Five Guys - Scott

We're a burger crowd, no doubt about it. When the 'Five Guys Burgers' sign went up announcing their opening in Thousand Oaks, Gregg was the first to alert us. I guess they have a big following on the East Coast and there's a pretty solid groundswell of hype attached. Fair enough. Gregg and Dan couldn't wait for me so they tried it on their own and filed a limp review. They were underwhelmed to say the least. Despite everyone telling us it's not that good, Dennis and I decided to try it yesterday. Gregg met us and set our expectations appropriately low (he's been 3x now). Neither he or Dan cared for the decor and presentation. It is a bit in your face when you walk up to the counter with signs everywhere, at every level, but ordering was easy enough. A Bacon Burger, 'Cajun' fries and a Coke rang up to $12.47. What?? It was like a punch in the face when all the signs on the wall say 'the best burger a guy can have for $5". I dropped the coke and retained some measure of frugality at $10.28. As I waited for my number to be called I heard Triumph's 'Fight The Good Fight' come on over the PA/Music system. Yes, indeed. With that we grabbed a nice, shaded table out on the patio and put together our accompaniments for the fries. Those cups are a nice touch with the pump-squirt ketchup dispenser. When our burgers were ready, they served them along with the fries in one big paper sack. I guess that's their schtick and one of the things Dan and Gregg were put off by originally. The burgers were, in a word, fantastic. I'm pretty sure mine had mushrooms in there and the meat was tall, thick and juicy. Boom! The fries, while not spicy or Cajun in the least, were equally good. The portion was ridiculous, however, for being a small. If anything I'm down on the joke sizing they do here. Just sell me a reasonable amount of fries at a fair price, don't try to shock me or waste my money, please. I'm not big on the gimmick...almost cutesy...aspect of this place, but the food speaks for itself. Solid all the way around. I'll definitely go back if I find a coupon.

Crown and Anchor - Scott

We had a few special guests in town over the holidays so an impromptu Dinner Club was in order.  Thanks to Dan, we ended up at the Thousand Oaks Crown and Anchor Pub.  This place was refreshingly authentic, English cozy, and the food was spectacular.  Gregg enjoyed the Shepherd's Pie while Dan, Dennis and I had the King Fish and Chips.  The menu was thorough and from what I saw around us, flawlessly executed.  Sadly, nobody in our group opted or the Spotted Dick or Bangers & Mash.  

Deege, for whatever reason, showed up with his sweatshirt inside-out and ordered a Garden Burger plate.   He's either a visionary or anti-British.  

In keeping with the theme, I showed up in my newest MG and needed a jump start to get out of the parking lot.

Crown and Anchor gets an A+ rating, I can't believe I've driven by this place 1000x and never stopped.  It's a true local treasure.

Smoking Steve's - Scott

A few notes right out of the gate; Gregg takes a great photo, he comes across as vibrant, youthful and happy most every time. Second, Dan is a professional and never messes himself. So much so he wears the nicest, sharpest dress shirt to every dinner club, even if it's finger-lickin'. Well done, both of you.

Wood Ranch BBQ - Gregg

In November Scott, Dan and I gathered for our monthly Dinner Club outing two days before Parker was born. It was my turn to review and I chose the original location of Wood Ranch in Moorpark. It was my last day of work before taking a month off and the location is right next to my office. It was also the second day of the worst cold I have had in several years. Was it H1N1? Maybe. Needless to say I was not on my A game at all. It was my C – game at best. I honestly don’t remember much other than the food seemed acceptable (a nice fever was keeping my taste buds distracted). I remember not liking the ambiance. It felt like someone took an old bank, did some basic remodeling, decided to save money by not adding any windows, and put a new sign out front.

Flash forward to last Friday night. Corine, Brody, Parker, Breanne, Sylvia and myself headed for Wood Ranch Agoura. I charged my phone camera ahead of time with the intent of making up for November’s experience.

I was fresh, full of energy, light on my feet and ready to rumble… and starving. The 20 minute wait wasn’t taxing at all and even provided some entertainment that I know Dan would have loved: A woman rushes past me from behind.. fast enough she feels the need to use my waist to steady her progress as she races by. She is frantically gathering hostesses and waving her arms while she explains something that I can’t quite hear. I look behind me and see what I assume is her 12 year old son sitting on a bench with one leg stretched out on the seat next to him. He seems fine. The woman rushes back to him and, almost angrily, tells him that they have to cancel dinner because she has to take him to the hospital. “The hospital? Why?” The boy asks. Now I see there is a cloth napkin on his leg. It’s a thin napkin and there’s no blood seeping through. The mom responds in a manner completely absent of calmness, “Because you need stitches right now!” I look back to the napkin…. Nothing. Now the boy, who had been totally calm, places his hand on the napkin and starts to hyper ventilate. She grabs him up and races out the door. Fascinating, but I digress.

Once seated we do everything by the book. Giant plate of onion strings? Check. Salads to start with? Check. The server (her name escapes me but we’ll call her Jane) is strange. She’s really into being a server. As in over the top.

