CAMPBELL

Capers Eat and Drink
1710 West Campbell Ave.
Campbell, CA
408 374-5777
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Capers combines a handsome dining room and a menu of upscale but satisfying American comfort food. Look for dishes like Cajun spice ahi, grilled prawn skewers, baby back ribs and grilled flank steak. The airy and spacious bar offers a full menu of specialty cocktails that’s long on the martinis.

Olio
384 E. Campbell Ave.
Campbell, CA
408.378.0335
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As its name suggests, Olio in Campbell draws inspiration from “places where olives grow,” namely the Mediterranean regions of Italy, Spain, France, Turkey, Greece and Northern Africa. A small cafe with an open kitchen and attention to preparation, Olio’s outdoor seating offers a good view of Campbell’s pedestrian-friendly downtown.

Twist Cafe & Twist Bistro
245 & 247 E. Campbell Ave
Campbell, CA 95008
408 374-8982
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Although it’s an unassuming neighborhood cafe, Twist Cafe packs some culinary firepower. Co-owner Dominique Faury cooked for years in top U.S. and European restaurants, including Le Bristol, Taillevent and Apicius, Parisian restaurants that earned two and three Michelin stars. Before opening Twist, Dominique’s partner Eileen Faury was executive chef at the Westin Hotel in Palo Alto. Because of the café’s popularity, Twist expanded into the space next door to open Twist Bistro. The bistro menu is decidedly more French than the café and the setting more elegant.

CUPERTINO

Alexander’s Steakhouse
10330 N. Wolfe Road
Cupertino, CA 95014
408 446-2222

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An independent restaurant operated by J.C. Chen and Jeff Stout, Alexander’s has distinguished itself not only as a premium steak house serving corn fed certified Angus Beef and genuine Kobe — but as one of the valley’s top restaurants, serving a diverse menu of innovative American cuisine with Asian influences. Since opening in 2005, Alexander’s has received numerous accolades, among them Dirona, Wine Spectator and AAA Four Diamond awards.

Café Torre
20343 Stevens Creek Blvd.
Cupertino, CA 95014
408 257-2383
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Authentic Mediterranean cuisine of Italy and the Adriatic is the hallmark of Cupertino’s Café Torre. Fish, pasta dishes, grilled meats and salads are complemented with an extensive inventory of California and Southern European wines. Café Torre’s intimate, casual, relaxed setting — just out of Bluetooth range of Apple Inc.’s headquarters — makes Café Torre a popular dining choice at the crossroads of Silicon Valley. Recently renovated and under new ownership, Torre has embraced change while remaining faithful to its roots.

Fontana’s Italian Restaurant
20840 Stevens Creek Blvd.
Cupertino, CA 95014
408 725-0188

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Founded in 1984, Fontana’s Italian continues to servean appealing Italian cuisine that draws on a California-Mediterranean influences. Specialties include scalone indorati, scallop and abalone steak sautéed in egg batter with lemon-butter sauce; rack of lamb with goat cheese mashed potatoes; and filetto alla griglia, beef tenderloin with roasted potatoes, portobella mushrooms and spinach, topped with gorgonzola and a red wine sauce. Full bar and diverse wine list.

Park Place
10030 S. De Anza Blvd.
Cupertino, CA 95014
408 873-1000

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Cupertino’s Park Place is the city’s top choice for fine dining. Located at the prominent corner of Stevens Creek and De Anza boulevards, Park Place combines a plush and inviting dining room and ample outdoor seating with Executive Chef Brad Kraten’s creative, globe trotting menu of dishes like tuna tartare, duck confit nacho, flatbread pizzas and more substantial dishes like the red wine braised boneless short ribs and sautéed sea bass with andouille sausage spiked jambalaya.

EAST PALO ALTO

Quattro
2050 University Avenue
East Palo Alto, CA 94303
650 470-2889

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Quattro Restaurant and Bar brings high-style, impeccably sourced Italian cuisine to Silicon Valley. Chef Alessandro Cartumini creates an ever-changing menu of modern Italian food that leaves spaghetti and meatballs far behind. The restaurant itself is a beauty. Located in East Palo Alto’s Four Seasons hotel off Highway 101, the restaurant has a sleek modern feel that’s airy and inviting. Contemporary paintings and sculptures on the walls add to the effect. There’s also an appealing outdoor dining area .

LOS ALTOS

Zitune
325 Main Street
Los Altos, CA 94022
650 947-0247

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Los Altos is a sleepy Silicon Valley suburb, Zitune offers a welcome—and needed—taste of big-city dining. Morocco was colonized by the French and has strong Mediterranean influences in its cuisine, so Moroccan food is familiar, but ingredients like preserved lemon, harissa and argan oil ring it in an exotic glow. Meals at Zitune start with a dish of harissa (a spiced chile pepper and garlic paste) scented hummus, olives and a light eggplant salsa. It’s a great opener for what’s to come. The rest of menu pairs traditional Moroccan ingredients and preparation with an undated, modern style.

