90 South Bay Accent
Superstar restaurants create a Burmese menu influenced
by Indian, Thai and Chinese cooking. $
Sweet Mango, 1040 Willow Street, San Jose. 408/
293-2268. Innovative menu blurs the line between
Burmese and Chinese cuisine, and has become a
local favorite in Willow Glen. $
CALIFORNIA
Braise, 1185 Lincoln Ave., San
Jose. 408/294-2919. Anthony
Jimenez and Josh Hanoka
combine classic California
cuisine with contemporary
international flair
in their seasonal smallplates
menu in Willow
Glen. $-$$
Calafia Café, 855 El
Camino Real, Palo Alto.
650/322-9200. Executive
Chef Charlie Ayers offers
diverse, organic dishes from
pizzas and curries to Duck
Adobo and Tofu Lentil Loaf. $$
Cascade Bar & Grill (Costanoa
Resort), 2001 Rossi Road at Highway 1, Pescadero.
650/879-1100. The California coastal
menu features sustainable, local seafood and organic
produce. $$
Cetrella, 845 Main St., Half Moon Bay. 650/726-
4090. 400 Main St., Los Altos. 650/948-0400.
Upscale Mediterranean dining and California
coastal cuisine with a variety of venue options. $$$
The Crow’s Nest Restaurant, 2218 E. Cliff
Dr. Santa Cruz. 831/476-4560. Since 1969, this
popular spot has featured award-winning cuisine,
spirits and live entertainment from one of the most
spectacular views of Santa Cruz Harbor, lighthouse
and wharf. Surfer-themed décor adds ambiance to
the downstairs dining room, where guests enjoy
seafood as fresh as the catch brought in that morning.
The beef dishes are just as delectable, earning
the restaurant accolades for serving the best
steak in town. Upstairs, the Breakwater
Grill offers a variety of appetizers
and casual lunches, along
with live comedy, music and
dancing. Outdoor decks
provide a friendly alfresco
atmosphere and excellent
vantage point for
sipping signature cocktails
while watching the
steady parade of sailboats
coming in and out of the
harbor. $$
Flea Street Cafe, 3607
Alameda de las Pulgas, Menlo
Park. 650/854-1226. An everchanging
menu of continental and
California dishes. $$
The Lexington House, 40 N. Santa Cruz Ave.,
Los Gatos. 408/354-1600. Unique Northern California
dishes made with local, organic and sustainable
ingredients. $$
Parkside Grille, 884 Portola Road, Portola Valley.
650/529-9007. Tucked among the redwoods, rustic
but elegant setting serves up California comfort
food with fresh local ingredients. $$
Quattro (Four Seasons Hotel), 2050 University
Ave., East Palo Alto, 650/470-2889. Well-prepared
California cuisine with an Italian twist. $$$
The Shadowbrook, 1750 Wharf Rd., Capitolaby
the-sea. 831/475-1511. Visitors to one of the
nation’s 100 most romantic restaurants (as voted
by OpenTable diners) take the iconic “cable car”
tram or walk alongside waterfalls and lush gardens
to reach this ivy-covered dining destination. Equally
enticing are the seven different dining
rooms within the Swiss chalet-style
building, the impeccable service
and award-winning cuisine.
Menu favorites include
mouthwatering, slowroasted
prime rib, local
salmon and creative
nightly specials. Shadowbrook’s
beautiful
Rock Room Bar (with
live music on weekends)
continues to be an overwhelming
favorite with
locals and visitors alike
and offers more casual fare
and portions. Since 1947,
Shadowbrook has delighted
diners who come to propose, celebrate
an anniversary, wow a first date
or just enjoy a fine meal in an atmosphere of
Old World charm and grace. $$-$$$
31st Union, 5 S. Ellsworth Avenue, San Mateo.
650/458-0049. A popular locavore eatery featuring
artisanal California food and drink with seasonally
changing plates. $–$$
Verge (Toll House Hotel), 140 South Santa Cruz
Ave., Los Gatos. 408/884-1054. California-at-heart
cuisine featuring a fresh and unique combination of
cultural regions and styles of preparation. $$–$$$
Village Pub, 2967 Woodside Road, Woodside.
650/851-9888. Local favorite features a gorgeous
interior and a menu that shows a serious devotion
to meat dishes. $$$
Viva, 15970 Los Gatos Blvd., Los Gatos. 408/ 356-
4902. Upscale neighborhood eatery fuses diverse
California and Mediterranean cuisine with comfortable
family-style dining. $$
CAMBODIAN
Chez Sovan, 2425 South Bascom Ave., Campbell.
