepolis upscale movie theater!

Visit freshii.com for other Freshii locations in the Los Angeles area.

T.G.I. Fridays to Close, DISH Restaurant to Open at Janss Marketplace in Thousand Oaks

On April 1st, a CVG Facebook follower filled us in that TGI Fridays at the Janss Marketplace would be closing soon. Since then, others made mention and TGI Fridays employees confirmed the anticipated closure. We were awaiting "official" word from TGI Fridays but yesterday the Ventura County Star reported that TGI Fridays will indeed be closing and in the September time frame, DISH Restaurant will be taking over that space.

No official word yet as to the actual closing date...but it sounds like it will be really soon. The closure of TGI Fridays' Thousand Oaks location leaves us with 2 Ventura County locations - Simi Valley and Oxnard. Visit www.tgifridays.com for more information.

DISH Restaurant has operated for the last 10 years in La Canada (north of Glendale) and this will be its first new location. From its website at dishbreakfastlunchanddinner.com:

People who love a great breakfast restaurant will appreciate the things we do at DISH, like roasting bone-in hams every morning and offering applewood-smoked bacon and hand-crafted sausages. Our apple oatcakes are made with fresh diced green apples, and our cornmeal jonnycakes are made with real corn.

We serve simple family-style food, yet we concentrate on quality. So something as simple as a BLT sandwich can be a pleasant surprise when it’s made with applewood-smoked bacon, carefully toasted whole wheat bread and French fries cut from fresh Kennebec potatoes.

Sounds like a great place to me! They appear to be fairly priced, nominated as a great breakfast place and well received by food critics. Stay tuned.

Ventura County Star: The Edge Grill in Westlake Village to Close Friday, April 6th

The Edge Grill in Westlake Village mentioned on its Facebook page today that it will be closing its doors this Friday after it serves its last customers. In this Ventura County Star article referenced by The Edge, owners acknowledged that the restaurant's concept wasn't working and they are seeking new ideas for something that works well with the community.

Located at 30970 Russell Ranch Road, The Edge was opened about a year ago. Prior to that, it was a Fox Sports Grill and originally a Dakota's Steakhouse in May 2007.

What else would work in that location? Hmm, another HOOTERS!? :>

Joking aside, we wish the best for the employees of The Edge and that they quickly find new jobs...perhaps at some of these new restaurants around town.

Hometown Buffet in Simi Valley is Closed

I've never been to the Simi Valley Hometown Buffet nor will I or you in the future as it has closed its doors. The other Hometown Buffet in Ventura County is located at 1901 Lockwood Street, Oxnard, off of Rose Avenue near Best Buy. Been there a few times. Not something I go outta my way for but they get the job done, inexpensively. And there you have it.

Wienerschnitzel on Thousand Oaks Boulevard Is History as Chick-fil-A Paves the Way

As previously reported, the anticipated demolition of the Wienerschnitzel on Thousand Oaks Boulevard next to Do It Center has taken place. Anyone driving down Thousand Oaks Boulevard near the auto mall will quickly notice the empty space. No hot dogs in sight. Chick-fil-A is anticipated to have a drive-thru location (with a few outdoor tables) here by the summer.

View of the former location of Wienerschnitzel from Thousand Oaks Boulevard

View of the former Wienerschnitzel from the Do It Center parking lot

Yes indeed, we are now Wienerschnitzel-less in Thousand Oaks, though they did mention the possibility of finding another location in town. Looking for a good hot dog? I like Lucky's Dog House at Janss Marketplace.