Los Agaves Mexican Grill Recently Closed and Reopened as Portofino Italian Bistro

UPDATE 2/10/14: Los Agaves subsequently opened again at this location but in February 2014 closed their doors again.

As posted to the Portofino Italian Bistro Facebook Page (page subsequently removed) on June 29th, the owner of Los Agaves Restaurant and Grill decided to transform the restaurant into the Portofino Italian Bistro.

"Using the freshest ingredients, the best qualified professional staff under supervision of Chef Ricardo, it is a new destination for all the Italian Food Lovers....Seasonal menus, catering, private parties, etc. The restaurant offers a full license bar, extensive wine list, a calendar of events with coming up, Dinner and Guitar, 5 Course Wine Pairing Dinners, and more....We invite you to join us for Lunch or Dinner or just for a drink and appetizers."

Sounds interesting! The new Portofino Italian Bistro is located at 2350 East Thousand Oaks Boulevard in Thousand Oaks, smack dab in between Donut Depot and Rhineland Deli (good sandwiches there!), right across the street from The Lakes at Thousand Oaks. Their phone number is 805.777.7532.

From Frozen Yogurt to Burgers to the "Best Chinese Food" in Thousand Oaks (Golden Dragon)

Originally posted 7/23/13. Update 8/13/13: The Best Chinese Food's actual name is Golden Dragon Chinese Restaurant. I like that because I was born in the Year of the Dragon. Thanks for the heads up again, Melissa W.

"Best Chinese Food" is what the sign says at 2416 E. Thousand Oaks Boulevard, Thousand Oaks. Thanks to the eagle eyes of CVG Facebook follower Lauren T. of Thousand Oaks, we've learned that Village Burgers, which opened its doors last fall in the former home of Yozen Frogurt Express) is closed and that some time next month, "Best Chinese Food" is coming to our little town of Thousand Oaks.

What is not clear to me just yet is, will the new restaurant literally be called Best Chinese Food or is that just a teaser for the possibly to be announced new Chinese food restaurant that will be opening here. Well the smaller sign on the door shown below gives no clues (though I do like the small letter o's).

But wait, maybe it does. It does not say "Best Chinese Food" - just "Chinese Food." So maybe it will be called something else. Who knows. Well someone knows. But it ain't me. Yet. But one thing I do know is that I love Chinese food. And since this place will be situated across the street from the Toyota dealership, I might have to bring my car in for servicing, once the Best Chinese Food, Good Chinese Food or simply, Chinese Food, is open for business.

And Village Burgers, we are sorry to see you go. Although I never did get around to trying you out, I had intended to. At some point. But I'll have to cross that thought off the bucket list. That is all.

Golden Spoon Location on Ave de los Arboles in Thousand Oaks Recently Closed

A tip by local resident Melissa W. of Thousand Oaks led me to a vacated Golden Spoon Frozen Yogurt location that was previously located at Oakbrook Plaza, 2000 Avenida de los Arboles in Thousand Oaks. A call to the other Thousand Oaks location on Moorpark Road confirmed the closure and that the Moorpark Road location is indeed still open. This marks the 3rd local Golden Spoon location to close in 2013, leaving two remaining in Thousand Oaks and Simi Valley. Visit www.goldenspoon.com for more information.

Agoura Hills Diner Opened in Early December 2012 and Closed in Summer 2013

UPDATE 7/5/13: Hmm, the picture below says it all. The space previously occupied by Johnny Rockets and briefly occupied by the Agoura Hills Diner from December 2012 to I believe sometime in the last month is now vacant. Hmm, this is located next door to Agoura Hills Dance Center. Dancers eat healthy.  Maybe this is a good spot for a health food place!

