Woodland Hills’s Popular Daytime Cafe Installs Full Spanish Dinner Menu

Sandra Cordero’s lovely Woodland Hills spot Gasolina Cafe has always been a bright spot in the western San Fernando Valley, serving a daytime menu of Spanish-inflected dishes from brioche French toast to jamon serrano breakfast sandwiches. Cordero, an accomplished chef and certainly not one to let a good opportunity pass, is taking her dinner menu to a full time operation.

Previously Cordero had drawn an evening crowd with her occasional paella nights (which are now replaced by this dinner service), but the Spanish dinner menu is likely to be the area’s most compelling evening destination in this northwestern part of LA County. The menu starts with classic bites of jamon-wrapped dates, croquetas, and pan con tomate. Gambas al ajillo, albondigas, pescado con salsa verde, and even two paellas round out the main courses. The dinner menu commenced last weekend but will continue this week from Thursday to Saturday evening, from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Reservations available by calling 818-914-4033 though they do take walk-ins as well.

In other news:

• Longtime Santa Monica restaurant Michael’s is reopening on April 30 after a long hiatus. The fine dining restaurant is currently hiring workers of all stripes, including cooks, servers, and hosts.
• Market Tavern in the Original Farmer’s Market, from Brendan Collins and Gary Twinn, is installing new executive chef John Palmer to lead the new-school British pub. The new dinner menu and hours starts on May 2 with a live DJ spinning new wave 80s and other tacky tunes. Food highlights include short rib ricotta gnocci and a truffle burger.
• Ong Ga Nae now has new ownership in Koreatown from the Yangmani team. The longtime bulgogi specialist will retain its classic dish but will get a slate of new beef courses from Yangmani. The place is already open but has called May 6 their grand reopening date.

• LA Magazine wonders if Sycamore Avenue in Hollywood could become a major commercial center, with Tartine, Gigi’s, and Sightglass already taking over the block.
• Fully vaccinated people won’t have to wear masks when dining outdoors anymore according the CDC. [Time Out LA]
• Rosti Tuscan Kitchen, with locations in Calabasas and Santa Monica, is taking its talents to Brentwood next inside the San Vicente Plaza, according to What Now LA.