DEALS ON MEALS nean cuisine is served in a cozy, casual setting. $$ Carpaccio, 1120 Crane St., Menlo Park. 650/ 322-1211. This popular neighborhood trattoria has become an Italian institution. $$ Centonove, 109 W. Main St., Los Gatos. 408/384-4007. Italian-style café specializing in wood-fired pizzas and a wide range of housemade pastas. $$ 110 South Bay Accent Da Mario, 14441 Big Basin Way, Saratoga. 408/ 741-1518. A popular neighborhood eatery serving standout Italian-American cuisine. Pastas and desserts are made in house. $-$$ 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. $$ I Gatti, 25 E. Main St., Los Gatos. 408/399- 5180. Fine Italian dining in a comfortable setting; the cuisine pays tribute to various Italian regions and ranges from pizza to rack of lamb. $-$$ Il Fornaio, San Jose. 408/271-3366; Palo Alto. 650/853-3888. In the trattoria tradition, Il For-naio stays true to authentic Italian recipes and time-honored cooking methods. $$$ Il Postale, 100 S. Murphy Ave., Sunnyvale. 408/733-9600. This popular Italian-American bistro has made a name for itself over the past 20 years at the old post office building in Sunnyvale. $$ Pasta Moon, 315 Main St., Half Moon Bay. 650/ 726-5125. Charming eatery serves only local, sustainable ingredients, fresh from the first bite of focaccia to the last spoonful of an artisan dessert. $$ Pasta Pomodoro, 378 Santana Row, San Jose. 408/241-2200. The romance and authentic, bold flavors of this eatery make you think you’re in the sun-drenched Italian countryside. $ Ristorante Don Giovanni, 235 Castro St., Mountain View. 650/961-9749. Relaxed, atmosphere and large Italian menu ranges from charcoal broiled steaks to assorted pastas. $$ Spalti Ristorante, 417 California Ave., Palo Alto. 650/327-9390. Authentic Northern Italian cuisine, featuring well-prepared fresh pasta, seafood, chicken and veal in a casual setting. $$ Tigelleria Organic Restaurant, 76 E. Campbell Ave., Campbell. 408/884-3808. Serving traditional Northern Italian dishes prepared organically. Also an extensive choice of a la carte antipasto. $$$ Vesta, 2022 Broadway, Redwood City. 650/ 362- 5052. Specializes in hand-crafted wood-fired pizzas, with traditional and contemporary toppings, as well as Italian-themed small plates. $ 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. $$$ Willow Street Wood-Fired Pizza, San Jose (Willow Glen), 408/ 971-7080; San Jose (Westgate), 408/871-0400; Los Gatos, 408/354-5566. Outstanding pizzas, a full bar and a large menu with fun appetizers. $ JAPANESE Azuma Japanese Cuisine, 19645 Stevens Creek Blvd., Cupertino. 408/257-4057. A Cupertino institution, the menu at this popular familyfriendly restaurant offers something delicious that everyone will be able to enjoy. $$ Blowfish Sushi To Die For, 355 Santana Row, Suite 1010, San Jose. 408/345-3848. A hip dining spot serving both traditional and modern sushi, sashimi and teppan dishes. $$ Bluefin, 754 The Alameda, Suite 10, San Jose. 408/931-6875. Sushi, sashimi and more modern fare, with unique fish imported from Japan at the peak of its flavor. $$ 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. Ah, autumn. Cooler days and nights mean turning from lighter fare toward more filling dishes that warm us up. These restaurants offer those cool-weather entrees we crave at value prices. A great deal on food from South of the border can be found at Cielito Lindo Mexican Restaurant and Bar (195 E. Taylor St., San Jose). The eatery features an all day $7.99 meal deal. Diners get to choose one from an array of enticing entrees: one burrito, one tostada, two flautas, two enchiladas, or two tacos. Filling choices are shredded beef or chicken, chile verde or chile Colorado. The price includes a salad and a soft drink. On a cool day nothing warms the body and the soul like a steaming bowl of delicious Japanese noodles steeped in nourishing broth. Maru Ichi Japanese Noodle House (368 Castro St., Mountain View) offers diners some of the freshest ramen around—you can watch it being made in the front window of the restaurant. Maru Ichi features three combo specials that include items like California rolls and pot stickers, all for under $10—2 are under $9. Be prepared: Maru Ichi is cash only. Another favorite comfort food is a good burger, and the cooks at Sliders Burgers (1645 W. San Carlos St., San Jose) flip burgers their regular diners love at prices below what some spendy chains offer. Basic burgers run as low as $3.75, and you can get an avocado burger or a bacon cheeseburger for just $5.50. For just $6.50 you can get a cheeseburger, fries and a medium drink. Patrons sing the praises of the toppings bar, where they load up on lettuce, tomato, pickles, and other favorites— a total of 30 choices. Top off your meal with a root beer float for just $2.95, or a milk shake for only $3.25. For a fried food fix, there might be nothing better around than the battered fish and chips at The City Fish (30 E. Santa Clara St., Suite 140, San Jose, and 21678 Stevens Creek Blvd., Cupertino). Besides being delicious, the portion sizes are huge, and you can get filled up fast for under $10. Check out the combos at both restaurants for many meals under $10, and don’t forget the daily blackboard specials for even more delectable deals. —Pam Marino BEST BITES Orchard City Kitchen Cascal
South Bay Accent - Oct/Nov 2016
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