Le Papillon, 410 Saratoga Ave. , San Jose. 408/ 296-3730. Highly acclaimed for its award-winning French cuisine, this Bay Area institution blends fresh, seasonal ingredients with impeccable preparation. Patio dining available. $$$ Left Bank, Menlo Park. 650/473-6543; San Jose. 408/984-3500. Popular eatery features contemporary French cuisine and a variety of seafood prepared with fresh, seasonal ingredients. $$$ Melting Pot, 72 N. B St., San Mateo. 650/342- 6358. Fondue spot features four flavorful cooking styles and a variety of entrees with dipping sauces. Be sure and save space for the chocolate fondue. $$ Navio (Ritz-Carlton Hotel), One Miramonte Point Rd., Half Moon Bay. 650/712-7000. This luxurious seaside restaurant overlooks the panoramic golf course. $$$ The Plumed Horse, 14555 Big Basin Way, Saratoga. 408/867-4711. This 2011 Michelin-starred restaurant delivers contemporary, seasonal California cuisine based on solid French techniques. $$$ Restaurant Sent Sovi, 14583 Big Basin Way, Saratoga. 408/867-3110. Stylish French-California bistro relies on natural ingredients to create seasonal cuisine in charming setting. $$$ White Shallot, 3143 Stevens Creek Blvd., San Jose. 408/ 246-5251. Serving traditional French and Vietnamese menu items including ratatouille and lemongrass tofu. $$ GERMAN Teske’s Germania, 255 N. First St., San Jose. 408/292-0291. Starting with such appetizers as potato pancakes and jalapeno cheese stuffed pretzels, Teske’s serves tasty German comfort food. $$ GREEK Dio Deka (in Hotel Los Gatos), 210 E. Main St., Los Gatos. 408/354-7700. Authentic Hellenic cuisine served in a warm, relaxing setting. $$ Evvia Estiatorio, 420 Emerson St., Palo Alto. 650/326-0983. Evvia offers a lighter approach to traditional dishes. Family-style dining; open spit for roasting lamb. $$ Myth Taverna & Lounge, 152 Post St., San Jose. 408/286-7678. Modern Greek cuisine served in an ultra-urban atmosphere with elegant indoor or patio dining and frequent live entertainment. $$ Nemea Greek Taverna, 96 S. First St., San Jose. 408/279-4225. Serves up modern Greek cuisine made with the freshest ingredients and featuring an old-world-charm-style setting. $$ Opa!, Campbell, Los Gatos, Los Altos, Willow Glen. 408/399-7417. Authentic Greek dishes expertly prepared with beef, pork, chicken and lamb, seasoned to mouth-watering perfection and served in a cozy and friendly environment. $ INDIAN Amber India Restaurant, 2290 El Camino Real, Mountain View. 650/968-7511; 377 Santana Row, #1140, San Jose. 408/248-5400. Exquisite presentations 92 South Bay Accent and the food is perfectly spiced. $$ Arka, 725 S. Fair Oaks Ave., Sunnyvale. 408/ 733-2752. Indian cuisine that’s authentic and innovative, and served in a comfortable, modern, sophisticated setting. $ Darber Indian Cuisine, 129 Lytton Ave., Palo Alto. 650/321-6688. The tandoori grill here is outstanding, as are the chicken and lamb specialties. $ Junnoon, 150 University Ave., Palo Alto. 650/329-9644. Upscale and sophisticated restaurant showcases bold, inventive flavors of modern India. $$ Mantra, 632 Emerson St., Palo Alto. 650/322- 3500. Fine Indian cuisine served here gets a contemporary California twist at this casual yet elegant restaurant. $$ Rangoli, 3695 Union Ave., San Jose, 408/377-2222. Experience the tantalizing array of traditional Indian cuisines served in a friendly and comfortable, upscale setting. $$ Sakoon, 357 Castro St., Mountain View. 650/ 965-2000. Sakoon blends traditional and contemporary Indian cuisine serves it up in an exotic, modern setting. $$ Shan, 3739 El Camino Real, Santa Clara, 408/248- 8433. Fine Indian and Pakistani cuisine featuring savory dishes rich in Eastern culinary traditions. $ Shiva’s Indian Restaurant & Bar, Castro and California streets, Mountain View. 650/960- 3802. www.shivasrestaurant.com. Authentic North Indian cuisine is served in an exotic yet casual atmosphere. $$ ITALIAN A Bellagio, 33 South Central Ave., Campbell. 