The High Ball - A critic's review of Pirates Grub and Grog

Feb 2010 - Now under new ownership, this neighborhood bar serves cheap eats and steady drinks. But bar food does not need to be fried or short order based. Recently, patrons dined on filet mignon and salmon. That does not sound like traditional grub to me...

And the grog? If that is not enough, the grog is plentiful, flowing steady and offered at exceptional prices. With a background in the dining and catering business, this new owner has taken this once "one dimensional" establishment and is building a new program at Pirates. The staff is very friendly and live music is available every weekend from this establishment thriving in Oxnard, just minutes from the beach.

From burritos to bagels to cappuccino - this restaurant will be another promising chapter for this pirate!

Summary: Great food. Great drinks. Great times. We highly recommend this bar. This is a Best Bet!

The Dish - A critic's review of Grissini

Feb 2010 - This restaurant tucked away in the rear corner of an Agoura Hills strip mall serves some of the best Italian food in the Conejo Valley. From hundreds of pasta variations and authentic Roman Italian specialties, Grissini has something for everyone.

Moderately priced, the beautifully decorated interior can be dined by patrons dressed for the theatre or those desiring a casual atmosphere. Wine enthusiasts will appreciate the fine selections available.

We recently visited this restaurant and ordered Peperoni Arrostiti, an appetizer consisting of roasted yellow and red bell peppers accompanied with Parmesan Reggiano cheese and Calamata black olives. The flavors mixed well together.

We opted to share a pasta dish and entree. Being that I had dined here before, I craved the exploding flavors of their chicken dish Pollo Cipriani. It included a chicken breast with diced tomatoes, artichoke hearts and white wine. It was served with roasted potatoes and seasonal vegetables.

Next, we enjoyed a sweet dish of lobster ravioli in a limoncello sauce. Although it had terrific flavors, it could be too sweet for those that prefer traditional Italian tomato sauces.

After some Chianti with our meals, we finished our dinner with some splendid desserts.

Summary: The food was fresh and full of variety. The service was very professional. The cost was moderate. We highly recommend this restaurant. This is a Best Bet!