Best Restaurants that are Worth The Drive in Thousand Oaks

Our family Christmas plans changed last minute and we were looking for a place to get a Christmas Day reservation. We had the Prix Fixe Brunch Menu and it was spectacular. Everything from the bisque to the tuna tartar and crab cake appetizers to the filet and salmon entrees was wonderful. The view was, as expected, a fabulous ocean view, and our server, Wilson, was impeccable and made our experience even better. We cannot wait to go back again.

Always lovely! We went for Christmas Eve dinner and were 25 minutes late for our reservation. Not a problem though, we had to wait our turn but not too long. The food and service were all spot on despite their being very busy!

We have been coming to Mistral for over 30 years, and it has never disappointed. The service is always great, the food is consistently delicious, and we are welcomed like old friends, even if we had taken a long break between visits, as was necessitated by having a newborn And having to eat in family type restaurants for his first 10 years. Even then, we would make sure we got in a visit to Mistral at least three times a year. Prior to that we dined here pretty much weekly. We always joke that it’s our little Manhattan bistro in the heart of Sherman Oaks. Great date night spot!

Everything we ordered was absolutely delicious! We started with the octopus and the caviar. While the octopus was decent, it was slightly overcooked and just okay. In our opinion, the Little Door Caviar was the standout starter—its flavor was far superior. For mains, the Branzino was perfection—crispy and flaky on the outside, tender and soft on the inside. The ribeye was equally fantastic, cooked beautifully and packed with flavor. We finished the meal with the crème brûlée, which was the perfect dessert—smooth, creamy, and with a perfectly caramelized top. The service was impeccable, making the evening truly special. We celebrated my friend’s birthday, and it was a memorable experience from start to finish. We’ll definitely be back!

A great escape on an unusually quiet Friday night!