32039 Agoura Rd, Westlake Village, CA 91361
One of my favorite stops is Stonehaus. It's a great casual place to sip wine, have a coffee date, sit outside, sit by a fire, and relax with friends. You order up at the counter and then find a spot to sit inside or outside on their beautiful patio. They even provide blankets for those who want to sit outside. It's charming, quaint, and cozy!
32039 Agoura Rd, Westlake Village, CA 91361
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http://www.tikkagrill.com/Home.html 5790 Lindero Canyon Road. Westlake Vaillage, CA Tikka Grill serves fresh food that is always consistenly delicious. My favorite dish there is the Fajita Pita Combo Plate. The fajita pita alone is filling and only costs $5.99. You can add two sides to make it a combo plate for just a few extra dollars. The portions are generous, and you will always leave satisfied with your meal. You can also have them cater your party! Their Chinese Chicken Salad is wonderful, and they have many vegetarian options as well. One of the purposes of this website is to share hidden gems like Tikka Grill, which you may not know about...but now you do, so you really have no excuse not to stop to eat there! So...I know that I have blogged about Maggiano's before but I must underscore my suggestion to dine here after some recent experiences. We celebrated a few birthdays here recently, and the service and pricetag for the amazing meal never cease to amaze me. Ordering "family style" is the only way that I know to do it here. Family Style Menu: http://tinyurl.com/4akrblv There is enough variety to please everyone, and you can even PRE-ORDER it all so that the food just keeps coming out after you sit down. The other piece that I cannot rave enough about is the fact that they clear your plates from the table, and keep the table well tended to throughout your dining experience. This is why we pay for service, people! Finally a restaurant who has got it right. For the amount of money you are spending, the amount of food you are getting, and the amount of attention you are paid, Maggiano's is a STELLAR STOP.
Our favorites: Bruschetta (so fresh!), Calamari (melts in your mouth), Rigatoni "D" (no brainer), Chopped Salad (much better than the boring Caesar), Cheesecake and Chocolate Zuccotto. Now GO...RUN THERE if you have not done so already!!! http://www.yardhouse.com/CA/northridge-restaurant/
The Yard House is a chain, and I have eaten at the one in San Diego before. This restaurant which is part of the Northridge Fashion Center is a newer location. It is a large restaurant, with flat screen tvs hung throughout, and a beautiful bar at its center. The menu is massive so it is really helpful to ask a server about what the favorites are. All the food that we had that evening was delicious - the egg rolls were tasty but you didn't get much for $10, the Seared Ahi Tuna Salad had a very tasty dressing, the Halibut was amazing, and the desserts were both spectacular! Our server added a lot of positive elements to our overall experience at the restaurant. He was friendly and took the time to make suggestions from the extensive menu. When he took a break, he introduced us to another server, and by the end of the evening, they both came back to check on me and my friend and to get our feedback on the suggestions they had made. The restaurant has a great vibe, a menu with a lot of variety, and 150 taps to choose from for beer lovers. If you've never been to a Yard House, it's worth a stop. Smashburger - Thousand Oaks, CA
650 N. Moorpark Rd., Thousand Oaks, CA 91360 (805) 409-3792 http://smashburger.com/menu/thousand-oaks/ This is a stellar stop that my sons have recently discovered. After eating here, my 16 year old said, "Definitely a stellar stop." And my 12 year old commented, "It is the best burger place ever, even better than In-n-Out! Their fries are really crunchy and a little soft too. They have garlic, olive oil, salt, and rosemary." The restaurant is right off Moorpark Rd. from the 101 freeway. This is the site where Chuy's used to be, in the Whole Foods Market plaza. They serve made-to-order hamburgers, chicken sandwiches, salads and veggie burgers, so there should be something on the menu for everyone to enjoy! Thanks to my boys for discovering this stellar stop and for taking the pictures too! *8/19/12 So, I finally went to check this place out myself, but I think I went on an "off" day. We all have off days, don't we? I was disappointed that all my expectations were not met, but it was still good--but had it been my first visit, I wouldn't have categorized it as "stellar". It was a Sunday during lunch rush hour, and the line was heading out the door. It's a small establishment so seats were limited. We were lucky to find a table, and an employee cleaned off the table right away. It took a noticeable amount of time to get our food, and when we got our food, I noticed that my Spinach & Goat Cheese Chicken Sandwich was missing its goat cheese. We pointed this out to an employee and she promptly grabbed us a side of goat cheese and politely apologized. My son's burger lacked bbq sauce so we asked for a side of that also. The fries were still particularly crispy and delicious, though a bit salty today. I noted that the ingredients that were used were very fresh...from the veggies on my chicken sandwich to the buns for all the burgers. My oldest son noted that something was just "off" today, and this was also evident when another family just across from us complained about their order rather loudly. I