Stone Oven, Thousand Oaks

It comes as no surprise that the centerpiece of each Stone Oven location is the shop's expansive stone oven, which, when heated to 500 degrees, releases the irresistible smells of the house's signature focaccia bread. Customers can watch bread being loaded in and taken out every seven minutes, and can even sample fresh slices as they order one of the house's signature heated sandwiches. These include vegetarian-friendly options loaded with a garden's worth of vegetables, or meaty varieties with barbecue beef brisket or the Santa Fe–style hot ham. Each sandwich comes paired with a salad or side to help customers cool down mouths without finding a nearby ice-cube shop. Customers can also build their own sandwich using the house focaccia topped with one of five styles of meat, seven sauces, and three varieties of cheese.