CEDRO Italian Restaurant — Restaurant in Thousand Oaks

Beware, this restaurant is not worthy of Michelin recommendation or Bib Gourmand. It honestly feels like false advertising, although the recognition is not the "fault" of the restaurant. Somebody at Michelin loves it. It's been an unusually quick rise to the award in an area devoid of Michelin-approved restaurants. Frankly, others seem more worthy (Pearl, Nonna, Cork Dork, Moody Rooster...).

We dined recently with a reservation. I contacted the restaurant via email and they confirmed that email is their preferred reservation system. Really? When we arrived, there was no reservation. Instead, there was an overwhelmed hostess with a sheet of paper and pencil (no podium, no book, no computer). Add an overbearing owner/waiter who thought he knew better, and the whole thing was chaotic. There were a few other guests whose reservations were also missing. They simply added us who HAD reservations to the bottom of the wait list. So, we waited and waited. Would have left, but it was Friday at 730, so we felt a bit trapped. Besides, the food is Mich recommended, right?

As anyone with restaurant experience knows, when the front door crashes the chaos trickles throughout the restaurant. Service was all over the place. Nobody knew who was taking care of what tables, like they were making it up as they went with the owner trying to take the majority. We watched tables seated after us receive service, drinks, and even food before we finally started ordering from any employee walking by. Some tables (including an obvious minor) were given complimentary prosecco (from an abysmal/embarrassing wine list) for their wait. Later, we heard others offered comped desserts. Not us.

But the food is Mich recommended, right? Not comparable with other Italian Bib Gourmand recipients (Colapasta and Rossoblu blow this place away). The bruschetta was just okay. The toppings (or lack thereof) were sad, and the burrata wasn't the best. But the flavor was there. Carbonara was nice and rich, although the tonnarelli seemed thicker than other versions I've enjoyed. Nevertheless, it was good. The woman dining next to us sent her branzino back, so I started to worry about my choice. But the fish was cooked really nicely. I even ate up the crispy skin (a sometimes thing for me)! The real standout was the osso bucco with polenta. This was a great representation of the classic - and a hearty portion. It may have been a special?

On the way out, the owner said, "Did you have a reservation?" I think you know we did. "You need a system," I replied. "Come back two weeks, we have a system." It's been four, no system. After seeing other comments, he seems to think his thick accent will smooth everything over. That may work for unsophisticated diners, but not the serious foodie crowd.

If Cedro wants to be so proud of their Michelin laurels, they need to do the unthinkable. Raise prices 10%, hire an experienced front of house manager (wine experience needed), and get Resy (it's perfect for this size spot and cheap compared to OpenTable). I have literally no doubt that the owner will NOT heed this advice. For all of these reasons, I doubt we'll return. But I HOPE we...

I rated this restaurant three stars for several reasons. As someone who enjoys meals at charming establishments, I generally avoid fast food. Upon arriving, I was pleasantly surprised by the cozy ambiance, especially for a location nestled within a strip mall. The staff members were warm and welcoming, but it was clear they could benefit from hiring additional help to keep up with the service demands.

Unfortunately, the food fell flat and was merely mediocre.

There were five of us. To start, we all shared the Cedro Caesar Salad, which featured crisp little gem lettuce dressed in a creamy Caesar dressing and accompanied by crunchy croutons. However, it lacked the robust flavor one expects from a classic Caesar, leaving me yearning for something more satisfying.

I opted for the Truffle Burger, a promising dish featuring a juicy beef patty topped with grilled bittersweet onions, rich smoked provolone cheese, truffle aioli, and shaved Parmigiano, all served alongside roasted potatoes. However, the burger was surprisingly flavorless, save for the sweetness of the onions, and the presentation left much to be desired; the plain roasted potatoes were carelessly piled on the plate.

One of my companions chose the Branzino alla Griglia, which showcased a beautifully grilled branzino stuffed with sautéed broccoli and accented with caramelized lemon zest, yet again accompanied by those same uninspired roasted potatoes. While the fish was well-prepared and flavorful, the repetition of the bland side was disappointing.

Another guest tried the Tagliatelle Agnello, an enticing plate of tagliatelle pasta adorned with a rich braised lamb ragù and topped with crunchy pistachio crumbs. He declared it a winner, enjoying the harmonious blend of flavors and textures.

Meanwhile, a fourth guest ordered the Cacciucco, a hearty seafood stew brimming with fresh octopus, mussels, clams, calamari, branzino, scallops, and shrimp, all enveloped in a fragrant tomato sauce and served with toasted bread. He savored every bite of the dish, perhaps the highlight of the evening.

Just to clarify, this is my perspective.

The service was somewhat slow, but I didn't mind; it allowed us to enjoy each other's company and share stories. To complement our meal, we splu

rged on a bottle of Barolo Red wine, which was a delightful accompaniment and truly stood out amidst the meal's shortcomings.

I recommend you try the restaurant...

So a group of us tried this place last night.

Pros - we were seated immediately. The staff was very courteous. We were promptly given menus, and once we ordered, the food came out at a very acceptable pace. It was quick, but not so quick that you worried about it having been sitting there for an hour.

Peach Burrata Salad and Ragu were wonderful! Beautiful presentations.

Cons - My husband tried the short ribs. They were pretty dry. The sauce underneath them was excellent, but there was not enough of it. The broccoli fantastic. I had the carbonara, which honestly was pretty devoid of flavor and way too rich. Ate 3 bites and left the rest.

Despite some warnings online, I went ahead and ordered the Caesar salad. As mentioned by others, I received three small hearts of lettuce that were already starting to discolor, showing me they were not particularly fresh. The salad was also room temperature and the outer leaves were a bit wilted. The dressing had no flavor and was served with a cup of dried Parmesan vs shaved cheese- not what I would expect from Michelin star restaurant. Honestly, it was on par with a salad you would get at LAX.. had I not been really hungry at that point I would’ve sent it back.

Please use ice. It was warm outside.. when we were initially brought sparkling water, we were bought regular glasses with no ice. When we asked for regular water it was brought to us and a small carafe however, it was completely lukewarm and once again, no ice.

On the other hand, the other people I was with thoroughly enjoyed their meal. Another couple who had tried the restaurant the previous week were also underwhelmed so in all fairness, it may partially be matter of taste, however I will not be recommending this restaurant.

TO THE OWNERS - my mistake in the rating but not on the comments. Yes, I have had “real” Italian food. And I know a fresh salad from a warm, one and the lettuce leaves were starting to discolor on the edges which I know is harmless but not appetizing. I’ve also never seen a higher end restaurant not offer shaved cheese. I appreciate the response but perhaps looking into why so many people make the same comment (see Yelp) wouldnt...