An American Restaurant
with Influences Derived from
Generations of Spanish and
Italian Heritage
408.867.1906 thebasin.com
14572 Big Basin Way at 5th Street, Saratoga
Introducing
oyster bar • craft cocktails
spanish & local wines
104 South Bay Accent
rare whiskey and scotch in the Bay Area, this is a
popular destination with the Silicon Valley single
set, while the friendly, casual ambiance appeals to
families and couples in the market for a lively date
night. $$
Scratch, 401 Castro St., Mountain View. 650/237-
3132. This sleek eatery combines upscale American
comfort food with an impressive drinks menu. $$$
Spencer’s for Steaks and Chops (Doubletree
Hotel), 2050 Gateway Place, San Jose.
408/437-2170. Spencer’s delivers
exquisite prime beef dishes. $$$
Sundance The Steakhouse,
1921 El Camino Real, Palo
Alto. 650/321-6798. This
upscale steakhouse, familyowned
and -operated for
over 40 years, features handcut,
USDA prime-graded
beef. Enjoy slow-roasted
prime rib, specially aged New
York strip loin and tender filet
mignon in the candlelit mahogany
dining room. In addition to the
Rosie McCann’s
award-wining beef, Sundance prides
itself on serving the freshest seafood and shellfish
available. Favorites include grilled Pacific swordfish,
ahi tuna sashimi and jumbo cold-water lobster
tail. To complete your dining experience, the
menu is supported by a nationally recognized wine
list with over 450 global selections. Check out the
cozy fireplace lounge. It’s an ideal spot for sipping
martinis and aged single-malt scotch before or
after dinner. $$
The Table, 1110 Willow St., San Jose. 408/638-
7911. Hot spot from Jim Stump, serving contemporary
American cuisine complemented by
hand-crafted cocktails and progressive wines. $$
Tender Greens, (Stanford Shopping Center),
180 El Camino Real #1050. 650/285-6702.
With locations throughout the Bay Area, this fastcasual
farm-to-table eatery serves up healthy cuisine
in a bustling buffet setting. $
Umami Burger, 452 University
Ave., Palo Alto. 650/321-8626.
Specialty and classic burgers
with carefully crafted combinations
of toppings. $$
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, sustainable
seafood and organic produce.
$–$$
Village California Bistro &
Wine Bar, 378 Santana Row, Suite
1035, San Jose. 408/248-9091. Casual
but sophisticated eatery excels with a seasonal
menu and an impressive wine list. $$
Willard Hicks, 280 E Campbell Ave., Campbell.
408/374-5000. Steaks and other wood-fired entrees
plus beer and cocktails are served in this clubby,
masculine restaurant and lounge. $$$
The Wine Cellar, 50 University Ave., Los Gatos.
408/354-4808. Old Town’s only original tenant,
this charming, Old-World European restaurant has
been a Los Gatos tradition since 1966. $$
Yard House, 300 Santana Row, San Jose, 408/
241-9273. Featuring a full range of choice eats
from snacks to steaks, specialty cocktails and an
endless beer list. $$
AUSTRIAN
Nasch Austrian Bistro, 217 A N. Santa Cruz
Ave., Los Gatos. 408/402-5092. Leaving hungry is
not an option at this tribute to Austrian favorites,
including Viennese sausage and pretzels. $$
Naschmarkt, 384 E. Campbell Ave.,
Campbell. 408/378-0335. This
highly rated eatery delivers with
central European traditions
along with lighter California
twists. $$$
BARBECUE
Armadillo Willy’s, 1031
N. San Antonio Road, Los
Altos. 650/ 941-2922. Fun,
casual family dining offering
prime Texas barbecue dishes. $
Dan Gordon’s, 640 Emerson
St., Palo Alto. 650/324-1960. “Beer,
BBQ, whiskey” is the tasty trifecta that
ensures Dan Gordon’s status as the ultimate
destination for comfort food fans. $$
South Winchester BBQ, 1362 South Winchester
Blvd, San Jose, 408/376-0485. Mouthwatering,
down-home, finger-licking BBQ is the
raison d’être of this meaty mecca for carnivores. $
BISTROS
Bistro Vida, 641 Santa Cruz Ave., Menlo Park.
650/462-1686. Extensive bistro menu offers classics
such as steamed mussels, coq au vin and steak
frites, served in a warm, inviting setting. $$
The Bywater, 532 North Santa Cruz Ave., Los
Gatos. 408/560-9639. After 15 years at Michelin
three-starred Manresa, chef David Kinch opened
this Southern-style eatery with partner and wine
director Andrew Burnham as a salute to New
Orleans, where Kinch first learned to cook. Along
with po’ boys, fried green tomatoes, and
“Oysters Rock-a-Fella,” you’ll find
a raw bar and a slew of Big Easy
cocktails, from juleps to Sazeracs.
Dinner includes creative
Crescent City variations like
soft-shell chili crab with
okra and eggplant, snapper
court-bouillon, and
“rich man’s” red beans and
rice. Snag a leather booth
in the comfy, elegant dining
room; snack in the bar;
or do weekend brunch on
the patio with bubbly and
beignets. The restaurant won
a Michelin Bib Gourmand rating
and a Wine Spectator award of excellence
in 2017. $$
Central Park Bistro, 181 E. Fourth Ave., San
Mateo. 650/558-8401. With a hearty array of
regional favorites on the menu, Central Park Bistro
showcases the diversity of American cuisine. $$$
Louisiana Bistro, 19 North Market St., San Jose.
408/295-1300. Authentic Cajun cuisine and a variety
of other N’awlins-style tastes make for an enjoyable
and memorable dining experience. $$
Mayfield Bakery & Café, 855 El Camino Real,
Palo Alto. 650/853-9200. Rustic, comforting sea-
200 DINING HOT SPOTS
Sustainable,
Well-Sourced Spanish
Californian Cuisine
650.935.2372 asalosaltos.com
242 State Street, Los Altos
Sino
