Restaurant in Thousand Oaks offers eager diners aflavor infusion

Acorn Epicurean


TASTE BUDS— Above, a Fusion platter with spring rolls, samosas and grilled shrimp over a bed of organic greens with coconut dressing and side of apricot dipping sauce. At right, co-owners Boroka and Chef Jorge Soriano. Courtesy of Boroka Soriano

TASTE BUDS— Above, a Fusion platter with spring rolls, samosas and grilled shrimp over a bed of organic greens with coconut dressing and side of apricot dipping sauce. At right, co-owners Boroka and Chef Jorge Soriano. Courtesy of Boroka Soriano

Fusion Grill is the perfect name for an exciting, creative concept in dining that features an infusion of inspirations from other culinary cultures, including French, Asian and Italian.

Husband-and-wife co-owners Chef Jorge and Boroka Soriano are all about creating an excellent dining experience they call “new American cuisine” for their customers, many of whom moved with them when they expanded and relocated their already successful, five-year counter-service business in Newbury Park to its new, larger spot in Thousand Oaks, which now offers table service.

ELA LINDSAY/Acorn Newspapers

ELA LINDSAY/Acorn Newspapers

The clean, crisp ambience of the place seems to foretell what’s to come. The contemporary, whimsical mixed-media art pieces by T.O. resident Taryn Foster are the perfect prelude to interesting and fresh fusion drinks, like a “naughty OJ” made with ginger, beets and fresh orange juice.

When the fully automatic juicer is fired up, the owners say, kids love to watch the machine in operation.

Fusion Grill offers a totally family-friendly experience where dogs are welcome on the patio. The restaurant also has a party room where milestone celebrations and other gatherings can take place.

 

 

The menu has exciting items sure to please patrons, even those with dietary restrictions. The dishes include burgers, pasta, wraps and soups created by Jorge Soriano, whose passion is to share his original fusion dishes with others.

The restaurant is all about innovation and creativity using ingredients culled from other cultures, and everything is fresh and made on site. Take the Fusion platter, for instance, a delightful mix of samosas, grilled shrimp and spring rolls.

The samosas, made with pureed potatoes and peas, feature a yummy secret blend of seasonings; the spring rolls feature red peppers, shiitake mushrooms and napa cabbage; and the shrimp is grilled then sauteed, and the whole shebang is placed on a bed of organic greens topped with the most delicious coconut dressing you can imagine and served with a side of tasty apricot dipping sauce.

Something I’ve never encountered till now is a closed-circuit TV monitor that shows the food being plated so you can see the care and precision that goes into your special meal. Even more fun is the fact that you can observe everyone else’s dishes being put together so you can decide what you’ll try the next time you visit.

Another novelty I’ve never seen before are these neat “beer towers,” perfect for a table of brew buffs who can pour their own drinks from the long, upright cylinder that’s placed directly on the table. No more waiting to be served your next beverage.

Soon the Fusion Grill will offer appetizers, including tuna tartar, naked rolls and avocado crush, as well as a totally vegan menu, but in the meantime, they are happy to make substitutions on dishes to suit their patrons’ needs and desires.

“We go up and above to please our customers,” Boroka Soriano said. “There’s a solution for everything.”

Her husband agreed.

“Everything we do is for the customer,” he said. “We want them to be happy.”

Speaking of happy, Happy Hour happens daily between 2 and 6 p.m. featuring bottled beer for $2 and white wine for $4.50, and, among other specials, it’s just $2 for a chicken taco with their signature salsa verde. It’s also a great time to try their yummy fries at just $1.95 a pop.

Restaurant hours are from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. weekdays and 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends. Breakfast is available every day till 2 p.m.

Fusion Grill is in the Oakbrook Plaza at 2024 E. Avenida de Los Arboles, Thousand Oaks.

Call (805) 241-0449 or visit fusiongrill1.com for details.