Don’t look for the dining-out experience you remember to be back on the menu anytime soon. Even as restaurants across Southern California innovate to stay open, it’s clear the shelter-in-place orders sparked by the coronavirus pandemic won’t be entirely lifted until a vaccine is available to the public. Instead, as outlined by state officials, even when restaurants reopen at an as-yet-unspecified date, it will be with stringent social distancing guidelines. In the meantime, be sure to support any of the restaurants throughout the Valley that keep their doors open by offering curbside pickup, takeout and delivery. Just always call ahead as hours and menu items are subject to change.
Conejo Valley
Al Mulino Italian Restaurant
Paseo Marketplace, 3709 Thousand Oaks Boulevard, Westlake Village | 805-379-0016
Takeout and delivery: Daily: 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Offering authentic Italian food with ingredients imported from Italy, this eatery’s takeout and the delivery menu promises a feast for pasta lovers. After sampling such starters as the bruschetta or the beef carpaccio with sliced Angus beef and shaved Parmigiano Reggiano, choose from entrees including the Rigatoni Strascicati (imported Napoletana pasta with Italian sausage) and the cappellacci ossobuco (ravioli stuffed with veal ossobuco).
Holdren’s Steaks and Seafood
1714-A Newbury Road, Newbury Park | 805-498-1314
Curbside pickup: Daily: 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
You don’t walk into a steakhouse looking for a salad (although they have those, too). Likewise, their curbside menu offers such options as a Kobe beef burger with a 10-oz. patty to their signature “Cowboy Cut” — a 24-oz. bone-in ribeye, served with jalapeno and onion rings. If you aren’t in the mood for meat, try the seafood linguini with scallops, mussels, clams and tomatoes.
San Fernando Valley
Prime Pizza
603 N. Hollywood Way, Burbank | 818-736-5120
Curbside pickup and delivery: Sunday through Thursday: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
This latest addition to the chain opened in Burbank earlier this year, generating excitement among fans of its pizzas, sandwiches and garlic knots. Round pies come with toppings ranging from sausage and kale to spicy arrabbiata and pepperoni. Square pies include their classic Brooklyn with mozzarella and grandma sauce. As for the garlic knots, they live up to fresh-baked, buttery expectations.
Olive & Thyme
3821 Riverside Drive Toluca Lake | 818-557-1560
Curbside pickup and delivery: Monday through Saturday: 11 a.m. through 3 p.m. Sunday: closed.
The modified menu at this family-owned market and cafe features all-day items ranging from salads and sandwiches to pastas and baked goods to “Grab N’ Go” meals like the Santa Fe bowl with free-range chicken, cilantro rice, black beans, house-made avocado pico de gallo, tortilla chips and cilantro dressing. If you need groceries, their market-fresh selection includes chicken, salmon, eggs, bread, milk and vegetables.
Santa Clarita Valley
Brewery Draconum
24407 Main Street, Santa Clarita | 661-568-9160
Curbside pickup: Thursday through Saturday: 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday: 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Expect organic, house-made comfort food infused with house brews at this family-owned brewpub, which centers its dining experience around craft beer. That includes a hot dog smothered in homemade chili topped with cheddar cheese and onion, the shepherd’s pie with gravy made with in-house stout and the grilled salmon, topped with white wine cream.
Crepissima
28166 Newhall Ranch Road, Valencia | 661-670-8770
Takeout and delivery: Monday through Friday: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
This locally-owned spot offers every kind of delicious twist on the crepe you can think of — from Nutella with strawberry to shrimp with chipotle to tuna melt to pizza, stuffed with mozzarella and pepperoni. But even among this abundance of riches, the signature dish is unquestionably the goyi crepe, crammed with apples and splashed by chopped walnuts and dulce de leche.