Mountain View: The
top places are Xanh (elegant Vietnamese) www.xanhrestaurant.com,
(650) 964-1888; Shiva's (Indian) www.shivasrestaurant.com,
(408) 921-5337; Cascal (tapas and Mediterranean), www.cascalrestaurant.com,
(650) 940-9500; Sushi Tomi (sushi),
www.sushitomi.com, (650)
968-3227; Fu Lam Mum (Chinese), http://www.boorah.com,
(650) 967-1689; Fiesta del Mar Too! (great Mexican),
www.fiestadelmar.com, (650) 967-3525; Zucca
(Italian-Mediterranean),
www.zuccaristorante.com, (650) 864-9940; or
Bodrum Cafe
(Mediterranean, www.bodrum-mtv.com,
(650) 396-7010, and Cafe Baklava (Mediterranean),
www.cafebaklava.com, (650)
969-3835; Amici's East Coast
Pizzeria, www.citysearch.com,
(650) 961-6666 is right on Castro off El Camino for casual pizza dining.
There are literally dozens more, ranging from Asian Fusion to Mexican
and Chinese. Parking is free and the downtown is strictly no-hassle
comfortable.
Palo Alto:
Prices can be on the high side, and it's tough to get reservations. So
book early and be selective. This is not your parents' Palo Alto dining!
Il Fornaio, www.ilfornaio.com,
(650) 853-3888; and Osteria,
www.citysearch.com, (650) 328-5700 are good choices for comfortable
Northern Italian cuisine. Also recommended are: Evvia
Estiatorio(elegant
Greek), www.evvia.net,
(650) 326-0983; Tamarine (Asian
Fusion), www.tamarinerestaurant.com,
(650) 325-8500; Lavanda (Mediterranean-Italian)
www.lavandarestaurant.com, (650) 321-3514. For a casual
menu and atmosphere, try
Blue Chalk Cafe,
www.albuquerque-bluechalk.com, (650) 326-1020 or
Gordon Biersch,
www.gordonbiersch.com, (650) 323-7723.
Los Altos:
One of the best places in town, quality and price considered, is
Pompeii,
www.pompeiiristorante.com, (650) 949-2400. It is northern Italian,
casual, and very popular. Reservations are made only for 6 or more
people. There are other good restaurants, like Los Altos Grill
(rotisserie chicken and down-home grilled meats),
www.hillstone.com, (650)
948-3524; Bousejour (French-Vietnamese),
www.restaurantrow.com, (650) 948-1382, and Zitune,(Mediterranean-Italian),
www.zitune.com, (650)
947-0247. Then there is
Chef Chu's
(great Chinese food),
that is where George and Deanne Leontovich are going,
www.chefchu.com/,
(650) 948-2696.
El Camino Real: If
you are staying in downtown Palo Alto and head southbound toward
Mountain View, you first find Sundance Steak House near
California Avenue,
www.sundancethesteakhouse.com, (650) 321-6798. On California Avenue
is Bistro Elan,
www.citysearch.com, (650) 327-0284. About half a mile further down
El Camino is The Fish Market,
www.thefishmarket.com, (650) 493-9188, for good fresh fish in a
casual atmosphere. Just across the street is an excellent Asian fusion
restaurant, Straits Cafe, www.straitscafepaloalto.com,
(650) 494-7168. Then you come to The
Cabana Hotel,
described above for Friday night. Across the street is
Trader Vic's,
www.tradervicspaloalto.com, (650) 849-9800, with faux Polynesian
decor and great rum drinks!