Expectations are tricky. I went to Bacari Sherman Oaks expecting an upscale Italian chain. Cut to: a charmingly old-school taverna serving a wide selection of dishes with a decidedly Spanish/Middle Eastern flavor palate.

Who knew?

I’ve always been a diner who looks more longingly at the Appetizer section than the Entrees, and Bacari’s biggest appeal for me was the tapas-style service; small plates, more variety! You can order 5 or 6 wildly different dishes to share and invariably hit on something terrific. And we did.



At brunch on Sunday, the uber-crispy, perfectly-salted Brussels sprouts were divine as was the thin crust vegan pizza with its exquisitely caramelized onions and black garlic. Even the dishes that faltered were interestingly seasoned and worth a shot.

The servers were unfussily attentive and accommodating to my friend’s vegan requests, making creative suggestions for fixes and add-ons to our orders. I wish that the kitchen had consistently matched their level of responsiveness, but nevertheless, their few misfires were not enough to dissuade me from giving Bacari another visit. There are so many more goodies to sample, and their dinner menu looks particularly alluring as do the various eye-catching libations.

Judging from its popularity, my new expectation is that it’ll be a while before I can get a reservation.

Logistical tip: Factor in some extra time for the overwhelmed valet parking.