The Old Place

Ah, The Old Place.

A very appropriate name...the location seems like it should be historical, if it's not already. The restaurant is only open Thursday - Sunday and has a capacity of about 60-70.



It was a Thursday evening and my friend invited me to check this place out. He's a regular so maybe the experience might be a bit different then your first time. But whether you're a regular or first timer, the staff is amazingly courteous and the ambience is incredibly welcoming. That is the highlight of The Old Place. We sat at the end of the bar where I was introduced to the manager Tim. Tim gave me a brief rundown of the location history as well as the history of the restaurant.



We started off with beers, we had an amazing Telegraph Ale, just not sure which one. We were joined by a lovely wine distributor that was coming by to visit Tim. So of course we had to do some wine tasting as well.



At this point I had to get some food into my system or Friday was going to be unbearable. We ordered all starters, Grilled Octopus, Mushroom Toast, Grilled Vegetable Salad, Noodle Bake and the Steamed Clams.

The star was the Noodle Bake, but then again I'm sucker for mac and cheese. Egg noodles served with a nice cheese sauce, all browned in a small cast iron skillet. Homey goodness. The grilled vegetable salad was simple and the grilling on the open fire really adds some smokiness.



The clams which were a popular item, were delicious but the broth lacked some flavor and seasoning. The fresh sourdough bread served with the clams was nice and warm, delicious. The grilled octopus was a little overcooked, which caused it to be too chewy. The mushroom toast had a nice assortment of mushrooms including local Chantrelles. It was served on toasted sourdough bread with melted cheese. Very good.



We ended the meal with a berry crumble, considering how full I was and the fact that I don't have a sweet tooth, it was a delicious ending.



The Old Place is a wonderful restaurant with a lot charm and personality. The ambience is what makes it a destination. The staff will keep you there.

Mastro's Steakhouse - Thousand Oaks

If you're looking for high quality meats and great service in the Conejo Valley, then Mastros is your best option.

The dimly lit dining area is quaint, but feels very exclusive. The menu is straight forward and beef is the main attraction. Everything is A La Cart and the portions of the side dishes are enough to share. There is a nice assortment of bread, there is a full bar with a nice wine list.

Our meal started off with an order of Fanny Bay and Blue Point oysters and a couple of wedge salads. The oysters were served with fresh horseradish, cocktail sauce and lemon. The oysters were delicious, the wedge salads were typical, nothing to write home about.



For our entrees, I had the Veal Chop, we also ordered the Bone-In Filet and the fish of the day, which was Halibut. For our side dishes we had, Lobster Mashed Potatoes, Macaroni Cheese and the Sauteed Asparagus. The meats are served unadorned, there are no sauces and no garnishes. My Veal chop was cooked perfectly and the seasoning was on point. I had a taste of the Filet and it was delicious. But the side dishes always seem to steal the show. I love their mac and cheese, made with five cheeses and browned nicely on top. At this point I'm completely stuffed. But the dessert selection is pretty good.



We ordered the Vanilla Gelato and Creme Brulee, our declared that this was not enough. And since it was my birthday, he said he would bring out something special. So in addition to the gelato and brulee, he brought out Mastro's signature dessert, the Warm Butter Cake. The plate was decorated nicely with a birthday message written in chocolate. If you go to Mastro's, you have to try the warm butter cake. It's ridiculous and I don't even like sweets.



The service at this location is impeccable. Our server Bobby, answered all of our questions and offered many great suggestions.



In my opinion Mastro's Steakhouse is a great option. I like it better the other "chain" steakhouses like Ruth's Chris and Flemings. Though it may not be at the level of CUT or Wolfgangs, the prices are much more reasonable.