LOS GATOS

California Cafe
50 University Ave # 260
Los Gatos, CA 95030
408 354-8118
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The California Café continues to satisfy with its fresh, inventive and reasonably priced menu of seasonal California-meets-the-world fare from Chef Taylor Boudreaux. Great cocktail list, too. The shaded patio and second-story dining atop Old Town makes the restaurant feel like a Santa Cruz Mountain hideaway.

Crimson Restaurant
15466 Los Gatos Blvd.
Los Gatos, CA
408 358-0175
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American Comfort food goes eclectic at Diane Rose’s cozy bistro-style restaurant in Los Gatos. The California menu is diverse and imaginative, with a fusion of global flavors. Crimson emphasizes ingredients direct from local farmers, including organic vegetables, steroid-free meats and ocean fresh fish from the Hawaiian Islands.

Forbes Mill Steakhouse
206 North Santa Cruz Avenue
Los Gatos, CA 95030
408 395-6434
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Award-winning Forbes Mill Steakhouse is a destination restaurant in Los Gatos that serves natural Kobe and Prime Certified Angus Beef, Australian Lamb and fresh seafood flown in daily from Hawaii and Lobster tail. The Mill’s wine list featuring award winning local, regional and global vintages selected by the resident sommelier.

James Randall Restaurant
303 N Santa Cruz Ave.
Los Gatos, CA 95030
408 395-4441
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You can’t help but be charmed by Restaurant James Randall. The small, 24-seat downtown Los Gatos restaurant occupies a North Santa Cruz Avenue storefront that looks and feels like dining in a living room with hardwood floors, fireplace, Oriental rugs and eclectic art. Chef Ross Hanson prepares dishes with attention to detail that befits a small restaurant, and the service is personal as well. A passion for California wines completes the experience.

Los Gatos Brewing Company
130 N Santa Cruz Ave.
Los Gatos CA 95030
408 395-9929
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Acclaimed chef Jim Stump refined the microbrewery concept to an elegant sit-down restaurant that’s both casual and sophisticated. The Los Gatos Brewing Company serves a menu of California cuisine with hand crafted artisan brews in an artfully restored former auto dealership building in Downtown Los Gatos that’s become a favorite dining spot of locals.

Nick’s on Main
35 E. Main St.
Los Gatos, CA 95030
408 399-6457

Longtime Los Gatos chef Nick Difu opened Nick’s on Main, An American Bistro, in 2008 and it quickly became a local fixture. Described by food journalist Stett Holbrook as “a relaxed but elegant bistro that’s full of neighborly charm,” Nick’s on Main serves innovative twists on hearty classics, with a carefully curated list of local California wines.

Steamer’s Grillhouse
1 University Ave. (Old Town)
Los Gatos, CA 95030
408 395-CRAB (2722)
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Steamer’s began as a seafood cafe on Los Gatos’ N. Santa Cruz Avenue, and three decades and two locations later has established itself as a Los Gatos institution. Despite its age and consistency, Steamer’s remains as fresh in concept as the fish it plates. up. The menu has expanded from seafood to rotisserie chicken, chops, steaks and stone oven pizza. Its bar is always a popular spot for conversation and socializing, and an extensive California-centric wine list marries well with the diverse menu of griilled chophouse meats, as well as fish infrequently found on local restaurant menus: California White Seabass, Alaskan Black Cod and Pacific Snapper. Dishes are served with contemporary preparations that can include miso glazed and Veracruzana sauce on any given night.

Tapestry
11 College Ave.
Los Gatos, CA 95030
408 395-2808
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Set inside a beautiful downtown Los Gatos Craftsman building, Tapestry continues to serve refined version of California-Asian bistro fare like grilled romaine salad, creative spring rolls, grilled skirt steak, fresh fish and inventive desserts. The intimate dining room adds to the restaurant’s enduring appeal as a dinner date destination.

Valeriano’s Italian Restaurant
160 West Main Street
Los Gatos, CA 95030
408 354-8108
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Located in a historic converted bank building, Valeriano’s has been a Los Gatos fixture for nearly two decades. Dishes range from beef carpaccio and chops to fresh chilled oysters, and of course pastas and caprese salads. The island bar at front and center is relaxed, conversational and populated by regulars.

Wine Cellar Restaurant
50 University Ave.
Los Gatos, CA 95030
408 354-4808
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Los Gatos’ dining scene is in constant flux, yet The Wine Cellar has remained a fixture since it opened more than 30 years ago. But the subterranean restaurant still feels like a secret because of its intimate location, hideaway bar and menu of upscale comfort food. Tucked under Borders books in Los Gatos’ Old Town, The Wine Cellar continues to please with its menu of fondue, great starters like grilled artichoke and crab cakes and satisfying, Asian and Mediterranean-inspired entrees like soy glazed wild salmon, grilled lamb chops and duck confit. An extensive remodel has given the venerable restaurant a fresh look that keeps this Los Gatos institution going strong.

