Located on a short stretch of Franklin Avenue that connects Los Feliz to Hollywood, this up-and-coming area with its cafes, vinyl stores, hip bistros and bookshops is the perfect setting for an establishment like The Oaks. First of all, it’s a gourmet grocery where you can buy everything from white truffle oil to small-batch bourbon. There’s house-made chocolate and capers packed in salt and a wine selection curated by a wine steward. But that’s just the shop. The best reason to stop into The Oaks Gourmet? The food.

In just two short years of business, the small, casual restaurant has become a favourite with locals including the young, famous and minted residents of nearby Beachwood and Bronson Canyons (which makes for great people-watching on the patio). The menu is comprised of simple food with gourmet ingredients: fresh and delicious salads, creative sandwiches and pizza. And one burger – the Dry Aged Burger with half a pound of beef, Taleggio cheese, Black Forest bacon and jalapeno-pineapple compote on toasted Brioche will satisfy every elemental craving for meat you’ve ever had.

Wednesday night is Grilled Cheese Night (!) and on Sunday night pizzas are on special; duck lovers will salivate over the Duck Confit and Caramelized Onion pizza with truffle oil. What more could you want?