The Other Village on Palisades Drive

Instead of passing the Highlands while cruising down Sunset Boulevard, turn on Palisades Drive to taste what the eateries here have to offer.

Situated in the middle of the Highlands Plaza, Mogan’s has the feel of a country café, Southern California style. In warm weather, the patio fills up during the day and umbrellas open to shade against the afternoon sun.

Inside the coffee shop just off the patio, several tables and Wi-Fi accommodate customers with laptops. Most people drop by to pick up a quick lunch or a cup of coffee for the drive to work.

A full array of breakfast, lunch and dinner choices are offered inside of the dining room, something for everyone. 

Breakfast has the basics plus more: oatmeal, bagels, granola, pancakes, eggs any style, omelets and even breakfast tostadas and quesadillas. Lunch consists of soups, salads, burgers and sandwiches,which can be grilled in a Panini press.

Adding to lunch items, Mogan’s dinner menu offers a mix of favorites from a wide array of cuisines. Asian stir-fry and Chinese chicken salad, quesadillas, Italian bruschetta and fried calamari and American classic comfort dishes like chicken potpie, fish and chips and grandma’s brisket make for an eclectic mix.

It's conveniently open 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. every day of the week except for Sundays when it opens at 8 a.m.

Mogan’s neighbor in the Plaza, Taste is open for lunch weekdays except for Monday. Weekend brunches start at 10:30 a.m. while dinner starts at 5 p.m. seven days a week.

Their menu borrows from the farm-to-table cuisines of Italy, France and Mexico, with an emphasis on comfort food. Creamy tortilla soup, goat cheese and beet salad, appetizer-sized pizzas, risotto, burgers, seared Ahi tuna, grilled salmon, braised short ribs and crispy parmesan chicken paillard fill out the menu.

Pizzas break with tradition by offering toppings like Kobe meatballs as well as fingerling potatoes seasoned with rosemary.

The stand-out on the menu is the linguine with Kobe beef meatballs, seasoned with pine nuts, golden raisins and caramelized onions in a pink sauce, said Mike Leb, a frequent patron.

“Everyone who gets it literally cleans their plates . . . Every time I go there about 40 to 50 percent of the people there seem to be eating this dish,” Leb said.

Nearby, Casa Nostra Ristorante is an elegant establishment that would be at home in any Italian hilltop community.

Located up the long steep road just before the trailhead leading to Santa Ynez Canyon, the restaurant is tucked away in a small complex.

Owners Giovanni Zappone, Gerardo Ballesteros and Michele Scarpino pride themselves on their authentic Italian menu that features classic dishes such as Polpette Di Carne (meatballs with peas in a tomato sauce), Pappardelle Ragu D’anatra (duck sauce with wide noodles), Risotto Al Porcini (porcini mushrooms with rice) and Branzino Alla Livornese (sea bass served on sautéed spinach).

Customers delight in the décor as much as the food.

The enclosed patio at the front of the restaurant is bright and airy. The spacious dining room faces the busy, open kitchen. Imported tiles and Italian serving ware complete the look, convincing one that without the air travel, they have managed to slip away to Italy for an intimate meal.

If envy is the sincerest form of flattery, be envious at Casa Nostra.

Speaking of the pizzas, they come in two sizes: 12 inch and 16 inch with four standard combinations: margherita, Napoli, prosciutto and cheese, and arugula and mozzarella. By adding ingredients at $1 each, any pizza can be personalized from a list of a dozen different vegetables including mushrooms and jalapenos as well as anchovies, chicken, sausage, ham or pepperoni.

“We really like Casa Nostra. It’s popular and good, not cheap,” said Gail Schenbaum, who lives around the corner.

Server and assistant manager Alex Martinez said that without a reservation on the weekends, a 40 to 60 minute wait was normal. He also said that the lunch and dinner menus are the same so that any item one enjoys in the evening can be ordered during the day.

With the Palisades Drive restaurants literally just around the corner from the Village, Palisadians have more reasons to stay close to home. 

Bon appétit!