If you live in Brentwood or Westwood, you know the dilemma: so many choices…and such little selection. For all the restaurants in the area, there seem to be precious few simple, reliable places that are neither too fancy, too trendy or too casual.

That’s why The Glendon Bar & Kitchen is such a pleasant discovery. Don’t let the location dissuade you: despite it’s straightforward appeal, The Glendon is just a little too sophisticated to be overpopulated by UCLA kids.

The smart, minimalist loft-like room is dominated by dramatic highback banquettes on one wall, and a giant bonsai over the opposing bar. A balcony at the rear offers more secluded lounging.

Open for lunch and dinner, the menu offers a confident balance of market-driven health and decadence. On a recent weeknight, my friend and I shared a tender, tasty filet mignon (I’ve had a lot of mediocre meat lately, and this didn’t didn’t disappoint) as well as a dramatically different coffee-crusted seared ahi steak.

Wines by the glass are divided by “first,” “second” and “third” dates (I’d jump right to the third, personally, but that’s just my style). Specialty cocktails included five mojito variations, the kiwi-basil-lime Down Under, and the tasty aged rum and pineapple concoction they’ve chosen to name The Fist Pumper. It’s worth the embarrassment of ordering.

And here’s a bonus: the appetizer menu, including golden, crispy, double-cooked garlic fries, big crunchy Cajun calamari (that I’ve been craving since I first tried them), beef, chicken and crabcake sliders, and Mexican elote–is served until last call. Perfect for a late night small plates meal.

Puffy thin-crust pizzas like the “ugly goat” (goat cheese, and rustic-cut zucchini and bell peppers, very fresh and fun at once) are half off during their double nightly happy hours (at 4:00PM-7:00PM and 10:00PM-Midnight). So are the desserts by TLC’s “Cake Boss” star Renee Faris.

And I’m coming back for that gruyere, parmesan and provolone grilled cheese.

Whether you drop in to watch a game or impress a girl, the Glendon doesn’t disappoint.

The Glendon Bar & Kitchen is located at 1071 Glendon Avenue, 310.208.2023