Jane – And what can I get you?

Gregg – I’ll do the ribeye. Can I get grilled onions with that?

Jane – Absolutely. That’s a really good decision.

Gregg – And I think I’ll start with a salad with Ranch.

Jane – Really excellent choice.

Gregg - Thank you?

She may have been a little odd but she was dialed on the job. She never missed a beat and everything was seamless. The ambiance and the food was first rate. The experience reminded me of why Wood Ranch truly is one of the top restaurants in our little corner of the world. I could go into descriptions of each dish but I don’t think I could do them justice. In the half dozen times I’ve been here since we moved I still haven’t met an item I didn’t love.

Parting thought… Should I be concerned that my pee smells like oil after indulging in a hearty helping of onion strings?

Grill on the Alley - Scott

Thanks to Sylvia's suggestion, we tried a newish local restaurant in Westlake called 'Grill on the Alley.' It's an upscale place similar to Mastros. I think there are a handful of these around the country now but the original one opened in Beverly Hills circa 1984. From the making of the reservation weeks before to the follow-up the day of, the staff handled everything seamlessly. It's a beautiful restaurant with the flaming fountain out front and an 'open' kitchen inside. The staff were smartly dressed and, more importantly, thoroughly knowledgeable about the regular menu as well as the specials. I rarely mention the decor in my reviews but this place was elegant yet not pretentious at the same time. The service was as good as I've had anywhere and the food equal to it as well. Between the group, we had the 'hand-crafted' Blood Orange Martini, Filet with Bleu Cheese crust, Sea Bass, New Zealand Lamb Chops, Oysters, Crab Cakes and on down the line. Everything they brought to the table was dynamite-good. Words don't do it justice, just enjoy the photos and put this on your list. It's a budget-buster but absolutely worth it. I give it my highest rating.

Sutter's Mill - Scott

Randy picked the location for this year's office party out of a coupon pack back in November. It was for 'Sutter's Mill' about a mile from the Simi Hills Golf Course where we were playing. I'd seen the ad many times over the years but never paid much attention. I don't even have a good reason, I just never took it seriously. Not smart. They specialize in prime rib which is one of my all time favorite 'special' dinners and the place has been around for 50 years. I called a few days before to make the reservation and some old time miner/cowboy answered and took the info. He finished with "I've got 4 of you at 5pm looking for Prime Rib....you'll get it" in his grizzled voice.
We lit that menu up with an order of Potato Skins to start. Sean and I each enjoyed a 20 ounce cut of the kitchen's finest. Rare please with the sauteed mushroom floater and some of those loaded, twice baked potatoes. That whipped horseradish was nosewatering. I love that stuff. My mouth is watering as I write this. Pat, our resident steak expert had the Chicken Scampi?? A misfire for sure. Randy rounded out the order with a Prime Rib Sandwich on Garlic Toast. The bar was inviting with it's cozy decor and stiff drinks. The food was excellent from top to bottom and the gold-rush area decor was a cool little quirk. Even the servers were dolled up in hoop dresses. I'd go back here any old time pardners, say the word.

Elmer's Beer & Sandwiches - Scott

My turn at the wheel. In the true spirit of the 'Dinner Club' I chose a decidedly guy's place that none of us would think of bringing the wives. It's a small beer bar called Elmer's down the hill from my house. They have steady local clientele, a pool table and plenty of historic flavor. Legend has it that they tried to update the 1970s decor at one point and the locals talked them out of it. 'Leave it alone' was the vote and they relented after only one wall of the bathroom was refinished. Anyhow, I've seen in our local paper that they have 'the best burgers in Simi' so it deserved a look. The draw here is the brick grill at the end of the bar. You can watch your burger being prepared right next to you as you sip the 'coldest beer' in town. As you can see by the menu, it's been around since 1972 so these guys have the script down cold. It has that aged and comfortable feeling that you can't fake.. The bartender and the fellow patrons couldn't have been friendlier. That says a lot considering it's pretty much all regulars night after night. Bill, son of the original owner Elmer, has a wooden plaque displayed prominently near the cooler that keeps his burger tally from his high school days until now. Yes, that's 11,368 he has personally consumed himself. It's a number that baffles the mind (and heart).
We each enjoyed a few beers and good conversation before ordering dinner. It's very simple here, just burgers or burgers and maybe a burger. No sides, no fries, just ground chuck grilled with pastrami, onions, cheese and/or a little mayo on the bun. Our orders varied from singles to doubles, extra cheese and that pastrami. All were hot off the grill and tasty. They're a lot like backyard burgers...simple but good. Comfort food. We enjoyed a long block of southern rock over the sound system, a sloppy game of pool and just took in the old-fashioned bar charm. There aren't too many places around like this in suburbia so we need to do our part in keeping them going. I like Elmers, there's definitely a time and a place for it. Since the crowd is friendly (and apparently there's no ageism), I'll bring Griffin in for a game of pool and some grub when he's older. It's a slice of life he'll need to experience.