MENLO PARK

Juban Restaurant
712 Santa Cruz Avenue
Menlo Park, CA 94025
650 473-6458
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World connoisseurs rage over the official dining technique of eating a century-old concept of Yakiniku. Once considered to be from the Meiji Era in Japan. Yakiniku simply translated means “grilled meat”. At Juban, we serve our Yakiniku the traditional way. Appetizers, Yakiniku entrees and salads are served all at once, family style.

Left Bank Menlo Park
635 Santa Cruz Avenue
Menlo Park, CA 94025
650 473-6543
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Left Bank, celebrating its 15th year, captures the lively spirit of a bustling French brasserie and offers simple French cooking in a casual setting. Led by acclaimed chef and James Beard nominee Roland Passot, all three Bay Area locations feature a unique chef. Appetizers include escargot, steak tartare and signature dish steamed mussels with crispy pommes frites. Entrees vary from bouillabaisse and coq au vin to natural beef and sustainable seafood options.

Trellis Restaurant
1077 El Camino Real
Menlo Park, CA 94025
650 326-9028
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Trellis offers an appealing menu of northern Italian food. Look for standout dishes like braised beef with melted leeks and gorgonzola-potato puree, grilled fresh king salmon with sun-dried tomatoes-chardonnay sauce and basil orzo and grilled pork tenderloin with polenta, wild mushrooms and roasted garlic sauce. The upstairs patio is perfect for dining on warm nights.

MILPITAS

Brandon’s Restaurant
1820 Barber Lane
Milpitas CA 95035
408 570-5470
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Located in Milpitas’ Beverly Heritage Hotel, Brandon’s serves prime American beef, chops, seafood and fresh produce matched with a wine list that specializes in California winemakers. Look for dishes like sesame-crusted salmon, rosemary-roasted chicken and grille rib eye steak.

Zahir’s
174 Calaveras Boulevard
Milpitas, CA 95035
408 946-4000
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Zahir’s in Milpitas serves a menu of seafood (pan-seared snapper, San Francisco-style cioppino), pastas (fettuccine Jambalaya, eggplant linguine) and meats (prime rib, veal medallions), as well as “surf and turf” combination plates such as filet mignon with lobster tail. Since opening in November 2008, Zahir’s expressed mission is “a passion for fresh, vibrant, California & European cuisine, served in a friendly atmosphere with a touch of class.”

MOUNTAIN VIEW

The Cantankerous Fish
420 Castro Street
Mountain View, CA 94041
650 966-8124

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The people behind Scott’s Seafood Restaurant opened Mountain View’s Cantankerous Fish in 2003 and the restaurant has become a classic for simple, but expertly prepared seafood fish in a causal and welcoming atmosphere. Look for popular dishes like grilled mahi mahi with coconut peanut curry, tuna two ways—seared and in a spicy tempura roll, and jambalaya made with fresh scallops, prawns, chicken, andouille sausage, and dirty rice. Great steaks and salads, too. Full bar with an appealing happy hour menu to match.

Sakoon
357 Castro Street
Mountain View, CA 94041
650 965-2000

WIth the valley’s large Indian community, there’s a lot of tasty Indian food. Sakoon has taken it to a new level, serving beautiful and original creations in a stunning Mountain View restaurant. Executive Chef Sachin Chopra is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America who honed his skills at New York’s famed four-star Daniel and the Grand Hyatt Hotel.

Savory
873 Castro Street
Mountain View, CA 94041
650 691-9999
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Savory restaurant brings contemporary Vietnamese food to Mountain View. Look for light and bright dishes like beef papaya salad, crab and garlic glass noodles and jumbo tamarind prawns.

Xanh
185 Castro St.
Mountain View, CA 94041
(650) 964-1888

Mountain View’s Xanh restaurant epitomizes the new breed of upscale, contemporary Vietnamese restaurants popping up in Silicon Valley. It’s a great-looking place that feels more like stepping into a club than a restaurant. The menu, which ranges from the traditional to the unconventional, scores with dishes like glass noodles with Dungeness crab, banana leaf-wrapped seabass and “shaking beef.”

PALO ALTO

Calafia Cafe and Market A Go-Go
858 El Camino Real
Palo Alto, CA 94305
650 322-9200

Chef Charlie Ayers redefined the corporate food environment for Google and is now bringing simple, tasty, healthy food to the world outside the Googleplex at Palo Alto’s Town and Country Village. A long communal table beneath a chandelier sets a modern tone for a restaurant with a broadly defined mission of changing the way we eat out.

California Cafe
700 Welch Rd
Palo Alto, CA 94304
650 325-2233
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The California Café continues to satisfy with its fresh, inventive and reasonably priced menu of seasonal California-meets-the-world dishes like pan-roasted sea bass, jambalaya and grilled Kobe tri-tip. Great cocktail list, too. Located in the historic Stanford Barn.

