Mendocino Farms is a casual restaurant chain serving sandwiches and salads, offering a seasonally-driven, locally sourced menu. It’s counter service so you place your order with a very friendly waitperson, pay and then find a table. Mendocino Farms has a decently sized menu, which includes several vegan/vegetarian options and gluten-free bread. The staff are super helpful and will offer samples of their pre-prepared salads, soups and even beer!

There were so many awesome sandwiches that I had a tough time choosing one! The “Not-So Fried Chicken” and the “Turkey Meatball Hoagie” were calling my name, but I chose the BBQ Pulled Pork (slow-roasted shredded pork in a chipotle BBQ sauce, housemade pickles, cheddar, farmhouse pickled slaw and potato salad spread, grilled on a panini roll), which was delicious! If you don’t like any of the sandwiches on the menu, you can also build your own.

The kid’s menu offers several choices which come with a side (grapes, apples or grape tomatoes) and a drink (natural fountain soda, lemonade or bottled water).  My daughter got the kid’s grilled cheese, which she did not enjoy very much because it smelled. I was kind of surprised that she chose the grilled cheese since it’s not something she normally eats, but when confronted with all the foods mods that would have to happen to the kid’s ham sandwich (which has provolone and basil aioli on two small Hawaiian buns – they also don’t have mayonnaise but use veganaise), she opted for the grilled cheese. Mistake.

The Sherman Oaks location is bright and airy and even has a little table and chairs for a group of kids. Kids can draw on a  chalkboard wall or play some foosball table until their food arrives (or after they finish and are patiently waiting for their parents to be done).

Mendocino Farms is great for parents and kids (although not my kid)! I wish there was one close to my house. I’d go there every week!

Location: 14141 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks, CA 91423 818.205.9744 (additional locations in Los Angeles and Orange County )
Menu: See site: http://mendocinofarms.com
Kid’s Menu: Yes
T.V.: No
Wi-Fi: No 😦
Kid-friendly activities: Chalkboard, foosball