Oasis in the Desert
Agoura Hills, ordinarily known for its dearth of decent food and cuisine, now has Cafe 14 as an alternative. It is pricey and requires a reservation most of the time but the food is excellent and eclectic to provide a choice for most preferences. Service was also excellent for the most part and host and staff very pleasant. Possibly the finest cuisine in Agoura, not that this is saying much as there is little competition. When it comes to fine cuisine, Agoura is a wasteland. The ratings below didn't offer the specifics that I personally would have cited but my only real complaint about service was that we could have used more bread before dinner. Other than that one issue everything was stellar. The food was excellent, beautifully presented without overdoing the artsy fartsy stuff (I want satisfying high end cuisine, not artwork on my plate) and the atmosphere is lovely and the service quite excellent. I would recommend it highly.    [08 Jul 2006 13:29:27]

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Recommended Dishes: Lamb Shank, filet, Ahi

     ­Larry    labrown4blues at adelphia dot net

Amazing Westside Style Food.
Wow my wife and I had an amazing meal here! We can't believe that this place is in Agoura Hills. We are telling all of our friends about Cafe 14.    [20 Oct 2006 01:14:51]

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Recommended Dishes: scallop app., soups, short rib, seafood specials, desserts

     ­picky eater   

We always enjoy a delicious dinner at Cafe 14. I have tried many of the dishes and have always been delighted with the food and the presentation.
They have a very friendly atmosphere and well trained waiters who are very attentive. We eat here at least once a week and love it.    [25 Nov 2006 01:20:14]

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     ­Barbara   

Simply GREAT
I've eaten at Cafe 14 at least 10 times now and do not have a complaint. I've had two birthday parties there on the patio and each was memorable.

The food has been excellent and the staff extremely knowledgeable of the menu or a wine to go along with the meal.    [30 Jan 2007 17:01:45]

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     ­Anonymous   

A really great restaurant for real foodies
Do not be fooled by the name "Cafe 14" as this is a REAL "Jewel in the crown". This is an intimate place with some of the best food I have eaten in California.
The wine list is excellent, the cuisine is outstanding and the service is of the highest order. This place must be the best kept secret in Southern California. Packed with regulars every night except Mondays, you will need to reserve a table up front if you do want to be disappointed.    [11 Feb 2007 03:12:30]

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     ­Anonymous   

I've watched them grow
I visit Southern California two to three times a year and always make it a point to have at least one dinner each visit at Cafe 14 in Agoura Hills. From the beginning I had a feeling it would be an excellent restaurant and they haven't disappointed me. I recommend it to all my friends who visit the LA area, and nobody has ever had a complaint. The food varies, but the quality doesn't. Great service, great food, great ambience.    [20 Mar 2007 17:39:34]

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     ­maryleemll   

superb
Great food and eclectic wine list    [12 Jul 2007 01:45:40]

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Recommended Dishes: all fish dishes and desserts

     ­william   

Best in Conejo Valley!
Several visits by my wife and I have convinced us that the best restaurant, bar none, north of the Santa Monica mountains is this hidden gem. It is small and intimate, and the kitchen takes great pains to put the proper flourish on their menu items. Wine list seems to be getting stronger, also. You have to work to find it in a very unfoodie location, but that is part of the fun. Once in the doors, the menu does the rest for us. Some oysters, the N.Y. steak and those FRIES. Yikes!    [01 Nov 2007 23:56:05]

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     ­Anonymous   

Chef/Owner Makes the Difference
I've been there three times, and each time the food, wine and service was excellent.

This is the best restaurant in the West Valley/Conejo Valley because it is probably the only high-quality restaurant that isn't corporate-owned. The others are all part of two, three, or four-restaurant chains, which serve solid but overpriced corporate food. What does that mean? Food where the care for the product isn't there, where the food simply doesn't have enough character.

It is clear that chef owner Neal (I forget his last name) and his co-chefs in the kitchen take great pride and care with every dish.

For appetizers, the tuna tartare stack is a favorite, as was the perfectly cooked scallops on a bed of creamed leeks.

The NY strip is excellent, my wife had a beef bourgoneon which was succulent, and there are many different fish to choose from as well.

We shared an amazing bread pudding for dessert, which the waiter said is a favorite among customers. I can see why! I don't really like bread pudding but this one was amazing - I think it had a caramel sauce to it.

Basically you can't go wrong with anything you order.    [06 Nov 2007 17:16:47]

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     ­Anonymous   

3 Strikes you are out
We ate here three times. The food was good but the service was dismal. Won't be going back any time soon.    [06 Feb 2008 16:37:16]

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     ­Anonymous