Coconuts Caribbean
Restaurant & Bar
642 Ramona Street
Palo Alto, CA 94301
650 329-9533
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Chef Robert Simpson is Silicon Valley’s culinary ambassador for Jamaica and the Caribbean at large. When he opened Back A Yard in Menlo Park, it quickly became one of the Bay Area’s premier outposts of Jamaican cooking. Now, Simpson has gone upmarket with a second restaurant in downtown Palo Alto and brought his good times food to a new audience.

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar
180 El Camino Real
Palo Alto, CA 94304
650 329-8457
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Fleming’s Steakhouse adjacent to Bloomingdale’s in the Stanford Shopping Center is a stylish, contemporary steak restaurant. It ages corn-fed USDA Prime beef for up to four weeks to improve flavor and texture, seasons the meat with kosher salt and black pepper, then broils cuts at 1600 degrees to seal in juices and flavor. Generousously portioned side dishes accompany the main course.

Il Fornaio
520 Cowper St # 101
Palo Alto, CA 94301
650 853-3888
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Palo Alto’s Il Fornaio celebrates the diverse food of Italy with an ever-changing menu of regional cuisine that goes well beyond the same old spaghetti and meatballs. The restaurant surrounds diner in an elegant dining backed with expert service and Italian heavy wine list.

Janta Indian Cuisine
369 Lytton Ave
Palo Alto, CA 94301-1431
650 462-5903
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Family-owned for 15 years, Janta Indian Restaurant sits in a little cottage decorated with lights off Lytton in Downtown Palo Alto. Favorite recipes include home-made samosas, butter chicken, and lamb kofta. Though the menu items are similar to other Indian restaurants, the take is slightly different, and never too spicy. Plenty of vegetarian options.

Junnoon
150 University Avenue
Palo Alto, CA 94301
650 329-9644
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Junnoon is not an Indian fusion restaurant. The food is eclectic modern Indian food, the kind of food you might get at an upscale restaurant in Bangalore or Mumbai. Consulting chef Floyd Cardoz, best known for his high-concept Indian restaurant Tabla in New York City, has teamed up with other chefs at Junnoon who have similar experience with high-end Indian restaurants in New York City, Washington. D.C., and London. In spite of the colorful fabric that hangs over the windows, Junnoon has a muted, earthy feel that’s cool and comforting. There’ s a small bar with wide, comfortable upholstered stools up front near the lounge, and a window-backed corner with low couches and scattered pillows. The techno-ragas playing throughout the restaurant add to its downtown swank.

MacArthur Park
27 University Avenue
Palo Alto, CA 94301
650 321-9990
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MacArthur Park celebrates the classics of American fare with a fresh and satisfying menu served in a beautiful Julia Morgan designed building that once served a community meeting space for the WWI soldiers and their families. Today, the oak barbecued ribs, hearty salads, mesquite-grilled fish, and expertly prepared steaks are the main attraction.

Reposado
236 Hamilton Ave.
Palo Alto, CA 94301
650 833-3151

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A recent addition to the Palo Alto dining scene, Reposado serves traditional and inspired menus of regional Mexican cuisine in an upscale, beautiful setting. Chef Arnulfo “Arnie” Hernandez was born in the coastal Mexican state of Nayarit, but the food at his Palo Alto restaurant Reposado explores a range of cuisines from Mexico. The menu takes classics of Mexican cuisine and several lesser-known dishes and gives them a smart, urbane spin.

Scott’s Seafood
855 El Camino Real # 1
Palo Alto, CA 94301
650 323-1555
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Located in Palo Alto’s recently remodeled Town and Country center, Scott’s Seafood has been a Peninsula classic of mid-priced fine dining and impeccably fresh seafood for more than 20 years. Look for standout dishes like almond crusted blue nose sea bass, blackened ahi and bacon-wrapped prawns with wild mushroom risotto. Dry aged steaks, great desserts and full bar, too.

Straits Café Palo Alto
3295 El Camino Real
Palo Alto 94306
650 494-7168
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Singaporean restaurant Straits Palo Alto blends motifs from Indian, Chinese, Malay and Thai Cuisines. Lemon grass, peanut sauce, basil, curry, ginger, fresh fruit and chilies accent an exotic array of fresh fish, spiced meats and noodle specialties in a regional gastronomy pioneered in the Bay Area 20 years ago by chef Chris Yeo.

The Wine Room
520 Ramona Street
Palo Alto, CA 94301
650 462-1968
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Palo Alto’s Wine Room feels more like a comfortable living room than a restaurant. Located in a restored S p a n i s h a d o b e building with a plush interior, the Wine Room offers an appealing and eclectic list of international wines by the glass and a well-matched list of artisinal cheeses, small plates and desserts.

