Grecian Formula

The clientele who frequented Olga’s Kitchen at The Oaks shopping center will hardly recognize the restaurant’s new digs in Thousand Oaks.

Owner Tom Carlin moved the restaurant to a former furniture store at the newish Center Oaks Plaza, located just off the Ventura Freeway on Moorpark Road.

The redesigned building features a contemporary-casual setting with lots of plants and an airy feel. The roomy space seats about 110, with outdoor patio seating where patrons dine by candlelight.

Carlin ended a 13-year relationship with The Oaks in January and reopened at the new site about three months ago.

“We have a tremendous amount more of visibility and it’s easier for the customers to get in to our place,” Carlin said.

Street address and interior design aside, what has not changed at Olga’s Kitchen is the menu. The franchised restaurant--the parent company is headquartered in Detroit--serves up Greek-style dishes for lunch and dinner.

Each meal is built around the restaurant’s trademark Olga bread, which is round, moist and mildly sweet. It is used as a wrap for lunchtime sandwiches--called “Olgas”--or opened faced for dinners--”Olga Meals”--which are served with a small salad, seasonal vegetables and choice of fries or stir-fried rice.

The Greek flavor of Olga’s Kitchen’s fare needs some explanation, according to Carlin.

“Is it Greek food? Well, we have chicken fajita Olgas and turkey club Olgas. I’d say it’s an Americanized Greek food,” he said.

The Original Olga is rooted in Greek gyro tradition, with its seasoned beef and lamb, topped with onions, tomatoes and a creamy yogurt sauce similar to tzatziki. Other wrapped Olgas include the fresh vegetarian, Oriental vegetable, chicken stir-fry and more. The open-faced Olga Meals include a Mexicana, sauteed vegetarian, mushroom-steak Monterey, primavera and chicken teriyaki stir-fry.

Olga’s Kitchen is a full-service restaurant with beer and wine, and everything on the menu is available for takeout.

DETAILS

Olga’s Kitchen is in Thousand Oaks at 593 N. Moorpark Road in the Center Oaks Plaza. Hours: Sun.-Thur, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Fri.-Sat., 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Call 379-0662.

*

*

Pro’Active Pilates Studio in Westlake Village will present the first installment of its healthy living lecture series on Nov. 4.

Ann Sherman will present “Whole Foods Cooking for the Holidays--and Everyday,” a one-hour demonstration focusing on simple and nutritional cooking tips. Various dining options will address food allergies, organic foods, macrobiotic, wheat-free, vegetarian and other diet choices.

Sherman, a chef with more than 20 years experience, will also share culinary tips she has gleaned from her travels to India, Greece, Japan and Thailand.

DETAILS

Pro’Active Pilates Studio in Westlake Village will present the lecture “Whole Foods Cooking for the Holidays--and Everyday” at 6:30 p.m. Thursday. The health studio is in the Westlake Shopping Plaza, Westlake Boulevard and Townsgate Road. Admission is free. For more information, call 557-1524.

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.