BEST BITES THE MAN FROM MARS Reposado, 236 Hamilton Ave., Palo Alto. 650/833- 3151. A chic backdrop is well served by such popular Mexican culinary favorites as adobo marinade steak and tortilla soup. $$ Sancho’s Taqueria, 491 Lytton Ave., Palo Alto. 650/322-8226. Adam Torres, formerly with Village Pub, serves up an assortment of veggie, meat, and seafood burritos, plus other Mexican favorites. $ Vive Sol, 2020 W. El Camino Real, Mountain View. 650/938-2020. Mountain View boasts this popular spot that showcases the heady moles indigenous to the Puebla region. $$ Zona Rosa, 1411 The Alameda, San Jose, 408/275- 1411. Honoring the cookery of Mexico and featuring hand-pressed tortillas and fresh, locally grown ingredients. $$ MOROCCAN Dishdash, 190 S. Murphy Avenue, Sunnyvale. 408/ 774-1889. Astute service, a warm atmosphere, and exceptional Middle Eastern cuisine. $$ Menara Moroccan, 41 E. Gish Road, San Jose. 408/453-1983. Delicious, authentic Moroccan cuisine, complemented by exotic cocktails and belly dancing nightly. $$ SEAFOOD Blue Water Seafood & Crab, 860 Willow St., San Jose. 408/289-8879. East Coast-style crab house with a wide selection of seafood specialties as well as plenty of choices for land lovers. $ Driggsy’s Seafood, Sports Bar & Grill, 1150 Murphy Ave., Suite D, San Jose. 408/437-1986. Traditional American-style food and drinks served up in a spirited atmosphere. $$ Fish Market, Palo Alto, 650/493-8862; Santa Clara, 408/246-3474; San Jose, 408/269-3474. Fresh, high-quality seafood comes from the restaurant’s own fishery and partnering seafood farms. $$ McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurant, 170 S. Market St., San Jose. 408/283-7200. More than 30 species of fresh seafood are on a menu that changes daily. $$ Old Port Lobster Shack, 3130 Alpine Road, Portola Valley, 650/561-9500; 851 Veterans Blvd., Redwood City, 650/366-2400. Fresh lobster dishes and other seafood selections served in a New England-style lobster shack. $$ Sawa, 1042 E. El Camino Real, Sunnyvale. 408/241-7292. Fresh fish and seafood, including delightful prix fixe sushi-focused entrees. $$$ Steamer’s Grillhouse (in Old Town), 31 University Ave., Los Gatos. 408/395-CRAB. Steamer’s features a variety of steaks, chops, seafood and Mediterranean-inspired dishes and more. $$ The Sea by Alexander’s Steakhouse, 4269 El Camino Real, Palo Alto. 650/213-1111. Blend of contemporary cuisine and Japanese sensibility. $$$ SINGAPOREAN Shiok! Singapore Kitchen, 1137 Chestnut St., Menlo Park. 650/838-9448. An exciting fusion of Malay, Chinese and Indian cuisine. $ Straits, 333 Santana Row, Suite 1110, San Jose. 408/246-6320. Serving up fine Singaporean cuisine, this sleek and sophisticated spot is well-suited to its posh Santana Row locale. $$$ SOUTHEAST ASIAN Mint Leaf Cuisine, 14420 Big Basin Way, Saratoga. 408/872-3763. Eatery features fusion cuisine 104 South Bay Accent (continued from pg. 71) FEAR OF FLYING Houston, we have a problem. “Getting him on the plane is the hard part,” Tuer says of her son, adding that Weir didn’t seem to be afraid to fly as a child. Weir says it’s not based on any bad experiences. “I just have a general problem with anxiety across the board, and the way it comes out is through fear of flying,” he says. “But I’m getting better. I’m actively combating it. “It used to be that it didn’t affect my life so much. I’d say ‘OK. I don’t really like to fly. But I’m a computer programmer. I don’t really need to go more than 5 miles from my house.’” Now, with his newfound fame, Weir needs to be all sorts of places, “and some of these are pretty long drives,” he says. An invitation from NASA to visit its Johnson Space Center in Houston for four days of VIP tours kicked into high gear his efforts to deal with flying anxiety. Weir wasn’t about to pass up the opportunity. Between therapy and anxiety medications, he managed. “So I actually did it, and it was OK. I was on the plane. I didn’t like it, but I wasn’t terrified,” Weir explains. Despite making progress on his highflying fear, Weir did turn down an invitation to visit the film’s set. The movie was filmed in Budapest, Hungary, and he wasn’t quite ready to fly over the ocean. With this decision, he may have missed a chance to meet some of the “big famous people” associated with the movie, but luckily the opportunity wasn’t once-in-alifetime. He’ll meet them at the premiere. Not to mention, he is fast becoming famous himself. “It’s been kind of strange. Almost overnight, I went from never really having a lot of responsibilities to being heavily booked all the time now. So it’s the first time in my life that I’m having to tell people, ‘Sorry, I can’t do this thing.’ It’s weird for me. Man, they’re running me ragged,” Weir says. Grimm and Brown, both of whom like to play board games with Weir and hang out with him in his spare time, have also had to come to terms with the change in Weir’s life. “It has taken a long time for this to become real, even in my head,” says Grimm. “I can’t imagine what it’s like for Andy.” For Weir, the explanation is easy: “It’s been a wild ride.” n including soft-shell crabs with peanut sauce and curry scallops. $$ SPANISH Cascal, 400 Castro St., Mountain View. 650/940- 9500. Spanning the globe with spectacular dishes from Spain and South America, Cascal serves up a menu of “spirited Latin cuisine.” With over 25 tapas—small plates and tastes—divided into “old world” and “new world” choices, there’s something for everyone. Try the classic Spanish chorizo in rioja wine or minted lamb meatballs in a saffron and almond sauce. For a full dinner, start with one of several ceviches and move on to an exquisite, traditional paella (including one for vegetarians). The casually elegant interior, with its bright, bold colors was created by renowned designer/architect Chuck Thompson. $$ Joya, 339 University Ave., Palo Alto. 650/853- 9800. The hip modern décor mixes well with the contemporary Spanish and Latin tapas and the tasty variety of new age cocktails. $$$ TapaOlé, 18818 Cox Ave., Saratoga. 408/379- 1677. TapaOle brings a little taste of Spain to the South Bay with its unique take on traditional Spanish cuisine. The restaurant offers a wide selection of tapas, or small plates, as well as larger offerings for two. Compliment each dish with a classic wine, sangria or another beverage to rinse the palate. Centered with beef, pork, poultry, seafood or fresh vegetables, the tapas are enhanced with mouth-watering seasonings and sauces that accentuate their flavors. Adding to its traditional Spanish flair, TapaOle occasionally features live music and flamenco dancing. Catering services also are available. $-$$ Zambra Tapas Bar, 250 Lorton Ave., Burlingame. 650/344-5655. Spanish-influenced dishes anchored with seafood, steak, chicken or pork. $$ THAI Amarin, Mountain View, 650/988-9323; San Jose, 408/253-8424; Santa Clara, 408/988-2982. Fresh, contemporary Thai menu with traditional accents and vegetarian dishes. $ Bangkok Cuisine, 407 Lytton Ave., Palo Alto. 650/322-6533. Charming ambience with lovely patio dining. The curries are especially tasty. $ Siam Orchid, 496 Hamilton Avenue, Palo Alto. 650/ 325-1994. A menu that mixes traditional Thai dishes with more modern cuisine, all infused with the finest quality organic ingredients. $$ VIETNAMESE Fuel Restaurant, 385 S. Winchester Blvd., San Jose. 408/248-0018. Stylish dining room sets the stage for tasty, contemporary Vietnamese fare. $-$$ Tamarine, 546 University Avenue, Palo Alto. 650/325-8500. Elegantly presented dishes, such as crab wontons in a consommé of lime, coriander, lemongrass and coconut milk served in a warm atmosphere. $$ Three Seasons, 518 Bryant St., Palo Alto. 650/ 838-0353. Chic restaurant and bar offers fresh take on traditional Vietnamese flavors. $$ Vung Tau, San Jose. 408/288-9055; Milpitas. 408/934-9327. This authentic Vietnamese cuisine has a distinct focus on fish preparations. Be sure to try the shrimp cupcakes! $ Xanh, 110 Castro St., Mountain View 650/964- 1888. Trendy, upscale restaurant featuring Vietnamese cuisine that pleases both the eye and palate with creative combinations. $-$$ n
South Bay Accent - Oct/Nov 2015
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