408/371-7711. This authentic, delicious food will
make you a permanent convert! Among favorites is
the popular Cambodian dish Amok. $$
CARIBBEAN/CUBAN
Cha Cha Cha Cuba, 112 S. B St., San Mateo.
650/347-2900. Authentic, zesty Cuban flavors are
served up in a vibrant, friendly space. $$
Coconuts Caribbean Restaurant & Bar, 642
Ramona St., Palo Alto. 650/329-9533. Tropical
cocktails, music and authentic Caribbean dishes
quickly get diners in the island mood. $$
La Bodeguita del Medio, 463 California Ave.,
Palo Alto. 650/326-7762. Enjoy coastal cuisine
enhanced with flavorful Cuban influences and fantastic
fish! $–$$
CHINESE
Chef Chu’s, 1067 North San Antonio Road, Los
Altos. 650/948-2696. Savor great food at this popular
restaurant, such as the outstanding signature
minced shrimp in lettuce cups. $$
Din Tai Fung, 2855 Stevens Creek Blvd. (Westfield
Valley Fair), Santa Clara. With its ultra-chic
interior and shareable plates, South Bay’s hottest
dumpling house is a first-date destination. $$
BEST BITES
Nick’s Next Door, 11 College Ave., Los Gatos.
408/402-5053. Dinner-only restaurant featuring a
menu that ranges from rib-eye steak and meatloaf
to lamb-chop lollipops and abalone. $$–$$$
Rok Bistro, 124 S. Murphy Ave., Sunnyvale.
408/733-7651. “Stone-age” steakhouse sears meat,
fish, poultry and vegetarian entrees on hot volcanic
rocks. A wide range of fondues are also available. $$
BRAZILIAN
Fogo de Chao, 377 Santana Row, Suite 1090,
San Jose. 408/244-7001. This authentic Brazilian
steakhouse features grilled meats prepared at tableside.
$$–$$$
Galpao Gaucho Brazilian Steakhouse, 19780
Stevens Creek Blvd, Cupertino. 408/366 2370.
Carnivores crave the succulent meats while sumptuous
sides satisfy diners of every disposition. $$$
Taurinas Brazilian Steakhouse, 167 W. San
Fernando St., San Jose. 408/294-0110. Brazilianstyle
barbecue buffet featuring select cuts of meats
cooked slowly on special grills. $$
BREWERIES/PUBS
Faultline Brewing Co., 1235 Oakmead Pkwy.,
Sunnyvale. 408/736-2739. A friendly brewpub
with a vast variety of homemade ales, as well as
outstanding fare. $$
Gordon Biersch, San Jose. 408/294-6785. These
jazzy brewery restaurants focus on light, international
cuisine, and of course, tasty brews. $$
Half Moon Bay Brewing Co., 390 Capistrano
Road, Half Moon Bay, 650/728-2739. This casually
charming restaurant and brewpub offers breathtaking
views and an equally enticing menu. $$
Loma Brewing Company, Los Gatos, 408/560-
9626. This buzz-worthy new brewpub brings
together delicious craft beers and high-quality
casual comfort food in a lively atmosphere. $
Original Gravity Public House, 66 S. First St.,
San Jose. 408/915-2337. Award-winning sausages,
gourmet grilled cheese and duck fat fries complement
an array of craft beers. $$
Rosie McCann’s, 355 Santana Row,
#1060, San Jose, 408/247-1706.
Exemplifying the warmth of Irish
hospitality, this Santana Row
gem is known for its camaraderie
and welcoming atmosphere.
Guests can enjoy a drink at the
full bar (including Guinness
on tap) before dining on traditional
pub fare or sampling decadent
menu items such as the
stuffed bacon-wrapped prawns,
Jameson Portobello mushroom
with blue cheese, candied walnuts
and green onion, or a juicy Kobe burger.
The varied menu consists of local farm-fresh
organic ingredients and grass-fed beef as well as
vegan, gluten-free, vegetarian and Paleo options.
Share plates are also popular as is the hearty weekend
brunch accompanied by bottomless mimosas
and frosé. $–$$
Steins Beer Garden, 895 Villa St., Mountain
View. 650/963-9568. The hearty home-style cooking
here is complemented by a variety of the choicest
craft beers from around the world. $$
BURMESE
Rangoon Ruby, 445 Emerson Street, Palo Alto.
650/323-6543. Two talented chefs from Burma
The
Bywater
The Sea