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South Bay Accent - Dec 2015/Jan 2016

DEALS ON MEALS 102 South Bay Accent 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. $$ INDIAN Amber India Restaurant, 2290 El Camino Real, Mountain View. 650/968-7511; 377 Santana Row, #1140, San Jose. 408/248-5400. Exquisite presentations and the food is perfectly spiced. $$ Darbar Indian Cuisine, 129 Lytton Ave., Palo Alto. 650/321-6688. The tandoori grill here is outstanding, as are the chicken and lamb specialties. $ Rangoli, 3695 Union Avenue, San Jose, 408/377- 2222. Experience the tantalizing array of traditional Indian cuisines served in a friendly and comfortable, upscale setting. $$ Rasam’s Restaurant and IC Lounge, 193 S. Murphy Ave., Sunnyvale.  408/245-8500. A modern approach to India’s traditional regional dishes featuring fresh local ingredients. $$ Sakoon, 357 Castro St., Mountain View. 650/ 965-2000. Blends traditional and contemporary Indian cuisine and serves it up in an exotic, modern setting. $$ Shan, 3739 El Camino Real, Santa Clara, 408/248- 8433. Fine Indian and Pakistani cuisine featuring savory dishes rich in Eastern culinary traditions. $ INTERNATIONAL Cijjo, 246 Castro St., MountainView. 650/282- 5401. A unique and diverse mix of flavorful foods from around the globe served tapas style. $$ ITALIAN A Bellagio, 33 S. Central Ave., Campbell. 408/370- 7705. Classic Italian dishes are served in warm, attractive old-world setting. $$$ Bella Saratoga, 14503 Big Basin Way, Saratoga. 408/741-5115. Wonderful Italian dishes such as salmon ravioli and eggplant parmigiana. Charming outdoor seating available. $$ Cafe Pro Bono, 2437 Birch Street, Palo Alto. 650/326-1626. The traditional, Italian-Mediterranean cuisine is served in a cozy, casual setting. $$ Carpaccio, 1120 Crane St., Menlo Park. 650/ 322- 1211. This popular neighborhood trattoria has become an Italian institution. $$ Centonove, 109 W. Main St., Los Gatos. 408/384- 4007. Italian-style café specializing in wood-fired pizzas and a wide range of housemade pastas. $$ Da Mario, 14441 Big Basin Way, Saratoga. 408/ 741-1518. A popular neighborhood eatery serving standout Italian-American cuisine. Pastas and desserts are made in house. $-$$ Enoteca La Storia, 416 N. Santa Cruz Ave., Los Gatos. 408/625-7272. Italian wine bar featuring traditional small plates along with an extensive selection of fine wines. $$ I Gatti, 25 E. Main St., Los Gatos. 408/399-5180. Fine Italian dining in a comfortable setting; the cuisine pays tribute to various Italian regions and ranges from pizza to rack of lamb. $-$$ Il Fornaio, San Jose. 408/271-3366; Palo Alto. 650/853-3888. In the trattoria tradition, Il For- BEST BITES Seasoned holiday shoppers know searching for the perfect present requires an occasional energy boost. These strategicallylocated dining spots offer delicious nibbles that will leave you feeling refreshed – and won’t break the gift-buying budget. For times when your stomach’s rumbling but you’d rather shop than stop, the Nordstrom eBar at Westfield Valley Fair and Espresso Bar at Stanford Shopping Center offer salads, sandwiches, snacks and handcrafted coffee beverages. Look for items such as the lemon chicken bowtie pasta salad, the turkey, avocado and hummus sandwich or the chicken caesar wrap. Thirsty? Try a cool specialty drink like the pomegranate iced tea or mocha banana ice storm, or warm up with a Mexican mocha. Located a few doors down from the beloved Palo Alto Toy and Sport store is Tai Pan (560 Waverley Street, Palo Alto), a traditional Cantonese restaurant featuring 80 different varieties of dim sum. With its white-tablecloth décor, the popular Asian eatery makes for a great spot to slow down and relax during the frenzied holiday shopping season. The Hong Kong-style menu boasts a wide variety of seafood options ranging from shrimp to abalone, as well as more standard entrees including Mongolian Beef and General Tso’s Chicken, but your best bargain bet are the delightful dim sum options, which will leave enough in your wallet for dessert. More than two years after Gott’s Roadside (855 El Camino Real, Palo Alto) opened its doors at Town and Country shopping center, the busy burger joint still draws crowds. Owned by a Napa Valley winemaker, Gott’s is best known for its mouth-watering Niman Ranch burgers smothered with lots of fresh ingredients and secret sauce. But other less-expected options are just as good: the Mahi Mahi tacos and the Vietnamese chicken salad, to name a couple. Don’t forget to leave room for a chocolate milkshake made with organic ice cream and milk. The boutiques lining Santa Cruz Avenue in Los Gatos attract oodles of holiday treasure hunters who look forward to refueling at the cozy Los Gatos Café (340 N. Santa Cruz Ave.) The menu features a vast selection of breakfast and lunch choices, including specialty soufflé omelets served throughout the day, homemade soups and black bean chili, and sandwiches such as a crab cake club. Expect large portions and make sure to bring cash, as this popular spot doesn’t accept credit cards. —Wendy Wall Orchard City Kitchen The Basin


South Bay Accent - Dec 2015/Jan 2016
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