Chef David Kinch opened The Bywater as an ode to his hometown of New Orleans, while also giving himself a casual, friendly place to hang out. I saw him there on a recent Saturday evening, hanging out in a chef’s jacket on the back patio….
Chef David Kinch opened The Bywater as an ode to his hometown of New Orleans, while also giving himself a casual, friendly place to hang out. I saw him there on a recent Saturday evening, hanging out in a chef’s jacket on the back patio….
On the quiet end of downtown Mountain View, The Phoenix Veg Cafe & Juice Bar provides a safe haven of breakfast and lunch choices. Large green fronds against a reed wall provide a welcoming backdrop and small plants on the cafe-sized tables carry on the…
Historic Murphy Street in Sunnyvale is a slice of Americana. A ramen shop sits across the street from a Thai spot flanked by a Mexican cantina and a pizzeria. Sycamores line the cobblestone street where an old couple strolls arm-in-arm next to a mother scolding…
When it comes to soup dumplings (xiao long bao or XLB), one name has international acclaim above all others: Din Tai Fung. Guffaw all you want at the ubiquity of restaurant chains, but when a 60-year-old dumpling giant opens in our area, it is a…
Downtown Poki doesn’t charge extra for avocado. Operating in the same room as Dakao, an authentic Vietnamese sandwich shop, the latest addition to San Jose’s burgeoning poke scene has done away with price-jacking California’s state fruit, and thrown a novel spin of Japanese-Hawaiian-Vietnamese fusion on…
2nd Story Bakeshop‘s inviting space is actually on the first floor. Christa, the friendly clerk, tells me “second story” refers to the second episode of one owner’s career. The dark-stained ceiling boards, a counter made of fruit crates and wood shelves were all handmade. Two…
An actual bell tower on top of the Bell Tower Café gives this downtown Saratoga eatery a bit of a European flair. An espresso machine straight from Rome graces the countertop and goes oh so well with the hammered tin ceiling. The minimalist glass displays…
It’s a bustling time for new restaurant chains in Silicon Valley, as retail developments grow rapidly and diners begin to embrace mixed models of dining. LYFE Kitchen is not a newcomer—a highly regarded flagship restaurant opened in 2011 in Palo Alto. But while the brand…
Repurposed wood booths and a remix of classic American dishes make Eureka! the culinary equivalent of American sportswear: casual but slightly sophisticated. The chain out of Redlands is opening locations in both Cupertino and Mountain View (the latter coming later this month), and the “Made…
Beer’s best friend—men and women—made enough of a difference in the lives of at-risk shelter pets last year, that the Pints for Pups fundraiser will return for a second installment Saturday, April 16, at Strike Brewery. The brainchild of Paul Anderson, a member of the…