Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
146
olives, and baby lobster tails with cr eamy polenta—both studies in culinar y perfection.
The gener ously por tioned main dishes continue the gourmet theme: crispy whitefish
with potatoes, Parmesan risotto with E nglish peas, braised lamb with gr een olives, and
roast duck. The service is good, attentiv e, and unobtr usive. Many regulars prefer Pinot
Bistro at lunch, when a less expensiv e menu is ser ved to a mor e easygoing cr owd. You
might not normally bring your kids to a bistro—which is why they let kids 9 and under
eat free.
12969 Ventura Blvd. (west of Coldwater Canyon Ave.), Studio City. & 818/990-0500. www.patinagroup.
com. Reservations recommended. Main courses dinner $16-$25, lunch $7-$13. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Mon
noon-2pm and 5:30-9pm; Tues-Thurs noon-2pm and 5:30-9:30pm, Fri noon-2pm and 5:30-10pm; Sat
5:30-10pm; Sun 5:30-9pm. Valet parking $3.50.
MODERATE
Casa Vega Value MEXICAN Every neighborhood needs a friendly div e that's
open until 2am, and Casa Vega has been the local fav orite for nearly half a centur y. A
faux-weathered adobe exterior conceals r ed Naugahyde booths lurking among fake pot-
ted plants and 1960s amateur oil paintings of dar k-eyed Mexican childr en and cape-
waving bullfighters. ( The decor achiev es critical mass at Christmas, when ev erything
drips with tinsel.) Locals and celebs lo ve this family-o wned and -operated place for its
strong, cheap margaritas; bottomless baskets of hot and salty chips; and traditional com-
bination dinners, which all come with Casa Vega's patented tostada-style dinner salad.
Street parking is so plentiful here you should use the valet only as a last resort. On warm
days ask for a table on the patio, and be pr epared to wait for a table on w eekends.
13301 Ventura Blvd. (at F ulton Ave.), Sherman Oaks . & 818/788-4868. Main courses $5-$11. AE, DC,
DISC, MC, V. Daily 11:30am-2am. Reservations not accepted. Metered street parking or valet $2.50.
Jerry's Famous Deli Kids BREAKFAST/DELI Here's a simple yet sizable deli
where all the Valley's hipsters go to relieve their late-night munchies. This place probably
has one of the largest menus in America—a tome that spans cultur es and continents,
from Central America to China to N ew York. From salads to sandwiches to steak-and-
seafood platters, everything—including breakfast—is served all day. Jerry's is consistently
good at lox and eggs, pastrami sandwiches, potato pancakes, and all the deli staples. I t's
also an integral par t of L.A. 's cultural landscape and a fav orite of the sho w-business
types—and their kids; J erry's is a popular spot for families who populate the adjacent
foothill neighborhoods. It even has a full bar.
12655 Ventura Blvd. ( just east of C oldwater Canyon Ave.), Studio Cit y. & 818/980-4245. www.jerrys
famousdeli.com. Main courses dinner $9-$14, sandwiches and salads $4-$12, breakfast $2-$11. AE, MC,
V. Daily 24 hr. Free parking.
6
Miceli's Kids TRADITIONAL ITALIAN Mostaccioli marinara, lasagna, thin-cr ust
pizza, and eggplant parmigiana ar e indicative of the S icilian-style fare at this cav ernous,
stained-glass-windowed Italian restaurant adjacent to Universal City. The waitstaff sings
show tunes or opera fav orites in betw een (and sometimes instead of ) ser ving dinner;
make sure you have enough chianti to get into the spirit of it all. This is a great place for
kids but is too rollicking for romance.
3655 Cahuenga Blvd. (east of Lankershim Blvd.), Los Angeles. & 323/851-3344. www.micelisrestaurant.
com. Main courses $7-$15, pizza $9-$19. AE, DC, MC, V. Mon-Thurs 11:30am-midnight; F ri 11:30am-
1am; Sat 4pm-1am; Sun 4-11pm. Parking $2.50.
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