Thousand Oaks Meat Locker — Restaurant in Thousand Oaks

I am always hesitant before leaving a negative review. This business is someone's livelihood, so I don't take that light-hearted.

I was really craving BBQ this Saturday and feel Woodranch and Bandits are more for family occasions and service which results in a higher bill. I wanted simple picnic style American BBQ chicken today.

When I arrived it was clear the photos of this place's sign posted to Google are from another time. It's now weathered, unclean and definitely hinted at what waa to expect inside.

I told the gentleman that it was my first time in, and that I was looking for a BBQ chicken breast and two sides. Then rang me up, adding the fountain drink and it was $15. I couldn't believe it. Google shows this place as super affordable with a single $ (dollar sign). Terribly inaccurate. I'm not cheap either.

Let's talk food... Besides finding a piece of aluminum foil with my teeth in the side of baked beans I so eagerly started with. The salad was decently fresh and unwilted. The chicken was a major disappointment. Not just in the sense that it wasn't American BBQ, but in that it was served to me luke warm (salmonella anyone?) and when I tried both sides it was rubbery and tough. I was disgusted and didn't go back to the chicken for a third time. I'm in my thirties and have been hospitalized for e.coli in the past, so I know how food should be maintained and served. This place isn't doing it.

It didn't make sense that there was a large amount of meat on the BBQ by the front entrance, yet the place was empty and scheduled to close just a couple hours later. This tells me they must be preparing this a day or so in advance. Regardless they definitely are not cooking to order as I would expect for the price.

My friend was with me and he had the same, chicken breast with different sides. He said the chicken was gross to him also.

You couldn't pay me to return. I don't understand how this place has over 4.5 stars. Maybe paid reviews, or maybe they're not ordering the chicken, or maybe ownership has changed or isn't directly managing the place anymore. I spoke to my roommate that grew up in Simi and TO, and he said it used to be great food. But when I described it he said it sounds like the ownership just doesn't care anymore, like maybe their heart just isn't in it anymore.

IF YOU EAT HERE, INSIST THE CHICKEN BE HOT, OR YOU RISK GETTING SICK. Beef you can get away with a little more, chicken is...

I ordered the baby back ribs, spicy baked beans, coleslaw and rolls. The ribs were undercooked chewy to the point of almost a wet crunch. Some of them were so pink it was almost red inside. This is pork I'm talking about. We had really imagined the tender fully cooked delicious pork that people expect from baby back ribs. Not even close. Coleslaw was completely flavorless, not sure what exactly they put on it but may be a spoonful of plain mayonnaise. The spicy baked beans were not spicy - just straight out of the can nothing different than what you get in the grocery store. The rolls were literally just a processed grocery store hoagie roll with some "oil butter"? on them. And everything was completely cold.

Wanted to support the smaller local businesses but this was a waste of money and a big...

Very interesting place. Very basic, pretty dark, only sell various cuts of meat either on a sandwich or plain. A few sides are available, and a thorough condiment area with sauces, peppers, dressings, etc. There's an open fire grill near the front of the restaurant cooking several pieces of meat, which made it smell great. There's barely any seating inside, so I are at a picnic table outside, which had no lighting available. The food was reasonably good, not the best I've had though. Staff was friendly. The bathroom is down a very dark and dirty alleyway, with no lighting at night.

Overall just a very unique place. Worth checking out, but don't expect a...