Zibibbo
430 Kipling St
Palo Alto, CA 94301
650.328.6722
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REDWOOD CITY

Chantilly
3001 El Camino Real
Redwood City, CA 94061
650 321-4080
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Since 1976, Redwood City’s Chantilly restaurant has been a Peninsula standard bearer for refined French and northern Italian fare served in an elegant and welcoming environment. Quiet, sophisticated and dependably delicious, Chatilly continues its fine dining tradition with grace and style. Professional service, a full bar and a vast, but ever-changing wine list adds to restaurant’s appeal.

Red Lantern
808 Winslow Street
Redwood City, CA 94063
650 369-5483

The Red Lantern serves food from Vietnam, Burma, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Laos. Scattershot pan-Asian restaurants often falter because their menus offer tepid examples of each cuisine designed to please the masses, but the food at Red Lantern is prepared with a mastery of a variety of cooking styles. Formerly a government building, the 3,700-square-foot restaurant was gutted to create an exotic escape that avoids Trader Vic’s kitsch.

SAN CARLOS

La Tosca
777 Laurel St.
San Carlos, CA 94070
650 592-7749

San Carlos’ La Tosca offers distinctive Italian cuisine served in a plush setting with a full bar. Executive chef Federico Sanchez z changes the menu regular and has featured standout dishes like trout carpaccio, monkfish raviolini, grilled skirt steak as well as satisfying desserts. The wine list offers an extensive selection of Italian wines as well as select American wines.

SAN JOSE – Downtown

71 Saint Peter
71 N San Pedro Street
San Jose, CA
408 971-8523

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71 Saint Peter, an intimate Mediterranean Grill in downtown San Jose’s historic San Pedro Square, features the flavors of Italy and France. This European-style bistro prepares dishes in a straightforward style that highlights California’s bounty of fresh produce, meats, fish and fowl. A port and dessert wine list complements a dessert menu that includes classics such as 71 Saint Peter’s creme brulee.

Agave Viejo
151 West Santa Clara St.
San Jose, CA 95113
408 971-6096
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Downtown San Jose newcomer Agave Viejo brings an upscale menu of regional Mexican food that explores some lesser-known dishes served in a dining room with a lively, fiesta atmosphere. The bar boasts a list of more than 90 tequilas.

Arcadia
100 West San Carlos Street
San Jose CA 95113
408 278-4555
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2005 Bon Appetit Chef of the Year Michael Mina has done it again. A subtly elegant San Jose restaurant, Arcadia is known serving contemporary American steakhouse cuisine alongside Mina classics like a ahi tuna tartare with sesame oil and hot peppers. An exhibition-style kitchen allows patrons to watch as the chefs prepare favorites like filet mignon and bone-in specialties, and the extensive boutique wine list presents inspired pairing options.

Bella Mia
58 S. First Street
San Jose, CA 95113
408 280-1993

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Intimate and appealing, Bella Mia serves a menu of satisfying Italian food including hand tossed pizzas, fresh made pastas and heartier dishes such as grilled Angus beef, shrimp and scallop scampi and half-pound gorgonzola and bacon burger. Two hour parking validation in the garage across the street makes parking a breeze. Full bar.

Billy Berk’s
99 S 1st St.
San Jose, CA 95113
408 292-4300
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Set in a historic, downtown San Jose brick and timber building with a large island bar, the new Billy Berk’s is a popular downtown dining spot before concerts, sports games and nights on the town. Variety is the culinary philosophy, with dishes like seared sesame-crusted ahi, dungeness crab, artichoke hot pot, hot and spicy chicken, guava glazed sticky ribs and braised Spanish pork roast among the menu options.

Emile’s Restaurant
545 S. Second Street
San Jose, CA 95112
408 289-1960
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A longstanding downtown favorite, Emile’s continues its tradition of classic French cuisine served in an intimate dining room. Owner Alexandra Dorian maintains its reputation as a fine dining standard bearer with new dishes and innovations. An attentive staff, full bar and deep wine list add the restaurant’s appeal.

Eulipia
374 South First Street
San Jose CA 95113
408 280-6161
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Back in 1978, Eulipia helped introduce San Jose diners to contemporary California cuisine. For more than three decades, the downtown San Jose restaurant has continued to innovate and continued to satisfy. Almost a decade ago, Metro’s Christina Waters referred to the “delicious durability of Eulipia’s reputation.” That reputation is still strong.

Fahrenheit Restaurant
99 E. San Fernando St.
San Jose CA 95113
408 998-9998
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Fahrenheit serves an inventive menu of contemporary cuisine with Asian influences in a stylish, modern ultralounge setting. Patrons can choose from comfortable booths, low tables, bar stools or outdoor seating, where they can keep an eye on a bustling city neighborhood that’s next to San Jose State University and San Jose City Hall. Fahrenheit’s Ahi Tuna Tartare, Fire Grilled Chicken, Steak Satay, Asparagus Rib Eye Steak Rolls and Pan Roasted Mussels are among its signature dishes. As the hour grows later, Fahrenheit heats up with DJ music, cocktail action and a good looking crowd.

