BEST BITES 100 South Bay Accent pini and osso bucco with flair. $$ CAMBODIAN Chez Sovan, 2425 South Bascom Ave., Campbell. 408/371-7111. This authentic, delicious food will make you a permanent convert! Among favorites is the popular Cambodian dish Amok. $$ 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. Enjoy coastal cuisine enhanced with flavorful Cuban influences and fantastic fish! $-$$ CHINESE Chef Chu’s, 1067 North San Antonio Road, Los Altos. 650/948-2696. Savor great food at this popular restaurant, such as the outstanding signature minced shrimp in lettuce cups. $$ 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. $-$$ Sino, 377 Santana Row, San Jose. 408/247-8880. Lunch specialties include dim sum and a la carte dishes. The dinner menu offers contemporary Chinese regional cuisines. $$$ 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. $$ CONTINENTAL Alexander’s Steakhouse, 10330 N. Wolfe Road, Cupertino. 408/446-2222. This upscale restaurant has redefined the traditional steakhouse experience by melding American and Japanese influences. $$$ 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. $$$ Viognier, 222 E. 4th Avenue, San Mateo. 650/ 685-3727. This Cal-French restaurant blends California’s bounty of fresh food with southern sensibilities. Features a world-class wine selection and seasonal dishes. $$$ Escape the busy holidays or recharge in the New Year by taking a short trip down to the breathtaking seascape surrounding the Monterey Peninsula. Walk along the cliffs and beaches, breathe in the sea air and work up an appetite for some of the most acclaimed restaurants in the region. Carmel is well known for its gourmet restaurants, and near the top of any list of the village’s best restaurants is La Balena (Junipero Street between Fifth and Sixth streets), an Italian restaurant specializing in rustic Tuscan cuisine. The restaurant highlights the freshest seasonal ingredients from local farms, which means the menu changes daily. Some guest favorites include the Pollo Fritto, half of a fried organic chicken crusted with Arborio rice, or the Osso Buco, of either veal or pork, served with polenta. The pasta is made from scratch daily. Dinner is served Tuesday through Sunday, lunch is Saturday and Sunday only; reservations are recommended. One of Carmel’s best seafood restaurants is the Flying Fish Grill (Mission Street between Ocean and Seventh Avenue, lower level of the Carmel Plaza), featuring a delightful East/West fusion cuisine. A good example is the Almond Sea Bass, an almond-crusted pan-fried bass, served with whipped potatoes and a Chinese cabbage and rock shrimp stir-fry. The unique Clay Pot Dinners are a delectable selection of ingredients cooked in a broth at the table. Choices include the Seafood Clay Pot (Yosenabe), the Beef Clay Pot (Shabu-Shabu) and the Vegetable Clay Pot. Across the peninsula near the Monterey Bay Aquarium and Cannery Row is Bistro Moulin (867 Wave St., Monterey), serving classic European bistro fare in cozy, romantic dining room. Chef/owner Didier Dutertre works from a small, open kitchen, delighting patrons with traditional dishes like Coq au Vin, Escargot, French Onion Soup and his signature Spinach Gnocchi au Gratin. Other popular dishes include the Moules Frites, or steamed mussels served with pommes frites, and the Confit de Canard, a duck confit served with lentils. Loyal patrons not only rave about the French food, but they also love the expert and friendly service. Wine is, of course, everywhere at Monterey Peninsula restaurants, and perhaps the most eclectic and extensive wine list is found at Passionfish in Pacific Grove (701 Lighthouse Ave.). The list turns heads not only for its unique selection, but also for prices that are not much above retail. The knowledgeable wait staff is at the ready to help diners pair the perfect wines with a daily menu featuring the freshest seafood, meats and produce. One recent menu included sea scallops with tomatotruffle butter served with a savory rice pudding. Another offering was the Spoonable 12-hour Lamb Breast, and the highlight for vegetarians was a Warm Vegetable-Chickpea Stew. —Pam Marino TASTE TRIPS La Viga Kyoto Palace
South Bay Accent - DecJan 2016
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