The Conejo Valley is limited when it comes to fine dining. If you've been looking for a higher end dining experience, a place to celebrate a special occasion, or a romantic date spot, this restaurant won't disappoint. I don't want to give away spoilers, but this place is an experience where details and quality are exceptional.
Kalista K.
What a great experience! Me and my dad had a reservation at another restaurant but somehow it wasn't on the list. So we were stuck not knowing where to go until we ran across Charcoal Niku! We were a little concerned at first because it wasn't very busy at first but it was amazing! The staff was very nice and helpful, the food was all a 10/10 (and it even came with a complimentary lemon crème brûlée) and lastly the ambiance was super calm and put together. However it seems not to many people know about this restaurant (it's a hidden gem) so I hope that we can prevent them from having to close down :(
Jules G.
Fantastic! All of it! Food! Service! Ambiance! If you haven't tried this yet, you are in for a surprise ! Right in Oak Park!
Harry H.
Tucked in the Northeast corner of Kanan and Lindero Canyon, CharcoalNiku is literally a hidden gem. I hope and wish that business picks up for this amazingly perfect restaurant. We rolled up into the Oak Park Plaza on a Thursday evening to celebrate an intimate dinner and walked in to this elegantly put together restaurant with clean, simple details in its decor. Edward, the manager on site greeted us and make us comfortable through knowledgeable and enthusiastic conversation about the place and it's food. We knew we were in for a treat. Our evening rolled out in this order: - A5 Wagyu Amuse - Pretty much a twist to beef tartare... citrusy thru the Ponzu jelly as well as the Sansho pepper which also added a touch of spice to it, the drizzle of truffle oil both adds earthiness, richness and balance to the finish. - Dungeness crab cakes - Delicate considering it is a fried dish. Packed with crab meat that makes it difficult to stay in one piece. The pea puree adds earthiness and some brightness to the dish. - Prime Outside Skirt Steak - Medium rare as we like it. Perfectly grilled, slight smokiness, just the right amount of seasoning. The meat was as advertised, extremely tender, rich from the marbling. This was served with sliced potatoes with a nice crust to them, blanched broccoli and Yuzu-Miso glazed Eggplants that were mmm mmm....good! - Faroe Island Salmon - A generous filet served with a house Yuzu Kosho sauce. We chose our fish lightly cooked and it was perfect! Firm, but melts in your mouth good. This came with Brussel sprouts that were tossed in a house honey vinaigrette with some crumbled feta.....and....the same potatoes and broccoli as the steak. - Bone Marrow Fried Rice - The highlight of highlights for the evening. Fried rice with beef chunks, cordyceps, kimchi and egg served together with a roasted beef bone on a sizzling stone bowl! Edward scraped the marrow theatrically tableside then mixed up the concoction. Had we known the serving size, we would have gotten the proteins ala carte! Rich, flavorful, with a good balance of spice and earthiness. This dish was a keeper!!! Dinner was capped with a Creme bruleed limoncello cheesecake that was done really well. Crunch from the brulee, richness of the cheesecake that also cleansed the palate. I hope people in the community realize the awesomeness of this place. This is top notch food served in a sleepy strip mall in one of the most affluent neighborhoods in the country. These local folks need to wake up and support this place. I know I will!!!
Anthony A.
This place is amazing. A modern contemporary atmosphere that feels like a future Michelin rated place. The attention to detail is outstanding. The truffle scallops and short ribs are 10/10 superb. Definitely coming back.
John S.
Excellent all around. Locals would do well to try this out and keep going back. Great addition to the area.
Anton ..
Very nice place! Interesting cocktails based on soju , meat is good. Service is also very welcoming and nice . Noticed just one growing pain , the menu is somewhat limited. It doesn't bother me much until food is good .
Scott R.
