Map of New Pizza & Italian Places in Sherman Oaks | View Larger Map

More and more, Sherman Oaks' eastside along Ventura Blvd. is being referred as one of Los Angeles' premiere restaurant rows. News came out Monday on Eater LA that two Italian restaurants will be opening.

In the old Orange Delight space (they moved a couple storefronts down to expand), Vitello's (of Tujunga and, well, yes, that Robert Blake thing too) is opening a Vitello's Express that will serve up a menu of quick and fresh (pizza, panini, salads) eats in an Aroma Cafe like setting. Within walking distance, there are three Italian restaurants: Antonio's Pizzeria, Santino's Pizza and IL Tiramisu Ristorante & Bar. And Pane Dolce, who last week, extended their hours to include dinner said they will be debuting a new food item soon -- it will be pizza.

A few blocks down near Dixie Canyon Avenue, Le Fondue Bourguignonne is reportedly closing down with Stone Fire Pizza to take over.

Heading Westwardly to Colbath is the old Ventura Club space where a real estate broker told us an Italian restaurant is in the works as well. And next to that will be a Poquito Mas (remember when we thought it might be a Fresh & Easy?).

Finally, across from Whole Foods on Sepulveda Blvd., the former chiropractic office that was in a little blue house is scheduled to be a "pizza cafe" of some sort. The people behind it are supposedly the owners of the Literati Cafe on the Westside, according to Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council meeting announcements (disclosure: I am member of this group). And speaking of Whole Foods, one employee at the Whole Foods on Coldwater Canyon told us the small and cramped Sepulveda Whole Foods is moving into the Pavilions space at Kester and Ventura. If that happens, it should be one of those super big Whole Foods like in Pasadena, Valencia and Porter Ranch.

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