ORIGINALLY POSTED 1/5/13: Johnny Rockets in Agoura closed on December 3rd but within a week the same crew opened up a new restaurant in its place called Agoura Hills Diner at 5015 Cornell Street. Taking a look at their website at agourahillsdiner.com, they serve up hamburgers, sandwiches and hot dogs, salads, brunch, kids meals, hand-made milk shakes, floats and freezes and more. Their 1/3 pound hamburgers are made with "100% Fresh Natural Beef," fresh, never frozen. Fries are cooked with 100% trans fat free fryer oil. Open 7 days a week at 11 a.m. Call 818.735.0513 for more information.

Vivoli Cafe & Trattoria in Westlake Village is Closed; Looks Like Veggie Grill is Coming

Vivoli Cafe & Trattoria at 3825 E. Thousand Oaks Boulevard, Westllake Village, is closed. The owner of the chain indicated on the Vivoli website that due to a partnership dissolution he had to close the restaurant and others. But he does indicate he is looking to re-open at some time and place in the future.

Look carefully at the photo and you'll see a notice on the window. The notice is from North Ranch Properties, landlord of the property, indicating 1) improvements/alterations are being made to the property that they are not responsible for and 2) The Veggie Grill, Inc. is leasing the property.

So it appears we will be getting a Veggie Grill here! This should make some people happy! According to a recent press release, "Veggie Grill’s menu features a satisfying and energizing variety of hot sandwiches and burgers, entrée salads, homestyle plates, daily soups and housemade desserts made from hearty “veggie-proteins” and wholesome ingredients. With 16* locations in California, Oregon and Washington, Veggie Grill renders the impossible possible: 100-percent plant-based food that is convenient, affordable and craveable."

* Now 19 locations, with the closest one in Encino.

Visit www.veggiegrill.com to learn more about Veggie Grill.

Qdoba Mexican Grill Locations in Thousand Oaks, Westlake Village and Simi Valley to Close on Friday, June 28th at 3PM

This morning in an email Qdoba Mexican Grill announced "We're sorry to announce that your Qdoba location at 265 N. Moorpark Road, Thousand Oaks will be closing permanently on Friday, June 28 at 3:00 p.m. It's been great serving you, and we hope we can share delicious meals with you again in the future."

Upon further review on the Qdoba Southern California Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/qdobasocal, I discovered that ALL Ventura County Qdoba locations, including the Simi Valley and Westlake Village locations, not to mention seven other So Cal locations including the Valencia location, will also be closing tomorrow. Wow!

They did note "We’re still serving your Qdoba favorites at our other Southern California locations including Hope St. downtown, Hawthorne, Upland, Duarte and Culver City."

So if you're a Ventura County Qdoba fan, you best be getting over to Qdoba tonight or for lunch tomorrow to get your final fill.

Sliders Bar & Grill at Simi Valley Town Center Announces It Has Closed Its Doors

Sliders Bar & Grill at the Simi Valley Town Center announced via Facebook today that it has closed its doors. Sliders originally opened on Thursday, November 18, 2010 and thus it was open for a total of exactly 31 months.  The occupant of that space prior to Sliders was Spark Woodfire Grill. No word on what will be the next occupant of this space.

Best wishes to the Sliders staff. For those looking for new restaurants to work at (or try out for that matter), in and around Ventura County, check out this link.

White Rabbit Cafe Oxnard Closed June 9th; N'Awlinz Bistro Oxnard to Open Soon

Musical eateries at the Centennial Plaza in Downtown Oxnard. The White Rabbit Cafe that opened its doors on June 23, 2012 closed those doors on June 9, 2013. However, they did announce that they will continue bringing their popular food truck to Ventura County. White Rabbit food truck updates are at whiterabbittruck.com.

A few weeks ago, N'Awlinz Bistro of Newbury Park announced on its Facebook page that it would be opening a second location this summer at the Centennial Plaza. Well, the White Rabbit Cafe is located at 221 W. 5th Street and the owners of N'Awlinz Bistro have an on-site beer and wine license pending at that location...so my suspicion is that this indeed is the future home of N'Awlinz Bistro in Oxnard.

Stay tuned...