98 South Bay Accent CAMBODIAN Chez Sovan, 2425 S. Bascom Ave., Campbell. 408/371-7111. This authentic, delicious food will make you a permanent convert! Among favorites is the popular Cambodian dish Amok. $$ CARIBBEAN/CUBAN Cha Cha Cha Cuba, 112 S. B St., San Mateo. 650/347-2900. Authentic, zesty Cuban flavors are served up in a vibrant, friendly space. $$ Coconuts Caribbean Restaurant & Bar, 642 Ramona St., Palo Alto. 650/329-9533. Tropical cocktails, music and authentic Caribbean dishes quickly get dinners in the island mood. $$ La Bodeguita del Medio, 463 California Ave., Palo Alto. 650/326-7762. Coastal cuisine enhanced with a flavorful Cuban influence and fantastic fish! $-$$ CHINESE Chef Chu’s, 1067 N. San Antonio Road, Los Altos. 650/948-2696. Savor great food at this popular restaurant, such as the outstanding signature minced shrimp in lettuce cups. $$ Fey, 1368 El Camino Real, Menlo Park. 650/324- 8888. An expansive selection of traditional Chinese favorites as well as specialties featuring beef, lamb, chicken, duck and seafood. $-$$ Pagoda (Fairmont Hotel), 170 S. Market St., San Jose. 408/998-3955. The traditional cuisine of Canton, Kwangtung and Szechuan, beautifully served at this popular restaurant. $$ Sino, 377 Santana Row, San Jose. 408/247-8880. Lunch specialties include dim sum and a la carte dishes. The dinner menu offers contemporary Chinese regional cuisines. $$$ Su Hong, 1039 El Camino Real, Menlo Park. 650/ 323-6852. Neighborhood restaurant featuring a lovely tea-smoked duck. $ Tai-Pan, 560 Waverley St., Palo Alto. 650/329- 9168. Hong Kong-style Cantonese cuisine served up in an airy, upscale setting. $$ Taiwan Restaurant, 1306 Lincoln Ave., San Jose. 408/289-8800. Started in 1982, this popular Willow Glen establishment serves a wide array of Chinese specialties. $$ CONTINENTAL Alexander’s Steakhouse, 10330 N. Wolfe Road, Cupertino. 408/446-2222. This upscale restaurant has redefined the traditional steakhouse experience by melding American and Japanese influences. $$$ LB Steak, 334 Santana Row, San Jose. 408/244- 1180. Sister restaurant of Left Bank Brasserie puts modern French twist on American steakhouse cuisine. Save room for luscious pastry desserts. $$$ Manresa, 320 Village Lane, Los Gatos. 408/354- 4330. Chef David Kinch amazes diners with his creative, award-winning cuisine. $$$ Mosaic Restaurant and Lounge (Four Points Hotel), 211 S. First St., San Jose. 408/282-8888. This stylish bar and restaurant offers an American/Asian twist on Continental cuisine. $$$ Viognier, 222 Fourth Ave., San Mateo. 650/ 685- 3727. The mesquite grill, rotisserie and brick-oven pizzas reflect a diverse global influences. $ 200 DINING HOT SPOTS The Bay Area’s best weather comes in late summer, early fall, making it the perfect time for a drive up the freeway for dinner at one of the city’s many superb restaurants. Or, head south to Carmel to catch a few end-of the-season rays. Here are a few restaurants and events to consider, each one recognized by food industry as best of class. The James Beard Foundation got it right again. Among the 2015 “Outstanding Restaurants” honored was Greens in San Francisco (2 Marina Blvd., Fort Mason Building). More than 20 years ago, Greens was in the vanguard of vegetarian restaurants. Now a stalwart of the Bay Area food scene, Greens continues to have one of the freshest takes on vegetarian dining. Dishes are seasonal, so the menu is always changing. There is a full bar and most tables have some of the best views of San Francisco Bay, even on a foggy day. Speaking of being recognized by the Beard Foundation, in 2015 Aubergine at L’Auberge Carmel (Monte Verde St. & Seventh Avenue) was honored in three categories: Outstanding Pastry Chef for the work of Ron Mendoza; Outstanding Service at Aubergine; and Best Chef, West for the innovative work of Justin Cogley. The best way to test Aubergine’s kitchen is with the eight-course tasting menu ($150 per person) that changes daily. Zagat’s reports that San Francisco food insiders continue to rave about the Grilled Sea Bass at The House (1230 Grant Ave.). Larry and Angela Tse opened this small eatery in 1993, and it quickly became—and still is—one of the best Asian-influenced seafood restaurants in San Francisco. Along with its delectable daily seafood specials, a distinctive sake and wine list, the grilled sea bass ($26) remains a menu highlight—so flaky that it easily falls apart in a pitch-perfect ginger soy sauce; fantastic with a side of garlic or wasabi noodles. Michelin star Chef Daniel Corey of Luce, located in San Francisco’s InterContinental Hotel (888 Howard St.), leads an all-star team of Bay Area chefs during the annual Eat Drink SF weekend. The Aug. 20-23 event is San Francisco’s premier annual food, wine, and spirits festival and celebrates the Bay Area’s world-class dining. This charity event features top chefs representing multi-starred restaurants in venues across San Francisco. Some of the chefs appearing include Peter Armellino of Saratoga’s The Plumed Horse, Bradley Ceynowa of Pizza Antica, Chris Consentino of Cockscomb, Dmitre Elperin, of Woodside’s Village Pub, David Lawrence of 1300 on Fillmore in San Francisco, and Samantha Miotke of The Mayfield Bakery & Café. The weekend’s pinnacle event is the Grand Tasting gala at Fort Mason on Aug. 22 and 23. Tickets for the Fort Mason event range from $85 to $175. A special three-day pass to all Grand Tasting events is $275. For more information, call 415/781-5348. — P.M. TapaOle TASTE TRIPS Sundance
South Bay Accent - Aug/Sep 2015
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