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From the outside or inside, you could never tell that Hozy’s Grill was an extension of a high-performance fastener manufacturing facility in Santa Paula, California.
Car enthusiasts know Automotive Racing Products (ARP) for their high quality fasteners but chances are many of these same car enthusiasts have no idea what a bottle of 2000 Chateau Haut-Brion is. For most of us, $75 racing fasteners and $1,750 bottles of wine are never in the same place. If you live in Southern California and happen to be involved in the aftermarket automotive industry, you just might see both of these at the same table.
The restaurant has received rave reviews from food critics in the Southern California region. The area is highly competitive for high class food and Hozy's Grill holds their own against the world's best. Their wine cellar is one of 1,168 winners of the Best of Award of Excellence in the Wine Spectator Restaurant Awards. This means the wine list displays "excellent breadth across multiple winegrowing regions and/or significant vertical depth of top producers, along with superior presentation." Establishments in this award group typically offer 350 or more selections, showing a deep commitment to wine, both in the cellar and through their service team.
ARP specializes in fasteners for practically every application, from aerospace, NASA, Formula 1, NASCAR, and Indycar to your local dirt track racecars. The founder of ARP, Gary Holzapfel, is also a foodie. Not your average run-of-the-mill food lover either. We’re talking Le Cordon Bleu caliber. So much so that he added a unique racing-themed restaurant at their main facility in Santa Paula, called Hozy’s Grill.
This grill offers the type of fine dining where empty seats are rarely found. We managed to get there before the crew opened up so we could get some shots with the dining area empty. This is a must visit dining facility but we caution you to come early or you may have to wait.
The term “grill” may sound like your neighbor greasy spoon but don’t be fooled by the name, Hozy’s Grill is to fine dining as ARP is to engine fasteners. Top quality in every sense of the word. Fortunately for local residents, Hozy’s Grill is open to the public and we were given a tour of the facility earlier this year.
Holzapfel designed the restaurant primarily for clients and employees to enjoy, along with the local residents. The first thing that greets you is the cases of fine wines displayed at the front of the grill. We were told that this is only a small sample of the wines in their cellar. “Our full bottle wine list is over 10 pages long,” said APR’s Bob Florine. “Our list of half-bottles and by-the-glass listing is even longer.”
An automotive themed restaurant is always welcomed.
Selected race posters and engine memorabilia decorate the walls. For automotive fanatics, a crankshaft polished to a high shine is the perfect centerpiece.
The ambience and view are worthy of the accolades the grill has received since it’s opening.
The dinner menu is a “must see” to truly appreciate the caliber of this dining facility. Dinner is served Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday with breakfast and lunch every day of the week. Be forewarned, if you arrive after 6:30 p.m. you will probably have to wait for a seat. It’s just that good.
