TASTE TRIPS 90 South Bay Accent Gordon Biersch, San Jose. 408/294-6785; Palo Alto. 650/323-7723. These jazzy brewery restaurants focus on light, international cuisine, and of course, tasty brews. $$ Half Moon Bay Brewing Co., 390 Capistrano Road, Half Moon Bay, 650/728- 2739. This casually charming restaurant and brewpub offers breathtaking views as well as an equally enticing menu. $$ Original Gravity Public House, 66 S. First St., San Jose. 408/915-2337. Award-winning sausages, gourmet grilled cheese and duck fat fries complement an array of craft beers. $$ The Oxford, 195 S. Murphy Ave., Sunnyvale, 408/245-8503. Locally sourced, seasonal, freerange ingredients put a gourmet spin on Londoninspired street food at this vibrant new addition to Sunnyvale’s restaurant row. $ Relish Gastro Lounge, 14583 Big Basin Way, Saratoga. 408/867-3110. Former Sent Sovi restauranteurs Josiah Slone and Khin Khin deliver a gastropub vibe with craft beers and a mix of edible accompaniments. $$ 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. $$-$$$ BEST BITES Bay Area residents live in one of the top dining destinations in the world, which means not having to travel far for amazing restaurant experiences. A prime example: Some of the best Zagat-rated restaurants in Oakland and Berkeley are just an hour’s drive away. LV Mar One of the most talked about East Bay restaurants this year is Commis (3859 Piedmont Ave., Oakland), even more highly rated by Zagat this year than famed Berkeley restaurant Chez Panisse. It’s still the only Michelin-starred restaurant in the East Bay, and it got everyone’s attention when it rose from one to two stars last fall. Commis serves an eight-course menu for $125 per person, with carefully selected beverages to match at $75 per person. The menu is constantly evolving, featuring the finest ingredients prepared in new and experimental ways and plated like works of art. Diners sit in a cozy space overlooking the open kitchen, serving as a culinary theater. Food lovers say this pricey spot is worth a reservation as a special treat. Corso (1788 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley) is a casual Italian trattoria that serves its own cured salumi and fresh pastas on an ever-changing menu. The focus at Corso is on Tuscan classics, but chefs also like to put a modern spin on Italian cuisine. Nightly menus include the “Butcher’s Special,” local meats butchered in-house and offered at market prices. Classic chicken, beef and fish dishes are regularly offered. Pastas are served with Corso’s own unique sauces and ragus. Distinctive and sophisticated Indian cuisine is the star at Ajanta (1888 Solano Ave., Berkeley), which uses local organic and sustainable ingredients. Chefs serve dishes from all over the Indian continent in an elegant dining room decorated with artwork inspired by the ancient art of the famed Ajanta Caves. The seasonal nature of the ingredients mean the menu is always changing, but diners will always find a wide array of choices, including many vegetarian and vegan options. One of the best ways to experience Ajanta is through the Chef’s Tasting Menu, which includes samples of eight different dishes. Zagat also puts pizza on its “best of” lists in Berkeley and Oakland this year. Zachary’s Chicago Pizza (5801 College Ave., Oakland, and 1853 Solano Ave., Berkeley) is considered some of the best deep dish pizza in the Bay Area, and it has more than 175 awards to prove it. Zachary’s layers house-made crust with lots of cheese, zesty sauce and other fillings to make the stuffed masterpieces. Or try the unique pizza concoctions at the Cheeseboard Pizzeria (1512 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley). Only one type of vegetarian pizza or salad is offered each day; one recent offering was a combination of cremini mushrooms, onions, mozzarella and goat cheese with garlic olive oil, parsley and oregano. — Pam Marino East Coast Alice
South Bay Accent - Jun/Jul 2016
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