"Planning a birthday dinner when you’re married with kids and your in-laws are in town usually means you’re just ordering pizza and staying home. BLVD Steak is proof better options exist. This upscale spot in Sherman Oaks isn’t doing anything wildly different than other classic steakhouses in LA, but it’s executing the formula better. Plushy green banquettes and black paneled walls give the dining room a sleek, members-only feel without being intimidating. Martinis arrive icy and smooth (with a shaker for additional pours) and thick cuts of red meat are cooked perfectly medium rare. Arrive before 8pm and the dining room will be filled with well-dressed families, but if you want to leave the kids with the in-laws, come later when the gigantic bar area buzzes with the energy of a boozy studio mixer." - brant cox