If you had to limit yourself to just one street for dining out in Silicon Valley, make it Mountain View's Castro Street. The quantity and quality of restaurants in a small geographical area are unmatched in Silicon Valley. There is sublime Japanese food at Nami Nami, fantastic pastries and Israeli food at Neto Café and great Persian kebabs at Rose Market. Further afield, Uncle Frank's makes some of the best, if not the best, barbecue in the Bay Area while Amber is one of the Bay Area's premier restaurants for upscale Indian food.
Amber India
2290 El Camino Real. 650.968.7511.
Northern Indian, tandoori. Meals unfold like a bolt of rare silk, served with care and efficiency in a rich, luminous interior. Dishes are as complex and varied as the spectrum of human emotions. |
Austin's
1616 W. El Camino Real. 650.969.9191.
Texas barbecue and steakhouse. Meat, meat and more meat, with tangy sauces to add. Meats are dry-rubbed and cooked without sauce. Full bar. |
Chez TJ
938 Villa St. 650.964.7466.
Continental. Three prix fixe menus change monthly and give regulars a taste of what's seasonal and appealing to a chef versed in the art of French sauces. Beer, wine. Closed Sun-Mon. |
China Cafe
1760 Miramonte Ave. 650.968.2298.
Mandarin, Szechuan. A little surprise in the Blossom Valley Center promises uptown ambience, spotless surroundings and well-presented classical Chinese cuisine--and delivers on all counts. Speaking of delivery, it can be had in parts of Los Altos, Palo Alto and Mountain View. |
Don Giovanni
235 Castro St. 650.961.9749.
Italian. This pumpkin-hued eatery faces the bustling downtown with a handsome demeanor of mahogany, candlelight and posters of the movie Big Night. Full bar. V, MC. |
Global Village Cafe
209 Castro St. 650.965.4821.
Fusion. Sights and bites evoke distant destinations, weaving the dining experience with travel and high-tech overtones. Dishes strike a fine balance, coupling north with south, east with west. |
Le Petit Bistro
1405 W. El Camino Real. 650.964.3321.
Classic French. There's a lot to like about this pinch of a place with its simple, practiced French cuisine and quiet dining. Casual. Beer, wine. Closed Sun-Mon. |
Mei Long
867 E. El Camino Real. 650.961.4030.
Chinese. Decorator elegance and culinary artistry abound at Mei Long, where the generous portions and the flavors of Shanghai provide flavor thrills in this bastion of freshly prepared Chinese cuisine. Lunch weekdays; dinner nightly. |
Pho To Chau
853 Villa St. 650.961.8069.
Vietnamese noodle house. The pho here is an honest noodle soup. First-timers might want to stick with the basic pho chin, topped with slices of beef brisket. |
The Spice Islands Cafe
210 Hope St. 650.961.0628.
Singaporean, Malaysian, Indonesian. This restaurant will send your taste buds to the tropics. Talented chefs put out dishes full of spice and passion, like jumbo chili prawns, papaya salad and Malaysian spareribs. The menu is expansive. Prices are reasonable. |
Taquería Los Charros
854 W. Dana St. 650.969.1464.
Mexican. This clean and fetching diner is the place for authentic fare. Generous portions. Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. |
Valley Bar and Grill
194 Castro St. 650.968.1848.
Innovative. High ceilings and wood floors make for an atmosphere that is both warm and striking. The menu is a compendium, with innovations of the kitchen and bar-and-grill favorites. Full bar. |
Vaso Azzurro Ristorante
108 Castro St. 650.940.1717.
Italian. Entrees are attractively presented, and the waiters will make you feel as though you were the most important guests in the place. Dessert lives up to the rest of the meal. Beer, wine. |
Vivaca Grill
800 California St. 650.318.8010.
New American. Sparkling with metropolitan attitude, austere yet elegant Vivaca Grill showcases a menu of New American standards that are anything but standard. Closed Sun. Full bar. |
Yakko
975 W. Dana St. 650.960.0626.
Japanese, sushi bar. A pairing of swift service with an exotic range of sushi and udon makes this a favorite among sushi lovers. Casual. Beer, wine. |
