Sherman Oaks Restaurants

If the complimentary sparkling cocktail you were handed upon arrival didn’t clue you in, Sushi Note is more than a neighborhood sushi joint. It’s also a wine bar. And a great one at that (co-owner Dave Gibbs is the discerning palate behind Augustine Wine Bar and Mirabelle). What sets it apart: It takes your traditional omakase tasting menu and one-ups it with sommelier-curated wine pairings from the best vineyards in Burgundy. And we haven’t even gotten to the sushi yet. Yuzu-and-truffle-drenched scallops, peppered albacore, and simple, salt-dusted sea bass that might be the single greatest bite within miles, and then there are the precisely sliced, perfectly seasoned cuts of nigiri that defy description. It’s only after you leave that you realize the sushi was so spectacular, you didn’t even drizzle it with soy sauce. Our advice: Snag a seat at the bar, go for the tasting menu, and watch the chefs work their magic.

If you want a slice of New York pizza that is better than most places in New York, look no further: A super-thin crust and wonderfully tangy sauce set the standard for pies you can eat by the slice or take out whole. We particularly love the eggplant parm and the white spinach pizzas, but nothing disappoints. There is another location in Encino, and two in Beverly Hills—in Beverly Hills proper and on Beverly Blvd.