As the fragrant scent of Italian cuisine with a Persian twist engulfs the air, the evening began to wash over the restaurant.
A homely mood, with outdoor string lights and carpeted couches welcome all patrons in the night-time glow.
Those choosing to dine inside are given a more traditional bench seating, with tables for parties of two or more as Persian music echoes throughout.
What is Los Angeles if not a major melting pot of culture? This is evident in the cuisine at Nostal Café in Woodland Hills.
Nostal Café specializes in serving comfort food and drinks featuring milkshakes, juices, sandwiches and much more.
Service at Nostal is steadily paced for what seems to be a staff of two or three. An order of their well-known Nostal Pizza, layers mozzarella cheese, green peppers, mushrooms and sausage, is mounted onto a crispy crust as its base.
The pizza and its near-crunchy yet doughy taste are accentuated by the plate – a polished slice of wood with a decadently detailed white cloth cover.
Larger-sized food is given a boost in height, with its own stand to cool.
If taking photos, make sure to be quick to avoid missing out on the streams of cheese unravelling when taking the pie apart.
Beverages include choices from freshly squeezed juice to Turkish-style coffee.
Those who decide on the smoothies will be happy to see and enjoy the fresh fruits used in-store. Regarding the berries smoothie, a perfect balance of sweet and light flavoring is achieved. Not too bland or overbearing as other places tend to favor.
Most serving sizes at the café are divided into either personal or sharing portions. Even smaller plates can be enjoyed with a close friend.
A truly unexpected bonus is the quality and maintenance of their bathroom. It feels more like that of a family friend’s washroom than those of public restaurants – incredibly well kept and dimly lit.
Let’s hope Nostal Café considers Airbnb one of these days.
Price range at Nostal Café is reasonable, with most dishes housed in the $7-15 range.
For all its worth, Nostal Café is worth its weight in golden brown slices.
Nostal Cafe is located at 19745 Ventura Blvd. in Woodland Hills, California. The restaurant is open seven days a week from noon to 2 a.m. on Monday through Friday, 11:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to midnight on Sunday.
