TASTE TRIPS 90 South Bay Accent Rosie McCann’s Irish Pub & Restaurant, San Jose (Santana Row), 408/247-1706; Santa Cruz, 831 426-9930. Lively eatery with tasty bites and fine beverages. $ Steins Beer Garden, 895 Villa St., Mountain View. 650/ 963-9568. The hearty home-style cooking here is complemented by a variety of the choicest craft beers from around the world. $$ BURMESE Rangoon Ruby, 445 Emerson Street, Palo Alto. 650/323-6543. Two talented chefs from Burma Superstar restaurants create an outrageously traditional Burmese menu influenced by Indian, Thai and Chinese cooking. $ Sweet Mango, 1040 Willow Street, San Jose. 408/ 293-2268. Innovative menu blurs the line between Burmese and Chinese cuisine, and has become a local favorite in Willow Glen. $ CALIFORNIA Calafia Café, 855 El Camino Real, Palo Alto. 650/322-9200. Executive Chef Charlie Ayers offers diverse, organic dishes from pizzas and curries to Duck Adobo and Tofu Lentil Loaf. $$ California Cafe, 50 University Ave., Los Gatos. 408/354-8118. Wonderful fish, shellfish and innovative pastas served in a casual setting. $ Cascade Bar & Grill at Costanoa Resort, 2001 Rossi Road at Highway 1, Pescadero. 650/879-1100. The California coastal menu features sustainable, local seafood and fresh organic produce, served in a beautiful resort setting. $$ Cetrella, 845 Main St., Half Moon Bay. 650/726- 4090. 400 Main St., Los Altos. 650/948-0400. Upscale Mediterranean-Rim dining and California coastal cuisine with a variety of venue options— indoor, outdoor and private. $$$ Citrus (Hotel Valencia), 355 Santana Row, San Jose. 408/551-0010. Spanish influence is featured with the use of innovative spice rubs for delicious meat and seafood entrees. $$-$$$ Fahrenheit Lounge & Restaurant, 99 E. San Fernando St., San Jose, 408/998-9998. The inventive menu of flavorful modern global cuisine is as captivating as its chic atmosphere. $$-$$ Flea Street Cafe, 3607 Alameda de las Pulgas, Menlo Park. 650/854-1226. An ever-changing menu of continental and California dishes. $$ The Lexington House, 40 N. Santa Cruz Ave., Los Gatos. 408/354-1600. Unique Northern California dishes made with local, organic and sustainable ingredients. $$ Lure+Till (The Epiphany Hotel), 180 Hamilton Ave., Palo Alto. 650/666-3320. Providing the seasonal flavors of the region using the freshest local ingredients served in a rustic, casual 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. $$ BEST BITES It’s no secret that some of the best food in the country can be found up the freeway, about 50 miles north. The San Francisco Eater website, tracking all the best culinary experiences to be found in the city, recently launched its “Eater Heatmap,” which plots where foodies are flocking during any given month. Below are some of the consistent hotspots since the map’s launch. Making the list every month is AL’s Place (1499 Valencia St.), and no wonder. This Mission area eatery was named Best New Restaurant of 2015 by Bon Appetit Magazine and received a 2016 Michelin star. Chef Aaron London is spreading his creative wings here, doing inventive things with vegetables and seafood. Meat? It’s a side dish at AL’s. “Snackles,” or appetizers, include interesting combinations like chickpeas in a romesco sauce, or brine pickled French fries served with smoked applesauce. Entrees are separated by “cold/cool,” and “warm/hot.” The drink menu is as inventive as the food, with craft cocktails found nowhere else and a solid wine list. The very popular Del Popolo mobile pizza oven truck has gone brick and mortar in the Nob Hill district (855 Bush St.), and loyal customers couldn’t be more thrilled. The menu of Neapolitan-style pizza has grown in the new digs, thanks to an oversized wood-fired pizza oven. Besides the amazing pizza with a naturally leavened crust and topped with artisan ingredients, Del Popolo offers small plates of antipasti, mostly unique vegetable combinations. Cauliflower fritters are combined with spring onion, olives, golden raisins and yogurt. Charred Brussels sprouts are served with Tokyo turnips and hazelnuts. Pizza choices range from the classic Neapolitan creation, the Margherita, topped with crushed tomatoes, mozzarella and basil, to anchovy pizza with kale and ricotta, or the restaurant’s house-made sausage. Little Gem in Hayes Valley (400 Grove St.) is a very popular counter-service lunch spot which recently expanded to three meals a day, offering a menu of gluten-, dairy- and refined sugar-free items. Lunch fans love the homemade soups, refreshing salads, flatbread sandwiches, and healthy bowls of steaming vegetable stews and curries. Meat, seafood and eggs can be added on top. At dinner, chef plates of salmon, pork, chicken or steak are added to the menu. Trestle (531 Jackson St.) is shaking things up in The City by offering three-course meals for a flat $35. The restaurant’s goal: serve up a well-executed, traditional meal, and let diners relax and enjoy. The meal offerings change every night. Choose an appetizer, a main dish and—wait for it—dessert. One recent menu included a fresh falafel salad or cream of mushroom soup, arctic char or sausage-stuffed quail, and for dessert, passion fruit cake or chocolate semifreddo. An optional pasta course is $10 extra. — Pam Marino LV Mar Café Pro Bono
South Bay Accent - Apr/May 2016
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