0500; 300 Santana Row, San Jose 415/649-6077.
Serving upscale Mexican food featuring a wide variety
of artisan tacos. $$
Zona Rosa, 1411 The Alameda, San Jose, 408/
275-1411. 81 W. Main St., Los Gatos, 408/ 884-
8268. Honoring the cookery of Mexico and featuring
hand-pressed tortillas and fresh, locally
grown ingredients. $$
MOROCCAN
Chelokababi, 1236 Wolfe Road, Sunnyvale.
408/737-1222. Come enjoy
home-style Persian cooking, great
kebabs and a unique rice cooked
for 17 hours. $
Menara Moroccan, 41 E. Gish
Road, San Jose. 408/453-1983.
Delicious, authentic Moroccan
cuisine, complemented by
exotic cocktails and belly dancing
nightly. $$
PACIFIC ISLANDS
Banana Leaf, 182 Ranch Drive, Milpitas.
408/ 719-9811. Comfortable, open kitchen
style cooking and flavorful entrees like Mango
Prawn. $-$$
PORTUGUESE
Adega, 1614 Alum Rock Ave., San Jose, 408/926-
9075. Translated as “wine cellar,” Adega puts a
chic, modern spin on Portuguese cuisine, including
seafood and meat dishes. $$$
SEAFOOD
Blue Water Seafood & Crab, 860 Willow St.,
San Jose. 408/289-8879. East Coast-style crab
house with a wide selection of seafood specialties as
well as plenty of choices for land lovers. $
Fish Market, Palo Alto, 650/493-8862; Santa
Clara, 408/246-3474; San Mateo 650/349-3474;
San Jose, 408/269-3474. Fresh, high-quality seafood
comes from the restaurant’s fishery and partnering
seafood farms. $$
McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurant,
170 S. Market St., San Jose. 408/283-7200.
More than 30 species of fresh seafood are on a
menu that changes daily. $$
Old Port Lobster Shack, 3130 Alpine Road,
Portola Valley, 650/561-9500; 20 Woodside Plaza,
Redwood City, 650/366-2400. Fresh lobster dishes
and other seafood selections served in a New England
style lobster shack. $$
Pacific Catch Fresh Fish Grill (The Pruneyard),
104 South Bay Accent
Campbell, 408/ 879-9091; Mountain View,
650/941-1810. Fresh fish prepared with a combination
of local ingredients and spices and sauces
of Southeast Asia, Japan and Latin America. $$
Steamer’s Grillhouse (in Old Town), 31 University
Ave., Los Gatos. 408/395-CRAB. Steamer’s
features a variety of steaks, chops, seafood and
Mediterranean-inspired dishes and more. $$
The Sea by Alexander’s Steakhouse, 4269 El
Camino Real, Palo Alto, 650/213-1111. Talented
Chef Yu Min Lin infuses contemporary
cuisine with Japanese sensibilities
at this premier seafood-centric dining
destination as he transforms
fresh, wild, and sustainably harvested
ingredients into works of
art. Delicacies refined enough
to satisfy even the most discerning
epicure include the foie gras
tortellini with lobster, broccolini,
tomato and onions, grilled lobster
with leek, shitake mushroom and
spinach, and acorn-fed Iberico ham with
tomato compote, shitake mushroom and
olives. Pastry chef Dan Huynh’s transcendent artisanal
desserts are a fitting finale to an extraordinary
dining experience. Suitable for special occasions,
business dining and private events. $$$
SINGAPOREAN
Shiok! Singapore Kitchen, 1137 Chestnut St.,
Menlo Park. 650/838-9448. An exciting fusion of
Malay, Chinese and Indian cuisine. $
Straits, 333 Santana Row Suite
1100, San Jose. 408/246-
6320. 1100 Burlingame
Avenue, Burlingame.
