Best of Burbank!

Please feel free to email me with recommendations for schools, teachers, restaurants, shops, businesses, etc. I'll put it on the page and make sure I include your name!  Please also see my Best of Toluca Lake page and my Best of Studio City page.

Lodging:

It's not cheap, but The Hotel Amarano (formerly The Graciela) (HotelAmarano.com) has a hip, elegant vibe that has made it the top hotel for visiting entertainment industry execs.  The Library is the Amarano's cocktail lounge and has a chic but welcoming atmosphere.

Restaurants and Food Establishments:

It's easy to find great hamburgers in Burbank.  But maybe the best burger of all can be found at The Hollywood Way, 1333 N. Hollywood Way.  How's this: a juicy Angus beef patty on a brioche bun with just the right amount of garden accoutrements and one side dish -- all for $9.95.  Hollywood Way is a large, well-lit sports bar that also has many, many other items on its menu plus a great happy hour.

Whee! Don Cuco's is now open at 218 N. Orange Grove in Burbank.  This restaurant has long been a fixture in Toluca Lake (see my Best of Toluca Lake page) and is a very welcome addition to the downtown Burbank scene.

Yummy Cupcakes, on Magnolia, has been open since December 2005 and features, yup, a fabulous variety of different "New York style" cupcakes for sale.  It's a great addition to the community and to Magnolia Boulevard in particular.  You can buy the cupcakes by the dozen, order them in advance for parties or just stop in for a single cupcake.  Their website with their phone number and address is: www.yummycupcakes.com.

Where's the best pizza in Burbank?  Dino's on Hollywood Way and Burbank is great, but I think the absolute best pizza is at Bella Vista on Magnolia.  Bella Vista has an old-style Italian restaurant vibe complete with Sinatra and Dean Martin songs as background music.  My favorite pizza there is the thin-crust. 

We often enjoy Guantanamera Restaurant at 916 W. Burbank Blvd., 818-846-8500.  It has terrific Cuban food, a large menu, and a full bar (the mojitos were really good).  The only drawback, in my opinion, is the strip mall location across from Costco.  They're open for lunch and dinner and their website address is www.GuantanameraRestaurant.com.  You may need reservations on Friday and Saturday nights.

The citizens of Burbank were delighted when Porto's Bakery opened here in late 2005.  Porto's is a great spot for either dine-in or take-out sandwiches and salads.  What keeps us all coming back are the fabulous baked goods -- appetizers, pastries and cakes.  Porto's makes it super-easy to order all this in advance and their customer service is wonderful.

In April of 2008, the Los Angeles Times named Taste Chicago in their list of the best Chicago hot dogs in the greater L.A. area.  Said LAT, "Excellent balance of elements makes this the most satisfying Chicago dog around." TC is located at 603 N. Hollywood Way, Burbank (on Verdugo).

I recently had my very first Philly Cheese Steak sandwich Jersey Mike's Subs.  It was terrific, and the customer service was outstanding -- some of the best I've experienced.  Owner Leonard and his staff take pride in everything they do, and they've created a very fun, welcoming atmosphere, too.

Clothing: Magnolia Commons just opened and your search for a truly high-end consignment store is over!  It's a lovely new store with a well-"curated" selection of clothing, shoes, jewelry and furniture.  Some of the labels I saw there include Prada and Chanel -- and prices are unbelievably low.  So low, as a matter of fact, that I almost don't want to list the address: 3413 W. Magnolia Blvd., 818-845-8004.

Jewelry store:  Hendersons at 2829 Glenoaks.  This family-run store is amazing -- the owners will remember your name forever even if you've not been in to see them for years and years.  There's expert repair done on premises by Mr. Henderson as well as cleaning.  Ordering services available, too.  They also maintain a client "wish book."  They will create a page for you.  You can then have them record pieces of jewelry you'd like to own.  If your loved one would like to surprise you with a piece of jewelry, they can visit the store, consult your list, and don't have to guess at your taste!

Grocery:

For inexpensive produce and great deals on liquor, you can't beat Gefer Farms at 822 N. San Fernando Road.  It's a medium-sized market and caters to a largely Armenian and Hispanic clientele.  It also has a complete meat market and regular grocery section too, but the highlight is the huge selection of fresh fruits and vegetables that cost about half of what they cost across the street at Ralphs.

Golf in Burbank:

DeBell golf course, of course!  Information, location and reservations can be found at click4teetimes.com. For inexpensive fun, visit the driving range.  The shop manager will be happy to give you advice on their large selection of clubs which are free to borrow when you rent a bucket of balls. You can visit the putting green, too.  April 2009: the newly constructed clubhouse is gorgeous and its views are great.  The restaurant food, while unadventurous, is terrific, too.  Of course, there's a full bar.

View:

Castaway (castawayrestaurant.com) has the best view in Burbank, hands down -- actually, it has one of the best views in the Valley.  This restaurant offers a great Sunday brunch plus terrific lunches and dinners on other days.  The patio can be really lively at night but is usually very peaceful during the day.  It's fun to visit after a game at DeBell, too!

Please also check out my blog at www.SFVRealEstate.blogspot.com.  There are posts there about "interesting" Burbank architecture, events and other city features, too.

Want to know what's happening in downtown Burbank? Visit www.downtown-Burbank.org, downtown's official website!