Dishing Out Compliments

If the 2000 edition of the Zagat Survey is to be believed, there is some serious food being prepared in Ventura County. This is particularly so in the Conejo Valley, where a few restaurants are ranked alongside some of Los Angeles’ top-scoring eateries.

First, some background: Each year, restaurant-goers can complete a lengthy questionnaire for Zagat critiquing restaurants they have frequented. The survey, started in 1979 as a hobby by New Yorkers Nina and Tim Zagat, evolved into a series of tersely written, best-selling restaurant guides. There are regional editions that cover more than 40 U.S. and foreign cities, which many American travelers and restaurants-goers consider indispensable.

The new Los Angeles/Southern California guide rates and reviews 1,550 restaurants, and this past year a record 7,040 volunteer diners participated in the survey. Each restaurant is rated on a scale of 0 to 30 for food, decor and service.

Most notable in the Conejo Valley might be 2087 An American Bistro, which earned an esteemed spot in the new edition’s “Top 50 Food Ranking.”

Thousand Oaks’ 2087--home of contemporary American cuisine with Latin American, Asian and European influences--received a mark of 25 in the food category, ranking it on the high end of the “very good to excellent” range.

The restaurant also tied with four other Southern California eateries in the best “American (New)” cuisine category.

Tuscany Il Ristorante in Westlake Village also received a mark of 25 for food, placing it third in the best Italian cuisine category. Tuscany and 2087 were also lauded by survey participants for excellent service, earning marks of 24 and 23 respectively.

Brazilian food, anyone? Galletto in Westlake Village, which earned a 22 food mark, tied with two other restaurants in the best Brazilian cuisine category.

The Zagat Survey reads: “ . . . it’s not at all like eating in Rio, but what you lose in authenticity, you make up for in saved air fare and a lack of pickpockets.”

Also in Westlake Village, the continental cuisine of Mandevilla was appreciated by participants, with a food score of 22. The restaurant also received a mark of 23 for service.

Piatti, an Italian restaurant in Thousand Oaks, received a 21 in each of the food, decor and service categories. And Du-Par’s, in Thousand Oaks, was ranked 69th on the “100 Top Bangs For The Buck” list.

Wood Ranch BBQ & Grill, with locations in Agoura Hills, Camarillo and Moorpark, has become a Zagat mainstay. It has been named the top barbecue spot in the region four years running, sharing top honors the last two years with Dr. Hogly Wogly’s in Van Nuys.

“It is very flattering to us that our customers see what we do as that good,” said Wood Ranch co-founder Eric Anders.

Inclusion in the survey is good for business in more ways than just having happy customers, Anders said, especially for a company like Wood Ranch that is looking to expand. “It gives our company a sense of legitimacy to investors and landlords who haven’t had the opportunity to try our food and to see what we do is very well accepted,” he said.

Elsewhere around the county, Ojai is well represented in the survey with high rankings garnered by Suzanne’s Cuisine, the Ranch House, L’Auberge and the Ojai Valley Inn. (The west county area--which is not recognized by Zagat as a distinct culinary locale--is folded into the Santa Barbara region.)

In the food category, Suzanne’s earned a 25; the Ranch House, 23; L’Auberge, 22; Ojai Valley Inn, 21. Suzanne’s and the Ranch House both posted a 23 for service, ranking them among the leaders in that category.

Another west county notable is 71 Palm in Ventura, which has been included in the survey the last two years--a worthy entrant considering it just celebrated its second anniversary. The French restaurant posted solid marks across the board: food, 20; decor, 19; service, 20.

For more information about the Zagat Survey or to learn how to participate, visit the Web site at https://www.zagat.com.

Rodney Bosch writes about the restaurant scene in Ventura County and outlying points. He can be reached at 653-7572, fax 653-7576 or by e-mail at: rodney.bosch@latimes.com.