There is a place in quickly upscaling Woodland Hills that has it all: a capacious, beautifully appointed interior, a devoted and hip clientele and a menu that hits all the right contemporary notes with flair to spare. It’s called Casalena, a minute or so from Topanga Blvd. and Ventura, and well worth snagging a reservation as soon as possible.
As evidenced the night we dined there recently, Casalena is an occasion destination, but not so formal and tightly-wound that it can’t handle post nine-to-five drinks and finger food. The menu is tilted towards coastal Mediterranean fare, with appetizers like hamachi crudo, whipped eggplant and burrata with roasted tomato, as well as a wide variety of pizzas. Entree standouts include a butterflied whole branzino with chimichurri sauce and grilled lemon; the fork-tender short rib comes with silky whipped potatoes and confit pearl onion and beef jus. All are delicious and arrived piping hot and fresh.
While most of the dazzling action takes place in the evening, Casalena also has an impressive breakfast and lunch menu, with huevos rancheros and shakshuka to start the day, and a great fried chicken sandwich and wagyu burger on brioche buns for lunch. Don’t forget an order of the truffle fries with parmesan — crispy and savory and hard to stop eating.
Large parties are welcome, whether on the lushly landscaped outdoor terrace or the private sunroom on the second floor. Even when busy, the place doesn’t seem cramped or crowded, and the large atrium makes the noise level tolerable even when Casalena’s zesty craft cocktails are flowing like the mighty Mississippi. Get on your designer duds and enjoy a cosmopolitan evening without having to leave the valley. Like a salesman at Nordstrom recently told me: “Woodland Hills is the new Beverly Hills!”
