Lark Creek Kitchen, 378 Santana Row, Suite 1100, San Jose. 408/244-1244. Seasonal American fare served in a warm, inviting, tavern-style atmosphere. $$-$$$ The Loft Bar & Bistro, 90 S. Second St., San Jose. 408/291-0677. Contemporary and casual restaurant in a historic downtown building, 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. $$ 96 South Bay Accent Madera, 2825 Sand Hill Road, Menlo Park. 650/561-1540. Signature restaurant of Rosewood Sand Hill Hotel features wood-burning grill to produce artful seafood and meats. $$$ 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. $$-$$$ Mixx, 420 Castro Street, Mountain View. 650/966- 8124. Contemporary American cuisine featuring small plates as well as shareable entrees and an elaborate list of beers and artisan cocktails. $$ Moss Beach Distillery, 140 Beach Way, Moss Beach. 650/728-5595. Historic tavern offers breathtaking Pacific Ocean views and a menu of all-natural meats, wild-caught seafood and organic produce, along with select wines and cocktails. $$ Orchard City Kitchen, 1875 S. Bascom Ave., Suite 190 (The Pruneyard) Campbell. 408/340- 5285. Led by Michelin-recognized Executive Chef Jeffrey Stout, Orchard City Kitchen (OCK) offers a rotation of inventive, seasonal dishes inspired by fresh ingredients along with an elaborate selection of beer, wine and spirits, all served in a kick-back environment that exudes positive energy. Stout puts his signature touch on small-plate offerings and shareable entrees such as smoked pork loin, duck confit, blackened bone-in ribeye steak, lobster dumplings and Skuna Bay salmon. Enticing vegetable dishes include kale and green apple salad, charred avocado, Yukon gold potatoes and cedar plank zucchini. With Stout at the helm, OCK — a recipient of the 2016 Bib Gourmand Award for “excellent food at reasonable prices” — provides an exciting, new style and atmosphere for modern, casual dining. $$ Parcel 104, 2700 Mission College Blvd., Santa Clara. 408/970-6104. Seasonal menu from acclaimed chefs Bradley Ogden and Jonathan Hall combines freshness and sophistication. $$$ 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. $$ The Table, 1110 Willow St., San Jose. 408/638- 7911. Hot spot from culinary guru Jim Stump, serving contemporary American cuisine complemented by hand-crafted cocktails and progressive wines. $$ The Van’s Restaurant, 815 Belmont Ave., Belmont. 650/591-6525. Hungry diners looking for a late-night steak or prime rib can also choose from lamb chops, fresh fish and pasta. $-$$ Vault 164, 164 S. B St., San Mateo. 650/348-8164. An eclectic selection of American style cuisine, with a wide variety of aged steaks, chicken, pasta, fresh, sustainable seafood and organic produce. $-$$ 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. Long known for its signature cheese fondue and extensive wine selection, The Wine Cellar also draws appreciative diners to the steak, seafood and pasta items on its menu. In the relaxed California ambience, enjoy a variety of delicious dishes, including grilled Australian lamp chops, Painted Hills all natural beef, wild Alaskan king salmon, fresh abalone and tortel- BITES THE GRAPEVINE ‘Tis the season for celebrations. To help get you into the holiday spirit, many local wineries host events and activities. Here’s a sampling of a few that are sure to put you in a merry mood. Say cheers at downtown Willow Glen’s first Holiday Bubbly Walk, where attendees can shop the avenue while sipping champagne and other bubbly beverages such as sparkling water and juice. On Dec. 5, from 2 to 5 p.m., several sites will be set up for small tastes so you can complete an afternoon of holiday shopping and sample festive drinks that make great gifts. Tickets are $35-$40. For an easy way to check a few gifts off your list, head over to Guglielmo Winery’s 27th annual Holiday Gift Faire, Dec. 5-6 and Dec. 12-13. The lively event runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and includes wine tasting, gourmet food sampling, hot mulled wine sipping, listening to carolers and of course, shopping. The winery’s gift shop is open throughout the month of December and features wine-themed items and baskets, handpainted ceramics and a large selection of gourmet food. For a truly original present, the winery will even customize wine labels. Saunter down to Santana Row on Dec. 8 for the Holiday Open House + Wine Stroll—a shopping event that benefits Second Harvest Food Bank. Purchase a $40 ticket and enjoy food and wine pairings from 6 to 9 p.m. from Santana Row shops and restaurants. While you’re there, look for special shopping incentives as you sip wine from your signature Santana Row glass, and check the latest holiday-themed fashions. Bring a canned food item with you and get $5 off the ticket price. Travel through the Santa Cruz Mountains with your own special wine passport. On Jan. 21, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., the Santa Cruz Mountain Winegrower’s Association presents its much-loved Passport event. Guests are welcomed into more than 30 wineries—such as Bonny Doon Vineyard, The Mountain Winery, Portola Vineyards and Ridge Vineyards—for pairings of artisan handcrafted wines, gourmet food and entertainment. Passports cost $55, are good for two years, and are valid at three additional Passport events which take place in April, July and November. For more information, call 831/685-8463 or visit scmwa.com. —Wendy Wall C M Y CM MY CY CMY K Cascal
South Bay Accent - Dec 2015/Jan 2016
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