County of Ventura Food Facility Closures in February 2017

The County of Ventura Environmental Health Division (EHD) protects public health and the environment by ensuring conformance with State laws and County ordinances pertaining to food protection, hazardous materials, hazardous waste, individual sewage disposal systems, land use, medical waste, ocean water quality monitoring, recreational health, solid waste, underground fuel tanks and vector control.

The EHD publishes food facility closures at www.ventura.org/rma/envhealth/community-services/consumer-food/closures.html.

The following facility closures were noted in February 2017. Keep in mind when reviewing this that there are many possible reasons for the closures, most of which are very temporary issues.

El Asadero, 920 N. Ventura Avenue, Ventura;

Rodent infestation, unsanitary conditions;

Date closed - 02/27/27; No reopen date

Century Theater, 555 E. Main St., Ventura;

No approved restrooms available;

Date closed -02/21/17; Date reopened - 02/22/17

Ay Chi Hua Hua, 1145 W. Ventura St., Fillmore;

Serious and repeated violations, failure to adhere to a compliance agreement;

Date closed - 02/21/17; Date reopened - 02/22/17

Greco's New York Pizzeria, 249 N. Moorpark Road, #D, Thousand Oaks;

Utensil washing sink not available due to inoperable plumbing;

Date closed - 02/14/17; Date reopened - 02/15/17

Panaderia Las Palmas, 2155 E Channel Islands Blvd., Oxnard;

Cockroach infestation, unsanitary conditions;

Date closed - 02/14/17; Date reopened - 02/15/17

Gandolfo's NY Deli, 2790 Seaglass Way, Oxnard;

Operating without a valid permit;

Date closed - 02/13/17; Permit issued to new owner - 02/14/17

El Pollo Norteno, 1290 S. Oxnard Blvd., Oxnard;

Rodent infestation, unsanitary conditions;

Date closed - 02/09/17; Date reopened - 02/10/17

Sunset Terrace Restaurant & Lounge (Bar only), 235 N Moorpark Rd., Thousand Oaks;
Inoperable plumbing;
Date closed - 02/08/17; Date reopened - 02/10/17

Kitchen Village, 520 N. Ventu Park Road, #150, Newbury Park;

Unsanitary conditions due to a leaking roof;

Date closed - 02/08/17; Date reopened - 02/09/17

Mariscos Cancun, 1074 Avenida De Los Arboles, Thousand Oaks;

Rodent infestation, unsanitary conditions;

Date closed - 02/07/17; Date reopened - 02/09/17

Roma Italian Deli, 2247 Michael Drive, #51, Newbury Park;

Unsanitary conditions;

Date closed - 02/06/17; Date reopened - 02/07/17

Limon & Sal, 598 E. Main Street, Ventura

(Upstairs bar and independently operated food area only);

Remodeled without approval, removal of essential equipment;

Date closed - 02/01/17; Date reopened 02/03/17

Gonzales Market, 1335 W Gonzales Rd., Oxnard;

Cockroach infestation, unsanitary conditions;

Date closed - 02/01/17; Date reopened - 02/03/17

Fillmore High School Cafeteria, 555 Central Avenue, Fillmore;

Rodent infestation, unsanitary conditions;

Date closed -02/01/17; Date reopened - 02/02/17

Blaze Fast-Fire'd Pizza Grand Opening of Oxnard Location on Friday, March 3rd

Blaze Fast-Fire'd Pizza has announced that it will be opening its new location at 301 W. Esplanade Drive in Oxnard at 11 a.m. on Friday, March 3rd. This 3,400 square foot location is located in the Esplanade Shopping Center.

To celebrate the grand opening, the restaurant will be offering FREE build-your-own artisanal pizzas on March 3rd from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. to anyone who follows Blaze Pizza on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook.

Founded in Irvine in 2012, Blaze offers custom-built pizzas, freshly made salads, blood orange lemonade, s'more pies and more.

Signature pizzas or create your own pizzas are about $8.

Restaurants make their own dough from scratch using a recipe developed by critically-acclaimed Executive Chef Bradford Kent (the “Pizza Whisperer”), which requires a 24-hour fermentation period to produce his signature light-as-air, crisp crust. Almost all of the pizza and salad ingredients are free of artificial flavors, colors, preservatives and fillers and for pizza fans with specific dietary needs, Blaze Pizza offers gluten-free dough and vegan cheese. The new Oxnard restaurant will also feature a selection of wine and draft beer.

