BEST BITES DINING OUT
October/November 2018 101
AFGHAN
Kabul, 351 W. Washington Ave., Sunnyvale. 408/245-4350.
Entrees include garlicky spinach stew, charcoaled meats and leek
and onion dumplings. $$
AMERICAN
All Spice, 1602 S. El Camino Real, San Mateo. 650/627- 4303.
Michelin-starred restaurant serves New American cuisine with
Indian and other worldly influences. $$
Arcadia, 100 W. San Carlos St. (San Jose Marriott), San Jose.
408/278-4555. Created by Michael Mina, this stylish steakhouse
puts innovative twists on classic American cuisine. Also
an extensive wine list. $$$
The Basin, 14572 Big Basin Way, Saratoga. 408/ 867-1906.
This casual neighborhood bistro in downtown Saratoga serves
up a wide selection of seasonal American fare tinged with Spanish
and Italian influences. $$
Birk’s, 3955 Freedom Circle, Santa Clara. 408/980-6400. One
of the Bay Area’s premier steak and chophouses, Birk’s presents
itself as a traditional old-city grill, but then offers a decidedly
contemporary twist. $$
Bourbon Steak & Pub (Levi’s Stadium), 4900 Marie P.
DeBartolo Way, Santa Clara. 408/217-2490. Modern American
steakhouse featuring Chef Michael Mina’s creative interpretations
on classic dishes. $$$
Buck’s, 3062 Woodside Road, Woodside. 650/851-8010. Nestled
against the hills of Woodside, Buck’s wacky, unconventional
interior is as charming as its food is hearty and delicious. Breakfast
is legendary. $
Café Stritch, 374 S. First St., San Jose. 408/280-6161. Trendy
small plates featuring artisan pizza, chicken and ribs in a colorful,
artsy atmosphere. $
The Catamount, 50 University Ave., Los Gatos, 408/442-
5533. Inspired by breezy estates of the South, this restaurant
features an inviting atmosphere alongside modern American
cuisine and a refined cocktail program. $$
Chicago Steak & Fish, 330 N. Santa Cruz Ave., Los Gatos,
408/354-8858. A wide selection of Five Diamond Harris Ranch
beef cuts and seafood make for a classy dining experience in a
casual setting. $$–$$$
The Counter Custom Burgers, Mountain View, 650/948-
2333; Palo Alto, 650/321-3900; Santana Row, 408/423-
9200; San Mateo, 650/212-3200; Cupertino, 408/477-2917;
Fremont, 510/796-8800. The Counter Custom Burgers is a
much-needed update to the burger joint, featuring fresh, antibiotic
and hormone-free humanely handled beef, along with
other all-natural options like chicken, bison, vegan and mahi
mahi. It doesn’t stop there; an array of cheeses, toppings, sauces
and an assortment of buns (including gluten-free), customizable
salads and bowls—make for a build-your-own checklist menu
that can produce more than a million combinations. The Counter
also offers business lunch catering, full bar, happy hour and
outdoor seating. $
District, 65 N. San Pedro St., San Jose. 669/292- 5252. The wellrounded
menu features shareable plates, pizza, house-made charcuterie,
and wines and whiskeys from around the world. $-$$
Dry Creek Grill, 1580 Hamilton Ave., San Jose. 408/264-
2011. Serving up succulent meats and fresh, locally sourced
seafood in a lively, spirited atmosphere. $$$
Eureka!, 19369 Stevens Creek Blvd., Cupertino, 669/266-
6752. Burgers take center stage at this gourmet gastropub. Bone
marrow, bison and Fresno fig are just a few of Eureka’s innovative
interpretations. $$
Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, 180 El Camino
Real, Palo Alto. 650/329-8457. A meat lovers paradise that
serves up prime cuts in a modern setting. $$$
Flights, Burlingame, 650/513-6059. Campbell. 408/364-
1564; Los Gatos, 408/354-3434; Mountain View 650/386-
6424. Specializing in shareable comfort food served tapas style,
Flights’ three locations have taken off as dining destinations for
high-flying foodies, with another opening in Mountain View
in October. Founded by restaurateur Alex Hult, and his wife,
Sarah Hult, the eclectic eateries have won over scores of fans.
The waitstaff—dressed in stylish black flight attendant or pilot
outfits—serve everything on the menu as a trio of three unique
flavors, including such offerings as fried chicken and waffles,
gourmet mac n’ cheese and angus beef sliders. The crowd-pleasing
aviation-themed restaurants keep variety flowing into glasses
with refreshing beer, wine, spirit and cocktail flights. $$
The Halford, Santa Clara, 408/243-1290. With a flair for fine
dining renditions of hearty dishes that pair well with craft beer,
U l t i m a t e R e s t a ur a n t R e s o ur c e