Don't you just hate it when a Yelp review praises a place, but doesn't post pics?!?! I mean HOW can…read morea reviewer, in this day and age not have at least ONE PICTURE of the place they're praising and rating????
Came here for my HS reunion, running late. The golden hour was casting a glow on an empty check-in table so my friends, Romy & Michele, and I grabbed available name tags and headed in. Lucky for us, arriving late and walking in the bar entrance meant NO WAITING. Staff for this event was young and friendly. Margaritas were made to order, not batched, delicious and packed a punch. Yay! But I was too excited to begin mingling and already side checked by old friends before I even had a sip.
I barely had time to glance around at the furnishings, a mix of country club dining vibes and Craftsman hunting lodge warmth, before we were ushered out to the patio and up an elevated golf cart path to take a group photo. As we finished and slowly began making our way back to the outdoor patio, one final foursome came down the cart path.
The outdoor area had all the necessary tables and chairs arranged and school colors highlighted the simple, but tasteful event decor.
To one end was a large "U" shaped arrangement getting set with chafing dishes and iced trays for salad items. Steadily, eat table approached for their buffet dinner: dry spinach salad with optional DIY dressings, steak, ribs, bbq chicken, steamed asparagus fingerling potatoes, corn cobs and bread. I chose the steak, spinach sans dressing and asparagus. THE STEAK WAS SOOOO TENDER and FLAVORFUL! Around the various tables you could hear the praises being sung of that beef! The spinach was fresh and crisp and the asparagus was cooked perfectly. The chicken and ribs both looked very good and some said it was, but I skipped these finger foods for the sake of vanity and good impressions - both of which would've been left in the dust if this were just another Saturday night in the Conejo Valley.
Throughout the night the service was efficient, friendly and very helpful. After the buffet dishes were removed, platters of cookies came out for dessert. These were THE BEST COOKIES I HAVE EVER HAD!!!! Romy was the first to try 'My GOD that's good! You have to go get the cookies!' Being loyal and obedient, I did. I wish they had been labeled, but then again, I've yet to meet a cookie I didn't, at the very least, think was ok, so I selected 3. One was a lemon (so refreshing (can a cookie actually BE refreshing???) following the steak dinner. The next was a chocolate chip, but it was somehow more than that. Slightly chunky, but oh so soft. The third was a soft and chewy, delightful snickerdoodle. By the time I had finished enjoying those, I heard raves from around me about the chocolate cake that suddenly was being PASSED AROUND by classmates who had decided the best way to prove how good the cake was was by absconding the entire serving tray, a handful of forks and approach anyone sitting without chocolate frosting on their hands and face! LOL! I managed to dodge the indulgently moist, chocolate-y dessert, but not without smelling the intense flavor from a few feet away. I think I want to come back for that cake!
I understand they have live music on Fri & Sat nights, so I want to check that out in particular. Lots of free parking and well maintained facilities.
Yes, I - for this review alone - am that person who does not have ONE SINGLE PICTURE of the venue or food. But it was very good and I have every intention of returning to see if the dining room serves the same level of deliciousness as the catering for our private event. Cheers! "CC"