Found this new-ish local place by accident when we searched for a last minute place for dinner on a Saturday. The service was excellent and helpful. The food was also very good. We enjoyed the appetizer, protein and sides formula and all of our selections were quite tasty. Very comfortable atmosphere as well. Loved the big, cozy chairs.
Nancy M.
Enjoyed another dinner at CharcoalNiku! We introduced our friends and had a wonderful dinner and visit. Their dishes are designed to be shared. Remember that as you look at the pricing. The dishes were so flavorful and the presentation was terrific! We felt transported to a luxury cruise line we enjoy. I really can't say enough about the entire experience. The delightful staff, the cocktails were yummy, it's always great to find cocktails that are not the standard fare. The four of shared a couple of appetizers with our cocktails. Then we ordered just 2 dinners, which again we shared, OK, rather than stating each time, know we shared everything. The vegetable, a rice dish, and we were all very extremely satisfied. No one wanted any more, at least not last night. A hidden gem in Oak Park!! Check it out!
Joseph D.
Loved this place! Don't let it throw you off, if it's quiet when you walk in. It's an intimate setting, and also pretty new as of this review. The steak was fantastic, and service was awesome. Edward and William were particularly great.
This place is my dream steakhouse 11/10 i will be coming here every birthday for the rest of my life
Jill S.
excellent ambiance, food & service. The hanger steak was delicious as were the appetizers.
T N.
What a great experience! Party of six, we arrived soon after they opened since we didn't have reservations. They were able to seat us and although the family-style dishes were available we opted for the individual plates so we could try the various sides. There wasn't a thing anyone didn't like (four filet mignon, two sea bass). We got an order of bone marrow fried rice which I was very reluctant to try but it was fabulous! The best part for me was the "butterfly uzo" drink they give you to sip on between bites/dishes to cleanse your palette. The service was friendly and warm. All in all, a great night!
Michelle Patterson
Wonderful restaurant with great atmosphere and unique
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Skirt Steak
Nikki I.
OMG!!!! Service 5 star! Food 5 Star! Ambiance 5 Star! We love it. All the small things really add up to a perfect night. On our 3rd visit and taking friends with us next time.
The Conejo Valley is limited when it comes to fine dining. If you've been looking for a higher end dining experience, a place to celebrate a special occasion, or a romantic date spot, this restaurant won't disappoint. I don't want to give away spoilers, but this place is an experience where details and quality are exceptional.
What a great experience! Me and my dad had a reservation at another restaurant but somehow it wasn't on the list. So we were stuck not knowing where to go until we ran across Charcoal Niku! We were a little concerned at first because it wasn't very busy at first but it was amazing! The staff was very nice and helpful, the food was all a 10/10 (and it even came with a complimentary lemon crème brûlée) and lastly the ambiance was super calm and put together. However it seems not to many people know about this restaurant (it's a hidden gem) so I hope that we can prevent them from having to close down :(
Fantastic! All of it! Food! Service! Ambiance! If you haven't tried this yet, you are in for a surprise ! Right in Oak Park!
