Top Five Places to Treat Yourself to Breakfast and Brunch in Woodland Hills

You gently toss and turn, coming out of that deep sleep from the energized Saturday night you had out on the town. As your eyes struggle to focus and you ensure you’re still in your own bed next to your own spouse or significant other, the distinct longing for a fresh cup of coffee served alongside a delicious breakfast floods your being…you need to indulge in that first meal of the day, and need to do it fast.

But looking at the time, it becomes clear you’re slightly over the “anointed” hours for breakfast; indeed, you’ve slept in pretty late, and at this point you begin wondering which of your favorite local dining spots are still serving eggs, pancakes and the like. Still, you could go for that sandwich you’ve been craving or that burger everyone’s been talking about….what to do, what to do? The answer is brunch – that overlapping section of delicacies designed to satisfy the breakfast-into-lunch itches of the traditionally sleep-in-on-Sunday crowd.

Rest assured that in Woodland Hills, there’s no shortage of such locales to appease the breakfast or lunch fanatic…it’s just a matter of weeding through the cornucopia of choices to discover the truly memorable ones. And we’ve accomplished that exact task for you.

The following establishments are what our staff considers to be the top five spots to treat yourself to breakfast and brunch in Woodland Hills.

So, without further ado…

Leo & Lilly, located at 22420 Ventura Boulevard, is open seven days a week and utilizes a European and Mediterranean flavor blend to create unique and delicious dishes. Breakfast menu favorites from this local gem include homemade honey-nut granola, Shakshuka (slowly-cooked tomatoes, peppers, onions and spices topped with poached easy eggs),B.L.T.A.E. on a C (Bacon, Lettuce, Tomato, Avocado and Fried Egg on a Croissant with garlic mayo) and Leo’s Steak and Eggs, while lunch specialties include seared tuna salad, Leo’s Pub Burger and L&L Portobello Panini.

Like its namesake, Panini Café (with four locations throughout the L.A. area) offers a plethora of unique grilled Panini sandwiches in addition to Italian Mediterranean-influenced breakfast, lunch and dinner items. Boasting a “perfect blending of old world-style favorites with a healthy and modern European flair,” Panini Café serves food that is distinctive and extraordinarily fresh and healthy, from its perfectly-prepared eggs, omelets, breakfast sandwiches or French Toast to exceptional kabobs that are made to order.

For a truly different and memorable experience in the Woodland Hills area, Sagebrush Cantina Restaurant and Saloon at 23527 Calabasas Road offers breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner menus amidst an old west motif. The venue serves its “world famous” Sunday brunch from 10 am to 2 pm, including all-you-can-drink champagne and fresh-squeezed orange juice, two shots of flavored vodka and soft drinks as well as custom-made omelets, a seafood bar, carving station, main buffet and dessert bar. Sagebrush Cantina is also known for its entertainment, which encompasses shows like Cowgirls at the Cantina, Frankly Speaking Rock and Roll and Fast Times: The 80’s Flashback.

The Stand, situated at 5780 Canoga Avenue, has become known for far more than its “truck food”-style items like hog dogs and sausages, offering great lunch selections designed to be accompanied by featured draft beers and wines, house wines and ales such as the 20-ounce Stand Blonde. As a “fresh spin on American classics,” The Stand boasts the comfort of early century diners complete with sincere hospitality and honest foods.

Nicola’s Kitchen, located at 20969 Ventura Boulevard, is open for breakfast Tuesday through Sunday from 9 am until closing and for lunch and dinner Sunday through Thursday from 11 am to 9 pm and Friday/Saturday from 11:30 am to 10 pm. A virtual cornucopia of selections awaits at Nicola’s, guaranteed to satisfy the pickiest of tastes and most wide-ranging of cravings including traditional and exotic pancakes, omelets and scrambles, pasta scrambles, pizza, soups, salads, sandwiches and much more.

Breakfast and lunch aficionados are often considered some of the most selective foodies on the planet, but armed with a guide like Woodland Hills Magazine’s Top Five Breakfast and Brunch Spots, even these seasoned – no pun intended – folks won’t have a difficult time finding their late-morning/early-afternoon nirvana.