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. $$$
SEAFOOD
Blue Water Seafood & Crab, 860
Willow St., San Jose. 408/289-8879. East
Coast–style crab house with a wide selection of
seafood specialties as well as plenty of choices for
land lovers. $
EMC Seafood & Raw Bar, 378 Santana Row,
Ste. 1100, San Jose. 408/296-6048. Oysters, uni,
and a bounty of cooked options grace the Asian-
California menu at this new spot. $$-$$$
Fish Market, Palo Alto, 650/493-8862; Santa
Clara, 408/246-3474; San Mateo 650/349-3474;
San Jose, 408/269-3474. Fresh, high-quality seafood
comes from the restaurant’s fishery and partnering
seafood farms. $$
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. $$
Pacific Catch Fresh Fish Grill (The Pruneyard),
Campbell, 408/ 879-9091; Mountain View,
650/941-1810. Fresh fish prepared with a combination
of local ingredients and spices and sauces of
Southeast Asia, Japan and Latin America. $$
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. $$
The Sea by Alexander’s Steakhouse, 4269 El
Camino Real, Palo Alto, 650/213-1111. Talented
Chef Yu Min Lin infuses contemporary cuisine
112 South Bay Accent
with Japanese sensibilities at this premier seafoodcentric
dining destination as he transforms fresh,
wild, and sustainably harvested ingredients into
works of art. Delicacies refined enough to satisfy
even the most discerning epicure include the foie
gras tortellini with lobster, broccolini, tomato and
onions, grilled lobster with leek, shiitake mushroom
and spinach, and acorn-fed Iberico ham
with tomato compote, shiitake mushroom
and olives. Pastry chef Dan Huynh’s
transcendent artisanal desserts are a
fitting finale to an extraordinary
dining experience. Suitable for
special occasions, business dining
and private events. $$$
SINGAPOREAN
Merlion Restaurant and
Wine Bar, 19628 Stevens
Creek Blvd., Cupertino,
408/777-8228. Sophisticated
spot that serves a blend of Singaporean,
Thai, Indian and Chinese
cuisine. $$$
Shiok! Singapore Kitchen, 1137 Chestnut
St., Menlo Park. 650/838-9448. An exciting
fusion of Malay, Chinese and Indian cuisine. $
Straits, 333 Santana Row Suite 1100, San Jose.
408/246-6320. 1100 Burlingame Avenue, Burlingame.
650/373-7883. Drawing inspiration from
the diverse cultures that converge in Singapore,
Straits captures the culinary crossroads of Malaysian,
Indonesian, Chinese, Indian and Nonya cuisine.
With Chef Chris Yeo at the helm,
the menu combines Southeast
Asia’s fragrant multilayered
flavor profiles and unique
regional ingredients with
distinctive fine dining
flair. An appetizing
array of options that
are perfect for sharing,
including wok-fired
rice and crispy chicken,
make Straits a popular
destination for families,
parties and gatherings. A
favorite with foodies who
crave a taste of adventure,
Straits’ elegant dining environment
pairs perfectly with the exotic
cuisine it serves. $$
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 “spirited 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. $$
Iberia, 740 El Camino Real, Belmont.
650/325-8981. Mouth-watering Spanish
dishes and award-winning wines served in a
luxurious setting. $$$
Joya, 339 University Ave., Palo Alto.
650/853-9800. The hip modern décor mixes
200 DINING HOT SPOTS
well with the contemporary Spanish and Latin
tapas and the tasty variety of new age cocktails. $$$
Picasso’s, 62 W. Santa Clara St., San Jose. 408/298-
4400. Authentic Spanish cuisine made from the
freshest ingredients and served in a relaxed, athome
atmosphere. $$
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. $$
SPANISH/CALIFORNIAN
Asa, 242 State St., Los Altos. 650/935-2372. Generations
of Italian and Spanish heritage inspire the
seasonal California cuisine at this intimate new
dining spot. The 60-seat restaurant’s open kitchen,
black steel beams, and candlelit butcher-block
tables create a casual yet elegant ambiance. Sustainably
sourced and delectably prepared fish is served
fresh daily. Guests enjoy fresh, handmade pasta,
local, organic produce, and grass-fed beef. Artisanal
cocktails, a robust wine list and house-made ice
cream complete the menu. The building’s façade,
designed by award-winning architect Tom Kundig,
features an eye-catching wall of windows that crank
open to reveal the street. $$
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 kids’ 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 panko-crusted 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
Cafe Pro Bono
Sundance
The Steakhouse
Pho Wagon