Garden Cafe brings wood-fired pizza to Woodman Ave

Garden Cafe sits on Woodman Ave in Sherman Oaks and has built a solid reputation over time, pulling in 4.4 stars across nearly 800 reviews. The anchor of the menu is wood-fired pizza, set against a broader American spread, which gives the place enough range to work for different kinds of visits.

The outdoor patio is a real draw here. Sherman Oaks does not have an overwhelming number of spots where you can actually sit outside and linger, so that alone puts Garden Cafe on a short list. It works for groups, takes reservations, and serves cocktails, wine, and beer, which means it handles a casual dinner or a weekend brunch without much fuss.

If you would rather not leave the couch, it also does takeout and delivery. But the patio is the reason to go in person.