Tucked in the Northeast corner of Kanan and Lindero Canyon, CharcoalNiku is literally a hidden gem. I hope and wish that business picks up for this amazingly perfect restaurant. We rolled up into the Oak Park Plaza on a Thursday evening to celebrate an intimate dinner and walked in to this elegantly put together restaurant with clean, simple details in its decor. Edward, the manager on site greeted us and make us comfortable through knowledgeable and enthusiastic conversation about the place and it's food. We knew we were in for a treat. Our evening rolled out in this order: - A5 Wagyu Amuse - Pretty much a twist to beef tartare... citrusy thru the Ponzu jelly as well as the Sansho pepper which also added a touch of spice to it, the drizzle of truffle oil both adds earthiness, richness and balance to the finish. - Dungeness crab cakes - Delicate considering it is a fried dish. Packed with crab meat that makes it difficult to stay in one piece. The pea puree adds earthiness and some brightness to the dish. - Prime Outside Skirt Steak - Medium rare as we like it. Perfectly grilled, slight smokiness, just the right amount of seasoning. The meat was as advertised, extremely tender, rich from the marbling. This was served with sliced potatoes with a nice crust to them, blanched broccoli and Yuzu-Miso glazed Eggplants that were mmm mmm....good! - Faroe Island Salmon - A generous filet served with a house Yuzu Kosho sauce. We chose our fish lightly cooked and it was perfect! Firm, but melts in your mouth good. This came with Brussel sprouts that were tossed in a house honey vinaigrette with some crumbled feta.....and....the same potatoes and broccoli as the steak. - Bone Marrow Fried Rice - The highlight of highlights for the evening. Fried rice with beef chunks, cordyceps, kimchi and egg served together with a roasted beef bone on a sizzling stone bowl! Edward scraped the marrow theatrically tableside then mixed up the concoction. Had we known the serving size, we would have gotten the proteins ala carte! Rich, flavorful, with a good balance of spice and earthiness. This dish was a keeper!!! Dinner was capped with a Creme bruleed limoncello cheesecake that was done really well. Crunch from the brulee, richness of the cheesecake that also cleansed the palate. I hope people in the community realize the awesomeness of this place. This is top notch food served in a sleepy strip mall in one of the most affluent neighborhoods in the country. These local folks need to wake up and support this place. I know I will!!!
This place is amazing. A modern contemporary atmosphere that feels like a future Michelin rated place. The attention to detail is outstanding. The truffle scallops and short ribs are 10/10 superb. Definitely coming back.
Excellent all around. Locals would do well to try this out and keep going back. Great addition to the area.
Very nice place! Interesting cocktails based on soju , meat is good. Service is also very welcoming and nice . Noticed just one growing pain , the menu is somewhat limited. It doesn't bother me much until food is good .
Found this new-ish local place by accident when we searched for a last minute place for dinner on a Saturday. The service was excellent and helpful. The food was also very good. We enjoyed the appetizer, protein and sides formula and all of our selections were quite tasty. Very comfortable atmosphere as well. Loved the big, cozy chairs.
Enjoyed another dinner at CharcoalNiku! We introduced our friends and had a wonderful dinner and visit. Their dishes are designed to be shared. Remember that as you look at the pricing. The dishes were so flavorful and the presentation was terrific! We felt transported to a luxury cruise line we enjoy. I really can't say enough about the entire experience. The delightful staff, the cocktails were yummy, it's always great to find cocktails that are not the standard fare. The four of shared a couple of appetizers with our cocktails. Then we ordered just 2 dinners, which again we shared, OK, rather than stating each time, know we shared everything. The vegetable, a rice dish, and we were all very extremely satisfied. No one wanted any more, at least not last night. A hidden gem in Oak Park!! Check it out!
Loved this place! Don't let it throw you off, if it's quiet when you walk in. It's an intimate setting, and also pretty new as of this review. The steak was fantastic, and service was awesome. Edward and William were particularly great.
Restaurantji Recommends
This place is my dream steakhouse 11/10 i will be coming here every birthday for the rest of my life
excellent ambiance, food & service. The hanger steak was delicious as were the appetizers.
What a great experience! Party of six, we arrived soon after they opened since we didn't have reservations. They were able to seat us and although the family-style dishes were available we opted for the individual plates so we could try the various sides. There wasn't a thing anyone didn't like (four filet mignon, two sea bass). We got an order of bone marrow fried rice which I was very reluctant to try but it was fabulous! The best part for me was the "butterfly uzo" drink they give you to sip on between bites/dishes to cleanse your palette. The service was friendly and warm. All in all, a great night!
Wonderful restaurant with great atmosphere and unique
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Skirt Steak
OMG!!!! Service 5 star! Food 5 Star! Ambiance 5 Star! We love it. All the small things really add up to a perfect night. On our 3rd visit and taking friends with us next time.