Dining Al Fresco

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Dining Al Fresco

There Still is Time

Recently Completed Outdoor Dining Area at Mandevilla

I must admit that I am about 6 months late for a report on dining Al Fresco. However the recent completion of new garden patios along with the unbelievable summer weather in the fall has kept a lot of people in the romantic European sidewalk café mood.

There certainly are a variety of choices in the Conejo today. They include serious patios, casual firepit spots, actual sidewalk dining and an entire restaurant that can be converted from outside to inside depending upon the weather.

The long awaited and most recent outdoor entry is the deluxe addition at Mandevilla in Westlake. It has been the goal of owner Tom Sweet to expand seating and offer the Mediterranean style cooking of chef- partner Nick Blinoff in a classic European outdoor setting. More to Come.

On the other hand, Le Café in Westlake has been the local outdoor dining choice for years. The covered and heated patio in the rear is surrounded by a lovely garden replete with fountains, ponds and occasional wildlife. The creative maturation of Chef Robin Nishizaki and a Wine Spectator Award wine list has also produced a synergistic monthly midweek wine and dine tasting event. It has become increasingly popular with the serious foodies and winies. When a very hip jazz group is in attendance, the evening satisfies all the senses.

Rustico in North Ranch, the slowly ascendant Tommaso Barletta project, has a bi-polar arrangement. There is a glassed in area that gives the feeling of being outside for the more conservative. The real McCoy in outside dining fronts it. All is designed to show off the innovative tratorria styled Northern Italian cooking of Maurizio Ronzoni. This is not a typo.

Outdoor Dining at Rustico

Adobe Cantina in Agoura is probably the most serious Al Fresco restaurant from Pasadena to the Pacific. Charmingly located on a hillside, almost the entire restaurant is out of doors. When the weather is inclement, windows roll up around the outside patio like the big sports domes. You still get the feeling of being outside while the heaters inside cozily warm you. The multi- faceted fairly priced food of chef-owner Carlos Orozco features seafood, classic Mexican food and slow cooked BBQ.

Big bucks were spent on Moz Buddha Bar’s main dining room to turn a defunct Agoura Tony Roma’s into the most exotic look East of Bangkok. However, it didn’t take much to make the outdoor fire pit area into an agreeable spot for a casual meal or libation in the fresh air… if you can’t take the wait for the excitement of the main dining room.

Marcello’s, the very authentic and venerable T.O. Italian restaurant with the same Italian chefs on hand for almost two decades sort of offers outdoor dining but mostly for lunch or when the restaurant is in overflow. The restaurant has much to offer but frankly, I prefer it offered inside.

The same is true at the also authentic Café Provencal on Thousand Oaks Blvd., serving the passionate food of executive chef-owner Serge Bonnet's beloved South of France. While the outdoor seating gives a bit of a feeling of a sidewalk café on Blvd St. Germain, I think inside is more fun. When the restaurant is fully booked as is often the case, you might opt for outside rather than wait.

The slowly emerging Cravings with a menu unlike anything in the county also has a casual approach to Al Fresco. A few tables and chairs are located in the front of the elevated Oak Park eatery, and overlook the chic shopping area, a fountain and of course, the mall parking lot. Robert Grenner’s original creative food for adults and kids is now better understood and has caught on. Thus this outside area is popular at lunch and often fills up during evening peak times.

Casual Al Fresco at Cravings

We had planned to include Purple Basil at the Commons in Calabasas in this report. Dining around a lovely outdoor fountain on the offerings of newly added chef Derek Ashworth was a joy. Ashworth was the executive chef and manager for many years at Sienna before it became a disaster.

However even consummate restaurant pro Peyman Ashfar, owner of Leila’s could not overcome the Commons problems of hidden charges, difficult parking and unusual demographics. Thus Ashworth is moving his act to the newest of Ashfar’s enterprises, a family Mexican restaurant on the site of the ill-famed Cap’n Paul’s. Perhaps Peyman can do something with the rear area to offer an alternative outdoor dining experience.

Of course three of the most popular spots for romantic outdoor dining are on the lake at Westlake. The views almost compensate for the mediocre food and service at all three but not quite. One offers pseudo Asian food and sushi on uncomfortable plastic chairs along with amateur service and arrogant management. Another is not exactly sure what it is serving but it does have a firepit. Finally, the supposedly upscale Bocaccio’s, operating under a partnership arrangement that has major synergy issues will have an uphill struggle to overcome the problems inherited from the previous amateur owner. There are just too many other places that offer a truly fine overall dining experience in the Conejo these days.