86 South Bay Accent 7777. A fun and lively spot, John Bentley’s combines warmth and elegance with outstanding service and an appetizing menu. $$ Lark Creek Blue, 378 Santana Row, Suite 1100, San Jose. 408/244-1244. Seasonal American cuisine features globally inspired dishes, top wines and exceptional cocktails. $$$ The Loft Bar & Bistro, 90 S. Second St., San Jose. 408/291-0677. Contemporary and casual restaurant in a hwuilding, featuring great appetizers, tapas style. $ Los Altos Grill, 233 Third St., Los Altos. 650/948- 3524. Dinner spot features tasty dishes, including rotisserie pork chops and a spicy tuna burger. $$ Madera, 2825 Sand Hill Road, Menlo Park. 650/561-1540. Signature restaurant of Rosewood Sand Hill Hotel features wood-burning grill to produce artful seafood and meats. $$$ Menlo Grill Bistro & Bar (Stanford Park Hotel), 100 El Camino Real, Menlo Park. 650/330-2790. An innovative take on classic American dishes made with fresh, sustainable ingredients. $$-$$$ Morton’s The Steakhouse, 177 Park Ave., Suite 100, San Jose. 408/947-7000. Renowned for serving quality, USDA prime-aged steak, fresh seafood, choice produce and decadent desserts. $$$ Moss Beach Distillery, 140 Beach Way, Moss Beach.650/728- 5595. Historic tavern offers breathtaking Pacific Ocean views as well as a menu of all-natural meats, wild-caught seafood and organic produce. $$ Parcel 104, 2700 Mission College Blvd., Santa Clara. 408/970- 6104. Seasonal menu from acclaimed chefs Bradley Ogden and Jonathan Hall combines freshness and sophistication. $$$ Scratch, 401 Castro St., Mountain View. 650/237- 3132. This sleek eatery combines upscale American comfort food with an impressive drinks menu. $$$ Sundance The Steakhouse, 1921 El Camino Real, Palo Alto. 650/321-6798. This upscale steakhouse, family-owned and operated for over 40 years, features hand-cut, USDA prime-graded beef. Enjoy slow-roasted prime rib, specially aged New York strip loin and tender filet mignon in the candlelit mahogany dining room. In addition to the award-wining beef, Sundance prides itself on serving the freshest seafood and shellfish available. Favorites include ahi tuna sashimi, grilled Pacific swordfish and jumbo cold-water lobster tail. To complete your dining experience, the menu is supported by a nationally recognized wine list with over 450 global selections. Check out the cozy fireplace lounge. It’s an ideal spot for sipping martinis and aged single-malt scotch before or after dinner. $$ The Table, 1110 Willow St., San Jose. 408/638- 7911. Hot spot from culinary guru Jim Stump, serving contemporary American cuisine complemented by hand-crafted cocktails and progressive wines. $$ Umami Burger, 452 University Ave., Palo Alto. 650/321-8626. Specialty and classic burgers with carefully crafted combinations of toppings. $$ Vault 164, 164 S. B St., San Mateo. 650/348-8164. An eclectic selection of American style cuisine, with a wide variety of aged steaks, chicken, pasta, fresh, sustainable seafood and organic produce. $-$$ Village California Bistro & Wine Bar, 378 Santana Row, Suite 1035, San Jose. 408/248-9091. Casual but sophisticated eatery excels with a seasonal menu and an impressive wine list. $$ The Wine Cellar, 50 University Ave., Los Gatos. 408/354-4808. Old Town’s only original tenant, this charming, old-world European restaurant has been a Los Gatos tradition since 1966. $$ THE GRAPEVINE It’s a perfect time to step outdoors and stroll along some of the South Bay’s most charming downtown streets—with a glass of fine wine in hand. Saturday, April 25, will be a busy day in two local neighborhoods. The Los Gatos Spring Wine Walk takes place from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m., with town merchants opening their doors for tastings from more than 35 nearby wineries. Food samples also will be available at downtown shops and restaurants and under the trees at Plaza Park. Purchase $50 tickets online at losgatoschamber.com. The price is $55 on event day if tickets are still available. In San Jose, the downtown Willow Glen Spring Wine Walk on the same day is planned from 2 to 6 p.m. along Lincoln Avenue from Minnesota to Lester. Visitors may sample wines at more than 30 tasting sites in various businesses. Tickets are $35 and include a commemorative glass; $40 the day of the event if available. Call 408/298-2100 for details. Every year, connoisseurs flock to Monterey for the four-day Pebble Beach Food and Wine event, scheduled April 9-12. The eighth annual extravaganza features some 250 acclaimed wineries and 75 celebrity chefs. Activities include grand tastings, parties, cooking demonstrations, seminars and exclusive dining opportunities. Tickets range from $100 to $1,000 for a celebrity chef and winemakers golf tournament. Among local wineries participating are Bernardus Winery, Carmel Road Winery, Ridge Vineyards and Testarossa Winery. To welcome the region’s beautiful spring weather, Byington Vineyard and Winery (21850 Bear Creek Road, Los Gatos) presents its second annual Paella Party on May 17 from 1 to 3 p.m. Tickets, at $60 each, include a paella-creating performance, live Flamenco music and sips from the winery’s cellars. Another celebration of wine and food comes from J. Lohr Vineyards and Wines (1000 Lenzen Ave., San Jose), with guests enjoying tapas-style cuisine from Greece on May 30 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. For $60 tickets and reservations, call 408/288-5057. Passport Days is set April 18. A $40 donation includes one visit to more than 50 sites, among them: Bonny Doon Vineyard, the Mountain Winery, Savannah-Chenelle Vineyards, Picchetti Winery, Fernwood Cellars, David Bruce Winery, Clos LaChance Winery and Cooper-Garrod Estate Vineyards. —D.K. BEST BITES LV Mar La Viga
South Bay Accent - Apr/May 2015
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