BEST BITES DEALS ON MEALS 94 South Bay Accent Vin Santo, 1346 Lincoln Ave., San Jose, 408/920-2508. Authentic Italian pastas, meats and seafood dishes uniquely crafted and prepared to mouth-watering perfection. $$$ Vivace Ristorante, 1910 Ralston Ave., Belmont. 650/ 637-0611. “Vivace” means lively, and Executive Chef Scott Cinfio’s Northern Italian creations live up to the restaurant’s name. $$ Willow Street Wood-Fired Pizza, San Jose (Willow Glen), 408/ 971-7080; San Jose (Westgate), 408/871-0400; Los Gatos, 408/354-5566. Outstanding pizzas, a full bar and a large menu with fun appetizers. $ JAPANESE Akane, 250 Third St., Los Altos. 650/941-8150. Authentic Japanese cuisine featuring an extensive selection of sushi, sashimi and tasty beef, chicken and seafood dinner entrees. $$ Azuma Japanese Cuisine, 19645 Stevens Creek Blvd., Cupertino. 408/257-4057. A Cupertino institution, the menu at this popular family-friendly restaurant offers something delicious that everyone will be able to enjoy. $$ Bluefin, 754 The Alameda, Suite 10, San Jose. 408/931-6875. Sushi, sashimi and more modern fare, with unique fish imported from Japan at the peak of its flavor. $$ Bushido, 156 Castro St., Mountain View. 650/ 386-6821. Offering Japanese izakaya dining, where people gather in a casual atmosphere to drink and enjoy small, unique plates. $$ Fuki-Sushi, 4119 El Camino Real, Palo Alto. 650/494-9383. Fresh seafood, vegetable and rice delectables, teriyaki and light, crispy tempura are the mainstays at this long-time local favorite gathering place. $$ Hachi Ju Hachi, 14480 Big Basin Way, Saratoga. 408/647-2258. Traditional Japanese cuisine featuring pure, simple, flavorful dishes. $$ Kappo Nami Nami, 240 Castro St., Mountain View. 650/964-6990. Cutting-edge, kappo-style Japanese cuisine with fresh, seasonal ingredients. $$ Katsu, 160 Main St., Los Gatos. 408/354-0712. Japanese-Peruvian fusion cuisine is carefully prepared with fresh, local ingredients. $$$ Kubota, 593 N. Fifth St., San Jose. 408/279-8440. An excellent upscale pan-Pacific menu featuring seasonal specials and year-round favorites. $-$$ Kyoto Palace, 1875 S. Bascom Ave. #2500 (The Pruneyard), Campbell. 408/426-4990.Authentic Japanese cuisine with teppanyaki method of preparing dishes tableside. $$-$$$ Mizu, 1035 S. Winchester Blvd., San Jose. 408/ 260-7200. Sushi bar and grill features fusion menu including Korean barbecue. $$ Rokko, 190 S. Frances St., Sunnyvale. 408/773- 8225 (also located in San Jose). Full range of tasty fare, from fresh sushi to hot udon and more. $ LATIN La Viga, 1772 Broadway St., Redwood City. 650/679-8141. Executive Chef Manuel Martinez named his first restaurant after a massive, worldrenowned seafood market in Mexico City. Featuring a seafood-focused menu of contemporary Latin cuisine, Chef Manuel also offers his own unique take on traditional Mexican dishes. Martinez has a storied history of creating gourmet cuisine, having served as executive chef for Palacio in Los Gatos and Left Bank Brasserie in Menlo Park. His diverse cooking experience, coupled with his use of the finest Latin ingredients have diners raving. $$ LV Mar, 2042 Broadway St., Redwood City. 650/ 241-3111. A unique take on Latin cuisine, LV Mar is the latest embodiment in Chef Manuel Martinez’s ever-evolving passion for creating a fresh and innovative dining experience. This modern restaurant concept combines high-quality, fresh ingredients, Dining al fresco is one of those rites of summer not to be forgotten. Make the time to bask in the outdoors on the patio of a local eatery that offers great, afforadable fare. Lazy Dog Restaurant and Bar (19359 Stevens Creek Blvd., Cupertino) has a large outdoor patio where both people and their four-legged (well behaved) best friends are welcome to drink and dine. Dogs get their own menu (hamburger patty or chicken breast over brown rice, complimentary water bowls), and people can enjoy Happy Hour specials from 3 to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, as well as 9 p.m. to close on Sunday through Thursday. A large selection of both drinks and food are priced from $3 to $7. Fambrini’s Café (2600 El Camino Real, Suite 220, Palo Alto) is not your typical office building café open only for weekday lunches. The deck off the family-owned café is a great place to enjoy European-style soups and sandwiches made from scratch. The owners even marinate and grill their own meats and vegetables. Each day there’s a new home-cooked meal “for the price of a sandwich.” Local favorite St. John’s Bar and Grill (510 Lawrence Expressway, Suite 110, Sunnyvale) is another office area hangout that’s been packing in diners for more than three decades and consistently finds itself on local “Best Burger” lists every year. The restaurant cuts and fries its own French fries daily, and even makes its own condiments, dressings and sauces. St. John’s offers lunch and nightly specials, including the very popular Burger Bash on Wednesday nights and all day Saturdays, when all burgers are an astounding half-off. A large fenced patio has plenty of umbrellas for sunny days. For great people-watching, grab one of the tables or stand at the outside bar at Good Karma Artisan Ales and Café (31 S. First St., San Jose). There are ales, for sure, as Good Karma maintains close relationships with the artisan beer community, but you’ll also find excellent food that just happens to be vegan. Customize your own plate by choosing from dishes that reflect a wide world of cultures. One item plus brown rice is just $6.50, or you can choose two items for $9 or three for $10.75. — Pam Marino Sundance The Steakhouse John Bentley’s
South Bay Accent - Jun/Jul 2016
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