BEST BITES
DEALS ON MEALS
Sundance
the Steakhouse
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. $$
HAWAIIAN
Coast Poke Counter, 87 N. San Pedro St., San
Jose, 408/320-4372. Located in San Pedro Square
Market, this poke place serves fresh cuts of premium
fish in an elegant setting. $–$$
102 South Bay Accent
Da Kine Island Grill, 23 N. Market St., San Jose,
408/568-9700. Popular for its live Hawaiian music
performances, this feel-good-vibe venue specializes
in exotic island-style cuisine $$
Hukilau, 230 Jackson St., San Jose, 408/279-4888.
Hawaii’s greatest culinary hits, including pupu
platters and macadamia-infused dishes, round out
the menu of this tropical hotspot. $$
Ray’s Hawaiian BBQ, Laurelwood Shopping
Center, 1330 W. Hillsdale Blvd., San Mateo.
650/212-0002. Classic Hawaiian dishes keep this
casual eatery packed with locals. $
INDIAN
Amber India Restaurant, Santana Row
408/248-5400; Los Altos 650/968-7511; Palo Alto
650/329-9644; Mountain View 650/968-1751.
Exquisite presentations and the food is perfectly
spiced. $$
Shiva’s Indian Restaurant & Bar, Castro and
California streets, Mountain View. 650/960-3802.
Enjoy authentic North Indian cuisine served in an
exotic yet casual atmosphere. $$
Shan, 3739 El Camino Real, Santa Clara, 408/248-
8433. Fine Indian and Pakistani cuisine featuring
savory dishes rich in Eastern culinary traditions. $
INTERNATIONAL
Arya Steakhouse, 885 Middlefield Road, Redwood
City, 650/367-4939. Fine steaks and Persian
cuisine are the focus of this upscale dining establishment,
and a variety of well-seasoned dishes
round out the extensive menu. $$$
Kumino, 580 N. Rengstorff Ave., Mountain View.
650/964-3300. This casual setting for creative cuisine
and fusion fare is a must-do destination for
frugal foodies. $
ITALIAN
A Bellagio, 33 S. Central Ave., Campbell.
408/370-7705. Classic Italian dishes are served in
warm, attractive Old World setting. $$$
Bella Saratoga, 14503 Big Basin Way, Saratoga.
408/741-5115. Wonderful Italian dishes such as
salmon ravioli and eggplant parmigiana. Charming
outdoor seating available. $$
Enoteca La Storia, 416 N. Santa Cruz Ave., Los
Gatos. 408/ 625-7272. Italian wine bar featuring
traditional small plates along with an extensive
selection of fine wines. $$
Enzo’s Italian, 21275 Stevens Creek Blvd.,
Cupertino, 408/255-2686. With an all-Italian
crew at the helm, this eatery dishes up authenticity—
including fresh gnocchi and seafood ravioli—
in a fast-paced, modern setting. $$
Fontana’s Italian Restaurant,
20840 Stevens Creek Blvd., Cupertino.
408/725-0188.One of the
Silicon Valley’s best-loved Italian
dining spots has deep Italian roots.
Charlotte Chiapelone Horton’s
grandparents emigrated to the Bay
Area from the mountain village of
Fontana Rossa, near Genoa. Since
1984, the Cupertino restaurant she
opened with Murray Horton has
been a go-to for classic Italian cuisine,
with fresh California accents. Along with
exemplary calamari, Caesar salad, eggplant
Parmesan, veal picatta, pastas, pizzas, and tiramisu,
you’ll find scampi with spinach-crab polenta and
specialties like scalone (abalone-scallop cutlets),
with most items available gluten-free on request.
Enjoy lunch or dinner by the fireplace, on the patio
near the fountain, or at the counter before the display
kitchen, with a cocktail or selection of Italian
or California wine. The restaurant also serves as a
venue for parties and events. $$
ll Fornaio, Santa Clara, 408/217-8844; San Jose.
408/271-3366; Palo Alto. 650/853-3888. Il Fornaio
stays true to authentic Italian recipes and
time-honored cooking methods. $$$
When the temperature drops outside, it’s time to indulge in some
dishes to warm up. These South Bay eateries offer comforting fare that won’t
break the budget.
Pho is ubiquitous in the South Bay, but there is another broth
and noodle soup from Vietnam just as satisfying called
Bún bò Huê´, which translates to “noodles beef Huê´,”
the city where the style of cooking originated. In San
Jose the owners of Bun Bo Hue An Nam (two San
Jose locations: 740 Story Road., suite 3, and 2060
Tully Road) dish up steaming bowls of the spicy
soup—and pho—much to the delight of longtime
customers, some who testify that it’s the best
“BBH” in town.
La Pizzeria (373 E. Campbell Ave., Campbell) offers
specials at both lunch and happy hour. At lunchtime
they serve a half panini sandwich and a cup of
soup or a half salad at a special price. There are four creative
panini sandwiches to choose from, two featuring Italian
meats, one with bay shrimp, and a zucchini and eggplant with house-
made pesto. From 2 to 5 p.m. you get a free dessert when you order one of their
pizzas or a pasta dish and a glass of wine or beer.
You don’t have to be from the Caribbean to enjoy the relaxed island vibe of
Back A Yard Caribbean Grill (two San Jose locations: 80 N. Market St. and 1011
E. Capitol Expressway; and 1189 Willow Road, Menlo Park). “Back a yard” is an
island expression all about welcoming visitors into the home. The grill serves
up authentic dishes like jerk chicken, jerk pork, and beef oxtails and sides like
Jamaican fried cornmeal bread, collard greens and more. The daily specials
come with a main dish, rice and beans and fried plantains.
Regular patrons of Queen House (273 Castro St., Mountain View)
say they love the beef noodle soups served steaming at the Taiwanese
restaurant. There are a few varieties, like the Szechwan
beef noodle, and the beef tendon soup. All come in a rich, wellseasoned,
beefy broth. Queen House has a large menu, with clay
pot dishes, dim sum, and many of the favorites you’ll find in any
Chinese restaurant. There are over 30 lunch specials to choose
from, including kung pao chicken, eggplant with spicy garlic sauce,
and sweet and sour pork. —P.M.
The
Bywater