Il Fornaio
302 S. Market St.
San Jose CA 95113
408 271-3366

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Il Fornaio is a classy Italian restaurant providing authentic cuisine. Whether craving some Risotto alla Milanese, Pasta Arrabbiata, fine rotisserie chicken or Filet Mignon, this San Jose restaurant provides it all and provides it well. Il Fornaio’s elegant interior, wide windows and fully stocked bar makes it a cozy venue for curious gourmands.

La Pastaia
233 W. Santa Clara Street
San Jose, CA 95113
408 286-8686

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La Pastaia remains a standout in downtown San Jose. Set inside the Hotel De Anza, a beautiful Art Deco landmark, the rustic Italian restaurant has big-city style to spare. The dining room is done up in slate tiles and flowing curtains that open or close off sections of the restaurant, making if feel like a lively multi-chambered room. At the heart of the restaurant is the long open kitchen backed by the warm glow of a wood-fired oven.

Loft Bar and Bistro
90 South 2nd Street
San Jose, CA 95113
408 291-0677
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Whether you’re seated inside or out, the Loft Bistro is one of downtown premier good times restaurants. The menu offers simple but satisfying dishes like grilled pork tenderloin, panko-crusted chicken breast and braised lamb shanks. The lively bar adds to the appeal and on warm days and nights, be sure to grab a spot at the outdoor, second story patio that looks over the downtown scene below.

Maceio Brazilian Steak House
72 South First Street
San Jose, CA
408 293-1215
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Downtown San Jose’s new Brazilian Steakhouse grills meats on a Churrasco grill accompanied by a salad bar stuffed with options. Thirteen spit-roasted meat options include tri tip, top sirloin cap and filet mignon with bacon. Located in San Jose’s historic district, on S. First Street between San Fernando and Santa Clara streets, it’s a good starting point for the city’s lively nightlife.

McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood
170 S. Market Street
San Jose, CA 95113
408 283-7200
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Few Silicon Valley seafood restaurants can match the quantity and quality of fresh fish at McCormick and Schmick’s. Check out the changing list of oysters on the half the shell and selection of fish. Good desserts, too. A favorite with the business traveler, expense account set.

Mezcal
25 W. San Fernando St.
San Jose, CA 95113
408 283-9595

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Mezcal serves authentic Oaxacan cuisine in a contemporary setting in downtown San Jose. Traditional regional dishes including three kinds of mole—negro, coloradito and estofado — are on the menu, along with beef pork and chicken dishes. Mezcal has a mezcal and tequila bar with many specialty brands and an open air courtyard patio.

Morton’s, The Steakhouse
77 Park Ave.
San Jose, CA 95113
408 947-7000

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Downtown San Jose’s Morton’s, The Steakhouse draws upon more than 30 years of tradition. Morton’s cooks USDA prime-aged beef at temperatures that reach up to 1800 degrees. It also serves fresh fish and seafood, including lobster, along with hand-picked produce, appetizers and elaborate desserts.

Mosaic
211 S. 1st St.
San Jose, CA 95113
408 282-8888

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Named for the tile floor mosaics that are a signature of downtown San Jose’s historic Montgomery Hotel, Mosaic offers casual dining in a contemporary ultralounge-style atmosphere. With Asian-inspired American cuisine, Mosaic’s soft lighting, private seating and warm ambiance make it an intimate escape from the city outside. An outdoor patio with bocce ball courts makes good use of San Jose’s year-round sunny weather.

Paolo’s
333 W San Carlos St # 150
San Jose, CA 95110
408 294-2558

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A San Jose institution for decades, Paolo’s restaurant serves a variety of Italian classics in an elegant setting. Attentive, Old World service and a deep wine list have made it a staple of business diners, romantic nights out and dinners before ballet or theater. The desserts are especially memorable.

Scott’s Seafood
185 Park Ave # 6
San Jose, CA 95113
408 283-7200
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With its mid-priced fine dining menu and impeccably fresh seafood, Scott’s has become a classic of downtown’s dining scene. Look for standout dishes like almond crusted blue nose sea bass, blackened ahi and bacon-wrapped prawns with wild mushroom risotto. Dry aged steaks, great desserts and full bar, too.

SAN JOSE – North

Spencer’s for Steaks and Chops
2050 Gateway Place
San Jose, CA 95110
408 437-2170

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Spencer’s at the Doubletree Hotel in San Jose serves aged, handcut Prime Steaks, succulent chops and sensational seafood served in a stately atmosphere. Featuring USDA natural and organic steaks and chops. Superior Farms double-cut lamb chops, A wide selection of wines, single malt scotches and small batch bourbons is available.

SAN JOSE – West

Habana Cuba Restaurant
238 Race Street
San Jose, CA 95126
408 998-2822
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Cuban food is somewhat of a rarity in the Bay Area, but San Jose’s Habana Cuba remains a perennial favorite for family style Cuban dining. Set inside a lively and colorful dining room, Habana Cuba specializes in dishes such as zarzuela de mariscos, slow roasted pork and chilidron de cordero—slow braised lamb in a spicy red wine and tomato sauce.

