200 DINING HOT SPOTS
106 South Bay Accent
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
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 small-plates
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. $$
The Farmer’s Union, 151 W. Santa Clara St., San
Jose. 408/277-0545. This updated incarnation of a
rustic American tavern boasts a refreshing array of
local brews, craft cocktails and hearty yet sophisticated
farm-to-table fare. $
Flea Street Cafe, 3607 Alameda de las Pulgas,
Menlo Park. 650/854-1226. An ever-changing
menu of continental and California dishes. $$
The Lexington House, 40 N. Santa Cruz Ave.,
Los Gatos. 408/354-1600. Unique Northern California
dishes made with local, organic and sustainable
ingredients. $$
The Mountain House, 13808 Skyline Blvd.,
Woodside. 650/851-8541. Highlights are excellent
TASTE TRIPS
A drive up and over the Golden Gate Bridge into Marin County
will richly reward you with some excellent eats. These restaurants getting lots of
buzz should be the highlight of your next day trip.
Chef-owner Ron Siegel woke up some taste buds in San Anselmo when he opened
his restaurant Madcap (198 Sir Francis Drake Blvd.) last year. Zagat declared it
one of the most important Bay Area restaurant openings of 2017. Siegel
brought his urban sensibilities from San Francisco—where he was
behind several acclaimed restaurant kitchens—to create a flavorful
menu in an upscale yet casual setting. His herb-roasted chicken is
considered the best anywhere. There are small plates or you can
delight in his always changing chef’s tasting menu.
Representing the best Southern barbecue has to offer is Pig in a
Pickle (341 Corte Madera), featuring favorite slathers of the South:
Memphis style, South Carolina mustard, Alabama white sauce and
even their own “Commitment” habanero hot sauce. The meats are
hormone- and antibiotic-free, smoked with California White Oak. Everything
is homemade, even the buns. Meats include beef brisket, pulled pork, baby
back ribs, chicken and hot links. Don’t miss the sides, like the Savory Ranch Style
Beans, potato salad, coleslaw, collard greens and, of course, cornbread.
For good old-fashioned burgers, locals love Phyllis’ Giant Burgers (8 E. Blithedale
Ave., Mill Valley). There’s the Giant Burger, at a half-pound, or you can get the relatively
light quarter-pound Junior. Each ground chuck burger comes with lettuce,
tomato and onion. Building your own burger is encouraged, with an array of extras
like mushrooms, avocado and jalapeños. There’s also a cheesesteak sandwich,
chicken sandwiches, veggie and turkey. Try the crispy fries or onion rings. Top it
all off with an ice cream cone for dessert.
Sam’s Anchor Café (27 Main St., Tiburon) is one of the best places to enjoy fresh
seasonal seafood with stunning views of Angel Island, Alcatraz and the San Francisco
skyline. Drop in for a glass of wine and snacks like fried calamari or blue
cheese garlic bread. The raw bar features oysters, ceviche poke and caviar. Large
plates include Alaskan Cod fish and chips, Dungeness crab cioppino, plus dishes
for land lovers, like the three cheese and mushroom lasagna or the grilled
prime Angus flatiron steak.
Another favorite of both locals and visitors is the Marin
Brewing Company (1809 Larkspur Landing, Larkspur),
where award-winning ales and a full menu of gourmet
pub grub keeps diners happy. The “Beer Buddies” section
is stocked with faves like Buffalo wings, jalapeño
poppers and fresh steamed clams. There are soups,
salads, chili, sandwiches, burgers and wood-fired
pizzas, and you’ll also find dishes like authentic British
style bangers and mash: sausages served with
mashed potatoes, gravy and sautéed onions. —P. M.
The Basin
Crow’s
Nest