generally hear wonderful things about this establishment so I'd be willing to give them another chance, but I do have to say that my first visit was not as stellar as I had expected. If you do plan to try Smashburger, it helps to save some money buy using this coupon: http://tinyurl.com/9orsmxr Malibu Seafood Fresh Fish Market and Patio Cafe 25653 Pacific Coast Highway Malibu, CA 90265 (310) 456-3430 http://www.malibuseafood.com/ When you are driving up the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) in Malibu, you may notice this sign and the tiny little cafe and patio next to it. If you've never stopped to eat there, then you may not know that this little cafe serves some of the most delicious seafood you've ever eaten! Generous portions of fried shrimp, clams, crispy french fries, creamy clam chowder--they have all your seafood favorites! Besides the tasty food, you will also enjoy the breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean just across the street. I have seen this restaurant featured in travel magazines too. It is a California gem! Topper's Pizza Place
(805) 385-4444 http://www.topperspizzaplace.com There are a number of Topper's Pizza Places in Ventura County, and I have visited most of them. The one in the Channel Islands Harbor is beautiful, with views of the boat and water just outside (2701 Peninsula Rd., Oxnard 93035); it is a two-story restaurant with a magical touch screen soda fountain that everyone loves. You must plug Topper's phone number into your phone contacts because if you are ever near one and just want to pick up a pizza on the way home, it will take no longer than 12 minutes for your pizza to be ready. We are not in a delivery zone, so I often will phone my order in and pick it up on the way home. Let's talk about why this place is so stellar though--besides being efficiently run, it has deliciously made pizzas with crispy crusts and fresh ingredients, and the salad bar is the most exceptional one I have ever seen in ANY restaurant! The containers at the salad bar are always full and the counter is consistently clean. In fact, I feel bad when I drop some dressing or a kidney bean on it, but there is ALWAYS someone right behind me to wipe it up! My son said that they have also added dessert cookie pizzas to their menu, and they are delicious as well. Topper's Pizza is truly stellar. Sharky's Woodfired Mexican Grill
http://www.sharkys.com My family and I are big fans of Sharky's. There are several restaurants in the Ventura County area, and their food is fresh, tasty, and come in large portions--which is something I appreciate since I am raising two boys. Our favorite dishes are the Nachos, the Chicken Tostada Salad, and the Fajita Burrito. Their salsa bar offers many different types of salsas, my favorite being the fire roasted salsa. They also offer 3 different types of iced teas, and we especially enjoy the Bahamian Breeze (tropical iced tea). You must also sign up to become a "Fin-Addict" because you will receive wonderful discounts that help offset the cost of future visits. The Cheesecake Factory
http://www.thecheesecakefactory.com/ Grand Lux Cafe http://www.grandluxcafe.com/ What I appreciate the most about the Cheesecake Factory is its CONSISTENCY. This restaurant chain consistently delivers delicious food and prompt service. It's a sure thing every time! From their cocktails, appetizers, large portioned entrees, and signature desserts...it's ALL stellar! A sister restaurant to The Cheesecake Factory is the Grand Lux Cafe. I have visited the ones in Chicago and in Las Vegas (The Venetian & The Palazzo; I prefer the one at the Palazzo--it is larger and nicer). It is our favorite restaurant to eat at on the Strip. Here are some of my favorites: Cocktail: Georgia Peach or Lemon Drop Martini (really ANY martini...who are we kidding???) Appetizer: Avocado Egg Rolls (duh) and Crispy Crab Wontons Entrees: Chicken Romano and Luau Salad Desserts: Red Velvet Cheesecake (leaves me speechless every time) and the White Chocolate Raspberry Truffle Hash House A Go Go
http://www.hashhouseagogo.com/ While in Vegas one summer, I had done some research on where a group of friends and I could go for dinner. On a top 5 restaurant list on the internet, I discovered Hash House A Go Go. There are several locations in Las Vegas, one in Chicago, and one in San Diego. Our initial visit was to the one on Sahara Ave. (off the Strip) in Las Vegas, and then this summer, my family and I visited the one in San Diego. I found that the service was better during my experience in Vegas than in San Diego, and the food was stellar at both. People rave about their breakfasts, but I have only been there for dinner. They describe their cuisine as Twisted Farm Food; I would call it American Food on Steroids. One can not describe the immense size of the dishes at this restaurant. Each plate that came out seemed like it was the size of the steering wheel of a big rig truck. The flavors of the food are good, but I think what really lures people to this place is the memorable dining experience. It's definitely worth a stop! |
Dr. Stella ErbesDr. Stella Erbes is a teacher at heart. Her passion to teach and help others has led her to compose this site full of resources. Dr. Erbes is a university professor and teaches education courses which help prepare future teachers. She hopes that the lessons prepared here will lead her readers to exceptional food, unforgettable travel, and better living. Stop to Eat
July 2018
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