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 (temporarily closed), 320 Village Lane, Los Gatos. 408/354-4330. Chef David Kinch amazes diners with his creative, awardwinning 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 Fourth Ave., San Mateo. 650/ 685- 3727. The mesquite grill, rotisserie and brick-oven pizzas reflect a diverse global influences. $ ETHIOPIAN Zeni Ethiopian, 1320 Saratoga Ave., San Jose. 408/615-8282. Inviting spot serves up tantalizing variety of flavorful dishes, many vegetarian, with your choice of spice level. $ FRENCH Baumé, 201 S. California Ave., Palo Alto. 650/ 328-8899. New venture from Michelin starred chef Bruno Chemel. $$$ Chez TJ, 938 Villa St., Mountain View. 650/964- 7466. Fresh and innovative California-French cuisine is exquisitely presented as prix fixe meals by Executive Chef Jarad Gallagher. $$$ La Fondue, 14550 Big Basin Way, Saratoga. 408/ 867-3332. Appealing spot offers more than 50 different fondues ranging from cheese to wild game. Be sure to save room for chocolate finale. $$ La Forêt, 21747 Bertram Road, San Jose. 408/ 997-3458. Romantic restaurant’s menu centers on generously sized and beautifully prepared meat dishes, including a daily wild game special. $$$ La Mère Michelle, 14467 Big Basin Way, Saratoga. 408/867-5272. Elegance and fine traditional French cuisine combined with family pride provide a memorable dining experience. $$-$$$ Le Papillon, 410 Saratoga Ave. , San Jose. 408/ 296-3730. Highly acclaimed for its award-winning French cuisine, this Bay Area institution blends fresh, seasonal ingredients with impeccable preparation. Patio dining available. $$$ Left Bank, Menlo Park. 650/473-6543; San Jose. 408/984-3500. Popular eatery features contemporary French cuisine and a variety of seafood prepared with fresh, seasonal ingredients. $$$ Melting Pot, 2 N. B St., San Mateo. 650/342- 6358. Fondue spot features four flavorful cooking styles and a variety of entrees with dipping sauces. Be sure to save space for the chocolate fondue. $$ Navio (Ritz-Carlton Hotel), 1 Miramontes Point Road, Half Moon Bay. 650/712-7000. This luxurious seaside restaurant overlooks the panoramic golf course. $$$ The Plumed Horse, 14555 Big Basin Way, Saratoga. 408/867-4711. This 2011 Michelinstarred restaurant delivers contemporary, seasonal California cuisine based on solid French techniques. $$$ BEST BITES TASTE TRIPS A number of new restaurants opened their doors earlier this year in the Bay Area, drawing the keen attention of Zagat food raters. Among notable newbies are several from the East Bay. Jen Biesty, former chef at Scala’s Bistro, teamed up with pastry chef Tim Nugent to open Shakewell (3407 Lakeshore Ave., Oakland) in July. Featuring a Spanish-Mediterranean menu with emphasis The Basin on the flavors of Spain, Greece and North Africa, the restaurant offers a warm and lively atmosphere, bold, flavor-packed dishes and a changing menu. Specialties include chili-chocolate braised short ribs with arugula, pickled Fresno chilies and butter beans, along with grilled shrimp with Moroccan spiced dry lime rub and yogurt sauce. There is also a selection of tasty “bombas,” rice dishes baked in a wood-burning oven and tossed with locally sourced seafood or meats. When restaurateur-chef Daniel Patterson transformed his former Plum into the new Ume (2214 Broadway, Oakland), he retained much of the old décor — a calculated move since “ume” means plum in Japanese, which is the cuisine that now inspires the restaurant’s small plates menu. Signature dishes at this casual eatery include marinated salmon chunks seasoned with shio-koji and served with turnips, or plum-glazed pork ribs nestled on a bed of pickled mustard greens. Diners also rave about charred broccoli with misonnaise, a flavored mayonnaise. Deliciously crunchy stalks slathered in sauce are taken from a bowl and eaten by hand. Next door to Ume in Oakland’s thriving uptown area, Captain & Corset (2212 Broadway) has been enticing visitors with a quirky, New American bistro vibe since June. The menu uses names like “Mariners Provisions” (appetizers) and “Binnacle List” (cocktails) to describe food and drink categories. Main fare items may include standouts such as broiled chicken paillard served with salt and vinegar fingerlings, onion cream gravy and French beans, or mustard-crusted bone marrow with seasonal pickles and crostini. With its open kitchen sitting right in the dining room, the restaurant serves up a friendly, inviting ambience. The rustic crustacean boil goes upscale at alaMar (100 Grand Ave., Oakland), a seafood restaurant where Chef Nelson German uses his sophisticated, creative vision to refine the traditional crab house-style of peeling and eating. Thus, it’s no surprise to see coconut shrimp lollipops on the menu. Still, in crab house fashion, guests are encouraged to dive into dishes with both hands and experience such delights as local Delta crayfish with house sausage and Meyer lemon pepper, as well as Penn Cove mussels with Spanish saffron, bacon lardon, orange bitters, ancho chili and Thai basil. All boils come with grilled artisan sourdough bread for sopping up the delectable sauces. The dinner menu also includes non-seafood and vegetarian items showcasing an eclectic blend of flavors and textures. — D.K. Sundance The Steakhouse 98 South Bay Accent
South Bay Accent - Oct/Nov 2014
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