The Nook Restaurant located at 579 Ventu Park Road in Thousand Oaks’ Newbury Park neighborhood will soon become Mikey’s Restaurant, an all-day American breakfast-lunch-dinner joint by husband and wife Miguel and Lisa Castillo.
Raised in Toluca Mexico, Miguel often found himself cooking in the kitchen with his grandmother and dreamed of eventually opening a restaurant of his own. After meeting Lisa while working at a branch of Coco’s Bakery, the duo partnered with friends to open a culinary concept, but the deal ultimately went sour…twice. That’s when the Castillos decided to do it the right way — their way.
Although The Nook will soon shutter its doors, Miguel and Lisa intend to keep its menu and price points intact, changing only the eatery’s hours and adding an entertainment aspect.
“We want to continue [The Nook’s concept] except that Mikey’s will serve until dinner time, and we’ll add karaoke so that the place gives off a get-together-with-friends-and-family vibe,” explains Lisa. “At the end of the day, we are going to have a place for people who want to relax after a long and stressful experience at the office.”
According to Lisa, the prices will be reasonable, with more expensive entrees like chicken, pasta, fish, and steaks ranging from $19.99 – $29.99. Mikey’s will settle in next to Saffron Indian Cuisine at the Ralph’s-anchored shopping center, providing visitors with a variety of fare to choose from.
The couple is looking to open in November, though their recently filed liquor license should take 60-90 days to process, says Lisa, so the wait could be longer.
