Divino

Divino takes the top spot because it delivers on both atmosphere and food—a rare combination for the Westside. And unlike most restaurants in Brentwood, Divino is not deafeningly quiet. You don’t have to whisper across the table, nor are you subjugated to the vivid sounds of a man chewing risotto next to you. This dark, nautical-themed trattoria is very much buzzing. Servers bump into your chair as they squeeze through the cramped dining room, you’re asked to wait for your reservation, and it's really loud in here—all things that are usually annoying but feel refreshing in a Brentwood strip mall.

A meal at Divino actually feels like you’re “out-out” for dinner, and the food also happens to be sincerely excellent. We like the rigatoni with creamy chicken ragu, the silky beef carpaccio, and tagliatelle with monkfish that's delicious enough to take your mind off the competitive (and metered) parking situation at Barrington Court.