Fabulous food for family and friends

Acorn Epicurean


BARBECUE JUST RIGHT— Above, Marco Gonzalez, head chef and owner of Tavern 101. At left, a New York prime steak entree. ELA LINDSAY/Acorn Newspapers

BARBECUE JUST RIGHT— Above, Marco Gonzalez, head chef and owner of Tavern 101. At left, a New York prime steak entree. ELA LINDSAY/Acorn Newspapers

It’s a beautiful, warm spring day and the family is demanding some delicious grilled food— ribs, steak and chicken are on their minds.

But, hey, you’ve had a hard time at work and want to take it easy. So you decide to forego the backyard barbecue and head to a local spot where you know the grilled, smoked goodies are lipsmacking good and the outdoor seating is perfect for the whole family.

Courtesy photo

Courtesy photo

Even though its name sounds more like beer and brats, Tavern 101 in Agoura Hills offers the best ribs around and some of the tastiest other treats this side of your backyard.

Nestled under a large beautiful oak tree, the patio area offers plenty of booths, tables and a fire pit for a nice relaxing outing. Make it later in the day and the twinkle lights around the tree and throughout the outdoor space will add some sparkle to your meal.

Marco Gonzalez, head chef and owner of the establishment, wants everyone to know that his place is family-owned and is “a great place for families, a place where people go and gather” and “it’s great for parties, rehearsal dinners and baby showers, too.”

 

 

With lots of seating indoors and out, plus an on-site smoker, this is the place to impress friends and family with selections like the meaty and oh-so-amazing barbecue baby back ribs with their own homemade molasses-based sauce, which is just right, not too sweet.

With Mother’s Day right around the corner on May 13, Gonzalez reminds customers that the grill will prepare some special dishes for those special moms, including fish and smoked prime rib. Tavern 101 is also a popular spot for dads on Father’s Day (June 17) and every day of the week.

I sampled a 12-ounce, 3-inch-thick New York prime steak that was almost as big as the plate. The meat was juicy and grilled to perfection with just the right amount of dry rub and demi-glace. A dab of rosemary butter on top was a nice bonus, as were the mashed Yukon gold potatoes and roasted baby carrots.

Two gentlemen seated near me seemed to be enjoying their dishes so I asked what they had ordered.

Jimmy Hart from Topanga Canyon and Randy Haynie from Valencia were chowing down on some burgers.

“There’s no place better to come for a burger and a beer after a long mountain bike ride,” Haynie said. The self-proclaimed connoisseur of sweet potato fries also gave a thumb’s up to Tavern 101’s version.

I saw several loaded salads go by, and especially appealing was the goat cheese and beet salad with roasted red, orange and yellow beets served with baby greens and tossed with balsamic vinaigrette. When I sampled some it was liked biting into a bowl of crunchy, sweet freshness.

Too stuffed to have dessert, I asked another customer about his warm apple pie a la mode. Mark King of Carpenteria, who was visiting his Ventura County girlfriend, said, “Every bite shouts out ‘homemade. There’s a delightful contrast between the sweet, tender chunks of apple against the flaky pie crust with a hint of saltiness.”

Tavern 101 offers enough exciting and yummy taste sensations to please every member of your family or group. The restaurant offers a kids’ menu. Dogs are welcome on the patio.

After over 25 years in the business, Gonzalez has perfected some mighty fine dishes. So the next time it’s family barbecue day and mom and dad want a break, head over to his place with the clan and enjoy some tasty, award-winning barbecue favorites like tri-tip, rib-eye, Louisiana-style sausages and seafood, including, shrimp scampi, fish and chips, and seared ahi tacos.

Or bring the party to your place; Gonzales said he can take his mobile smoker on the road for catering events. As a matter of fact, he likes the business so much, he runs a sister restaurant in Malibu called Tavern 1 Grill & Tap House at 21337 Pacific Coast Highway.

Tavern 101 Grill & Tap House is at 28434 Roadside Drive, Agoura Hills. Hours are Monday through Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Call (818) 991- 7227. For more information, visit taverngrills.com.