408/370-7705. Classic Italian dishes are served in warm, attractive old-world setting. $$$ Bella Saratoga,14503 Big Basin Way, Saratoga. 408/741-5115. Located in a renovated Victorian house in charming Saratoga village, Bella Saratoga boasts bountiful Italian dishes served with only the freshest ingredients. The menu includes homemade pastas, wild fish specials nightly, steaks and chops, traditional thin-crust pizzas, decadent desserts and the finest in domestic and Italian wines. Intimate yet elegant indoor and outdoor dining areas make this the ideal place to enjoy lunch or dinner on the way to an outing at Villa Montalvo or the Mountain Winery. Enjoy live music on Saturday nights or Sunday brunch. Book your private event in the banquet room, which seats up to 50. Full bar. $$ Café Pro Bono, 2437 Birch St., Palo Alto. 650/ 326-1626. A local favorite for years, Café Pro Bono offers an elaborate dining experience in a warm, friendly atmosphere. Dinner choices are seemingly endless, from classic Italian pasta dishes such as spaghetti with Bolognese sauce and organic lemon linguine and clams to creatively prepared Mediterranean entrees such as Greek chicken smothered in fresh oregano sauce or Niman range filet mignon with a green peppercorn brandy sauce. These savory meals are complemented by select fine wines from Napa Valley, Sonoma County and, of course, Italy. To top it all off, dessert offerings include Tiramisu, gelato or a decadent chocolate cake. The restaurant also has a full bar and two banquet rooms available for private events seating anywhere from 10 to 50 people. $$ Caffe Riace, 200 Sheridan Ave., Palo Alto. 650/328-0407. Offers a taste of Sicily, from the plentiful pasta, pietanze and wine to the delightful indoor and outdoor dining areas. $$ Carpaccio, 1120 Crane St., Menlo Park. 650/ 322-1211. This populat\r neighborhood trattoria has become an Italian institution. $$ Da Mario, 14441 Big Basin Way, Saratoga. 408/ 741-1518. A popular neighborhood eatery serving standout Italian-American cuisine. Pastas and desserts are made in house. $-$$ Enoteca La Storia, 416 N. Santa Cruz Ave., Los Gatos. 408/625-7272. www.enotecslastoria.com. Italian wine bar featuring traditional small plates along with an extensive selection of fine wines. $$ Frankie, Jonnie & Luigi Too, 5245 Prospect Road, San Jose. 408/446-9644; 939 W. El Camino Real, Mountain View. 650/967-5384. Longtime popular spots for pizza and pasta. $$ I Gatti, 25 E. Main St., Los Gatos. 408/399-5180. Fine Italian dining in a comfortable setting; the cuisine pays tribute to various Italian regions and ranges from pizza to rack of lamb. $-$$ Il Fornaio, San Jose. 408/271-3366; Palo Alto. 650/853-3888. In the trattoria tradition, Il Fornaio stays true to authentic Italian recipes and time-honored cooking methods. $$$ Il Postale, 127 W. Washington Ave., Sunnyvale. 408/733-9600. A boisterous Italian-American bistro that has generous portions of great food, reasonable prices and warm, attentive service. $$ Loui Loui Steak, 473 University Ave., Palo Alto. 650/ 326-2900. Italian steakhouse serves organic beef as well as such classic dishes as Osso Bucco and homemade pastas. Opulent marble bar area. $$$ Maggiano’s Little Italy, 3055 Olin Ave., Santana Row, San Jose. 408/423-8973. Lavish helpings of robustly flavored dishes are served in a warm and very inviting setting. $$ BEST BITES Bella Saratoga Lark Creek Blue
South Bay Accent - Apr/May 2014
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