650/373-7883. Drawing
inspiration from
the diverse cultures
that converge in
Singapore, Straits
captures the culinary
crossroads of Malaysian,
Indonesian, Chinese,
Indian and Nonya
cuisine. With Chef Chris
Yeo at the helm, the menu
combines South East Asia’s fragrant
multilayered flavor profiles and unique regional
ingredients with distinctive fine dining flair. An
appetizing array of options that are perfect for sharing,
including wok-fired rice and crispy chicken,
make Straits a popular destination for families,
parties and gatherings. A favorite with foodies who
crave a taste of adventure, Straits’ elegant dining
environment pairs perfectly with the exotic cuisine
it serves. $$
SOUTHEAST ASIAN
Ginger Café, Sunnyvale, 408/ 736-2828. Gilroy,
408/847-2625. Comfortable, family-run restaurants
that feature a flavorful fusion of Chinese
favorites with a Southeast Asian influences. $
Mint Leaf Cuisine, 14420 Big Basin Way,
Saratoga. 408/872-3763. Eatery features fusion
cuisine including soft-shell crabs with peanut
sauce and curry scallops. $$
SPANISH
Cascal, 400 Castro St., Mountain View.
650/940-9500. Spanning the globe with
spectacular dishes from Spain and South
America, Cascal serves up a menu of “spir-
200 DINING HOT SPOTS
ited Latin cuisine.” With over 25 tapas—small
plates and tastes—divided into “old world”
and “new world” choices, there’s something for
everyone. Try the classic Spanish chorizo in rioja
wine or minted lamb meatballs in a saffron and
almond sauce. For a full dinner, start with one
of several ceviches and move on to an exquisite,
traditional paella (including one for vegetarians).
The casually elegant interior, with its bright,
bold colors was created by renowned designer/
architect Chuck Thompson. $$
Iberia, 740 El Camino Real, Belmont. 650/325-
8981. Mouth-watering Spanish dishes and awardwinning
wines served in a luxurious setting. $$$
Joya, 339 University Ave., Palo Alto. 650/853-
9800. The hip modern décor mixes well with the
contemporary Spanish and Latin tapas and the
tasty variety of new age cocktails. $$$
SPANISH/CALIFORNIAN
Asa, 242 State St., Los Altos. 650/935-2372. Generations
of Italian and Spanish heritage inspire
the seasonal California cuisine at this intimate,
new dining spot. The 60-seat restaurant’s open
kitchen, black steel beams, and candle-lit butcherblock
tables create a casual yet elegant ambiance.
Sustainably sourced and delectably prepared fish
is served fresh daily. Guests enjoy fresh, handmade
pasta, local, organic produce, and grass- fed beef.
Artisanal cocktails, a robust wine list and housemade
ice cream complete the menu. The building’s
façade, designed by award-winning architect Tom
Kundig, features an eye-catching wall of windows
that cranks open to reveal the street. $$
THAI
Amarin, Mountain View, 650/ 988-
9323; San Jose, 408/253-8424. Fresh,
contemporary Thai menu with traditional
accents and vegetarian dishes. $
Thaiphoon Restaurant, 543 Emerson
St., Palo Alto, 650/323-7700.
Well-appointed restaurant with a mix
of traditional and contemporary Thai
dishes and a tropical themed patio. $
VIETNAMESE
Pho Wagon, 1712 Meridian Ave., San Jose,
408/440-0105. Specializing in its perennially
popular namesake soup, this family-owned Willow
Glen eatery is as bright and cheerful as it is
conveniently located. In addition to its delicious
array of pho, the menu also features other Vietnamese
staples such as vermicelli bowls, grilled
rice plates and banh mi. There’s also a kid’s menu.
House specials include Pad Thai Prawns and Rock
n Roll Filet Mignon with bell peppers and onions.
If you’re in the mood for lighter fare, try the mango
or papaya salad. For a sweet treat, dive into pankocrusted
deep-fried banana with coconut pineapple
ice cream. $
Tamarine, 546 University Ave., Palo Alto. 650/
325-8500. Elegantly presented dishes, such as
crab wontons in a consommé of lime, coriander,
lemongrass and coconut milk served in a warm,
inviting atmosphere. $$
Three Seasons, 518 Bryant St., Palo Alto. 650/ 838-
0353. This stylish, chic restaurant and bar offers a
fresh new take on traditional Vietnamese flavors. $$
Xanh, 110 Castro St., Mountain View 650/ 964-
1888. Upscale restaurant featuring Vietnamese
cuisine that pleases both the eye and palate with
creative combinations. $-$$ n
The Basin
Cascal
Alexander’s
Steakhouse