Author Archives: Mikey

Mikey's avatar

About Mikey

The 70's brought us many wonderful things. Star Wars, shag carpet, the Bee Gee's, the Brady Bunch, and most important his royal largeness Mikey. Delivered to us in the middle of the night on a bed of twinkies from the gods of cakes and pies. Mikey has been a Ventura County resident for close to 16 years now. He took an oath to bring down the establishment, fight the power, and deliver man-kind from evil. He of course put that all on hold for awhile in order to bring you the best in food reviews from all around California and especially from Ventura County. So food establishments beware, he is coming to your restaurant with his face of fury, you better serve it hot and there better be some gravy on it!

Shamon to Anacapa Brewery!

by Mikey

First off – Raise your glass to the King of Pop. No matter how funky, odd, or down right strange you thought Michael Jackson was, you can not deny he put together some of the greatest music we’ve ever heard. I myself even had my own red leather jacket and glove back in the 80’s. Yeah that’s right, I did, and I’m proud of it. Anyone who doesn’t think Bad and Thriller contain some of the best beats in music history probably smells like cheese and shops at gas stations for groceries. Of all the Jacksons we could have lost I would have prefered Tito since he always looks like he’s up to no good. Right now you all need to head to your local karaoke joint and pick a song. If you pick Billy Jean you best do a leg snap and a crotch grab. Shamon!

Ventura has its own award winning micro brewery. The Anacapa Brewery recently won some major awards at the LA County Fair. Winning ribbons at this fair for beer is definitely something to boast about. Brian and I had already decided to get our drink on there before we knew about the awards, but after tipping back a few of their classics it was easy to see why they won.

Anacapa Brewing Company – Main St., Ventura

For this review we are going to concentrate on beer, beer, and then on some beer. Of course we will throw a little food in there but not too much because we don’t want to ruin your buzz. Plus, any night you’re going to be out drinking you need to lay a nice foundation before you drink, pizza, bread, burgers, burritos, you know, stuff that will soak up the tremendous amounts of liquid that are about to invade.

Drink it in Ventura it always goes down smooth.

Drink it in Ventura, it always goes down smooth.

Continue reading

6 Comments

Filed under Ventura

If it’s called Fins the seafood should be good, right?

by Brian

My Mom and I went out on Sunday for Father’s day.  Since my Dad passed a few years back, we’ve kinda made it into a little family tradition.  Usually we go someplace nice because that’s what Mom deserves.  This year, I gave her three options to choose from and since she was in the mood for seafood, she picked Fins in Westlake.

Fins – Westlake Blvd. and Townsgate in Westlake Village

I was pretty excited to eat here because I had heard good things.  The decor is upscale and the service is professional, if not overly so.  We got there on time for our reservation and were sat immediately.  Things seemed to be starting off quite nicely.

It has been a long time since I’ve had a waitress put my napkin in my lap for me.  I find the practice annoying and was put off when the waitress grabbed my napkin and unceremoniously dropped it in my lap.  I was even more annoyed when she did the same thing to my mom.  I mean, this is Westlake Village, not Beverly Hills.  Here’s my new rule:  If jackets aren’t required to dine, don’t touch my damn napkin. Continue reading

4 Comments

Filed under Ventura County, Westlake Village

Deadliest Catch – Lockout

by Mikey

Well it appears out of all the episodes to miss last weeks was the best one.  I was able to watch it before “Lockout” started and realized I didn’t miss all that much.  This episode finds us almost to the mid-way point of opi season.  Captains are fighting Mother Nature and she has been taking kung fu. Continue reading

Leave a comment

Filed under On TV

Wasting Away at Margarita Villa

by Mikey

Any trip to Ventura should always include a trip to the Harbor.  There are a lot of restaurants to choose from, so over the next few months EatMeCalifornia will try to get you a good idea of where to go for the best views and the best food.  We’ve already given you the Seafood Broiler.  Now it’s time to spend some time at Margarita Villa.

Margarita Villa – Ventura Harbor

Margarita Villa is on the top deck, right above the carousel.  They have one of the best views of the Harbor and a great deck to eat and enjoy the view. Like most of the restaurants in the harbor, it has the hand painted walls, lots of windows and a full bar.  There are a few TVs to catch a game and they have a live band a few nights a week.  On this particular night there was a band and for the most part they played cover songs.  All I remember of the talent is a horrible rendition of Johnny Be Good.  I hoped the food would be better then the music, because I think I saw Chuck Berry crouched in a corner, ready to hit the lead singer with his guitar. Continue reading

Leave a comment

Filed under Ventura, Ventura County

Tia Babe’s and the Return of Me!

by Mikey

First off, many thanks to B-hizzle for filling in for me while Time Warner did some work on the lines.  If you all have an opportunity to get internet from somebody else, go ahead and do that.  At least you all got to enjoy all Brian all the time.    On to Tia Babe’s! Continue reading

6 Comments

Filed under Santa Paula, Ventura County

Maki Yaki – Chain Sushi

by Mikey

Maki Yaki is a franchised sushi joint.  I guess you could say it’s the Arby’s of sushi.  It’s not as fast food as a San Sai, but it is more fast food than your locally owned sushi restaurant.  The question remains, though, how does the quality stand up to other sushi restaurants?

Maki Yaki – On Thompson in Ventura – Also with many locations in CA and surrounding states.

I was at the Ventura location not this one.

I was at the Ventura location, not this one.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Continue reading

Leave a comment

Filed under Everywhere

Mr. Lee’s Chinese Food

by Mikey

This is a classic EatmeCalifornia drive by. Nobody told me to visit Mr. Lee’s and nobody said they had great food.  It was a ninja ambush of the highest degree. Would Mr. Lee be ready for culinary combat?

Mr. Lee’s Chinese Food Ventura – Thompson/Borchard

P6110001

 

 

 

 

 

 

I took a picture of the outside of Mr. Lee’s and it was definitely not my best work.  I decided to take another one after lunch because I was pretty hungry.  Mr. Lee’s is fairly small and only has one dining room.  I’d say, at the most, 50 people could be comfortable.  After that, it would get to be more like a clown car.  The inside is pretty beat up, the ceiling is stained, the walls are a bit dirty, and there are a lot of patches and covering.

I experienced an EatmeCalifornia first at Mr. Lee’s.  My waiter never said a word to me.  I’m not exaggerating; I’m not just saying he mumbled, I’m saying he never spoke one word to me.  They sat me down, brought me water and tea, gave me a menu and then did a ninja vanish.  5 minutes later he re-appeared with notebook in hand, stood by me and waited.  I had said hello at my arrival but now the ninja battle of silence had begun, so I decided not to talk as well. Continue reading

3 Comments

Filed under Ventura, Ventura County