Madeleine Bistro

There's always something fun to order at Madeleine's Bistro, something that brings a sense of occasion to the table: beignets and mimosas at brunch, shiitake mushroom sushi and organic ale at dinner, cannolis and a glass of Bonnie Doon Framboise for dessert.

This charming storefront café in Tarzana, with its date-night aura and inventive, well-crafted vegan food, would fill a niche anywhere, but it's especially welcome in the Valley, where chains abound and the semi-fancy Cal-cuisine neighborhood spots that dot the Westside and West Hollywood are so hard to find.