SAN JOSE – Santana Row

Left Bank Santana Row
377 Santana Row # 1100
San Jose, CA 95128
408 984-3500
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Left Bank, celebrating its 15th year, captures the lively spirit of a bustling French brasserie and offers simple French cooking in a casual setting. Led by acclaimed chef and James Beard nominee Roland Passot, all three Bay Area locations feature a unique chef. Appetizers include escargot, steak tartare and signature dish steamed mussels with crispy pommes frites. Entrees vary from bouillabaisse and coq au vin to natural beef and sustainable seafood options.

LB Steak
334 Santana Row
San Jose, CA 95128
408 244-1180
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LB Steak bills itself as a modern American steakhouse with a French twist. LB Steak is led by James Beard nominee and owner of San Francisco’s renowned La Folie, Roland Passot. In addition to LB Steak, Passot oversees all three Left Bank Brasseries throughout the Bay Area. Signature dishes include day boat scallops with sweet corn and chanterelle mushrooms, 20 oz. Porterhouse and burgers featuring classic and exotic ingredients. Guests have the option of selecting a variety of sauces such as Pt. Reyes blue cheese butter, green peppercorn and béarnaise to accompany entrees. Side dishes include pommes soufflees, truffle mac and cheese and creamed spinach. Dessert cart features house made fruit tarts, French macaroons and chocolate cookies.

Roux Louisiana Kitchen
3055 Olin Ave.
San Jose, CA 95128
408 249-8000

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Roux Louisiana Kitchen brings the good times vibe and good food of New Orleans to Santana Row. The menu reads like a list of the greatest hits of Cajun and Creole cuisine with dishes like jambalaya, crawfish etouffe and gumbo. There’s also several southern fried classics like pulled pork, baby back ribs and buttermilk and Abita beer battered fried chicken.

Thea Mediterranean
3090 Olsen Dr.
San Jose, CA 95128
408 260-1444

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Thea is named after a Greek goddess and mythical mother to sun, moon and dawn. The Santana Row restaurant specializes in contemporary Greek and Turkish food, a corner of the Mediterranean that doesn’t get as much play as Italy or France. Look for light and inviting dishes like grilled shrimp, braised lamb shank and a great version of moussaka. Be sure to try one of the excellent Greek wines.

Yankee Pier
378 Santana Row # 1100
San Jose, CA 95128
408 244-1244
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Bradley Ogden’s Yankee Pier at Santana Row is a New England-style seafood house that serves ocean-fresh seafood from two coasts, along with produce from local California farms. Signature dishes include live Maine lobsters, fresh-shucked oysters, a variety of grilled fresh fish and beer-battered full belly clams. Chef Steven Wallin also prepares house-made desserts. Yankee Pier pours a selection of all-American wines, and has a full bar.

Village California Bistro & Wine Bar
378 Santana Row #1035
San Jose CA 95128
408 248-9091
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A chic bistro and wine bar at Santana Row, the Village’s clientele spans mid-shopping lunchers to dinner dates. The menu highlights California-inspired cuisine crafted from seasonal, locally sourced ingredients. The wine list emphasizes boutique wineries from around the world, with more than 300 selections, including many half bottles.

SAN JOSE – South

Orlo’s
200 Edenvale Avenue
San Jose, CA 95136
408 226-3200

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Fine food and wine deserve a fine setting, and Orlo’s Restaurant, at the 100-year-old Dolce Hayes Mansion in San Jose, offers one reminiscent of the elegance and grace of a bygone era. In the beautifully restored Hayes family original dining room, guests enjoy the best of California’s New American Cuisine served to perfection. An artful blending of flavors from the multi-ethnic influences of the region, provide guests with a unique and memorable dining experience.

SAN JOSE – Willow Glen

Vin Santo
1346 Lincoln Avenue
San Jose, CA 95125
408 920-2508
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Vin Santo is a local gem in the heart of downtown Willow Glen. Our restaurant strives to provide the highest quality food, service and ambiance.

SAN MATEO

Acqua Pazza
201 E. 3rd Ave.
San Mateo, CA 94401
(650) 375-0903

SANTA CLARA

Birk’s
3955 Freedom Circle
Santa Clara, CA 95054
408 980-6400
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Founded in 1989, Birk’s has become a Silicon Valley classic with its handsome decor, lively bar and satisfying menu of steaks, chops and fresh seafood. Look for dishes like grilled artichokes, crab cakes, sesame crusted seared ahi, and dry aged New York steaks. The restaurant boasts an extensive menu of single malt scotch and a selection of premium cigars. The wine list draws heavily from California with a number of Santa Cruz Mountains wines represented on the list.

