Tarantula Hill Brewing Co. — Restaurant in Thousand Oaks

Its a very busy place, and does offer $5 valet parking. You order and pay for pizza, are given a number stand for your table, and pizza is delivered. You wait at the bar, order the beer and carry it to your table. There is no assemblance of an ordering line, so some of us stand in a line and others just cut in ahead on the side and get served first. So many were waiting well before those that cut in were rightly so, annoyed.. The management needs to figure out a way to manage this better instead of leaving it up to bartenders to figure out who was first. Not cool! The pizzas are very good, freshly made and delivered hot without much of a wait. An excellent variety of beers, just let the bartenders know what you like and they will make very good suggestions. The place gets busy as soon as it opens. Outside seating patio on Thousand Oaks Blvd, is covered and comfortable. The street noise can be loud, but inside seating is SO LOUD due to terrible acoustics. You can't hear yourself never mind anyone at your table unless they yell. I'm not the only person that complains about this, many of those around us (we've been twice) were unhappy. The man behind me talked so loud that it pierced my eardrums every time he spoke. Kids screech and that is even worse. So as far as it goes, I'm going it a four star - but if I can't sit outside, I'm not sure I will stay....its just way way way WAY to noisy inside to enjoy a night out with friends for pizza and beer. Standing in line and having people cut in ahead isn't much fun either. I don't want to carry my own beers, I don't go out to be a waitress for my friends and I only have two hands. Come on management.....you've go a great pizza and beer joint..just make service a better priority.. Acoustics aren't good and will definitely become an issue once the "newness" for patrons wears off. One guy on the patio was yelling at the cars...

Reason for visiting: was initially headed to The Tipsy Goat but switched over to Tarantula Brewery.

Date/time of visit: Saturday night, 9:00 PM

Parking: took a Lyft but there seems to be street parking and some parking for businesses. Lyft or Uber can take a while to come by so better to order early vs ordering when you start waiting. We waited 30+ mins for car after one cancel and others took time to wait for ride

Party size: 5

Environment/ambience: pretty fun place; there's seating in the front outside, some with fire pit/fire place, seating inside, and seating in the back. It was pretty crowded but still able to find a place to sit. The QR code that shows the menu, we weren't able to order through there (it didn't pick up the table number) so ordered drinks at the front; separate lines for beer, full bar, and ice cream. The ice cream station stop serving at some point; I think 10:00 PM but you can still get ice cream sandwiches that are in the fridge late night. Seems to be younger, good looking crowd. Busy all night; seems like people starts going over to the Tipsy Goat (they started playing music, hip hop). Sheriff's were parked next to the bar but didn't do anything; people allowed to cross the streets freely.

Service: was great; friendly and helpful

Food: had an old fashioned, tater tots, chips, and ice cream sandwiches. Everything was good.

Cost: ~$93 with tip for 2 tequila shots, 2 Palomas, and an Old Fashioned. $33 for 3 ice cream sandwiches, with taxes

Would I go back...

Been coming here since opening day and really want to keep coming here but think we’re done. Showed up on Labor Day around 2 expecting it to be busy. What I didn’t expect was unorganized chaos.

There was a sign out front saying wait to be seated but there was nobody at the door to seat us. As we waited I watched people just walk in and sit down. All I saw was a bartender and some people cooking food. There didn’t appear to be any other staff helping out. I don’t know. We waited about 10 minutes then left. Won’t be going back.

I get staffing levels are taxed right now. I get it. But this place has never had full service yet charge like they do. You have to do everything but clear your own table yet I pay the same prices as many other full service restaurants around town. I want to support local businesses but this place is making it impossible.

The food is always good but the portions are small which makes me feel like I’m not getting value for my hard earned money. On top of what appears to be a pretty arrogant staff and management acting as if they’re the only game in town means I’ll just have to check these guys off my list.

Edit for 1/4/2023. Met some friends last night and while it's a great place to hang out and have beers, the food is not worth it. It is way overpriced for what it is. Most of it DEFINITELY comes frozen in a bag. $15 for a pretzel? $15 for frozen chicken tenders? The pizza is slightly better than Domino's. Eat before you get here and you won't be...