Need a great birthday lunch spot in the SFV

[rockhead]

While the kids are at school tomorrow, I need a great place to take my wife for a grown-up birthday lunch. (With the kids, we don't get many adult lunches out together).

Looking for a nice setting with memorable food. Thanks in advance.

[swisscharred]

i'm sure you're eating right now, but for something really special i would have recommended Saddlepeak Lodge (food has declined, but ambience remains wonderful), the Raymond House (Pasadena), Vertical Bar (also Pasadena -- excellent food, sophisticated ambience), Firefly (love their food, surprisingly, since it's so hip), Le Petit Chateau (very romantic white table cloth restaurant) and Le Petit Jacques. I also second Ca del Sole, although I have only found a few excellent items on their menu. The setting is very grown-up however.

[CynGriff]

Pinot Bistro
Ole
Asanebo
Ca' de Sole
Panzanella
Brandywine

[bodie]

Alors, Le Petit Jacques, c'est ferme,

[Jwsel]

I would have mentioned Saddle Peak Lodge, but it's not open on weekdays for lunch. (The same for Max, another restaurant I would have mentioned.)

[missmodular818]

What specific area of the Valley are you looking for? Do you have a price range?

[Diana]

I like the idea of agetting cheeses from Artisan and then a bottle of wine, a nice baguette, and then finding a good park. I know Will Roger's allows wine, but that's a bit of a drive. Also stop by Leda's or Nata's for some great dessert!

Emme, you have good suggestions!

I'll add:
IL Tiramisu Sherman Oaks
La Frite Sherman Oaks
Alexis Greek Cafe in Northridge
Inn Of the Seventh Ray (out of the Valley, in Topanga Canyon, but gorgeous setting)
Bistro Garden (more memorable setting than food, but OK) Studio City
Cafe Bizou Sherman Oaks
Pace On Laurel Canyon in the canyon
Second Ca Del Sole
Stanley's Sherman oaks for great salad
Piacerre Woodland Hills
Iroha Sushi is a nice setting, but the sushi is just "eh"
I like Gangadin for good indian. Smashing INdian Food! Studio City on Ventura Place

Senior Fred in Sherman Oaks (right next to Leda's, have dessert there!)

Marmalade Cafe in Sherman Oaks

Aroma cafe/Bakery in Encino (not the one in Studio City)

Hugo's on Riverside in Studio City

Gorikee in Woodland Hills

[Emme]

i like a lot of these places (hugo's, *stanley's!*, aroma) but they don't seem "one shot out w/o the kids celebratory lunch" to me :)

[goodhealthgourmet]

agreed...marmalade, hugo's, stanley's, etc. are fine for a typical lunch [hugo's is one of my all-time fave places], but they're hardly special occasion spots.

cafe bizou & pinot bistro are probably more along the lines of what youre looking for.

[Jwsel]

Rive Gauche is a nice setting, but okay food.
Cafe Bizou in Sherman Oaks is a nice lunch place and the food is usually good.
Brandywine in Woodland Hills is a traditional Continenal restaurant, with some old-world romanticism and charm.

[bodie]

Pinot Bistro, Wine Bistro and Out Take are all open for lunch - all are serviceable restaurants.

My favorite lunch spot in the Valley is HealthyCA which likely does not meet your criterion for a "nice setting".

Another place with little ambience but good food is Caioti in Tujunga Village.

-----
Caioti Pizza Cafe
4346 Tujunga Ave, Studio City, CA 91604

HealthyCA
4724 Lankershim Blvd, North Hollywood, CA 91602

Pinot Bistro
12969 Ventura Blvd., Studio City, CA 91604

[Debbie W]

HealthyCA recently remodeled and as a result their already paltry seating has been reduced. I think there's only one inside table left, plus the window seating, and a couple of outside tables (not good in this weather).

[Emme]

Ca del Sole
Mistral
Rive Gauche's back patio
French 75
Risotto
Spazio
Tama or Sushi Iki
Oliva for great Italian
Bistro Provence

Of course you could also do a picnic from Artisan Cheese Gallery and take it to the park with a bottle of wine...

[minnie]

There is Cafe Santorini in Old Town Pasadena. They have a very pretty rooftop patio which you can check out online at www.cafesantorini.com. The food is mediterranean.

[minnie]

Oh, just remembered Juliane's in San Marino! Also, a great lunch spot.

[Diana]

Neither in the SFV...