Cherry Sushi
2910 El Camino Real
Santa Clara, CA 95051
408 557-0770
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Located on El Camino Real in Santa Clara, Cherry Sushi is one among dozens of Japanese restaurants. However, what makes Cherry stand apart from the rest? It’s simple. Great food and friendly service, which, most importantly, leads to satisfied customers. In order to make truly exceptional sushi, the fundamental factor is to use fresh ingredients, and Cherry Sushi prides itself in carrying a wide array of fresh fish. For those who tend to shy away from raw fish, a variety of delectable cooked items are also available, such as black cod misoyaki and teriyaki rib eye steak. Add these items to a carefully selected sake menu, and the resulting meal is sure to be unforgettable.

Parcel 104
2700 Mission College Blvd.
Santa Clara, CA 95054
408 970-6104
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Parcel 104 celebrates regional American cuisine with a fresh and inventive menu created by celebrated chef Bradley Ogden. A recent remodel makes this one of Silicon Valley’s most appealing dining rooms and bars.

SARATOGA

Ristorante Da Mario
14441 Big Basin Way
Saratoga, CA 95070
408 741-1518
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Ristorante Da Mario Italian Restaurant, brings a little bit of southern Italy right into the heart of downtown Saratoga. We serve lunch and dinner, have a great Italian wine selection drawn from Gambero Rossi, and offer outside seating. All dishes are prepared with freshness and integrity, highest quality ingredients, and we offer several less-than-typical dishes.

Restaurant Sent Sovi
14583 Big Basin Way
Saratoga, CA 95070
408 867-3110
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Restaurant Sent Sovi is a beloved Silicon Valley favorite for intimate dining presided over by chef-owner Josiah Slone. Slone changes his menu quarterly. Cooking with locally sourced, seasonal ingredients is de rigueur in Bay Area restaurants, but Slone’s cooking takes this edict to new levels of deliciousness.

SUNNYVALE

Ginger Cafe
398 W. El Camino Real, #114
Sunnyvale CA 94087
408 736-2828
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Flavorful dishes hailing from the Pacific Rim, with a bias toward Thailand and Southern China, populate the lengthy menu at Ginger Café. This casually elegant, intimate Sunnyvale dining spot is situated in a naturally-lit round dining room appointed with soft earth tones, rich woods, curtains, wooden Buddhas and ceiling fans. Ginger Cafe serves a menu that includes artfully presented dim dum, creative entrees, flavorful soups, salads and appetizers, including a range of vegetarian options. The full bar pours wines and a top shelf of premium spirits.

Il Postale
127 W. Washington Ave.
Sunnyvale, CA 94086
408 733-9600
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In the heart of Sunnyvale, Il Postale serves Italian American cuisine in the historic brick building that was once the home of Sunnyvale’s post office. Its open kitchen, the restaurant’s centerpiece, prepares pasta, fish, meat and vegetarian/vegan options. Il Postale also has a full wine list and wines by the glass, a full bar and outside patio dining.

Kabul Afghan Cuisine
833 W. El Camino Real
Sunnyvale, CA 94086
408 245-4350

Drawing influences from Pakistan, India and Persia and yet uniquely its own, the food of Afghanistan remains one of the world’s most delicious yet little known cuisines. Sunnyvale’s Kabul restaurant offers a great introduction to the food with kebabs as well as classic dishes like aushak, spring onion-filled dumplings topped with yogurt and meat sauce; and gulpi challaw, tender chunks of beef and cauliflower cooked with tomatoes, onion, garlic and spices.

Lion and Compass
1023 N. Fairoaks Ave
Sunnyvale, CA 94089
408 745-1260

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The Lion and Compass is a Silicon Valley institution not only for its inventive California-meets-Asia cuisine, but as a gathering place for the South Bay’s business elite. The bar is a scene all its own. Open since 1982, the restaurant is still going strong.

Rok Bistro
124 S. Murphy Avenue
Sunnyvale, CA 94086
408 733-7651

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Rok’s Bistro on Murphy Avenue in downtown Sunnyvale specializes in cook-your-own steaks, chicken and seafood that sizzle on superheated volcanic rocks. Rok also features a number of salads, cheese fondue, vegetarian options and chocolate fondue. Rok also offers sidewalk dining, a covered patio and a private party room.

Tarragon
140 S. Murphy Avenue
Sunnyvale, CA 94086
408 737-8003
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Tarragon restaurant has been a mainstay of Silicon Valley’s fine dining scene for years and it continues to attract followers for its straight ahead, but refined take on California-inspired Mediterranean food. Look for dishes like grilled artichokes, crab cakes, grilled Moroccan spiced shrimp as well as seasonal salads, pasta and steaks. Full bar.

WOODSIDE

Woodside Bakery and Cafe
3052 Woodside Rd
Woodside, CA 94062
(650) 851-0812

Woodside doesn’t have to lot of restaurants, but what it does have are generall high quality. The Woodside Bakery and Cafe Great is one such example. The simple eatery offers wood fired-pizzas, wildl mushroom ravioli and sandwiches on housemade bread as well as a wide variety of top quality desserts and pastries to end your meal. Reasonable prices add to the appeal.