California Fish Grill — Restaurant in Thousand Oaks

We were hesitant to try the California Fish Grill that opened recently in Thousand Oaks because we're vegetarian, but we're so glad we did! The plant-based meals we ordered were truly next level.

I ordered the plant-based battered fish and chips, which came with a kale slaw as well, and i almost returned it because I thought it was real fish! Wow! My wife finally convinced me that this was indeed a plant-based meal. The flavor was that of a mild white fish, from my recollection, as I've been a strict vegetarian for 9 years. The texture was very close to a real fish fillet, but just less flaky. It was very most and not chewy at all.

My wife ordered the plant-based dynamite shrimp bowl, and she was floored by the spicy and bold flavors. The "shrimp" looked and tasted like cooked shrimp, but the texture was just a bit more firm. I could tell her meal was plant-based more than I could tell mine was. The bottom line: we were shocked by the quality and likeness to the real thing these plant-based dishes were. Thus the 4 stars for food.

The only negative comment i have is that there were no plant-based kids meals available on the menu, so we had to go to another restaurant afterwards to feed my 6-year-old son. I'm not looking for anything fancy here: a grilled cheese sandwich, or a flat bread pizza (cheese or margherita), or a cheese quesadilla? We're not picky.

I might be wrong, but I would think if you could nearly fool longtime vegetarians with the highest quality plant-based meals, then you can slap some cheese on a couple of slices of bread and throw it on a grill. Is that too...

I should have taken pictures. Ok. They forgot to include my side—the delicious kale/cabbage coleslaw (so named because it comes from the Dutch "koosla," meaning cabbage salad, btw), and I had to wait for a full 5 min. looking at said koosla that was just few feet behind the counter.

But the food? Wowee-wow-wow (as Christopher Walken says). Unbelievable. I write food and nutrition books. NY Times (that rag) best-selling author. I'm a serious cook. Worked for years in restaurants. Chefs will nod their heads when I tell you that fish—I ordered the rockfish—needs to be sauteed to the second. 20 seconds too long, and it's dry. 20 seconds short, and an angry customer sends it back.

This. Was. Perfect. And you know it's true because I put periods after each word.

Forget spending $100s for at a 3-star Michelin restaurant—well, unless your bored and have $ to burn.

The food was flatout exquisite. Dear C.F. Grill execs, whoever runs the 1000 Oaks location, give her or him (or they or zer) a raise. If you have a depression after eating a current-day Big Mac or some limp airport TGI F. hamburger, skip the therapist and go to to California Fish Grill in 1000 Oaks.

It'll cure...

I'm not a very big fan of fish, but I have really enjoyed the food here. I visited hear with my wife. I had the crispy fish sandwich and she had the mahi mahi plate. The fish sandwich is a very crispy, large, well-seasoned piece of fish. The ingredients are incredibly fresh, and their dynamite sauce is very tasty. The fries are good, but not amazing. I should have gotten the street corn on the side instead. The corn is very good, though I would have preferred cotija rather than the parmesan cheese. I am a huge fan of the fried fish here. The fried fish in the fish taco is very large and filling. The clam chowder is only so-so. It’s not as thick as I typically prefer, but the flavor is good. My wife had Mahi Mahi with rice. For her side, she got the cilantro lime slaw. The fish was well-done and seemed overly cooked, I would have preferred it a little less cooked. Their sauces and seasonings blend together very harmoniously. The fries are not very crispy, but they were still okay. My main complaint is that the fish seemed overcooked and fries weren't crispy, which I found very minor compared to the enjoyability I found in...