BEST BITES
TASTE TRIPS
Crow’s Nest
Dio Deka
106 South Bay Accent
and wharf. Surf-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 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. $$
The Mountain House, 13808 Skyline Blvd.,
Woodside. 650/851-8541. Highlights are excellent
cuisine featuring chicken, lamb, beef, seafood &
pastas in a cozy cabin setting. $–$$
Park Place, 10030 S. De Anza Blvd., Cupertino.
408/873-1000. Seasonal menu and large wine list
in airy, modern setting. $$$
Parkside Grille, 884 Portola Road, Portola Valley.
650/529-9007. Tucked among the redwoods, rustic
but elegant setting serves up California comfort
food with fresh local ingredients. $$
Piacere Restaurant, 727 Laurel St., San Carlos.
650/592-3536. Piacere serves fresh, locally sourced
fare along with a wide selection of Italian and California
wines. $$$
Quattro (Four Seasons Hotel), 2050 University
Ave., East Palo Alto, 650/470-2889. Well-prepared
California cuisine with an Italian twist. $$$
Scroll Bar Waterside Kitchen (Pullman San
Francisco Bay), 223 Twin Dolphin Drive, Redwood
City. 650/598-9000. Globally inspired
Californian cuisine and full bar put this waterfront
restaurant on the map. $$$
The Shadowbrook, 1750 Wharf Rd., Capitolaby
the-sea. 831/475-1511. Visitors to one of
the nation’s 100 most romantic restaurants
(as voted by OpenTable diners) take the
iconic “cable car” tram or walk alongside
waterfalls and lush gardens to
reach this ivy-covered dining destination.
Equally enticing are the
seven different dining rooms within
the Swiss chalet-style building, the
impeccable service and award-winning
cuisine. Menu favorites include
mouthwatering, slow-roasted prime
rib, local salmon and creative nightly
specials. Shadowbrook’s beautiful Rock
Room Bar (with live music on weekends) continues
to be an overwhelming favorite with locals
and visitors alike and offers more casual fare and
portions. Since 1947, Shadowbrook has delighted
diners who come to propose, celebrate an anniversary,
wow a first date or just enjoy a fine meal in an
atmosphere of Old World charm and grace. $$-$$$
31st Union, 5 S. Ellsworth Avenue, San Mateo.
650/458-0049. A popular locavore eatery featuring
Some of the best East Bay restaurants are in two cities that
continue to build as culinary destinations: Walnut Creek and Lafayette. Here
are five eateries foodies and critics alike say are worth visiting.
Longtime local favorite Millie’s Kitchen (1018 Oak Hill Rd., Lafayette)
continues to be one of the best breakfast, brunch and
lunch spots of the region. Millie Harris opened the restaurant
in 1975, later selling to one of her employees
who kept the homey décor and recipes, including
Millie’s storied coffee cake, served up warm with a
thick brown sugar streusel topping. As one diner
opined online, “The coffee cake hype is real.”
Kacha Thai Bistro (1665 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Walnut
Creek) stays very busy thanks to well-seasoned
dishes made with fresh, quality ingredients, served
by a friendly staff in a modern, festive dining room
with an open kitchen. The plating is as much a feast
for the eyes, like the pumpkin curry, a red Thai style curry
dish served playfully in a halved squash. Very popular among
patrons is the mango with sticky rice dessert, a beautiful presentation of sliced
mangos artfully arranged, with a creamy mound of sweet, sticky rice on top.
Northern Italian Montecatini Ristorante & Bar (1528 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek)
opened on the day the earth shook—Oct. 17, 1989, the day of the Loma Prieta
Earthquake—and chef-owner Ermes Paulin has been shaking things up in the
kitchen ever since, winning numerous awards over the years, including the
2018 Wine Spectator Award of Excellence. Diners walk in the front door past
the open kitchen and chefs creating delectable entrees, including house specialty,
Fettuccine Alla Viareggina, with scallops, prawns, bay shrimp and fresh
mushrooms in a tomato cream sauce.
Inside the historic 100-year-old building once the home of the Walnut Creek
Meat Market is Japanese-influenced Sasa (1432 N. Main St., Walnut Creek),
a small plate restaurant designed as the perfect place to unwind with
drink in hand. Chef Philip Yang uses an eclectic mix of local meats
and sashimi, including a variety of fresh seafood delivered daily
straight from Tokyo’s Tsukiji fish market and Oahu’s Fish Auction.
Mouth-watering sushi is served, along with flavorful meat
dishes like the braised beef short ribs. Open for lunch and dinner,
Sasa also has a happy hour with nice prices on sake and
Japanese-inspired bar bites.
Swad India (960 Morgan Rd., Lafayette) is known for its classic Indian
creations made in copper pots, both vegetarian and meat dishes.
One favorite veggie entree is the aloo gobi, or cauliflower and potatoes. There
are sumptuous chicken, lamb and seafood entrees, as well as well-seasoned
rice dishes and an array of freshly baked naan. Patrons especially love the naan
stuffed with goat cheese and spices. —P.M.
Rosie
McCann’s