Founded by Elise and Rick Wetzel (co-founder of Wetzel’s Pretzels), the concept is backed by investors including LeBron James, Maria Shriver, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Boston Red Sox co-owner Tom Werner and movie producer John Davis. For more information visit blazepizza.com and facebook.com/blazepizza

Kabab Plus Opened Today in Thousand Oaks

Update 2/27/17: Kabab Plus opened today at 50 East Thousand Oaks Blvd, #2 (between Dog Haus and Urbane Cafe). Visit their Facebook page or call 805.495.1000 for more information.

Originally posted 10/9/16:

Kabab Plus sign is up; photobombed by a Shave It van!

Kabab Plus sign is up; photobombed by a Shave It van!

Thanks once again for the heads up to Amelia S. via the Conejo Valley Guide Facebook Page for this one. Kabab Plus is "coming soon" to the space between Dog Haus and Urbane Cafe at 50 E. Thousand Oaks Boulevard (but visible from Moorpark Road) in Thousand Oaks.

What once was a Denny's restaurant will now be three restaurants. The Kabab Plus sign indicates kababs, wraps, salads and pizzas. Looking forward to trying it out. Stay tuned.

Fire Island Grill Opening Agoura Hills Location in April 2017

Update: Now open.

Photo courtesy of Jonathan Lalo.

Photo courtesy of Jonathan Lalo.

Jonathan L. pointed out the fact that Fire Island Grill is coming soon to Agoura Hills at the former Freebirds location at The Shops at Oak Creek, 29125 Canwood Street.

Fire Island Grill offers Caribbean and Hawaiian style cuisine in a fast/casual atmosphere. The menu includes rice bowls, sandwiches, salads and island platters. Agoura Hills will join existing locations in Palmdale and Simi Valley.

Learn more at www.fireislandgrill.com.

Sign Says Golden Panda Buffet Coming Soon at former Elephant Bar Location in Simi Valley

Update 2/24/17: Opening date coming soon.

Posted 9/16/16:

The Elephant Bar Restaurant in Simi Valley (1825 Madera Road, next to the Best Western Posada Royale Hotel & Suites) closed its doors in June 2014. If the sign shown above is correct, the future occupant will be the Golden Panda Buffet. I'd be willing to bet this new eatery will serve Chinese food. Just a hunch. More updates when available.

Arby's Opened Simi Valley Location Today

Arby's opened its new location at 1408 East Los Angeles Avenue in Simi Valley this morning. This location comes equipped with a drive-thru. 

This is the former home of Del Taco.

Other Arby's locations in Thousand Oaks and Ventura.

More at locations.arbys.com/us/ca/simi-valley/1408-east-los-angeles-ave-.html.

About Arby's: Arby roots go back to Boardman, Ohio in 1964, when founders, Leroy and Forrest Raffel opened a sandwich shop serving hot, freshly sliced roast beef sandwiches.

Where did the name Arby's come from? It came from the initials of Raffel Brothers.

Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville Opened Two Weeks Ago at Universal Citywalk

Yes, we do cover goings on outside of the Conejo Valley and Greater Ventura County from time to time when we think it is of particular interest. 

About three weeks ago, I met friends from out of town at Universal Citywalk, a no brainer choice for touristy fun. Citywalk is 30 miles from Thousand Oaks. 

I noticed at the far east end of the Citywalk that Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville was looking close to opening soon. I was right. It opened a week later. Open for lunch, dinner and late night entertainment.

Learn more at www.margaritavillehollywoodca.com.

Habanero Mexican Grill Now Open in Thousand Oaks

Habanero Mexican Grill now open at the Thousand Oaks Marketplace, 520 N. Ventu Park Road, near Walmart Neighborhood Market in Thousand Oaks (Newbury Park adjacent).

No website or Facebook page as of yet but I have heard from several folks that really enjoyed it. More updates at a later date. 

Menu includes a full selection of Mexican entrees, including enchiladas, tacos, carnitas, chile relleno, soups, salads, appetizers and more. The "Habanero Style Mac and Cheese" sounds pretty good.

Dong Ting Spring Restaurant Now Open at Thousand Oaks Marketplace

Chinese eatery Dong Ting Spring recently opened at the Walmart Neighborhood Market plaza (officially called the Thousand Oaks Marketplace) at 520 N. Ventu Park Road, next to Jimmy John's and near the soon to be opening Habanero Mexican Grill.

Ding Tong Spring offers what appears to be a delicious assortment of authentic Chinese dishes like Wild Chili Beef, Crispy Chicken with Red Pepper, Walnut Shrimp and many more interesting sounding options. No website to my knowledge. Call them at 805-262-0888.