Fogo de Chão Thousand Oaks to Open on Monday, October 16th

Fogo de Chão, the internationally-renowned restaurant from Brazil that allows guests to make culinary discoveries at every turn, opens its newest restaurant on Monday, October 16, located at The Lakes at Thousand Oaks.

As part of their introduction to the Thousand Oaks community, Fogo will donate a portion of its first week of sales to Manna Conejo Valley Food Bank, which provides food to hundreds of families every month battling food insecurities. The Thousand Oaks restaurant marks the brand’s ninth Los Angeles Metro location with an upcoming restaurant in Brea set to open later this year.

Designed in partnership with architecture and design agency Innovation & Design in Architecture, the new restaurant features an expansive dining room centered around an open churrasco grill where guests can dine while watching gaucho chefs demonstrate the Culinary Art of Churrasco as they butcher, prepare and grill different cuts of protein over an open flame. The Thousand Oaks restaurant also showcases an outdoor dining patio, soaring wine cases, a white Carrara marble Market Table, dry-aged meat lockers for in-house aging, a lively indoor Bar Fogo area ideal for all-day happy hour and private dining spaces available for guests to reserve for any occasion.

The Thousand Oaks team is led by General Manager Sevenir Girardi, who started his career with Fogo 16 years ago as a server in Brazil. During his tenure with Fogo, Sevenir has held various leadership positions including Assistant General Manager and General Manager of the Beverly Hills restaurant. Sevenir and his team look forward to becoming part of the Thousand Oaks community and providing over 100 local jobs for talented individuals committed to delivering an exceptional experience to all guests.

Fire-roasted meats are the core of Fogo’s experience and include guest favorites such as Bone-In Ribeye, Lamb Chops and the house specialty, Picanha, the prime part of the top sirloin. Fogo Thousand Oaks offers a range of menu selections and prices to fit guests’ needs for lunch and dinner, including:

  • Full Churrasco Experience – The signature prix-fixe menu selection that includes all premium and classic cuts, plus the fresh and seasonal Market Table & Feijoada Bar and authentic Brazilian side dishes.

  • Indulgent Cuts – Guests can enhance their experience with a 20 oz. Wagyu New York Strip that is carved tableside on a Himalayan salt block to complement the cut’s intense marbling and buttery texture. A decadent, dry-aged 32 oz. Long Bone Tomahawk Ribeye or 24 oz. Wagyu Ribeye is also available to order for the table.

In addition to these options, the menu also includes the following:

  • Weekday Lunch – Includes the seasonal Market Table & Feijoada Bar, plus family-style service of Brazilian side dishes for $18 per person. Guests may choose to add a single cut of fire-roasted meat or have the Full Churrasco Experience.

  • Weekend Brazilian Brunch – Includes the Full Churrasco Experience combined with Brazilian-inspired brunch items like Braised Beef Rib Hash and made-to-order waffle and omelet stations.

  • All-Day Happy Hour - Guests can enjoy $10 Brazilian-inspired cocktails, $8 glasses of South American wines, and $5 Beer all-day every day, in the dining room, patio and bar.

  • Bar Fogo – The Thousand Oaks bar offers an elevated experience with a warm, timeless design and dedicated bar staff designed to allow guests to linger while enjoying smaller, shareable plates like a Picanha Burger or Lobster & Shrimp Tacos.

  • Inclusive Menu Options — Guests can discover options for all dietary tribes from vegan to pescatarian and more. These nutrient-dense dishes include entrée alternatives to the Churrasco experience like Chilean Sea Bass, Seared Tofu & Black Bean Pasta and Cauliflower Steak, or indulgent appetizer options like jumbo shrimp cocktail and Seafood Tower.

  • Fogo To-Go & Catering — Bring the Fogo experience home with individual churrasco entrees, à la carte offerings, full-service catered events with on-site grilling and ready-to-eat or ready-to-grill options.

  • Group and Private Dining — Whether celebrating a special birthday or hosting a corporate meeting, the Thousand Oaks location has a dedicated sales manager and offers customizable menus, beautiful private and semi-private dining spaces and complimentary A/V equipment.

A dining experience for all ages, children six and under enjoy complimentary dining at Fogo Thousand Oaks, and ages seven to twelve dine at half-price for the Full Churrasco Experience.

For more information, visit fogodechao.com.

Juice & Boba Now Open at the University Shopping Center in Thousand Oaks

UPDATE: Grand opening is Saturday, January 27, 2024.

Rachel L sent over this photo of a new place called Juice & Boba coming soon to the space previously occupied by Subway in the University Shopping Center at 425 East Avenida de los Arboles. Can't say for sure, but I'm to take a wild guess that they will serve fresh juices and boba drinks when they open.

IHOP Coming Soon to Former Coco's Location in Simi Valley

Christie O sent over this pic showing IHOP is coming soon to the former Coco's at 698 E. Los Angeles Avenue in Simi Valley in the Stater Brothers shopping center. No word on timing. IHOP Simi Valley will be joining local area locations in Newbury Park, Fillmore and Agoura Hills. The nearest Coco's at this point is in Mission Hills.

Fogo De Chao at The Lakes at Thousand Oaks to Open on Monday, October 16, 2023

work in process 10 days ago at the new Fogo De Chao Thousand Oaks

The date has been set for the grand opening of Fogo De Chao at The Lakes at Thousand Oaks - Monday, October 16, 2023. This date coincides with the extended due date of your 2022 federal and state tax returns, in case you haven't gotten around to that yet. fogodechao.com

La Cereza Cafe and Bakery Soft Opening on Friday, September 22nd

The soft opening of La Cereza Cafe and Bakery is this Friday, September 22nd at 10am at 280 Thousand Oaks Boulevard (near Tarantula Hill Brewing Co) but if you're nearby before then they may be open if you'd like to sample their offerings. They will be serving fresh baked pastries, bagels, empanadas and more. Sign and menu to come soon. Follow their IG page at www.instagram.com/la.cereza.cafe.

Crave Gelato Kofi Bar Opened Recently in Portside Ventura Harbor

Crave Gelato Kofi Bar opened in July in Portside Ventura Harbor, coastal apartment community on Pierpont Bay at 947 Schooner Drive, Suite 105, Ventura. Crave offers hand-crafted, slow-churned gelato using scratch-made oat milk and organic coconut milk. They also offer organic drinks and sweet olive-oil dulce cakes. Learn more at www.gelatokofibar.com.

85°C Bakery Cafe Now Open in Simi Valley

UPDATE 10/7/23: Now open!

85°C Bakery Cafe is in process of buildout at 3013 Cochran Street, just east of Sycamore Drive, in Simi Valley. 85°C, with over 1000 locations worldwide, serves delicious Taiwanese pastries, breads and drinks. The name 85ºC comes from the idea that the perfect brewing temperature for espresso coffee is 85º Celsius (or about 185º F for us Celsius challenged folks).. Closest location to us is currently in Northridge. www.85cbakerycafe.com..

Slice House Simi Valley Coming in Early 2024

Slice House Simi Valley is opening in the El Paseo Shopping Center at the corner of Tapo Canyon Road and Alamo Street in early 2024.

The first Slice House location that opened in Ventura County was in Thousand Oaks on July 28th.

Learn more about Slice House by Tony Gemignani at slicehouse.com.

Slice House Thousand Oaks owner Vinny Margott and World Pizza Champion and Slice House founder Tony Gemignaniat at Slice House Thousand Oaks.