DEALS ON MEALS Ethnic eateries are a huge part of the Bay Area’s culinary landscape, and many of the region’s smaller restaurants offer savory tastes of home at great prices. In Willow Glen, the owner of Souvlaki’s Greek Skewers (577 W. Alma Ave., San Jose) relies on her grandmother’s recipes for dishing up the flavors of Greece. House specialties include traditional horiatiki (Greek salad), lemon soup, dolmades, moussaka and, of course, souvlakis. The latter are skewered pieces of spiced, marinated meat grilled over an open flame, topped with onion, tomato and tzatziki sauce, and wrapped in pillow-soft pita bread. A vegetarian version of this delectable Greek sandwich contains grilled mushrooms, bell peppers and zucchini with feta cheese. Only a year old, tiny Zareen’s (1477 Plymouth St., Mountain View) is already a must-go destination for those who crave authentic Pakistani and Indian cuisine. You may not get a seat immediately, but you’ll receive a complementary cup of chai tea—and the food is worth the wait. Fresh, local produce stars in every dish, which is cooked to order. Outstanding choices include kebab and curry meals, complete with rice, naan, dhal, salad and chutney. For a more contemporary treat try the Aloo Samosa Burger with masala fries. Now under new ownership, the former 3 G’s Café (456 Cambridge Ave., Palo Alto) has been renamed Beans ’N’ Bites, but fans of the Bolivian dishes once served here are delighted that some of their favorite items have been retained on a menu now featuring Chinese street food. Still in evidence are the signature saltenas, chewy cheese cunapes and peanut soup. So, in addition to a noodle bowl, you can dive into a delicious saltena—an empanada-like meal-in-a-hand— with chicken, steak or veggies. Enveloped in a crispy pastry pocket, a well-spiced chicken saltena comes loaded with peas and juicy chunks of meat and potatoes. An offshoot of the Gombei chain of Japanese restaurants, Gombei Bento (155 E. Maude Ave., Sunnyvale) caters to the local lunch crowd looking for good, inexpensive food and fast, friendly service. The menu is simple, featuring generous portions for bentos and entrees. A bento with light, crispy tempura shrimp and teriyaki chicken served with salad and fried rice is under $8. Of special note 94 South Bay Accent is the fresh tofu, made in-house daily. The eatery is closed on weekends. —DK Hachi Ju Hachi, 14480 Big Basin Way, Saratoga. 408/647-2258. Traditional Japanese cuisine featuring pure, simple, flavorful dishes. $$ House of Genji, 1335 N. First St., San Jose. 650/209-6958. Well-executed tableside cooking shows are the main draw at this familyfriendly Japanese teppanyaki steakhouse. $$$ Kappo Nami Nami, 240 Castro St., Mountain View. 650/ 964-6990. Cuttingedge, kappo-style Japanese cuisine with fresh, seasonal ingredients. $$ Katsu, 160 Main St., Los Gatos. 408/ 354-0712. Japanese-Peruvian fusion cuisine is carefully prepared with fresh, local ingredients. $$$ Kubota, 593 N. Fifth St., San Jose. 408/279-8440. An excellent upscale pan-Pacific menu featuring seasonal specials and year-round favorites. $-$$ Kyoto Palace, 1875 S. Bascom Ave. #2500 (The Pruneyard), Campbell. 408/377-6456. Since 1976, Kyoto Palace has been serving authentic Japanese cuisine and entertaining diners with its Teppanyaki method of preparing dishes. Guests are seated around a six-foot steel grill, where a skillful Kyoto Palace chef rapidly slices, dices, flips and grills up fresh meats and vegetables right before their eyes – and sometimes into their mouths. Kyoto Palace has been a longtime favorite for celebratory gatherings, meetings and other private functions and still is an enjoyable way for couples and families to eat out. Dishes include a wide selection of sushi, bento box lunches and mouth-watering multicourse dinners featuring fresh beef, chicken, seafood, the very popular fried rice and Hibachi vegetables. $$-$$$ Masa’s Sushi, 400 San Antonio Road, Mountain View. 650/941-2117. In addition to sushi, you’ll find tempura and chicken and beef teriyaki. $-$$ Rokko, 190 S. Frances St., Sunnyvale. 408/773- 8225 (also located in San Jose). Full range of tasty fare, from fresh sushi to hot udon and more. $ LATIN Ciano’s, 280 E. Campbell Ave., Campbell. 408/871-1939. Unique, flavorful Latin cuisine with wide-ranging Central and South American influences. $$ La Viga, 1772 Broadway St., Redwood City. 650/679-8141. Executive Chef Manuel Martinez named his first restaurant after the massive central seafood market in Mexico City where he hails from. La Viga features a seafood-focused menu of contemporary Latin cuisine including camarones al coco, or coconut-crusted prawns, and salmon yucateco, or grilled Atlantic salmon. It also offers its own unique take on traditional Mexican dishes such as red enchiladas with choice of meats and chile relleno. Martinez has a storied history of creating gourmet cuisine having served as executive chef for Palacio in Los Gatos and Left Bank Brasserie in Menlo Park. His diverse cooking experience coupled with his use of the finest Latin ingredients have diners raving. $$ LV Mar, 2042 Broadway St., Redwood City. 650/241-3111. A contemporary take on classic Latin cuisine, LV Mar is the latest evolution in Chef Manuel Martinez’s ever-growing passion for creating a fresh and innovative dining experience. The casual, modern restaurant combines highquality, fresh ingredients, refined preparation techniques and an inviting atmosphere where guests are considered part of the recipe. Martinez’s no-nonsense approach produces savory meat and seafood dishes such as asado, grassfed rib-eye, pechuga de pato, seared duck breast and arroz con mariscos, a shellfish combination with rice. The restaurant also offers an array of small bites, or tapas, and an extensive selection of wine, beer and signature cocktails. $$ BEST BITES LV Mar Cascal
South Bay Accent - Apr/May 2015
To see the actual publication please follow the link above