BEST BITES
110044 SSoouutthh BBaayy AAcccceenntt
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. $$$
Picasso’s, 62 W. Santa Clara St., San Jose. 408/298-
4400. Authentic Spanish cuisine made from the
freshest ingredients and served in a relaxed, athome
atmosphere. $$
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 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
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
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. $$
Pacific Catch Fresh Fish Grill (The Pruneyard),
Campbell, 408/ 879-9091; Mountain View,
650/941-1810. Fresh fish prepared with a combination
of local ingredients and spices and sauces of
Southeast Asia, Japan and Latin America. $$
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. $$
The Sea by Alexander’s Steakhouse, 4269 El
Camino Real, Palo Alto, 650/213-1111. Talented
Chef Yu Min Lin infuses contemporary cuisine
with Japanese sensibilities at this premier seafoodcentric
dining destination as he transforms fresh,
wild, and sustainably harvested ingredients into
works of art. Delicacies refined enough to satisfy
even the most discerning epicure include the foie
gras tortellini with lobster, broccolini, tomato and
onions, grilled lobster with leek, shitake mushroom
and spinach, and acorn-fed Iberico ham with
tomato compote, shitake mushroom and olives.
Pastry chef Dan Huynh’s transcendent artisanal
desserts are a fitting finale to an extraordinary dining
experience. Suitable for special occasions, business
dining and private events. $$$
SINGAPOREAN
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. $$$
Shiok! Singapore Kitchen, 1137 Chestnut St.,
Menlo Park. 650/838-9448. An exciting fusion of
Malay, Chinese and Indian cuisine. $
Straits, 333 Santana Row Suite 1100, San Jose.
408/246-6320. 1100 Burlingame Avenue, Burlingame.
650/373-7883. Drawing inspiration from
the diverse cultures that converge in Singapore,
Straits captures the culinary crossroads of Malaysian,
Indonesian, Chinese, Indian and Nonya cuisine.
With Chef Chris Yeo at the helm, the menu
combines South East Asia’s fragrant multilayered
flavor profiles and unique regional ingredients with
distinctive fine dining flair. An appetizing array of
options that are perfect for sharing, including wokfired
rice and crispy chicken, make Straits a popular
destination for families, parties and gatherings. A
favorite with foodies who crave a taste of adventure,
Straits’ elegant dining environment pairs perfectly
with the exotic cuisine it serves. $$
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. $$
SPANISH
Cascal, 400 Castro St., Mountain View.
650/940-9500. Spanning the globe with spectacular
dishes from Spain and South America,
Cascal serves up a menu of “spirited Latin
cuisine.” With over 25 tapas—small plates
and tastes—divided into “old world” and
“new world” choices, there’s something for
833-3151. A chic backdrop is well served by such
popular Mexican culinary favorites as adobo marinade
steak and tortilla soup. $$
Sancho’s Taqueria, 491 Lytton Ave., Palo Alto
650/322-8226; Midtown Palo Alto 650/324-8226;
Redwood City 650/364-8226. Adam Torres, formerly
with Village Pub, serves up an assortment
of veggie, meat, and seafood burritos, plus other
Mexican favorites. $
Tacolicious, 632 Emerson St., Palo Alto. 650/838-
0500; 300 Santana Row, San Jose 415/649-6077.
Serving upscale Mexican food featuring a wide variety
of artisan tacos. $$
Vive Sol, 2020 W. El Camino Real, Mountain
View. 650/938-2020. Mountain View boasts this
popular spot that showcases the heady moles indigenous
to the Puebla region. $$
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. $$
McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurant,
170 S. Market St., San Jose. 408/283-7200.
More than 30 species of fresh seafood are on a
menu that changes daily. $$
The
Shadowbrook